Re: Sonrisa: Sam A & Cris M
The scream split the air, split her lips, and Cris didn't even wince. His jaw clenched, automatic, without him thinking, but he didn't let go. He held her between the palmsa his hands, and she shoved at him and he dug his heels into that paint-flecked floor deeper, socks letting the cold in from tiles.—And Sam yelled. The day crashed down around them, and the guy knew it was his fault, this moment. He shoulda waited. She never woulda liked hearing him say it, but he was worried she was gonna have another panic attack, her breathing shifting and her arms moving, pushing him, shoving.
The guy was still cradling her face when he stepped closer, chest bumping into her, and it was almost aggressive. It was reactionary, like whenever somebody was shoving at him like that and his blood started moving. Not that he was gonna do nothing. He just lifted his chin, looking down at her.—The expression held, held, 'til she got to the end, words breaking off into syllables single, and then he felt bad. Real bad. Though that didn't stop him from yelling right back at her.
"NOTHING IS GONNA HAPPEN TO ME." Finally, he let her go, her head, and his hands gathered at her hips, tugged her forward, against him, like that was really the best way to get loud with somebody. "I'M RIGHT HERE, SAM." He jammed her closer, 'til she'd hafta be standing on his toes. "Nobody's doin' nothing to me, okay? I spent my entire LIFE with people like this kid. He ain't gonna do nothin'. He—I made him fuckin' cry. Piss himself. He isn't gonna wanna tell nobody. Okay?" Details she didn't need, that wouldn't help, that he didn't wanna admit. They stacked him next to his viejo in his head. But, Cris absolutely believed what he was saying.
But quiet came. Quick, it stole into his voice, 'til he was near whisper and there was nothing but fear in it. "And Sam, Sam—you coulda been killed too." Tears glazed black in a snap. "You get it? I'm fucking terrified too."