Or his mother was just trying to protect him from the worst of it. It didn't matter, there was nothing he could do (which made everything feel a little bit more panicked, really). It was best, for the moment, to just try and think about something else--as difficult as that seemed.
He swallowed hard, against the dryness in his throat and lifted his head to look down at his friend. There was a moment, just one, and it passed quickly, where he wished he could just--just kiss him, if for no other reason than to just feel something different.
But, of course, he wouldn't. He couldn't do it, not ever, but especially not like that. Not for that reason.