Chapter 3: Just Because He Trusts Me, Doesn’t Mean I trust Him
Summary: “So what happened, are you his girlfriend? Did you get in a fight? Do you think he’s cheating on you?” Harleen spouted out questions one right after the other, completely ignoring Edward’s protests to her presence.
Edward quickly realized she wasn’t going anywhere, until she’d gotten something out of him.“Boyfriend. I’m a boy.” He corrected sharply. “We’re.. On a break.” He lied, not sure how else to explain the situation. “I used to meet him outside. I’m not sure he even wants me there anymore.”
“Oh, sorry! Are you his boyfriend?” Harleen continued. “What happened between you two?”
“Oh, just a small spat, nothing big. I’m sure we’ll solve it, if I can just..” Edward paused, looking back out to the place where Jonathan was previously standing. “If I can just make myself talk to him…” He said finally.
Edward spent the next few weeks avoiding any place he’d ever seen Jonathan. He couldn’t bring himself to face him after running off, or letting himself stay at someone’s house for nothing in return. However, as the 3 week mark approached, he found himself coming to their usual spots and hiding around corners or in nearby cafes to see if Jonathan was looking for him.
He ducked inside the coffee shop just in time for Jonathan to walk up in front of it and stop. He watched carefully from behind the glass, analyzing his actions and counting. 10 minutes and 54 seconds so far, just standing there, checking his watch, looking around, searching-
“You must be pretty in love with that boy to be stalking him on such a near-daily basis.” A voice from behind Edward startled him out of his concentration.
He eyed the stranger up and down, taking in her looks. Pretty blonde hair that faded to bright blue, then to red at the ends, and a slightly thick, very shapely figure. All in all, she was beautiful, and annoying already. “And why is it your business?” Edward asked in a less-than-interested tone.
“Well, I take a class with him! I think we’re going for the same major. Name’s Harleen!” She said in a far too bubbly tone as she took a seat.
“As if I asked.” Edward muttered, looking back out the window, only to see that Jonathan was gone. “I never said you could take a seat, either.”
“So what happened, are you his girlfriend? Did you get in a fight? Do you think he’s cheating on you?” Harleen spouted out questions one right after the other, completely ignoring Edward’s protests to her presence. Edward quickly realized she wasn’t going anywhere, until she’d gotten something out of him.
“Boyfriend. I’m a boy.” He corrected sharply. “We’re.. On a break.” He lied, not sure how else to explain the situation. “I used to meet him outside. I’m not sure he even wants me there anymore.”
“Oh, sorry! Are you his boyfriend?” Harleen continued. “What happened between you two?”
“Oh, just a small spat, nothing big. I’m sure we’ll solve it, if I can just..” Edward paused, looking back out to the place where Jonathan was previously standing. “If I can just make myself talk to him…” He said finally.
“Well, communication is important! It’s the key to stable relationships. Good communication, and trust. You gotta trust that he wants to fix things, trust that he still wants you… And then ya just gotta communicate!” The way Harleen said it made Edward’s heart jump into his throat. Trust… Maybe he just needed to trust that Jon didn’t want to hurt him…
He realized Harleen had said something else, but now she was walking away. Edward had been too far into his own head to listen. She was probably just saying she had to go. It made sense, since she was now gone.
Edward blinked a couple times to himself, wondering what exactly had just happened. Their interaction seemed to only take seconds, not that he could have counted with her babbling, but he seemed to have been given valuable advice. But what did Harleen know of his situation?! Of what was going on! He couldn’t just trust Jonathan! They weren’t in a relationship, Jonathan had just let him into his house for a night. He couldn’t be trusted with such kindness. No one could. Edward shook his head to himself and finished his drink before walking back toward his new spot to continue his riddling.
Later in the evening, as the day grew to a close, Edward counted his money, hoping he’d have enough for at least a motel. He hadn’t been having as much luck with his scams lately, because word was getting around about him. It started to grow dark, and Edward decided he’d try for a different way to have a place to stay. He went into the bathroom of a Taco Bell and locked the door before opening up the small duffel he kept hidden during the day, and began to get undressed from his suit. He found what he was looking for, and got redressed in the new outfit.
Edward walked out into the streets once more, being sure to sway his hips, grabbing the attention of whoever was walking by. He decided to park himself near a bar, forcing himself not to gag at the thought of some drunk bastard getting his hands on him.
“Now wha’ssa pretty lady like you, doing hanging out at a place like this?” A man asked as he came out of the bar. He wasn’t too drunk, but drunk enough.
“Looking for somewhere warm to stay the night, dear.” He said in a feminine voice. “Wanna take me home?”
The man regarded Edward with a hungry look in his eye. “Don’t mind if I do, beautiful. Follow me.” He said, and lead Edward across the street to a familiar set of apartments. He hadn’t realized how close he’d wandered to Jonathan’s apartment, and scolded himself for being so oblivious. “Right up here, doll.” The man pulled Edward out of his thoughts as he opened a door, leading to a not too shabby apartment.
“Nice place,” Edward commented, “you bring girls home often?”
“Only when they’re’s pretty as you.” The guy slurred slightly. “So how much do you charge, puddin’?” He asked.
“Mmm, let’s say $200 for basic, $500 for kinky, and let me stay the night.” Edward demanded.
