"Hey, boys, can I have your attention? We have a newcomer today, he's waiting outside because I wanted to make sure you guys knew he was coming first."
Gilbert looked up, his interest piqued-they're group had stuck together for a long time now, at least since Gilbert had been there, and they'd never had a new person. They usually didn't, they stuck together by age and he didn't think there was anyone else at school who would fit the profile, he knew most of the loners and outcasts of the school. Liz, their counselor (and also an old flame of Gilbert's, although neither spoke of it), waited for a moment to make sure no one would was going to do or say anything before she nodded and walked to the door, poking her head out with a smile.
"Come on in, Alfred, dear, let's introduce you to everyone. Alfred was just referred to us by the hospital, and he's just starting therapy so be nice, okay?"
Gilbert looked the boy up and down as surreptitiously as he could, surprised at what he saw-a lanky frame, definitely a good head taller than himself, tanned skin and long fingers that were currently fidgetting with something around his wrists, and Gilbert understood immediately-just like him. Maybe not exactly like, but close, and he looked up, surprised to see previous lowered gaze meeting his own, entranced by the brilliance of the blue eyes. The enchantment was broken, however,when the gaze immediately lowered again, and he saw the boy rubbing at his wrists more, and he understood. He wasn't upset about what happened, he was upset about being caught, put in the spotlight-Gilbert understood that, he'd been the same way, having everyone find out and being looked at with too much pity, and shaking of heads. He crossed his arms, watching the blond shuffle over to his seat, sweatpants riding low on his hips under his shirt (too small, certainly not his own, it was too tight, not that Gilbert was complaining), broad shoulders slumping as he sat down. He was intrigued by this newcomer, and there was a nagging at the back of his mind, he knew this boy-oh, Alfred! Alfred Jones-brother of Matthew Williams, the boy he'd dated once briefly their freshman year, a real cutie. He'd heard something about their family splitting, but no one ever mentioned another brother. They only knew he existed, but he didn't see how anyone could forget him, the boy was honestly stunning even in Gilbert's eyes. He didn't claim to be chaste, hell he'd banged his way through plenty of people, it's how he'd managed to be shunned, but he pretended not to mind. Sex felt good, it was one of his vices-and he would certainly not mind banging this boy. He realized he'd zoned out for most of the beginning of the therapy, shaking his head as he heard snickering, Liz looking at him sternly.
"Gil, could you please pay attention-it's your turn, to give us an update."
"Oh." Gilbert shrugged, leaning his chair onto its back legs, earning him a disapproving "tut" from Liz. "Nothing new to report, yer majesty. Life is still shit, and I still think you have a rather hot ass-"
"That's enough, Gilbert, thank you." Liz huffed, shaking her head and making a small note on her clipboard, turning to Alfred who was next to her (the newbie seat), smile making its way back onto her face. "Alfred, how about you? Tell us about yourself a bit, we do weekly updates, to try and see how you're doing, so we can talk through it."
"Ah…" Alfred's voice was nothing like he'd imagined, not as soft as Matthew's even with how quietly he was speaking, it was a bit rougher and deeper, and yet not at the same time, it held an almost childish quality to it, a child who'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "I…I'm here because my teacher caught me in the bathroom, w-with a…a pen knife."
There was no gasp of surprise or disgust on anyone's face, just a nod of understanding or-Gilbert's least favorite, pity. And it didn't seem like Alfred was rather fond of it either, judging by the way he looked down again, his fingers once again playing with the white bandages on his wrist. Liz reached over, stalling his movements, but Alfred didn't look up this time.
"It's alright, dear, we're here to help you. Why don't you tell us what happened, hm, dear? Why would you do such a thing."
"Ah…" Alfred didn't say anything, shaking his head, and no one was surprised-people never opened up the first day and some, like Gilbert, never did. Liz just nodded, patting his hand comfortingly.
"It's alright, Alfred, you don't have to speak now, just know that when you're ready we're all here."
Gilbert snorted, and Liz shot him a stern look, so he just raised his hands in surrender, keeping quiet the rest of the therapy session, deciding to study the other silent member of their group instead. Alfred had a very odd demeanor, he looked like the kind of kid who belonged on a football field, or in advanced classes, with everyone falling at his feet. He was curious to know how the boy had ended up here, like this, it just didn't seem fair to him. This kid deserved to have that apple pie life-didn't his brother know what he was going through? Well, no-his brother hadn't known either, but that's because his brother was off to college. Matthew and Alfred went to the same school, so of course they would see each other, talk and hang out and all that sappy shit, didn't they? The moment Liz dismissed them Gilbert stood up, intending to catch the kid, at least introduce himself, but Alfred had all but ran from the room, and by the time Gilbert got outside he had already gotten into a red pickup truck and it pulled away, but he noticed blue eyes flashing up into the mirror as it drove off.
—
"Hey, Birdie."
A hush fell over the table as Gilbert spoke, wrinkling his nose as the other hockey players looked up at him, Matthew taking a moment before he seemed to recognize a voice, freezing briefly before he turned. His violet eyes were filled with confusion, a bit of irritation, but he simply sighed softly.
"What do you need, Gilbert?"
"I need to talk to you." Gilbert said, glaring at the other young men who were making little jibes and sneering at him, but Matthew just looked at him, another soft little sigh escaping his mouth as he nodded and stood up.
"Alright, but one minute, understand? I'm only giving you a chance."
"Because I was that good in bed?" he teased, and Matthew flushed, whacking his shoulder.
"We never-you're going to make me regret my decision to give you a chance, Gil."
"Yeah, yeah, okay, don't get your boxers in a bunch." Gilbert said, chuckling as they walked over to the drinking fountains where there was empty space,the albino crossing his arms and looking at him. "I wanted to talk about your brother."
