Unnaturally Beautiful

Chapter 05: Handprint

Dinner had gone well. Sarah helped her little daughter with her meal, reminding Claire that she wouldn’t be getting dessert if she didn’t finish her vegetables. Conversation was slow and typical, but pleasant none the less. She hadn’t been over for dinner in some time. She could tell Toby was enjoying the company. It ended all too soon. Sarah hugged her father and brother, Karen following her out onto the porch. She could hear her little brother’s stereo. No doubt he was up his room playing a CD. He listened to a strange assortment. Whatever was playing at the moment seemed to be something electronic, lots of base.

Karen shook her head, “That boy.”

Sarah chuckled, waving her hand, “Don’t worry. He’s a teenager after all. I remember those days.”

Karen nodded, waiting a few moments before changing the subject, “So, you talked to him?”

It was Sarah’s turn to nod, “Yeah. He’s doing fine, just going through some stuff.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, he’s been quiet lately because he’s dealing with some personal stuff. You know.”

Karen shook her head, throwing her arms out a bit in exasperation, “No, I don’t know. What’s wrong with him?”

Sarah sighed, “Would you calm down? He’s just sorting out his sexuality.”

Sarah didn’t think she’d ever seen her stepmother’s eyes bulge so, “He is gay then?”

Sarah sighed again, “No… I mean, maybe. He doesn’t seem too stressed about it. He’s just trying to get things straight in his head. As for what happened at the play… Don’t worry. He doesn’t have a boyfriend or anything. He was just telling that guy something to get him to leave.”

“What does this mean? Is Toby going to be gay?” This was truly concerning Karen.

“No. It just means he’s unsure about things. Just leave him alone, let him figure it out.”

“What do you think?” Karen pleaded.

Claire yawned and Sarah looked down at her daughter before answering her stepmother, “I think he’s probably bisexual, but it’s no big deal, and really, I don’t think it’s any of our business.”

“What should I do though? I remember Nancy down the street telling me her nephew was gay until his parents took him to some kind of priest therapist or something. She said he changed back to normal.”

Anger colored Sarah’s cheeks, “Have you been looking into this? You can’t be serious.”
“Well what am I supposed to do? I don’t want to be the talk of the neighborhood. It’s not natural.”

Sarah nearly growled, “Just leave him alone, okay. It’s no big deal. You’ve been all worried for nothing. I mean, it’s not like he’s making some sort of decision to be gay or whatever. He’s just sorting what’s already there, and from what I can tell, he’s not gay. He’s just… He’s attracted to people by their personality, intelligence and appearance, all that like the rest of us, just not by gender. Like I said, he’s probably bisexual, it just doesn’t matter to him.”

Karen stood silent, her eyes wide, a hand held over her open mouth.

Sarah took a step forward, “Look, you wanted me to look into this because you were worried. Now you know what’s going, and it’s no big deal. So leave it alone. If I find out you’re harassing him about seeing someone, a therapist or priest or whatever, I’ll come over here and take him home with me. Got it?”

Now the anger was spilling into Karen’s features, her eyebrows drawing together, her lips thinning, “Don’t take that tone with me. I’ll decide what’s best for my son.”

Sarah shook her head, not wanting to argue. She knew she’d made herself clear, and Karen wasn’t one to ignore such threats. Karen knew Sarah loved her brother and vice versa. Lifting a hand in a quick wave, Sarah started down the steps for her car, Claire in tow.

……………………………

Tobias stepped back from the window. He hadn’t really been able to hear the conversation, just the tone of it. It seemed his mother was going to be a problem. How annoying adults could be. And poor Sarah. He really hadn’t meant to upset her so much.

Turning, Tobias turned the dial back up on his stereo. Bauhaus filled the room, one of his favorite songs, She’s In Parties, distracting him from his current thoughts. He wanted to turn it up further, but knew better. Besides, he didn’t want his mother bothering him at the moment. In fact, just to be safe, he turned it back down.

It was already getting late. Sarah had stayed late. Little Claire had been falling asleep in her chair, her little head bobbing as she slipped in and out of consciousness. If he listened closely, he could here his mother cleaning up downstairs, pantry doors and what not slamming as she hurried to get everything put away. He could even hear the chatter of the TV as his father continued watching CNN.

