Until You're Cured

Seven Days

Seven Days

It’s September 13th, which scares the shit out of me. I know this is irrational and that the one who really should be scared is Scott. But never the less, it terrifies me. I still can’t explain how to explain this sinking, soaring, explosion feeling when we kiss. Or  how to know if he will even care about my  existence afterward.

I always hate school, but today is excruciating. Scott is in the labs for his final evaluation before his procedure next week. All I can do is pray that they don’t figure out that he’s Delirious. That they can’t tell he’s unnatural. Pray that they decide that he’s too young for the procedure to be effective. I know it’s unlikely, but i can’t help but hope.

I walk through the day completely not caring that i should be paying attention. I just want it to be five o’clock so Scott will be home. But, sadly, I can’t speed up time and i have to sit through my dumb classes.

After the final bell rings, I speed to the Hoying’s house. I flop onto Scott’s now familiar bed to wait. I keep circling around the same struggle I’ve had for weeks. How do I tell Scott how I feel. Everything I’ve said so far, although it’s all true, it’s not what I need to say.

“Hey, Mitch?” A voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

I turn to see Eli standing awkwardly in the doorway. He’s shifting foot to foot and not quite looking at me. My first thought is that something happened to Scott. Something happened and now Eli has to tell me. But, I never heard the phone ring, how could something have happened and then Eli have been informed without calling the house?

“Um...what do you need?” I ask tentatively. If nothing’s gone wrong, why is he coming to talk to me? We don’t just talk to each other.

“Look, I know we don’t really get along, but I have to tell you something. I just don’t think I can tell anyone else. I don’t think they’d understand,” Eli says, surprising me.

“Okay...What is is?”

“Um, I think I’m Delirious. But not just Delirious, unnatural,” he tells me, eyes downcast. I sit stunned. How is it even possible that both Eli and Scott are unnatural?

“Why did you tell me this?”

“Well, I know you’re unnatural too and I know you know what it’s like to feel like this about someone. But, you can’t have that someone in your case, so, instead of him, would you consider me?”

“Eli, you’re a good kid. But I don’t think that is such a good idea. Scott would kill you.”

“Why does Scott matter in this? Is it because he’s my brother and your best friend? Because he shouldn’t matter in this.” Eli interjects.

“Eli. Listen to me and quit interrupting me. The reason I said no is because I’m already dating the one I have feelings for. I am in love with your brother and that’s not going to change anytime soon,” I say. Oh my god. The words I’ve been trying to say for weeks, they just happened and...oh my god.

There’s a few beats of complete silence before Eli shakes himself out of his thoughts. “What? You mean that my brother, who never in a million years would I have guessed was anything but normal, is unnatural? Is this some kind of sick, twisted dream?”

“I have no idea what goes on in your dreams and now, I’m not sure I want to know. But, yes, Scott is unnatural. Yes, he is my boyfriend, has been since the end of freshman year.” I explain.

“And you said you love him?” he asks in a near whisper.

“Yes. I love Scott,” I state, smiling to myself.’

“Oh...well, this is awkward so I’m going to go now…” Eli turns to leave. I grab his arm and turn him around. I was about to speak when he quickly leaned in and kissed me.

I shove him off. “What the hell, Eli?”

“Sorry. I don’t know why I did that. I’m sorry. Were you going to say something?” Eli apologizes.

“Yeah, I was going to say that you need to talk to Scott. Now, you really need to talk to him. You can’t just go around kissing other people’s boyfriends. Okay?”

“Okay,” he says, hanging his head. He walks away and I don’t stop him this time.

About an hour later, Scott comes home. “Hey, how was your evaluation?” I ask as he walks in, sitting next to me on his bed.

“Fine. I passed. Nothing wrong with me. How was life here?”

“Interesting, that’s for sure. I told Eli he needs to talk to you, and I should probably stay out of it, unless one of you wants me there.” I answer.

“ELI! GET DOWN HERE!” Scott yells very suddenly.

We wait a minute before hearing loud footsteps on the stairs then crossing the floor above us then down to the room where we sit. Eli is already blushing when he gets here.

“So, what is this you’re supposed to talk to talk to me about?”

“Look, I’m sorry that I hit on your boyfriend. I didn’t know you were...unnatural too.” he mumbles.

“You did what now?” Scott asks, amazed.

“I kinda, sorta asked Mitch to go out with me.” Eli’s eyes are still downcast. I know that he isn’t going to give up the big thing by himself.

“And…? What else did you do, Eli?” I prod. He doesn’t say anything. I ask again and still, silence. “Eli, either you tell Scott or I do. And you and I both know it would be better if you did…”

“I just don’t know how to say it! I mean, how the hell do you tell your older brother that you kissed his boyfriend?” Eli rambles. His eyes go wide, as do Scott’s when they realize what he said. Scott looks back and forth between me and his little brother. Eli speaks up again, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. He told me you guys are together and I did it anyway and I’m sorry.”

“Hey, I get it, I think I did pretty much the same thing when I first asked Mitch out, but this is a little different. I’m glad you fessed up otherwise, if I heard about this, you would be a puddle of Eli pulp on the floor.” Scott says. “So, what exactly did Mitch say when he told you about us?”

“He said that you were his boyfriend and that he’s in love with you and-”

Scott cuts him off, turning to me. “You said that?” The expression on his face is so tender and it makes me wonder what he’s going to say.

“Yes. It’s true and it’s what I‘ve been trying to say this whole time but couldn’t find the words.” I admit. Scott leans down to kiss me. It’s soft but firm and passionate. When  we pull apart, I notice Eli still standing there in the doorway. “Can you go now?” I say pointedly. He scurries away and I meet Scott’s lips with mine again.

Soon, I start kissing down his neck, whispering against his skin, “I love you.” One by one, I undo the buttons of his shirt, covering the now exposed skin with kisses. Scott’s strong arms wrap around my shoulders, very slowly pulling me to lay on top of him.

“I love you too,” Scott breathes before reattaching our lips. Our clothes seem to melt away, neither of us knowing when we went from mostly covered to skin to skin. We had waited so long for this and now, we couldn’t waste a second of it. Before he does anything, Scott looks at me, silently asking, “Is this okay.” And I answer with the same three words every time.

Afterward, we lay together, a tangle of arms and legs. I tilt my head back to look up at Scott and reach up to touch his cheek. He kisses my hand and I can’t help smiling. Even when he’s Cured, he can’t forget this. He’ll always remember, and so will I. And we’ll think back and remember being tangled together and completely happy, just for a little while.

We can’t waste a second, but I wouldn’t call this waste. And laying next to Scott is all I want. And now, I know he loves me too.