As Derek stood waiting on his front steps he glanced down at his phone and frowned. As always he was waiting for his friend Bobby so they could walk to school together. If Bobby didn’t didn’t hurry they would be late again Derek sighed in frustration. Despite his annoyance the thought of Bobby made Derek smile, they had been neighbors all of their lives and despite being polar opposites they were best friends.

There was no denying Bobby and Derek were an odd couple, at 15 Derek was well over 6 feet tall with dark hair and brown eyes. People often called him tall dark and handsome. Bobby on the other hand was cute. Despite the fact that he was over 6 months older then his friend 16 year old Bobby barely hit the 5 foot mark in shoes. He had blond hair and blue eye. Their differences didn’t end there, Derek was quiet and confident where as Bobby presented the picture of a bubbly and slightly hyper little boy, an image which he couldn’t get away from no matter how hard he tried. He had dimples and a huge bright smile, Bobby was cute and he just couldn’t hide it, a reality which he greatly resented.

Derek was shaken from his thoughts as Bobby’s front door opened and his little friend almost tripped out his front door. Derek could clearly see from where he stood that Bobby’s shoes were both untied again, this was a chronic problem for Bobby. Shaking his head Derek sighed and headed straight for his buddy.

Derek crossed the distance just as Bobby righted himself. Looking up from his near accident Bobby smiled and waved at Derek who was now standing In front of him “hey” the smaller boy said brightly

“Morning buddy” Derek gave his friend a small smile then turned his attention to Bobby’s shoes

“your laces are untied again Bobby, I’m guessing that’s why you almost just went down the stairs head first”

Though his tone was joking Bobby looked slightly stung and embarrassed as this topic had come up before.

Without asking Derek bent down to tie the offending laces. He sighed in frustration “Bobby you’re not wearing socks, we have gym today you can’t go sockless buddy it’s a really bad idea”.

Bobby turned slightly pink as he half mumbled “I was late and I forgot so I just figured you know, I didn’t need them, I forgot about gym”

Derek looked his friend in the eyes. Little things like this had been happening since Bobby’s mother got a new job which required long hours. She left before Bobby woke up most morning and often worked late into the night. As time went on Derek could see more and more cracks in his little friend. Bobby’s clothes weren’t alway clean anymore, he always looked tired and lately Derek had started to bring two lunches to school because his friend so often forgot his own. This latest thing was small but it cemented the thought in Derek’s head that he had to intervene. Bobby needed help, Bobby needed him.

Feeling suddenly calm Derek’s face split into a grin “we’re already late Bobby so a few more minutes can’t really hurt us. You sit tight, okay buddy and I’ll go grab you some socks” Bobby simply nodded as Derek went in the still open door.

Having grown up across the street Derek knew Bobby’s house almost as well as his own. He quickly made his way to Bobby’s bedroom. He opened the door and grimaced at the mess before him. He had to step over dirty dishes and piles of laundry to get to his friend’s dresser. Opening the top drawer he retrieved one of the last pairs of clean socks and headed outside.

Derek made it back to Bobby in record time. He patted his friend on the shoulder as he walked by him “take a seat bud and we’ll get you sorted out”

Without question Bobby obeyed. As if it were the most natural thing on the planet Derek bent down and pulled off his smaller friends shoes one at a time. Before putting on Bobby’s socks Derek turned his attention to the boys small feet. He brushed his hand down each tiny foot making sure they were clean, this elicited a giggle from Bobby.

Derek looked up smiling “someones ticklish I see”

Bobby just giggled again as a small shiver ran thought his body.

Noting the time Derek returned to the job at hand, he gently pulled on Bobby’s ankle socks one at a time. Then slipped on the boys shoes tying each tightly to ensure they wouldn’t come undone.

Derek stood and straighten up before holding out his hand. “ready to go to school Bud”

Bobby nodded and stood grabbing his backpack. After a reminder from Derek Bobby closed his front door and scampered down the stairs, this time without incident . He took his taller friends outstretched hand without thought and they were off to school.