Tobias shook his head, turning the little button on his doorknob thus locking. He didn’t like to be bothered when he slept, and he especially hated it when his mother barged in early in the morning. She’d been utterly pissed the first time he’d locked his door, but now she was used to it and left him be.

He set the stereo to repeat the CD all night and began peeling his clothes off, dropping them wherever as he made his way to bed. He didn’t normally sleep in the nude, usually pulling on a pair of boxers, but tonight was different. He left a lamp on upon his dresser, otherwise plunging the room into darkness. As he lie in bed on top of the covers, he could perfectly make out the painting opposite him. Jareth. The portrait really didn’t do the man justice, as lovely as it was. Still, it was enough, and in just moments, Tobias felt a stirring in his groin.

It wasn’t the first time he’d jacked off this way, staring at the beautiful Goblin King. He lay in his own mess, wondering if maybe the smirk there on the painting was a bit deeper. He liked to imagine Jareth could really see him. Why was he so obsessed with this man’s appearance? The Goblin King was obscenely beautiful, but Tobias liked to think he didn’t judge people based on their looks. He didn’t believe in love at first sight.

Dismissing the thoughts, Tobias rolled over, not bothering to pull the covers over his naked form. It took some minutes, but eventually sleep came, and the dream he had was one he wouldn’t soon forget.

……………………………

Karen knocked again, harder this time, “Toby, you’re going to be late!” The door flew open and she gasped, nearly stumbling in. Her son stood there with red cheeks and a sweaty forehead, looking rather angry. She tried to look away, feeling a bit uncomfortable with his nakedness, a pair of loose boxers barely hanging on his jutting hips.

“Did you forget to set your alarm?” She asked, trying to change the subject. He didn’t answer, only nodding as he turned back into his room, leaving the door open. She noticed clothing scattered on the floor, plus the covers on his bed were in maddening disarray. And that music was still playing. She’d fallen asleep last night to the base’s thump thump thump. It was hard to believe he’d left it on all night, he did that sometimes though. He was turning it off now, running his fingers through his messed hair.

A thought suddenly slammed into her, causing her to lean against the doorframe rather than stumble further. She looked around. The crazy bedcovers all thrown about, the scattered clothes, the window cracked open, the stereo, her son’s appearance. God, he seemed exhausted, as if he’d just run around the block. His cheeks were still red, wiping sweat from his brow, he turned, lifting a shirt from the floor to do so. Karen gasped, spotting a red mark on her son’s back. Not a scratch, no, the skin wasn’t broken, but it was probably going to be a bruise. She took a step back, turning to go.

“Breakfast’s ready. You’d better hurry.” She managed, practically running down the stairs. She tried to deny it, but everything spelled out sex. Had some snuck into Toby’s room last night? Was that why he’d played that music all night? Was Sarah covering for him? She just couldn’t think straight! There was probably a logical explanation for all of it.

She busied herself with nonsense chores, scrubbing already clean countertops and wiping down the refrigerator. Toby came down soon enough, dressed and ready to go, his backpack thrown over one shoulder, his hair pulled back in a ponytail. She gestured to the table.

He shook his head, “No thanks.”

“Toby, you hardly eat anymore. I know there isn’t much time, but at least take something with you, some biscuits.”

“Mom, I’m not hungry.” He said sternly, starting for the front door.

She sighed, “Fine, have a good day.” And with that he was gone.

Karen slumped down in a chair. This was so maddening. Was she jumping to conclusions, her mind already tainted with such thoughts from her earlier worrying? She’d ask Doug, but he’d already left for work. She was tempted to call him up but knew better. He’d just say she was being silly. Should she talk to Sarah about this? Or was Sarah on Toby’s side, helping him hide his bad behavior?

Confused and determined not to act without thinking this through, Karen proceeded to make herself busy with putting the food away. What on Earth was she going to do?

……………………………

Tobias slouched down in his seat, ignoring the droning of his history teacher’s monotone voice. Instead, he was thinking about the soreness in his body. Had Jareth really be smirking at him from that painting last night? The crooked smile curling up a bit further at the edge? Because after he’d fallen asleep, the dream he’d had… God, it was so vivid. He’d been in some strange bed, waking to find Jareth beside him, looking down at him. The details were a bit fuzzy, he hadn’t really been able to see clearly, so enthralled with sensation he’d been, but he’d felt everything.