The guy’s nice demeanor suddenly changed. His shoulders were a little more straight, and his smirk a little more predatory. “Or, how about I fuck you like the whore you are, and you can stay alive for one more night.” He said darkly, and closed in on Edward quickly, grabbing him before he could run away.
Edward stumbled out of the apartment, tears streaming down his face. He was bleeding from multiple places, his clothes were torn, and his face was bruised to hell, as well as most of his torso.
As he got farther away, he wondered what he was going to do. He couldn’t go out again, he was too beat up and he had to get a patch job on his clothes… He couldn’t get a hotel since the sleazebag had stolen all his money… He continued to think as he ducked behind the apartments to reluctantly put a sports bra on, then his suit, and finally smear off what was left of his makeup. He looked up at the building, remembering that Jonathan lived here. It was late enough that he might even be home.
Edward shook his head. ‘No,’ Edward thought, ‘I can’t go through this twice in one night, and I know he’ll be mad for leaving without paying somehow for my stay…’ But where else did he have to go? He couldn’t sleep in an alley, not in this shape… He couldn’t even wear his binder. Edward sighed and rounded the corner, looking up at Jon’s door. His light was on, meaning he was home. He took a deep breath, and limped up the stairs, trying to ignore the pain in his lower regions.
He got up to Jonathan’s door and hesitated. What if he really was mad? What if he wanted something for the stay? Edward had no money, he could give Jon sex, but he was in no state to put himself through that twice in a night. Finally, Edward shook his head and turned to walk away, deciding he’d be better off with an alley. Just as he did, the door opened, causing Edward to whip back around.
Jonathan stared at Edward for 17 seconds before finally speaking. “Edward?” He finally said.
“Jon! I wasn’t- I was just- I didn’t mean to-”
“You’re hurt.” He interrupted Edward, then walked forward, towering over him. Edward took an involuntary step back. “Come inside. I have first aid.” Jon said, and turned back around, gesturing for Edward to follow.
Edward followed him inside, but stayed right inside the door, making sure he had an easy escape. He watched as Jonathan pulled a first aid kit out of the cabinet, then came towards Edward. “Sit on the futon. I’ll have better leverage there.” He said softly. Edward obeyed, not sure what else to do.
Jonathan knelt down in front of him, inspecting the damage. “Any injuries to your torso?” He asked.
“No,” Edward lied quickly, “None that needs patching up.” He corrected himself. It was a half-truth. There wasn’t much Jon could do about the cuts across his back from the cane, anyway.
Jonathan nodded, and got a bottle of rubbing alcohol out of the rather large kit. Edward tensed up, knowing how much that hurt. “I’ll be quick,” Jonathan explained, “quick swab, then I’ll wipe across it with a washcloth with water.” Edward nodded, and let Jonathan work, distracting himself by biting hard on his hand. It wasn’t the worst pain he’d ever been in, and therefore easy to distract from.
Once Jonathan finished, Edward watched him start to put things away, idly bouncing his leg. He seemed troubled, but Edward couldn’t tell why. Was it just worry for the injuries? Was he trying to figure out a way to tell Edward that he owed him for all this, and for last time they’d seen each other? Edward was ripped out of his thoughts by a long sigh from Jonathan.
“So what is it?” He asked.
“I-- what?” Edward asked, trying not to show how embarrassed he was by being confused.
“What did I do? What happened?” Jonathan asked. “I invite you into my home, and you suddenly run off for near three weeks. No contact, actively avoidin’ our meet-up spots. So what is it? Jus’ tell me so I can make it right.”
Edward shook his head. “No, no, it’s--” He cut himself off. He couldn’t tell Jonathan the truth! That could remind Jonathan that he wanted something out of Edward. Edward thought quickly, coming up with something viable. “It’s not your fault. Nothing you did, I simply had other matters to attend to. People were beginning to catch on to my riddling schemes, I needed another place to stake out.” He looked at Jonathan expectantly. 54 seconds before Jonathan answered, and in that 54 seconds, it was clear that Jonathan didn’t believe a word.
“Alright.” He drawled. “Well, assuming nothing has changed over the past three weeks, and you’re still homeless, would you like a place to stay again?”
“You can stay here as long as you need; come and go as you please, scope out other parts of town, but I want you to have a safe place to spend your nights, so I want you to stay here.” Jonathan explained. “Unless, of course, that wasn’t the issue.”
Edward swallowed hard. He knew it was only a matter of time now. Jonathan definitely wanted something… But now it was a riddle, and Edward simply had to find out what. “Alright, I’ll stay. I appreciate the offer.”
“Mmm.” Jon hummed, and turned to the kitchen. “Well, I was about to go out and get food for dinner, but seein’ as I can’t pay for two, I suppose I’ll make somethin’. ‘Fraid I don’t have much. Ramen, mac n cheese, or spaghetti.”
“Spaghetti sounds nice.” Edward answered. “I’m going to use the bathroom, is that alright?” He asked, and got a nod in return. Edward went into the bathroom and took off his bra to inspect the lashes from the cane, as well as the bruising. He found some vaseline to put on the lashes, which helped with the stinging, then quickly put it on before putting his shirt back on and joining Jon for dinner. That night, as Jon slept on the bed, Edward found himself silently crying until exhaustion got the better of him and he fell into a fitful sleep.
