The Lake | BxB

-19- Last Morning

Romeo awoke the next morning to the sun filtering in through his window. It was reflecting off of the lake creating a dazzling display of lights casting onto his bedroom wall. Unfortunately Romeo wasn't able to focus on that. Instead his attention was on the shouting coming from the living room. That was what had woken him up.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO THAT YOU DUMB BITCH!" Mr Swift yelled aggressively as a loud slam vibrated through the house, he'd probably just punched a wall. Clambering out of bed Romeo swiftly got dressed, either they'd eventually make their way to him, or he'd get out before they could. He was hoping for the latter.

Quickly slipping his shoes on Romeo opened his window, but before he could scramble onto the windowsill to take the leap his door flew open.

"What time do you call this?" Mrs Swift snapped striding into the room and standing there folding her arms disapprovingly at her son as Mr Swift followed her in looking angry.

"Whatever time the clock says, unlike you I can actually read them" Romeo retorted calmly trying to make it not obvious he was about to jump out the window, he didn't need to give his parents more reasons to be mad at him than they already had made up for themselves.

"Oh shut up, faggot!" Mr Swift hissed waving the glass beer bottle he was clutching in his hands around carelessly and slurring his words. The sun was barely even up and he was already drunk. What a waste of oxygen.

"I'm going out" Romeo stated trying to push past his dad who was stood in the doorway, he managed to easily move the man out of the way who stumbled backwards being caught by his wife. If she hadn't lunged for him he would've definitely toppled to the floor, shame.

"You're going to pay for that!" Mr Swift yelled marching hastily down the hallway after Romeo. Feeling his heart begin to race Romeo picked up his pace heading to the door, he placed his palm on the cold handle pushing it open but before he could step out an ear splitting crash split the air. Sharp pain erupted in the side of Romeo's head as his vision became blurry.

He glanced at the floor swaying slightly trying to keep his balance as the world spun around him. Shiny green glass pellets littered the floorboards making a carpet of thorns as Romeo stumbled forwards and out the door. His dad must've smashed the beer bottle over him, he could feel blood pouring down his head at an alarming rate as he stumbled clumsily through the woods. He wasn't even sure where he was going at this point.

Romeo's head throbbed and he hissed in agony. Gingerly he touched his head retracting his now blood soaked fingers at the pain the small touch caused him, there was so much blood. This wasn't good. Stumbling through the forest the sounds around Romeo became louder and louder. It was like someone was holding megaphones to the beaks of every bird as a high pitched ringing joined their ominous chorus. His vision went from spinning to fading as he stopped in his tracks.

Falling backwards Romeo hit the forest floor with a thump sending leaves scattering around him as he crashed to the floor unconscious. The blonde lay as still as a statue in the mud his eyes shut and blood continuing to descend from the large gash in his head...

...

Romeo shot open his eyes as a blinding white light filled his vision. Humming sounded from around him and low voices were barely distinguishable. There was a dull, aching pain in his head but it had mostly subsided now compared to how unbearable it had been whilst he was staggering haphazardly around the forest. His vision began to refocus and he could make out a white tiled roof, he'd never seen it before. Romeo could feel he was lay on some sort of mattress too. Before he had the chance to look around a soft, quiet voice spoke up.

"Romeo!" Gabriel gasped out.

"Where the fuck am I?" Romeo questioned sitting up groggily, it felt like he was still half asleep. He could barely keep his eyes open.

"H-Hospital, I-I found you collapsed again, your head was- was cracked open" Gabriel explained stuttering over his words clearly nervous. "There was glass sticking out of your clothes, face and arms. It- it was bad"

"Oh" Romeo answered shortly, this kept happening. Gabriel kept having to be the one to see him at his lowest, or even save him after he was beaten. He hated needing to be cared for, but even more he hated Gabriel having to see him like this.

"Have I had stitches then?" Romeo asked logically. Gabriel only nodded shyly his soft blue gaze unwavering as he stared down at his boyfriend.

"T-they said you're okay now, but- but if we'd been any later in finding you it could've turned nasty" Gabriel clarified quietly. At the same time a door opened behind him and a woman wearing a scrubs entered.

