Artfxct
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Demetri's POV
Rayne didn't come over that day after school. He didn't come over the day after that either, though he had my address. I also began to notice the tension between him and Jace. They never spoke, or even looked at one another.
The following Friday was the start of our winter vacation. Shelby came over, and I took the opportunity to see if she knew what was going on.
What's up with Jace and Rayne? I scribbled out as we lounged on my bed. She shrugged slightly, shifting so her head was on my lap.
"I don't really know or care. I tried asking and he didn't give me an answer. You know how Jace is." She responded.
I did know Jace. He was mean, kind of a dickhead, but he had his reasons. I still had no idea what he had against Rayne, but if Jace was keeping his distance, there had to be a reason.
In all the years I had known Jace, he had never gotten involved with anyone, although several people had tried. Jace was quite the stud, but he didn't seem to care much. He avoided what he could, so it made sense to avoid a new student. But after Rayne became friends with the rest of us, it didn't make sense why.
Distracting me from my thoughts, Shelby sat up and looked at me with a contemplating look in her eyes. I watched her curiously as she shifted to straddle my waist. Instinctively, I placed my hand on the back of her neck, pulling her face to mine, kissing her softly. Her lips became more urgent against mine and I kissed her harder, more deeply. I let my hand slide into her hair, my other hand down her waist, before letting my fingertips trail along the soft skin of her lower back. Her lips controlled mine, moving with a roughness she rarely used with me. She bit down on my lip, and if I could have moaned, I would have at that moment. I parted my lips slightly, allowing her tongue to caress my own. Her sigh of pleasure escaped as I moved my lips to her neck, nibbling, sucking, and teasing her softly. I shifted so that she was under me, her legs around my waist, and I kissed down her neck to her chest, lifting the fabric of her shirt up to reveal her tummy. I kissed it and she squealed slightly- she was awfully ticklish. She pulled my face back up to hers and kissed me again, softer this time. I pulled away and rested my head on her chest, her breathing heavier than usual. She stroked the hair away from my eyes.
"I have a question," she said quietly. I looked up at her and raised my brows, so that she knew to ask. She bit her lip before continuing. "When will it happen?" She asked softly. I immediately knew what she meant- when would we finally sleep together. In all the years that Shelby and I had been together, we hadn't actually had sex. We'd done plenty of other things, but I had always stopped her before it got that far. I didn't know why exactly- I always felt like she wasn't ready. I'd mentioned it at one point a few months before, but she never seemed like it was something she was ready for. I was genuinely surprised that she was asking me now, after all this time. I looked at her and mouthed the words- she knew me well enough to read my lips when I didn't feel like writing.
Do you actually want to? I mouthed and she nibbled on her finger.
"I think I'm finally ready. We've been together two and a half years. I don't want to wait anymore. I love you." She said, kissing my nose. Immediately- me being a guy- I was excited by the thought of finally being with her in that way. I loved her more than anyone, and I knew that it was something I wanted as well. I gave her a small nod, and I knew she understood that it wouldn't be tonight- I'd find a way to make it special on another night.
For the remainder of her time at my house, we watched Frankenstein and then she left with my kiss, walking down the street in the light snow to her own house.
* * *
The next morning- Saturday- there was a knock at my door. I rushed downstairs still in my pajamas and opened the door to find Rayne there, his nose and cheeks red from the cold. I smiled in pleasant surprise, and gestured him in. My parents were always working, so my house was empty besides us.
"I hope I'm not bothering you," he said quietly, looking around my home. I waved my hand in dismissal and motioned him to follow me upstairs to my room.
When we entered it, he shrugged off his sweater, revealing a plain black short-sleeved shirt and his pale arms. He went over and sat on my bed, looking at me. I went and sat in my computer chair, facing him with my notebook and a marker in my hand.
"I'm sorry for just showing up. I had nothing to do today and kind of hoped you were still okay with me coming over," he said, looking at my bookshelf.
You're always welcome here. Is everything okay though? I scribbled.
