Sand and sun hangover.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:29 pm

[*cough*what,likejeremydavis?*cough*]

Tom gave him a look, before diving under again. He swam for several minutes, not coming up for air.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:35 pm

William shot an alarmed glance at Gabe.
Tom used to like freaking him out like that, but since the situation had changed he couldn't be certain of anything. What if...?

He shoved his hair behind his ears and dove head first. His arms touched the sand and seaweed underwater. He fought to keep his eyes open, the salt hurting them as if it could burn.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:36 pm

Michael slowly let his eyes focus again. He straightened and put a hand to his cramping neck as he surveyed his surroundings.

There were William and Gabe. He looked around some more but couldn't see Tom anywhere.

"Tom?" he called tenatively.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:37 pm

Michael hugged his knees. If William had dove into the water so suddenly it must have been serious.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:37 pm

Tom grabbed William's shoulders and pulled him for air. When he saw that William was breathing properly, he slapped him. Hard. "Don't do that!" He shouted. "You don't do that!"

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:40 pm

"Fuck!" he shouted, the pain in his eyes seeming to diminish compared to how much his cheek hurt. "What was that for?!"

He would have shouted some more if he hadn't been too busy catching his breath. He hadn't swimmed in a long time, and wasn't sure he lungs could have taken so more time underwater.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:42 pm

Tom gave him an angry look and strode out the water, settling down on a rock to wait for his clothes to dry. He hugged his knees.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:45 pm

"What? You just hit me like that and play victim...?"
He didn't say it too loud. Mostly to himself, and perhaps hoping that Gabe would hear and share his confusion.

He sighed, and slowly made his way back to the beach. "What's your problem, Tom?"

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:46 pm

"You and I both know I'm a better swimmer than you." Tom said sulkily, avoiding William's eyes. "Even with one arm."

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:47 pm

Michael stared from near the tree he was sitting by and scratched his head. He tried to decide whether he should walk over and ask what was going on or just stay well enough out of it.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:48 pm

"There no need to slap me because I can't swim properly."
He frowned. "And because I worry about you. There's nothing bad about that."

He glanced at Gabe and Michael, hoping to get some approval.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:53 pm

"You never cared before." Tom snarled, raising his grey eyes to stare at William. They were slightly red rimmed.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:56 pm

"I never...what? You got it all wrong!"
There's no need to tell him that I used to call Nick once a week to get news. Then again Nick omitted several important things.

"I know it's hard to believe, but I always cared."

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:58 pm

"No, you didn't!" Tom screamed, putting his hands over his ears.

Not this time not this time not this time.

Then, silence.

Then. I wish you would hold me.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:02 pm

Michael decided it was finally time to move over to the other men. He gave William a 'need some help?' kind of look then realized he had no idea how to help him.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:04 pm

Oh no. Please don't let this happen. Please.

"Tom. Look at me. There's a reason for everything that happened between us. Sometimes what I do doesn't reflect what I think or what I feel or..."

The fact that I love you but I'm a coward.

"I've been a jerk and I know it. I'm suffered from it as well. But I cared about you all this time and will continue to because..." He bit his lip. "Because you're my friend."

That's not it. I can't tell him.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:05 pm

Tom's breath was coming in gasps. He recognised the signs and reached out a wavering hand for Michael. He ignored William.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:10 pm

William had to refrain from laughing. He nodded and turned his back to Tom.
"I deserved it," he whispered to himself.
I can't undo it. If I could have settled with what I had back then, maybe things would have turned out differently.

He placed a hand on his forehead. The sun was making him dizzy, and there was still a taste of salt on his tongue.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:12 pm

"I can't have them, can I?" Tom asked in a small voice. His eyes were more scared than angry now.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:12 pm

Michael took the hand offered but looked with concern with William. If they all couldn't get along, he had a feeling they wouldn't last long at all.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:14 pm

"Don't you wish they had pills to make you forget?" I said, still refusing to look at Tom.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:15 pm

"Right now, I wish I had pills that would put me to sleep and never let me wake up." Tom shot back, eyes narrowed. He was finding breathing slightly easier now.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:17 pm

He clenched his fists. "Don't you dare say that."

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:17 pm

"I'll say what I want." Tom growled. Why things kept going wrong, he didn't know.

Subject: Re: Sand and sun hangover. Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:20 pm

In that case, I'll do the same.

"Tom, I need to talk to you. In private."

He gave Michael a serious look, hoping he'd understand. William felt bad for constantly leaving him out, but whether he knew it or not, they were in competition.

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