Page 51 of String Boys

“I should probably be on the bus to Bridgford next week,” he said hoarsely. “Do you think Kelly will forgive me?”

“What happened?”

Seth just shook his head. “Oh, Daddy….”

And that’s all he could make himself say for the rest of the night.

Kept in Cages

“KELLY!”

Kelly looked up from the tablet his father had bought him and smiled weakly at Seth. This was his third day in the hospital—the day the rape counselor had come in and talked to him about his injuries and how it was going to hurt to poop for a long time and how he needed to cry a lot before everything got better.

He was done with crying. He just wanted to stare at the stupid little game on the bright glowing screen and be someone else for a while.

But Seth was here, and that needed Kelly’s attention.

Seth had come the first day and promised Kelly he’d be safe.

He’d come the second day and had just sat there, way across the room full of all Kelly’s family, and turned his face to the wall while Matty glowered at them all.

Kelly was supposed to go home tomorrow, and all he could think about was sitting on Seth’s couch and being somewhere he felt safe. Seth wouldn’t treat him like he had the plague.

Seth had another one of those little stuffed animals in his hand. This made the third—Kelly was keeping them all lined up next to his pillow.

“Hey,” he said, smiling, and to his dismay, Seth shook his head like he was shaking off the smile. His eyes looked hollow and red, and Kelly noticed he was wearing a shirt with a collar, even though it was still a bajillion degrees outside.

“Kelly, I have to go tomorrow,” Seth said, his voice breaking. “I don’t want to. But I have to go. Dad’s putting me on the bus to Bridgford. I… I don’t have everything I need, but he’s sending it to me.”

Kelly gasped, and it still hurt, dammit. But Seth’s voice sounded like his—a sore croak—and Kelly wondered when that happened.

“You have to go?” he squeaked, the betrayal acute.You told him to go. You told him.And then,But yeah, I didn’t think it would be that quick.

Seth nodded and wiped his face with the back of his hand. One of his eyes was red, like Kelly’s, and he was wearing a sweater—an old man’s sweater—over his arms.

Kelly squinted. “What happened?”

More of that terrible head shake. “I can’t tell you,” he whispered. “I don’t know myself. But… but you’re safe, okay? Whatever happened, you’re safe. I’m not sure if I’m the one who made you safe, but you’re safe. And that’s all that matters.”

“But I’m not safe!” Kelly cried. “Even if Castor Durant drops off the planet, there’s still my brother, who’s gonna fuckin’ beat on me for bein’ a fag and—”

Seth ventured all the way in the door then and grabbed his hand, putting the little stuffed animal in it before leaning over so they could touch foreheads.

“Your mom and dad won’t let that happen,” he promised. “I’ve heard them, Kelly. Even if they don’t know for sure, your mom, she won’t let your brother say shit to you. Trust her.” He nodded, like just doing that could take away the hurt of it. “And….” Oh! Kelly’s boy was crying. Crying so hard he couldn’t breathe. Crying so hard he could barely talk! Kelly’s arms were sprained at the shoulders, because two guys had held them behind him and he’d struggled, oh, he’d struggled so fucking hard. Carefully he raised his hand to cup Seth’s cheek and saw the bruises, then felt his stomach go cold.

“Seth? Seth…mijo. What did you do?”

“Whatever it was, you’re safe. But my dad… my dad will miss me.” Seth reached into his pocket and shoved something else into Kelly’s hand. “This is my key. My house key. Make a copy for me when you can, okay? But Soccer Wednesdays—go see my dad. He’ll be expecting you. I told him.”

“You told him?”

Seth took a deep, shuddery breath. “That night… right after you went to the store. He said… he said he’d do anything to help us. Just as long as I went and did this thing that everyone says only I can do. He said… he said he wouldn’t ever try to keep us apart. So… so be his friend, okay? He’s putting me on a bus, and he’s going to be all alone, and you’re going to be all alone, and I’ll miss you both. Just… keep each other company, okay?”

Kelly nodded just a little, and dammit. Apparently being ready to be all cried out didn’t mean there weren’t any tears left. “You can’t go….” Hell. That wasn’t what he meant to say. “Don’t leave me!” That wasn’t it either. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I thought I could let you go, but I was wrong—”

Seth kissed him.

Kelly was so surprised he opened his mouth, and the kiss wasn’t gentle. It was needy and scared, just like Kelly’s, and it was salty and bloody like Kelly’s, from the cuts on the inside of his lips.