In a ROOM full of f.r.o.z.e.n. /faces/ (Sakie)

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Donato thought about following him... then realized how that would look. No, he'd wait and catch him after he was done with his shower. That would be better.

[Deleted]

Shasta returned with his makeup and flashy outfit intact, though his expression was anything but happy. He plopped on the couch, resting his head on a pillow, and sighed heavily.

"Wanna go do something?" Ash asked, looking over at his friend with a sympathetic look.

Shasta rolled over so he didn't have to see the disgusting look of pity. "No."

[/size][/color]

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Donato came to sit on his other side, still pretending like Ash wasn't there. "I have an idea," he said cheerfully. "Let's go out and steal something. That always cheers me up."

[Deleted]

Shasta kept silent before sighing. "I don't like stealing." He rolled onto his other side.

[/size][/color]

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Donato frowned at him. "You're a Time Thief. How can you not like stealing?"

[Deleted]

Shasta shrugged. "I just... wish I had a different life." He murmured.

[/size][/color]

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"How about partying?" Donato said. "I KNOW you like partying."

[Deleted]

Shasta looked at him for a moment before standing and heading upstairs to his room.

Ash snickered quietly, changing the channel. "Damn, you're dumb. I'll win this faster than I thought."

[/size][/color]

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Donato glared at him. "You know what, f*ck off," he snapped. "I was just trying to cheer him up." He got to his feet and followed Shasta upstairs. He really did want to cheer him up, probably because he'd caused his sadness. He just didn't know how to do it.

[Deleted]

"Cheer him up? Or cheer you up?" Ash gave him a serious look, all fun and games gone. "I know you feel all guilty and sh*t because of what you did, but listen up, kiddo. Mentioning a party lifestyle to Shasta, who's already been wounded by your snide comment along the lines of 'being a wh*re', isn't the way to cheer him up."

[/size][/color]

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Thanks for the tip," Donato said, shooting him a mocking smile. Then he ran up the stairs two at a time and knocked on Shasta's door.

[Deleted]

"Who is it?" Shasta asked with a growl, sitting on his bed hugging a plush monkey.

[/size][/color]

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"It's Donato," he called through the door. "I wanted to apologize... again. I didn't mean to upset you."

[Deleted]

Shasta hugged his monkey tighter. "Go away!"

[/size][/color]

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Please, Shasta, let me in," Donato begged. "I'll find some way to cheer you up. You want to go to the park? To see a movie?"

[Deleted]

Shasta clenched his teeth. It's just another way for me to get my guard down and then hurt me again, huh? He thought to himself with a painfully cruel venomous inner voice. "Go away!" He shouted louder, feeling his throat start to close up. Sh*t. This was not the time to start crying. He needed to be strong. He needed to protect himself. There would be no one out there to become his bodyguard. They all thought him worthless. A prostitute. When... he wasn't.

[/size][/color]

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Donato sighed and rested his forehead against the door. "Look... I know you think I'm a jerk. I know you think I hate you, and only want to hurt you. But it's not true. I was just... insecure. I was afraid. Of you, of myself, of... my feelings for you."

[Deleted]

Lies! Lies, lies, lies! He thought to himself while shaking his head and biting his lower lip viciously to keep himself from crying too loud, though he couldn't help the few tears streaming down his face. He clutched to his monkey tired, feeling comforted by the soft fluff of its head against his cheek, and closed his eyes tight, the desire to sob even more noticeable considering the homesick feeling he received in his chest close to his heart when inhaling the sweet and familiar scent of his mother. He had been gifted this monkey before his mother passed away, and now... it was nothing but a lonely reminder of the family he once had. Maybe that was why everyone believed him to be a wh*re. A person who sold their bodies for cash in order to survive. Maybe he did all that because, truthfully... he just wanted someone to hold him. To hug him and tell him everything was alright, even if it wasn't. F*ck, this is depressing, he thought to himself while his heart clenched and his throat got a painful dry spell. Damn, I need some water.

[/size][/color]

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Donato could hear him sobbing from the other side of the door, though the sound was muffled and faint. He hesitated before turning the doorknob and slowly pushing the door opened. He just hoped Shasta didn't chase him out of the room. "Shasta?" he asked, peeking around the edge of the door. "I swear I'm sorry."

[Deleted]

Shasta immediately turned, plopping back on the bed with his legs crossed Indian style and his back to the male. He bowed his head, hugging his monkey close to his chest in order to make him feel somewhat better. "Go away!" He hiccuped.

[/size][/color]