Post by Echo on Aug 23, 2011 0:12:22 GMT -5
After eating we go to the park and walk around the lake.
“So did you like the food?”
Alex stops and turns to me, taking both of my hands in his. Despite the cold air, they’re warm. I nod and give him a smile.
“It was really good, thank you.” I lean in and give his cheek a small peck, feeling my already pink face reddening.
“You are just too damn cute,” he winks at me, but I look down and frown. When I glance up at him he has a worried look in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
I gaze out at the lake and watch the tiny waves lap at the small beach.
“I’m always,” I sigh and meet his confused stare, “I’m just always blushing, at everything you do. It’s embarrassing.”
He shakes his head, his voice serious as he says, “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. I love it when you blush, it tells me that you like me.”
I blink, “It does?”
He smiles and kisses my forehead, “Yes it does.”
“B-But, I don’t like you,” I feel him tense and blurt out quickly, “I love you…”
My stomach tightens and I can feel the butterflies go crazy. He pulls me into a warm embrace and kisses the top of my head.
“I love you too.”
When he pulls away we start walking again, hand in hand, and I can feel my legs getting tired.
“Can we sit down?”
He opens his mouth to reply, but a voice from behind cuts him off.
“Hey fags.”
I stop dead in my tracks and we turn to see a group of guys coming towards us. Alex immediately steps in front of me, keeping my hand in his.
“Look at that,” the guy in front exchanges glances with his friends and laughs, “He’s trying to protect his faggy little boyfriend!”
Alex’s grip on my wrist tightens and I press myself closer to him, terrified.
“We aren’t doing anything to you. Back off.” Alex says through gritted teeth.
His voice is empty of any happiness, leaving it cold and threatening. The group isn’t affected at all though, and get closer.
“You’re here, and that’s good enough reason to beat the hell out of you for me.”
The rest of his group stays where they are as he comes closer and closer until he’s standing oly a foot away from us.
“Don’t you dare touch him.” Alex hisses, a deadly look entering his eyes.
I whimper and the guy’s gaze flickers to me then back at Alex. He smirks and looks back at his group.
“Get the little one.” He tells them.
As soon as it’s out of his mouth, all hell breaks loose. Alex tries to shield me, but the guy grabs him and throws him to the ground. I start towards him, yelling his name, but two from the group grab me. They’re a lot bigger and have no issues restraining me.
“Alex!” I pull as hard as I can, but it’s no use.
I watch in horror as the rest of the group pins Alex to the ground. The same guy who’s been leading then kicks him in the stomach and I watch helplessly. He lets out a pained gasp and his eyes squeeze shut. They continue the assault for several minutes while tears choke me. Finally I manage to find my voice and I shout as loudly as I can.
“No! Don’t t-touch him!” the guy pauses and then turns to me.
“What’d you say, faggot?”
He steps away from Alex who looks at me with a mixture of pain and worry.
“Nero, don’t…” he warns but somebody silences him with another sharp kick.
“Leave him alone.” I mutter and cry out as his hand strikes my cheek, hard.
“And why the hell would I do that?” his face gets closer to mine until I can smell the cigarettes in his breath.
“Hit me, not him.” I say.
“You know what? I think I will.” He reaches into a back pocket and pulls something out. He flicks it open and I try to move away when I see what it is.
A knife.
“I’m tired of queers like you fucking this town up. It’s time for a little payback.”
He laughs darkly and motions to the two guys restraining me. They turn me around and I start thrashing around until I feel a hand on my back.
I hear Alex scream something a split second before the knife’s sharp blade digs into my skin. It slices across my back and I bite my lip so hard I feel a drop of blood run down my chin. But it’s nothing compared to the pain in my back.
Why hasn’t anyone stopped them? Is my only thought as I’m dragged to the water’s edge. I can hear Alex’s protests but say none of my own. The ice cold water swallows me within moments and I hear more shouting. The absence of air hits me with slightly less shock than the cold, but still hits me. I feel my adrenaline kick in and the sting in my back is forgotten as I fight the hands trying to drown me.
Just as the light starts to leave and blackness creeps closer, I feel the rough hands on me disappear. They’re replaced by gentle ones and I feel my body being pulled from the water. My eyes flutter open and right before I pass out I see the faces of Bliss and Seth. Their mouths are moving, but I am already gone.
“Nero, wake up.”
“Is he ok?”
“Nero?”
“Nero.”
They all go right through me. None of the voices are the right one. Until…
“Nero, baby, please be ok.”
The pain and sadness in Alex’s voice breaks my heart. I can feel his hand slide into mine and I force my eyes to open. I can hear the sighs of relief, but only one matters.
