"BUZZ BUZZ!"
Carlos' alarm clock went off precisely at 8:00am on Sunday morning.
"Hey, bro, wake up." Jay said in a light comforting tone. Carlos' eyes flutter open to see the bright light of the sun peeking through the dorm room curtains. He stretches his arms and looks at the freshly washed, shirtless Jay.
"Why does it feel so early, dude?" Carlos sighed as he finished stretching.
"Because... You're tired? You had a long night after Tourney practice, fencing class, and studying for your test tomorrow." Jay reminded.
"Well, maybe it's time I quit tourney," Carlos huffed out "I don't like it, and as much as I love playing on the team with you, it's tiring and not my ideal way of spending time." It helps that I get to be with you and see you all hot and sweaty, Carlos thought to himself. Carlos rambles on, trying not to upset Jay. As the rambling slows, Jay places a hand on Carlos's shoulder, and says to him in a low voice,
"It's ok, you don't have to play tourney to spend time with me. I didn't know I was pressuring you into playing... I'm sorry." Jay realizes how close he is to Carlos, and moves away slightly, biting his lip as he does so.
"Hey... Jay, I don't mean to ruin the sentiment, but I REALLY need to take a shower." Carlos finally lets out. Carlos sits up and Jay loosens his grip around his smaller frame. As Carlos' feet touch the cold wood floor chills are sent up his back and down his spine. He moves sluggishly to the bathroom, shutting the door when he reaches it. He strips out of the dirty clothes he wore yesterday until all that remains are his black boxer briefs with a white waist band. He turns the water on and lets it warm up slowly. As the water heats up, Carlos looks at his heavily scarred chest and back. One scar stands out above the rest with a dark, faded color close to periwinkle. It's a burn from one of his mom's many boyfriends and the father of his best friend, Jay. Jafar used to take advantage of the small boy and use him at his disposal. He had been raped, and used as a punching bag for most (if not all) of his mother's boyfriends. Jay has seen his scars on many occasions and most of the time was the one to help him tend the wounds. He had always been the one to keep them from getting infected. Jay knows what most of them were from except the dark, faded one. When asked about it, Carlos had come up with a petty lie about his mother slashing him with a fire poker. However, it was actually from when Jafar hit him with his staff, branding him as his own little "toy". As Carlos is examining his scars, quizzing himself on what they were all from, he snaps back to reality when he notices how fogged up the mirror is from his steamy shower.
Half way through Carlos' shower he hears a loud banging on the bathroom door.
"CARLOS!" Mal ululates excitedly through the door. He turns off the water hastily with shampoo still evenly sprinkled throughout his hair. He puts on black boxer briefs and wraps his primarily black towel with red blotches on it around his waist. He isn't worried about his friends (the VK's) seeing his scars, knowing that they have not once, but on multiple occasions been through situations that left them with similar marks. Except Evie, her mother didn't want her to have any blemishes, instead she would starve her and lock her away. He opens the door to see not only the VK's, but King Ben, Lonnie, and Audrey. His jaw drops, as he sees them eye his bare chest, looking at his surplus of scars. Their faces turn to shock and Ben's eyes fill with tears. Carlos slams the door shut, slowly falling to the floor crying. The thought of the Hero kids thinking he is weak for having a multitude of scars across his body pushes him into a panic attack.
As he tries to ignore Jay eye his body, a red blush cloaks his face. Carlos puts his face in between his legs, thinking about what could possibly be going through the other teen's minds. He feels tears sting his eyes and the slight wetness mixing with the now cold water that coats his body. He feels ashamed of letting them see this side of him, the side he always tries so hard to keep hidden. He finds no comfort knowing that the Hero kids have no idea about the abuse and pain that was endured on the Isle. How could they anyway, with their perfect pretty little lives? After hours of sitting on the floor, never bothering to put his clothes on, he is slightly startled by a light knock on the door.
"Hey, Carlos it is just me; the others left a while ago." Jays says, in a concerned and consoling tone. When Jay hears no response, he presses his back against the door, letting his body fall to the floor into a sitting position.
"I know how it feels to be insecure about something." Jay lets out, trying to sympathize with Carlos.
"How!? You are hot and perfect, and have all the girls with no worries about not making it! Not to mention being friends with all the jocks because you're so perfect at tourney and fencing." Carlos releases in a rush of emotion.
"I know, but that doesn't mean I am not insecure about things... I am not too good at academics like you, you're so smart, and Hell, you're two years younger than us, but you are taking harder classes than me for God's sake." Jay gives out a soft sigh at the end of his rant.
Click, errr, the sound of the door unlocking and creaking open.
"I-I know Jay... it's just, I try so hard to get something I-I know I can't h-have." Carlos mumbles between his sobs.
"I'm always here for you, Los." I wish I could just confess everything, my feelings? Oh, what I would do to kiss you right now! Jay voices to himself.
Carlos looks down to see Jay sitting at his feet and instantly his eyes lock with him. Jay stands up and catches Carlos as he falls into his arms, bawling his eyes out. Jay hoists Carlos up and drapes his arm around his shoulder to help support his weight. As he walks him over to his bed he looks at the digital clock, it reads 11:47am. He pulls back the duvet covers, laying him down and tucking him in.
As he is walking toward the door, Carlos mumbles "Wait... will you lay with me?" Jay walks back over to the bed and lays next to him hesitantly. Jay puts his hand on Carlos' back in attempt to comfort him. Jay waits until Carlos is lightly snoring before letting go of him. He makes his way to the door to do some birthday shopping for Carlos; after all, it was his birthday.
Notes: I am so excited to be writing fanfiction it's my first time ever I would really appreciate comments of what I should add into the plot.
