"Villainy wears many masks; none so dangerous as the mask of virtue."
- Washington Irving
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Indira Gandhi International AirportThe primary airport that served Delhi, the capital of India and the National Capital Region, the Indira Gandhi International Airport was at its peak afternoon hours as thousands of travelers - men and women, young and old - worked their collective way through. Many were on their way to holidays around the world or en route to business travels as the world was still in recovery mode from the virus that had crippled it for over the past two years. So many families and singles alike felt the confinement that the Coronavirus had caused nations that they felt almost starved for the experience of setting foot outside onto the city streets, let alone the sensation of stepping onto a jet for travel somewhere across the globe. And many countries - India included - yet remained vigilant (and rightly so) on travel back into their country whether they be a tourist or citizen returning from abroad. Evidence of both negative test status as well as vaccinations had to be provided. And those people, so wanting to be able to move on with their own lives as well as do right by others whether they be family or strangers alike, complied.
It’s not like they were Americans after all, who seemed only to be concerned for their own welfare. I mean, what does a deadly virus that had killed countless the world over have against going out to have your haircut at a professional grooming salon?
But enough of the political rant, that wasn’t why we were here. We began by setting the scene and tone, and things just happened to get away from us. As the world was opening up and still in recovery, Sin City Wrestling had chosen to do its part to return its own brand of entertainment to one and all by embarking on their second official tour, this time returning to the nation of India for the first time in almost a decade, not since September 2012. That appearance was part of another tour SCW put on across the globe, but this? The India Summer 2022 Tour was the first time the SCW Universe embarked on an exclusive tour of this beautiful, historic nation. And one thing remained clear that even the hardiest of Superstars and Bombshells admitted surprise to…
“Carter! Carter, over here!”
“Can I take your picture, Carter?”
“Oh Carter, oh Carter - please??”
… Just how much of a fervor the sport of professional wrestling caused in this wonderful nation. Many look at and see the United States as being the country that celebrated professional wrestling the most, and Japan being a close second. But the respect and adoration that the people of India had for the sport experts will testify eclipsed even Japan, a nation whose respect for the business was known the world over. Since this tour first commenced, the men and women of SCW have let it be known that seemingly no matter where they went or when, the fans seemed to have a sixth sense on where they might be appearing during their down time and when, if not ‘who’. Some described it as almost spooky how fans would be gathered on the streets and hotel lobbies, watching and waiting for that one moment they might be able to approach for a possible autograph or photo opportunity with one of their favorites.
And it was an experience that the young man known to fans by the ring name Helluva Bottom Carter never tired of, as he found himself in the lobby of the airport, awaiting a special arrival from the States while surrounded by a small crowd of fans, each wanting some small part of his attention. If truth be told, there was some semblance of relief that flowed through his heart and mind, as when the tour was first announced, he was privately concerned about the country and its citizens' political and personal views on the LGBTQ community. And as it turned out? His worries were for nothing. Unbeknownst to him and possibly others in SCW, India was quite the progressive nation when it came to gay rights and sexual orientation and gender identities were legally protected rights.
Quite the opposite from even the United States where such things remained under attack by politicians and the church and - whoops! There I go again!
But you understand now. The relief that swelled in Carter’s soul could be seen and judged by the bright and beaming smile on the young 23 year old’s face as he posed for yet another picture, this time with two older Indian ladies. This perhaps took him by surprise if he was forced to admit because the main gist of his personal fan base came from the younger generations, teenagers and those in their twenties, and mostly from within his own community. But the feeling that he was accepted and actually embraced by the older generations here in India brought such a sense of warmth that was difficult to explain with mere words. The two ladies, liberal streaks of white and gray in their otherwise dark hair that was exposed, each took a side and wore girlish smiles that defied their age as he draped an arm around each of their shoulders for the photo that was being taken by who turned out to be one of the women’s husband.
That being done, the two women turned and shook his hand politely, thanking him profusely, even wishing him luck in his upcoming match against the ruffian Todd Williams at the climax of the India Summer tour at Violent Conduct before they rejoined their families and Carter moved on to the next who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. This being a young boy who could be no more than five or six years of age who approached him with a shy smile and a slip of blank paper in his small hand, obviously wanting the cherished memento of an autograph from a bona fide SCW Superstar.
