Lay Your Heart Next to Mine [p3.1]
Title: Lay Your Heart Next to Mine [p3.1]
Author: ipanicdaily
Co-Author: lilrainforest
Pairing: Gabe/William
POV: 3rd
Rating: R (just to be safe)
Series: You're Everything I Need; a Gabilliam co-write
Disclaimer: Not mine. I don't own, I'm not going to attempt to lie and say I do, and omg Nate Novarro is the cutest <3
Summary: "I don't love you, at all. Hell, I can barely stand you!" There was a collective gasp around the room. "I did all I could not to throw up whenever you put your nasty lips on me!"
Warning: Violence, angst, language
Beta: lilrainforest
Author Notes: This is a mid-story between stories #3 and #4 (which has yet to be written).
Past Parts: So You've Found a Friend :: You Can Be the Best for Me (When I'm the Worst for You) :: Screwing Up the Best Thing Ever :: Is Something You'll Regret Forever
A week or few later (after 'Is Something You'll Regret Forever')
"Gabe?" The sound of Bill's saddened voice broke Gabe's thoughts, turning his head to his boyfriend as they sat on the top bleacher above the field. The cheerleaders were practicing down below, Gabe coming to 'support' Desiree and William following as the 'supportive best friend'. "Do you love her?" he timidly asked, looking down at a few seats below.
"Who?" Gabe's eyebrows pulled together, his sunglasses falling down a millimeter or two.
"Her," Bill said, using his head to motion down towards the field.
"Desiree?" Gabe's eyebrows released to allow one to lift. He looked down at the field where his supposed girlfriend yelled at the younger girls, wearing a very short skirt and a spaghetti-strap tank top. Occasionally she looked up at him, smiling and waving or purposely trying to show off, but he mostly just ignored her. "Nope," Gabe said simply, dropping his head back again to absorb the warm sun like he had been while Bill read.
"Then...are you ashamed of me?" Will asked after, Gabe's head straightening. He removed the sunglasses, pushing them on top of his head, looking directly at his boyfriend with a frown.
"What's this about?" he asked. "You know I'm in no way ashamed of you, Bilvy."
"Then why won't you dump her and let people know that we're actually dating?" Bill asked with a frustrated sigh, biting his lip like he does when he's generally annoyed or thinking. He looked continuously down. "Why do we have to lie?"
"Because I don't anything to happen to you," Gabe said softly, taking Bill's hand into his and brushing his thumb over the smooth skin. "You know that being gay isn't exactly accepted and I just want you to be safe."
"I'm not some porcelain doll, Gabe." He yanked his hand back. "I don't need constant protection. I'd rather be teased than have to keep our relationship a secret."
"I know that, babe, but I also know that a lot of assholes here than can do a lot of physical damage which is what I'm afraid of," Gabe said calmly. He was getting better at dealing with an angry Bill. "It's only a few hours a day."
"It shouldn't have to be any!" Will scowled, sliding away from Gabe. "This feels no different than before."
"What do you want me to do?" Gabe stressed out. "I'm only trying to keep you from getting hurt."
"Well stop trying to pad my life!" Bill grabbed his things and stood up. "You don't learn to ride a bike without falling off a few times first," he said, starting down the bleachers.
"Bill!" Gabe half whined, standing as well. "Do you want me to break up with Desiree and let everyone find out about us?" William stopped, a few steps away from Gabe, turning to face him. "If that's what you want, I'll do it."
"You should want it too!" he somewhat snapped. "You asked me to date you so stop trying to play Mr. Perfect and grow some fucking balls unless you really don't want a serious relationship with me." Gabe rubbed his eyes. "I'm not going to let you fuck around with me, Gabriel. You either date me, willingly admitting it, or you go find someone else to lie to."
"Fine!" Gabe couldn't stand when William was upset with him. "I'll break up with her, okay? Now, please come back here."
"No," Bill replied, though less angered.
"Why not?" Gabe frowned harder. Sometimes he swore William was more complicated and difficult than a PMSing girl.
"I have homework I need to get done" he said, making Gabe lightly groan. Bill was always doing something school related. "And you have three days to break up with Desiree or we're not bothering with this whole dating thing." William headed back to the ground while Gabe fell back down to his seat.
