(TW. SEXUAL ASSAULT. this is self indulgent.)

Gary Barkovitch wasn't a kind person. Well, not when you first meet him. He's rude, he's brash, he's hated by most. He doesn't want to make friends because he's never had any before. But if you know him more, he is desperate for connection. He just doesn't know how to ask for it.

You, on the other hand, have quite a few close friends and are nice with most people. You try your hardest to be kind unless someone completely annoys you. You befriended Gary slowly but surely and now you are his closest friend. His only friend.

You had this childhood friend, if we can call her that. She was manipulative, she walked all over you, she forced you to do things that made you uncomfortable, she made gross comments but her most definable action was unconsenually touching you. All over. For a whole year.

You don't try and go around telling people this, you barely even realized it was wrong until someone else came in and made you realize. It's not something you talk about often because it's affected you in so many ways.

You have flinched from people trying to touch you before thinking they were going to grab you like she did, she has harmed you in so many ways even after you stopped being her friend. Even after she left you. She still ruined your life and still holds power over you.

Gary isn't a touchy person, god no. He's touch starved but he doesn't admit it. He'd rather walk until he dies than admit he is touch starved but sometimes, whenever you two are just hanging out together. He doesn't mind being a little touchy but today seemed to be a bad day.

He went to touch you and you flinched, harshly. He was immediately confused, he questioned you on it until you started explaining what happened. It was hard to get through, having to talk about the elders in your life not believe in your claims, having it be brushed under the rug. It was hard but you eventually got it all out.

"I'm so sorry you ever had to go through that." He just says quietly before he brings you into a very weak hug. He doesn't know what to do, he barely comforts himself but he knows you need someone to just listen to you right now. He isn't sure what he's doing but he knows that he cares about his friend and that he's going to be here for you.