C:R~I_M-I'N*A^L (Sally Face X Larry)

CHAPTER:~9~

Sal stared in awe at the painted that laid before him.

It was him. It was Sal. Represented perfectly through neat brush strokes.

"It's beautiful... thank you Larry, thank you so much!" Sal smiled, taking off his mask and setting it down on Larry's bed. A few stray tears slowly started falling down Sal's scarred cheeks.

"Hey, you ok?" Larry's gaze was full of concern as he approached the smaller boy and wiped the tears away.

"I'm just... thank you so much... I've never really gotten anything like this since... my mom..." Sal started, then stopped and looked at his friend. "It means a lot to me. Thank you. Happy tears." Sal smiled, hugging the taller of the two. Larry quickly accepted the hug.

"We should get ready for school. Don't wanna be late." Larry sighed, ruining the moment. They reluctantly let go of each other just as Lisa barged in.

"Hey, Sal! Happy birthday! I have to get to work, emergencies and all, but your present is on the counter. Have a good day, hun! You too, Larbear." Lisa smiled at them as she left the apartment. Larry chuckled, looking over at Sal.

"What?" Sal questioned.

"You gunna stand there and watch me get dressed, or go look at the present mom gotcha?" Larry smirked. Sal blushed, stumbling to find the right words as he grabbed his mask.

"Sorry!" The blue haired boy murmured, walking out of the room and closing the door. A few moments later Larry walked out to see Sally gazing happily at a guitar.

"Yo, your mom is the best!" Sal smiled. Larry nodded and walked over to Sal.

"We should go get your stuff and get to school." Larry smirked as Sal nodded and put the instrument back into its case.

...

The two boys walked hand-in-hand into the school.

Friends hold hands, right?

Yes.

Travis wasn't too fond of the sight that was laid out in front of him.

"You fuckin... you little shit!" Travis yelled bitterly as he walked over to Sal and pushed him away from Larry.

"You think that just because it's your birthday I'll go easy on you?! God won't go easy on your soul in hell, fag! So why should I?!" Travis growled.

"You know what, Travis? Yeah, I'm gay, get over it! You're just jealous that I could fuck any dude I want and you can't even get-" Sal was cut off by a harsh punch to the jaw, sending him to the ground. Larry quickly intervened, pushing Travis to the ground.

"Give it a brake! Just because you can't tell your dad that your gay doesn't mean that you can take out your lent up anger on Sal!" Larry shouted, punching Travis' cheek.  Larry rushed back over to Sal and helped him up.

"T-Thanks Lar." Sal smiled. The blue haired boy quickly unbuckled the bottom of his mask and planted a kiss on Larry's cheek.

Just as fast as it came, it was gone. Sal was halfway down the hall, his mask secured back into place.

"C'mon, we're gunna be late!" Sal turned, walking backwards while looking at his friend. "What's that all about?" A feminine voice asked from behind Larry. Ashley Campbell. Larry turned, a goofy smile and pink cheeks.

"Dunno." He shrugged, running after Sal.

"Wait up!" Ashely shouted, running after Larry. Soon enough, the group caught up with Todd. Everyone went to their designated classes after saying their goodbyes.

...

Mrs. Packerton continued the boring lesson as Sal sighed. A few moments passed by, the classroom was silent and everyone was working on their assignments. Sal stood up and walked over to the teachers desk.

"Can I use the bathroom?" Sal asked quietly.

"I don't know, can you?" The teacher replied.

I don't know, CAN you stop being in a cult? Sal thought.

"Ahem... may I use the bathroom?" Sal sighed. The teacher simply nodded and Sally started towards the door. Once in the hallway, Sal just wondered around a bit, looking at the cheesy school posters that plastered the dull walls. Sal sighed, starting back towards the classroom. That is, until he felt someone grab his wrist.

His wrist.

Probably the most sensitive thing about him.

His wrist.

Sal gasped, turning around and coming face to face with the person he feared most.

Travis.

"Hey freak. You ready for your gift?" Travis smirked.

"Will I ever be?!" Sal glared.

"Probably not. But trust me... you'll like it~" Travis smiled innocently.

"Now, come with me like a good little boy." Travis spat out.

"No." Sal refused.

"What did you say?"

"I said NO!" Sal replied, ripping his wrist away from the boy. The words earned him a punch to the stomach. The boy doubled over, coughing before falling to his knees.

"You BELONG to me. You can't REFUSE me. You can't ESCAPE me!" Travis shouted, grabbing Sal's collar and pulling him to his feet.

"That's where you're wrong, Travis. I know what you go through. It's obvious. I know about your dad. And what he does. I know every-" Sal was cut off yet again, but this time it was a knee to the stomach he received. This time, Sal managed to keep his balance and stay in his feet.

"You have NO idea about anything! You don't know me!" Travis shouted, tackling the boy and ripping off his mask.

"You're just a demon, a nuisance! A bug, wiggling around under the feet of a successful businessman!" Travis screamed, wrapping his hands around Sal's neck.

"That's... not true, Trav...is." Sal struggles for breath. "I do know you. I know what happens to you when you... do something wrong, or- or when you... when you get bad grades... I know what your dad does. Your home life. How... how would your dad feel if he learned that his son... his only son... was attempting to... have sexual relations with another male?" Sal smirked.

"No! Shut up, shut up!" Travis shouted in Sal's face, raining down punch after punch.
It had gone too far. Sal screamed out for help, which pushed Travis over the edge. He again wrapped his hands around Sal's neck, squeezing.

Small black spots started clouding over Sal's vison as he gasped for air, but just before he blacked out, someone tore the boy off of Sal.
But it wasn't Larry.

It was Todd.