Somebody like you (boyxboy)

18. Wasn't Excpecting That

Trevor

"I'm half tempted to hit you myself at the moment," Raymond said as he stood over his brother and held the cold cloth to his cheek. "Do you have painkillers?"

"No, sorry," I replied.

"Leave off, Raymond! It hurts!"

"Can you feel now, how stupid you were? This is what it's going to be you know, if you keep going!" Charlie clenched his jaws against the pain and shut his eyes tight.

"Raymond, stop," I said, but he didn't budge. "Can't you see that you're hurting him? stop!" I got up and pushed him away. I took the towel from him and sat down on the floor in front of Charlie. Even though he was on the bed his face was on level with mine because he'd bent down in pain like he was losing the grip on his surroundings.

"This is all because of you," Raymond sneered, but gave me room.

"Charlie? Look at me, please," I said softly as I put the towel in the bowl of cold water.

"It hurts."

I chuckled. "To look at me?"

"Go away, Trevor. You said you weren't my friend, don't pretend to be. Raymond can take care of me just fine."

"I shouldn't have said it. I didn't mean it." Charlie looked up and met my eyes for the first time in a fortnight. They were still the same brown I remembered, but less keen as they were clouded with fatigue and tears. He was crying now, the pain must be half unbearable. It was a lot worse than it looked like from afar. He'd bled from the side of his head and his hair was coated in the sticky substance. His lips were swollen and the bruise around his eye was almost black.

"Don't, Trevor. Just don't make it worse. Don't lie."

"I'm sorry I overreacted. It was stupid, I don't even know why I was so upset at you."

"I feel like my face has doubled in size."

"Quite a feat, considering it was already large as a football." I chuckled, and almost toppled over when I heard Charlie's careful chuckle too. I couldn't help it, I smiled widely as I looked at him and felt like a weight was lifted off my chest and I could finally breathe again.

***

Charlie

"Charlie?" I opened my eyes and stared right into Trevor's face. "Finally!" A smile spread across his face and I almost couldn't believe my eyes. "I wanted to ask if we might have breakfast..." he said hesitantly. I sat up and put my feet over the opposite side of where he was standing, as I was only wearing pants, and let my face fall into my hands. My head was pounding from hangover and beatings.

"Charlie?" I groaned loudly. "Ok, sorry. I'm not going to bother you."

"Breakfast, as in right now and in the city, breakfast?"

"Yes, that was the plan."

"Might as well," I muttered and got up. "Could I shower first? I don't think I've been properly clean for a week."

"Of course." I could feel Trevor's eyes drag over my mostly naked body and his expression became worried. I'd gotten thinner since the last time he'd seen me properly, and knew that I looked unhealthy. I wanted to cover myself up, I didn't want him to see me so weak. A wave of guilt and regret came over me, and I quickly went into the bathroom.

When I'd washed myself, and gotten into some clean clothing I felt almost like a new man, if it hadn't been for the pounding in my head and face.

"Ok. Let's go."

We walked in silence. I didn't know what to think, really. Trevor couldn't just have taken a complete turn like that just because I had some blood on my face, could he? I didn't trust him. He'd hurt me, I'd hurt myself, and I wasn't completely back out, though I had had a surprisingly effective wake-up call.

"So where are we going?"

"I know somewhere." And he was tiptoeing around me, throwing nervous glances at me and always looked like he wanted to say something but not sure exactly what – like every word could make me turn around and walk away.

I led him through a couple of small alleys and into a cosy back-yard in the middle of the small village. There were a couple of people there, eating mostly in silence. Radiators kept the cold away, but blankets were in a stack by the door that lead to the kitchen in case somebody got cold.

"What is this place?"

"A friend of my mother owns it."

"Charlie, is that your voice I hear?" Vivian called from the inside.

"Come out and see," I replied and let an easy smile play over my lips. In just a moment the woman was out the door.

"It is yo- Oh! Oh, my dear boy, what in the world happened to you?!"

"Oh, that..." Trevor said with a nervous laugh. "I uhm... I made him come play football with me and some of the other boys, he got a knee to the face. It was nasty, wasn't it?" Trevor looked at me like he was urging me to confirm his story, but afraid I wouldn't.

"Yes, but isn't as bad as it looks."

"It's good to see you, even if you look like you crawled out of hell, come here." She pulled me into a hug and I got face full of her curls. "I haven't seen you in ages! Your brother is here almost twice a week, you know!" she said accusingly, but stroked my cheek anyway. "And who is your friend?"

"It's uh –" I grimaced, not sure how to label me and Trevor. "It's my roommate."

"Trevor Jaxon, hello." Trevor shook her hand and she showed us to a table.

"So, is this a date?" she asked cheerfully. Of course she would ask that.

"No, Vivian, not everything has to be romantic. And anyway, you know I don't date."

"You will never take my hope away!" she said teasingly, but luckily decided to take our order and leave.

"Are you alright?" Trevor asked when she left.

"Yes, of course. I'm fine, why?"

"No, I mean... What has been wrong, why have you been so -?"

"So?"

"So out of it, I guess." Trevor rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I think the last time I saw you eat was five days ago. You never went to class... you actually smoke; I'd have never taken you for a smoker. You were so – Jesus, Charlie, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

"For what?"

"For not talking to you! For being a dick. For never asking what was wrong!" Trevor's voice broke and a warm feeling spread through me.

"I don't actually smoke, it was just... It seemed fitting."

"Are you two alright?" Vivian asked as came up to our table.

"Yes, absolutely. This looks delicious by the way," Trevor said and smiled up at her.

***

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