The Elements

After a whole week of his new friend not turning up Daniel had a feeling that something was wrong. The boys never exchanged numbers so he couldn't contact Simon in anyway. He decided to ask the school secretary about Simon.
„Good morning, anything I can help you with?"
„Yes, actually. Do you know why Simon Black hasn't been at school the last week?" Daniel asked
„family stuff. I can't say much more than that" the secretary replied ignorantly
„Thank you" Daniel said
He went to his next class.
While Daniel was stuck at school, Simon was figuring out a way to sneak out of his aunts house without being noticed. Although he was quite traumatised by witnessing his mothers murder he wanted to walk to school and sit outside until Daniel finished his classes to tell him why he's been absent for the last week. Simon jumped out his window and walked to school before Daniels last lesson. He sat on the bench behind the school until the bell rang. He then met Daniel in front of the school.
„Where the hell have you been?" Daniel said surprised
„Long story short, I witnessed my dad kill my mom and now I live with my aunt." Simon said as calmly as possible
„Huh" Daniel replied not really knowing what to say
„yeah..." Simon said
Daniel looked at Simon and noticed a tear form in his right eye. He didn't say anything. He got closer to him and hugged him. Simon hugged him back and hid his head in Daniels shoulder.
„thank you." He whispered sadly
The boys sat on the bench behind the school.
„So where does your aunt live?" Daniel asked
„Not far from here, next to that big ass house 2 miles away" Simon answered
„Oh, okay. We should exchange numbers." He said
The boys exchanged numbers and half an hour later they both walked home together.
„Where do you live?" Simon asked
„about a mile from you" Daniel replied
„Alright"
„Let's walk to your house" Simon proposed
„Sure" He said agreeing
They walked to Daniels house which turned out to be a small apartment, which made sense since Daniel and his dad were the only people who lived there. When they walked in Simon looked around and felt that the atmosphere of their home was something that he had never experienced before. It was cozy and felt like a loving household. He had never been to someone else's house.
Daniel felt odd. He had invited someone whom he knew and who he was friends with into his home for the first time in almost ten years. At first he fought that his friend who he had only known for a week,although it felt like a year, might judge him by the fact that he didn't live in a big house or have expensive things, but then he put himself in Simons shoes and realised that the only home his friend knew was one were he was scared to be, and one that was filled with pain and anger. He turned around and saw Simon looking at the walls of his home and sniffing the air like a puppy that felt warm for the first time ever, he was happy and suddenly felt like nobody was judging him for the first time in a long time.
„DAD, I'M HOME AND I BROUGHT A FRIEND" Daniel shouted so that his father could hear him.
„My dad would quite literally beat me, if I did that." Simon stated
„Sorry" Daniel replied worriedly
„Don't be sorry for having something that I don't. It's not your fault." He said
„I'm coming, I'm coming" Daniels dad said while walking into the kitchen which is where they were in that moment. He was slightly darker skinned than his son but tall and well built as well as Daniel. Simon was distracted from everything since he was still taking in the warm atmosphere of their home.
„Hello, nice to meet you" Daniels dad said while lifting his hand up to shake Simons.
Daniel had to hit Simon in the arm to get his attention. Simon flinched but realised what was happening.
„Hi, I'm Simon" he said in a surprised tone while shaking Daniels dads hand.
„Oh believe me, I know who you are. Daniel has told me a lot about you. Your the first person he's brought home in almost ten years. You can call me Richard" Daniels dad replied with a friendly voice.
Simon looked back at Daniel who looked embarrassed. He wondered whether Daniel had told his father about his family life and his dads drunken acts. This was the first time Simon had been treated well by someone older than him, so he looked quite surprised.
„Would you like something to drink or eat?" Richard asked.
„You look hungry" said Daniel
„I am" Simon said surprised that he got offered food 
„You like Chinese? We've got some leftovers from yesterdays dinner, I can warm them up for you, if you'd like." Said Daniels dad
„If you're not busy then sure" Simon replied
„Of coarse I will" Richard declared
Simon looked at him with a happy and grateful look on his face. Turns out that Daniel inherited his skills of reading people from his father. Richard took one look at Simon and he could tell that he hasn't been treated right in life, Simon still had a cut under his eye and a split lip which is probably what gave it away.
When food was served Daniel had some as well but Simon finished ages before him since he rarely got a chance to eat that much before.
„You must have been hungry" Richard said while laughing slightly
„I was" Simon replied
After Daniel had finished eating they went to his room which was decently sized and had a double bed with a desk next to it and a closet on the other side of the room.
„I'm not going to be here long" Simon stated
„That's fine" He replied
„What's your aunt like?" Daniel added
„Definitely better than my dad. She's nice, she lets us have breakfast and makes lunch and diner." Simon said with a smile on his face which made his lip bleed.
„Is food the only thing you can remember?"Daniel said laughingly
„I think she can't have her own kids. That's why she took us in so easily" Simon remarked
„Makes sense" He replied
After talking for about half an hour Daniel decided to walk Simon back home halfway of the road. While they were walking back they stumbled across a dog.
„It's a dog" Simon stated
„Yeah" Daniel replied calmly.
Simon walked up to the dog and started petting him.
„Awwww, he's so cute" He said
„I didn't think you were the kind of person to like animals" Daniel remarked
„I like dogs, I'm allergic to cats tho." He replied
„We should probably keep walking" Daniel said
„Fine" He said
After walking Simon part of the way he turned around and walked back to his house. While he was walking he texted Simon.
„If my dad asked what happened to your face what should I say. He could tell you didn't live in a great household." Daniel wrote, so that he wouldn't accidentally hurt his friend
„Tell him the truth, he'll find out eventually anyway." Simon replied
„Ok"
When Daniel got home he walked thru the door and sat down on one of the chairs next to the kitchen counter knowing that his dad would ask him about Simon.
„That boy hasn't been treated very well, has he?" He asked after Daniel sat down
„He has not." Daniel stated
„What happened to his face?" He asked
„His dad used to beat him. He was a drunk" Daniel said, realising how uncomfortable Simon must have felt while telling him about this.
„Used to?" Richard said surprised
„He's in prison know" he replied
„Good, what for?" Richard asked another question
„Murder" Daniel stated coldly
„Oh god. Dare I ask who died?" He replied
„Simons Mom. Him and his sister were witnesses." Daniel remarked
„That's terrible, I would never recover from something like that, especially as a child."His dad said sadly
„I think since his parents mistreated him it was probably less painful for him. Still traumatising though" Daniel stated
„Make sure he never gets hurt like that again or else I fear, he might not make it" Richard said
„I will" Daniel replied
„Who does he live with now?"
„His aunt" Daniel remarked
„I hope she's better than his dad was." Richard said while making dinner for later since Simon ate most of the leftovers
„She is" Daniel confirmed
„Son you know, I love to cook so whenever that boy comes to our house I will cook a homemade meal for us all to enjoy."
„That's nice of you" Daniel said