Sure, he didn't want to lie about it all either, but it was complicated. He definitely didn't want Bill to get harassed in any way, but Gabe also knew Desiree wouldn't take it well. Telling her it was off would be like jumping into an erupting volcano. No one ever broke up wither her before, it was always the other way around, and Gabe wasn't looking forward to being the first.
But he would do anything for William and if William wanted to stop hiding, that was a more than reasonable request.
~+~+~+~
"You're what?!" Desiree nearly screamed, eyes wide and jaw dropped.
"Breaking up with you," he repeated, feeling the eyes on them. He chose to do it in a public setting, the lunchroom, because he was less likely to get physically abused if people were there to watch. Plus, gossip was golden in their school.
"No one breaks up with me!" she spat back.
"Well, I am." Gabe shrugged, struggling to stay calm.
"Why on earth are you dumping me? I've been more than a perfect girlfriend!" Mentally, Gabe's eyes rolled.
"You're just not what I'm looking for." Gabe shrugged again.
"I can't believe you!" Desiree scoffed. Gabe couldn't believe everyone was so interested, eyes glued to them with an absolute dead silence, even from the lunch ladies, as though it was a soap opera or something. It was definitely dramatic enough. "After everything I've done for you! This is how you repay me?! Like some common street whore?!"
"You're making a scene," Gabe said as though it wasn't obvious.
"It's your fucking little friend isn't it?!" Desiree glared at him. "He's never liked me and he's jealous that you have a girlfriend when he doesn't and managed to convince you to dump me! That fucking-"
"Don't speak about William like that!" Gabe reached his tipping point. "And this is my decision so fuck off!"
"He did something to you!" She almost tried a pouting look. "Gabey, listen to me, whatever he said, he was lying-"
"No, Desiree," Gabe cut her off, "He hasn't been lying to me. Not like I've been lying to you."
"What?" Desiree's expression softened for a split second.
"I don't love you, at all. Hell, I can barely stand you!" There was a collective gasp around the room. "I did all I could not to throw up whenever you put your nasty lips on me!"
"Why you-"
"Shut the fuck up, I'm not done!" His rage was finally coming out. "You're nothing more than another fucking slut!" More gasps. "You're made of so much plastic, you're a fucking hazard to nature! I've seen realer looking boobs on damn dolls than what you're trying to offer!" Desiree's jaw was practically on the table between them. "You dress like you're begging the nearest person to rape you then leave you a twenty because you're not even worth the effort to strip, let alone actually fuck!"
Everyone's jaws were on the floor. No one ever spoke to Desiree like Gabe was.
"And for the hell of it, I'm going to say that you turned me gay, because you know what?" Gabe leaned over the table. "I'm in love with William, and we're going out now, and he doesn't spend all his time trying to get into my pants!" When Gabe stopped, the room was so quiet, that the fly on the other side of the room sounded like it was buzzing by a loudspeaker. Nobody dared to speak, let alone move. They were busy registering what they witnessed.
"Y-you...you're disgusting!" Desiree spat, grabbing her apple and throwing it at him. "I can't believe I wasted my time on some fucking faggot!"
"I'd say I hope you get pregnant, if I wouldn't feel bad for the kid for having to be related to a whore like you," he replied, easily dodging the fruit from his practice when William was angry. "So I'll stick with 'hope you get an incurable STD'."
"Hope you get AIDS, you fucking fag!" she yelled right back. "You'll regret this!" Tears began running down her overly makeup covered face. "You'll fucking pay, Gabriel Saporta!"
"Sorry honey, I don't pay hookers," he said without missing a beat. Desiree stormed off, her 'friends' rushing after her, Gabe barely getting any time to actually realize what happened when the entire lunchroom burst into loud cheering; even the supervising teachers. They congratulated him and repeated his name, praising him like a hero.
It was all thanks to William, though.