“A-Alex…” my throat feels like it’s on fire, so I stop.
I go to sit up, trying to figure out where I’m at, but wince when a sharp pain runs across my back. I look at Alex and see a large cut on his cheek. And then I remember.
Tears blur my vision and I make no attempt to stop them. It’s my fault. It’s always my fault. Because of me, everyone was worried. Because of me, Bliss and Seth almost got hurt. Because of me, Alex did get hurt.
“I-I’m sorry,” I choke on the sobs that shake my body, “I’m so stupid.”
Alex’s hand moves to my cheek and then touches my lips. He places a finger over my mouth to silence me.
“Nero, you can’t blame yourself for what happened.”
Before he can say anything else a throat is cleared. I look across the room at Bliss and Seth. Although they both look tired and worried, Seth’s eyes reveal something else as well. Bliss speaks, distracting me from figuring out what Seth is feeling.
“Nero, we’re your friends, we’re supposed to help you.” She smiles, “It isn’t your fault. Those guys were looking for trouble, and you two were the only ones in the park.”
I nod slowly, and glance at Seth. He meets my eyes and smiles, but it’s a sad smile.
“You two stay here, ok? Christy is outside in the car. Seth and I have to go home, but we’ll see you tomorrow in school hopefully.”
“Thank you.” I tell them as they walk out the door. The only response I get is a smile from Bliss.
As soon as it clicks shut I try again to sit up. This time I ignore the pain and focus on Alex’s eyes. He touches my cheek again and leans in. I do the same and when our lips meet I move my hand to his face. When he pulls away I bring him back and gently touch my lips to the cut on his cheek.
“Are you ok?” I ask, resting my forehead against his.
He nods and smiles, “This has been an interesting weekend.”
I laugh, knowing that it’s true. So much has happened since Friday. I’d met Alex, I had told my friends about my father’s abuse, I’d gotten my first kiss, and I’d fallen in love. With Alex. I barely know him, yet I feel like I’ve known him all my life.
And then there was he fight. No, not a fight, it was an attack.
“Nero, what are you thinking?”
I break away from the memories of seeing that guy harming Alex.
“Just about this weekend. And,” I blush, “About you.”
He smiles at that and lays across me, his head resting in my lap. I touch his hair, the familiar soft blonde strands are a little damp. Probably from the lake. I sigh and look around, wondering again where we are. Although the room is unfamiliar, I can tell we’re at Alex’s house from the smell; vanilla and something I can’t identify.
“Alex… what happened after I passed out?”
He lifts his head up and takes a deep breath, closing his eyes momentarily. Without a word he starts crawling onto the bed and I scoot over, the pain having dulled a little now, to make room for him. I lay back down as he does, the soft pillow underneath my head smells strongly of him. I watch as he moves, realizing he’s wincing with every action. He finally stills after placing his hand on my waist.
“Well, right before you passed out I was still on the ground, and I saw Bliss, Seth and Christy running. After ou passed out they told me that they’d been headed out to eat when they saw the guys dragging you to the lake. You were starting to turn blue by the time they ran away, so we drove you to my house and wrapped you in blankets, and waited for you to wake up.”
I move closer as he says this and rest my head on his pillow. I take a deep breath and kiss his cheek where the cut is. I sit up slowly, his eyes following me, and place my hands on the hem of his shirt. I tug it up carefully, feeling my eyes widen at the sight of all the bruises. I lower my head to his now bare chest and press my lips to a large dark bruise over his heart. I feel its speed increase and hesitate before moving to kiss each bruise that marks his pale skin. As I get closer to the top of jeans I stop, and after a short pause he sits up. He takes my chin in his hand and pulls me to him until our lips meet.
“Alex, will you promise me something?” his face is only inches from mine and our eyes meet.
“Yeah?”
I lean forward and kiss him again then bury my face in his warm, bare chest.
“Please don’t leave me.”
“What the hell happened to you?”
I duck my head down, but he’s already seen the bruises.
“D-Dad, I, uh… fell.” I le, praying that he’ll believe me.
“Bullshit.” He stands up, an angry look on his face, “Who did this to you? Was it that Alex kid?”
“No!” I grab his arm and attempt to stop him from opening the door. He turns on me, swings his arm, and I’m thrown back against the wall.
As soon as I crumple to the floor he freezes.
“Nero… I didn’t mean to.”
“We were at the park.” I look at him with tears in my eyes. “These guys started hitting him… they t-tried to drown me. And then Bliss a-and Seth got there and I blacked out.”
He slides to the floor next to me and lowers his head.
“Why were you guys at the park? I thought you were babysitting…”
I bite my lip and try to stop trembling.
