Page 69 of Make Me Scream
Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
“Don’t push, Abel. Not about this. You have no idea how bad it was.”
“Yeah, I know,” I mumble, falling deeper into the dark, the room around me lulling me into a trance.
Peris
“Here.”I thrust the gift into his gangly hands, hating the cute, wide-eyed stare he’s giving me.
“This… is for me?” he asks, blinking up at me from where he sits cross-legged in front of the tree. I look over at him in his baggy, dark-wash jeans, at least two sizes two big and cinched tight with a studded belt. His black t-shirt with a few holes in the collar and bleach stains. His hair is wavy today, shaved sides growing out a bit, but the rest is pulled back into a bun near the top of his head, showcasing all of his piercings.
I want to lick every inch of him.
“Yeah, obviously,” I mutter, forcing my heated gaze away. I can’t even look at him without wanting to eat him alive.
He fiddles the present between both hands, gnawing on his bottom lip. “I… I don’t have anything for either of you. I’m really sorry.” And when he looks up, his eyes are full of tears, and it breaks my fucking heart.
“No.” I stop him right there. “This isn’t about that, do you understand?” And I know he knows what I’m talking about. This is because we could and because we wanted to. Because hedeserves it.
“You deserve this, Abel,” Ma says because she gets it, too.
“Thank you, guys.” He sniffles as he rips the paper off the small gift box I handed him, and my heart starts to race. I don’t know if he’ll like it, but it’s his style, so I hope…
“Oh, my God!” he shouts, and the way his face lights up has my heart soaring into the sky. My own face breaks into a smile so big, every muscle aches. “Peris, this is so fuckingbadass!Thank you!”
He reaches inside the jewelry box and pulls out the necklace. “Would you?” he asks softly, and I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. He hands it to me, and I undo the clasp as he wiggles around on his knees until his back is to me.
I reach around his throat and clasp the necklace, laying it around his delicate throat, trailing my fingers along the spikes before settling back down his spine. He reaches up and grasps the thick, silver chain before turning his head to look me in the eyes.
“Thank you, Peris. This is incredible.” He reaches forward and presses a quick pec to my lips. I chuckle when he pulls back, and a deep flush mars his cheeks.
“I’m glad you like it,” I murmur to him, pulling him close by the back of his neck, refusing to let him put any distance between us.
“Smile, you two!” Ma says out of nowhere, and we both glance to our left to see Mom’s phone in our face as she snaps pictures of us. I roll my eyes but can’t help but smile as she angles her phone this way and that, taking photos. Abel blushes so prettily and bats me away as I squeeze him tighter.
“All right, all right, Ma!” I complain and turn away, to which she laughs and flings her phone on the couch.
“Fine, party pooper!” she complains but rests her back against the front of the couch, knees drawn up as she picks up her hot chocolate and takes a sip.A Christmas Storyplays onrepeat on the T.V. in the background, as is the tradition, and the noise calms me as we all fall into a mutual silence.
“Thank you for today,” Abel says.
“Anything for you,” I tell him truthfully.
“Of course! I’m just glad you could come. It’s been such a lovely day, and I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Ma adds, and I can’t help but return the sentiment. Ever since Abel woke up from his little two hour nap, he seems to be in completely different spirits.
His sickness seems to be virtually gone, and he appears to be just fine, if not a little sad, which is to be expected knowing what he has to leave and go back to—who can blame him?
“I don’t want to leave,” he replies after a moment, picking at the frayed ends of his jeans. “I’ve missed being here.” I reach over and grab his hand, twining our fingers together. He stiffens for a moment, his eyes widening before he takes a deep breath and forces every muscle in his body to relax.
His body slowly loses its tension, and he begins to allow himself to lean into me, little by little.
“We’ve missed having you here—especially Peris, I’ll bet,” Mom says, and I balk at her.
“Ma,” I hiss, tightening my arm around Abel’s shoulders.
“Oh, I’m just teasing.”
“Not the time.”
