People Like Us (Boy x Boy)

Sleeping In The House Of The Enemy

Xavier's POV

It had been almost four hours since I left the house, and part of me still didn't know what I was doing at Brendan's place. He had embarrassed me for years and condemned me a social leper at school. I ought to hate his guts, but I didn't. Especially not after this. Not after letting me into his house while I was vulnerable. And he had yet to take advantage of the situation.  

The little stunt he'd pulled with the sauce though was a little suspicious. Why would he want to get any closer than he had to be to a fag like me?  

I was a fag, wasn't I? I liked P's instead of V's. If life outside of high school was going to be as tough and people were going to be as judgmental, I may as well join my mother and sister in the Land of the Dead.  

I felt more than saw him move though I didn't turn to see what he was doing. I'd been sitting in the same position for the past hour and my back was starting to burn again. If I could only get my hands on a truck load of ice to numb the pain that seared up and down my spine. I'd settle for the floor, I thought, anything to cool my burning back.

It didn't help when I felt something soft hit me square in the back. I let out a cry of pain and immediately dropped my plate onto the floor. Biting my lip down, I squeezed my eyes shut so no tears could leak past. My entire body tingled as waves of pain cascaded through me. I whimpered.

"Shit! What happened?" I heard Brendan call out as he came toward me.  

"The fuck did you hit me with?!" 

A look of confusion crossed over Brendan's face as he watched me struggle to regain control over myself.  

"A pillow..."  

I bent my head down low and sucked in a few sharp breaths. A fucking pillow. I had freaked out over a fucking pillow.

"Xavier, what happened to your back?" Brendan demanded. 

"Nothing, it's nothing. I just...fell earlier...is all." 

"Bull!" he cried out. "Falling on your back would not have made you cry out like that all because of a pillow." 

When I didn't say anything, Brendan pulled himself off the bed and began to pace around. "Is that why you came here?" he asked. I shrugged. I wasn't sure how to explain the reason I came here, when I didn't know the full reason myself.  

"Tell me this then," Brendan asked. "Why come here? Why not go to your friend's house instead? I'm sure he knows everything about you. I'm sure he knows about," Brendan waved in my general direction, "whatever happened to you. So why the hell come here instead of there?" 

I wasn't sure how to answer that either. "To be honest," I said, sighing, "I don't know." 

Brendan sighed. "Is whatever happened to you the reason why you weren't at school today?"  

I paused momentarily before nodding my head. Brendan sighed again. 

"Come on," he said, heading for the door. "You can sleep in the guest bedroom tonight."  

After a few moments, I followed him out of the room and down the hall into the guest room. 

"Hey," I said, before he could leave. "Thanks...for letting me stay here. I-I really appreciate it."  

Brendan nodded, then turned out the lights and shut the door behind him, plunging me into darkness.

Brendan's POV

Now in my own room, I stripped down to my boxers and climbed into bed. I slung my arm behind my head for support.  

I couldn't help but think about Xavier. I knew there was more to this story than what meets the eye. There was no way that much pain was caused by a fall. I had a theory as to what could have hurt badly enough to keep him out of school and to send him crawling to the doorstep of the guy he hated most.  

At least I think he hated me. And why wouldn't he? I'd been nothing but cruel to him save for today. I wouldn't be surprised if I woke up in the morning to find my tires slashed, money gone, and Xavier missing. I would have deserved it.  

I sighed and turned over in my bed. Whatever was going on with Xavier, I didn't like it. Not one bit. I silently swore to myself that I would figure out what was going on with him.

I never wanted to see that look on his face again. The one that he'd had when I first opened the door to let him in. That look of hopelessness and dejection. I hoped he would never have to feel like that again.  

I would try, I thought, to make things...easier on him. With that thought in mind, I allowed my eyes to drift close and let sleep to overtake me.

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HEY. SORRY IT TOOK A FEW DAYS TO POST THE CHAPTER FIVE. BUT IT'S UP NOW. 

SO YOU KNOW THE DRILL. 

LEMME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. 

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- STEPHY

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