A/N: sorry for the shortness of chapters.
Chapter 2: rubber band
"Ready to talk now-or not?" asked Dylan later that evening after supper at the Michalchuk's house.
"In your room?" said Marco hopefully. Dylan stood up and he and Marco went to his room. Marco sat on Dylan's bed and after he shut the door so did Dylan
"okay-talk. What's wrong?" he asked looking Marco in the eyes.
"I-I'm scared," he said sounding on the verge of tears again. Marco snuggled close to Dylan and Dylan's arms instinctively went around the younger boy.
"About what babe?" he asked quietly. Marco was shaking slightly-he was crying again.
"I-I keep ha-having the urge t-to cut again," he cried harder then Dylan had ever seen him cry.
"Marco-shh-its OK. Everything will be alright. Have you talk to Ellie about this? She could probably tell you something," said Dylan as he rubbed Marco's back. Dylan looked at Marco's wrist to see how many marks he had left.
"Holy shit Marco. This isn't healthy-look at all of this," said Dylan starting to get scared himself. Marco nodded as he cried he knew what they looked like and how many there were-too many. That night Marco cried himself to sleep with Dylan holding him.
Slash…slash…drip…drip…slash…slash…drip…drip. A small pool of blood mixed with tears lay on the floor as Marco Del Rossi cut his wrists…too much blood. Drip…drip…drip…drip…drip the pool was becoming bigger with every drip. He wanted to stop but he couldn't. Dylan was somewhere in the background begging him to stop…he was in his bathroom with not a knife, but a razor this time-something worse...no this can't be happening!
"Marco! Wake up! Wake up, Marco!" said Dylan shaking his boyfriend.
"Dylan!" he said in a scared tone sitting up and throwing his arms around him. Dylan rubbed his back and looked at the clock on his dresser-it was 3 in the morning.
"What's wrong? You were crying your sleep," he said as he separated from the hug and wiped a few of the tears away.
"I-I was cutting again Dyl and-and it was-with a razor," he said. Dylan rubbed Marco's arm soothingly making sure to stop at wear the marks started.
"Its OK Marco, I love you, but you can't continue to be depressed about stuff--it's not healthy," he said and Marco looked down ashamed.
"I want you to tell me the truth before we had that fight--were you cutting yourself?" he asked. Marco didn't answer "Marco tell me--I won't be angry," he said softly
"No--I thought of doing it though and when we broke up--it felt like everything was falling apart and I just---did," surprisingly Marco didn't cry when he said this, but seeing as how much he had already cried Dylan didn't think Marco would be able to cry for another week!
"Okay well I wasn't able to sleep because I was thinking about you and that too, and well I found something on the internet," he said then took Marco's hand and led him downstairs and into the living room where a computer sat in the corner.
"It's Ever heard of it? I think you should read this stuff-It could really help you Marco. Safe means self abuse finally ends, and no offence or anything, but after you read this I really hope it does," said Dylan then pulled up a chair and sat down on it. Marco sat down on the chair beside him and starting reading.
After a while he stopped "Do you have a rubber band?" he asked tiredly. Dylan nodded then handed Marco a rubber band.
"I'd thought you'd ask so I grabbed one, and even if you had said no I was going to make you wear it!" he said and laughed weakly. Marco snapped it…then again…then again then he smiled
"Thank you so much Dylan I think it'll work, but if it doesn't then-," he began but was stopped when Dylan kissed him
"Don't focus on the negative crap Marco! Focus on the positive stuff and before you know it you won't have to wear this," he said and snapped it softly so he wouldn't hurt Marco.
"Queer!" the usual jeer came from a few homophobic people. Marco snapped the rubber band.
"Ignore them babe--they're jealous because they didn't get to you before me," he said making Marco giggle
"No they're probably jealous because they want to be as hot as you, but they know it's impossible," he said--earning him a kiss on the cheek.
"Keep the rubber band on, and don't go near knives--promise?" said Dylan as Marco crossed his arms
"yeah I know, I won't--you're picking me up after school right?" he asked and smiled when Dylan agreed
"OK see you later babe," called Marco before running into his first class.
When Dylan picked up Marco later that day he noticed how red Marco's wrist was.
"Did you have a bad day?" he asked then glanced at Marco's wrist again.
"Oh-my wrist-it's nothing really just stupid people saying stupid things," he said then got into the passenger seat by Dylan.
"Who are these people and what are they saying?" he demanded to know. Marco sighed
"Just a few guys who are majorly anti-gay saying stuff like f-well you know," he said not wanting to say the mean words that he had been called.
"You mean fag?" asked Dylan and when Marco nodded Dylan felt a surge of anger build up in him. "Who are they?" he asked.
"Dylan-I'm not cutting myself so why are you so worried? Can't I just go home?" he begged, but Dylan refused
"Its just I'm afraid that you will cut yourself again," Dylan admitted.
"I won't!" said Marco starting to get angry.
"Okay I'll stop," said Dylan realizing that Marco was snapping the rubber band again.
"I love you, Marco," he said as he pulled out of the school driveway.
"I love you too Dylan," said Marco and stopped snapping the rubber band at least for a while.
"Dylan--can you stop me off at home--don't worry, I'll be back!" he said and smiled.
"It's nice to see that smile again Marco, are you coming for dinner?" asked Dylan, making Marco smile fad a little
"There's bound to be a fight between my dad and I so yeah probably before dinner," he said as he hopped out of the car. "I'll pick you up at six thirty," he said then drove away.