Take Two
The Anthony's had an odd past. Being both named Anthony, they were usually just called by their more simple YouTube nicknames while around their friends, but around each other, while alone, it got more interesting. Chilled had taken to calling GaLm 'you', while GaLm had adopted the habit of referring to Chilled simply as 'guy'. John was usually oblivious around the other two. For this reason, many people considered him less intelligent, but they were quite wrong. John was very smart, perhaps the smartest of the group, but he had difficulty putting his thoughts into words. When he zoned out, appearing stupid, he was simply thinking about other things that only he understood. Music was very important to him. He believed in the healing power of it, not in a magic way, but in a scientific way. He thought that it could destress and took a bit of time out of every day just to listen to something. The Anthony's were talking, and John was thinking.
"We don't need to tell him, as long as it was a one time thing. This whole thing is... God, if you love Steven, why did you let it happen?"
"Because Adam... I can't control myself around him! It's like he has some kind of power over me and it's... weird."
"Jesus christ, guy, get it together. This is so immature. I get it was forced on you, but you didn't even fucking try to resist by the sound of it!"
"It's different when you're in the situation yourself, alright? Don't fucking act like you know what you'd do, because you don't until it happens. I'm already going through a lot and I don't need you to fucking yell at me!"
"Oh, like you're going through a lot? What about Steven if he finds out? Do you even car-"
"YES! I... I-I care a whole fucking lot... Just please, try to understand...?"
"I'll... try. Still, I think it was very wrong of you, but you were the victim, so I have no choice but to side with you. I won't tell Steven as long as you swear this won't happen again."
"I swear. Holy fucking shit I swear."
"Alright, I guess that's... that's good enough. Sorry for... for yelling at you."
"Gah, I-I'm sorry too..." Both men stared at each other for a few minutes before Chilled cracked a smile.
"C'mon, this is too gay, even for us." GaLm smiled, and chuckled, walking away to find John. Chilled stayed in the living room, and pulled out his phone to text Steven. His own dark brown eyes, wide as usual, were calm, finally wound down from the fast paced drama of PAX. Fingers moving rapidly, his face curled into a warm look of happiness as Steven quickly responded.
You: heyy bae ill visit you early tomorrow morning okay? cant wait to see you!
Zeeee<3: Will you bring me icecream this time?
You: i guesssss fine
Zeeee<3: Yay love ya! Youre the best!
You: i know ;)
Zeeee<3: So seeya!
You: i guess
You: sorry i just like talking to you
Zeeee<3: Er yeah I know but Im not good at talking when it isnt in person
Zeeee<3: Anyways Ill see you tomorrow!!!
You: mhm!
Anthony sighed, leaning back. He was still a bit worried about Steven maybe finding out, but he digressed, telling himself it could never happen.
Adam, Scott, and Shaun made their way to a car they all planned to share for the evening.
"So, what do you guys think?" Shaun asked the other two men.
"It was great, I had loads of fun hanging out with everyone." Scott replied.
"As did I," Adam said, "it was certainly something."
Shaun looked at Adam and studied him silently. He and Scott shared a glance before Shaun looked ahead.
"Well, you guys wanna go get some... ice cream?" Shaun asked.
"Yeah!" Adam and Scott replied in unison. The two men looked at each other and laughed lightly, causing Shaun to smile in amusement to himself. Getting in the car was easy for Scott, but getting out was difficult. The bustle outside of the ice cream shop shouldn't have bothered him, but eyes on his hands felt like burning accusations. Rushing in ahead of the other two, his excuse being something about the bathroom, he ran to wash his hands. Sick to his stomach, he was a pathetic parody of Macbeth. The images in his head of blood that wouldn't wash away were poisoning his mood. He could tell Shaun, the other sinner, but he was dealing with his own guilt. Scott knew Shaun had done many bad things, but Scott had always considered himself clean. He had said some horrific things, but never done much against his own moral code. It was strange, the way Shaun looked at him when he came into the otherwise empty bathroom to check on him.
"You'll rub your skin raw.", he said simply, his eyes mysterious and dark, as usual. Adam was alone, and, noticing such, the two older men exited the bathroom, hiding their guilty looks and words in the trash with the damp paper towels. Adam was waiting, ever patient, at a booth. He shivered, remembering a restaurant from a day or two ago. Time was unimportant to him then as he sat, eyes lighter by the minute as the men returned. Scott first, Shaun second, neither one talkative, letting Adam fill the emptiness like a glass, pouring in his words that detailed what ice cream he wanted. Scott wished for a time when he could worry about that above all things, but Shaun did not. It took balance, delicate balance, to preserve such innocence. Adam was, to Scott and Shaun, innocent in the ways that mattered most.
"So, all in all, I'm getting a banana split, but with chocolate ice cream, okay?" Scott, brought back to the present, forced a smile.
"Of course, Adam. Anything for our precious child~." The last part was said in a joking manor, but Adam blushed, embarrassed at the affection the two men always showed him. Shaun wasn't paying attention. He was thinking about how badly he wanted to wash his hands, itching to remove the sins from them, despite not believing in sin. He didn't want the slick feeling, similar to that in you mouth after eating whipped cream, coating his hands. Adam knew something was off, but said nothing, trying to focus on the moment, the picturesque scene.