One Week **5**
It’s been one week since Mason woke in the hospital, and he still hasn’t opened Trace’s gift. He doesn’t want whatever Trace wants to give him, he just wants to be alone. Trace won’t hear of it though. He loved Mason and he was going to prove it one way or another. He stayed in the hospital even though Mason often told him to leave. Trace wasn’t going to leave, and told Mason constantly. Today was no different.
“Trace, I don’t want to see you. Get out of here.”
“Not until you open your gift.”
“I don’t want anything you have to offer me.”
“Please, Mace? Open it.”
Trace pushed the little box towards the brown-haired boy in the bed. Trace curled up in the chair next to the bed as he did on countless occasions. Today was no different. Mason stared at the gift lying in his lap. He wanted to know what it was. But he wasn’t going to look. He wasn’t going to give Trace that satisfaction. True, he had started to forgive Trace in the littlest bit. He couldn’t help it, he still loved the blue-eyed boy. Trace watched Mason look at the present. Trace could tell Mason wanted to know what it was, but he couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t look. He sighed, reached forward, and grabbed Mason’s hand. He brushed his thumb over Mason’s knuckles before kissing them and looking at him. Mason was used to this. Because today was no different.
Trace did it a lot.
And Mason liked it. Although he won’t admit it.
“Oh Mason. I don’t care how long it takes. I’ll prove my love to you…”
“But how can I believe you? Aren’t you always alone?”
“And you’re never leaving me, right?”
Mason looked at Trace for the first time in about a month. He truly looked at him, drank in what had become of Trace since their ‘falling out’ if you will. His hair was horrid. Dirty and unkempt. He needed a shave. Mason could see the stubble coming on the boy’s chin. He looked tired, worn out. But his eyes, oh those eyes, they were the same. Still sparkling, full of life and love.
Mason reached up a hand and ran it through Trace’s hair. It felt as greasy as it looked, but he kept going. He ran the hand down Trace’s face, feeling the stubble on his chin. He ran his thumb over Trace’s cheekbone, feeling the smooth expansion of skin. Trace closed his eyes and nuzzled into Mason’s hand. He opened his eyes again and looked at Mason. Mason smiled at Trace. He was falling in love with the tattooed boy all over again.
“Oh Trace…”
“Mace, I love you. And I’ll say it every hour on the hour if I need to.”
He turned his head and kissed Mason’s open palm. Mason took his hand away and slid over a little on the bed, and patted the now vacant side. Trace widened his eyes, but wanted to take full advantage of this breakthrough with Mason, and climbed into the bed. Mason rested his head against Trace’s chest and listened to the heartbeat. Bringing one hand to his arm, he started tracing Trace’s tattoos. Trace lifted one hand and ran it down Mason’s face. When he looked up, the air seemed to grow thick around the boys.
Both of their breathing and heart rates increased as they leaned in towards each other. Their eyes fell shut as their lips met in a burning kiss that was filled with the longing and desperation that had filled their lives. Hand grabbed at the first thing they could reach, an arm, hip, hair, neck. Legs wrapped around each other in an attempt to get closer. Tongues passed lips and danced together before both were pulling apart for air.
And they found themselves with flushed cheeks and swollen lips. Pupils dilated and hearts racing. Mason was on his back, hands pinned above his head be Trace’s, their fingers laced together. Trace was in between Mason’s legs.
Letting go of one of Mason’s hands, he reached down and grabbed the box that was digging into his leg. Kissing Mason once more, he sat up a bit and opened the box for him. He placed the now unwrapped package in Mason’s open hand and remained in between Mason’s legs while Mason lifted the top off the box. Reaching in he grabbed a thin chain and pulled up and dropped the box. Watching as the box fell away, he broke out into a huge smile when he saw the necklace for the first time. It was a bit big, but it was a pure onyx stone encased in silver. Noticing the thickness, he looked up at Trace.
“Is this…”
“Yes, it’s a Poison*. I know you’ve always wanted one… open it.”
Mason looked between the necklace and Trace, he rested it flat in his hand and opened the latch with the other. Inside there was an engraving, I love you, Mason Musso, until the end of time. Mason’s heart swelled as he read this, but, he noticed a fine pink dust that was piled up at the bottom of it.
“Trace? What’s the powder?”
“It’s fairy dust. It’s supposed to bring fortune and love to whoever wears it… I know, it’s cheesy, but I had to get it for you.”
It was true that Mason loved it. He smiled even bigger when he pictured Trace seeing in in the store and immediately pushing everyone out of the way to by it. He closed the necklace and slipped it over his head.
“Thank you, Trace.”
“You deserve the best, and only the best, and God help anyone, myself included, who gets in the way of that. Trace turned his head and looked at the clock. He watched as it changed from 10:59 to 11:00 He turned back to Mason and kissed him for a third time.
“I love you Mason. And I’ll say it on the hour, every hour if I need to.”
“Trace?”
“Yeah?”
“Could you get off my leg? It’s starting to fall asleep.”
“Oh sure.”
Trace moved so he was lying next to Mason and not on him. Holding the boy to his chest, they both closed their eyes in an attempt at sleep.
“Trace?”
“Hmm..?”
“I love you too.”
Hm, maybe today was different after all...
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* Poison jewlery it a type of jewlery that was made to hold liquids or pills for poisoning others. I don't want you to be confused with the idea that the necklace was Poison brand or had the word on it or something. It usually comes as a Poison Ring, but I own a few necklaces of them myself. They're very useful!
There's Chapter 5 for you! Chapter six is coming so be ready!