*Panic Attacks, talking about abuse and fighting*
(Luke's POV)
I can't believe he actually read it. I didn't think he would. I was gonna show him, just not right now. I basically wrote that I loved him and I knew he didn't love me. I hear footsteps behind me.
"Hey Luke... you okay?" I wipe the tears from my eyes.
"Yeah I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"Yep."
"Okay then. Did you want to talk to Alex."
"No."
"Why? That songs amazing and he'd..."
"I said no Reg."
"But..."
"Just drop it!" I shout at him and he falls silent. I look at him. "Reggie I'm sorry. I shouldn't've..."
"It's fine. I know your just upset Alex read it."
"But that doesn't mean I can just yell at you." Reggie hugs me.
"It's okay." Something in his voice though.
"Reg, is there something going on?" He doesn't answer. "Reggie?" I let go and he doesn't meet my eyes but I can see tears glistening in his eyes. "Reg what's going on?"
"It's nothing." He gets up and walks back to the studio. I go after him even though Alex is there.
"Reg come on talk to me." He shakes his head and I see the tears he's trying to hold back. "Reg..." He breaks and hugs me. "Hey... it's okay." I wasn't expecting this. Reggie never ever cried. "Did someone hurt you?" I ask immediately, scared for best friend.
"Yeah." He sobs and anger flares inside me. Whoever hurt him was gonna pay.
"Who was it?" He sobs harder and louder. "Who was it Reg?"
"D...Dad."
"What?" He lets go of me and wipes his eyes. There's a black mark on his face. "Holy shit." His dad must've hit him and his mum being the caring person she is, put make up on his face so he wouldn't be asked questions. "How long...?"
"Ages n...now."
"Why didn't you tell us? You could've come stay with me..."
"I c...can't leave m...mum there..."
"Does he hurt her...?" He nods and I hug Reggie again. "I'm so sorry."
"I j...just wish he w...wouldn't hurt m...mum. I d...don't c...care if he hits m...me but n...not mum" He sobs and Bobby comes running out of the studio.
"Holy... Reg." Bobby hugs him and me. Reggie cries harder and Alex comes out. I immediately look away from him and focus on Reggie. Alex joins in the hug. Alex's shoulder is touching mine and I try to move but its too hard.
"What happened?" Alex asks after we all let go of eachother. Reggie just sobs.
"Reg look at me." I say and he does. His black eye is visible to Bobby and Alex. Both of them gasp and ask if he's okay.
"Who did it? I want to punch them." Bobby says angrily.
"No you won't." I say and Reggie murmurs,
"Luke c...can you t...tell them?"
"If you want me to." He nods and I turn to Bobby.
"For months, his fathers been beating him and his mother." Alex pulls Reggie into his arms and Bobby swears.
"He's not is he?"
"H...he is." Reggie's voice is muffled because Alex is holding him so tight. When Alex lets go he continues, "They f...fight about m...me and th...then dad beats her b...because she tries t...to defend m...me." And then he starts hyperventilating really bad.
"Reg..." I say not knowing what's going on but Alex steps forward.
"Reggie can you hear me?" Reggie nods but his breathing is getting faster. "Reg listen to me. I need you to do as I say okay?" He nods again. "Take deep breaths okay." Reggie tries but he can't regain control of his breathing.
"What's happening?" I ask worried about Reggie.
"Panic attack." Alex keeps talking to him, calming him down, quite quickly. Eventually Alex helps him inside. "Bobby can you get him some water?"
"Yeah sure." I'm left with Alex who looks at me for the first time in half an hour.
"Is he gonna be okay?" I ask sitting down and putting an arm around Reggie.
"Yeah he just freaked out." I squeeze Reggie as I stare into Alex's eyes, his extremely beautiful eyes. Alex blushes and looks away. Bobby comes back and hands Reggie the water. "I don't think he should go back to school while he's like this." Alex says and Bobby and I nod. I look at Bobby.
"You heading back?"
"I have to." Of course, his dad worked as our Science teacher and that was the last subject we had today. "Either of you coming?" Alex shakes his head but I'm still angry at Alex.
"Yeah I will."
"But..." Alex looks at me and he says, "I want to talk to you."
"Well I don't." I say coldly and storm out. Bobby catches up to me a couple minutes later.
"Luke you'll have to talk to him at some point."
"Not while Reggie's like this." I didn't want to go to school but I couldn't be near Alex. I wanted to be with Reggie but not while Alex was there.
"Well I got your bag." I look at him and he gives me my bag.
"Thanks." Bobby and Reg were like brothers to me. They meant the world to me, but so did Alex. "Shit." Bobby looks at me.
"I shouldn't've left."
"Now it hits you." Bobby mutters. "Go back then."
"What about you...?"
"I'll be fine. Go make up with your boyfriend." I smile at him and take my homework out of my bag.
"Can you give this to your dad?" He nods and I run back to the studio. Alex is lying down on the couch, Reggie lying next to him and having his hair stroked like Alex had done for me last night.
I storm past Alex and climb up to the loft.
"Luke?" I ignore him and he climbs up after me. "What are you doing?"
"I wanted to talk to you but you obviously don't want..."
"Luke what is this about?"
"Just then you comforted Reg just like you did for me last night."
"Oh my god seriously?"
"Yes Alex seriously. I shouldn't've wrote that song. I don't mean any of it."
"Yes you did. You've never written anything like that before."
"So you've gone through my journal too have you?" I'm trying to keep my to keep my anger inside but its getting harder.
"No I haven't..."
"well I don't believe you!" I shout at him.
"Luke please..."
"I don't care if you want me to believe you because I..."
"No Reggie you idiot!" For a second I don't know what he's talking about but then it hits me.
"Crap." I climb down and kneel in front of Reggie. He's crying again. "Reg I'm sorry." He nods and says,
"Don't apologise." I hug him and from the corner of my eye I see Alex start crying. Great, now I had to choose. Reggie or Alex.
