To say that Sam was worried would be an understatement. He was currently pacing from one end of his room to the other with a hand constantly scratching his jaw. His brain was preoccupied with trying to fathom the reason for Peter's three-day-absence. With a soft sigh he realized that he did know what the reason was. He was just far too guilty to admit it.
"Sam, what's wrong?" Danny asked as he walked towards him.
Sam sighed once more and resisted the urge to punch a wall. He simply shook his head and mumbled, "It's all my fault."
Danny frowned as he stopped in front of the other boy. Sam was shaking now and sweat was trailing down his temple. Danny sighed and started caressing the path from Sam's wrist to his shoulders. Up and down. Up and down. The movement continued until Danny was satisfied that Sam's breathing had become even again. With one last slow stroke he grasped Sam's forearms and asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Sam sighed as he rested his forehead on Danny's shoulder. "I don't know where to start." Sam confessed.
Danny chuckled as his fingertips started massaging Sam's scalp. Sam hummed as Danny said, "How about you start from the beginning?"
"Easier said than done when you don't know exactly where you're at. I'm not sure if I'm at the ending, the beginning or the middle."
Danny's movements stilled before he shook his head and simply questioned, "What happened between you and Peter?"
Sam froze. Silence engulfed them as his sweating increased. In the end, Sam stepped back, shook his head and replied, "I can't tell you."
Danny crossed his arms as he, too, took a step back. He scrutinized Sam and soon glared at him. With an icy tone he responded, "The problem is not in your ability to tell me. The problem is with your desire to or rather not to tell me."
Sam flinched. He staggered backwards until his knees collided with the chair. His frame slumped and soon his back rested against the solidity of the wood. Sam put a hand on his forehead and rubbed it. Danny did not move. He simply waited for Sam to let the cat out of the bag.
"Peter told me he had feelings for me. I think… I think he has had them for a long time."
"Oh... Is that all?" Danny asked, suspecting that something had transpired between Nova and Spiderman as well.
"How can you see through me so easily?" Sam breathed out as he allowed the hand that had been rubbing his forehead to tumble to his lap.
Danny smiled. He stepped forward and now stood before Sam. With a superior smirk he knelt down and captured the other's lips with his own. Danny did not devour Sam's mouth like he usually would. However, he could not help but tap the other boy's lips with his tongue. Once Sam granted him entrance, Danny simply slipped the slick muscle into the awaiting cavern and traced every nook and cranny with it, deliberately missing its awaiting twin in the middle.
Danny pulled back and smirked as Sam panted. He traced Sam's cheek with the hand that was not rubbing circles on the boy's knees and whispered, "How do I see through you so easily? Are you certain you are ready to face the truth?"
Sam nodded as he inhaled sharply when Danny's fingertips tickled his inner thigh. Danny's smirk intensified. He leaned forward and started nipping at Sam's jaw. The other boy gasped, but managed to choke out, "W-wait." He then used one trembling hand to push Danny back and looked him in the eye as he ordered, "Tell me the truth."
Danny's smirk disappeared. His cold stare made Sam tremble. However, soon a sad smile formed as Danny traced the lines on Sam's hand.
"Simple," He whispered. He went on to play with Sam's fingers as he locked gazes with the boy, "You can't lie to the one you love. That includes hiding the truth as well, although I would argue that both actions mean the same thing."
Sam gasped. His eyes widened. He shut his eyes tightly and withdrew his hand from Danny's grasp. The inviting fingertips that knew him so well had suddenly become cold to Sam. Just as Danny had. In these moments, in the aftermath, Sam was reminded of the severe reality he had to endure. Danny did not love him. And he probably never would. Danny simply adored Sam's body and the fire Sam managed to ignite whenever he touched Danny's skin or simply locked gazes with him. Their relationship was purely physical. Unfortunately, that was all it was going to be.
"Why do you keep doing this to yourself, Sam?" Danny asked as his lips nipped at Sam's neck.
"I wish I knew the answer to that myself." Sam answered as he wrapped his arms around Danny's neck and tilted his head back.
During the next few hours wanton moans filled the empty room as silent tears burned the inner walls of Sam's heart.
"Morning, Pete." Harry said as he swung his arm around his longtime friend. Peter smiled as he greeted the other boy. MJ was absent today which meant that they could spend some quality time together. As much as both Harry and Peter adored her, sometimes the two needed their space as did she.
"I missed you at school last week. What happened?" Harry asked as he gathered his books from his locker for their last class.
Peter mirrored his actions as he answered, "Nothing."
"Peter!" Harry exclaimed as he pointed an accusatory finger at his best friend, "What did I tell you about keeping secrets from me?"
"Um…" Peter pretended to be confused as he questioned, "Not to do it?"
Harry rolled his eyes before he replied, "Exactly! Now stop acting as though you don't remember and tell me what's going on. Did something happen between you and Sam?"
Peter sighed. He was reminded that confiding in your best friend about your new friend slash newly found crush was a double-edged sword. Unfortunately, its negative side had to rear its ugly head up at the most inconvenient of times.
"I told him I liked him." Peter blurted out. He kept on walking until he realized that Harry was no longer beside him. Peter turned around and resisted the urge to laugh at the side before him. Harry was frozen, his mouth opening and closing. Needless to say, he had just broken his best friend with the sudden and unexpected declaration.
Harry walked brusquely towards Peter and asked, "You did what?! What made you do such a ludicrous thing?"
Peter sighed as he rolled his eyes. It was true that he needed to confide in someone. Given the history he shared with Harry, Peter concluded that his best friend was his best option.
"He and I kissed. I confessed that I had wanted to do it for a long time, but he told me that he had got carried away, apologized profusely and professed that there was someone else." Peter explained.
"Oh… that seems harsh." Harry replied.
"It is, but I only liked him and it's just the beginning. I mean… I did get rejected and it stung, but I'm glad it happened." Peter responded.
"You are?!" Harry exclaimed. "Peter, did someone hit your head? How can you be happy for getting hurt so badly?"
"Because I know the truth and I will no longer spend countless hours wondering about what-if-scenarios. I am happy because I will finally be able to move on, Harry. But most of all, I am glad that Sam told me the truth because it proved to me what type of person he is."
"And what kind of person is he?" Harry asked with a visible edge to his voice.
Peter sighed and smiled sadly, "He is the kind of person who would do anything for others, but as little as possible for himself."
"What are you talking about?" Harry enquired as he frowned. Clearly, he was not able to follow Peter's pattern of thought.
"He is in a toxic relationship. It's obvious he is unhappy. However, he was able to man up and spare me the pain of being part of one. He did not plan on using me in order to salvage whatever dignity he has left. He would rather have someone abuse his heart than be the abuser." Peter declared resolutely, leaving Harry speechless.
During their last class Harry did not push the subject further. Peter remained silent as well. Instead the two of them decided to do something they had not in ages – have a movie night. Clearly, both could use a break and who would better provide one than your best friend?
