Shadows & Stars

Chapter 22: Hide

~Alexander's POV

***Before the hospital***

It's Monday morning and I'm getting ready for school. It's another rainy day so I put on black comfortable pants, a white T-shirt and a black hoodie over top. I walked down stairs and my father was in the kitchen. He still has a problem with me being gay but really don't care.

***Flash back***The day after the football game***

My parents got back from their business trip and my father stormed into my room. "Alexander please tell me I didn't see you kissing a boy on tv! No son of mine will be gay! Do you know how much of a disappointment you are!" His words pierced through me. 

"Well I'm sorry that I'm such a disappointment then." I shrugged and walked passed him. My mother stopped me down stairs. "Alexzander wait." She spoke. "Look mom. I really don't care about what dad said to me. He is literally the least of my problems. I'm just not gonna stand there and listen to him yell at me like that and make me feel like a peace of shit. Especially when he acts like he cares all of a sudden."

***Flash back over***

Me and my father haven't spoken a word since that day. "Morning Alex" He looked at me. "Morning." I replied. "How did you sleep?" He asked. "Why do you care all of a sudden?" I looked at him and pressed my lips into a thin line. "Alex I've always cared. I just needed a little time." He defended.

"So it was out of 'care' that you called me a disappointment. Maybe try not being such a disappointment of a father next time." I turned back to make coffee. "Alex. I know I haven't been a great father to you but that is just because I want you to succeed in life. Unlike your brother who is 20 and still lives with us, and the bad thing is I even offered to buy him a place to stay but he still doesn't want to go."

"Alex between you and your brother, you are the more mature one and I trust you with a lot more then him. I'm sorry that I called you a disappointment. I just know how cruel the world can be toward gay people. I really don't have a problem with it, I just wanted time to process."

He really seemed like he cared. He came over to me and gave me a hug. "I love you Alex." He spoke into my shoulder. "I love you too dad." I could feel myself get a little emotional. "I have to get to school. Bye dad" I left the house.

After school I was on my way home. When I was about to turn into our yard I got a phone call. It's from Mr. Hayes. Henry's dad. 

"Hello sir." I spoke into the phone. 

"Alex get to the hospital now!" My heart sank to my stomach when I heard his words. 

I rushed to the hospital as fast as I could. I got a parking and ran inside. Henry's father was waiting for me. "Come!" I followed him to a room. When I looked through the little window on the door I saw my worst nightmare come to life. My boy was laying there. With open eyes. Lifeless. I started to cry. "HENRY!" I yelled through the door and fell to the ground. 

I could hear the doctor shout "Turn up the volts." I stood up and looked through the door, my eyes filled with tears. I could see his face get color. His eyes blinked again. His lips made little movements. My heart felt his beat again.

Henrys parents rushed in to hug him. I stood there trying to catch my breath as tears fell to the floor. When his parents let go it was my turn. I rushed in and gave him a hug. I cried into his shoulder. "Alexander." He cried back. "I'm here. Don't worry." my tears fell. 

~Henry's POV

After I got out of the hospital my parents wanted to put me back into therapy. I didn't try to fight it because I honestly still need it. I never told anyone what happened that day. I know I probably should because that's the best way to let people help me but I don't want to. 

I've decided to drop social media for a while just until I can rebuild myself, and to not get messages from Chase again. 

Today was my first therapy session at a new lady. She focuses on mostly suicidal patients. She was really nice. She didn't pressure me into answering all of her questions. She told me if I wasn't comfortable speaking about certain things I don't have to. 

After our session Alexander came to pick me up. "Hello my boy." He said to me then opened my door. I got in and we drove to my house. When he put his hand on my thigh I quickly removed it. "I'm sorry." I spoke feeling sad. "It's okay. If you're not comfortable yet it's alright." He smiled at me. 

Alexander truly is the best. Fuck that. I took his hand and put it on my leg. I'm done being scared. Chase has no part to play in my life and I'm ready to fight. He's homophobic yet gay. And he's a rapist. "Alexander, will you come in with me." I asked when we were at my house. He nodded then followed me to my parents.

"Mom, dad, Alexander." I spoke. "I want to tell you exactly what happened to me." We all sat in the kitchen. "You remember that Chase kid that used to bully me?" I looked at my parents. They nodded. "The day of my incident at school he pulled me into the janitors closet. He continued to punch me in my stomach causing me to fall to the floor." I showed them my stomach. It had a purple bruise on it.

"After that, he through me against a wall." I could feel my tears come as I spoke. Alexander rubbed my back. "He held me against the wall and pulled down my pants. I tried escaping but he held me back. I was completely helpless." My mother started to cry as I spoke. 

"When he pushed himself into me..." I took a breath. "He grabbed me by my neck and squeezed it as hard as he could." I showed them his finger marks on my neck. "He hurt me. Over and over until he left me to fall on the floor." Alexander got tears in his eyes. My breath was shaky. 

"Henry, if you're not comfortable I would understand but would you like me to open a case against him for rape?" My mother asked. Still having tears in her eyes. I nodded. It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulder.