Speak Loudly.

Chapter 5

Date: June 3, 1995
Joey: Age 10
Shane: Age 10 (almost 11)
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{Authors Pov}

It was the first week of summer of that very year, and it was that weird time where Joey and Shane were the same age because of the weird birthdays and such.

Shane was spending the night with Joey all that week, and Joeys parents didn't mind, they actually adored Shane.

They snook out to their little tent the first night of the long sleepover or better yet, stay over.

Shane: Hey, we made it through the school year.

{Shane's Pov}

I ran my fingers through Joeys Quiff, which was longer than mine.

He laid on my chest and we could see some of the stars through holes in the 'tent' caused by bad weather and stuff. We often had to fix the tent and stand it back up, but it was our favorite part.

Joey: Yeah. I mean...

Joeys voice grew to a whisper,

Joey: Barely.

Joey coughed a little bit. He always looked a little yellow to me lately.

Shane: Are you sick?

Joey: I'm always sick, Shane.

I frowned and held Joey closer to my chest.

Shane: Why do you refuse to tell anyone?

Joey shrugged.

Joey: I'm scared they'll find something wrong with me. If it's not broke, don't fix it, eh?

Shane: Well, you are a weirdo. Maybe you can get that fixed.

Joey giggled and I sighed.

Joey: No thanks. I like who I am.

I wrapped my arms tight around the young boy laying on my chest.

Shane: I like who you are, too.

I whispered to him softly. He closed his eyes lightly and took a deep breath.

He was always so pretty. Even with the bruises and all, all over his body. He was still so beautiful.

Shane: Could I...

I thought for a second. Did I want to ruin whatever I had possibly? I was unsure. But I was sure of what I wanted to do.

Shane: Can I kiss you?

Joey sat up from my chest and looked down at me. I quickly sat up too.

Joey thought for a second.

Joey: It wouldn't be weird, right?

Shane: No. Not weird.

Joey: We can still be friends?

Shane: Best friends.

The way Joey looked at me was different. I think he wanted to kiss me too.

We sat across from each other, and I put my hand on his cheek, not knowing what else to do with it. He placed his hand gently on my shoulder.

Joey: So, um,

Shane: Um okay...

I thought how we were going to do this.

Shane: Okay. We'll both shut our eyes at the same time and count to three, and then,

Joey: Yeah, okay.

We both shut our eyes, and I began to count. My heart beat fast.

One a thousand. Two a thousand.

I felt Joey's lips which were squeezed together connect gently to mine. I kissed him back, my own lips tied.

We pulled back after a couple seconds, and opened our eyes. We looked at each other for a couple seconds.

Joey: What'd you feel?

I took a deep breath.

Shane: I felt good. Really good.

Joey nodded and whispered 'Me too'.

We just sat still for a second, and Joey caught his breath.

Joey rubbed his neck awkwardly when his breathing settled.

Joey: Do you wanna...?

Shane: Yeah.

I grabbed his face with my hands, and his hands settled on my back. I waited a second, and leaned in and kissed him again.

It felt right, even though I knew it was wrong.

Very wrong. I could get in a lot of trouble if people figured out I was kissing my best friend, alone in a small tent.

But he kissed back and everything felt perfect.

His hands fit in my sides and it felt like everything finally fit and made sense.

And then we pulled away.

Joey: Uh,

Joey bit his lip and looked up at me with sad eyes.

Shane: We can't tell anyone, or do this in public.

Joey nodded and sighed.

Joey: I know.

Shane: Hey, don't be sad.

I pulled him into my arms.

Joey: I'm not supposed to be this way.

He whispered into my shoulder. My body shook as I held him.

I want to be able to be there for Joey all the time.

Shane: That's what everyone wants you to think. But you're perfect.

Joey kissed my skin that was below his mouth and held his lips against it and I tried not to shake so much and shiver so much because it's about eighty degrees outside and I wouldn't have an excuse for why I wasn't being strong.

I slowly laid back down on the pallet of old sheets and warm blankets, with Joey laid on top of me. I shushed him quietly as he groaned while I shuffled myself to a comfortable spot, and he stayed laying on top of me.

Joey: Could we just stay here forever?

Shane: Sure, yeah. If you want to.

I said sleepily as I tried to stay awake for Joey. But he felt so comfortable lying on top of me, his arms wrapped around my neck sorta, and one of his legs sprawled over me while the other laid by my own leg.

Joey: Goodnight.

Joey snuck his head into the crease of my neck, which was his favorite spot.

Shane: Goodnight.

{A/N: Really sorry it's so short but do you guys like the new cover? Or should I go back to the other one? I thought this one fit the theme better for what this book is going to be. In order to understand it you'll just really have to wait for the slow emotional damage going to be brought forth by chapter fifteen or so. Baiiii <3}