Mostly Minecraft -- A Youtuber Oneshot Book

Fingerless Gloves -- Dolphani

I woke up to Ryan calling my name. His soft, raspy morning voice rippled through my dreams, filling my head before I opened my eyes, making me crave to see his face, which just so happened to be currently centimeters away from mine. Propping myself up on my elbows, I leaned up and kissed my boyfriend of a year. He melted into me, grasping me under my shoulders, holding me up while I kiss him. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he falls foreword so that we're both lying on the bed, separated. Only then do I notice the long red fingerless gloves that cover his forearms. I sit up and hold his hands in mine as he lays back on the bed and feigns sleep. I smirk and raise my eyebrows. "What's this?" He opens his eyes quickly and pulls his hands out of mine, quickly trying to find a use for them. He props himself up on his elbows. "It's nothing. I uhh... Wanted to try a new style?" I don't quite believe him, but I trust him enough that if he wants to keep something a secret, I won't push him to tell me. We eventually get up, and go get ready for the day. Ryan is acting a bit strange. He gets dressed in the bathroom after taking a shower, instead of just getting dressed in our bedroom like he usually does. When we eat breakfast, he gets syrup on his gloved hand, and excuses himself to the bathroom, even though there is a sink in the kitchen. As he walks out of the room, his left arm rubs against the doorway, and he withdraws it quickly, wincing. While he is washing his his hands upstairs, I ponder his weird behavior. He refuses to take his gloves off, and he acted as if whatever was under them was painful. I wonder wha-

I gasp out loud. "You ok Babe?" Ryan says from the doorway. I inwardly try to shake off the feeling of doom that has filled me. "I uhh-" I gulp nervously. "Yeah. I'm good." Ryan smiles concernedly at me and sits down, picking up his fork and knife to finish eating. "Hey uhh, Ryan, buddy..." I start. He looks up at me casually and I continue. "What's... Um- What's under your gloves?" Ryan starts, but then immediately composes himself. "Hehe. Jordan! My arms! Duh!" He grins, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Oh... Yeah. Right." I say. We finish up breakfast and clean up, before walking hand in gloved hand to the tv. Sitting down on the couch together, Ryan turns the TV to a football game, becoming quickly engrossed in the show. I look over to his arm, lying limp on the couch next to him. Slowly I slide my hand towards his. I stealthily grab the soft fabric of the red glove and begin to pull. I haven't even gotten an inch of movement before Ryan gasps and yanks his hand away, cradling it against his chest. My eyes tear up. "Why Ryan? What made you do it?" Ryan begins to cry as well. "I- it was an impulse move. I shouldn't have- " he breaks down, crying into his hands, dampening his gloves. I reach out and pull my boyfriend in, holding him close to my body as he cries into my shoulder. "Can I see?" I say quietly and tentatively. He sniffles, but nods. I slowly, gently slide my thumb under the wrist-hole of the glove, pulling the accessory slowly towards me. I look away as the glove leaves his hand and falls to the floor. His arm is trembling in my grasp. I'm not ready to see this. Inhaling shakily, I tilt my head so I can see his wrist. The sight that greets me is so unlike the rusty red lines I had expected, that I let out a small gasp. It quickly turns into a smile, and then I'm crying, from happiness and sadness, and from sheer disbelief. Written across Ryan's arm in black ink, it says xBayaniDood+ChildDolphin=Dolphani. Around his wrist, surrounding the letters, is one of his beautiful drawings, colorfully painted on his arm by a tattoo artist; except this drawing is different. The colors make pictures, a kaleidoscope of memories, woven together, engraved on his wrist. Each picture, and each picture inside a picture, shows a moment we shared. Every one is unique, and none show just one experience. They all describe a million different times we had together, intermingling and becoming one. Ryan touches my arm lightly. I've been staring at the tattoo too long. "Are you mad?" He timidly inquires. "No! No. It's beautiful." I reply, startled. "Why would I be mad?" He shrugs, and rubs his tear stained face, moving the thumb of his non-tattooed hand to wipe the tears off of my face as well. "I don't know. You sounded like you were." I laugh. "Did I?" I say. "Yeah, you sounded scared too. And as if you were disappointed in my" he gestures to his tattoo. " of course not! I love it. I just-" I sigh. "I didn't know it was a tattoo you were hiding." I look down at the floor. "What did you think I- Oh.... oh." He blushes slightly and stares at the spot on the floor that I was staring at merely seconds ago. Ryan, to my surprise, pulls me into a tight embrace, setting his lips in my messy hair and kissing the top of my head. "I would never. Not ever hurt myself. I'm not depressed, or even remotely sad. I have an amazing boyfriend who makes my life worthwhile. I couldn't bear to hurt myself, because I know how I feel when you get hurt, and I would never want you to feel like that." His voice is muffled in my hair, but I can feel the truth and vigor behind his words. I lean my head up and catch his lips on mine, wrapping my arms around his neck. He kisses back without hesitation, and I can feel the love radiating off of him, and flowing around us. Lifting his arm with my two hands, I raise his tattoo to my face, kissing his wrist lightly. "I love you." I say, pushing his curly hair out of his face. He looks at me and smiles. "I love you too Jordan Bayani. And I will always keep loving you until the end of time."