Re: Dietre A./Hugh C.: On the patio
This wasn’t right, he was ruining everything. Dietre finally lifted his eyes to Hugh when the man reached over to add another hand over his, and his eyes were fearful and guilt ridden. “No…” He bit his lip. “No, no, no…” It was all he could seem to say, and he wasn’t exactly sure what he was saying no to.
He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. Not being able to see helped control his panic, no different than when he’d been a child squeezing his eyes shut against the vision of a ghost. “I’m sorry Hugh. I’m just… afraid…” Somehow he could talk. Maybe it was because his eyes were shut. “...I’m afraid you’ll stop wanting to be my friend, if-- if you decide to… change your mind…” He didn’t quite finish the thought, but it was easy to guess what he meant. If Hugh changed his mind about wanting to be with him. Like the others. Like everyone.
His eyes were open again, fixed on Hugh’s hands covering his own. “I’d rather say out here a little longer, if that’s alright.” He didn’t want anyone from the party seeing him like this, all shaken. It’d attract attention, and if someone asked him what was wrong he’d lose it. The last thing he needed was to start crying in front of not only Hugh, but a bunch of strangers. He’d just die.