I'll Follow You Anywhere

The beginning of the end

'Fucking call him! We are not being punished for something we didn't do!' Eric said taking my hand and pulling me from my seat. 'We're going to football practice, call our parents we don't care.' With that he dragged me out of the office and down to the changing rooms. He let go of me once we were inside and started pounding on a locker, his knuckles started to bleed and I wrapped my arms around his chest.

'Stop, baby stop, please, you're going to hurt your hands more.' He was puffing but he stopped punching the locker. His knuckles were bloody as he stood there, his puffing turned into sobbing and he turned, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tightly.

'This isn't fair.' He said and I held him tightly. He wiped his face and shook his head before pulling his gear on. He went to leave and I clenched my fists.

'I LOVE YOU!' I yelled and he stopped in the doorway.

'What?' He said looking at me shocked.

'I said, i-I love... you... I love you.' I looked at him a little shocked as he walked back in and kissed me. 'I love you.' I whispered.

'I love you too.' He laughed and kissed me again. We walked out onto the field and he did his practice. I watched and helped the coach.

'So you two are finally out of the closet then.' Coach said and I felt my cheeks burn, it was cold and wet and I was standing in Eric's leather jacket, my breath coming out in puffs.

'Ah, yeah, everyone said they already knew, I guess we're not very subtle.'

'No.' Coach laughed. 'You two are not subtle at all, but I'm happy for you, not that it was your choice, someone took that from you which is wrong, but you're two good boys.'

'Thanks coach.' I smiled down at the clipboard as we went back into it.

'Do you want to come inside for a while?'

'Yeah, we can study.' Eric said grabbing his bag and walking up the drive with me. My mum's car was home and I walked into the kitchen to see here standing there on the phone.

'Hi boys, there's some snacks in the fridge and John your new phone is on your desk in your room okay, I'm on the phone with the phone company now to make sure that your number is not given out to anyone.' I smiled and thanked her before we headed up stairs. We sat on the floor studying and setting up my phone.

'Do you think you might know who is doing this?'

'I don't know, the principal has always been super creepy, maybe it's him.'

'Yeah, I just thought that he was a pissed off old man, maybe I should mention it to mum?' I said getting up and heading down stairs for food, Eric following closely behind.

'I think you should babe.' We walked into the kitchen and I pulled out the snacks mum had sorted out. I jumped up on the bench and sat there while Eric leant on the counter next to me.

Eric pulled his phone out and looked through it.

'Alright baby, I gotta get home, dad wants to talk to me.' I nodded and he kissed me before I got off the bench and walked him to the door.

'Drive safe okay?'

'Always babe, I'll see you tomorrow. I'll text you when I get home.' He kissed me once more and I waved him off, watching the car until he pulled out and drove off. I cleaned up the kitchen and headed back upstairs to finish my homework. I frowned and looked at my phone, no message or call and it's after ten. I called him but no answer.

'Mum!' I called as I went downstairs. She was on the phone and looked at me worried.

'Darling, is Eric still here?'