Armando cleaned his boyfriend's arms, his hands shaking so bad he could barely hold anything anymore, tears threatening to spill down his face. Everett stood there, a hollow, empty look in his eyes as Armando stood with him, leaning forward on the sink counter, holding the sleeves of his jacket tight over his forearms. Everett eventually snapped out of his trace, placing a hand on Armando's back. His touch was met with a tearful glare and Armando moving quickly to get his hand away.
"What is wrong with you?! Why would you do this?!" Armando yelled, getting closer to Everett, his hands still shaking , gritting his teeth.
"I..I don't know..." Everett just stared into his boyfriend's eyes, his breath quickening. "I just had the idea...I did it and it made me feel kinda better...I'm sorry..."
"No you're fucking not! You are not sorry! You're fucking sorry you got caught and you're sorry you're being yelled at! You're only fucking sorry for yourself and you're not thinking of what this might fucking do to the people around you!" Armando grabbed Everett's hand, the soft, safe aura fell away. The two stood in silence, Everett beginning to cry, his breathing shallow and quick. His eyes were wide and red from tears, making his green irises seem to glow.
Armando let go of Everett and pushed him aside, going to his room and slamming the door. Everett shakily got to his room, laying on the bed and curling up in the fetal position. In Armando's room, he sat on his bed, breathing deep and scratching at his forearms, clawing at the clear scars covering his skin.
The two didn't speak for quite a while. In fact, Armando barely saw Everett for days, only seeing Georgina, who was just as she always was. Armando went to school and stayed after with friends, coming home every day, again and again but not seeing his boyfriend in the window waiting for him or even seeing him running around the house in the dark. Georgina gave him chores to do, praised him when they were finished and took care of him, an uncharacteristic warmth in her eyes.
"Armando, dear..? Come sit with me.." Georgina patted the seat beside hers in the living room, smiling softly. Armando walked to her and sat, keeping his back straight. She smiled at him. "You can relax..you don't have to be tense right now."
"Oh..um, alright.." Armando relaxed, leaning back in his seat and looking at her.
"I know that...living here has been difficult. I'm always away, school is strange, such a small town and so many rumours surrounding this house...but you have been handling things and adjusting so well. I am very proud of you Armando."
"Well...thank you ma'am..you've made living her very nice..it's a little strange how huge the house is and how everyone knows about the house and the rumours about you...but it's gotten easier." Armando smiled at her as she stood up.
"I'll be going to the library. I know you haven't been there very much but I have a selection of books you might enjoy. Feel free the join me if you would like, I'll have tea. I plan on making more time for you in my life, I feel dreadful about being away from you so often.
"Alright ma'am, thank you again. I think I'll join you." Georgina walked off and into the hall of the house, in the direction of the library.
