Message in a Bottle

Chapter 6

POV BRIAN

Fuck me, I hurt. And fuck me if Justin is one of the more stubborn and persistent people I've ever met; I finally relent and agree to stay at the motel for a week or so. Honestly, being around Jack in this state is almost like suicide anyway. And I do need help even moving- it's fucking pathetic.

"Hey, do you have a friend who could stay with you while I'm in school, Brian?" Justin jars me out of my thoughts.

"I'll think about it." Mikey comes to mind, although he'll over-mother me and then Deb will come and do the same. Emmett- no. He'd gossip the whole time while doing his nails. I'd probably end up with pink nail polish on my toes, being unable to stave him off. Ted: he'd bore me to death. Vic is sick himself- I'd never impose on him. Mel and Linds are busy with their jobs. And Mel- that just makes me laugh anyway- she'd probably spend the whole time telling me what a whore I am and how weak I am to have gotten so hurt by a doddering old man.

"Well, I have a friend who graduated around when you did who'd be more than willing to help out, I think."

I cock an eyebrow at him in question.

"His name's Ethan and he's a strange but good guy. I only met him recently at a concert. He wants to be a violinist."

Ugh no. "No violin music- it sounds like a bag of cats fighting!"

Justin laughs. "Well, we can tell him not to practice here."

"Damned straight! And I don't know, Justin. I have to think about it." I put down the box of Thai I've been eating from, having had my fill, and I painfully rise from the chair I'm in. Justin looks on in concern, ready to help at any second, but I manage with the help of my cane and the table.

"Brian, can I ask you something?"

"So far, in the short time I've known you, I've found there's no way for me to stop you from asking or saying or doing ANYthing." I smirk as I slowly limp back to the bed.

"Is that 'the' cane?"

I stop in my tracks. "Why do you care?" I ask after a few moments.

"Because if it is, I want to get you a different one to use and break that one into little pieces." Justin's nothing if not blunt when he wants to be.

"Yeah, it's 'the' cane," I answer quietly. "But it's served me rather well since I got it away from grandfather," I add, finally continuing my snail like progress to my bed. I finally get there and Justin's right next to me, helping me to recline.

"I don't fucking care if 'it's served you rather well….' You wouldn't need the fucking thing if it weren't for that cane."

"Forget it, Justin. Besides- the cane's innocent- it was grandfather who wielded the fucking thing." Secretly, though, I'm somewhat… touched… or something that he thinks along those lines.

Sunshine sighs big, letting it go and he drapes the blanket over me again. "Do you want another hot compress? I can get you one after going to the ice machine to get you some ice for the swelling and bruising on your face. And with that big meal, you should have a couple pain pills," he says.

"Just the ice for now, thanks. Believe me, I'll ask for pain pills if I really need them. I have a high threshold for pain."

"So I've noticed," he mutters under his breath. "You're a stubborn fucker, too." He gets the ice bucket and before I can snark back at him, he's out the door to seek the ice machine. He's soon back and gets a washcloth to wrap the ice in, then he hands it to me, placing the full ice bucket on the nightstand with the lid on it. I carefully place the ice filled cloth to my swollen face and try not to hiss at the pain, not wanting to upset Justin who is right here.

Still he sees me wince but wisely says nothing and crawls under the blanket next to me. While he doesn't touch me because he's so wary of my bruises, his body is warm which is nice given the ice pack on my face. I try to position myself against the pillow to keep the ice pack in place so I can doze and I close my eyes. I feel like I'm being watched all of a sudden and one-eyed, I look over to see Justin staring at me.

"Sunshine, don't stare at me."

"I want to."

"It's creepy!"

"Why?"

"Fuck, I don't know- it just is! It's unnerving!"

He sighs and lays his head on the pillow next to me and closes his eyes. Good.

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