Shadow Dancing (Garrett)

[Salem Hirch]

Salem had fled to an unoccupied corner of the auditorium after his new run in with Garrett. Why? He did not really know the answer to that himself. Well, other than the fact that crowds still seemed to bother him. Despite his slightly new outlook on things, Salem was still Salem after all and of course there was still the issue of his anger problem. Yes, he had a bit of a flare up while watching the other students. The blonde hated feeling that way, so he hid the best he could. Now and again he would glance towards the door and wonder if he could sneak out for a cigarette. He was never sure when would be a good time for that though, since people seemed to constantly be coming and going.

So, he set in a chair, next to a stack of chairs. It was a dark little corner of course, but he could still watch everyone and no one else had seemed to notice this particular nook. All the others seemed to be taken by couples, or the occasional group of friends gabbing on about this and that. Sitting there and just watching seemed to calm the young man down a bit. Not so much that he wanted to head back out and mingle just yet, but enough to where he could enjoy just being there.

Again his eyes scanned the crowd and for a brief moment he didn't know what, or who, for. It wasn't until he realized he didn't see Garrett anywhere that he realized it was the other boy he was looking for. "Stop that right now Salem." He whispered to himself as he settled back down in his chair. Salem had thought the occasion would come up that he may be stuck sitting with nothing to do, so he had shoved a paperback novel in his pocket, which he now pulled out. Attempting to get comfortable in the chair, he began to read in the very dim light.

[Garrett Hale]

Awkward was interesting. The encounter between himself and Salem was something along those lines; strung together words that even Garrett himself struggled through. Social settings made things a little difficult. There was no wide oasis of sky and trees and water to keep his gaze. There were only two people in a room full of others.

He should have handled that better. Shouldn't have failed so hard. This was why he spoke to someone as often as he could; to get the words out without making it all look wrong.

Dissipating into the shadows brought comfort. Momentary in its release, he wandered the alternate space in darkness and violet hues for an exit. An exit by a single blonde sitting on his own, his eyes scanning the crowds as Garrett had scanned the shadows. Stepping through the void to stand behind him, he caught the hushed tones of Salem's words and immediately thought to respond.

"Stop what?" Garrett asked him, "Reading? People don't usually read at these things. do they."

[Salem Hirch]

Confused and conflicted where the two words that floated into Salem's mind as he set there reading. The words on the page didn't really want to focus, or maybe it was his mind? Truth was, his mind had focused on something, more to the point...someone. This was the cause of the strain behind his eyes. Deep down, he knew why he felt awkward around Garrett, though outwardly he would say it was because of their initial meeting. Which, was also true to some extent. The younger boy had saved his life, and Salem wasn't really sure how to respond or act around him for that. In fact, he had played out scenarios in his mind of how to "thank" Garrett, but each seemed to end more awkwardly then the one before.

One of these little scenes was playing in the blondes head as he whispered to himself, totally unaware that anyone was behind him. That, and the fact he would not assume anyone could get behind him. Hearing the voice startled Salem and he jumped from the chair. Before fully realizing who it was, his cheeks turned a dark pink and he felt absolutely ridiculous for his response. Even more so when he realized who had spoken. Naturally, he tried to down play his reaction. "Jesus Garrett," he chuckled softly,"you scared the hell outta me."

Another nervous chuckle as he realized the dark haired boy had heard him talking to himself, so another attempt was made to not be odd. "Oh, I was..um...just telling myself to stop talking to myself." Salem almost physically felt the mental face palm as he spoke. "And uh, no they don't normally read at these things...just...um...felt like it I guess." It was painfully obvious that he was flustered.

[Garrett Hale]

Garrett's initial response to Salem's jump was complete reflex; he laughed. As lightly as he could, but the sound still passed his lips so definitely that he couldn't really help himself. It was the kind of reaction he'd never get tired of. "Sorry," He said anyway, but he wasn't entirely sure if it sounded convincing.

His smile shifted to a grin when Salem continued. Talking to himself about not talking to himself. With a small shift of his eyes, he couldn't help but look to the colour that painted the blonde's cheeks. Maybe he embarrassed him, or something.

