Page 95 of Fragments

“Is he alright?” I watch him cough into his arm while Ren rubs his back tenderly.

Ren peeks at me and shakes his head. The worry in his blue eyes sends my heart crawling up my throat.

Parker is Chronic HIV positive. Against all odds, he’s managed to get some medication in here, though I’m still not even sure fromwhere. Sometimes Joy brings him down to the East for a few hours, or a few days, when he isn’t feeling well. But lately, he’s been not feeling well more and more, and it’s fucking dreadful because there’s nothing any of us can do to help. His body is turning on him, and I hate to sit here and watch it happen.

Ren and I help Parker to the showers, then we get him cleaned up. I can tell he doesn’t want to let us, but Ren is very insistent. Seeing it warms me inside. He’s a good friend, and he really has his moments that make you forget about all the fucked-up shit he’s done.

The murders, and the lying and the nonstop meaningless sex… It’s just one part of who he is.

Parker gets dressed and leans against the wall, wrapping his arms around himself to calm his rampant quivering. I don’t want to leave him alone, but Ren and I have to shower ourselves and we’re running out of time. I get undressed and quickly hop under the water, closing my eyes and biting my lip at how fucking freezing it is at first.

“You’re insane.” Ren chuckles, and I peek at him.

“It wakes me up.” I shiver. “Can I borrow some of that?” I nod at his bottle of expensive body wash.

Grinning, he hands it over. I squirt some out, the scent that fills my nostrils reminding me ofoutside. Somewhere nice, maybe a fancy hotel with a marble shower and a window overlooking a beautiful view.Really, anywhere but here.

“This stuff rocks,” I hum, lathering myself while Ren does the same to my right.

“Want me to get you some?” he asks, and my eyes fling in his direction.

“Uh, no. It’s okay,” I mumble. “I still have some of my Old Spice, I just forgot it.”

Ren gives me a look, like he knows I’m lying. He can always tell, I guess because he’s such a good liar himself.He sniffs out lies like a drug dog sniffs out kilos.

“It’s my treat,” he says.

I’m about to argue, but he holds his hand up to stop me, and I just roll my eyes, a small grin tugging at my mouth.

Turning away, I’m trying to focus on washing myself, but I find my gaze slinking over to him against my will. He’s so tall, and despite being in a place with the worst food ever, his body is still immaculate.

I’ve never seen a body like his in real life. So sculpted…everywhere, like someone carved him out of stone. The shoulder traps and the pecs and the abs, and thatV… I have them too, but his look photoshopped, occasional splatters of ink decorating his muscles.

My eyes move up to his face, and I flinch when I find him smirking at me.

Shit… He saw me looking at his body. That’s totally gonna send the wrong message.

But why was I looking…? Why do I look at it so often??

“It’s okay to look, curious boy,” Ren murmurs, lifting his arms to sift fingers through his dark, wet hair. “I won’t tell anyone.”

He winks at me, and I scowl. I’m about to quip back when a noise pulls our attention to Parker.

He just collapsed.

“Jesus Christ.” Ren rushes over.

I grab us both towels, handing one to him while he lifts Parker off the floor.

“Yo! We need help in here!” I shout.

Velle and Joy come stomping into the room, faces falling when they see us holding up an unconscious Parker.

“Fuck…” Velle hums, taking Parker’s limp body from Ren. “Shit shit shit.” He looks and sounds… worried.

I never thought I’d see the day.

“Can you tell if he’s breathing??” Joy examines Parker’s face, lifting his eyelids.