Re: Dietre A./Hugh C.: On the patio
With their shoulders touching, Hugh could probably feel the subtle, but constant tremor in Dietre’s body. It was a nervous trilling, like the vibration of inaudible hum. He was a high strung thing, like that fellow in that Edgar Allan Poe tale; so dreadfully nervous. But Hugh’s touch kept him grounded enough not to fall apart. Though some of what he said toed close to things Liam had once said in a similar context, Hugh padded it enough that he could swallow it without choking. Nice and digestible.
“I don’t want that either.” The hurting or being hurt. There was only one person that Dietre thought he might have ever hurt, and that was Nilus. In the end, it all worked out much better for the angel, so it was doubtful he even remembered the sting of rejection. Being the one hurt, though, that was something in which Dietre had plenty of experience.
Hannah and Hugh dated? “No, I don’t think I knew…” This might have been something he would have known if he paid more attention to the forums, perhaps. Dietre hadn’t known about their being together once, but he had seen them interact at Audrey’s and tonight, and saw no tension between them. “But that’s good that you’re friends still. Very good.” Maybe he could allow himself some hope.
“Maybe I’ve said this once to you already, but… Even though we’ve only been spending time with each other since January, you’re the closest friend I have.” Or ever had, aside from Aleski. “I know you have friends you’re closer with, like Zee, or… or whoever.” He could see a person like Hugh having many best friends. Not so for himself. He never had any.
“But it's important to me-- the most important thing to me, that we stay friends.” He had no one else. Without Hugh there was just a gulf of loneliness spread out before him. The prospect of having to visit that place again was terrifying.