Again, this is where Carter’s personal surprise and relief was felt from within although he hid it well. As some countries had the stigma against gays interacting with children of any age, yet here the children of India’s families were fast approaching him as if he were no different than men such as Miles Kasey or Ben Jordan. Carter lowered himself to one knee so that he might address the child closer to eye level.
“What’s your name?” Carter asked, and the boy seemed altogether too bashful for a child who just approached someone famous. The little one looked at Carter, but yet remained silent as he held the fingers of one hand in the palm of the other, fidgeting nervously. The young one then turned to look at his parents who were standing proudly just a few feet away with smiles on their own faces. Whether he was about to run back to them out of shyness or silently asking for permission to give his name, Carter was suspect until the father nodded and spoke, “Go ahead.” In his thick, Indian accent.
The boy turned back to Carter and shyly answered in what was just above a mere whisper, “Hriday.”
“Hriday.” Carter repeated, hoping he had heard right. “That’s a great name. Is that for me to sign?” He asked, indicating the slip of paper the boy had nearly crumbled in his small fist. The boy nodded and silently passed the paper over where Carter smoothed it out as best he could and used his pen to sign his much desired name and prayed he spelled the boy’s name correctly in the process.
Then, taking note of something behind the child’s back, Carter took him by the shoulders and gently turned him around. Hands remaining, Carter posed close with a bright smile, and the boy finally matched it with his own shy one for the proud papa to take the picture with his phone.
“Thank you.” The mother said with genuine appreciation as the child hurried over into his dad’s arms. “Always.” Carter reciprocated before turning to see who was next, when he heard someone close by clear their throat, obviously to better get his attention. Carter turned around and a smile lit up his own face at the source as just a few yards away, standing along a wall of people arriving at the airport was his visiting boyfriend, Lazarus.
Carter walked right over to him, the eyes of the fans watching as they recognized the signs of a relationship between the two young men, if not knowing who Lazarus himself was as a male model. Carter met him face to face and smiled, “Hi.”
“Is this what you do all day while waiting for me?” Lazarus teased, questioningly. “Talk to strangers?”
“Well, you know me.” Carter shrugged, the butterflies that he always felt when Lazarus was close by. The looks, the body - his preferred sandalwood cologne. The man was simply intoxicating to the point that Carter simply lost himself simply by being near him. Carter continued, “I’m a people person.”
“Mm.” Lazarus observed as he knowingly took Carter’s arm in his own and escorted him away from the fans and walking off toward the baggage claim…
Shangri-La Eros New DelhiAn absolutely breathtaking and newly remodeled luxury hotel in the heart of the city, the Shangri-La Eros offered up a contemporary stay and unique design offerings. With a panoramic view of the historic district, elegant dining restaurants, a lounge and even a luxurious spa, it was easy to see why Carter had petitioned this to be where he would be staying for the two-week tenure of SCW’s stay in India’s capital city. And he was not alone as the hotel’s location and amenities was a natural draw for SCW staff and wrestlers alike.
The chime of the elevator heralded the arrival of the hotel’s guests of this the tenth floor, and the doors slid open and Carter and his boyfriend Lazarus emerged, Carter taking it upon himself to pull behind Lazarus’s luggage for him.
“You could have given me a few more minutes with them.” Carter said from behind his facial mask, a precaution that the Shangri-La expected out of guests and staff alike when in a public area of their accommodations. But the moment they were off of the elevator and in the hallway, Lazarus removed his own mask and gave Carter a knowing look.
Lazarus stated simply, “I’m sorry but I’m not going to defend myself for wanting to leave the airport and spend time alone with my man.”
“Aw.” Carter cooed. “You have that sweet, delicate way of taking something rude and making it seem so charming.” They continued their trek down the hallway, the plush carpeting beneath their feet muting any noise so as to disturb any of their fellow guests. As they walked, Carter noticed a look Lazarus was giving him from out of the corner of his eye and the former SCU and current SCW Superstar did a brief double take.
“What?” He asked simply.
“Rude?” Lazarus questioned, to which Carter defended himself by pointing out, “Well, I didn’t exactly get a chance to say goodbye to any of them.”
“They were strangers, Carter.” Lazarus stressed. “Not exactly your ‘besties’.”
“They were my fans, Laz.” Carter answered the call of the gauntlet with a subtle challenge of his own as he came to a halt in front of a door in particular, bringing Lazarus to a stop as well. “Sort of my bread and butter.”