"So if you want to, you could always just leave." Garrett offered, shrugging his shoulders once. "Unless you want to stay at this thing. But we could go for a walk, or something." Though, walking out of the shadows was a little irregular. But he could make it work.

[Salem Hirch]

The sound of the soft laughter sent a flurry of butterflies through Salem's stomach. If you asked him however he probably would have described it as more of a stampede of elephants. True it was soft, yes the music was loud, but it rang in the blondes ears and that scared him a little. "It's okay." He added with a soft laugh of his own. Though his inner voice was saying a million things. Such as, "No, you are not going to have a crush on him! First off he's younger and second, do you want to get hurt again?"

Yes, Salem had made the decision to give up on finding someone. Partially for how he had acted when he wasn't himself, but mostly (and this was the major part) he was terrified of being hurt again. Something clicked though, in that moment Salem admitted to himself that maybe he did have the beginnings of feelings towards Garrett. It made his blush turn a deeper shade of red. 

"Yeah, I thought about leaving, but..." He nodded to the packed dance floor and the semi crowded doorway. "I uh, hurt a few of my friends awhile back and honest...well...I'm scared to bump into them." This sudden wealth of information made him feel like he was loosing his mind. Maybe he did need to get out of there. Then, much like the White Knight that Salem pictured in his head from time to time, Garrett offered a way. 

"Well, I wouldn't want to pull you away or anything." Salem got angry with himself for a moment and continued. "Though, a walk sounds like a great idea. O..or we could do something else?" His voice cracked at the end of that question and his cheeks turned even more crimson. 

[Garrett Hale]

There, the Boy Wonder found himself immediately confused. Why someone would feel the urge to leave, but want to stay anyway. Why they'd be aware that there might be people they'd hurt in the area, and be genuinely weary about seeing them, but want to stay. Was there a means to make amends? He felt his expression grow just that little more curious, and in that moment he might have been thankful for the mask he wore.

Or not. Because as Salem continued, he drew it away and rested it on his forehead instead. He probably looked really silly in the mask, anyway. Like the tights weren't killing it for him as it was.

Pursing his lips, he found his curiosity funnelling into whatever else they might do instead. His suggestion had been one made on the fly, but always open to other ideas, he shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not exactly here for anyone, avoided parties or otherwise." He pointed out, "What would you rather do?"

[Salem Hirch]

As he stood there, Salem tucked his book back into his pocket. Several things went through his mind as he looked back up at Garrett, whose face was now fully visible. He couldn't help but notice an odd look there and the blonde wondered if he had said or done something. Okay, so maybe this new friend was a bit harder to read than most people. Maybe that's what Salem was feeling, not a crush, but an fascination. "Yep, that must be it." The blonde thought and then, once again, internally smacked himself for all the inner monologue he did. It had to be weird for anyone watching him, especially in the middle of a conversation.

Wrinkling his nose in thought, Salem let his mind wander over some ideas of what to do instead. Instantly striking down most of them, because there were things the other "bad" Salem would do. Instead he looked back at the door, then turned his attention back. "Ya know, a walk sounds great. Plus, lots of stuff going on in town, trick or treatin' and such." All that came out a bit faster than he had intended, but he continued. "How about we just get out of here and see where the night takes us huh?"

He turned sideways in an indication that Garrett could go first before saying anything else. "I think one of the movie theaters is playing some old horror movies. So, there's that." Now, even though Salem was feeling like the silliest person on the planet, and his cheeks were still bright red - he smiled.

[Garrett Hale]

Silence fell, and Garrett had no idea what to do. He idly moved, fiddling with the hem of his shirt and raising his eyebrows. Moments in transit weren't exactly strange for the boy who too often lost himself in shadows. He simply waited.

Garrett hadn't even considered what else might be happening on that particular night. Seeing where the evening took them was pretty much his only protocol. So without a second thought or a spare moment, he was nodding his head. Anywhere seemed better than sitting in a corner at a school dance and reading a book.

