A mouthful of sand.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:05 pm

William hesitated between covering his mouth or his eyes. He didn't mind the sight of a little blood, but that was different. He tried to look away. "Look on the bright side...it's out."

Since Gabe seemed too stunned to move, William had to act fast. Raising an arm above his head, he took off his shirt - which was particularly hard to do, since it kept sticking to his skin. Unaware that he was revealing a dozen of bruises on his chest and stomach, he leaned down and placed the piece of clothing around Gabe's leg. It was already starting to turn a shade of red, but he still hoped it would slow down the hemorragia until he found something better.

"What do I do now?"

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:11 pm

Gabe had twitched, turned and gasped as William had tied the shirt around his leg.
"I don't know" he breathed. Slowly but surely, he got up again; he jumped a couple of times to keep balance.
"Ok. I'm okay. Let's go." His face made him seem very concentrated. It was obvious he was repressing any sound by the gasps and sharp breath intakes he kept taking.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:22 pm

"You sure you can walk? Or, uhm, jump?" He took Gabe's arm and placed it around his shoulder. "That's better."

The man never ceased to surprise him. He could like such an idiot some times, but at that moment it seemed like he was really making an effort not to cause William any more trouble.

"Hey! You!" he screamed - but not too loud, since Gabe's ears were a little too close - at the stranger sitting next to Tom. He didn't seem to hear him. William had to repress the urge to run in his direction.

"We'll move sloooowly." Without really knowing why, he decided that talking as if he was addressing a child was more effective. He took a first step.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:51 pm

Michael sat blinking down at the unconscious man in the sand. Was he real? Was any of this real? Michael thought it safe to assmume the answer to both questions was no. Soon someone would shake him awake and tell him they had reached their destination. Maybe he'd have something drawn on his face or he'd find a picture of himself drooling on the internet.

"Tom, have you seen my hat?" Michael asked and blinked. The sticky stuff on his head was starting to drip down his forehead into his eyes. It couldn't be blood though. No, this was a dream. Somebody probably just spilled a drink on his head.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:58 pm

"Yeah. Slow is... fine" Gabe said while in constant lookout for his breath.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:29 pm

Tom's eyes flew open, and a mew of pain escaped his lips. He rolled himself over so he was no longer leaning on his arm. He held it close again.
He must have cut it, because blood was slowly soaking into his t-shirt. He looked at the blue sky, wondering where William was. He still wasn't back.
Suddenly, he noticed the person beside him. He watched as the person wandered around, and then suddenly realised who it was.
He dropped his head back again and pretended to be unconscious.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:40 pm

William moved cautiously in rhythm with Gabe. He tried to accelerate his pace a few times, but his friend couldn't keep up. By the time he had almost reached Tom, he had completely forgotten that he wasn't alone.

"Michael?" William tried, hoping he had identified the man correctly. He stopped in his tracks.

The good thing: Michael was with Tom.
The bad thing: Michael was with Tom.

He didn't seem to be feeling too well, either.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:44 pm

"William?" Michael looked over, not quite sure if he had recognized the voice right. What was William doing in his nightmare? "Have you seen my hat?"

He was sure that once he found the hat he'd wake up and everything would be fine. That was the only thing missing, right? Right.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:45 pm

Tom opened one eye when he heard Michael start talking. He pressed a finger to his lips when he noticed William looking at him and closed it again.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:47 pm

"Your...hat?" William stood there with a bemused expression. "No, Michael..."

He looked at his head. "You hurt yourself pretty bad...are you okay?"

Michael didn't seem to understand where he was. "Michael. Listen to me. The plane crashed. You remember, right?"

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:50 pm

Michael stared at William in confusion. The plane crashed? "No. I'm sleeping." William just didn't seem to understand.

Then he decided to ask the only other thing on his mind, "Who am I sitting next to?"

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:54 pm

"That is it!" Tom sat up. "You replaced me with this idiot?" He hugged his arm protectively, glaring at William.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:57 pm

"Tom! Would you please...!"

He tried to calm down and focus his attention on Michael again. "It's not a dream, Michael. In your dreams, I'm not walking around shirtless with Gabe Saporta clinging to me, now am I?" He paused. "Actually, don't answer that."

"This is Tom Conrad. You two met before." As he was stating the facts, it appeared even more absurd to him. They had known eachother, and Michael had taken Tom's place. "When we shot a video at your house, remember?"

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:01 pm

"The one you replaced?" Tom said spitefully. "The one who was actually chosen on his guitar playing merits rather than his looks?"
Being nice to William was one thing. Being nice to Michael was another.

((I DO NOT MEAN THAT!))

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:02 pm

"Tom Conrad." Michael sat back down on the sand and put his head in his hands. He was starting to feel a little dizzy. This was the worst dream ever, but if it wasn't a dream like William was saying, then it was the worst day of his life.

"What are we going to do?" Michael asked in a small voice because he was beginning to feel the pain of his injuries.

Pain.

This was real.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:03 pm

Tom rolled his eyes. "Eat you for food when we run out. Haven't you seen Lord of the Flies?"

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:08 pm

"Tom, please!" He tried to act maturely, but the first thought that crossed his mind was thank God I'm skinny. "Michael is a very good friend of mine. Behave, goddamit!"

"We're going to carry this," he move his shoulder to lift Gabe, "to the river to wash his wounds. Same for Tom. He can't walk by himself so he'll need some help." He hoped Michael would get the hint.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:08 pm

Michael shifted away from Tom. He had a bad feeling that even though he was pretty sure the other man was joking; Tom might change his mind and actually follow through with eating him.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:18 pm

"Personally, Beckett." Tom looked him straight in the eye. "I think I'd rather lie here in pain and eventually die then have that..." His lip curled. "That thing touch me."

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:23 pm

It took all of his will not to drop Gabe and pick up a fight with Tom. His friend had changed, and certainly not for the best. To some extent, he liked the memory he had more than the man he was facing.

"Fine! You know what? Stay there. Michael and I will take care of Gabe." He frowned. "I hope you know what being here means. We have to make choices and hope for survival. I'm not going to let my friends get hurt because you're capricious."

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:35 pm

Michael thought about it. Staying alone with Tom didn't seem very appealing at the moment, so he walked over and attempted a friendly smile. "We can't stay here."

He hoped Tom would move so he could help the other man up without jostling that injured arm.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:37 pm

"Capricious?" Tom's mouth quirked sarcastically. "That's a new one. I thought I was more 'insensitive, unfeeling bastard'? Isn't that what you said last time?"

Go ahead. His eyes said. Leave me again. I dare you.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:45 pm

"I didn't mean it back then, but I would now. I'd add 'egocentric' to the mix, too." His grip on Gabe's hooded shirt tightened. "The world doesn't revolve around you, and the band has been doing very well."

"Chiz? If he doesn't move, move him. Ignore the screams, he just wants attention."

It pained him to do this, but he had no other choice.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:48 pm

Any lightness that had still lingered in Tom's face disappeared in an instant. "I've noticed there's been a lot more complaining on the boards." He said, glaring. "And at least bandmembers can remember my name, and don't refer to me by my nationality." He directed this jab at Michael.
Don'tyoudon'tyoudon'tyoutouchme.

Subject: Re: A mouthful of sand. Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:55 pm

"You don't get it, do you? You stopped existing. You're nothing without us. They only refer to you as 'the one who left the band.' They think you left. And that's if they've heard of you. We're getting a whole bunch of new fans who could really care less about a bitter ex-guitarist."

I know you want the last word. As long as we fight I know you'll stay.

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