Carter set the luggage down and started to fish around in his pocket for the room key card, when he saw Lazarus still staring at him expectantly. Carter sighed, then said, “Sorry. Maybe ‘rude’ was a little much.” To which Lazarus stated, “Better.”
Lazarus then said, “Look, sorry for snapping. I’m just tired. It was a long flight, some rude ass Karen tried to force me out of my window seat so her kid could sit there, and I’m hungry. I just want to get some dinner and spend some alone time with you.”
“Yeah, we both know what you want.” Carter teased his man with a coy wink, and Lazarus finally looked at the door and glanced around, for the first time really noticing his surroundings.
“Wait, this is one of the suites.” Lazarus pointed out, to which Carter nodded with a smile. Lazarus asked, “How did you score this?”
Carter answered, “I asked Gabriel and Odette for their help with an upgrade when you told me you were coming. The room I had booked was a bit small.” Sliding the card downward through the slot, the green light lit up and they heard the soft click of the lock being released. Carter grasped the handle as Lazarus took hold of his own luggage, but just before he pushed the door open, he turned back to his boyfriend and gave him something of an impish smile as he said, “Oh, we’re going to have to put our ‘alone time’ on hold for a bit.”
“Oh?” Lazarus questioned, a brow arched. “And why is that?”
To which Carter answered by silently pushing the door open and stepped aside so that he might enter first. The first thing that struck the young model was the spicy scent of herbs and something absolutely mouth watering wafting throughout the suite. Lazarus glanced about curiously until he saw a table laden with bowls and dishes, and there in the very center was the largest of bowls, filled to the brim with a spicy chicken curry. The very dish that Lazarus had confided in Carter that he was very much looking forward to trying while here in India.
“What’s this all…?” He was about to ask ‘about’ when the numbers came from further in the suite, where Ariana was the first to walk up and with the brightest of smiles, she wrapped her arms around the neck of her bestie’s boyfriend, a greeting that Lazarus was quick to reciprocate with a smile.
“Surprise!” Ariana chirped, and behind her Lazarus looked over her shoulder to see Ariana’s boyfriend Francisco waving at him, Krystal Wolfe and her wife Makayla, and Krystal’s young cousin, Cassie. Lazarus had learned long ago that not only was Ariana a hugger, but as he was the boyfriend of her best friend, he would be just as prone to these enthusiastic and loving greetings as Carter was himself.
Once she had finally separated (pried loose), Lazarus looked around in a curious wonder to find himself asking, “What’s all this about?”
Ariana answered, “Well Carter was so excited to have you visit while we were in New Delhi, he asked me to make you a dinner to welcome you in!”
“And,” Carter continued, resting a hand on Lazarus’s shoulder, “You told me you were looking forward to trying an authentic curry for the first time, so I figured why not ask our resident gourmet chef?”
‘Gourmet chef’? Ariana feigned a bashful glow at the complimentary declaration, resting a hand on her breast and smiling while glancing up to the heavens. The others? Well they would have rolled their eyes were it not for the risk of Ariana seeing, given the risky nature of her cooking and recipes - and how she managed to combine the two sometimes with disastrous results. Lazarus stared at her with a questioning smile to which Ariana held her hands up in surrender.
She claimed, “I swear, I looked up an authentic recipe and followed it to a T! No deviations or adding my usual ‘special touches’!”
“So no blueberries?” Lazarus chuckled. “No sardines?”
“No…?” Ariana perhaps lost herself in thought for the briefest of moments, casting a sidelong glance at the spread on the table and she held up a hand, stating, “But next time…!”
“Alllrighty then!” Krystal declared, cutting Ariana’s train of thought off from what could amount to become a rather dangerous culinary experiment at some point in the not-too-distant future. She took Ariana by the shoulders and steered her around and escorted her (forcibly) toward the table, casting one last glance over to the boys. “I think we’ve made poor Lazarus here wait long enough! Time to eat!”
“And I rented Hocus Pocus to stream while we eat!” Cassie declared.
Lazarus smiled with genuine affection as he set his luggage aside against the wall of the immediate entrance to the suite’s interior. Carter wrapped an arm around his waist and led him through the arched door frame and toward the table, stepping past the front living area where cushions adorned the carpeted floor. A special touch from Cassie so they could eat while seated on the floor for an authenticated experience.
