The Touch - Rewrite

I woke up slowly, aware of warmth before anything else. It took me a second to realize why I couldn’t move. Toby was pressed tightly against my chest, his head tucked under my chin, while Gavin had one leg thrown over both of us and an arm stretched across Toby’s back like he was holding him in place even in his sleep.

For a moment, I just stayed there.

It felt… full.

Then reality caught up to me.

I had to pee.

Carefully, I shifted, trying not to wake either of them. It took a little effort, but I managed to slide out from under Gavin’s arm and ease Toby down onto the mattress. The moment I moved away, Gavin instinctively pulled Toby closer into his own chest, tightening his hold without even opening his eyes.

I paused, watching that for a second.

Toby had come in during the night. I remembered him shaking me awake, his voice small and unsteady as he told me about his nightmare. I had just pulled him in without thinking, holding him until he calmed down and fell back asleep.

Now he looked peaceful again.

That helped.

I slipped into the bathroom and took care of what I needed to before heading back out into the hallway. When I stepped back into the room, I glanced at the bed again before making my decision.

Toby needed to eat.

I moved quietly back over and slipped under the covers beside him again, careful not to disturb Gavin. Toby shifted slightly at the movement, and I reached up, gently running my fingers through his curls. He let out a small, content sigh, leaning into the touch without waking fully.

I wrapped an arm around him and pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head.

“Good morning, Toby,” I whispered.

His eyes opened slowly, hazy with sleep. He blinked a couple of times before focusing on me, a small smile forming on his face.

“Are you hungry?” I asked softly.

He nodded.

I raised a finger to my lips and tilted my head slightly toward Gavin. Toby followed my gaze, his eyes widening just a little as he noticed the older boy still stretched across the bed.

He nodded again, more carefully this time.

We slipped out of bed together as quietly as we could, though Toby stayed close, his hand grabbing onto the hem of my shirt like he didn’t want to lose track of me.

“I have to pee,” he whispered.

I pointed toward the hallway. “Bathroom’s right out there.”

He nodded and hurried off, while I waited just outside the door. A few minutes later, he came back out, rubbing at his stomach and stretching like he was trying to wake himself up.

Then he paused.

His eyes dropped to my shirt.

“Do I have to wear a shirt?” he asked, his voice quieter now, uncertain.

I shook my head with a small smile. “No. You’re fine. Just make sure you’ve got shorts or something on, okay?”

He nodded quickly, like that answer mattered more than it should have, and reached for my hand again.

We went downstairs together.

The house was quiet, the early morning still settled into it. I guided him into the kitchen and grabbed two bowls, pouring us both some cereal. I kept his portion smaller, just in case, and added milk carefully before handing it to him.

“Careful,” I said quietly. “Don’t rush it.”

He nodded and followed me into the dining room.

We sat side by side, eating in comfortable silence. Toby was slower than I expected, focused more on making sure he didn’t spill than actually finishing. Even then, a little bit of milk sloshed over the edge of his bowl and onto the table.

He froze.

I grabbed a paper towel without making a big deal out of it.

“It’s okay,” I said, wiping it up. “Happens.”

He watched me for a second, then relaxed slightly and went back to eating.

When we finished, I gathered the bowls and set them in the sink before motioning for him to follow me toward the living room.

We barely made it around the corner before I stopped.

Natalie was already there, sitting with a cup of coffee in her hands, watching us with a soft smile.

“Good morning, boys,” she said, her voice warm.

I blinked, a little surprised. “Good morning.”

“Did you two get enough to eat?” she asked. “I can make something if you’re still hungry.”

“We’re okay,” I said.

Toby hesitated for half a second before walking over to her. She set her cup down and patted her lap gently. He climbed up without much hesitation, settling against her like he had already decided she was safe.

Natalie wrapped an arm around him, then looked at me and motioned for me to come closer.

I hesitated for just a second before moving over and sitting beside her.

She leaned slightly into both of us, holding Toby on one side and resting her hand lightly on my shoulder.

I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

The morning moved slowly after breakfast, the house easing into a quiet rhythm that felt different from before. Greg and Geoff had already started getting ready to head out, talking back and forth about picking up the rest of Toby’s things. Gavin stayed nearby, lingering in the living room with us while the adults moved around in the background.

“We’re gonna go grab the rest of his stuff,” Greg said as he stepped into the room, grabbing his keys from the table. “Shouldn’t take too long.”