~+~+~+~
William wasn't in school the following Tuesday, and Gabe was worried his friend got sick again because he didn't look the greatest Monday, and decided to go pay Bill a visit. He was going to his boyfriend's a lot now, actually. "Mr. Saporta," the doorman greeted. "Young Mr. Beckett is in his room. He requested that no one-"
"Thanks." Gabe didn't let him finish, going inside the house and towards Bill's room. The door was shut so Gabe gently knocked in case Bill had a headache, calling, "Bilvy," through the wood. He didn't get an answer, but he heard some light noise, so he let himself in; greeted by darkness. "Bill, you in here?"
"G-go...away..." Will shakily answered, voice almost labored. Gabe frowned and turned on the lights, seeing his boyfriend lying on his bed. Bill instantly turned his face into his pillow, one arm wrapped around his side and legs bent; shoulders shaking like he was crying.
"Bill, what's wrong?" Gabe asked, quickly going to the boy's side. "Bilvy, look at me; tell me what's wrong." He barely touched William's shoulder when Bill flinched, curling up more, really worrying Gabe. "Bill..." Gabe sat on the edge of the bed, placing his hand on William's shoulder to pull him on his back; Bill weakly attempting to resist.
The first thing Gabe noticed was the dark reddish-brown stains on the pillow; some more a brighter red. Blood covered part of William's face, all around his upper lip, still trickling out. There were dark spots on his right cheek, bruises, and Will refused to make eye contact as he gripped his sides. "William..." Gabe hardly spoke, staring. "Baby, what happened?"
Bill shook his head, Gabe sighing. "Will, your face is bruised and covered in blood. Who did this?" his voice was a bit firmer, Bill still not looking at him. Without asking a third time since he wasn't getting a response, Gabe got up and went to William's bathroom, grabbing toilet paper and returning to the bed. Silently, he patted gently at William's face, the thin paper quickly absorbing the blood that fortunately wasn't pouring out.
Some blood got on Gabe, but he wasn't concerned about that. He flushed the mess then got a cloth to wipe the dried blood away, his stomach turning as he thought about someone hurting his boyfriend; his best friend. Gabe took the pillow away to have it cleaned, fingers just barely grazing Bill's side when he cried out loudly in pain, startling Gabe. "Bill, move your hands," Gabe said, almost afraid to even look.
"N-no..." he choked out into the mattress, hardly moving. Exhaling loudly, Gabe moved Bill's hands from his body and pulled the boy's shirt up, momentarily ceasing to breathe.
"The fuck..." he muttered, pushing the cloth up more, as carefully as he could. All the way up Will's side, from his hip to his arm, stretching over his body, were deep reddish- purple and yellowish-brown bruises; standing out significantly against Bill's pale skin. Bill just cried hard, one hand digging at the mattress with hardly any strength. "Bill...we need to get you to the hospital..." Gabe couldn't take his eyes away.
"N-no..." Bill shook his head. "'m...f-fine..."
"You're not fine!" Gabe pointed out, lying the cloth back down. "You could have internal bleeding and broken ribs and who knows what else!" Gabe thought he was going to have a panic attack. "You're going to the hospital." Before Bill could try to argue more, Gabe bit the inside of his lip and pushed his arms beneath the boys knees and shoulders, not caring about the awkwardness of William's height as Gabe pulled him into his arms. Bill cried out harder, burying his face in Gabe's shoulder, managing to get his arms around Gabe's neck. "I know, baby," he whispered, kissing his boyfriend's head and heading downstairs slowly.
A servant gave him a wide-eyed stare but Gabe glared back with that 'I'm dealing with it; just help' kind of look. The servant nodded and assisted Gabe in getting Bill out into his car, trying to make the boy as comfortable as possible as he headed to the hospital quickly and carefully.
~+~+~+~
To say Gabe was furious was an understatement. He was outraged. Bill was immediately brought to X-ray where they discovered he had about three badly fractured ribs; incredibly managing not to harm his lungs which could have killed him. There was no internal bleeding, but there was a lot of heavy bruising and cuts that made Gabe want to throw up as he listened to the doctor. Because William was having a difficult time breathing, they kept him in the hospital for the night, Gabe managing to get a name from the injured boy before the pain medications knocked him out for much-needed rest.
Unable to sit beside William knowing that he could of died because of Gabe's fight with Desiree, Gabe went to settle the situation for good.
