Author's Note: I'M BACK! GIMME A HUG IF YOU'RE STILL READING! I swear, I have been having so much trouble lately, it is quite amazing. I just felt so overwhelmed and didn't know which fic to update, but I've been getting so much positive feedback for this one, that I couldn't resist updating! Hopefully, you'll like this chapter as much as the last ones. This one will be a chapter with all three characters in it somewhat, so yay! Let's all say hooray for angst!
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Chapter Four
The all boys school had just been let out into the foggy afternoon of their home. Shirts were loosened, voices raised. The pressure of the lord had lifted into the mist for the day, and the boys could be boys. One lagged behind unusually slow. His black feet seemed to be glued to the hard path beneath him, and he couldn't care nonetheless. His eyes were fixated on the golden trinity on his necklace. Why did Jack have the same necklace as I did?
Ralph lingered at the entrance of the school as he pondered. The thought of sharing such an important piece of jewelry with Jack churned his stomach. He'd already kissed him. What else would that accursed cross make him do? "I knew I shouldn't have come today. I feel so sick," Ralph heaved to himself, his legs moving him towards the crowded sidewalks. There was somewhere he needed to go.
Further down the way, St. Michael's school's boys had just left in a similar manner, and one stayed back. The red head opened his umbrella and began his slow walk, feeling eyes watching him as he bit into the red waxy exterior of his apple. Almost immediately, Jack spit it up, his hand covering his mouth to hold in anything else that might come forth. An evil giggle came from beside him, and when he looked, he discovered Roger doubled over in laughter. "What was that for!" Jack coughed, wiping his mouth on his hand.
"I wanted to see how you liked rotten apples. I eat them all the time. How do you think I survive?" Roger's hands were on his lean hips which bent slightly to loom over the hacking red head. "You need to toughen up Jack. What's happened to you?"
"Please don't badger me again. Just get on with it. I thought you were done with me for today." Jack slumped to his jeaned backside, zipping his white sweater jacket to hold his annoyance. Roger rocked on his feet, kneeling in the rain beside the shielded Jack. "Listen man, I needed to see you again because my blood is boiling. I'm going crazy yeah!" Clapping, the enthusiastic young man grinned wider. "I wanna move faster! It's going to be wacco! Awesome! You gotta move faster Jack!"
Jack, who had quietly listened to his partner in soon to be crime, was wildly puzzled with what he meant by 'faster'. With just a turn of his head, the mischievous Roger was able to see his confusion. "If we're gonna finish the kid off, we've gotta move fast. I need you to make a serious move. Make him want you!" His leather boots kicked up water when he stood to light a cigarette. "But why would we kiss ag…" Jack began the sentence before realizing what he'd said. As soon as he shut up, Roger blew a cloud of smoke in his directions, his eyes wide. "You've already kissed!"
"He kissed me. He probably wasn't serious though," the red head reassured, the pink in his cheeks making itself known. This seemed to change everything. Roger let his dripping hair shade his eyes, letting smoke seep in between the jungle of curls. "God Jack, you never cease to thrill me. I already have an idea in mind, so listen up good." Roger pushed up the umbrella so Jack was now exposed and able to listen to the next step in Roger's bizarre plan. This will be…
Ralph's golden locks sulked, weighted down by rain that poured upon him. "I'm lost. I have no clue where the cemetery is from here." Feeling just as heavy as his hair, Ralph seemed to wilt more with each further press of his foot. Weird. My head hurts…Sniffling, the blonde decided the best option was wandering anywhere that was free to his feet. Not this feeling again…I'm gonna die… Suddenly, the familiar sounds of a violin rang in his ears, beckoning him towards the dock hidden within the fog. Ralph was immediately hypnotized, blindly stumbling towards it.
The fog peeled away his years as he pulled through it, and by the time he was at his destination, he was a little boy with tears in his eyes. Lost. The music was the only thing that kept his heart beating, and soon, its owner became clear. Sitting there with his same natural poise, Jack Merridew held his violin, his body motioning the notes to bring Ralph, his voice answering Ralph's question. Where am I?
Come to me boy of sadness
My embrace takes your cold
I'll understand your pain for now
So come sit with me
On the hill, we'll be for now
I'll try to cheer you up
Because you're different for me
I care about you, I guess
So try to find me here
Here amid the sea
I promise you now
I'll be here for you
So stop those childish tears
And we'll be happy here for now
You can be mine as I am yours
Beginning the strawberry romance
By this time, Ralph had collapsed beside Jack, shivering with some unknown feeling of sickness. "Ralph!" He exclaimed in surprise, casing his violin and scooping Ralph's upper half into his kind arms. His crossed legs made an excellent pillow for the stunned young man who just stared up at the nineteen year old in wonder. "Why would you be in a place like this Ralph? I'd think you'd be praying at your dormitory by n…"
"D…Don't talk to me like my mother! I was just trying to go to the cemetery!" Ralph stuttered, a strangely cold manner in his voice. "Cemetery? Whatever for?" Jack inquired, hiding whatever hurt he'd have from Ralph's tone. "You should remember…It hasn't been THAT long since those two died…" Those two? Jack's light eyes shut for a moment, the cold rain making it harder to think straight. "SIMON AND PIGGY! C'mon Jack! Don't tell me…" Ralph softened a bit, the red in his face become more apparent. "Ralph, I'm sorry. I guess five years have taken its toll. I want to forget all that anyway…It makes me unhappy."
Ralph crossed his arms impatiently in disagreement while he watched Jack look towards the sea, his eyes distant and his hair tossed with the wind and wet with the rain. "Do you know what makes me happy Ralph?" Ralph began to ask what, but was silenced with a sweet strawberry fruit making its way into his lips. Gagging before chewing, he eventually got it between his teeth and down his throat. "WHAT WAS THAT!"
