How Many Metas Does It Take...? (Open)

[Deleted]

So....should he let go? Or just...stay like this for a while?

It was really only a few feet to the ground. Plus there was carpet down there so it should be like landing on a bed right? Maybe?

The chair rolled another inch. Anthony let out a small whimper as his eyes stared down widely at the floor below and his arms started to shake from being stuck in this position for more than a few minutes. One hand was grasped firmly on the light bulb that had been only screwed in halfway to the ceiling lamp while the other was tensed at an awkward angle such that it was trying to pull the weight on the man standing on the swivel chair back towards the light. Of course he had to be doing this in his socks too, so the friction between his toes and the soft texture of the desk chair was limited. His body was stretched at what must've been a 45 degree angle between that spot he was holding onto dearly on the ceiling and the rolling chair that was trying to roll away even more.

The chair was definitely going to roll away even further if he stayed like this. Then he'd fall flat on his face into the carpet(which he was still hoping was soft). Or he could try to gain enough push off from his toes and maybe land on his feet now? Maybe, though he was likely to just fall flat on his face anyway. No matter what, he was going to fall and him staying was just postponing the inevitable.

He could also call for help. Though Anthony didn't know if his roommates were in or not. Or if maybe someone from the hall would be able to hear him. "H-help...!" he cried in what was probably the most pathetic voice ever. He'd keep trying a few more times, praying to god that someone responded, before taking the leap of faith to fall to his....hurt. "Help~!"

[Salem Hirch]

Slamming his head into yet another wall, Salem stopped and put his phone away.

The boy was usually off somewhere in his own head, so the music wasn't really helping. At least not today. In all honesty he had been trying to distract himself from one of his little 'trips', by taking a walk to see his pal, Anthony. On the way he had put his headphones in, but seeing as now he was developing a bruise on his forehead, he decided to stop. Looking around, Salem realized that he was close to the room, though he felt a bit lost.

Not like he hadn't gotten lost before. Though he shouldn't have. Grumbling a bit, he pulled his headphones out and shoved them into his pocket next to his phone.

Getting his bearings back, he finally started walking again. Of course now he knew which direction he was heading at least. A cry caught his attention as he turned down the hallway to Anthony's room. Well, it wasn't so much a cry as the sound a dog makes if it gets hurt. That sort of whimpering/yelp noise that sounded absolutely pitiful. Salem shrugged it off as nothing at first, but as he got to his friends door he heard it again. This time from inside the room.

Could that be Anthony?

Pushing the door open he walked inside. No one else seemed to be around, but there was Tony, stretched out in a very awkward position. The sight of this made Salem burst into laughter.

"How did you manage this?" He asked, while he took his phone back out and quickly snapped a picture. Putting his phone away, the boy walked over to the other boy. "Okay, now that I can breathe...how can I help?"

[Deleted]

How long was he going to stay like this? Could be forever….no even Anthony wasn't that awesome, to be able to hold this awkward pose for eternity. As it was, being able to hold his post at all for any length of time was a feat and deserved the label of "awesome". It was all thanks to the hours he spent in PT training, must've been. Yup.

But even the awesome could get tired.

Anthony was trying(what is this try!?) to work up the courage to just go ahead and be un-awesome for a whole of 3 seconds while he flailed to the carpet below when he heard the door creak open.

Salvation! He was saved! It didn't matter who it was, it could even be his kinda-creepy roommate Kodi, and it still would've been better than nobody at all.

Unless it were his bestie Salem and his camera-phone taking snapshots of this scene like it was a freaking Milan photo-shoot. Anthony was not happy. He scowled the scowl to end all scowls, or at least did the best he could with a disgruntled, unapproved glare at his friend while he took his sweet time. "…You done?" he squeaked once the phone was out of sight. At least, Anthony thought it was out of sight. "Mmmm…..the chair." His voice was strained and high-pitched. His toes and knees were trembling. "Push the chair up? Please?" Oh, how humiliating! To be reduced to begging like a lesser man! But what other choice did he have?

[Salem Hirch]

This was definitely a first for Salem. Well not really, but seeing his friend like this was just to perfect an opportunity for him to pass up.

So many thoughts ran through his head as he casually made his way closer. The main one being all the times Anthony would drag him someplace and make him be sociable. Really, he didn't mind, just the opposite. He loved it. More for just being around people he cared about and cared enough about him to want him out and about.

That however didn't stop the young man from consistently threatening his friend with some form of payback.  Mainly just because that's what friends do. They love and torment each other, the circle of life.

Salem pinched the bridge of his nose when he heard Anthony make a startled squeak. It was to try help stifle a laugh, but it didn't work. Giggling softly he moved behind the chair and put both hands on either arm. "Like this?" He asked as he slowly pushed it forward. A little glint of something wicked formed in his eyes as he smiled up at him.

"Hey Tony, remember all those times I'd say I was gonna pay you back? Well.." With a satisfied smirk Salem shook the chair. He knew his friend wouldn't fall or at least hoped that he wouldn't, so he shook it a little harder than he originally meant to.