“B-Because, Alex is…” I shrink back, “He’s my boyfriend.”
“So did you like the food?”
Alex stops and turns to me, taking both of my hands in his. Despite the cold air, they’re warm. I nod and give him a smile.
“It was really good, thank you.” I lean in and give his cheek a small peck, feeling my already pink face reddening.
“You are just too damn cute,” he winks at me, but I look down and frown. When I glance up at him he has a worried look in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
I gaze out at the lake and watch the tiny waves lap at the small beach.
“I’m always,” I sigh and meet his confused stare, “I’m just always blushing, at everything you do. It’s embarrassing.”
He shakes his head, his voice serious as he says, “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. I love it when you blush, it tells me that you like me.”
I blink, “It does?”
He smiles and kisses my forehead, “Yes it does.”
“B-But, I don’t like you,” I feel him tense and blurt out quickly, “I love you…”
My stomach tightens and I can feel the butterflies go crazy. He pulls me into a warm embrace and kisses the top of my head.
“I love you too.”
When he pulls away we start walking again, hand in hand, and I can feel my legs getting tired.
“Can we sit down?”
He opens his mouth to reply, but a voice from behind cuts him off.
“Hey fags.”
I stop dead in my tracks and we turn to see a group of guys coming towards us. Alex immediately steps in front of me, keeping my hand in his.
“Look at that,” the guy in front exchanges glances with his friends and laughs, “He’s trying to protect his faggy little boyfriend!”
Alex’s grip on my wrist tightens and I press myself closer to him, terrified.
“We aren’t doing anything to you. Back off.” Alex says through gritted teeth.
His voice is empty of any happiness, leaving it cold and threatening. The group isn’t affected at all though, and get closer.
“You’re here, and that’s good enough reason to beat the hell out of you for me.”
The rest of his group stays where they are as he comes closer and closer until he’s standing oly a foot away from us.
“Don’t you dare touch him.” Alex hisses, a deadly look entering his eyes.
I whimper and the guy’s gaze flickers to me then back at Alex. He smirks and looks back at his group.
“Get the little one.” He tells them.
As soon as it’s out of his mouth, all hell breaks loose. Alex tries to shield me, but the guy grabs him and throws him to the ground. I start towards him, yelling his name, but two from the group grab me. They’re a lot bigger and have no issues restraining me.
“Alex!” I pull as hard as I can, but it’s no use.
I watch in horror as the rest of the group pins Alex to the ground. The same guy who’s been leading then kicks him in the stomach and I watch helplessly. He lets out a pained gasp and his eyes squeeze shut. They continue the assault for several minutes while tears choke me. Finally I manage to find my voice and I shout as loudly as I can.
“No! Don’t t-touch him!” the guy pauses and then turns to me.
“What’d you say, faggot?”
He steps away from Alex who looks at me with a mixture of pain and worry.
“Nero, don’t…” he warns but somebody silences him with another sharp kick.
“Leave him alone.” I mutter and cry out as his hand strikes my cheek, hard.
“And why the hell would I do that?” his face gets closer to mine until I can smell the cigarettes in his breath.
“Hit me, not him.” I say.
“You know what? I think I will.” He reaches into a back pocket and pulls something out. He flicks it open and I try to move away when I see what it is.
A knife.
“I’m tired of queers like you fucking this town up. It’s time for a little payback.”
He laughs darkly and motions to the two guys restraining me. They turn me around and I start thrashing around until I feel a hand on my back.
I hear Alex scream something a split second before the knife’s sharp blade digs into my skin. It slices across my back and I bite my lip so hard I feel a drop of blood run down my chin. But it’s nothing compared to the pain in my back.
Why hasn’t anyone stopped them? Is my only thought as I’m dragged to the water’s edge. I can hear Alex’s protests but say none of my own. The ice cold water swallows me within moments and I hear more shouting. The absence of air hits me with slightly less shock than the cold, but still hits me. I feel my adrenaline kick in and the sting in my back is forgotten as I fight the hands trying to drown me.
Just as the light starts to leave and blackness creeps closer, I feel the rough hands on me disappear. They’re replaced by gentle ones and I feel my body being pulled from the water. My eyes flutter open and right before I pass out I see the faces of Bliss and Seth. Their mouths are moving, but I am already gone.
“Nero, wake up.”
“Is he ok?”
“Nero?”
“Nero.”
They all go right through me. None of the voices are the right one. Until…
“Nero, baby, please be ok.”
The pain and sadness in Alex’s voice breaks my heart. I can feel his hand slide into mine and I force my eyes to open. I can hear the sighs of relief, but only one matters.
“A-Alex…” my throat feels like it’s on fire, so I stop.
