The Lake | BxB

-20- Leaving The Lake

Romeo stood in his bedroom in the cabin taking one last look around it as his phone buzzed repeatedly, he hadn't managed to see Gabriel since returning and the boys family had already left. Romeo was also about to leave too, he was all packed up now and was just waiting for his shithead parents to finish getting ready now.

"Hi this is Gabriel, you've reached my voicemail, sorry I wasn't able to take your call. Please leave a message" Gabriel's sweet voice rang out from the phone speakers an electronic undertone to his words. The phone then let out a high pitched beep and Romeo began to speak.

"Hi Gabe, it's me. We didn't get to say goodbye. Hope you get home safe. Errrr, yeah. I'm okay now too, thanks I guess, call me back when you can" Romeo broadcasted into the phone feeling unusually awkward. Gabriel was probably still on his drive back, that's why he hadn't answered.

"We're leaving Romeo why the fuck aren't you ready?!" Mrs Swift yelled abruptly from the hallway. Romeo sighed slinging his backpack over his shoulder and wheeling his suitcase out of his room. It was weird leaving the lake and this cabin, he'd become so accustomed to it.

He was going to miss the days spent lounging by the tranquil lake, with the sounds of birds chirping and water lapping at his toes replacing the normal everyday sounds of his parents getting drunk. By the lake the thing he'd least expected had happened. He'd found love. He'd actually managed to settle properly. Since getting with Gabriel he hadn't even wanted a hook up with anyone else, he hadn't felt the need. Hadn't even looked another guys way or thought of doing.

Sighing Romeo clambered into the back of the car taking one last look at the lake which was barely visible through the tree line now. He would miss it a lot.

The car then took off speeding recklessly out of the parking lot and onto the highway. Scenery flashed by as Romeo listened to music so he didn't have to hear his parents incessant arguments about pointless crap.

Eventually they reached home. The house Romeo had always despised. He lived in a shit neighbourhood, his house was always dirty. It had been broken into numerous times, each time Romeo's parents had blamed him for not waking up or for leaving a window open when he hadn't. Even if he had caught the intruders what was he supposed to do? He couldn't exactly fight off a group of armed assailants and his parents would've been even more angry if he'd called the cops.

Stepping into the house Romeo carried his belongings up to his room beginning the tedious task of unpacking everything, once he was done he picked up his fake id immediately heading out of the door and towards the nearest store. Inside he picked up a case of beer cans, a pack of cigarettes and some more concealer.

"It's for my girlfriend" Romeo insisted as the cashier gave him a dirty look. His home town hated gay people nearly as much as his parents did. Unlike Gabriel's which sounded heavenly. Thinking of the brunette Romeo checked his phone, he still hadn't called back or texted. Why was he taking so long? Romeo was getting impatient now. Leaving the store he immediately took out his lighter smoking one of his newly bought cigarettes and then taking a sip out of one of the beer cans.

The bitter taste of nicotine mixed with the fizzing beer making for an interesting combination.

By the time he'd gotten home he'd smoked half the pack and drunk 3 cans of beer.

He was starting feel a bit tipsy but managed to creep his way back to his room without his parents catching him. His room was a complete mess. It was clear one of his parents had been rummaging around in it whilst he was gone.

Romeo couldn't be bothered cleaning it up, he didn't care how it looked. As long as the bed was there and his blades were safe it was fine. Checking his hiding spot just to make sure Romeo nodded in relief, the sharp metal objects were exactly where he'd left them untouched.

As the blonde leaned back taking another puff out of a cigarette he heard his phone begin to vibrate. Glancing at it Gabriel's name flashed across his screen. At last.

"Hello" Romeo said gruffly putting out his cigarette on the window sill then throwing it out the window deftly.

"H-hey, sorry I took so long. W-we were in stand still traffic for almost the whole journey" Gabriel apologised immediately.

"Meh, you home now?" Romeo asked taking a swig of his beer then listening intently.

"Yep, just unpacked" Gabriel breathed back as he moved across his room, or wherever he was in his house. "How was your journey?

"Fine" Romeo supplied. "We had basically no traffic"

"Lucky, I was so bored" Gabriel giggled back.

"How did Brummell cope with that?" Romeo questioned not really interested.

"Bubbles!" Gabriel squeaked back indignantly.

"Different name same dog" Romeo answered amusement gripping his tone.

"She was okay, s-slept most of the way" Gabriel then answered. That made a change to how much the old dog would bark the lake down back at the cabins.

"Are you safe?" Gabriel suddenly asked taking Romeo by surprise at his firmer tone.

"Are you being stern with me right now?" Romeo teased leaning forward slightly taking another sip of his beer.

"Y-yes, I am. Are you?" Gabriel answered his voice faltering slightly at the change of pace for him.

"It doesn't suit you" Romeo shot back not answering the question.

"Ro please, I- I'm worried about you. L-last I saw you you were walking out of a hospital" Gabriel pleaded quietly, his words laced with fear.

"I'm fine, I can look after myself dork" Romeo assured him calmly, he gingerly glided his fingers over the stitches in his head. He couldn't feel much pain from it now, a sigh of relief followed from Gabriel as he hummed in response.

"S-sorry. I know you can I just- I didn't like seeing you like that" Gabriel whispered back, Romeo felt a twinge of guilt in his stomach but pushed it away.

"I'll try not to make a habit of it" Romeo quipped making Gabriel giggle slightly.

The nice moment was then broken by loud shouts and something smashing from downstairs, followed by more shouting. They'd probably be up here beating the shit out of Romeo soon.

"I was thinking, how does next weekend sound?" Romeo asked abruptly.

"W-what do you mean?" Gabriel stuttered back, Romeo could sense the shyness in his voice already.

"For me to come over. We could eat at your moms cafe or something, then you could show me around that home town of yours, I can stay the night" Romeo prompted smiling slightly.

"Y-yeah, I like the sound of t-that" Gabriel responded letting out another deep breath.

"Oh I know you do, I might even rail you again if you've recovered enough from last time" he teased knowingly.

He could feel the blush forming on Gabriel's cheeks from the other side of the phone as the boy muttered a response out hastily. "I don't know- I- yeah, I- I guess we could" he said sheepishly, he was clearly fond of the idea but didn't want to make it obvious.

"I won't go so gentle on you this time" Romeo told him smirking and biting his lip at the thought of it.

Gabriel let out a small squeak as Romeo said this. "I thought you didn't go gentle the first time?" He protested.

"Just you wait baby" Romeo replied in amusement not even realising what he'd just called Gabriel until he'd already said it, then pausing going quiet as Gabriel giggled from the other end.

"I- I want to still be able to walk okay?" Gabriel insisted still sounding completely flustered.

"Hmm, no promises Gabe" Romeo replied. Gabriel was his baby. He was his boyfriend, he could call him that or anything else he wanted. He did love him. Even if it was a new and scary feeling.