[Deleted]

Anthony really did bring this on himself. Really. After all, who else in their right mind would think themselves awesome enough to be able to stand on a swivel rolling desk chair and not have it go crazy under his feet while changing a stupid lightbulb in the middle of the common room?

People certainly didn't get the bright ideas of trying to use the swivel chair itself to twist in the bulb so he didn't have to move his wrist.

It was a spectacularly failed experiment. Was he about to try it again? Maybe once he got some breaks for the chair wheels.

This time he'd get Salem to help him though.

His dear Salem, who always came through for Anthony and was definitely doing it this time! Right, oh wait? Uh, oh.

Anthony felt a bit of relief from the tension in his toes(and in his heart) as Salem started to push the chair forward. But he should've know that things weren't going to go smoothly, especially not with that ominous warning. "Hey…! Salem…?" he squeaked in horrid anticipation. "St…don't! I'm gonna--!" Fall!

And of course, so he did. Not even the straight down drop that he would have done if Anthony were left to his own devices, but flailing about in the middle of a mis-balance, with his torso twisting in mid-air like a cat trying to turn around to land on it's feet. Unfortunately, Anthony was neither a cat nor that coordinated.

He landed on his side, with his arm stretched out under his head. "Owww…" he groaned. That was going to bruise. Anthony in pain onto his back. "Jerk…."

[Salem Hirch]

At first he had started to laugh at his friend's flailing about, but it was cut short.

Salem realized Anthony was about to fall and tried desperately to stop the chair from moving, but it was too late. The other male was sort of flopping through the air like a fish on a hook. The sight made him want to laugh again, but he didn't dare. In fact he tried to catch him or at least stop the fall. Salem was fairly fast, but not exactly that fast. Hearing the thud, his whole face scrunched up and he shut his eyes.

Well, Anthony wasn't screaming in agony. Nor was he cursing Salem out at the top of his lungs, that was a good sign...right?

When he finally did open his eyes again (which was only moments later) he moved to sit down near him on the floor. A look of deep concern was on his face as he glanced over his best friend. "I'm so sorry Tony, I...I didn't mean for you to fall...I shouldn't have shaken the chair that hard...do you need anything?"

Because of his mostly timid nature, Salem's words seemed to all come out in one long sentence and seemed a bit more panicked than he actually was. "At least let me help you up?" He held his hand out with a frown, worried that Anthony was going to be upset, even if he didn't show it.

[Deleted]

It was a bit(or a lot) too late for Salem to start regretting his actions and try to take them back. The damage had been done and Anthony was taking the fall, literally.

It was good that Salem thought that Anthony wasn't upset…really good. Because then his guard would be down when he finally ripped him a new one once moment Anthony stopped writhing in pain.

"Ughh…." he moaned out. "A new back please…?" At least he could make jokes, so he probably wasn't too upset. He rolled around a little more just to rub it in. "Last time you tried to help I fell off a chair," he said with glare. Then it dissolved with a slight smirk. "Fine…" Anthony chuckled and took his friends hand to help him up.

"So….what brings you here?" he asked with a wry smile. "Or…did you come with the express purpose of trying to kill me?"

[Salem Hirch]

"Great..." He thought to himself as he helped Anthony off the floor. "Now he's mad at me." Regardless of the smile that his friend had plastered on his face, Salem knew he was upset. Part of him wished the guy would just yell at, after all it was a pretty stupid thing to do.  The blonde youth wasn't exactly the smartest when it came to things like this.

He was used to being a bit rough and tumble, so part of him just assumed everyone was kind of like that in one way or another. Salem's thoughts drifted to the farm; his friends; his brother, his mind completely forgetting the reason he came. Well, he remember it was because he had lost focused for awhile and for some reason Anthony always seemed to help.

Realizing he had drifted away again, he frowned. "I uh don't really remember why I came to visit...I'm sorry." Standing fully upright now he looked at the floor. It was all he could think to do when he didn't know what to say or when he felt stupid for forgetting things. Through the rat's nest that was his hair, Salem's eyes blinked and opened wide. He had just remembered why he had original wanted to see him in the first place. Deciding against it quickly, he chuckled.

"And sorry, no new backs. Fresh out." He gave his best friend his typical sarcastic little smirk, that slowly turned to a full smile as he watched to make sure the other was really okay.

[Deleted]

Anthony wasn't the kind of person who yelled, no matter how upset he was at someone. He was more of a brewer, someone who simmered quietly and popped out killing kindness back at people who'd irritated him. Or he masked his disgruntledness as jokes, like he was doing now. But overall, Anthony had a lot of tolerance for screw-ups, even if he wished they'd do so a lot less.

Salem was a friend, which meant he got the privilege of seeing Anthony a little more honest with his irateness. Though he still would rather laugh about it and rub salt in the wound rather than just let himself get pissing mad. Loosing your cool so easily was just plain unproductive.

Anthony snickered at Salem's awkwardness. "I'm sure you'll remember…unless it really was just to break my back, then I think we need to have a talk about what's okay and what's not okay to do to your friends." Nope, definitely not letting this go.

