Pen Pals

Chapter 21

Joey's P.O.V.

      "Shut up! Both of you! You guys obviously lived whatever truly happen. So that means you know who is lying. There is no point in arguing if you already know who is telling a fib. So just shut the fuck up!" Daniel says through breathless screams and blood shot eyes. I didn't realize this was affecting him, what happened to me and also us breaking up. But I can't give up on the lie now. I've gone too far to stop it. So, here we go.

    "Why can't you believe me?" I whisper to Daniel. He rolls his head to the side and pulls his bottom lip through his teeth. Daniel's eyes lock onto the floor and then trail up to look at me.
    "I'm trying so fucking hard. But I know you aren't crazy and I know you didn't do this to yourself. So please, baby, just-" I cut him off right when baby slips out of his mouth.
    "Baby? Daniel, I don't know if you can recall the fact that I broke up with you. I'm not your baby or your sweetheart or even yours for a matter of fact. So cut it out!" I say and Preston looks over to Daniel and lets out a small laugh.
    "You care too much about people who don't care about you," Preston tells Daniel. Is he saying I don't care about him?
    "You can never care too much about someone who means everything to you, fuck face," Daniel tells Preston, I can see that Daniel has started to breathe much heavier and a drop of sweat rolls down his forehead.
    "Ah so I touch your pretty boy before you get a chance to and now i'm being called fuck face? I guess that is fair," Preston says smiling and looking like he wouldn't mind taking advantage me again.
    "He isn't mine anymore. But that still doesn't give you the right to lay a single finger on him without his consent. So yes. I'm calling you fuck face. And that is because I can't put my hands around your throat and kill you right now myself. The name is how i'm going to cope with the fact that I have to breathe the same air as you and not believe Joey while I believe your story," Daniel says gripping his chair while his whole body shakes. Yes, I am lying. But like I said before, I don't want people to look at me like i'm damaged. I don't want them to see me as some weak person who has to have people protect him. I only need to protect myself.

    In this moment, I turn my head back to Daniel. I study how his body trembles with every small breath his takes. I see how his hair looks just a bit messier than normal and his eyes seem to wander around the room. I see bite marks on his beautiful lips where he whas tried to release some of the pain from these past few hours. I stare at him and it makes me remember the times he has held me in his arms. It makes me think of all the times he has kissed me and made me feel like i'm home. Sometimes home isn't four walls. Sometimes home is two eyes and heartbeat. So in these moments i'm looking at the boy who brought everything to my life all at once, I can't believe I removed him from my life.

    "Shit, stop looking at me like that, Joseph. You're giving me hope again and all you're going to do is tear it back away from me," Daniel says looking up to the ceiling while tears stream down by his temples. It pulled me out of my thought and in that moment all three guards walk in. They pull my chair and Daniel's chair and bring them over to the interrogation table where Preston is already by. I am placed in the middle and Daniel is on my right while Preston is slid to my left.

    "We have considered both of your statements. Obviously there is resemblance in the plot lines but who is responsable is different in both stories. We have reviewed our perspectives on both Joey and Preston and we have decided on who we believe," Preston's guard tells us, however he says the whole thing making intense eye contact with me. I can feel my eyes burning, ready to drop more tears. But I fight them off. I already know how this is going to end.

    "We believe Preston's story. Preston you will be moved to a different jail in the state. Daniel and Joey will remain cell mates. Hopefully we will be able to resolve this issue with this solution. And Joey, we will offer you counseling for what happened to you," Daniel's guard tells us all. My face turns white and my stomach flips completely upside down. They can't do this. I don't want to be looked at like a lost puppy. I- I don't need this.

   Preston's guard takes him out of the room and now my guard pays his full attention to looking at me.

    "Why were you trying to protect him, Joseph? He took advantage of you. He hurt you. And- and you're sitting here trying to cover up what he did? That is honestly pathetic. So unbelievably pathe-" my guard is saying all these things and eventually my mind shuts off his sound. I can see his lips moving but I no longer hear the venom he is spitting at me. I gaze to my side and see Daniel's mouth moving but I also can't hear the words. I guess this is my mind's way of saying that I don't need this right now, I don't deserve it.

    The guards uncuff us and stand us up. I still can't walk so my guard grabs the wheel chair they have waiting for me. I used to let Daniel carry me but I can't do that anymore. We are going down the halls and I can see all of these people point at me and Daniel through their cell doors. Alot of them whisper to eachother, some of them laugh. And in these minutes I am passing by people, I finally feel like my life is over.