Chapter 9

I awoke in the morning to see Sonny's sleeping face inches from mine. He was cute when he slept, really cute. I sat there, closed my eyes, and exhaled. Waking up next to Sonny was a thing I could easily get used to, I figured. I turned over to look at the clock, groaning. The clock read 12:24 in clear, red numbers on his alarm clock. I ran my hands over my face, rubbing my eyes. I slowly sat up and got out of bed, meaning not to wake Sonny from his peaceful-looking sleep. I walked out the door and across the hall to the bathroom. I looked up at my reflection in the mirror and thought, 'Jesus Christ, man, you really need a shower.'

I stripped down to nothing, placing my clothes on the floor, and started the water. I stepped in to feel the relaxing jet of warm water fall down my body and watch it swirl down the drain. At that moment I realized that I hadn't taken a shower for about two days. And in my opinion, that's really fucking nasty. Who knows what kind of . . . smells were seething from my body. Gross, really fucking gross. That's why I was thankful for the soap that was now cleaning my body. Thank God for the invention of soap. Or, thank the pioneers, I suppose. Now that made me wonder what people bathed with before there was soap. 'Best not to think upon that,' I told myself.

I was busily lathering my hair with shampoo when I heard the door quietly open. I stopped suddenly, wondering why somebody was intruding on my peaceful, well deserved shower.

"It's just me," I heard Sonny say. I relaxed a little at that thought. Then I heard his clothes dropping to the floor with a quiet, yet defiant thud. My heartbeat started to race a little faster than what is normal and I closed my eyes for a second.

"I'm coming in, if that's okay," remarked Sonny. I consented for him to hop in, and he did. He looked at me and smiled, and then moved closer to me and grabbed fistfuls of my soaking wet hair so he could kiss me.

"I take it you slept well, then," I said, brushing his wet hair out of his face. He smiled, and then kissed my neck.

"Yes, yes I did. I slept very well, in fact. But that was only because you were sleeping next to me, I believe." This time I leaned down a bit and kissed him, my tongue exploring the crevices of his mouth. He giggled, and then pulled away looking me in the eyes. That was enough of a signal for me, time to fuck him, yes. I was eager, okay? I ran my hands up and down his wet back with each thrust, digging my nails hard enough that he had bleeding scratch marks over the majority of his back. The water that was steadily flowing helped wash away the blood on his back. I didn't mean to be violent, it just happened. I started working harder and faster, drawing more blood along his back. He must not have minded the scratches, or he hadn't noticed. We were busy, you know.

When I was finished, I pulled out and slowly slid to the floor, soon followed by Sonny. He laid soft kisses along my chest and neck while I closed my eyes, slowing down my breathing. I rubbed Sonny's back and he winced as my hands slid over the many scratches placed along the contours of his back. I stopped and watched his shoulders fall, relaxing, while he exhaled lightly. Soon after, he got up, turned off the water and got out. I just sat there for a moment while he left the room, thinking.

I then got out and grabbed a clean white towel, wrapping it around my waist. I walked over the ceramic tile, dripping wet. When I had reached the carpeting right in front of Sonny's bedroom door, the phone began ringing. I heard Sonny's voice say hello and he came walking over to me, handing me the phone. 'Shit,' I thought, 'it must be my dad.' I put the receiver to my ear and said hello. What a surprise, it was my dad.

"I was just wondering where you were. You weren't home when I came home. I just wanted to make sure you weren't dead or anything," he said. I actually heard concern floating on his voice. I had an urge to say, "Since when do you care?" but fought it, for it would only create further complications.

"I'm fine, still alive. I'm just spending the weekend at Sonny's and you weren't home so I didn't bother to try and inform you," I said, anger beginning to well up inside of me.

"Oh, well, I was just worried about you, son. Because you weren't here and I was afraid you had run away or something. But enough of this, I found where you are and so now I'll leave you be. Have a good weekend, son," he said and hung up. Now I was beginning to be bothered by his sudden concern in my wellbeing. Oh well. Maybe he was finally realizing how shitty of a father he really was and was changing. I thought about that for a moment and decided that that thought was ridiculous. How could his attitude about me change over night? Maybe he met a woman! Doubtful. Who would want him? Well, my mother did, but that's beside the point. He was actually decent 16 years ago, or so I thought.. And now I was just answering my own questions. Hey, at least I wasn't thinking out loud, right?

"Is everything okay?" Sonny asked me, arms folded across his chest, looking thoughtful and concerned.

My eyebrows raised a little bit, contemplating what to say. "Yeah, there's no problem really. He was just. . ." I paused for a moment, trying to take it all in, "concerned. He was concerned. He's never been concerned my entire life as long as I can remember. It's something new to me. I almost thought he was going to say I love you." I glanced towards the floor as I said it, not quite believing it yet.

"Maybe something good will come out of it. But all I can say, is I won't let him beat you ever again. But hopefully, this means he'll stop." I looked up at him after he said that, biting my bottom lip. I was just confused, very confused. I didn't really know what to say or do, so I didn't do anything. Sonny then shrugged and came over to me, wrapping his arms around my bare waist, laying his head right underneath my chin.

"I love you," he said, tightening his grip on me.

"I love you too, I love you too."