Tobias had never had sex, still a virgin though quite capable of pleasuring himself. After last night though, he wouldn’t consider himself a virgin any longer. Not a word had been spoken as flesh met flesh, moans spilling into the cool air. His ass still hurt. Not to mention the half a handprint still embedded on the right side of his lower back, right above his hip, a red mark that wasn’t going to fade quickly. He could still remember Jareth’s hand there, hoisting his lower half up to drive in a bit harder.

God… Toby slouched down further, rearranging his legs, hopefully hiding his boner. Had he really had sex last night with a man from his dreams? A man his sister had dreamt of once? Was this guy real? He had to be. How could a person have sex physical sex with a figment of his imagination?

……………………………

Sarah rarely saw her brother for the next two days. Or was it three? Normally they met up at his locker at the end of the day. She’d offer him a ride and he’d refuse. They’d talk a bit and that would be that. So it was a bit odd that she hadn’t seen him. The only explanation was that he was avoiding her, for whatever reason. Maybe Karen was bothering him? Maybe he was mad at her for having told Karen anything?

Whatever the case, Sarah wanted to see her brother and was insistent on doing so. She ended her final class five minutes early, the kids cheering as they hurried out into the hall, then waited by her brother’s locker. Sure enough, just seconds after the bell, Toby turned the corner, heading her way. He paused for a moment, having spotted her, then approached.

“Hey.”

She smiled, “Don’t say hey like you haven’t been avoiding me. What’s up?”

He shrugged, “Nothing.”

“Then why have you been avoiding me? Is Karen bothering you? I told her more than I should have probably, nothing about these dreams, but about… Well, you know. She hasn’t been bothering you, has she?”

Tobias sighed, knowing his sister was nervous, she tended to prattle on when she was, “Don’t worry, I’m not mad at you. I’ve just been dealing with stuff.” He finished at his locker and they started for the exit, kids everywhere.

“What stuff?” She asked, worried, “Stuff about the dreams?”

He nodded, praying she’d let it drop and yet knowing better.

She nodded too, “Right. Let me drive you home. We can talk about it on the way.”

“Sarah, I really don’t want to. Okay?”

She stopped, turning to face her brother. They weren’t even ten feet from her car now, “Remember, Tobias, you promised to tell me if anything else happened. I know you don’t want me to worry, but I’m going to either way. At least let me help you try and figure this stuff out.”

He sighed, knowing she meant business when she said his name properly as opposed to that silly nickname, “Fine.” He grumbled.

Sarah smiled, happy to have won the argument. She drove slowly towards her parents’ house, parking near the park in order to give them some time to talk. She left the car running, the air conditioning a comfort. Undoing her seatbelt, she turned to face her brother, her expression serious, “So, what happened?”

“I had a dream the night you left after staying for dinner. I had another one last night. They’re getting… Stronger.” Tobias said quietly, feeling highly uncomfortable.

Sarah could see the tension in her brother, “Well, what happened?”

Tobias turned, not looking her in the eyes, but facing her, “Did you ever… sleep with Jareth?”

Her eyes went wide, “Um… Well, I remember having a bit of a crush on him. I mean, he was gorgeous, but he was evil. I never liked him or anything. I think he liked me. I remember some him saying some confusing things to me towards the end, but I think he was just getting desperate since I was about to reach you, save you.”

Tobias shook his head, “But did you ever sleep with him?”

Sarah blushed, shaking her head.

“It’s just… You always talk about this stuff like it was a dream or a story. Do you remember anything physical? Like, hurting yourself, a stain on your clothes? Anything to convince yourself that it happened?”

Sarah sat back, not really wanting to remember all this, “Toby, it was a long time ago. At the time, I wanted to believe it was real, I thought it had really happened to me. But with time I realized that it was impossible. It was all childish nonsense. A fun dream from my fantastic imagination.” She paused, “And why all these questions about whether I slept with him?”

Tobias sighed, finally meeting his sister’s eyes, “Because that’s just what happened, Sarah. I slept with him. It was full blown that night after you left. Last night it was short.”

She blushed deeper this time, embarrassed talking about such things with her little brother, not to mention they were talking about gay sex here. She shook her head, a smile pulling at her lips in spite of her nervousness, “He’s an attractive guy, Toby. Is it really so odd to dream about him that way?”

