Page 26 of Make Me Scream (Visceral #2)

I yank open the door to the staircase and race inside, trying not to vomit as I watch my feet, forever clad in my stained pink Converse, stomp down the steps at blinding speed, putting as much distance between us as possible.

By the time I reach the bottom, I’m out of breath and dizzy, but Lucy didn’t bother to follow me, which is a win. I push open the front door and find Peris waiting for me.

Keeping my face neutral, I jump in the passenger seat and hook my seatbelt in.

“Hey, boyfriend,” I say nonchalantly.

“Fuck you,” he snaps before reaching over and grabbing the back of my neck and yanking me towards him.

I yelp as he slams our mouths together. Our teeth clack, pinching our lips between them.

The kiss is brutal and uncomfortable and pretty much just painful, but the connection of our bodies touching sets my soul alive for the first time in days.

I sigh against him as he tightens his grip, and my forehead falls against his.

“I miss you,” I tell him honestly. There’s no point in lying to Peris. Ever.

“I miss you, puppy. Let’s go.” He releases me with a kiss to my forehead, which I’ll fucking cherish forever, and we set off toward home…

Or to what used to be home but is now just the only place that ever felt that way to me, lost to a sea I’ll never explore again.

“Abel, honey, it’s so good to see you,” Elise gushes the moment I walk into the house and drop my bag onto the floor by the couch. “Oh, gosh, you do look ill. Do you want some medicine? Here, let me go get you some.” And then, she’s disappearing into the bathroom.

I look over at Peris, and he shrugs, rolling his eyes. “Nurses,” is all he says, and I laugh lightly.

Must be nice to be so loved, I want to say, but I don’t.

“Here. Why don’t you take this, and I’ll make you some soup. It’s just some Tylenol.” I take the medicine from her and swallow it easily, ignoring the cup of water in her hand.

“Ma, it’s ten in the morning,” Peris says, his brows raised.

“So? Sick means soup, Peris. Shut up.”

“Jeez, it’s supposed to be Christmas…” he mutters to himself as he drops onto the sofa, grumbling and complaining silently. I laugh quietly to myself as I watch him, but I stop when I find Elise watching me.

“Sorry,” I murmur, dropping my head in shame.

“Don’t be, Abel. We’ll talk about it all later. Right now, you just lie down and try to feel better, okay?”

“Okay, thank you,” I tell her earnestly, and she reaches over and wraps me in her arms—arms I never thought I’d feel wrapped around me again. I could cry from how good it feels.

“Always, Abel. Always.”

When she heads into the kitchen, I drop onto the couch with a sigh and curl up on my side. Peris reaches over and drags a blanket over me. I glance up at him with a small, warm smile. “Thanks, baby boy.”

His eyes widen. “Stop that,” he hisses, eyes darting behind us.

“Oh calm down, it’s fine.” I yawn, my eyes closing of their own volition. I’m so tired, I just want to sleep forever.

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 he deserves 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 fucking badass ! 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 Story plays on repeat 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.”

“No, it’s okay. We lied. We deserve some non-confrontational teasing, Peris. It’s the least we’ve earned.”

“Yeah, but you’re tired, and it’s Christmas, ” I remind Mom with a pointed look. She blows out a breath and purses her lips.

“Yeah, all right,” she acquiesces, scrunching her nose.

Abel blows out a breath. “I should probably get going, actually.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry, it’s just?—”

“No, there’s no need to explain at all. It’s getting late. Peris will take you home.”

“Thank you,” he says as he pushes to his feet, standing on shaky legs. I follow suit and help him gather his gifts—some clothes and CDs, his empty jewelry box, and there’s one gift left unopened in the back of my car.

“I’ll come back soon. Thank you for everything, doc.” Mom wraps him in a hug, and then, we’re headed out into blistering cold. Abel shivers as my car warms, but thankfully, it doesn’t take more than five minutes for it to warm and for his shaking to subside.

“Damn, I was frozen,” he groans as he warms his hands in front of the vents, but at least he’s wearing a thicker sweatshirt today… one I gave him to wear actually. The thought warms my blood.

I turn down the music that’s playing. “There’s something in the back. Can you grab it?” I ask as we near Lucy’s apartment building.

“Uh, okay?” Abel questions my quick shift in the conversation. When he sees the box, it gets quiet. “Peris, what the fuck?”

I roll my eyes. “Just open it.”

“I… I can’t…”

“Abel.”

His voice gets softer. “Baby…”

“Just open it. Please, ” I add as the car dips as I pull into the parking lot, tires spinning in a bit of snow.

“Oh, fuck.” His voice wobbles as he opens the lid, and I smile. “And they’re the same color!” he exclaims, and I glance over to catch his bright smile, which sets my chest on fire.

I rub the ache away as I mumble a, “Yeah, ‘course,” shifting the car into park. I drop my hands into my lap as Abel stares at the brand new baby pink high top Converse I bought him with literal stars in his eyes.

“Peris, I…” he trails off, and I look up at him with furrowed brows.

“Yeah?”

“I… Fuck.” He closes the lid and drops the box into the back seat before lunging over and leaping into my lap. I let out a surprised oomph as he plops into my lap and wraps his arms around my neck, pulling me in tight.

“Puppy,” I murmur, rubbing his back as I feel tears splash on my neck.

“Just don’t say anything,” he croaks. “Don’t ruin this for me.”

I scoff but keep silent, keeping my hands tight around his body as he clings to me and cries. And it hurts, feeling his pain, but it feels good too, knowing this is what he needs, and I’m the one to give it to him.

Because I…

My jaw drops open, and I sink deeper into my seat.

“ Fuck. ”

“What?” he mumbles into my throat as every muscle in my body locks tight.

I shake my head, refusing to speak as I card my fingers through his hair, tugging lightly on the strands to keep him distracted as I stare through the windshield.

I absentmindedly watch a few stray flakes float through the air before settling on the warm hood where they melt instantly, much like I do for Abel.

I think I might actually love the fucker.