When Innocence is Your Only Shame

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom screamed as he ran. It made things feel so much easier. His bare feet slapped against the hard surface of the rocks and the wind chased away the tears in his eyes.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

William followed him, running as fast as he could. When the ground at his feet changed from soil to rocks, he tripped up and fell, tearing the denim of his jeans over his knee. It hurt, but he got up immediately to chase Tom. Breathing was becoming a harder task. I hope my lungs won't fail me now.

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom could hear someone giving chase. He continued running, wincing slightly when he heard them fall.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

William wanted to scream for Tom, but it would have been an unnecessary waste of breath. Instead, he sped up. His throat burned a little; however he ignored it. He was getting closer to the man, just not enough to reach him.

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom veered sharply to the left, breath coming in gasps as he travelled up the mountain.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

As he tried to take a turn to keep up with the man, William twisted his ankle and fell down again. This time, he couldn't get up.

"Tom!" He tried screaming, but it voice came out like a whisper. He cleared his throat, spit out blood and tried again. "Tom!" It was louder, and he hoped Tom would hear him.

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom froze and turned around. "Oh God..." He covered his mouth, his heartbeat slowly returning to normal. "William?" He ran to the other man.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

"Good thing to know that I need to get injured to have your attention," he said in one breath, coughing discretely.

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

"Shut up." Tom snapped, placing his cool hands around William's ankle. "You're lucky I didn't keep running."

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

William winced. "Yeah, I know."
I need to make up for what I've done. How? I don't even know how to apologize properly.
He hoped Tom would know what to say. William was good with justifications and explanations, but not apologies and promises. He didn't want to mess up more than he already had.

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom pressed down slightly harder than he needed to as he probed the ankle thoughtfully.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

"Ow! Fuck, Tom, easy! Shit..." I'm not in the right position to complain, am I...?
"I bet you think I'm the worst kind of scum on this planet, right?"

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom pretended to think about it. "Yep."
Although maybe the alley guy beats you...

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

The worst is that you don't know half the things that could make you hate me.

"There's no way to be forgiven, then? No excuse I could find? No way to make up for it?"

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom sat back on his heels. "I'd like to hear what you think would be a good excuse."

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

"Honesty's a good excuse." He took a deep breath. "I slept with Sisky because it seemed right at that moment. Because both of us never...y'know...we hadn't done it before. He was cool about it. I..." Say it, goddammit. It's not that hard. "I felt inadequate for you. I needed to..." He blushed, no wanting to tell any more.

"My excuse sucks."

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

"Yeah." Tom nodded. "It really does." Despite his words, he reached out a hand and rolled strands of William's hair between his fingers. "And Gabe?"

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

William stopped moving. "W-What about Gabe?"

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom gave him a look. The way William had reacted confirmed it. "Don't worry." He said with a condescending smile.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

William was tempted to add, "worry about what?", but decided it was better not to. How much does he know? He looked down in shame.

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

"You've dislocated it." Tom turned his attention back to the matter at hand. "This might hurt." He warned, before placing a foot on William's shin and yanking the younger man's foot hard.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

"HOLY JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, TOM!" William cried out, tears in his eyes. "That's not considered a warning if you announce it while you're doing it. Ow, shit... Is that payback or what?"

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom kept pulling, teeth searing through his lip as he did so.

Admin Number of posts : 3252 Age : 39 Registration date : 2007-06-21

"I don't care if it's dislocated, just stop it!" he cried out in pain.

Number of posts : 1888 Age : 40 Registration date : 2007-06-25

Tom rolled his eyes and stopped, wiping the blood from his mouth. He tested William's foot cautiously. "I think it's fixed. Move it."