*****
Much to Ariana’s delight, her dinner party for Lazarus had been a rousing success. She knew this for a fact that everyone, even Cassie, went back for seconds of her spicy chicken curry and all the goodies she had personally prepared for her bestie and his man. And just as Cassie had desired, they took their meals into the front area and took their seats upon the cushions on the floor where they sat around the suite’s flat screen on the wall and enjoyed the classic film, Hocus Pocus.
“Thank you.” Carter said as he stood outside of the suite’s door, arms wrapped around the neck of ‘his Ari,’ and she warmly returned the loving gesture with a soft smile on her own face. “Everything was perfect.”
“Well that’s high praise, coming from you.” Ariana teased, but she finally released him and took a step back as Francisco, Krystal, Makayla and Cassie stood in the hall, waiting to take their own leave. Ariana placed her hand on Carter’s smiling face and said, “But hey, what are best friends for?”
“God only knows!” Carter teased, making Ariana laugh and she turned away as he stepped back into his room and closed the door behind him. The group walked down the hall, a satisfied silence for a fun and pleasant evening shared between the five, when Cassie came to a sudden stop.
“Oh, shoot!” Cassie exclaimed as she hurriedly patted down at her pants pockets.
"What is it?" Her cousin Krystal asked as she and the rest came to a stop and turned to the youngest member of their party.
"My phone!" Cassie exclaimed. "I took some pictures of Ari's meal for TikTok and must have left it in Carter's suite!"
"Oh don't worry about that." Ariana said as she stepped up and popped open her Swedish Chef handbag. A gift from Carter. She pulled out an identical card key that Carter had used earlier and offered it over to Cassie's grateful fingers. "Carter gave me the copy. You know, just in case of emergencies"
"Thanks!" Cassie said as she turned and hurried back the way they had come with a light jog. "Be right back!"
"What is WRONG with you!?"
Cassie open the door to the suite, and set put inside, softly calling out, "Carter?" But her voice was drowned out and she was startled at the raised voices that was emanating from further inside the room.
"Why are you so upset!?"
"You know damn well why! I told you I was tired and I just wanted time alone with you tonight! And you went and turned it into a goddamn circus!"
"That is not fair! Ariana went through a lot of trouble making that meal for you from scratch!"
Cassie stood there, Frozen. Out of everything she could have half expected stepping back into the suite, raised voices. A heated argument. They were the last things she would have thought to have been happening between Carter and Lazarus.
"All we wanted to do was welcome you with a nice meal and a surprise and this is the thanks we get!?"
"Don't worry! I'll thank Ariana proper! I do appreciate what she did but I don't appreciate the fact that you're putting more worry into offending her than offending me!"
"You don't have any reason to be offended! Nobody did anything to…!"
"No reason!? Really! Is that what you think!?"
"Yes! That's what I…!"
Suddenly there was a sweeping crash, causing a startled and concerned Cassie to flinch.
"Now look at what you did! Ari worked hard on all of that food! How am I going to explain..!?"
"This isn't about Ariana carter! This is about you!"
"But I didn't do anything!"
"You never do! Everything is always somebody else's fault! You're always the victim, aren't you!?"
Quickly Cassie spotted her phone close by, just towards the end of the suites foyer on the accent table. She crept as quickly and as quietly as she was able, hoping desperately that the confrontation between the two men wouldn't spill out to where they would see her. She slid her phone off of the table surface and into her fingers, taking a step back and turning around to go back the way she came.
"Jesus Christ, Lazarus! Why are you acting like such an ass…!" But whatever else Carter was going to say was quickly cut off by the sound of what had to be somebody being struck physically. This caused Cassie to jump and she spun around, staring toward the source of the fight, eyes wide and wavering, a wet glistening as if tears were threatened. She swallowed hard.
"Don't you ever talk to me like that again! You do not call me names!"
"Let go! You're hurting me!"
There was a brief sound of a struggle, and suddenly the tell-tale sound of something stumbling as unseen by her, Lazarus whipped Carter around the center of the living room floor and flung him over the coffee table, tipping it over and Carter hitting the floor hard
Cassie finally unfroze herself and turn back and hurry towards the door.
"Get off! Get off me!" But Carter's protesting cries were suddenly silenced and Cassie open the door and ran out, silently shutting the door behind her.
