Who Knew?

Chapter 10:

POV- Wyatt

I'm pretty sure that I take the fastest shower of my whole fucking life. Ruben has decided to open up to me about what's been happening to him. I don't know why I'm so eager to know about this stuff. Maybe it's because I'm over the moon about him feeling like he can trust me enough to tell me more about his life. Also, I totally want to bash the guys head in. More the first, but definitely some of the later. 

I quickly dress in a gray t-shirt and plaid pajama pants, drying my hair off as I re-enter my room. Ruben is perched in the center of my bed, knees pulled up against his chest. He's put on the shirt that I stole from Jake's room. It's loose on his frame, but it covers up what he wants covered. 

I throw the towel into the pile of wet clothes by the door before walking to the bed slowly. I lean against the wall, facing him but keeping my distance. I don't want him to feel like I'm forcing myself on him. His eyes are closed and his breathing slow. Neither of us say anything for a long time, just being in each other's company. 

Then, he speaks. "My mom was never really around much when I was young. She'd work all day, then go clubbing all night. She was a stripper three nights a week, and just went out to have fun every other night. She'd be gone for her day job before I was even awake in the morning, then come home after I fell asleep. I'd hear her come home at three in the morning. Her and my dad would fight, then one or the other would stomp off to their bedroom. It was our routine.

"One night, my mom came home and her and my dad got into this huge fight. I didn't think anything of it at first. They were screaming about how she had slept with some guy behind my dad's back. She was kind of a floozy, slept around a bit. He was really angry about it this time for some reason. I don't know why, it's not like it hadn't happened before. 

"Something must have happened though, because I heard the front door open and shut, and she was gone. She never called, never sent a letter, and never came back for me. The morning after she left was the first time that my dad was ever violent with me. He was really drunk, babbling about how I reminded him of my whore of a mother. How I'll probably end up just like her. 

"It's worse when he's wasted. He'll go on these rants. Sometimes about my mom, or what multitude of things I did wrong that day, or nothing at all. It always ends with me on the floor though, him standing over me, saying that it teaches me lessons. That I'll thank him one day. That I'm worthless and this will fix me and make me stronger. And he always wins. He always fucking wins." Tears start to stream down his cheek and he shakes his head. "He's right. I am worthless. I deserve everything he does to me simply because I never stand up to him. I can't fucking do it Wyatt because I know that if I do, he will kill me. I deserve it all. I do. I'm worthless and I-" 

"Stop." Before I can stop myself, I kneel in front of him on the bed and cup his cheeks as he cries silently. "Stop it right now Ruben Walker. You are not worthless, do you hear me? And you don't deserve a damn thing your father does to you. You are perfect in every single way and if someone can't see that then fuck them. It doesn't matter what anybody else thinks because I think you are the bravest person I know. And you are completely worth it, Ruben. You're worth everything. You mean so fucking much to me that it scares me shittless. The things you make me feel terrify me in their immenseness, because nobody will ever make me feel this way but you. Because you are so special, and so brilliant. God, I wish people could see you how I do, see how truly wonderful you are. You know, screw everyone else, I wish that you could see that."

It takes me a second to realize that I'm crying too. I wipe his cheeks with my thumbs, and rest my forehead on his. "Ruben, you're the most incredible person that I know. You are so brave, and I'd wish that you'd realize that." 

He sighs, and straightens his legs, making it easier to perch on his lap. He buries his face in the crook of my neck. I barely hear what he says next. "But what if he's right?" he whispers. 

I shake my head hard. "No. He will never be right about this. That's just bullshit. You're so much more than what he says Ruben. And what he does to you is so not okay. What I would do if I ever got my hands on the mutherfucking ball-licking bastard son of a bitch. I have so many plans, many of which involve rope, a chainsaw, scissors, his nuts, and a guillotine if we can get our hands on one."

A raw laugh vibrates against my neck, and his hold on me loosens out of the death grip. His head raises and he smiles a bit. "Thank you." 

I shake my head. "No, thank you. Thank you for trusting me with that. It means more than you think. Plus, you helped me figure a lot of things out over the past few days. It's the least I can do." 

He swallows hard. "I've never told anyone about this. It feels good, I guess. I dunno. I needed to get it out. Please don't tell anyone though. No one. He'd kill me if he found out I'd told anyone." 

I nod immediately. "Not a soul. It's just between you and me. At least until you're ready." 

He sighs. "Thank you." He kisses me softly on the lips, before nuzzling his nose into my cheek. It feels so good. He feels so good. "Did you really mean what you said before?"

I press my face into his hair. "Every single word." I breathe him in. "Just promise that you'll talk to me okay? I'm here whenever you need anything. Ever. Don't forget that, okay? Promise?"

"I promise." He sniffles. “I ruined your shirt.”

I huff a laugh. “That’s the least of my worries.”

We stay like that for a long while before deciding to go down stairs and watch some of the old movies that we had talked about earlier. I got him some ice for his more severe bruises, and asked my mom if he could stay the night. She was hesitant at first, it being a school night, but the look on my face must have been rough because she changed her tune quickly, allowing him to stay. 

We sit a respectable distance away on the couch, holding hands when my mom isn't in the room and stealing kisses here and there. Half way through The Breakfast Club, my dad comes home from work. They introduce themselves, and dad leaves us be. We decide on pizza with everything for dinner and no one complains. 

Ruben doesn't talk much, but he seems lighter than before. Like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. It's nice to see him relaxed and calm for once, the tension gone from his shoulders. 

I study his profile as he watches one of my favorite movies. He catches me looking and I blush. He only smiles though, and when he runs his thumb along my knuckles, I can't help but think that I am falling hard and fast for the beautiful, brave boy sitting next to me. 

A/N

Woah. That one was kinda rough tbh. I might have cried a little bit. I love how the story is progressing so far, and I hope you guys do as well. Please leave a comment with your thoughts!