The sun was starting to set and Gabe was behind the school, hands twisted in the shirt of the head football player while keeping him pinned against the wall. His friends took off as soon as a right-hook from Gabe sent him flying to the ground, obtaining a black-eye and a no-doubt broken nose before Gabe slammed him back against the wall. "You've no idea how bad I want to fucking kill you right here, right now!" Gabe hissed venomously, holding the boy off the ground, choking him.
"P-please..." Dylan choked out, crying.
"You think I'm going to back off with a pathetic 'please'?!" he spat. "Did Bill ask you to stop?" Dylan didn't answer. "Did he?!" Gabe yelled, shoving Dylan back harder.
"Y-yes!" Dylan cried out.
"And did you show him mercy?" Gabe asked, again getting no reply. "Well?!"
"No!" Dylan gasped out, Gabe starting to seriously cut off his air supply.
"No, you didn't!" Gabe twisted his hands to tighten the shirt around Dylan. "And because you didn't stop, Bill's in the hospital right now, crying every time he tries to fucking breathe!" Dylan whimpered. "He got fractured ribs and is completely covered in bruises! If his ribs moved just enough, they could have made his lungs collapse and he could have died! Is that what you wanted?! For him to die?!"
"No!" Dylan cried harder. "Please! L-let me g-go! I'm sorry!" he begged, gasping for air.
"You're not sorry yet." Gabe laughed dryly. "You'll know when you're sorry." He held Dylan with one hand to drive his other into the boy. "Fractured ribs can take months to heal," he said, cracking his knuckles before slamming them into the boy again. "They're also one of the most painful fractures." Dylan screamed out as Gabe hit him a third time. "Feel it yet?"
Dylan only cried, Gabe dropping his shirt so he fell to the ground. This time, Gabe swung his foot with as much strength as he could into Dylan, hearing something crack as the boy whimpered. When Dylan tried to put his hand on his side, Gabe stepped on it, shifting all his weight to his hand to keep it pinned, Dylan's cries short and quick. "If you ever so much as look at Bill the wrong way, I will kill you." Gabe warned him, twisting his foot to hear another crack before letting up. "You'll be in so many pieces that it'll take them years to find all of you!" Dylan made pathetic noises, choking out blood.
Sighing, Gabe got Dylan's cellphone and called for an ambulance, giving him one more kick to the balls before heading back to the hospital.
~+~+~+~
For days, William didn't move; he stayed on his bed with pillows and ice; Gabe tending to everything. Gabe bathed and fed him, anything that William needed, lying next to him the rest of the time. When Bill managed to sleep, taking pain killers and sometimes a sleeping aid if it was particularly bad, Gabe watched him to make sure he was still breathing; terrified that he would lose Bill if he even blinked.
"This is why I didn't want to tell anyone," Gabe whispered, stroking William's face as they lay facing each other.
"I'm sorry," Bill replied just as quietly. "I should have listened."
"It's done and over now," Gabe said. "The only thing you need to worry about is getting better." He gave a small smile, moving just enough to place a light kiss on William's head, trying not to shift him around too much. "I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you."
"Can't get rid of me that easily." Bill gave a tiny smile, his hand finding Gabe's holding it tightly. Gabe knew that sometimes breathing was a struggle for him, so he tried not to create too much conversation. The smile fell from William's lips as his eyes shut, face going to the pained expression Gabe's learned all-too-well in the past few days. "It hurts," he whispered.
"I know." Gabe exhaled lightly, running his thumb over Bill's knuckles. "It's going to hurt for awhile." He hated seeing William in pain, but it was too early to give him anymore medication. "Just try to relax," Gabe said, wishing he could hold the boy close. But the more Bill moved, the more pain it caused him, so when he found a position to be comfortable in, Gabe made sure he stayed like that.
"Gabe?" he hummed, his own eyes shut. "Please don't leave me," Bill practically begged in a tiny, scared voice.
"Never," Gabe said, kissing him again. "I love you," he said, watching closely as William managed to fall asleep.
