All The Way

Chapter Eighteen: Inside My Head.

**Mark's POV**

Jack lay on his back, his head resting on Robin's lap, as Robin played some Mario Kart with me. To be honest, I was jealous of their relationship. Right when we arrived at Robin's he greeted us at the door. Jack had barely enough time to introduce me, before Robin broke into a fit of worry. He ran to the freezer, grabbed an ice-pack, and placed it against Jack's bruised eye. Jack answered all his questions, sadness burning my gut. Anger pulsed through my veins, as Jack lay down on Robin's lap, explaining who hurt him. I knew exactly who had hurt him, my hands clenched into fists, shaking in rage. Robin noticed my anger, as Jack cried against his laps, Robin combing his fingers through his green hair. Robin gave me a reassuring nod, and I suddenly felt like everything was going to be okay. I let out a shaky breath, and finally relaxed. 

Robin wasn't the best at Mario Kart- or maybe, I was just really good- but it was fun to play. It managed to take my mind off things. He seemed to know exactly what to do, without saying a whole lot, to make both Jack and I feel better. Jack glanced down at me, where I was sitting on the floor, and gave me a weak smile. I set down the control, after finishing the last lap of Rainbow Road, and crawled over to Jack. He sat up, and leaned down, our lips brushing. Robin smiled, blushing deeply. 

"Told you, Jack," Robin whispered.

"Shut up," Jack laughed, smacking his arm. 

"Told you what?" I questioned, chuckling in curiosity. 

"I told him that you liked him too. And that you two would make a cute couple."

I could feel my cheeks burn, and I chuckled nervously. Jack hugged me tight, pulling me up onto the couch beside him. He rested with his head on my chest, breathing in deeply. I smiled, and closed my eyes, melting against his love. 

**Jack's POV**

Visiting Robin made things better. Less chaotic within my mind. But the pain still lingered. The stress. The sadness. The disappointment. The depression. Even laying against Mark's chest, the crushing emotions inside threatened to bring tears to my eyes. I squeezed them shut, to fight the emotions, and let my exhaustion take over. 

Cold air cut through the darkness around me. I shivered, searching the tall, never-ending trees around me. The moon cut through the ominous fog, the only source of light. All was silent. Haunting. Nerves rattled my bones, fear widening my pale eyes. Echoes broke through the terrifying silence. Voices, drifting on the chilling winds. Burning at my ears. 

"Weak. Gay. Disappointment. Freak. Loner. Loser. Nerd. Emo..." 

The taunting words swirled around me, tearing at my fragile bones. Breaking me. Tears streamed down my eyes. 

"Baby. Weirdo. Faggot. Strange. Ugly. Gross..."

The words forced me to my knees, my body burning as if my bones were being shattered by each cruel word. Words that constantly taunted me. Words that pushed me back down, whenever I managed to finally pull myself out of the crater of loneliness haunting me. My heart slowed. I felt as if I were dying. Each breath grew more brittle with each new, crushing word thrown at me. 

"Failure. Repulsive. Gay. Gay. Gay..."

**Mark's POV**

Jack shook in his sleep, whispering beneath his shaky breaths. He was in a fragile state. I could sense it. It hurt me. More than anything. I've always been in pain. Sad. Lonely. When he came around, I was no longer lonely, but drowned deeper into sadness. Seeing him sad only made me more depressed. I drowned myself in his agony. 

I wasn't always sad. I remember the days when I would comfort Felix, although I couldn't understand why he was so emotional. I remember doing stupid things that got me in trouble, in elementary, but it filled me with happiness. I remember going fishing, or bowling with my dad. I remember laughing. Crying when I fell off my bike. Laughing when dad fell off, too. Goofing around on the playground. Playing with my first dog, Chica. Smiling after my first kiss. 

Those days were gone. Buried with my father. Buried with my happiness. Now, all that remained was pain. Suffering. Sadness. I lost an amazing figure in my life, who was soon replaced with an awful person. An abusive stepdad. An alcoholic. A child molester. A wife beater. 

The night before Jack arrived at my school, I stood on my desk chair in my room, staring at a noose I had made out of an extension cord, tears staining my expressionless face. A pain ached in my stomach, my legs weak from being abused by Dax. Raped. For the fourth time, a broken beer bottle held against my throat. I couldn't handle it anymore. The disgust I felt. The anger I couldn't express. The sadness that only made me weaker. However, I managed to step down from the chair, thinking about my future. Thinking, maybe, just maybe, I would find someone who could make everything better. Make the pain go away. 

And then, there he was. The shy, awkward, new kid from Ireland. I never believed in love at first sight, until I laid my eyes on his beautiful blue seas. I fell in love with his small smile. His pale skin. His voice. His strange behavior. Him. 

"He's special, isn't he?" Robin whispered, smiling at me. 

"Yeah... Yeah, he is." 

I combed my fingers through his grass of hair, a gentle smile on my lips. 

"Thank you, for loving him," Robin said. 

"Thank you. Thank you, for loving him." 

"He's a good person. A bit strange, but that just makes him even greater."

I chuckled quietly, careful to not stir him awake. He had settled from whispering, and squirming in his slumber. Probably a nightmare. We all had nightmares. 

**Robin's POV**

Jack looked so small in his arms. Like a porcelain doll. I admired the way Mark gazed down at him, and brushed his fingers delicately through his hair, as if the wrong stroke of his fingers would crack him. I was glad Jack had someone to love him. He needed someone special, and I could tell Mark did too. Both damaged souls, who made each other whole. 

"Know that I will always be here, when you, or him, need someone to talk to," I smiled. 

"Thank you," Mark whispered, tears brimming his eyes. "You... you're really generous."

"I was born to help," I shrugged, giving Mark a large, reassuring smile. 

Mark bit his lip, fighting the tears. "Thank you," he mouthed, silent tears escaping his dark eyes. 

I nodded, and switched the TV onto Netflix. I let Mark choose, and moved to sit at my desk, stationed in the corner of the room. Mark watched Lost, which he said he had just started. I had already watched it about three times, and still had no idea what was happening. I opened up an animation I was working on. 

Mark sat silent on the couch, watching Lost, with Jack sleeping sound on his chest. 

I don't know if this chapter was good or bad. Been having BAD writer's block, but started listening to sad music, and it seems to be helping. hahah anyway, thanks for reading.