Or living in the comfort of shadows.

"Do you like horror movies?" He asked quickly. Curiously.

But first thing was first. "Step one, Salem. Leave the dance." He offered with a smile, stepping away and clearly motioning towards the exit. At least he knew the night had to take them out of this room.

[Salem Hirch]

The boy couldn't help but watch Garrett, it felt awkward in that few moments of silence. At the same time however, it felt oddly comfortable too. He liked that feeling a lot, and was bound and determined to not let it go away. Once agin, Salem's brain did this thing where he heard everything someone said, but seemed to only pick up on part of it at first.

His eyes watched the other in the dim light as he took a few steps forward. "Yes, step one first." Salem nodded in agreement and walked toward Garrett just a little. Then the boy smiled and suddenly the butterflies were back in his stomach, but he walked closer, standing next to him in fact. Now, he nudge him with his elbow, playfully of course. And it was very gentle, almost like how a girl would playfully smack a guy friend. This thought sent a jolt of pink to Salem's cheek, but he decided to ignore it and let his brain focus on the question Garrett had asked before.

Mostly, so he could focus on something other than walking to the door. "Yeah, I love horror movies actually." He chuckled as he walked. "More the older ones, but the newer ones can be pretty good as well." And then he was standing outside the door, he looked toward the dark haired boy next to him and smiled. "What about you? Ya like horror? Do you like movies at all?" Then he became aware of his own rambling, but instead of only blushing...he giggled.

[Garrett Hale]

The small nudge to Garrett's shoulder provided enough of a jolt to get him moving; precise steps towards the door. Away from the noise, the music and the people who Salem was trying to avoid. For a few seconds he shifted his hand to the small of Salem's back, just enough to ensure he'd take proper steps beside him until they were free and clear. Really, it was better that way. The moment he was outside he took a slow breath of fresh air.

"I do." He replied, rolling his shoulders in a simple shrug, "Not because I find them scary, but because they're just so bad it's really funny." There, he couldn't help but laugh at the fact. The dodgey lighting and prosthetics and acting were well worth getting invested in for a few hours; "So I guess for me the older ones are better, too."

[Salem Hirch]

At first, all seemed well on this little stroll out of the dance. Nothing unusual, nobody looking at Salem. All was well. Until he felt a familiar warmth on the small of his back. It was the same warmth he felt when they had first met and Garrett put his hand on Salem's shoulder. He knew the other's hand was there, he tried his best not to notice it, but it felt so nice. "Damn it, why does it have to feel nice?!" The blonde thought to himself quietly, while on the outside his body betrayed him. First by shivering and getting goosebumps, then by his cheeks turning even darker. If that was possible. 

Suddenly, he was outside. Wait? How did that happen? Somehow, Garrett had managed to lead them out without Salem going full on..."worried" mode. Was his hand still there? Truth was, Salem didn't really want to check, he'd just let it be if it was. Then, his friend was talking, talking about horror movies. "Crap Salem, think...do something....respond." Okay, so he may have been a little more messed up in the head than he realized, but he actually heard everything the other said for once. "Oh yeah, I get what you mean." He laughed too, even though he wasn't fully sure what about. "The old ones are just so cheesy, it's like eating a giant funny pizza..wait...bad analogy." He shook his head softly, but didn't feel awkward about what he'd just said. 

"So, where we headed?" He asked, watching him from the corner of his eye.

[Garrett Hale]

Fresh air made it just that little bit easier to breathe in the costume he was trying to remain comfortable in. Drawing his hands up, Garrett removed the mask completely from his forehead, fiddling with it between his hands as he contemplated what to do with it. Throwing it out would have been way too easy.

Lost in his thoughts, Garrett found himself drawn out of it at the question of where they were headed next. There were options, he knew, but there was also a significant stint of curiosity to consider.

"If we just walk for a bit, can I ask you why you're avoiding your friends?" Garrett asked, knowing that on some level he'd just asked the question he wanted to anyway. But asking permission for that answer felt far more pressing than the question itself.