A/N--- so this is the first of the "mini-stories" of the series but it's not the first chronologically. Just make sure you keep an eye out for them ;D
xoxo Tabi + Ray
Author: ipanicdaily
Co-Author: lilrainforest
Pairing: Gabe/William
POV: 3rd
Rating: R (just to be safe)
Series: You're Everything I Need; a Gabilliam co-write
Disclaimer: Not mine. I don't own, I'm not going to attempt to lie and say I do, and omg Nate Novarro is the cutest <3
Summary: "I don't love you, at all. Hell, I can barely stand you!" There was a collective gasp around the room. "I did all I could not to throw up whenever you put your nasty lips on me!"
Warning: Violence, angst, language
Beta: lilrainforest
Author Notes: This is a mid-story between stories #3 and #4 (which has yet to be written).
Past Parts: So You've Found a Friend :: You Can Be the Best for Me (When I'm the Worst for You) :: Screwing Up the Best Thing Ever :: Is Something You'll Regret Forever
A week or few later (after 'Is Something You'll Regret Forever')
"Gabe?" The sound of Bill's saddened voice broke Gabe's thoughts, turning his head to his boyfriend as they sat on the top bleacher above the field. The cheerleaders were practicing down below, Gabe coming to 'support' Desiree and William following as the 'supportive best friend'. "Do you love her?" he timidly asked, looking down at a few seats below.
"Who?" Gabe's eyebrows pulled together, his sunglasses falling down a millimeter or two.
"Her," Bill said, using his head to motion down towards the field.
"Desiree?" Gabe's eyebrows released to allow one to lift. He looked down at the field where his supposed girlfriend yelled at the younger girls, wearing a very short skirt and a spaghetti-strap tank top. Occasionally she looked up at him, smiling and waving or purposely trying to show off, but he mostly just ignored her. "Nope," Gabe said simply, dropping his head back again to absorb the warm sun like he had been while Bill read.
"Then...are you ashamed of me?" Will asked after, Gabe's head straightening. He removed the sunglasses, pushing them on top of his head, looking directly at his boyfriend with a frown.
"What's this about?" he asked. "You know I'm in no way ashamed of you, Bilvy."
"Then why won't you dump her and let people know that we're actually dating?" Bill asked with a frustrated sigh, biting his lip like he does when he's generally annoyed or thinking. He looked continuously down. "Why do we have to lie?"
"Because I don't anything to happen to you," Gabe said softly, taking Bill's hand into his and brushing his thumb over the smooth skin. "You know that being gay isn't exactly accepted and I just want you to be safe."
"I'm not some porcelain doll, Gabe." He yanked his hand back. "I don't need constant protection. I'd rather be teased than have to keep our relationship a secret."
"I know that, babe, but I also know that a lot of assholes here than can do a lot of physical damage which is what I'm afraid of," Gabe said calmly. He was getting better at dealing with an angry Bill. "It's only a few hours a day."
"It shouldn't have to be any!" Will scowled, sliding away from Gabe. "This feels no different than before."
"What do you want me to do?" Gabe stressed out. "I'm only trying to keep you from getting hurt."
"Well stop trying to pad my life!" Bill grabbed his things and stood up. "You don't learn to ride a bike without falling off a few times first," he said, starting down the bleachers.
"Bill!" Gabe half whined, standing as well. "Do you want me to break up with Desiree and let everyone find out about us?" William stopped, a few steps away from Gabe, turning to face him. "If that's what you want, I'll do it."
"You should want it too!" he somewhat snapped. "You asked me to date you so stop trying to play Mr. Perfect and grow some fucking balls unless you really don't want a serious relationship with me." Gabe rubbed his eyes. "I'm not going to let you fuck around with me, Gabriel. You either date me, willingly admitting it, or you go find someone else to lie to."
"Fine!" Gabe couldn't stand when William was upset with him. "I'll break up with her, okay? Now, please come back here."
"No," Bill replied, though less angered.
"Why not?" Gabe frowned harder. Sometimes he swore William was more complicated and difficult than a PMSing girl.
"I have homework I need to get done" he said, making Gabe lightly groan. Bill was always doing something school related. "And you have three days to break up with Desiree or we're not bothering with this whole dating thing." William headed back to the ground while Gabe fell back down to his seat.