TBC…
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During the summer, everyone who visits the nation of India expects what has come to be expected as the typical weather for this rich nation steeped in both history as well as tradition; blue, clear skies with few if any clouds. Calm winds and warm, dry temperatures. And yet here we are, later in the evening as the sun had just begun its slow descent down across the horizon, tucked away behind ever darkening, gray clouds. The wind had picked up over this past hour, taking on a surprising chill to it while a heavy rain cascaded down from those gathering clouds from high up above. And it was only after a low rumble of thunder that a shockingly bright clap of lightning illuminated the patio window of the suite deck of the Shangri-La Eros hotel, and the back of Helluva Bottom Carter showcased in light and shadow as he looked out against the city’s landscaping from the tenth floor.
Carter said, “I’m going to tell you about somebody that I knew a long time ago. A boy that I went to school with in Seattle, where I grew up. His name was Jerry McGue, and he went to the same school as I did, same grade as me, and I don’t mind saying that he made my life a living hell each and every year I attended. Even before I came out in high school, Jerry would find absolutely anything about me that he could pick apart and torment me with. He was the typical school bully who fancied himself the alpha male of the school setting. He was good looking and popular with the girls, and he let both facts go straight to his head which was about as massive as the Goodyear blimp thanks in part to an over-inflated sense of importance. His parents had money, enough to give him a comfortable life at home and some of the best clothes any kid in our school could ask for. The complete opposite of me, you understand. Without my dad in the picture, my mom wasn’t able to give me every luxury that she wanted to, and Jerry wasted no opportunity in pointing these things out. My mom and Grams gave me the best that they could but in a guy like Jerry’s eyes? It was never good enough, it never measured up to his personal standards. And you know something? I didn’t really give a damn what he thought of me or my clothes or my home life. And that fact drove him absolutely nuts because he didn’t have the same domineering influence over me that he did the other kids in our grade. And in his demented illogical mind, that just made me disrespectful to him and painted an even bigger target on my back.”
“And it wasn’t just me. He made a lot of the other kids in school miserable with his attitude and the way he’d rub it in your face that he was the star quarterback of our school’s football team and got good grades. Good, not great. He got into his share of fights - with myself included a time or two - but each and every time the school swept his actions under the rug and all but ignored his bullying ways because, why? No, not because he was on the football team, but because his mom was close friends with the school superintendent. That just about made him virtually untouchable and he knew it. There was even a time where in art class he threatened our beloved art teacher with a ruler and not one school official did anything about it when anyone else would have been suspended - or worse.”
“And he did all of this under the watchful eye of two of his buddies, Lonny and Chad. I forget their last names but it’s not important. Lonny and Chad were more than just Jerry’s friends. They were basically his cronies, his watchdogs. You know Crabbe and Goyle from the Harry Potter series and how Malfoy didn’t dare confront any other student without those two school behemoths backing him up?”
Carter held a hand up and nodded.
“That was Jerry’s relationship with those two. For all his sense of worth and that false bravado, he was a coward through and through. He didn’t dare start any fights when those two weren’t around and if a fight did start without them and Jerry was losing, you can bet they came running to save his sorry ass! They would pull the other boy off and either beat him down or hold him so Jerry could have the honors himself, safely.”
He scoffed.
“That was the funny part. Without those two, Jerry more often than not came out on the losing end of any fights he got involved in. That’s why he surrounded himself with his own special protection unit everywhere he went. So that he could continue bullying and putting on air and he had them to act as his own personal enforcers. Why am I taking this trip down memory lane and talking about a kid who I haven’t had any contact with in over four years? Because he reminds me so much of you, Todd Williams. I look at you and see him. You and he could all too easily be the same side of the same coin. You are both pretentious, arrogant little punks who are all talk and no substance.”
“I mean, look at everything that there is about you, Todd. Ever since you made your so-called triumphant return to SCW, you’ve been nothing more than a walking joke in the locker room. Where Jerry had Lonny and Chad, you have your wife. I can not believe you go around, gloating about how big and bad you are but you can’t back it up without your wife bailing you out of trouble. And then you both strut around like your shit doesn’t stink, acting as if everything you do is A-Okay and allowed simply because you’re you. Your first match back, and what happened? You were against my SCU alumni buddy Alex Rush and he had you beat, Todd! Yes, Alex Rush, the funnest guy in SCU or SCW, was beating you from pillar to post and my GOD that had to have been embarrassing for you! Alex is a living party theme, and so many fans and even his opponents look at him and think he’s going to be just another easy win. I know because I was watching and you made that same error in judgment Todd. You walked into that match thinking you were going to take Alex apart in a matter of minutes and it turned the other way around FAST! Alex wrestled circles around you and had you beat! You can deny it all you want in your grand, egotistical delusions but we all saw it! He. Had. You. Beat! Right up until the moment your wife stuck her nose into the match and cost Alex the win and handed it to you instead on a golden platter!”
