So glad to see this site up and running again
Chapter 8
Tom ran his tongue along the socks jammed in his mouth. He pushed on the cotton with his tongue, and the sides of the tape tugged on Tom’s cheeks. The white mass absorbed his saliva making his mouth dry, and he coughed. He looked over to his friend sitting next to him, eyes clenched tight with a single thin tear stream down his cheek. Josh moaned, his entire face cringing from the discomfort in his jaw. Tom touched his elbow to Josh’s trying to get his attention. He received a sore glance acknowledging his presence. Making a motion, Tom brushed his face against his bicep and gave Josh a look, hoping Josh would understand him.
Josh seemed to get the hint. He kicked his legs and wiggled his back against the side of the bed, inching closer to Tom. With Tom’s neck stretched out, Josh positioned his elbow on the tape, making a swiping motion downward. As he did, Tom pushed with his tongue and tilted his head upward. After several repeated motions, the ends of the tape unstuck from Tom’s cheeks, allowing him to spit the socks onto the floor by his knees. Tom gasped, licking his lips and rolling his tongue around to get the moisture back in his mouth.
“That was so not cool,” Tom declared. “Like, living in the dessert ‘not cool,’ or whatever 90s-kids thought was cool ‘not cool.’ Two different pairs of socks in my mouth is two too many. Geez, I’m so glad that part is over. ‘A plus’ for teamwork, buddy! High-five!” Tom’s smile faded seeing Josh’s scowl harden even more. “Uh, well… maybe it’s too early for celebrating. Plus, our hands are still tied, so we can put a pin in the high-five.”
Josh didn’t even make a noise. He shifted, turning his back Tom. The silent treatment didn’t last long as Tom’s flapping lips reminded him of his own helplessness, making him somewhat jealous. Josh relaxed his arms down, resting his hands on his shoulders. His arms felt stiff being tied in their position for so long, and his jaw ached terribly. He brushed his face against his elbow, whimpering, trying to dislodge the ball from his mouth.
“Joshy…?” Tom began. “Don’t go crying on me buddy. The situation’s awkward enough, but it’s not like anyone else is here to see it, and we definitely won’t be telling this story to anyone anytime soon… Joshy? Joshy? You okay?”
“Fhukh yhuph!” Josh groaned, muffled by the ball. A hard lump grew in his throat, making his whimpering stutter and crack. He tugged on the lock at the back of his head. Futile as it was, Josh jerked around, kicking his legs and flailing his elbows, moaning loudly in frustration. Tom looked on helplessly.
Tom nervously shouted, “Okay, Scott, I get it! I’m sorry!” No response came. “Scott! Scott, please!” Tom’s breathing became more rapid. He looked back to Josh, still curled in his fetal position against the bed. “Really, this isn’t funny anymore! Scott, come back here! Scott! Scott!” Tom began struggling in his ropes. As his arms tugged the ropes, the ropes pulled more on the back of his shorts, making them ride up his backside. He waved his knees across the carpet, unable to move himself. A sudden fear manifested. “Scott! Scott? …Oh, god, no… No, no. No-no-no-no-nnooo…” His screams slowly turned to moans as his voice trembled and cracked.
Josh turned back over, watching Tom’s disposition dissolve into panic. His pale face went pink, and the whites in his eyes began developing red rings. Clear water built up in his eyes, magnifying the blue in his irises. His blonde puff fell over his forehead. “No-no-no-no… we’re stuck--we’re stuck--we’re stuck… we’re really stuck…” he repeated over and over like a broken record. He looked back at Josh. “I’m so sorry… this is all my fault… we’re stuck, and it’s my fault. I can’t move. I can’t move. I can’t breathe… I can’t breathe… Scott! I just wanted to have some fun, and now we’re stuck. I’m so sorry Josh… Scott!!!” Tom’s chest heaved, rising and falling rapidly.
Distracted by Tom’s sudden panic attack, Josh began hurting from seeing Tom’s breakdown. Tom began hyperventilating. Ignoring the pain in his jaw, Josh kicked his legs, shifting again. He pressed his feet into Tom’s side, getting his attention. Although muffled, Josh mumbled at his friend. “Bwethph, Thopm! Bwethph… Bwethph…” Josh slowly inhaled through his nose, expanding his chest, and let out a long breath. Tom looked at Josh, still panicked, but he seemed to understand Josh’s mumbling. He began slowly filling his lungs with air, mimicking Josh, and the two matched their pacing. Slow breaths in and out, and Tom kept his eyes glued to Josh’s.
“In… out… in… out… okay-okay-okay,” Tom repeated aloud, regaining some of his composure. Josh gave Tom look, raising his eyebrows and nodding, and giving a muffled inflection as if trying to say, “Are you alright, now?” Tom took a few more deep breaths, chuckling nervously. “Okay… okay… I think I’m good now. I mean it – I’m sorry about the ballgag, and the cuffs, and the rope. I went too far, and now we’re stuck… Oh, my god, Josh. What are we going to do? I can’t believe Scott actually left! He freaking left! I can’t believe—”
“Thomph!” Josh mumbled, sensing Tom’s voice beginning to tremble again.
“Right, right, sorry,” Tom said, steadying himself. There was still some weakness in his voice. “If it weren’t for me, we wouldn’t be in this mess. I just wanted to have some fun, y’know? It was just supposed to be some harmless fun. Are we still friends?” Tom looked at Josh, and his eyes began welling up from Josh’s silence.
Finally, Josh nodded slightly, giving Tom a wink. Tom laughed nervously.
“And that’s the kind of reaction I was looking for,” a voice called from behind the door. The door swung, open, and Scott stepped in. “Took you long enough.” Tom and Josh gasped, then turned to calling out in anger, which Scott brushed aside. “Relax! I was never going to just leave you two like that, but I needed you to know what it feels like to be in that situation.” Tom scrunched his face, confused. “I knew you wouldn’t take responsibility unless it affected Josh, too, so he had to stay like that too.”
“You’re an ass!” Tom said. “I know, I know – language. But, seriously, you’re an ass!”
“More than you know,” Scott said. Scott grabbed the key from the dresser and unlocked the ballgag from Josh’s mouth. As Josh moaned in relief, moving his jaw around and finally closing his mouth, Scott pressed his fingertips against Josh’s jaw, moving them gently in small circles on his face. He then untied a few of the knots securing the rope around Josh’s arm. “Don’t move so quickly, or you could hurt yourself,” Scott said, holding onto Josh’s one free arm. Slowly, he pulled on it, stretching it out and unbending it. Josh gave a pained expression, cursing. His bicep burned as it lay limp by his side. Scott stood back up. “That should be enough. I don’t feel guilty now leaving. Tom, you mind yourself, okay? If Josh doesn’t mind you staying over, it’s fine with me. Josh, go easy on him.”
“Please, Josh, can I stay over? We’re going to have so much fun, the two of us! Hurry up and get out! Come on, my legs are falling asleep!” Tom bounced in placed; Scott hadn’t bothered to untie any of his knots.
Josh stayed silent, focused on picking at the rope still securing his other arm and legs.
As Tom pestered Josh, Scott grabbed the red ball and the lock, quietly slipped out of the room and left the house.
To Be Continued in epilogue...