Love Hurts (boyxboy)

Chapter 6: Bruises

A/N:

Any italicized lines will represent a flashback of past events.

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Parker POV

I leaned against the railing on my front porch, staring at nothing in particular as the sun continued making its way towards the horizon. Fall has always been my favorite season, the air getting crisper with each passing day and becoming even more still. I think it's the peace and quiet that comes with a gentle breeze that I enjoyed the most. It wouldn't last long, though...he would be here soon.

I sighed and turned to head inside, tonight would be interesting for all three of us.

...........

"Parker!" When that voice hit the air I groaned with a pillow over my face. "Parker!" Reluctantly, I got out of my bed and walked down the short hallway to the living room.

"What Dad?"

"There you are!" He stumbled over to me with a beer in his hand.

"Dad, can you take it slow tonight? I've got-"

"Why?" He stared at me through glassy eyes. Of course he was already drunk. I sighed internally, wishing for just once in my life I wouldn't have to deal with him and his obnoxious, annoying- "You want one?"

"No, I don't. I have someone coming over, so if you could just be as normal as-"

"Oh! Is it some pretty girl from school?" He seem genuinely interested in his drunken stupor. Great.

"Dad, for the millionth time, I don't date girls and I'm not going to bring any over here for you to drool over." The back of his hand connected to my face.

"Don't you talk to me like that boy." He grumbled before sauntering over to the couch and falling onto it. "So is it one of your little fairy friends?"

"It's just Griffin." I grumbled. Honestly, he'd hit me harder before, but I had no doubt that there would be a mark tomorrow. My father wasn't exactly the most supportive of my sexuality, but he'd never done anything drastic about it. Hell, he could kick me out if he wanted to, so I was more than happy to deal with the occasional smack or two. He was the same as every other bully I'd dealt with, and the best way to deal with it was just to not react.

"Griffin?! I haven't seen that boy over here in ages!"

"Yeah, I know." I mumbled before heading back to my room. Griffin just needed to come over for a while and realize that I've got enough going on without him fucking with my head.

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Griffin POV

There was some yelling on the other side of the door after I knocked. One of the voices was Parker and I'm assuming the other was his father. They seemed to be in a pretty intense argument, so I just waited on his front porch with my thumbs hooked in the pockets of my jeans. It had been a long time since I'd walked through this door, since before Parker's mother-

The door opened and I found a balding man with a rather large beer gut in front of me. It was Mr. Wright. He didn't look anything like I remembered, but I guess your wife's death does that to a person.

"Hey, Mr. Wright, is Parker home?" I glanced over the short man in front of me, but didn't see Parker behind him.

"Griffin!" He staggered a few steps forward and gave me an awkward hug. The man reeked of alcohol and it was only 5:00. "You've changed," he looked at me for a long moment, "did you get a haircut?"

"Yes sir, quite a few actually." I chuckled "It's been three years since I've been over. Is Parker inside?"

"Why? He blowing ya for money? I guess he's gotta be good for something." A scowl came across my face. "I think he's in the bathroom looking at his eye, probably bitching about how it's going to swell." I had no idea what he was talking about, but pushed my way past him into the house.

Not much had changed, the same pictures were on the walls and the furniture hadn't moved, but it felt...empty. I shook off the strange feeling and walked down the hallway to the left where Parker's room and the bathroom were.

Parker was just staring at himself in the mirror. He was wearing a blue hoody that made his eyes seem to glow and some sweatpants. I didn't move from the door, just taking in the sight that was Parker Wright.

"Staring isn't polite." He muttered, not taking his eyes off the mirror. I smiled and walked over to him, only realizing what he was staring at when I could see the other side of his face.

There was a bruise forming under his right eye and his jaw looked to be swollen. What the hell had happened to him? I turned his body to face me, taking his chin in my hand and looking his face over.

"What-"

"The guys at school aren't the only people who like to pick fights." That's all he said as I continued to inspect his face, gently running my thumb over his cheek.

"Parker..."

"I'll be fine." He shrugged me off, heading out into the hallway towards his room. I knew his father never really recovered after Mrs. Wright passed, but I didn't know things were like this...

I followed him into his room and instantly got lost in the pictures. There were photographs everywhere. The walls, the ceiling, his desk, the floor, just everywhere. Parker was sitting on his bed with a notebook and some paper sprawled out, doing some kind of homework like nothing had happened at all.

"You wanna talk about it?" I sat down at the foot of the bed, giving him some space even though I really just wanted to hold him right now. I actually want to hold him all the time lately, but right now especially. I mean, how could anyone hurt someone so innocent and adorable? Great, now I'm getting all mushy.

"No." He didn't look up from his school work. I couldn't take it anymore.

...............

Parker POV

"What are you doing?" I stared up at Griffin who had pulled me down on the bed and was now hovering over me with that look in his eyes. Could he not be normal and let me do my homework?

"Shh," was the only answer I got before he pressed his lips against mine. It was soft and slow, then it was gone. His lips traveled up my jaw line, tenderly kissing where my father had recently hit me with a plate. Why a plate and where he got in the middle of our argument in the living room is beyond me, especially since my mind's sole focus right now was on the soft lips that just pressed against my eyelid.

Griffin traveled down again, this time all the way down my neck. He was probably going to leave an ugly ass hicky on my neck, but I guess it didn't really matter since most people would be staring at my face. Maybe they'd think that it was just another bruise.

"Griffin," I sighed, gently pushing at his shoulders. "Please stop." He froze, glancing up at me. "You can't do this to me," the last thing I thought would happen would be my voice cracking in that sentence, but it did. "I've got too much going on for you to hurt me too, so please." I closed my eyes, willing the tears to stay behind my eyelids as it all hit me. I was at home, the one place where I was vulnerable and Griffin was here to see it. Maybe seeing me cry would be enough for him and his friends and they'd let me go back to my life.

Slowly, I felt him move to my side before pulling me against his body. Strong arm encircled me and a hand found its way into my hair.

"I'm not going anywhere." His voice was low and calm as he rubbed circles on my back. "Whether you like it or not."

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