Toby tensed slightly beside me, his hand tightening in my shirt. I felt it immediately and glanced down at him.

“It’s okay,” I said quietly. “They’re just getting your things. They’ll be back soon.”

He nodded, but he didn’t let go.

“We’ll be back before you know it, buddy,” Geoff added with a small smile as he passed by. “You’re in good hands here.”

Gavin smirked slightly. “Obviously.”

Greg shook his head with a quiet chuckle before the two of them headed out, the front door closing behind them with a soft click. For a few seconds, the house felt still again, the silence settling in where their voices had been.

Gavin clapped his hands lightly, breaking it. “Alright,” he said, looking between us. “We’re not just gonna sit around all day. What do you guys wanna do?”

Toby didn’t answer. He looked up at me instead, waiting.

I thought about it for a second before glancing toward the TV. “We can play something,” I said.

Gavin grinned immediately and pushed himself up from the couch. “Now you’re talking.” He headed toward the stairs without hesitation, tossing a quick, “Don’t go anywhere,” over his shoulder. “I’ve got an idea.”

Toby shifted closer to me while we waited, his eyes flicking toward the stairs. It didn’t take long before Gavin came back down, holding an extra controller in one hand.

“Found it,” he said, tossing it lightly onto the couch. “Now we can all play.”

That got Toby’s attention. I picked up one of the controllers and handed it to him, guiding his hands into place so he could hold it properly.

“You ever played one of these before?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“That’s okay,” I said. “I’ll show you.”

We settled onto the couch together, Gavin dropping down on the other side as I started up one of the racing games. I kept things simple, showing Toby which buttons to press, how to steer, when to slow down. He was hesitant at first, his movements slow and careful, but he stayed focused, watching the screen closely as he tried to follow along.

“Hey, you’re doing it,” Gavin said after a moment, leaning forward as Toby managed to stay on the track.

A small smile spread across Toby’s face. It was faint, but it was there.

We kept playing, taking turns at first, then racing together once he got more comfortable. Gavin didn’t go easy on us, but he didn’t overwhelm Toby either, keeping things just competitive enough to keep him engaged without frustrating him.

At one point, Toby’s car spun out, and a small laugh slipped out of him before he could stop it. It didn’t last long, but it was enough. I noticed it. Gavin did too.

“Alright,” Gavin said with a grin, “we’re getting somewhere now.”

We kept playing until the sound of movement from the kitchen pulled our attention away. Natalie stepped into the doorway, wiping her hands on a towel as she looked at us.

“Alright, gamers,” she said with a small smile. “Lunch time.”

Toby looked at me again, like he needed to check if it was okay to stop.

“We can pause it,” I said. “It’ll still be here after.”

He nodded and carefully set the controller down, watching how I placed mine before doing the same.

We moved into the kitchen together, where Natalie had already set out sandwiches and drinks. It wasn’t anything complicated, but it didn’t need to be. Toby stayed close to me while we ate, though he didn’t seem as tense as he had earlier. Gavin filled most of the silence, talking easily about school, games, anything that came to mind, while Toby listened, his attention shifting between us.

Halfway through lunch, the phone rang. Natalie stood and walked over to answer it, her voice lowering slightly as she spoke.

“Hey… yeah, we’re good here,” she said. There was a pause, then, “Mm-hm… okay… yeah, that’s fine.”

She glanced toward Toby briefly before turning away just a little.

“I’ll check sizes,” she added. “Just to be safe.”

When she came back, she didn’t say anything about it, just picked up where she left off like nothing had changed.

After we finished eating, Toby hesitated, looking at the controllers we had left behind. I noticed and reached for mine, picking it up and starting to wrap the cord loosely around it.

“You don’t have to do it right away,” I said, keeping my tone easy. “But it’s a good habit to clean up when we can.”

He watched closely before copying me, his smaller hands working more slowly but just as carefully. I nodded slightly when he finished.

“Good.”

Gavin smirked. “Look at you, being all responsible.”

I shrugged, setting the controller aside.

We drifted back into the living room, the afternoon passing easier than the morning had. Toby stayed close, but not as tightly as before, moving between us instead of holding onto me the entire time.

When the front door finally opened, the sound carried through the house along with voices and the shuffle of movement. Bags, boxes—more than I expected.

“They’re back,” Gavin said, already standing.

Natalie stepped into the hallway, glancing toward the kitchen before looking at us. “Zachary, Gavin—why don’t you two go help them bring everything in?”

