Chapter 2
Scars of the Past
The spent lovers lay side by side on Ray's bed, sleepily looking into each others eyes. Tony slowly and gently placed his left hand on Ray's cheek. Ray blushed at the gentleness of the touch. Stroking along Ray's eyebrow with his thumb, Tony felt that just below the eyebrow was a scar. The scar was healed of course but a mark lingered in its place. The white dash was clearly seen as Ray's complexion was darker than the scar. Tony curiously retouched the scar and asked, "Where did you get this?" Tony's question was soft yet simple but in the eyes of Ray it was an intrusion. Ray smacked Tony's hand away from his face and violently turned away from Tony to face the wall. Tony gave an understanding pat on Ray's shoulder and turned around too believing that he would receive no answer. Just as Tony was about to close his eyes Ray spoke in a clear soft whisper, "I was twelve…" Tony tried to turn again to face Ray but Ray stopped him, "No…don't…don't turn around…" Tony nodded slightly and went back to his first position…Ray continued, "It was raining…and my dad was yelling…"
*Mini flashback*
Dad: "How many times have I told you? Don't play around in the kitchen!"
Mom: "Oh stop it Garry…He didn't know!"
Ray (twelve years old): "Mommy I'm scared…"
Dad: "Maybe he'll know now!" -Smacks Ray in the face-
Mom: "Garry! Stop this!"
*Back to present time*
Ray gave a quivered sigh, "He was an alcoholic…" Tony whispered, "I'm sorry…I didn't know…" Ray took a deep breath, "I ran away Tony…I ran away…"
*Mini flashback*
Dad: "Hey! Get back here! I'm not through with you yet!"
Mom: "Ray! …Great Garry, now look what you've done…"
Ray: -Sobs- "I'm never going back…"
*Back to present time*
Tony hesitantly asked, "Wasn't it…cold though?" Ray scoffed, "Yeah, cold as hell…and because it was raining…the mud made me slip and fall into a river a few metres away from my house…"
*Mini flashback*
Ray: -Submerged several times into the water while hitting rocks along the way from the strong current- "Help!" -Coughs and spits out water in between words- "Somebody! Please…"
*Back to present time*
"There was a silhouette of something or someone coming closer…I couldn't quite see since my head had been dunked in the water for most of the time I was in there…When the image got closer…it was a girl…she had red hair…" Tony interrupted Ray in a shocked whisper, "MeekaKitty…" Ray slightly nodded, "Yeah…"
*Mini flashback*
MeekaKitty: "I can help you, just stay calm…" -Reaches down to grab Ray's hand-
Ray: "The…current is…too strong!" -Tries to grab at MeekaKitty's hand-
MeekaKitty: "Please! Have faith…" -Finally grabs hold of Ray- "Gotcha!" -Pulls him out of the water with ease-
Ray: -Shocked- "Oh...my gosh. THANK YOU!" -Jumps on MeekaKitty to give her a hug-
MeekaKitty: "OH!" -Hugs back- "No problem…"
*Back to present time*
Tony asked in surprise, "She saved you?" Ray got all defensive and began to say in a voice of anger, "Yeah, got a problem with that?" Tony shook his head, "No, no not at all…" Ray continued, "It turns out that one of the rocks I hit while I was being pulled by that strong current gave me a gash above my right eye…yeah, the whole right side of my face was covered in blood from the eyebrow down…"
*Mini flashback*
MeekaKitty: "Oh no! You got a cut on your face…" -Moves wet hair from Ray's face to get a better look at the cut-
Ray: "It's okay…it doesn't even hurt that much…"
MeekaKitty: "But it might be infected…Can I at least take you to my house so we can clean it up and patch it up?"
Ray: "I don't think that's such a good idea…My dad doesn't want me going anywhere…"
MeekaKitty: "Oh but my house is right there, see?" -Points to house close by- "Come on, it's raining! I don't want you catching a cold!"
Ray: -Hesitant- "Okay fine…"
*Back to present*
"So that's how you two met?" Tony asked curiously. Ray violently pulled the blanket higher up to cover his face, "Good night Tony!" Tony was suspicious of this…Finally Tony decided to not bother with it and ask MeekaKitty about it later.