Sure, he didn't want to lie about it all either, but it was complicated. He definitely didn't want Bill to get harassed in any way, but Gabe also knew Desiree wouldn't take it well. Telling her it was off would be like jumping into an erupting volcano. No one ever broke up wither her before, it was always the other way around, and Gabe wasn't looking forward to being the first.
But he would do anything for William and if William wanted to stop hiding, that was a more than reasonable request.
~+~+~+~
"You're what?!" Desiree nearly screamed, eyes wide and jaw dropped.
"Breaking up with you," he repeated, feeling the eyes on them. He chose to do it in a public setting, the lunchroom, because he was less likely to get physically abused if people were there to watch. Plus, gossip was golden in their school.
"No one breaks up with me!" she spat back.
"Well, I am." Gabe shrugged, struggling to stay calm.
"Why on earth are you dumping me? I've been more than a perfect girlfriend!" Mentally, Gabe's eyes rolled.
"You're just not what I'm looking for." Gabe shrugged again.
"I can't believe you!" Desiree scoffed. Gabe couldn't believe everyone was so interested, eyes glued to them with an absolute dead silence, even from the lunch ladies, as though it was a soap opera or something. It was definitely dramatic enough. "After everything I've done for you! This is how you repay me?! Like some common street whore?!"
"You're making a scene," Gabe said as though it wasn't obvious.
"It's your fucking little friend isn't it?!" Desiree glared at him. "He's never liked me and he's jealous that you have a girlfriend when he doesn't and managed to convince you to dump me! That fucking-"
"Don't speak about William like that!" Gabe reached his tipping point. "And this is my decision so fuck off!"
"He did something to you!" She almost tried a pouting look. "Gabey, listen to me, whatever he said, he was lying-"
"No, Desiree," Gabe cut her off, "He hasn't been lying to me. Not like I've been lying to you."
"What?" Desiree's expression softened for a split second.
"I don't love you, at all. Hell, I can barely stand you!" There was a collective gasp around the room. "I did all I could not to throw up whenever you put your nasty lips on me!"
"Why you-"
"Shut the fuck up, I'm not done!" His rage was finally coming out. "You're nothing more than another fucking slut!" More gasps. "You're made of so much plastic, you're a fucking hazard to nature! I've seen realer looking boobs on damn dolls than what you're trying to offer!" Desiree's jaw was practically on the table between them. "You dress like you're begging the nearest person to rape you then leave you a twenty because you're not even worth the effort to strip, let alone actually fuck!"
Everyone's jaws were on the floor. No one ever spoke to Desiree like Gabe was.
"And for the hell of it, I'm going to say that you turned me gay, because you know what?" Gabe leaned over the table. "I'm in love with William, and we're going out now, and he doesn't spend all his time trying to get into my pants!" When Gabe stopped, the room was so quiet, that the fly on the other side of the room sounded like it was buzzing by a loudspeaker. Nobody dared to speak, let alone move. They were busy registering what they witnessed.
"Y-you...you're disgusting!" Desiree spat, grabbing her apple and throwing it at him. "I can't believe I wasted my time on some fucking faggot!"
"I'd say I hope you get pregnant, if I wouldn't feel bad for the kid for having to be related to a whore like you," he replied, easily dodging the fruit from his practice when William was angry. "So I'll stick with 'hope you get an incurable STD'."
"Hope you get AIDS, you fucking fag!" she yelled right back. "You'll regret this!" Tears began running down her overly makeup covered face. "You'll fucking pay, Gabriel Saporta!"
"Sorry honey, I don't pay hookers," he said without missing a beat. Desiree stormed off, her 'friends' rushing after her, Gabe barely getting any time to actually realize what happened when the entire lunchroom burst into loud cheering; even the supervising teachers. They congratulated him and repeated his name, praising him like a hero.
It was all thanks to William, though.