Tobias shook his head, “You don’t understand. We really had sex. I woke up in pain, with marks.”

Sarah’s smile faded instantly, “What are you saying?”

He turned further in his seat, his back to her. He pulled his shirt up, “See that?”

She swallowed, leaning forward. There was a mark on his tender, pale skin. It looked a bit old, dark in the center, lighter at the edges, a fading purple. She pulled his pants down an inch or two in order to see it all, clearly an incomplete handprint. It looked rather painful.

“That’s from two nights ago.” He said, turning back to face her, pulling now on the neck of his shirt. It didn’t stretch far enough, so with a sound of annoyance, he simply lifted it up from the hem, revealing his entire chest. “This is from last night.”

Sarah’s eyes went wide again. There was a rather large hickey over her brother’s left nipple surrounded by much smaller ones. God, even the nipple appeared aggravated, as if it had been worried by harsh teeth. “Toby, I… I don’t know what to say. You didn’t… I mean, you haven’t been with anyone else?”

Tobias shook his head, “I’ve never been with anyone.”

She shuttered, turning back to face forward, placing her hands on the wheel in order to steady her reeling mind, “This is crazy.”

Tobias nodded, turning to face forward as well, “You’re telling me? I’m losing my mind. I’m convinced this stuff is real, but I don’t know what to do. If I could just go there, see him, talk to him. Maybe I could figure some things out.”

“No, it’s not real.”

“Sarah, I have the bruise of a handprint on my back! In my dream that’s just where he was holding me. And it wasn’t like a dream, it was so real. God, Sarah, I’m sore. I ache all over.”

She shook her head, her eyes watering, “It’s not real. It can’t be. This is crazy. Things like this just don’t happen. I mean, where would he be from? An alternate dimension?”

“Get a grip.” Tobias hissed, throwing a glare his sister’s way, “It is real. And don’t you even remember what you used to tell me? The Underground.”

Sarah paused in her panic, remembering the word, the place. Her voice was calmer now when she spoke, “But, Toby, this is like saying we visited the land of the My Little Ponies or that we believe in unicorns and have proof. And we’re not confused children, we’re delusional adults. We… We need professional help.”

Tobias nearly growled, “You’re talking like Aaron now. Why do you have to compare this to that nonsense? Something supernatural is happening to me. No therapist is going to understand. They’re going to think I’m doing this to myself, making things up. I’m not crazy.”

More than upset now, Sarah pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes, taking a deep breath.

“See, this is why I’ve been avoiding you. I knew you’d freak out.”

Sarah laughed, “Who wouldn’t? I don’t understand how you can be so calm.”

“Because… It’s amazing. I want to find out what’s going on. I just wish there a way to try and call him, or go to him. If I could just talk to him. My dreams always seem to be in his control. I can never decide what’s going to happen or what’s said. I can’t even respond, it’s like I can only react.”

Sarah held her breath to the count of ten, purposefully distracting herself, clearing her head. She then took a deep breath, going over everything that had been said, their options. “I’m going to talk to Aaron about this, for myself. I’m losing it, Toby, I need some kind of help. I wish you would too, but it’s up to you. I’m not going to tell you what to do. If you want to keep having these dreams, that’s fine. And… If you want to try to talk to Jareth, maybe…” She paused, swallowing.

Tobias’ eyes lit up, he turned her way, “What?”

“Maybe you should wish yourself away. I don’t know if it works that way, I doubt anything will happen, but you said you think this is real, and when I was younger, in my dream, I always wished you away out of hatred and anger, and he showed up to take you away. There was a playbook I used to read with specific words to say, but I can’t remember, and I have no clue where it is. Just… I want you to keep talking to me. Remember, you promised to tell me if anything happened. I worry more when I don’t know what’s going on.”

Tobias nodded, watching as his sister wiped away tears that had managed to escape. She remained silent as they drove the rest of the way. She barely whispered a goodbye, remaining in the car while he exited, climbing the steps he used to race up as a child. He waved as she pulled away, waiting until he couldn’t see the car anymore before going inside.

To be continued…

Oh yeah, I haven’t proof read this chapter or the next one. Please excuse any mistakes. Thank you.