lavender //dnf//

3

The dirty blond and the brunette rushed out of the car, pulling their hoods over their heads, protecting their already messy hair from the flooding rain. The two of them took cover under the porch, and Clay reached into his pocket for his keys. He inserted the key into the lock, and turned it quickly, letting them into the cosy home. George kicked off his shoes and took a few steps forward, entering the kitchen. He turned around several times, studying the house. It was a really nice house, and was decorated nicely. But, at the same time, it definitely looked like a house that belonged to two twenty-one year olds. There were old hoodies and sweatpants thrown over the floor and cans of drinks dotted over coffee tables and around the kitchen counter.

"It's kind of messy, but, it's a house," Clay said, scratching the back of his neck and standing beside George. George was still wearing the hoodie Clay had given him, and it was now warm and comforting. He hadn't really looked at the hoodie when putting it on, because he had been so eager to warm his body, but as he turned around he caught himself in a full-body length mirror. The hoodie was black with two circular dots and a smile, George really liked it. It was way too big on him, but he loved it.

"Dude! Come here!" Clay shouted for his friend, and him and George walked into the living room. Shortly after, another man came stumbling into the room.

George's stomach sunk to the floor and his heart stopped for a second.

"Nick?" He said, absolutely shocked.

Nick stood like a statue and stared at George, stunned. "George? Wait what the fuck is happening?"

Clay stepped forward, just as confused as the other two, "you two know each other?"

"I-what? How do you two know each other? What the fuck, this is so weird," George asked, running a hand through is fluffy hair.

"We've known each other since we were like twelve? Nick how have you never told me about George?!" Clay exclaimed, sounding sort of offended.

"Well- oh my God this is getting weirder and weirder. George come here, man," Nick said, holding his arms out.

George ran to Nick and embraced him, the two of them had been online friends for around three years, but Nick had never mentioned Clay. The two hugged for a while before George let go and tried to process what exactly was happening.

The three of them burst out laughing.

"I think we need to all have a chat," Clay wheezed.

The three of them sat on the couch, George in the middle, Nick to the right and Clay to the left. George and Clay begun by telling Nick how they met, and where Clay had found George. Nick didn't really ask any questions, because he knew what George's home life was like, but he looked relieved that George had finally escaped from his step dad. Nick then interrupted and started to tell George how he knew Clay, and then told Clay how he knew George. There was so much to catch up on, and all three of them were having trouble processing what was happening. Clay then started to ask questions about why George had left his home, but Nick nudged him in the side.

"Oh, sorry, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," he apologised, but George didn't seem offended. He seemed comfortable talking about it to Clay.

"I mean, there's not really much to it. It was just my step dad, he was really, um, a-awful to me. He hurt me lots and, yeah," George stopped. He reached for the bottom of his hoodie and removed it. He showed Clay and Nick the many bruises and scars that were printed onto his neck, and stomach, and arms. Clay looked distraught.

George felt a large, cold hand place itself onto a large purple bruise on his arm. Clay looked into his eyes, "I'm really sorry you had to go through that. You don't deserve it, that's just horrible."