I nodded and stood, already heading toward the door.

“I’ll stay with Toby and get dinner started,” she added.

Toby looked at me for a second.

“I’ll be right back,” I told him.

He nodded, and that was enough.

I stepped outside with Gavin, the cooler air hitting me immediately as we moved toward the SUV, ready to start carrying everything in.

After helping bring everything inside, the house filled with movement again—boxes opened, clothes sorted, small things put away piece by piece. Toby stayed close through all of it, but not in the same way he had earlier. He didn’t cling to me as much anymore. Instead, he followed Greg everywhere. If Greg moved, Toby moved. If Greg stopped, Toby stopped. He stayed just a step behind him most of the time, watching everything he did like he was trying to learn it.

At one point, Greg crouched down to open one of the boxes, and Toby immediately dropped down beside him, leaning in to see what was inside. Natalie noticed it first, glancing over from across the room with a small smile.

“Well, looks like you’ve got a shadow now.”

Greg glanced back briefly, then looked at Toby, who didn’t move away or seem embarrassed. He just stayed there, focused.

“I don’t mind,” Greg said simply. “He can stick with me as much as he wants.”

Toby looked up at that, something small shifting in his expression before he looked back down at the box again. He didn’t move away.

Dinner that night felt fuller than the night before. Toby sat between Natalie and Greg this time, close enough that his shoulder brushed against Greg’s arm whenever he shifted. He didn’t say much, but he didn’t seem as tense either. He listened, watched, and every now and then, he would glance up at Greg like he was making sure he was still there.

Afterward, we ended up back in the living room again, and Gavin pulled us into another round of games without even asking. Toby did better than he had earlier, more confident with the controller, managing to stay in the race longer without spinning out.

“See? You’re already getting better,” Gavin said with a grin.

Toby smiled at that, small but real.

“Keep practicing,” Gavin added. “Next time I come back, I’m not going easy on you.”

That earned him a small nod.

The rest of the night passed quietly after that. Eventually, we drifted upstairs again, the routine already starting to settle in. Toby didn’t hesitate this time—he followed us into my room and climbed into bed beside me like he already knew where he belonged. Gavin just laughed softly and shifted over to make room, and it didn’t take long before all three of us were settled again.

Sunday came slower than expected. The house carried a quieter energy, like everything was easing toward something instead of building. Geoff and Gavin spent the morning gathering their things, moving between rooms while Natalie kept things moving in the kitchen and Greg stayed nearby, helping where he could. Toby stayed right with him the entire time, never more than a step away.

“You’ve definitely got a shadow,” Natalie said again at one point, watching as Toby followed Greg from the living room into the hallway.

Greg glanced down at him, then back at her with a faint smile. “I don’t mind,” he said. “I hope he stays attached.”

Toby didn’t react to the words directly, but he didn’t move away either.

Upstairs, Gavin lingered a little longer than he needed to, sitting on the edge of the bed while I stayed nearby. Toby had wandered off again to follow Greg, leaving the two of us alone for a few minutes.

“You’re coming back, right?” Toby had asked earlier, his voice quieter than usual.

Gavin had nodded without hesitation. “Spring break,” he said. “I’ll be back. We’ll play more.”

“Okay,” Toby had said, holding onto that.

“And you better keep practicing,” Gavin had added, pointing lightly at him. “I don’t want to come back and see you crashing into walls again.”

“I will,” Toby had promised.

Now, with Toby gone from the room, Gavin reached into his pocket and pulled something out, holding it toward me.

“Here.”

I hesitated before taking it. It was a gift card. I looked up at him, confused.

“My dad picked it up,” he said with a small shrug. “Figured you’d probably use it more than I would.”

“I don’t—” I started, but he shook his head.

“Just take it, Zach. Seriously.”

I looked down at it again, my fingers tightening slightly around the edge before I nodded. “Thanks.”

He smirked a little. “Don’t spend it all in one place.”

We headed downstairs not long after that, the timing lining up with Geoff finishing up near the front door. Greg stood nearby, talking with him while Toby stayed close at his side, one hand lightly gripping his sleeve.

“Ready?” Geoff asked, glancing toward Gavin.

“Yeah,” Gavin said, though he didn’t move right away.

Instead, he stepped over and pulled me into a quick hug, easy and familiar. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Yeah,” I said quietly.

He stepped back, then crouched slightly in front of Toby. “Keep practicing,” he said again, tapping his shoulder lightly. “I mean it.”

