Tobi stood there out of breath, bruised, and aching in pain. He didn't think JJ was that strong.
"Are you guys okay?" Tobi asked them.
"Not really." Josh answered, rubbing his left cheek.
"Here, I'll drive you guys home." Tobi offered. They got in his car and went to Simon's house first. "Listen guys, don't worry about JJ. I won't leave your side for the rest of the week." Tobi promised.
"Hey Simon, while we're here can I get my football back?" Josh asked as they parked in front of his house.
"Sure." Simon walked up to his front door and opened it. He noticed Josh standing behind him. "Oh you're coming inside?"
"If that's alright." Josh made sure.
"I guess. I mean you'll only be in here for a minute." Simon figured. The staircase is directly across from the front door so they could go straight upstairs without being noticed. Simon brought Josh into his room and handed him the ball.
"Simon! Get your ass down here!" Simon heard his father's voice.
"Coming!" Simon yelled back. "Stay here." he whispered to Josh. Shit, I thought I was free of this. Simon thought. He rushed downstairs and found his father standing in the living room.
"A, friend, of yours from school today came by and informed me about something." his father addressed.
"What?" Simon shifted uncomfortably.
"Simon Minter are you gay?" his dad had a dangerous tone in his voice. Simon felt paralyzed. Do I be honest or attempt to lie? If I lie and he knows I am the outcome could be worse. Don't hesitate, say something!
"Yes." Simon decided to be honest. That didn't make things any less worse though. His father slapped Simon across the face so hard, he slammed against a wall.
"It all makes sense now why you're such a loser in life!" his dad screamed. Josh heard him screaming so he ran downstairs and out the door to get Tobi. Unfortunately Simon's father caught a glimpse of him. "Who the hell are you?!"
"I'm his boyfriend and you have no right to touch him like that." Josh sternly said.
"I'm his father so I can touch him however I want to! If you were my child I'd slap you so hard, your face would fall off." he threatened. Josh sprinted outside to get Tobi.
"Tobi! Tobi! Tobi! Tobi!" Josh frantically knocked on his car window.
"Calm down. What is it?" Tobi rolled his window down.
"Simon's in trouble!" Josh wailed. Tobi ran out of his car, and with Josh, back inside.
"I refuse to call you my son and have you live under my roof!" Simon's dad grabbed his arm and gripped it tight as he shoved Simon to the floor.
"Stop! Don't you dare lay another finger on him!" Tobi pushed up his sleeves ready to fight again. Simon stood up in between him and his father.
"Tobi, stop! Please don't hit my dad." Simon pleaded. He didn't know why he did. Simon should've wanted his dad gone but he was still his father.
"What you don't think I can fight, prick?!" Simon's dad grabbed his son's shoulder and spun him around, punching him in the face. Simon fell to the ground once again. His lip begun to bleed as it had been cut by one of his dad's rings.
"I'm sorry I'm such a failure to everyone!" Simon cried before running outside. Josh and Tobi ran after him.
"I don't ever want to see you set foot in my house again!" his dad managed to get out before Tobi slammed the door shut. Josh caught Simon who didn't fight it. He just took it as a hug.
"I wanna runaway. Anywhere out this place. I can't take it anymore. I don't deserve your love." Simon sobbed into Josh jumper.
"Simon, please. You know that's not true. You deserve every bit of it because you are the reason I started smiling again, laughing, forgetting about what bad has happened to me. I love you, Simon and I couldn't go on without you. Please stay." Josh began to cry as well. Simon nodded. Even his own father rejected him. But Simon didn't care because what mattered was that Josh still loved him.
"Josh, do you want me take you to your house?" Tobi approached them carefully.
"I have no choice." Josh let go of Simon. Simon took Josh's hand and nodded, saying they could do it.
