“He is. Andrew and I take him out once a week. We grab dinner and a beer. He’s doing well, and we’ve become good friends,” Josh confidently replied. It was probably my crazy perception right now, but it came across that Josh was bragging about what good friends he was with Brandon.
“Have you forgotten that Brandon ran away from James not too long ago?” I reminded him.
“That was a minor setback,” Josh answered.
“Minor? He literally ran away. He didn’t turn to you or Andrew. He ran away to a fucking hotel to hide,” I barked at Josh.
“He was scared,” Josh replied.
“Adults don’t physically run away like a child,” I argued.
Sam intervened, which made me feel terrible again. “Brandonisn’tmuch more than a teenager still. Emotionally, he’s still a teenager in many ways. Years that are usually spent transitioning from a teen to a young adult were lost. He spent those years in unimaginable circumstances.”
Why the hell was I even arguing with Josh? How had this argument even started? All because Sam mentioned that Salem would probably accompany Garrett this afternoon.
“James has said that Brandon is twenty-one, going on eighteen,” Sam added. “Brandon has had an advantage over Salem. Brandon is with James, and James has the training to help him. Garrett is flying blind, somewhat, with how to help her. He’s definitely trying. Anyhow, Garrett is trying to help her socialize with some people now.”
“Are they kind of a thing?” Josh asked.
Sam nodded and admitted that Garrett and Salem were together. Salem was even younger than Brandon, I thought. Garrett was around Sam’s age, which I guessed was closer in an age gap than James was with Brandon. It was clear as day that James loved Brandon, and the age difference didn’t seem to get in the way.
14
Alison
I wassurprised and ecstatic that Salem had brought over some leggings for me. I made a screeching noise when I looked inside the bag. I wanted to hug her to show my appreciation, but I managed to keep myself in check and from gleefully springing a hug on her. I didn’t want to trigger anything for her.
I turned to look at Sam and said, “If you’ll excuse me for a few minutes, I’d love to go put these on.”
“I think you look hot in Sam’s clothes,” Josh chimed in.
“It’s not that I don’t love your clothes, Sam. But I’d be more comfortable in leggings,” I explained.
“I understand; no offense taken,” Sam replied as he gestured toward the stairs.
I started to head off in the direction of the stairs and then remembered that Garrett was hoping to have Salem socialize some. I turned to face everyone in the entryway and looked at Salem. She was left standing with the guys.
“Salem, do you want to come with me?”
“Yes,” Salem said as she nodded eagerly.
Even though Salem was about ten years younger than I was, she reminded me some of myself. Both of us had jet-black hair. Salem had a bright purple streak in hers, though. The few times that I had seen her, she’d always had the purple streak in.
It wasn’t only in appearance that I thought Salem and I were alike. Her goth appearance made me think her personality was probably like mine. I tried not to make assumptions, but something told me that she didn’t take any shit. I was so curious as to how long she had been held captive with those sick fucks. Had it been as long as Brandon? Had she lost part of herself like he had?
I led us down the hall to the spare bedroom I had stayed in the last time I was here because I felt funny taking her into Sam’s room. I had no right to take someone into his room, though I wouldn’t mind being able to nonchalantly say “Oh, and that’s our room.”
Salem stayed in the doorway while I took the bag she’d brought to the bed. I was currently wearing a pair of Sam’s underwear under his shorts, so I didn’t think it would freak Salem out if I took the shorts off. I pulled out a pair of the soft black leggings and smiled at Salem.
“Thank you for bringing these. I don’t know how long I’m going to be here exactly, and these will be so much nicer than Sam’s shorts,” I commented, hoping it would start a conversation with her.
“No problem. It sucks to be displaced. Garrett and I stopped at the store on the way over.” Salem put her hand on the doorframe and leaned her head into the room as if she had a secret to tell me. “There is a package of panties at the bottom under the other pair of leggings. I know they’re not fancy, but—”
“Seriously?” I cut her off, unable to contain my excitement. I rummaged in the bag and pulled out a pair of packaged panties and clutched them to my chest. “These are perfect, Salem. Thank you for thinking of me.”
I wasn’t above packaged underwear. Especially with the situation I was in now. I didn’t mind being at Sam’s for an undetermined amount of time, and while I enjoyed being in Sam’s underwear, I’d rather wear my own, but keep my hands in his underwear as he wore it.
“You even got my size correct for the underwear and the leggings. I appreciate that,” I said as I smiled at the size on the package and the leggings.
