Matches and Duckie were having a conversation in the far side of the room, Bubbles was sitting on the chase, treading Treasure Island, one of the few approved books in the building. Coon and BC were sitting on the fluffy rug, talking. Red was in a session with Anna, and I was sitting under a blanket, trying to rip my fingernails off. I winced, drawing a bit of blood after yanking on a loose end of my nail. Suddenly the blanket was ripped off my head.

"Hey Slen."

Darn you Matches.

Darn you.

"What's up?" He asks, all casual, looking at my bleeding finger. "Nothing," I mumble, quickly hiding my bleeding index infer with my other arm. Matches smiled at me. "Let's go to my room, eh?"

I panicked, and I panicked hard. "Wh-why?" His cheeks turned a soft pink as he grabbed my hand, dragging me to his room. He sat me down on his bed. "I wanna show you something."

"Y-yeah?" I still didn't feel comfortable in his room.

Until he dropped three pieces of cut glass in my hand. Matches sat next to me, leaning against my arm. I ran my thumb over the smooth parts, then over the sharp edges. I grinned, "thank you, M." I realized he was rubbing my thigh with his hand in calming patterns, and I let myself be touched. It didn't feel bad. I swallowed. "Wouldn't we get in trouble if they find them?"

He nodded. "It's worth it, and you know that too." I looked up at him, and he tucked my hair behind my ear. His skin was cold. Freezing cold, different against my sweating body under my thick Jane the Killer sweatshirt. Matches smiled at me, keeping his hand on my cheek lightly. My eyes darted over him, trying to to show how scared I was. Nobody had touched me like this in a long time. "Are you okay?" He leaned in, just enough that I could feel his breath on my chapped lips. I gripped my bed covers tightly, waves of anxiety crashing over me- but I nodded. "You're stunning, Slender. Your beautiful eyes, they... ah..." he grinned.

"Leslie, you're a gorgeous girl. You're eyes, with those, you'll have to get someone to protect you from all the jealous guys." I smiled, then glared. "Not that you couldn't defend yourself, I'm sure." James laughed, giving my hand a tight squeeze before we kept walking.*

"M-Matches..." I shook, vision getting blurry. "Mike, Slender. My name's Mike, call me that when we're alone, please?" He asked, smiling, running his thumb across my eye gently and flicking some of the salty water away. I pulled away, wiping my eyes, making darker pools

of red on my sleeve from the water.

He scoots closer, leaning on me, pushing me back against his bed. "C'mon, Slender, it ain't that bad." A dark haze full of lust overcomes his eyes, and I swallow hard, taking a sharp inhale. "I--I really, Matches..."

"Mike." He scowled, and I drew silent, scared but never letting it show. People eat on you through your emotions. "Get off of me, Mike." I shoved him aside, getting off his bed and standing.

He remained seated, eyes still on me. I reached for the door knob. "It's locked from the outside."

"Well open it! Don't you have a key or something!" I yelled, ready to break the door down if I had to. Matches just stared at me. "Hold me, Leslie. I want you to hold me."

"Will you open the door if I do?" Matches nodded. I came over carefully, climbing back onto the bed and holding Mike against me. I started stroking his hair.

"Nobody normal will ever love us." He whispered.