"Come on! You're not that dense are you, it's called a strawberry," teased Jack as he popped on into his own mouth. "I hate apples, so I have strawberries. That makes sense doesn't it?" Ralph's head bobbled slightly as Jack flexed his knees. "I…I dunno. Why are you acting all weird Jack?"
"Ha ha! Am I Ralph?" Behind the freckles flashed a smile that Jack had never shown before. Ralph was caught off guard. I feel so hot. While Ralph had his hand over his eyes, Jack glanced behind him with a squint, seeing nothing more than a booted foot that turned the corner and a newly dropped cigarette butt. Damn he wants me to work fast. "Ah…Ah…Ah…CHOOOOOOOOOO!" The unexpected sneeze sent Ralph sprawling upward, face to face with the shocked Jack. The red flush was all over now, and Ralph was seeing stars around his guardian. "I should have seen this sooner. You're getting sick," Jack said with sudden urgency. Ralph dropped back down, clenching his teeth as he held his hands on his pounding head. "Agh…Geez…my head…"
Another strawberry found its way to his mouth, shutting him up while Jack opened an umbrella. "You've gotten delicate Ralph. You should be able to weather a hell of a lot more than rain," Jack joked, his hand finding its way to his zipper. "What are you doing Jack!" Yet again, a sweet delight fumbled his wording, giving Jack time to remove his clothing and reach down to lift Ralph.
This was the first time in a long time Ralph had been pressed into Jack's skin. There was a large difference this time. His once rough tan skin had turned soft and pale. The intense brutality of the island hadn't seemed to be anywhere on his body anymore. He didn't have much trace of stomach muscle, but no fat either. Just a long, thin stomach. All the muscle remained in the arms that held him while a sweater built pillow was created on the spot. Jack dropped Ralph back, smiling pleasantly again. It's now or never. Roger says so…
"Hey J…" By this time, Ralph was fully expecting a strawberry, but wasn't ready for what came with it. Jack was far closer than before, his lips bringing the treat to Ralph's. What the hell…? Swallowing, Ralph felt the heat of the kiss rushing through his already enflamed body. He was drowning in his own confusion, and Jack was just making the waves rise higher above his head. "How was that?" Jack asked in a satisfied voice, licking his lips of the reminisce of strawberry. Ralph's hands found there way to covering his eyes again, the whole thing a blur. I can't figure anything out. What does he want from me? What do I want from him?
The cool press of a cross dragged across Ralph's nose as Jack pressed his lips to the burning forehead, reassuring him of his suspicion of fever. "Poor thing. The devil himself seems to have given you the flames of hell, you're so warm," the sympathetic boy whispered. "What do you want from me Jack?" Ralph tried to turn away, unable to even move an inch. "That's a good question. I should probably ask the same someday, huh?" Jack chuckled, locking eyes with Ralph for a moment. "I'm just doing what I have to."
"What do you…?" Ralph tried to turn his head away, but Jack's lips hit their target, his arms pulling on the sleeves of his shirt beneath Ralph to bring him up close to him. All breathing seemed impossibly for Jack was not planning on leaving anytime soon. For awhile, Ralph could only lie in sickness, a burning head and a pounding heart. His eyes looked over the boy above him, not the same boy he was five years ago. He was a different boy…Is this really Jack? Unconsciously, his quaking hands began walking up to Jack's shoulders to bring him closer. Once they were pressed together completely, Ralph was able to close his eyes and reciprocate with his own lips.
This time, Jack was a bit off guard, but overall content with the way things were going. He pushed forward a bit more, his arms wrapping around the burning waist beneath him. It seemed Ralph had regained innocence since their last unfortunate time together. He was so much more dependant now, and Jack wasn't about to leave him. He wanted to take care of him…He wanted more…He wanted…Wait. This is a plan…I shouldn't be taking this so seriously…or else…
The drawing away of Jack's much desired lips struck Ralph with consciousness. He hurriedly rubbed his blurring eyes, panting so heavily his breath shown in the midday air. "Well now, I think we get it, don't we Ralph?" The smiling red head questioned standing and brushing himself off. "Let's get you somewhere warm." Ralph had sat up in a daze, watching Jack flip his sweater onto his pale shoulder. "Let's go," he said with strain as he lifted Ralph onto that same shoulder, the umbrella in his other hand. "W…Where are you taking me?" Ralph huffed, letting his weight fall on Jack. "Somewhere warm I said!" The stroll began, and even though he was anxiously uncomfortable, Ralph decided it was best to let it be, and eventually, the bumps lulled him to sleep.
Jack looked back, smiling slightly to see his patient in his rainy bliss. "You sure have changed Ralph. You're actually…pretty cute now…" Jack was feeling aware of his change as well. He licked his lips a few more times as if looking for a leftover of Ralph's taste. I can't actually be falling for him, can I?
A pair of dark eyes watched the unusual sight pass by him, a smirk stained on the face that held those eyes. "Well Jack, this isn't quite what I expected." The eyes peered to a stop watch that flashed the numbers 10:23. "That's pretty long for just a second kiss. I guess I should congratulate him, but not if he's taking this too seriously." After a long sigh, the now laughing young man began walking in the opposite direction. "This is going to be more fun than I thought. I can't wait to see what happens next."
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Author's Note: Me either Roger, me either. XD. This chapter probably seemed a little weird, but I'm proud of myself. This is the first nonschool related thing I've written in about a month. If you are still reading, I thank you, and I'm sure I'll find time to add another chapter! ANGST! Now I have to work on my anime fanfiction. I brought this on myself I suppose.