"Sure." He replied. I raised my brow in disbelief but didn't push the matter. He looked at me and I stared back, his eyes brightening slightly, as if a question had popped into his mind. He didn't ask it though, so I did nothing but sit and stare as well. He cleared his throat after a moment and mumbled, so quietly I almost didn't hear it, "issues at home." I got off my chair and walked over to sit beside him. He sat still now, still staring at my books. I placed my hand gently on his shoulder and sighed empathetically. He fiddled with the hem of his shirt, and I glanced down, intrigued by his long slender fingers. That's when I first saw.
His wrists, no longer hidden by the sleeves of a sweater were scarred pink and white, some angry red lines, and fresh cuts swollen over what looked like older scars. It made my stomach churn and before I could stop myself, I grabbed his hand, turning his wrist to face me. I felt him tense beside me, and then he was struggling to get out of my grasp. I refused to let him go, and I now wished I could speak to tell him to STOP and STAY STILL. I grabbed both his arms firmly, and pleaded with my eyes. He stared at me, fear and anxiety racing through his eyes. I nodded slightly, so that he could understand that I was trustworthy. He stopped struggling, though he was still tense and afraid. He let his hands fall limply in mine. I let my eyes run across the newer cuts on his wrist, and followed the pattern that went up his forearm to his bicep. There were so many. I couldn't even imagine how many years he had spent, hiding under his sweaters, with nobody to stop him. I saw a few that looked like they had been stitched shut, some that were barely noticeable anymore. His arms were mixed patterns of pink and red lines, white scars, and pale skin. I let him go and motioned for him to follow me to my bathroom. The best thing I had was Neosporin, but I was sure it would work fine. I handed it to him, making sure he understood that I wanted him to put it on now. He gave me an "are-you-serious" look, and I narrowed my eyes at him. He took the tube of cream from me and applied it to his wounds in front of me. I then gave him gauze and made him wrap the fresh ones to prevent infection.
"I know how to take care of them." He said, sounding slightly annoyed. I nodded, but made him continue anyways. I knew that cutting yourself didn't require an emergency room procedure, but I didn't want them to get infected. It would be much worse for him.
"Thank you, Demetri," he said, looking away. I stood watching him, feeling immensely sad for this guy I barely knew, yet who had just opened my eyes to another world of internal suffering. He looked up at me and I gave him a small smile, telling him with my eyes that it was going to be okay. I padded out of my bathroom, expecting him to follow. He did, and we walked back down stairs and into my kitchen, where I motioned to the fridge.
"Are you offering me food?" he asked, and I nodded and went to the pantry, pulling out pancake mix.
"Are you offering to cook me the food that you're offering?" he asked; humor in his voice now. I sighed and covered my face in shame, to indicate that I had no idea how to cook. Luckily, he came over, took the pancake mix out of my hands, and put it back where it had been before he sat down at my kitchen counter.
"I'll have cereal," he said with a wry smile. I walked over to my cabinet and opened it, showing him my very large selection of cereal. He shrugged as if he didn't care so I pulled out Lucky Charms. I poured him a bowl and gave him the milk before seating myself across from him. We sat in silence as I watched him eat. He hadn't realized I was staring until he looked up and slowed his chewing self-consciously. I looked away and as if on cue, there was a knock at my front door. I stood up and walked over, surprised to find Jace's figure when I opened the door. He still wore his plaid pajama pants and a batman t-shirt, his hair messy from being slept on (He and Shelby were just a few houses down from mine). I opened the door and because I didn't have paper or a pen, I signed that Rayne was in the kitchen. His jaw tightened but he walked in anyways. I raised a brow and shut the door behind me. Jace walked down my hall to the kitchen, where he stopped at the doorway, staring at Rayne. Rayne looked up in surprise, and I could see his chewing stop as he stared at Jace with a look of...Fear? Annoyance? I couldn't tell. Suddenly, he stood up and walked to the sink, dumping his cereal with a redness in his face that I couldn't explain. Jace stared at Rayne expressionless.
I still had no idea what the fuck was going on between them.