There was no way out of here. He knew it. Placed in a cage like a feral animal. Delirious. Days and nights went by unbeknownst to him except for an occasional flicker of light when the door opened. Footsteps on the ground told him they were coming. Murmured voices cackling. He cowers in the corner making himself as small as possible. Hoping somehow not to be seen. But they always find him. Clawing and grabbing dragging him out of his cage. Selling him to the pedophile down the street. Fifty bucks gets him ten minutes. More than what he needs. Then back in the cage until another sick bastard is looking for his fill.

He jumps

Trying to soar

Higher than where the Angels lay

But he finds

He only falls

Deeper

Into the demons layer

Everything I ever wanted

Was handed to you

On a silver spoon

While I was caged

And bound by chains

Punished

For moms mistakes

You were rewarded

While I was bruised

Nothing I did

Could compare to you

So how is it now

That I am here

And you - In the grave?

A trio of thieves

Slinking and crawling in the dark

They are in every day of my life

Sneering their venomous lies

The first is a brute

A hulking, massive mountain

Shouts his words of hate and hurt

Beady eyes full of my stupidity

The second is a small weasly thing

Wrapped around my stomach

He squeezes tight when I talk

Crowds are no longer and option

Their leader is my doppelgänger,

A pitch black silhouette

She laughs and sneers, claws sharp

As she rakes them over my body

"Look at this round stomach!"

"Look at the scars on your arms!"

"Look at your tired face!"

"DO SEE ALL YOUR FLAWS?"

And how can't I?

When I'm destroying myself

From the inside

Out

"That's Mercury, over there."

You give a dramatic sigh, shoving her shoulder lightly. "I KNOW, dummy. I showed you, remember?" Mercury scoffs. "Venus, don't be like that. Thought you'd be proud."

Your attention drifts to the rain outside as you strike the last of t match, lighting a vanilla cookie candle after you light a cigar. You're tired, but you're fine. Who needs sleep.

Mercury stands suddenly, lurching before she gets to her crutches. "Come on. We need to get you a bandaid." You look down and realize your finger is burnt. Oops. "It's not a cut, but we still need to medicate it." You let your girlfriend lead you to the bathroom, watching as she pulls out her med bag. An athlete and a doctor. What are the odds. You're just a pretty face.

Mercury kisses your cheek as she bandages your finger, then kisses the gauze gently. "Be careful," she murmurs, grinning.

But if not being careful gets you kisses, you might have to do it more often.

Sutherland

Sudsy, for short

Smartest kid in class

Sweetest boy I know

So tall and cute

Sometimes stutters adorably

Sarcastic and a nerd

Shy and witty

Sadly, doesn't notice

Someone's pining for him ever

Since the ninth grade

Cocoa curls would gently hang over a face as sunkissed as mine is pale, crocodile-green eyes framed by angel-thick lashes peeking out from that beautiful curtain. He'd be maybe 5'11" or so, the perfect height to cuddle and hug. He'd like stripes and flannel and all sorts of silly animes and webcomics. People might call him a childish fool, but he'd be MY childish fool, and we'd be foolish children together.

And he'd understand. He'd realize that I don't want a sensual, carnal relationship, I'm not it for sex. He'd be okay with the fact that I've never been in a relationship, never had sex, never been kissed. He'd adore my love for literature, and laugh at all my dumb jokes, even if we both know they're anything but funny.

He'd kiss me awake in the mornings with the scent of coffee on his shirt from making a fresh pot. He'd kiss my closed eyelids when I'm up at 3 in the morning, ask me to go to bed. He'd help me draw, and I'd help him write. He'd hold me tight when I'm scared or in a self-loathing slump. He'd talk me out of my lowest lows, and he'd let me do the same for him. We'd be the best of friends, the most romantic couple the world has ever seen.

We would be each other's missing half, complete each other, love each other for all of eternity.

And he would be mine.

Chess

Watermelon candies

Honking laughter

Button-ups

Computers

Silly teeth

Weak high-fives

Complements

Honor Roll

Bow ties

Old jokes

Muted colors

Spock

Mork and Mindy

Bisexuality

Debate team

Science

Awkward hugs

Argyle socks

Smarts

Everything I want in a friend.

Everyone knows everyone. Secrets are kept only if they are never spoken. Sports come before school, yet you are punished more severely for failing the latter. Small businesses make up Main Street. In the winter, it's akin to Hoth. In the summer, Mordor. For many, camo is the preferred color, and it's ok to skip school if you're going hunting. If you haven't been kissed by 12, you're considered a weirdo. If you haven't fucked by 14, you're an outcast.

Ah, yes. Gossip Hick Central