I Would Take A Beating For You

Always and forever

Richie

"Julius! Thank the lord you're alright." Jennifer says hugging Julius. "Julius?" Jayla's tiny voice says. "Hey Jay-Jay." Julius says. "Don't scare me like that ever again!" Jayla sobs. "Come here Jayla." Julius says.

Jayla walks over to her brother's bedside. He places his hand on her cheek. "I will never ever get hurt like this again. I promise." Julius says. "Pinky promise?" Jayla sniffles. "Pinky promise." Julius says. I've missed him.

Jennifer takes Jayla out of the room. "Where the hell is that step-dick of yours that shot my baby?" Jennifer says. "Coming home from his honeymoon." I say somberly. Steve's crime has looped my mind for weeks. I knew he was crazy but not a murderer. "I want him to fucking rot in jail." I say.

"Richie." Julius says. "No. He shot you and has put me through hell! He put you in a fucking coma, Julius!" I shout. "So it's settled. We're pressing charges." Jennifer says.

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The next day Jennifer takes Julius home. I head back to my house, wanting to give him his space back. I peek through the window before entering. My mom is seemingly scared and yelling.

Steve. That bastard. I burst through the door. "There you are!" Steve yells upon seeing me. "Steven, leave him alone!" My mom shouts. They begin fighting again and totally forget I am in the room.

I'm home.

Julius

I feel so relieved to be home. I'm with Jayla, my mom and Richie. It feels great to home. Despite not remebering the accident or what happened after I still feel traumatized. My minds feels empty. Like I'm missing something.

Maybe it's the accident itself. I don't remember a thing. It's like my mind shut off completely when everything went down.

I lie on my bed quietly. This is nice. Quiet. Too quiet. I can hear my thoughts. My thoughts are so scary. I need noise! Any kind of noise! Even bad noise! Like yelling or dying! Anything! Just as my thoughts quiet down I hear a door knock. It's quick and excited sounding. Thank the lord! Then Richie runs into my room crying and muttering.

Richie

My Mom and Steve just keep fighting louder and louder. Even with Billie and Roger here to comfort me their fighting get so much louder. I step out of my room to take a little listen.

"You shot a child Steve! We are getting a divorce!" Mom yells. She knows. "He deserved it. He corrupted our son." Steve says. "You're a fucking parasite! You act like you've been here for me and him! You have never done anything for either of us! I can't believe I ever trusted you!" Mom counters.

I hear phone buttons dialing. Yes, Mom. That's my girl. I hear a loud smash followed by Mom stuggling to breath. I run downstairs and steal Steve's attention. "You didn't fucking see this!" He shouts letting go of mom's neck. "What if I did?" I ask. Steve approaches me.

"I will fuck you up way worse than that little fucking boyfriend of yours." Steve growls. "Suddenly I have 20/20." I say. Steve punches me in the throat. "Still got it?" He asks. "Yep." I groan. He kicks me. I pretend to loose consciousness. Knocking cascades into the house.

"DPD! Open up!" A deep voice says. Steve backs away from me. The police knock the door down and apprehend Steve. They take him away and question me and Mom. I tell the officer everything. Every single thing. The shooting, the abuse. Everything.

The second the officer stops talking I run down the street to Julius's house.

Julius

"Richie, what are you saying?" I ask. "I'm free!" Richie cries. "I'm still not following." I say. "Steve got caught! I told the police everything! He's going to jail! Julius, baby! I'm free!" Richie says. I freeze. I hug him as tight as I can.

This moment is...... I don't even know! I've needed this since I found Richie was being abused. "I love you." I say. "I love you too." Richie says.

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1 year later

1 year ago today I started dating Richie. We're at the peer where we became a couple. "Julius?" Richie asks. "Yeah babe?" I say. "I just want you to know I'm really glad you're gay." Richie says. "I'm glad you're gay too Rich." I say.

"Oh! I almost forgot I got you a gift!" Richie says pulling a small black box with a red ribbon on it out of his back pocket. He hands it to me happily. "Aw. You didn't have to get me anything, Bleeder." I say. I open it.

It's a black braided up bracelet with rainbow beads on it. "Richie I love it!" I squeal. "The beads represent all of our adventures together." Richie says putting it on my wrist.

Like when we went to the carnival.
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"I LOVE IT! HE'S SO CUTE!"
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Or when we rode your moped.
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"This is so fun!"
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And even my little spanish lesson

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"Te amo."

"What does that mean?"

"I love you Richie."

"I love you too babe, but what did you say?"
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I look at my wrist. "I got you something too." I say handing him a pink gift bag. Richie opens it and takes out a little pink bunny plush. He gasps. "I got Roger a girlfriend." I laugh. "I love her! I shall name her Romona." Richie says dramaticly. "Roger and Romona sitting in a tree K-i-s-s-i-n-g." I giggle.

"I love you so much!" Richie says hugging me.

"I love you too, bleeder."