Toby nodded. “I will.”

Gavin smiled, then stood and moved toward the door with Geoff. The goodbye didn’t stretch out. It stayed simple. The door opened, then closed, and the house settled again.

Toby didn’t move from Greg’s side. His hand stayed lightly against Greg’s sleeve, like he was making sure he was still there. Greg glanced down at him, his expression softening slightly before he shifted and started guiding him toward the living room.

“What do you wanna do now, buddy?” he asked as they walked.

Toby stayed close, matching his steps without hesitation as they disappeared further into the house together.

The next week settled into a routine faster than I expected. Toby stayed home while I went back to school, the house quiet during the day in a way I wasn’t used to anymore. It felt strange at first, leaving him behind, but Natalie reassured me each morning that he was fine, that he needed the time to adjust before being thrown into something like school.

That didn’t stop me from thinking about him.

By the time I got back each afternoon, he was almost always close to Greg, following him from room to room like he had been over the weekend. It hadn’t changed. If anything, it had settled in deeper.

At school, I told Deedra and Sheldon everything—about Toby, about how he showed up, about how he barely let go of Greg. Deedra reacted immediately, leaning forward with interest, while Sheldon listened more quietly, taking it all in.

“So you’ve got a little brother now,” Deedra said.

“I guess,” I said, though it didn’t feel like a guess.

“We’re coming over,” she decided.

Sheldon glanced at her. “We weren’t invited.”

“We are now,” she said, looking back at me.

I hesitated briefly before nodding. “Yeah. It’s fine.”

They came over that same afternoon. Natalie greeted them at the door with an easy smile, and Greg was already in the living room with Toby. The moment we walked in, Deedra’s attention locked onto him.

“Oh my gosh,” she said, crouching slightly as she got closer. “Hi.”

Toby didn’t move toward her. He stayed beside Greg, quiet and watchful, but he didn’t hide either.

“This is Toby,” I said.

Deedra smiled warmly. “Hi, Toby. I’m Deedra.”

Sheldon gave a small wave. “Hey.”

Toby didn’t respond right away, but after a second, he shifted just slightly closer to Greg instead of away. It wasn’t much, but it wasn’t rejection either.

Deedra didn’t push. She stayed where she was, talking to him gently, asking simple questions, her tone soft and encouraging. It didn’t take long before she was completely focused on him.

“You are so cute,” she said at one point, reaching out before catching herself and pulling her hand back. “Sorry.”

Toby blinked at her, more confused than anything.

“She’s gonna spoil him,” Sheldon muttered quietly.

“She’s trying,” I said under my breath.

We spent the next couple of hours in the living room. I brought out the game system again, and Toby sat between me and Greg while we played. Deedra stayed close, talking and reacting to everything, while Sheldon leaned back, more relaxed, occasionally commenting on the game.

It felt normal.

More normal than it probably should have.

Eventually, Natalie stepped in, glancing toward the clock before looking at Deedra and Sheldon.

“Alright, you two, it’s time to head home,” she said gently. “We’ve got dinner to get started.”

Deedra let out a quiet sigh but stood anyway, brushing her hands on her jeans. “Fine. But I’m coming back,” she said, only half joking.

“I figured,” Natalie replied with a small smile.

Sheldon nodded toward me. “See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” I said.

They headed out not long after, the house settling again once the door closed behind them.

Dinner that night felt calm. We all sat together—Natalie, Greg, Toby, and me—the conversation easy and unforced. Toby stayed close to Greg again, not quite pressed against him this time, but still within reach.

“How was the last day at work, Nat?” Greg asked as we started eating.

“It was great,” Natalie said with a smile. “They threw me a small party.”

“That’s great, dear,” Greg said before glancing at me. “Did you have any homework today, Zachary?”

“No, sir,” I said, unable to hide the small smile. “I got it done during Study Hall.”

“Good deal,” Greg said with a nod. “That means we can watch a movie tonight.”

“It’s been a few days,” Natalie added.

Greg leaned back slightly. “We should start doing that more often. Movies, games… stuff like that.”

I hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Like a family?”

Greg didn’t hesitate. “Exactly like a family, Zachary.”

Something in my chest settled at that. The words didn’t feel distant or uncertain.

They felt real.

“I’d like that,” I said quietly.

“Me too, buddy,” Greg replied.

Toby looked between us, not fully understanding, but close enough to be part of it.