~+~+~+~
William wasn't in school the following Tuesday, and Gabe was worried his friend got sick again because he didn't look the greatest Monday, and decided to go pay Bill a visit. He was going to his boyfriend's a lot now, actually. "Mr. Saporta," the doorman greeted. "Young Mr. Beckett is in his room. He requested that no one-"
"Thanks." Gabe didn't let him finish, going inside the house and towards Bill's room. The door was shut so Gabe gently knocked in case Bill had a headache, calling, "Bilvy," through the wood. He didn't get an answer, but he heard some light noise, so he let himself in; greeted by darkness. "Bill, you in here?"
"G-go...away..." Will shakily answered, voice almost labored. Gabe frowned and turned on the lights, seeing his boyfriend lying on his bed. Bill instantly turned his face into his pillow, one arm wrapped around his side and legs bent; shoulders shaking like he was crying.
"Bill, what's wrong?" Gabe asked, quickly going to the boy's side. "Bilvy, look at me; tell me what's wrong." He barely touched William's shoulder when Bill flinched, curling up more, really worrying Gabe. "Bill..." Gabe sat on the edge of the bed, placing his hand on William's shoulder to pull him on his back; Bill weakly attempting to resist.
The first thing Gabe noticed was the dark reddish-brown stains on the pillow; some more a brighter red. Blood covered part of William's face, all around his upper lip, still trickling out. There were dark spots on his right cheek, bruises, and Will refused to make eye contact as he gripped his sides. "William..." Gabe hardly spoke, staring. "Baby, what happened?"
Bill shook his head, Gabe sighing. "Will, your face is bruised and covered in blood. Who did this?" his voice was a bit firmer, Bill still not looking at him. Without asking a third time since he wasn't getting a response, Gabe got up and went to William's bathroom, grabbing toilet paper and returning to the bed. Silently, he patted gently at William's face, the thin paper quickly absorbing the blood that fortunately wasn't pouring out.
Some blood got on Gabe, but he wasn't concerned about that. He flushed the mess then got a cloth to wipe the dried blood away, his stomach turning as he thought about someone hurting his boyfriend; his best friend. Gabe took the pillow away to have it cleaned, fingers just barely grazing Bill's side when he cried out loudly in pain, startling Gabe. "Bill, move your hands," Gabe said, almost afraid to even look.
"N-no..." he choked out into the mattress, hardly moving. Exhaling loudly, Gabe moved Bill's hands from his body and pulled the boy's shirt up, momentarily ceasing to breathe.
"The fuck..." he muttered, pushing the cloth up more, as carefully as he could. All the way up Will's side, from his hip to his arm, stretching over his body, were deep reddish- purple and yellowish-brown bruises; standing out significantly against Bill's pale skin. Bill just cried hard, one hand digging at the mattress with hardly any strength. "Bill...we need to get you to the hospital..." Gabe couldn't take his eyes away.
"N-no..." Bill shook his head. "'m...f-fine..."
"You're not fine!" Gabe pointed out, lying the cloth back down. "You could have internal bleeding and broken ribs and who knows what else!" Gabe thought he was going to have a panic attack. "You're going to the hospital." Before Bill could try to argue more, Gabe bit the inside of his lip and pushed his arms beneath the boys knees and shoulders, not caring about the awkwardness of William's height as Gabe pulled him into his arms. Bill cried out harder, burying his face in Gabe's shoulder, managing to get his arms around Gabe's neck. "I know, baby," he whispered, kissing his boyfriend's head and heading downstairs slowly.
A servant gave him a wide-eyed stare but Gabe glared back with that 'I'm dealing with it; just help' kind of look. The servant nodded and assisted Gabe in getting Bill out into his car, trying to make the boy as comfortable as possible as he headed to the hospital quickly and carefully.
~+~+~+~
To say Gabe was furious was an understatement. He was outraged. Bill was immediately brought to X-ray where they discovered he had about three badly fractured ribs; incredibly managing not to harm his lungs which could have killed him. There was no internal bleeding, but there was a lot of heavy bruising and cuts that made Gabe want to throw up as he listened to the doctor. Because William was having a difficult time breathing, they kept him in the hospital for the night, Gabe managing to get a name from the injured boy before the pain medications knocked him out for much-needed rest.
Unable to sit beside William knowing that he could of died because of Gabe's fight with Desiree, Gabe went to settle the situation for good.
