Seri, Atti and Auggie; This could be awkward.; PG-13 mild language
Life was becoming complicated. Worse, it was happening so fast that Serafino wasn't sure what to do about it. He'd only known Augusten Dunlevy for a week, and already he was worrying about him as much as he would one of his longtime friends. Moreso, even, and it was an inner struggle to keep from acting like a complete fool and texting him as soon as he went home. He managed not to, and after skipping school again on Tuesday he'd finally gone to school today but had spent the day being anywhere Augusten wasn't by spending the day hidden amongst library shelves finishing up work he'd fallen behind in over his long absence.
And now he was on his way to Atti's, because he was restless and the drive offered him something to do. And because he had a feeling he was going to have to make very large bribes to keep one very large mouth shut. He was tempted, very tempted, to text Augusten during the drive and see what he was doing since he'd only be a few houses down. He managed not to, but it was a feat. Which was kind of pathetic. Finally he arrived, without making any phonecalls and without sending any text messages and without messing around on his PDA to see if Augs was on AIM. He kicked violently at a stone on the pavement to vent his mood, and leaned on the doorbell of the Webb house in his usual obnoxious fashion.
Shutting the doors behind Serafino, he lead him through the entrance hall and up the wide staircase. The hallway here was wide, doors running down either side. They went half way down before Atticus lead the other boy into his bedroom, a massive room with stone walls and a polished wooden floor, everything dark and gothic.
"So," Atti said, the moment he shut his door. "I heard Auggie got the shit smacked out of him for taking off with you!"
"He got what now?" He asked, wrinkling his nose. "When the fuck did this happen?"
Shaking his head, Atticus shrugged one shoulder and studied Serafino. "You've hung out with him twice, and he's spent the night at your place twice. I saw the hickies, dude, what the fuck is up? What happened to your 'only fuck them once' rule? Cause that makes twice. With Augusten! OH OH! That's not all either, by the way. Today he didn't show up at Bean Town to work, he stayed at school late and didn't call home. Eli left James in charge of the coffee shop so he could meet Auggie when he got home."
are u home? and are u allowed to go to attis house?
He snapped his phone closed and folded his arms, leaning back against the wall.
"Who nominated you as the Seri's Laws enforcer?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously. Since when do you care what I do behind closed doors?"
He leaned forward when he heard Seri's phone beep. "That him? Awwww."
im home. i can come to attis. gotta walk though.
He didn't mean it to sound so harsh, but he'd make it up to the guy with sour patch kids later.
"Yeah, it's him. And yeah, I banged him twice," Serafino answered, rolling his eyes. "So where's the issue? Cause I ain't seein' it."
"Well, what makes him special? Why does he transcend the ever important one fuck rule?" Atticus asked, kicking his legs and grinning. "Come on. Do you like him? What's up with this situation?"
Outside the gate swung open and Augusten started up the icy driveway, burrowed inside the hoodie that Serafino had given him. He let himself in, carefully removing his shoes in the entrance hall, taking his time.
Sliding off his jeans, Augusten stood there facing the sink in just his boxers, arms crossed over his chest. He bit his bottom lip and glanced around a little. "Your house...it's nice," he said softly, trying to make diversionary conversation.
He set the towels and cloths down on the side of the tub and glanced over at Augusten.
"...so how bad is it?" He asked softly. "You don't have to show me if you don't want to, I can leave the room."
He moved his arms down to his sides, staring straight down at the tile floor under his feet. He knew it was bad. He knew it without even looking in the mirror or at Serafino's reaction. He could feel it, every single bruise, every time he breathed.
"You don't hafta be ashamed," He said after a moment, taking Augusten's hands in his own and looking at the other boy's face instead. Or, rather, the top of his head, since he was staring down. "Really. You got beat up a little. Well, okay, you got beat up a lot. Nothing to be ashamed of...you saw how Ma went at me with that magazine, and I just stood there and took it. And I'd probably stand there and take it if she hit me with her fists. Kids don't fight back against parents, even when parents get outta hand. Now c'mon, look up and let me see your face. No reason for you to stare at your feet the whole time you're here."
He wanted to look down again but refrained, staring Serafino on the eye. He just looked at him, like he was searching for something, his own eyes very open and very honest, nothing to hide at all.
"Tub's almost full, go ahead and get in," he murmured when he pulled away. "Lemme just go grab us some PJs, I'll be right back."
He wasn't sure anymore exactly what the hell was going on. He wasn't sure how he'd ended up on this situation or how he'd ended up in this place, but he felt better now. Safer, like a weight was lifted, and that was good.
Leaning back against the ledge of the tub, Augusten opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling, just thinking it all over. He did not, however, come up with any answers.