A Boy Shouldn't Feel This Way

Chapter 6 // Making up

•Sal's POV•

"You sure you okay dude? That looked like it hurt." Larry was cleaning my face from when Travis hit me. "Yeah, it's fine. I've been through worse." I tried to joke, pointing to the several scars and missing pieces of flesh on my face. "I told you Travis would end up hurting you. I swear, I'm gonna kill that fucking prick." "He probably didn't mean to, and again, killing him would make it worse." Larry seemed visibly confused "How does that make it worse man? He can't hurt you anymore!" I wasn't sure how to respond, so I just shrugged. By the time Larry finished cleaning my face, it would've been lunch time at school. I'd skipped for way longer than I planned. I wasn't sure if I should go back, but I didn't want to. Me and Larry spent the rest of the day hanging in his treehouse, and I was 90% sure he was stoned. "and..and in the dream..you totally killed everyone dude." Larry had been going on about some dream he had that when we were older I killed everyone. (yeah i did that, what are you gonna do) "Dude..that's fuckin' wild." At this point Larry had passed out, probably from all the drinks and smoking. I climbed down from the treehouse and went into my apartment. I had smelt like cigarette smoke from when Larry got me to try it. My throat had still been dry, too. I got some water from the fridge and drank some of it. Gizmo was watching TV on the couch. Oh, right..I forgot to feed Gizmo. I put out some of his food and he got up to eat it. Gizmo was kind of weird, almost like he was a person rather than a cat. I've seen him taking baths in the shower before. I went into my room, took off my prosthetic, and tried to fall asleep. Before falling asleep, I rubbed my scarred face. There had been a new scar from when Travis hit me. I didn't understand why he did it. Maybe something happened? Or maybe he didn't want to be friends anymore. If that's the case, maybe I'll just avoid him.

//The next day - At school//

Larry had told me he wasn't coming to school today, his mom found out he was smoking and drinking yesterday and she kept him home. I was with Ash in our art class now. Travis had this class too, but I tried not to look at him. "Sal, that's so good! I love it!" Ash was complimenting a painting I did. Larry had been teaching me and I think I've gotten better. "Hah..thanks, Ash." Ash was so nice to everyone. It was a surprise that me, Larry, and Todd were really her only friends. She striked me as the popular type. I noticed Travis had been looking over every once in a while, with a sad look on his face. Maybe he didn't mean to hurt me? But he did hurt me. After art class, Ash had history, and I had math. Also with Travis. On the way to Mrs. Packertons class, Travis caught up with me. "Sal- Sal wait!" "What do you want Travis? You gonna punch me again?" He looked hurt by my statement. I started to feel bad. Maybe he really didn't mean to punch me like that.. He had to have had a reason, right? "I'm sorry, Sal, I just...My dad got really mad at me for staying at your place and I got upset about it- I really didn't mean to hit you..If you forgive me, can we please still be friends?...I can't lose you.." He muttered something at the end of that, I couldn't make it out. "Travis, I..I get it. I know you didn't mean it but.. It still hurt. I forgive you. But..did your dad hit you? Is that why you have so many bruises all the time?" He looked shocked, as if he didn't know I noticed. I've always noticed. I just assumed they'd been from fights or something. "I..um. Yeah. But you can't tell anyone. If he finds out I told someone...I also just.. don't want people to know. I trust you, though, Sal." "I promise, I won't tell anyone. If you ever wanna talk, or need help, I'm here." I hugged Travis, making sure he knew I wasn't lying. "Thank you, Sally Face."

•Travis' POV•

I couldn't stop thinking about how I must've hurt Sal. He had been my only friend and I pretty much messed that up. He must hate me. If he didn't hate me before, he has to now. I have to apologize to him tomorrow. I tried not to think about it. After a few more minutes of sitting around, I saw Sal leave the treehouse where they had been before. I had gotten up to go home. When I went inside, father hadn't been there. Thank God. I ran up to my room to avoid any conflict. I fell onto my bed. It wasn't super comfy or anything, but it was better than sleeping on the floor. I took one of my pills to help me sleep. My eyes started to flutter until they eventually closed.

//The next day - At school//

It was first period Art. I had Sal in this class. His other friend Ashley had this class too. I don't know her that much, but she seems kind of annoying. Maybe it's just because she's always all over Sal. She seemed like one of those pick-me-girls. "Sal, that's so good! I love it!" I heard her complimenting Sal as he showed her something he was working on. "Hah...thanks, Ash." I couldn't stop lookinh at Sal. He was so nice to me and I blew it. Everytime I had been near Sal I got these butterflies in my stomach. That had to mean something, right? But I can't be gay.. that's just wrong. Eventually when art was over, I saw Sal practically running to algebra, another class we had together. Just us. Maybe he was trying to avoid me. "Sal- Sal wait!" To my surprise, he stopped, spun around and faced me. I had expected him to ignore me. "What do you want Travis? You gonna punch me again?" That kind of hurt. I really didn't mean to hurt him..."I'm sorry, Sal, I just...My dad got really mad at me for staying at your place and I got upset about it- I really didn't mean to hit you..If you forgive me, can we please still be friends?...I can't lose you.." I regretted saying that last part. I hoped he just didn't hear it. What was wrong with me? "Travis, I..I get it. I know you didn't mean it but.. It still hurt. I forgive you. But..did your dad hit you? Is that why you have so many bruises all the time?" How did he know? I didn't even know he noticed the bruises.. "I..um. Yeah. But you can't tell anyone. If he finds out I told someone..." I started to trail off, but eventually started again. "I also just.. don't want people to know. I trust you, though, Sal." "I promise, I won't tell anyone. If you ever wanna talk, or need help, I'm here." He came up closer to me, and gave me a big hug. I almost lost it. Father said liking a boy was a sin but...now I'm not so sure. "Thank you, Sally Face."

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A/N: I'm sorry for not updating, I took a short break because I had a little writers block. Also, I published this earlier by accident and wasn't finished, so if you noticed that, no you didn't

Word Count: 1310