The Forbidden Bite

Chapter 28: Space

I stood there in shock as I watched Daniel throw punch after punch on Richard's face.  Richard was trying to fight back but Daniel trapped Richard's legs underneath his ankles.  Blood was pouring out of Richard's nose as it ran down onto the concrete.  Looking at the blood made me feel faint and nauseous.  I felt like my feet were glued to the ground as the kids around me screamed and cheered them on.  How didn't a teacher hear them yet?  I finally got a sudden wave of confidence and I ran to the front of the crowd.

"DANIEL!!!"  I yelled but he didn't hear as Richard kicked Daniel in the groin.  I saw Daniel's face twist up in pain but he still didn't let up.  I dropped down right next to them so I could get on there level.

"DANIEL!!!"  I screamed one last time where I knew he could here me.  Once he heard my voice he looked at me with those dark eyes filled with rage.  He stopped punching Richard enough for Richard to push him off him and try to stand up.  He only fell down again, as a student went to get a teacher.  Daniel's knuckles were covered I blood, and I didn't know if it was his or Richard's.  I sat there on the ground looking so disappointed in him, and I knew Daniel could tell.  

Soon the group of kids slowly slouched away as the bell rang.  I stood up and I pulled Daniel up by his hands and he stumbled against me.  I knew if we were here and the teacher came, we would both be in trouble.  I took Daniel by the hand and started walking home.  I knew I shouldn't skip but I needed to talk to him.  I was livid, absolutely livid.  I felt the anger course through my veins until it started blurring my vision.

I threw open my door, knowing my parents weren't going to be home.  I marched him upstairs and made him sit on the toilet, as I wet a paper cloth.  He didn't mutter a word, which was probably the best course of action since I was so...livid.  I ran his knuckles under  the warm sink water and he flinched a couple times and a majority of the blood fell off.  

"I'm sorry,"  He muttered barely audible enough for me to hear.  I just shook my head, and took the wash cloth and dabbed at his knuckles.  There was some dried blood that fell off after that.  He had a few cuts but none to severe.  I was happy he was okay, but I was still disappointed.  A part of me wished a week ago that this would happen, but Richard did his part.  He got rid of the flyers and apologized to me, at this point there was nothing he could do.  I wasn't going to be surprised if Daniel beat someone else up, but for some reason it never crossed my mind that he would take it out on Richard.

His knuckles started to turn black and blue, and I just sighed.  I didn't know what to say, I think my facial expression said enough about my emotions.  I took a bandage and wrapped the cloth around both of his knuckles, so it gave him some padding and keep bacteria out.  I looked into his eyes and he looked sympathetic.

"Daniel, why?"  I said.

"He deserved it, Jack.  He outed you, and outed our relationship when you weren't ready.  He posted it all over social media, and it caused some other kid to print it out onto flyers,"  He said sounding frustrated.  I looked shocked because I never told him about the flyers, I didn't want to make him angrier.

"I found out about the flyers after a kid showed me one of them he kept.  That's when I snapped,"  He said.  I looked down on the ground.

"I'm still disappointed,"  I said.

"I'm disappointed about the fact you didn't tell me.  I told you that I wanted to know what happened at school.  Honesty is so important and I thought we had already opened up to each other about nearly everything.  We are in a relationship Jack, you can burden me with everything.  I told you that,"  Daniel argued.

"Stop scolding me like I'm a child.  I can't believe your mad at me about the flyers.  You could have just talked to me.  Like you said honesty, well you weren't to honest, instead you took it out on Richard,"  I said and he stood up very fast.  I ducked and put my hands over my face.  Daniel looked shocked and a sad look crossed his face.