Hot Starry Nights

1:5 ~ Nathaniel

  I wake up and head to the kitchen, leaving Ward on his own. I grab a pop-tart and think about last night. It was really weird when he left all of a sudden. And then this morning, he was screaming in his sleep, and I couldn't open the door. It was locked. He was in pain, and I couldn't help. All because of a fucking piece of metal. All I could do was listen. It was torture. And when he let me in, he tried to leave. It fucking hurt.

  It's starting to get brighter outside. It's 6:03. Ward's alarm should go off in about twenty-seven minutes. I send him a text telling him I'll be back in case I'm still gone when he wakes up. I head home to take a shower and get ready for school. It's nearly seven when I get back.

  I open the door and immediately hear his alarm going off. He's either asleep or in the shower. I don't hear the water running, so he's probably still asleep. I grab a monster from the fridge and whisper in his ear. He's always been a light sleeper, so it doesn't take much to wake him up. He looks around, probably trying to figure out why he can't hear his alarm.

  "I turned it off. Here's a monster. Get your dumbass up and get ready. It's already past seven."

  He mumbles something and lays back down. I set an alarm on my phone, turn it all the way up, and put it against his ear.

  "Alright, alright! Turn it down!"

  When we get to the school, the day mainly goes by in a blur. I get to my last class and Ward is in the back, talking to Ember. A fire burns in my veins. I've never liked Ember, she moved here and befriended Ward last year.

  I sit in Ward's seat and watch their interaction. She looks like she's interrogating him, and he's blushing. Does he have a crush on her? No. There's no way. He's never had a crush on anyone. He would've told me. When I decide that they've flirted enough, I walk up behind him and take his monster from his hand. I drink the rest of it and crush the can. Aiming for the trash can behind Ember, I shoot and score, brushing the top of her head. "Oh. I missed."

  "Hello Nathan."

  "Hey Ember. Am I interrupting something? Good."

  I grab Ward's hand and push him into his chair. Facing him, I sit on his lap. I wipe the rest of the monster off of mine and his lips with my thumb and lick it off. Am I aware that I'm causing a scene? Yes. That's what Ember gets for messing around with him. I lay my head on his shoulder. "You're mine."

  "Wow. That was certainly a show. Since when are you so possessive? You know me and her are just friends, right? And Raiden was recording it. The whole school will have seen it before tomorrow."

  "I don't care, Ward. We need to talk when I get home. Wanna call or come over? My Dad's home today."

  "Your Dad's a jackass. I'll call."

  When I get home, my dad's waiting for me behind the door. He slams it shut. Dammit.

  "Where have you been? You didn't come home Monday, and you weren't even here yesterday."

  "Well no shit, Sherlock. I was avoiding you, Da-"

  He shoves my head against the wall roughly. "Did I tell you to speak?"

  I look him dead in the eyes. "That's generally what happens when someone asks a question." I spit at him.

  He knocks the side of my head against the wall. Everything becomes blurry, and I feel a growing pain on my left ear. I reach up to touch it. There's a sticky substance I'm all too familiar with. I start laughing. Shit. I feel it drip onto my shoulder. Well, there goes another shirt.

  I'm brought back to reality when he kicks my shins. I'm now kneeling in front of him, and start coughing blood when he knees my chest. I start fading. I can't see.

○○○○○○○○○○○

  I wake up and I'm in my room, laying on the floor. The door is locked, and my bedroom is on the second floor. There's no escape. Unless I flew. I can try to fly. I don't remember being able to fly. At least I've finally made it to my destination. It's dark outside. Ward must be worried. If he cares. No one in my life ever seems to care. Exept him. Ward is home. I want to go home. The consequences of my actions are starting to catch up with me, and I feel immense pain. My phone buzzes in my pocket.

  Ward: (Missed Call)
               Do you need me to pick you up
               Where r u
               I thought u were gonna call me, did I hear wrong
               (Missed Call)
               Do you need help
               Was it him
               Nat this isn't funny
              (Missed Call)
              (Missed Call)
              (Missed Call)
               This isn't funny
              Nat plz
              R u ok
              Nathaniel Plz
              Please, just tell me you're ok? Please be ok.

              Nathan: Hey inedd plsce2 saty for a whle

              Ward: Where r u

              Nathan: nO cars car bad

              It hurts

              evrythin hurts
              Help

              Ward: Nat this isn't funny
              Tell me ur joking
              Nat
              NAT