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 Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 6:43 pm
"It's not that you're naked. It's that....we're not clean." He wasn't clean. Al wasn't clean. They were just swimming in ocean water. While that was clean to him in a sense, some strange exception despite him knowing what lived in the ocean, it didn't make them clean by being in it.
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 6:46 pm
"Who cares if we're clean?" Al asked, genuinely not getting it.
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 6:48 pm
Al didn't get it, and the more he didn't get it, the more Melvin felt himself distanced. He wasn't normal, and Al couldn't see what the problem was because he was normal. The fact he couldn't care or see why anyone cared if they were clean twisted his insides.
Who cared?
He cared. HE CARED A LOT AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO CARE.
"Forget it." He said, drying his hair quickly before he reached down and put on a t-shirt and snatched up his pants to put on.
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 6:53 pm
Al looked absolutely dismayed by how upset Melvin was getting. It was even worse that he was genuinely trying, as hard as it was for Al's to try, and it was still getting worse.
"Come on Melvin man, stop being cryptic. PLEASE. Just tell me what's bothering you."
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 7:07 pm
"I was already telling you. I wasn't being cryptic. You don't get it. I said we weren't clean. You said who would care. I care. I care a lot. I care a lot that I can't hug you. I care a lot about it and I care when people think OTHER people won't care because other people shouldn't ******** care. So I don't want to talk about it because you don't care." He put on his pants and popped his shoes on, reaching for his diving gear.
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 7:10 pm
"I care if you care, I thought you thought I was judging you for it man." He looked completely baffled. "I didn't know germs bothered you like that."
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 7:19 pm
"It's not germs. It's not like that. I just - It's complicated. It's to do with a lot of things. I just can't and I tried and now I wish I didn't even try." He could tell Al had no idea what was going on and that even seemed to bother him more, frustrating him that it wasn't more obvious. He wished it was just so he wouldn't be able to even talk anymore.
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 7:21 pm
Al ran over to Melvin. "Deep breaths man. I'm no psychic okay." He looked genuinely concerned that this was spiraling for no reason. "Just. Tell me. Okay? Explain and I'll just listen."
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 7:28 pm
He diving gear was held in a bundle to his chest as he stared at Al, stepping back just enough so he wouldn't try and touch him. "I don't know. You won't get it."
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 7:29 pm
"Give me that chance, Melvin."
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 7:34 pm
He squeezed the bundle he had a bit more, glanced up the beach to the path and back at Al.
"Let's sit down." He couldn't do this standing, and already feeling tired from what would be a hard conversation, he took a few steps and sat down.
He was quiet after that.
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 7:36 pm
Al obediently sat down next to Melvin. Silent, like he'd said he'd be. But giving a questioning look.
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Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 7:58 pm
Melvin went to inspecting a flipper before glancing at Al and seeing he was still waiting, and then looking back at the flipper.
"When I was a kid, I got attacked by a ghost named Cricket. Ever since then, I saw shadows. I didn't grow up seeing them like most people. It happened exactly after."
"Since then....I haven't been able to feel comfortable touching anyone unless..certain hings are done to make me feel things are safer."
"Like when things are clean."
"Or wearing something like gloves."
"........it's what I mean when I said things were harder for me when it came to being with someone."
He went quiet again for a while.
"...so when you say who cares........about that. I care."
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 5:35 pm
Al listened quietly. Melvin was right, he didn't understand - not entirely. There were so many questions. He carefully picked through them for the most harmless.
"Is that why you don't like my scarf?" He hoped that at least wasn't too horrible a question, but he's been wrong before.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 5:37 pm
Melvin blinked. "Partly. I also like hair. It's weird you are going to get hat hair from a scarf and collect oil under it. It doesn't take long for cloth to absorb oil and transfer it back to your hair. I was curious why you wear it all the damn time and if it was some sort of security blanket for you." That seemed a bit out of left field.
"I'd touch your hair and scarf if it was clean if that is what you are asking."
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