"My brother? You mean Alfred?" Matthew frowned, his eyebrows furrowing and a troubled look crossing his face. "What do you want to know about Alfred? I didn't think you knew him."
"I didn't-well, okay, I didn't before, but I met him yesterday." Gilbert waved his hand a bit. "In the most unlikely place, did you know your brother was going to the shrink?"
"What?" Matthew's lips parted to form a little "o" of surprise, and then he shook his head. "We-we haven't much lately, since Mom and Dad split, I kinda lost track of him, I don't see him, he hasn't been hanging around any of his friends anymore. What's wrong?"
"I don't know, that's why I was going to ask you-well, I know what's wrong with him, but I want to know why."
"Well-probably just Mom and Dad's divorce, he was pretty broken up about it. He didn't want to be split up." Matthew said, nibbling at his lip, and Gilbert shook his head.
"It needs to be something more than that, Birdie, people don't do that shit to themselves over a divorce! What's wrong with him?"
"I don't know, Gilbert! If I knew would I be talking to you right now, I'd be with Alfred instead."
"Yeah, sure, 'cause you've obviously been trying to be there for him." Gilbert snorted, and Matthew gave him a light glare.
"What do you care? Before yesterday you didn't even know him."
"Because-I just do, Mattie, okay?" Gilbert huffed-he couldn't explain it, something about the boy's demeanor and situation bothered him, but he didn't want to try and explain that to Matthew. "Besides, I just…don't like seeing the kid like that, a kid like that should be smiling not lookin' like he's gonna cry half the time."
"Gilbert-oh my god, please don't tell me you're crushing on my brother." Matthew said, eyes narrowing a bit, and Gilbert snorted indignantly.
"I didn't say that!"
"I know you, Gil-you take someone, make them think they're the world to you, and then you screw them and dump them on their ass. I'm not letting you do that to my brother, so you can just forget it."
"Hey, give me more credit than that, Birdie, like you said we never did the deed, and I've stayed with people for long periods of time before." Gilbert retorted, crossing his arms again. "And I never said I was crushing on him!"
"You never show interest in anyone unless you want them in your bed, Gil." Matthew shook his head. "Like I said, you can forget it. Stay away from my brother, if he's as bad as you say he obviously doesn't need you to make him worse!"
Matthew gave him one last stern look before he turned and walked back to the lunchroom, and Gilbert watched him go, glaring at him sulkily. He certainly didn't have any intention to crush on Alfred-but granted, he was gorgeous, and stunning, but he was mostly just curious about what had made his clock tick out of kilter. He turned to walk away to his usual hideout in the theater for a smoke when he noticed a glimpse of blonde hair, and then a soft gasp and the scuttling of feet down the hall. When he ran after he noticed the baggy red sweatshirt as Alfred ran off back down the hallway toward the boy's bathroom, and remembering what Alfredhad said back at therapy Gilbert followed, opening the door with a bang.
"Hey, kid, what are you doing-"
"Ah! Please, g-go away!"
Gilbert looked over, noticing the wide blue eyes trained on him for once, not down at worn sneakers, and arms held out in front of him, Alfred's sleeve riding up a bit and he noticed the boy had been tearing a this bandages, trying to rip them off, the red beginning to dot the white fabric. He swore, moving forward, reaching out to grab the younger's wrist, but Alfred pulled it back again, shaking his head.
"Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you or anything, Alfred, I promise."
"I….I-I know, but please go away! I heard you talking to Mattie, you just want t-to bed me."
"Do you really think that?" Alfred nodded meekly and Gilbert sighed, shaking his head and rubbing the back of his neck, hesitating before he stepped a bit closer, noticing Alfred stepping back a bit but he just pressed onward, even as Alfred was pressed back against the wall. He stopped, though, sighing and looking down, shrugging off one shoulder of his leather jacket, pulling up the sleeve of the plaid shirt he wore underneath, lifting his arm up to show Alfred. The blond gasped softly at the little circular scars on the pale skin, his hand reaching out but then he drew it back again. Gilbert smiled wryly, shaking his head, extending his arm a bit more.
"It's okay, you can touch them, they don't bother me." He whispered, and Alfred bit his lip, but then he brushed his fingers lightly over them, gasping softly.
"Wh-what…?" Alfred breathed, looking up at him, and Gilbert sighed, shaking his head, chuckling sadly.
"Cigarette burns, kiddo. A bit more imaginitive than yours, but same concept, smoking one day and accidentally did it, realized it helped kinda, or at least I told myself it did."
"Oh…" Alfred nodded, his gaze dropping down to the bandages on his own wrists, fingers brushing against them, and Gilbert nodded, pulling his sleeve back down, taking the bandages and wrapping them around Alfred's wrist without even really thinking about it. The boy was quiet as he did so, simply watching him, but then he spoke up.
"…so why would you help me? I-I'm not just gonna, y'know…sleep with you like that."
"I don't want you to, kiddo-jeez, that's not all I want from people, y'know." Gilbert said, huffing, patting the newly wrapped bandages. "Now how about we get out of this bathroom, hm? Tell you what, I'm gonna go have a smoke, and maybe tomorrow I'll meet up with you for lunch, okay? Usually I eat alone, but I can make an exception."
"Ah….maybe." Alfred whispered, shrugging a bit, but Gilbert just smiled and patted his shoulder.
"You don't have to, just an idea, okay, Al? You lemme know." He took his hand, about to kiss the top mock-gallantly, but then pressing the kiss to the top of the bandage instead, smiling at him before he turned and walked out of the bathroom, smile widening a bit when he heard the door open again a moment later and footsteps halting briefly before they retreated back down the hall again