Carter crossed his arms and shook his head, snorting back a laugh of derision aimed at Todd’s tactics.
“I shouldn’t think I would be so surprised but what astounded me was right after the match, you wife Hope showed absolutely no shame in what she did. Most punks like you try to deny these things happening as if the world didn’t just see it! But no, not you. And certainly not her! She seems to take great pride in interfering in your matches, costing others their rightful spots and, in her own words, helping you win by any means necessary. How sad of a feeling that must be, knowing your balls are being carried around in your wife’s purse and that you can’t make it anywhere without her help? Maybe you should just cast them in silver and give them to her as an anniversary present and she could wear them as earrings? After all, it’s not like you’re using them for anything. But then…”
He paused and held up a hand, then shook a finger at the darkening night and chuckled.
“Then you found yourself against Miles Kasey and what do you know? Things went south way before the match could even take place! Because you and Hope, neither one of you thought ahead about the possibility that Miles might have someone willing to watch his back and counteract Hope! And typical fashion for people like you! The moment the topic came up of Miles getting someone to watch HIS back the way Hope watches yours? Oh then it was an altogether different story! You and she raised hell and protested the very idea of Zoey Stark accompanying Miles to the ring so Hope couldn’t take her usual cheap shots without attacking a great risk at running into that glamazon! That wasn’t right! That was unfair! Funny that, it’s okay for Hope to interfere in your matches but the moment someone either stops her or dishes out a taste of your own medicine, then you cry about it. Just like Jerry would. Just like the typical street punk bully does. You know what that makes you and your wife, right Todd? Let me sound it out for you slowly so that you can understand…”
“Hyp-o-crites!”
“Sad, but true! You might think yourself special and deserving of special treatment and privileges, but you’re not. Sorry to break it to you and burst that bubble you call an ego. And look what happened when the odds WERE evened up! The very thing that everybody - including yourself - knew would happen! Zoey got involved, and Miles wiped the floor with you! You lost, Todd. You lost then, and you’re about to lose again! This will be the second match that you lose back to back, and just like before against Miles, you won’t have any excuses other than the fact that deep down, you suck. You suck as a human being, and you suck as an athlete inside of the ring! Just live a bully, you can’t manage to accomplish anything without the assistance of someone else! The question is, do I throw down and let you limp out of the ring after losing with no excuses save for the above facts? Or do I toss you a bone and look up my own gal pals for volunteers to keep Hope away from me? I mean, after all, I would rather your wife not get physically involved in our match and touch me in any way, shape or form. I am disease free, and I would really prefer to stay that way! So … who knows?”
“But the real fun Todd? It’s not going to come before our match or even during it. The real fun will be after I put you down like the mangy dog that you are, then I get to sit back, relax and laugh my butt off at every single excuse you throw my way to tell the world why you lost. Other than the simple fact that you suck and as a professional wrestler, you just can’t hack it. If I have to be honest, I am going to be sorely disappointed if you just slink back to the obscurity that you came from rather than come up with some brilliant new excuse to the hows and whys of your loss rather than the honest truth that you were beaten, plain and simple. They say pride comes before the fall, and it couldn’t be any more true than in your case. You see yourself as invincible when it’s far from being the truth. You think of yourself as some sort of wrestling god when it’s more to the point that you’re a wrestling joke. Then you look at me, and what do you see Todd? You see what just about every other man with a tick up his ass and a chip on his shoulder sees when they lay eyes on me. They see the fun clothes and the makeup. They see the way I play around online and how I flirt and tease, and you think that’s all there is to me. You think a macho man such as yourself can’t possibly drop a match to a gay boy like me.”
Carter chuckles.
“How many guys down in SCU thought the same thing before I sent them running back with their tails tucked between their legs to do the ‘walk of shame’ past their peers? And not a single one of them will be as satisfying as doing it to you. There is nothing about you Todd - nothing - that is not skin deep. You are all surface, all superficial. And in just a matter of days?”
Carter turns his head around, sporting a heartbreaking purple bruise just under his left eye and along his cheekbone, and the disturbing bruises around his neck.
“You’re all mine.”
