air pollution

dreams

Sal scratched at the wound on his neck. He'd had enough experience with burns to know that he was going to give himself an infection doing it, but didn't stop. He was home at last.

School hadn't been completely terrible today: he walked there with Larry and had three classes with Ashley. What'd ruined it was Travis Phelps. The church boy with blonde hair, and an impossible bright silver cross necklace. Sal had hoped that walking through the school with Ash would make Travis lay off for at least a day, neglecting to understand that nothing would deter the wrath of Piss-boy Phelps.

Sally winced as  his nails dug through his skin, and stopped. He hadn't known Travis to be a smoker 'til he'd burnt his cigarette out on Sal's neck. He hated the smell of cigarette smoke: It reminded him of the late nights with a grieving father, and the early mornings with an angry one. His bedroom creaked open almost mockingly. Speak of the devil, Sal thought wryly.

''Hey!'' Henry pronounced in a genial voice, ''I didn't hear you get home. I got some lasagna, Lisa was nice enough to give me some leftovers...'' Henry stopped  and looked at his neck. he'd probably noticed the burn. Sal looked up to his father and forced a smile. Though it didn't translate well through his scarred face, it seemed to serve its purpose because henry beamed back and tilted his head.

''Be there in a sec, Dad.''

-- . -- . -- . --

It was scaldingly hot. Sharp and rigid. Then it was cold. He bolted upright in his bed. Sal looked around frantically. He was sweating through his shirt. His nightmares weren't usually as trivial as this, but he was still teetering on the edge of a complete breakdown

He'd dreamt of Travis.

The boy had been the star of many nightmares, but none like this.. It was excruciatingly vivid. He'd felt everything: the shame and humiliation, the dizzying pain and cracking bones. All of it. Travis hadn't hidden his loathing for him, and travis hadn't held back when expressing said loathing.

Sal got out of bed, and headed to the bathroom. he turned the shower on to the hottest possible temperature, got in, and closed his eyes. he allowed the water to run through the grooves on his face, down his stomach, down his legs, and to his feet. Every inch of his body burned like hell.

He wrapped a towel around his waist, and walked back into his room. Going back to sleep was completely out of the question, so he got dressed and laid in bed. Sal gazed at the ceiling and began to organise his thoughts. He'd been doing that a lot recently. he was good at it. he liked things he was good at.

What Sal didn't like was that his mind was wandering back to his dream. He didnt want to deal with anyone at school; knowing Ashley, she'd most likely told Larry and the others what had happened with travis and that cancer stick. Sal didn't want their pity - he'd had enough of it for a a couple lifetimes - but they always handed it to him while he feigned gratitude. Not to mention that Larry would be out for church boy blood.

--.--.--.--.--.--

His friends had flocked to him first thing. 

''Are you okay, dude? I heard from ash-'' Maple began, but was cut off.

''That Piss-boy! Im gonna steal his fucking bones!'' Sal chuckled absently. His attention was elsewhere - cerulean eyes were currently darting around in search for bright blonde hair. Just as he'd given up, he saw it. 

Travis' purple shirt had its sleeves rolled up to his elbows. as per usual, his hair was slicked behind his ears. as per usual. his metal cross hung down his neck, but didn't gleam. It never did. It was like Travis absorbed all the light in the room, and left only the dark fear in Sal's abdomen. To say he was nervous would be a huge fucking understatement.

''I gotta run. Cya at lunch!'' Sal spoke, trying his damned near hardest to seem nonchalant. It might've been convincing if his eyes weren't tracking travis with the familiar glimmer of fear. Todd seemed to catch on the soonest.

''Sure. See you then, Sally face.'' Todd responded easily. Sal looked to him with gratitude, and quickly scurried off around the corner to the nearest bathroom.

He almost yelped when he felt a harsh grip on his shoulder. Sal hadn't been quick enough. The grip on his shoulder tightened, pulled him into the bathroom to their right, and into a stall. before he could get a word beyond a muffled 'ow' out, his head was being shoved down into a toilet bowl. Gross, he thought as he struggled against Travis. His shouts made the water bubble, and he could feel himself getting light headed. Before he could faint, though, his head was pulled back up.