Thirty Minutes

This story is mostly dialogue and VERY vague, I don't go into any detail about their conversation because I want you to just concentrate on the scene before you. I gave no back story on anything because it's not that important, I just want you to read and comprehend what's in front of you.
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Mìkel and Paul sat next to each other on the cold cement floor of the poorly lit basement.

Paul’s eyes were fixed on the yellow bulb the hung from the ceiling by the wires that found their way out from the broken fixture.

“Why are we down here?” Paul asked

Mìkel pursed his lips together and shifted his gaze the light above them.

“Paul, are you happy?”

“Right now? Hell no, I’m locked in a God damn basement!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, just go open the door.”

“I can’t.”

“And why not?” Paul looked at Mìkel.

“Because you’ll leave… I want you to be here with me, Paul.”

“I don’t—”

“Please Paul?” Mìkel turned to the boy and begged him with eyes glistening with tears. “It’s the last thing I’ll ever ask you to do.”

Paul felt his heart speed up and the airways to the lungs became narrow. He tried his hardest to not let the shock appear across his face and sighed.

“How…how long?”

“Thirty minutes.”

Silence filled the room again and both boys kept their eyes fixed the light.

“I’m happy.” Mìkel said closing his eyes

“Why?” Paul’s voice was just above a whisper

“Why do you think? Because Paul is with me.” A smile crept across his lips

“That’s a stupid reason to be happy, I’m nothing special.”

“You’re pretty special to me; you’re my best friend, Paul.”

“I still don’t see that as a reason to be happy.”

“Well, if you were me right now, I’m sure you’d think differently.”

“If I were you right now, I would be the last thing on my mind.”

“Oh really? What would you be thinking about then?”

“I… I’m not really sure, so many things would be going through my mind and I’d be regretting everything…”

“What are you thinking of now?”

“How stupid you are.”

“Yeah, I guess I am pretty stupid, huh?” His smile turned into a toothy grin. “What else are you thinking about?”

“About why, but I know why, I just wish… ugh…” Paul brought his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them then rested his head on his arms.

“I’m really sorry, Paul…” Mìkel apologized, gently resting his hand on his friend’s shoulder.

“Don’t say things you don’t mean!” Paul snapped, shrugging the boys hand off his shoulder and looking up to meet his gaze. The anger in his eyes was obvious.

“I-I’m sorry…” Mìkel felt his head smash against the cold floor as Paul shoved him down and straddled him, his face hovering directly over his own.

“I said don’t say that! If you really meant it then you wouldn’t have! You wouldn’t, you wouldn’t!”

Along with the throbbing of his head, Mìkel could feel the drops of warm tears that slowly dripped from Paul’s nose.

“Paul…”

Paul rose from off his friend and took his position back against the wall.
“Shut up. Don’t talk to me.”

Mìkel sat up and distanced himself away from Paul a bit.

Once again silence over took the room. Neither boy made sound or movement.

Paul tried to keep his eyes on the light that began to flicker on and off, but found himself looking at Mìkel out of the corner of his eye every now and then. When he saw Mìkel pull out his cell phone he remembered the time and checked his own phone. Twenty-three minutes had gone by so fast. He tried to recall what happened in those twenty-three minutes and he could only remember assaulting his best friend and silence.

This was not a time for silence; he’d have plenty of time to be quiet later, right now they needed to exchange words, he needed them to talk.

“Are you okay?” Paul asked

“Y-yeah, I’m good. It hurts a little, but I won’t feel it anymore soon.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Hey, it’s fine, really. Please don’t apologize.” Mìkel smiled

“Mìkel—”

“You were right, you know? If I was sorry I wouldn’t have, but I did and you know what? I’m regretting it.” He paused, “I knew what would happen and I played this scene over and over in my head and I thought I would get over it…but imagining it is so different from having it really happen… You know, I didn’t imagine you crying… or me crying… but you did and now I am too. I didn’t imagine regretting anything, but I do, Paul. I regret it all.” The tears flowed steadily down his face.

Paul took Mìkel’s arm and pulled him to him until he was able to wrap his arms around the crying boy.

“I don’t know what to say, Mìkel… I can’t tell you everything is going to be okay, because it’s not, but I want to… I don’t want you to cry.”

“Paul, I’m sorry, I really mean it, I’m sorry for being a complete idiot and for making you cry. I’m so sorry for putting you through this...” Mìkel pulled away from Paul and pulled a small, silver object out of his pant pocket. “Here.” He placed it in Paul’s hand. “You can go.”

Paul stared at the key in his hand before tossing it to the other side of the room.

“I still have four minutes left with you, and I’m not leaving until I’ve spent every last second until the time.”

“T-thank you, Paul.”

“Don’t thank me; I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I left now.”

“Hey, would you do one more thing for me?”

“No way, you said this was the last thing you were going to ask from me!”

“You knew I was lying! C’mon, Paul, please.”

“Okay, fine, what do you request of me, my lord?”

“You have that song on your phone, don’t you? Would you play it?”

“Of—of course.” Paul swallowed as he felt his throat tighten and took his phone out. Mìkel rested his head against Paul’s shoulder as Paul searched through his phone. Within seconds the basement was filled with the soft sound of a piano opening the song.

“Thank you, Paul.” Mìkel breathed out as his eyes drifted close.

“Hey, Mìkel?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

“Heh, love you too, Paul.”

“Don’t forget me either, okay?”

“As long as you don’t forget me.”

“I won’t.”

Neither of them said anything as the music played out. When the song was over time was up. Paul moved Mìkel to rest against the wall and went to retrieve the key he had flung to the other side of the room. He looked at his friend one last time before heading to the stairs that led up to the basement door.

As the key slid into the lock Paul whispered, “Goodbye.”
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Song that was played in the end was "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" by Death Cab For Cutie(I do not own!!!)

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