Deer In Headlights [Minizerk]

Chapter 8

I'd stepped outside to call my parents.

"Hey, sorry I know I'm later than I said I'd be. Nobody's visited my friend, so I don't wanna leave him until after visiting hours" I told them.

"Of course Simon, need a lift back when you leave? We can drop Ethan off as well" my dad offers.

"Thanks dad, yeah that'd be great" I said "Visiting hours stop at 5, so we'll need picking up then"

"Okay no worries Simon, hope you guys are all alright" he said before hanging up.

Ethan tapped my shoulder as I put my phone back in my pocket.

"Erm, his parents just arrived. They kicked me out, and they're being assholes to Josh" he grimaced.

"One second"

I barged in with no warning.

"Hey Josh, visiting ends at five so I'm getting a lift home then, I'll be back tomorrow after school I promise" I said, cutting his mother off.

"Excuse me? Who are you and how do you know my son?" She folded her arms.

She was looking me up and down in a manner that suggested she was not an open minded woman.

"I'm his friend, from school" I flashed a sickeningly and clearly fake smile.

"Are you the one who influenced him to decide to like men?" She raised an eyebrow.

I looked at Josh in disbelief. He had the same stunned look on his face, but his eyes were filled with a look that said he was too frightened to speak out against them. I understood.

"Actually no, because one, I've been friends with him for only this week. And two, he never chose that, that's just a part of who he is" I said.

"Joshua, answer me honestly, are you dating this... Boy?" She turned to him. I was starting to realise why he didn't like being called Joshua.

"So what if I was?" He mumbled.

"You know the rule Joshua" she said firmly. I looked to Josh in confusion.

"I date a guy they kick me out, it's supposed to teach me a lesson" he said quietly.

I was horrified.

I'd already planned to ask my dad about Josh staying with us for a week so he could relax, but now? I was gonna ask him if Josh could live with us.

"You two should probably leave, he's in a fucking psychward, this isn't the place for this bullshit" I felt my voice raisng.

A nurse came in almost immediately.

"Excuse me, what's going on?" She asked. Thankfully this was the nice lady from before, she'd told us what way to go down the corridor and what floor he was on.

"They're threatening him" I said bluntly.

"Out, everyone except you sweetheart" she directed the last comment to me.

"Are you serious? We're his parents" his dad exclaimed.

"Yes I am serious, this is a hospital, not your home. What I say goes" she insisted.

After much protest they eventually left. Ethan came back in once they were gone and the nurse left us three.

Josh looked like he'd seen a ghost.

"Josh... I had no idea they were abusive" I said softly, standing by his side.

Then he really took me by surprise. His composure finally cracked down and he burst into tears.

I sat on the side of his bed, wrapping my arm tightly around his shoulders and pulling him into my side.

"I hate them so much" he choked, wiping at his eyes.

"I don't blame you, but listen, don't let them threaten you. You want a boyfriend? Get a boyfriend. You can't change who you are, just bury it, and that's not fair on you" I said softly, rubbing his side.

"I wish I wasn't gay" he mumbled.

"There's nothing wrong with being gay Josh, I know you've got people telling you there is, but they don't know you. Just because they're your parents it doesn't automatically mean they know you and can make choices for you, especially about who you date" I reassured him.

"Thank you Simon" he forced a small smile.

I looked over at Ethan who smiled at the two of us, though he still looked concerned about earlier. I understood why, I was also worried. Hopefully I could make things better for him.