"You're awake" She commented entering the room and observing Romeo.

"Obviously" Romeo muttered exchanging a glance with Gabriel.

"Do you remember what happened? It looks like you received some kind of blunt force trauma from a glass bottle" The nurse said calmly glancing down at the clipboard she was holding.

"Yeah, a glass bottle fell off a shelf and hit me square in the head" Romeo lied efficiently. There was no way he was telling this random nurse what had actually happened. All hell would break loose.

"Are you sure? Why were you in the woods then?" She responded narrowing her eyes at him. Gabriel also turned to him looking nervous, it was clear he had ideas of his own about what had happened. Romeo would need to take them one at a time, starting with the biggest threat, the nurse.

"I panicked, I was feeling super dizzy and disoriented. I don't remember much else except stumbling down the path" Romeo answered nonchalantly with a small shrug. "I think I was looking for help"

"Right" The nurse said jotting down some notes, his explanation had seemingly convinced her. "We also noticed some self harm marks on your arms, have you ever had to be admitted to hospital for these?" She added making Romeo's breathing quicken.

"No. Those are old" He reassured her trying to keep level headed. A mental health admission was the last thing he needed right now, he wasn't depressed. Well maybe he was, but he didn't want to die. He only cut as a coping mechanism, as a way of survival.

"Are you experiencing low mood or suicidal thoughts?" The nurse questioned stonily.

"Nope" Romeo shook his head, it was a half truth.

The nurse wrote more things down then walked out of the room after checking his obs leaving the boyfriends alone together in the quiet space.

"It was your parents, wasn't it?" Gabriel asked his voice shaking. He wasn't stupid. There was no point lying to him anymore.

"Something like that" Romeo muttered back, It was extremely obvious from Gabriel's perspective he was being abused. From the unexplained bruises, to twice finding him collapsed on the forest floor with head injuries. There wasn't much use in hiding it from him.

"I-I'm here if you- if you need me. I know you don't want to talk about it, but I'm always here" Gabriel told him kindly.

"I'm only two years away from being 18, once I'm 18 I can get out. I'd rather that than be forced into an orphanage or be adopted by some drug addicts" Romeo stated.

Gabriel nodded. "Just... don't put yourself at risk, if- if they get too violent, you can always come stay at- at mine" He offered.

"Sure thing" Romeo mumbled back, the door then opened a second time with Mr and Mrs Summers entering.

"Hey Romeo sweetheart, how are you feeling?" Mrs Summers immediately said crouching down by the bed, it was obvious how kind she was. Romeo found it strange being treated like this by adults. He was so used to being mistreated it made him wary when someone was this nice to him for no obvious reason.

"Fine" Romeo supplied shortly.

"Well our sons boyfriend is always welcome at our house, if you ever need a safe space" Mrs Summers answered smiling knowingly, Gabriel blushed bright red at this flashing an apologetic look at Romeo. Smirking in amusement Romeo nodded gratefully. Them already knowing was less awkward than being caught in bed together like what had happened with Laila the previous day.

"Your parents are on their way. They were asleep when I went and called in but Laila went round again just now and they're awake and on route" Mr Summers explained. Romeo shuddered slightly at this information. Gabriel meanwhile flashed a concerned glance his way.

"Cool" Romeo replied nodding. The stitches in his head weren't ideal but they'd dissolve in the shower eventually. Providing his parents didn't hit him in the head again any time soon he should make a full recovery.

Speaking of the devils, they arrived about 20 minutes later all smiles. They feigned concern for their son, his Mom even pressing a sloppy kiss to his cheek which Romeo cringed heavily at. Once he was discharged he was shepherded back to their car hurriedly.

Romeo remained silent for the entire car journey listening to his parents arguing over who's fault it was they'd nearly got caught. They didn't care about their sons wellbeing or even the fact they'd put him in hospital. All that mattered to them was that they could've been arrested for child abuse because of it.

As the car pulled up in the lake resorts parking lot Romeo heaved a sigh of relief. All he wanted to do was go to bed now. Then when he woke up spend time with Gabriel if he hadn't already left by then. Today was their last day. He'd rather see the brunette at least once more before leaving later that evening.