Chapter Text
The paper was oddly cold, even though the hands that gripped onto it were burning from nerves, and a tiny bit of embarrassment.
"It's just a letter, Dylan."
He's heard that one too many times. Kaitlyn's repeated it more often than he could count on his fingers.
"It's just a letter, man! You'll be fine."
Maybe two too many times. Besides, Jacob isn't the best person to get advice from, if he was being honest.
"It's only a letter, dude!"
Three too many times. Who even goes to Nick for love advice?
"It's just a letter, Dylan. Stop being a pussy."
Four too many times. Also, Emma's just mean sometimes.
"Oh, my god! A letter?! That's so big!"
Five too many— What?
"Wait, you think it's big too?"
"Yeah! Letters are so important! They're basically the biggest, most intimate expression of love you can give someone! There's always something so special within something as simple as a note!"
"You.. you get me.."
"Yeah! Of course I do!"
"Okay, so can you help me with my note to him?"
"What?! No! That's for you to do!"
Dylan's face immediately drops, and the hand holding the letter tightens its grip.
"Why not?! You just said that you got me!"
"Well, it's up to you to write it! It'll be a lot more symbolic if only your pencil touched it!"
"What?! Abi! Come on! I need you!"
"If you want, I can grammar check it for you?"
"No!!" Dylan hugs the paper close to his chest, or maybe, close to his heart. It might've been the latter. "It'll be too personal by then!"
"Then you have to do it by yourself. I'm sorry, Dylan."
The two overthinkers frown at each other.
"It's fine, Abi. I'll try to.. find something."
~~
"It's just a letter, Dylan.." He tells himself for the umpteenth time, staring at the paper in his hands, his eyes glued onto the two words he has written so far.
Dear, Ryan.
..was this really just a letter to him?
"Ryan.. come on." He falls back onto his bed, pulling his pillow over his face. "Why is it so hard to just write you a note?"
He sat in the quiet cabin, just thinking. Thinking too much. He couldn't tell if it was harder to talk to him, or to not do it.
...
Maybe it's the former.
He sits back up, clicking the pen in his hand before leaning forward.
"Okay.."
His pen touches the paper, and starts to move.
Dear, Ryan My Dear, Ryan..
This is going to be hard for me to write out, so I will try to do it slowly.
I have one month left..
One month left to give this to you..
~~
As he folded his last shirt, shoving it into his suitcase, he made sure to keep the note snug in his pocket.
"Today's the day.." He whispers to himself before walking outside.
"Dylan! Bro! The bus is leaving!" His australian coworker announces, grabbing his hand.
"Wait! I have to find Ryan! I have to giv—"
"You can find him later! I want to wave the kids goodbye!"
The brunet stares at the empty room before looking back, nodding as he lets himself get led out to the mess hall.