[Salem Hirch]

Maybe it was the fresh air, maybe it was the mix of his old self and newer self showing some sort of confidence, but Salem reached out and took the mask gently from Garrett. With a little smile, he put on his own face and chuckled. For a few moments, there was a little silence again, but it was a comfortable one and Salem was growing to enjoy them.

From behind the mask, he glanced at the superhero side-kick next to him and had to hold back a laugh. If it had been any other time of the year they would have looked ridiculous and though Salem would normally hate that, he felt as though he may not mind either.

Then, Garrett asked the semi loaded question, but Salem didn't falter...just sighed a little. "Fair enough." He started walking down the path at a slow pace. "A few months ago, I...well...my brother died and before that things just piled up and well. I kind of had a small breakdown." He turned his head toward the other boy and gave a small chuckle then looked back down. "Anyway, during this I sort of told all of my friends to leave me alone. Then I did some stuff..well a LOT of stuff I'm not proud of. Kinda like what you stopped me from doing on the retreat." Another little sigh, but he kept walking. "None of my friends know that either. I'm...I'm ashamed to talk to them."

There it was, the whole truth that Salem had been holding in. Well, not the entire truth, Garrett didn't need to know the squishier details. "I'm just being stupid aren't I?" The blonde gave Garrett a small little smirk with this.

[Garrett Hale]

Garrett found a new level of comfort with Salem the moment the mask left his forehead. Given how they met, it was nice to see the blonde with a genuine smile on his face, like things were suddenly so much easier for him. Garrett had to be thankful for that. He couldn't help but laugh at the newfound nature of the person he'd practically come to the dance to catch a glimpse of.

Truth be told, the shadow walker was sure he wouldn't receive any kind of real answer. It was a difficult question for most people, and Garrett struggled to see the boundaries that most people would stop at. But it sounded like he was prepared to come clean, and moments later he received an incredibly fruitful answer. A breakdown was a heavy thing to go through. Telling his closest people to leave him alone was a pretty big step to take too, but Garrett had to wonder how many of them actually did.

And then he asked if he was being stupid. Garrett had to laugh a little at that.

"A little bit, maybe." He replied honestly, shrugging his shoulders. Still, he kept a smile on his face regardless. Salem deserved that much given the expression he was giving. "But like, they don't need to know anything you don't want to tell them. And if any of them did bail, I probably wouldn't keep them around anyway. Not that I have much of an answer, really. I don't really have friends." Despite the potential harsh admission, it didn't sound hard. It didn't sound anything less than nonchalant. 

[Salem Hirch]

Glancing at the other as they walked, a sudden heat went through Salem. It was a happy feeling, something he hadn't felt in awhile, but still wasn't sure what it was. Other than comforting, safe even. For a moment, he was lost in his thoughts and still watching Garrett out of the corner of his eye, only to be shaken a few moments later. In the distance, some trick-or-treaters were cackling and screaming. The blonde was not startled, in fact, he found it a happy noise. It brought another smile to his face.

So, he had just given Garrett and wealth of information. That's where the children's noises had brought him back to. Had he said to much? Not enough? Salem felt silly for a moment, but thankfully Garrett laughed. There was that warm feeling again, and the smile that seemed to be chiseled on his face. At least it felt that way tonight. Then he had to laugh a little at the other's response. It was almost a relief to hear someone else say he was being silly. Though as the boy wonder went on, the blonde felt a little pit in his stomach. Just how casually Garrett spoke about not having friends. It broke his heart a little.

He shook the thought away and kept his smile, if for nothing else but to hopefully keep the smile on Garrett. "Well..." He spoke softly and slowed a bit. "You've got me." Salem nodded and gently slipped his arm around Garrett's. Locking elbows with him. Touching the boy brought that warmth stronger, and Salem felt his cheeks turn a pale shade of pink. He tried to keep it cool though. "And you're right. I guess if they bailed then they really weren't my friends to begin with." Wrinkling his nose in thought, he kept pace with the other the best he could and hoped Garrett didn't feel weird about this.