Red lights and Stop signs

Chap. 12 Kaylas

 I woke up with something wrapped around my waist and pressed against my back. After a few minutes, the events of last night came to me and I realized that the extra weight was none other than Jaylen Quest, the most perfect man alive. I welcomed the warmth that he was supplying and cuddled into him. He groaned from my movements, waking him up. "Good morning." He whispered with a tired, groggy voice. "Good morning." I whispered back.

 We were facing each other, his arm draped around my waist. After about twenty more minutes of us just laying there and drifting in and out of sleep I decided that I needed to get up. "Jaylen" I whispered so that I didn't startle him. "Hmm?" He hummed in question. "I need to get up." I said. "Do you have to?" He whined while pulling me slightly closer. "Yes, I need to take my pills but I'll come right back." I informed him. He removed his arm from my waist but not without grumbling about not wanting me to leave first. I quickly went into my bathroom and took all my pills then I brushed my teeth. That took me about five minutes but then I was able to crawl back in bed with Jaylen, who was already sitting up and on his phone.

 "What time is it?" I asked him as I moved back into his arms. He happily embraced my body again and informed me of the time (8:00 am). "Ugh, it's too early for this." I groaned as I turned my head into his chest. "Wanna go back to sleep?" He asked me softly. "We can't, I have to go down to the hospital and help serve food for my community service hours." I told him. "Community service?" Jaylen questioned. "You don't even want to know." I said even though it wasn't actually anything serious. "Oh god, I've gotten myself involved with a criminal haven't I." He joked. "Hey, you can back out of this at any time." I said with a joking tone as I stood up from his arms to go get ready. "Never," He assured with a smile as he pulled me back into his arms again. 

 "Jaylen, I really have to get ready now." I said while trying (and failing) to get out of his grasp. "Fine, can I at least give you a ride to the hospital?" He questions. "Sure but I'm gonna walk back, it's a pretty day out." I said while looking at the sunshine on the snow outside of my window. "Alright, I'll go make breakfast while you take a shower." Jaylen told me, already in the hall going towards the kitchen. I grimaced slightly at the thought of having to eat this morning. Usually there is no one here to scold me for not eating breakfast so I almost always skip it. I would rather not give Jaylen something else to worry about so I can at least try to eat it today.

*Skips to after the hospital shift*

 I was about five minutes from home when I hear someone walking behind me. I turn around and see two guys walking less than two feet behind me. That was a bit too close for my liking so I walked slightly faster but then they started going faster too. They soon were standing right next to me, one on each side. "Yo Kaylas," The one on the right said, who I recognized as Ollie from school. I immediately knew the other boy was Uni Hopson. Ollie and Uni are inseparable and I'm not even joking. It's like they can't spend three seconds away from each other (no they are not dating). "Um, hi." I say nervously. "So your friends with Jaylen right?" Uni asked me. "Uh yeah," I told them as I started to walk even faster to try and get away from them.

 "Not so fast." Ollie said as he lightly grabbed my arm, pulling me back a bit. "Your boy Jay has been trying to get with Jocelyn, hasn't he?" Uni asked me even though he clearly knew the answer to his question. "Not recently. Look guys I don't want any trouble." I say hoping that they will let me leave. "My sister Desi has had a crush on Jocelyn for three years and I will not let your friend get in the way of what my sister wants." Uni informed me, ignoring what I had said before. Ollie grabbed my other wrist and held my hands tightly behind my back. "Tell your homewrecker friend that this is what will happen if he tries to get in the way of my sister's happiness again." Uni told me. Before I could even try and consider what that meant there was a fist flying towards my stomach and a sharp pain soon after. 

 I tried to get out of Ollie's hold but he gripped my wrist tighter so that I couldn't get away. I knew there would be a big hand-shaped bruise on it whenever he let them go. After a few punches and kicks to my stomach and chest, they stop and I thought that they will finally leave me alone but I was sadly mistaken. Uni punches me one last time right in my face. He thankfully avoided my nose but sadly hit me straight in my eye. "Make sure to spread the message to your boy." Ollie said as he let me go and started to walk away with Uni. I looked down at my wrist and as I predicted there were big purple and black finger-shaped bruises on my wrists. I don't even want to know how bad my stomach and face look.

 I tried to walk but immediately start to fall down but someone thankfully grabbed onto my shoulders to help me stand. I looked over and saw Fara looking at me with worry. I remember seeing her with Jocelyn at the party yesterday but I've never really interacted with her outside of school. "Are you alright? What happened?" Fara asked, worry lacing her voice. "A couple of guys beat me up just now but I'll be fine. Can you help me get home?" I asked her hoping that she had a car so that I don't have to walk all the way home. "Yeah of course but I don't have a car so we'll have to walk." She said, making my hope disintegrate. I only nodded, no longer feeling like talking. We then started the now long journey towards my house since me barely being able to walk will slow us down.

 Seven minutes later we finally got to my house. I was about to open the door with my key but then realized it was already unlocked. That probably meant my dad was home for the first time in forever (sadly). I stepped in and was greeted by the sight of my cousin sitting on my couch watching "Call me by your name" and eating chips. "Hey cuz. Where have you been? I've been sitting here for like two hours waiting for..." Weylin said but quickly cut off when he saw my face. He started rushing towards me to look at the cuts and bruises on my face. "Holy shit, what happened to you?" Weylin asked while inspecting me for bruises other than the ones visible on my face.

 "Nothing happened. What are you doing here Weylin." I asked. Don't get me wrong I love my cousin and I am always happy to see him but I am not in the mood for visitors today. "I kind of need to get home now or else my dad will kill me." Fara told us after looking at the time on her shiny purple watch. "Okay, thanks for helping me get home." I showed my genuine appreciation with as big of a smile as I could muster up at the moment. "No problem, hope you feel better." Fara said as she walked out the door. When she was all the way in the driveway Weylin grabbed my hand and softly pulled me into my downstairs bathroom.

 I sat on the counter while he grabbed the first aid kit from the cabinet above my toilet. "Alright spill, what happened?" Weylin asked me as he started to clean the cut on my face. "I got beat up by two guys who wanted to teach my friend a lesson. Now, why are you here?" I questioned my cousin. "Mom kicked me out when I told her I might not be completely straight." He informed me. I only sighed with sympathy in response since none of this news was surprising. Weylin's parents have always been pretty homophobic so it's not very surprising that they kicked him out when they found out.

 It's also not surprising that Weylin isn't straight. When he came to stay with us last summer he was always asking me questions about my sexuality and he would not shut up about some boy in his class that was "soooo cool". It sucks he got kicked out though. "I'm sorry man." I said to him as he inspected the bruises on my wrists. "It's cool, I'm not too heartbroken over it. I was just wondering if I could stay with you for a bit." He says with a nervous voice. "Yeah that's fine you can stay as long as you want." I told him genuinely. He nodded. "What do you mean by not completely straight?" I asked with curiosity. "I'm omnisexual." He stated quietly. "Cool" I responded. After that was said we stayed silent while he continued to clean my cuts.