I go to sit up, trying to figure out where I’m at, but wince when a sharp pain runs across my back. I look at Alex and see a large cut on his cheek. And then I remember.
Tears blur my vision and I make no attempt to stop them. It’s my fault. It’s always my fault. Because of me, everyone was worried. Because of me, Bliss and Seth almost got hurt. Because of me, Alex did get hurt.
“I-I’m sorry,” I choke on the sobs that shake my body, “I’m so stupid.”
Alex’s hand moves to my cheek and then touches my lips. He places a finger over my mouth to silence me.
“Nero, you can’t blame yourself for what happened.”
Before he can say anything else a throat is cleared. I look across the room at Bliss and Seth. Although they both look tired and worried, Seth’s eyes reveal something else as well. Bliss speaks, distracting me from figuring out what Seth is feeling.
“Nero, we’re your friends, we’re supposed to help you.” She smiles, “It isn’t your fault. Those guys were looking for trouble, and you two were the only ones in the park.”
I nod slowly, and glance at Seth. He meets my eyes and smiles, but it’s a sad smile.
“You two stay here, ok? Christy is outside in the car. Seth and I have to go home, but we’ll see you tomorrow in school hopefully.”
“Thank you.” I tell them as they walk out the door. The only response I get is a smile from Bliss.
As soon as it clicks shut I try again to sit up. This time I ignore the pain and focus on Alex’s eyes. He touches my cheek again and leans in. I do the same and when our lips meet I move my hand to his face. When he pulls away I bring him back and gently touch my lips to the cut on his cheek.
“Are you ok?” I ask, resting my forehead against his.
He nods and smiles, “This has been an interesting weekend.”
I laugh, knowing that it’s true. So much has happened since Friday. I’d met Alex, I had told my friends about my father’s abuse, I’d gotten my first kiss, and I’d fallen in love. With Alex. I barely know him, yet I feel like I’ve known him all my life.
And then there was he fight. No, not a fight, it was an attack.
“Nero, what are you thinking?”
I break away from the memories of seeing that guy harming Alex.
“Just about this weekend. And,” I blush, “About you.”
He smiles at that and lays across me, his head resting in my lap. I touch his hair, the familiar soft blonde strands are a little damp. Probably from the lake. I sigh and look around, wondering again where we are. Although the room is unfamiliar, I can tell we’re at Alex’s house from the smell; vanilla and something I can’t identify.
“Alex… what happened after I passed out?”
He lifts his head up and takes a deep breath, closing his eyes momentarily. Without a word he starts crawling onto the bed and I scoot over, the pain having dulled a little now, to make room for him. I lay back down as he does, the soft pillow underneath my head smells strongly of him. I watch as he moves, realizing he’s wincing with every action. He finally stills after placing his hand on my waist.
“Well, right before you passed out I was still on the ground, and I saw Bliss, Seth and Christy running. After ou passed out they told me that they’d been headed out to eat when they saw the guys dragging you to the lake. You were starting to turn blue by the time they ran away, so we drove you to my house and wrapped you in blankets, and waited for you to wake up.”
I move closer as he says this and rest my head on his pillow. I take a deep breath and kiss his cheek where the cut is. I sit up slowly, his eyes following me, and place my hands on the hem of his shirt. I tug it up carefully, feeling my eyes widen at the sight of all the bruises. I lower my head to his now bare chest and press my lips to a large dark bruise over his heart. I feel its speed increase and hesitate before moving to kiss each bruise that marks his pale skin. As I get closer to the top of jeans I stop, and after a short pause he sits up. He takes my chin in his hand and pulls me to him until our lips meet.
“Alex, will you promise me something?” his face is only inches from mine and our eyes meet.
“Yeah?”
I lean forward and kiss him again then bury my face in his warm, bare chest.
“Please don’t leave me.”
“What the hell happened to you?”
I duck my head down, but he’s already seen the bruises.
“D-Dad, I, uh… fell.” I le, praying that he’ll believe me.
“Bullshit.” He stands up, an angry look on his face, “Who did this to you? Was it that Alex kid?”
“No!” I grab his arm and attempt to stop him from opening the door. He turns on me, swings his arm, and I’m thrown back against the wall.
As soon as I crumple to the floor he freezes.
“Nero… I didn’t mean to.”
“We were at the park.” I look at him with tears in my eyes. “These guys started hitting him… they t-tried to drown me. And then Bliss a-and Seth got there and I blacked out.”
He slides to the floor next to me and lowers his head.
“Why were you guys at the park? I thought you were babysitting…”
I bite my lip and try to stop trembling.
“B-Because, Alex is…” I shrink back, “He’s my boyfriend.”