"No?" Well, that was unfortunate, because Anthony's back was probably going to be sore for a while. He smiled and "gently" gave his bestie a pat on the shoulder. "Guess we're going to have to find another way for you to pay me back, huh?" And Anthony had a few things in mind.

[Salem Hirch]

Salem was happy to see his bestie up and moving like nothing was really wrong, even if he knew better. He himself had fallen like that many times, so he knew how bad it hurt and how bad it would hurt tomorrow.  The snicker and the tone of Tony's words made the blonde scrunch his face up and blush.

"I'm sorry Tony...I didn't mean to shake the chair so hard...I really didn't." His words came out in a slightly flustered stutter. "I just wanted to scare you a little, honest." Salem hated how much he sounded like a kid when he was worried or being shy. After all, he'd be turning 18 this year.

Looking for a place to sit, Salem actually wound up sitting in the swivel chair that was the source of his embarrassment at the moment. "Stupid chair..." He thought to himself as he took a quick glance around the room. Part of him was half expecting Kodi to walk in at any moment.

Anthony's roommate always made him feel slightly uncomfortable. Mostly because of how flirty he was. With that thought Salem let out a sigh.

"Okay, I lied..." It wasn't really in Salem's nature to do this, but he wasn't sure how to word the thing he wanted to talk about. "I uh...do remember why I wanted to see you."  There was a definite sense of worry in Salem's voice. He knew Tony wouldn't like kick him out or anything, but still. Maybe his friend already knew?

"I mean besides me slipping away again..." He pointed to his head a moment and chuckled. "I just kinda maybe wanted to tell you something..."

[Deleted]

Anthony was still hurting, but he also wasn't about to let a little back injury incapacitate him forever. Sure he'd complain about it to rub it in for his bestest best friend over there, but he was no sissy! A little back ache wasn't going to keep Anthony from being the awesome man he was.

"I knoow, don't worry," he tried to reassure his friend. Anthony was smart enough to know that Salem didn't have any malicious intent in what he did, but Anthony could still make him pay for it. "I'm not going to disown you for a little thing like this, okay?"

Besides, it was equally Anthony's fault for trying to use it as a step stool in the first place. Next time, he was using a chair from the kitchen table. He made a curious look as Salem glanced about the room. Was he looking for something? …..or someone?

Well, Reece wasn't there anymore(the jerk), and Salem must know that, so Kodi was the only other one in the dorm at the moment so…..curious, said his intellectual mind.

And now Salem was getting all serious. Anthony stepped over to the couch and took a seat on the arm. "What's up?" he asked, clasping his hands together in front of him and trying to be the attentive friend that was willing to listen to any problem. "I'm listening, shoot." Anthony provided a supportive smile as encouragement.

[Salem Hirch]

"Alright Tony, if you say so." Salem gave him a genuine smile as he started to relax. Okay, so he may have been forcing himself to relax, but he was still doing it. His stomach felt as though it was going to rip out of him. Now, he noticed that his best friend had saw him looking around, but he wasn't about to say anything.

True that part of him was wondering if Kodi would show up, but the other part was more making sure no one else heard him. Once again the thought of what he wanted to tell his best friend passed through his brain. Salem didn't really think about it, before he just blurted it out. "Tony, I'm gay." It sounded a bit more like he was finally admitting it to himself more than Anthony.

The moment he said it though, he cheeks turned bright red and he stood up. Instantly he scanned the room for a sturdier chair and grabbed one that was shoved against a wall. He positioned it under the light that was trying to be replaced earlier and stood on the chair. "K, let's get this light changed?"

His sudden and quick movements had made the boy with the almost constant headaches a little dizzy. "Now What?" Salem sighed to himself. He wasn't really worried about how Tony would take it was he? Anthony had always been supportive of Salem, so why should he think any different now? The poor boys head spun as all the thoughts went through his head.

For the moment he just stood on the chair and waited. His heart in his throat.

[Deleted]

Was it just him, or was Salem was acting just a little bit weird today? Looking around like he was being spied on, making dumb jokes that broke his best friend's back….but if there was something wrong, Anthony liked to think that he'd been a good enough friend over the years that Salem could talk to him about anything.

It was a noticeable pause before it came out though.

Anthony didn't get a proper reaction time to it though, as Salem immediately popped himself up from his seat and fetched another chair that was somewhere around the room. Anthony was left a mild bit confused, but overall shrugged it off for the moment.

That was his big news? he thought. Okay….

Aaaaand? he wanted to say.

But instead he replied with, "Yeah, that one." Anthony quickly went to grab the package of light bulbs he'd left on the end-table and handed one of them up to Salem. "Now, you see, you're smart, actually doing it the way it was supposed to be done. Here I am trying to invent something new that just left me writhing in pain on the floor. Kudos, my man Salem." He gave Salem a friendly pat on his center back(though it was meant for his shoulders), as he watched Salem finish the supposedly one-man job.