The sun was starting to set and Gabe was behind the school, hands twisted in the shirt of the head football player while keeping him pinned against the wall. His friends took off as soon as a right-hook from Gabe sent him flying to the ground, obtaining a black-eye and a no-doubt broken nose before Gabe slammed him back against the wall. "You've no idea how bad I want to fucking kill you right here, right now!" Gabe hissed venomously, holding the boy off the ground, choking him.
"P-please..." Dylan choked out, crying.
"You think I'm going to back off with a pathetic 'please'?!" he spat. "Did Bill ask you to stop?" Dylan didn't answer. "Did he?!" Gabe yelled, shoving Dylan back harder.
"Y-yes!" Dylan cried out.
"And did you show him mercy?" Gabe asked, again getting no reply. "Well?!"
"No!" Dylan gasped out, Gabe starting to seriously cut off his air supply.
"No, you didn't!" Gabe twisted his hands to tighten the shirt around Dylan. "And because you didn't stop, Bill's in the hospital right now, crying every time he tries to fucking breathe!" Dylan whimpered. "He got fractured ribs and is completely covered in bruises! If his ribs moved just enough, they could have made his lungs collapse and he could have died! Is that what you wanted?! For him to die?!"
"No!" Dylan cried harder. "Please! L-let me g-go! I'm sorry!" he begged, gasping for air.
"You're not sorry yet." Gabe laughed dryly. "You'll know when you're sorry." He held Dylan with one hand to drive his other into the boy. "Fractured ribs can take months to heal," he said, cracking his knuckles before slamming them into the boy again. "They're also one of the most painful fractures." Dylan screamed out as Gabe hit him a third time. "Feel it yet?"
Dylan only cried, Gabe dropping his shirt so he fell to the ground. This time, Gabe swung his foot with as much strength as he could into Dylan, hearing something crack as the boy whimpered. When Dylan tried to put his hand on his side, Gabe stepped on it, shifting all his weight to his hand to keep it pinned, Dylan's cries short and quick. "If you ever so much as look at Bill the wrong way, I will kill you." Gabe warned him, twisting his foot to hear another crack before letting up. "You'll be in so many pieces that it'll take them years to find all of you!" Dylan made pathetic noises, choking out blood.
Sighing, Gabe got Dylan's cellphone and called for an ambulance, giving him one more kick to the balls before heading back to the hospital.
~+~+~+~
For days, William didn't move; he stayed on his bed with pillows and ice; Gabe tending to everything. Gabe bathed and fed him, anything that William needed, lying next to him the rest of the time. When Bill managed to sleep, taking pain killers and sometimes a sleeping aid if it was particularly bad, Gabe watched him to make sure he was still breathing; terrified that he would lose Bill if he even blinked.
"This is why I didn't want to tell anyone," Gabe whispered, stroking William's face as they lay facing each other.
"I'm sorry," Bill replied just as quietly. "I should have listened."
"It's done and over now," Gabe said. "The only thing you need to worry about is getting better." He gave a small smile, moving just enough to place a light kiss on William's head, trying not to shift him around too much. "I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you."
"Can't get rid of me that easily." Bill gave a tiny smile, his hand finding Gabe's holding it tightly. Gabe knew that sometimes breathing was a struggle for him, so he tried not to create too much conversation. The smile fell from William's lips as his eyes shut, face going to the pained expression Gabe's learned all-too-well in the past few days. "It hurts," he whispered.
"I know." Gabe exhaled lightly, running his thumb over Bill's knuckles. "It's going to hurt for awhile." He hated seeing William in pain, but it was too early to give him anymore medication. "Just try to relax," Gabe said, wishing he could hold the boy close. But the more Bill moved, the more pain it caused him, so when he found a position to be comfortable in, Gabe made sure he stayed like that.
"Gabe?" he hummed, his own eyes shut. "Please don't leave me," Bill practically begged in a tiny, scared voice.
"Never," Gabe said, kissing him again. "I love you," he said, watching closely as William managed to fall asleep.
A/N--- so this is the first of the "mini-stories" of the series but it's not the first chronologically. Just make sure you keep an eye out for them ;D
xoxo Tabi + Ray