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- 08/22/2014
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Thwarted - 35. Chapter Thirty-Five
Mark couldn’t move as the phone slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground. He’d heard wrong, he had to have. There was no way his mom could be gone.
“Mark?”
He heard Trey and looked over, but he could barely see him through the sheen of tears. He shook his head and stared down at the phone. He could even hear Brent calling his name, but he couldn’t pick it up. He didn’t want to pick it up. He wanted to have never answered in the first place. He wanted to go back to when him and Trey had first got home and were all wrapped up in each other. He watched Trey reach down and lift the phone to his ear.
“Hello?” Trey watched him as he listened to Brent. “No, it’s Trey.”
Trey’s eyes widened and a tear slipped down his cheek.
“Okay, I’ll find out and let you know.” Trey listened some more. “I don’t know, but I’m sure we’ll be over there shortly either way.” Trey squeezed his hand. “I will Brent. Thanks for calling.”
Trey flipped the phone shut and turned tear filled eyes to Mark.
“Mark, I’m so sorry.” He reached out, but Mark shook his head and stood, pulling his hand free.
He couldn’t handle Trey holding him, he’d lose it, he knew he would. He walked into the bedroom and closed the door. He just needed a few minutes and then he’d go over to Jackie’s. His sister would need him and he couldn’t be there for her if he was losing his shit. The door wasn’t that thick and he could hear Trey through it, talking to someone. Probably his mom; letting her know they’d make it back.
The tears he’d been holding back escaped and slid unchecked down his cheeks. He’d never talk to his Mom again. It wasn’t fucking fair. Mark punched the wall, the fleeting pain in his hand a welcome enough distraction that he did it again and again until the wall gave and his fist left a gaping hole. He sank to the floor, his back against the wall, staring at the blood coating his knuckles and barely even looked up as his door was thrown open.
“Mark? Are you okay, I thought I heard…? Oh Mark.” Trey walked over and sank to his knees in front of him.
Mark didn’t have time to protest before he was wrapped in Trey’s embrace, his head cradled against Trey’s chest. Mark wrapped his arms around Trey and sobbed, unable to keep his grief bottled up. Only once his tears had started to subside did he pull back. He wiped his hand over his eyes and once again noticed the blood.
“C’mon babe, let’s go get your hand cleaned up.” Trey stood and urged him to his feet. “Then we can decide what to do.”
Mark let Trey lead him to the bathroom. He sat on the closed toilet lid when he was told to and watched, as though it was happening to someone else, as Trey used a wet cloth to clean the blood from his hand. He barely felt the sting when the antiseptic was poured over his split knuckles.
“We’ll need to wrap this, but do you want a shower first?” Trey brushed the hair off his forehead.
Mark nodded, shrugged, and then nodded again. He didn’t know, didn’t really care really. He just wanted to go to bed and pretend none of this was really happening.
“Okay, I’ll get the water started.” Trey brushed a light kiss over his lips and moved away.
Mark heard the shower start and then Trey was back. His socks were pulled off his feet and then Trey was urging him to stand and helping him out of his jeans and underwear. Mark didn’t have the energy to argue as he was led to the shower and helped in, Trey following after stripping out of his own clothes.
Trey didn’t talk to him, didn’t tell him everything was going to be okay, which Mark was grateful for. Instead, his boyfriend simply washed him. He let him know he wasn’t alone through Trey’s hands on his skin, his fingers massaging his scalp, and through the occasional press of lips to his shoulder. Mark didn’t know how long they’d been in there before Trey reached around him and shut the water off. He was encouraged to step out onto the bathmat and then a towel was rubbed over his skin.
Mark looked down, seeing Trey knelt down drying his legs and feet, and shame swamped him. Trey was taking care of him and he hadn’t even said thank you. He swallowed and forced the words out of his mouth, but they weren’t the ones he’d planned to say.
“I’m sorry.” He barely even recognized his own voice it was so hoarse from his earlier breakdown.
Trey dropped the towel clutched in his hands and stood, confusion causing his brow to wrinkle.
“For what?”
Mark shrugged. He didn’t know how to explain what he was feeling or what he was sorry for. Trey stepped closer until their chests were pressed together and looked into his eyes.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” Trey laced their fingers together. “I just wish there was more I could do.”
“You’re doing exactly what I need.” Mark felt the tears welling up again. He leaned forward and pressed a brief kiss to Trey’s lips. “I probably need to go over to Jackie’s. I’m sure she’s a mess.”
Trey nodded. “I’m sure she is, but right now, I’m more worried about you.” He lifted Mark’s injured hand. “Let’s get this bandaged and then if you want to go over there we can.”
“You don’t have to—”
“You’re not going without me.” Trey led him out of the bathroom, grabbing the first-aid kit on their way. “I’m not letting you drive anywhere when you’re this upset.”
Mark nodded. Trey was probably right. The way he was feeling, he’d probably end up wrecking his truck and killing either himself or somebody else. He didn’t know how he’d gotten so lucky.
Too bad Trey was leaving.
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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