I Think I Love You [boyxboy]

Chapter Ten

Jesse: 

Penny walked me home, because she only lived one street over. We chatted about ordinary humdrum things, but it wasn't unti we were nearly at my front door that she brought up the topic that we'd obviously both been thinking of. 

"I hope Skylar's okay," she said. 

"So do I," I said. "I feel really guilty. Did I upset him? Was it something I said?" 

"No," Penny sighed. "It's not your fault. Skylar's... he and Raven... well, I'll be honest I don't really know what happened. They were really good mates at one point - not quite going out but they might as well have been, if you get me? Anyway, they had this huge falling out months a go. None of us are entirely sure what happened but it's obvious Raven hurt Sky pretty bad. They were best mates one Friday and the next Monday they came into school not talking. Sky had a black eye and a burst lip. Jamie reckons it was something sexual, like Raven had tried it on and Sky had said no but he went ahead and did it anyway. I'm not sure. Sky insists it isn't that, that they just had a falling out. I don't know." 

"Wow," I said. Now I understood why everyone in the group hated Raven. To be honest, I was feeling a bit disgusted towards him myself. Sky was such a nice person - how anyone could want to hurt him deliberately was beyond me. Then something occured to me. "What about Raven though?" 

"What about Raven?" Penny looked confused. 

"He's got loads of bruises, they're all over his face and arms," I said. "Is that not dodgy?" 

"Nah," she shook her head, blonde hair falling into her face. "Raven fights a lot. Gets drunk and picks fights with total strangers. That's where his bruises come from." 

"Oh," I said, as we reached my front door. "Well... I'll see you tomorrow." 

"See you," Penny said, cheerfully, as if we'd never had the prior conversation. 

***

Skyler turned up at my house later. He smiled when I answered the door. 

"Hi," he said. "L-Look, Jess, I j-just came to apologise for o-overreacting before. P-Penny called me a-and said you were worried." 

"It's okay," I said. "Do you want to come in?" 

"Th-thanks," he smiled at me. I took him to the kitchen and made us both a cup of tea. 

"Is everything alright?" I asked. 

"Y-Yeah," he nodded. "I'm s-sorry I kicked off, you didn't know. I-I guess I should explain." 

He took a sip of tea and then a deep breath. 

"R-Rae and I were... we were basically dating," Skylar said. "B-but he started getting... he's a short temper. H-He start getting possessive and c-controlling. He didn't like me to have guy friends, he'd ch-check my phone all the time, h-he'd get upset i-if I spent t-time with my friends instead of with h-him. I b-basically t-told him to knock it off and he... he just went nuts. Th-that's why I don't like the idea of him and th-that Kev." 

"Oh," I said. "I'm really sorry about that." 

"I-It's okay," he said. "I-I've got my Davey now and h-he's wonderful."

***

I had Maths first on Monday. 

Which meant sitting next to Raven. I wondered if, knowing what I now knew about him, I'd be able to make a whole lesson. 

He was late again. This time, he came in limping as if his ankle hurt with his hair combed to one side so the half of his face was completely obstructed from view. He made his way to the seat beside me and I noticed when he got there his teeth were gritted and there was sweat in his hairline. He was obviously in a lot of pain. I almost felt sorry for him until I remembered what Penny had said about him getting into fights. 

"Hey," he said. "Listen, thanks again for getting me a ride home on Friday." 

"No problem," I said, not coldly but not kindly either. 

"But listen," he adopted a sassy, I'm-better-than-you tone. "Don't tell anyone about seeing me cry, yeah? I've got a reputation." 

"Wouldn't dream of it," I said. 

"Cheers," he said, his voice becoming harsh and cold. We didn't speak for ages. Then he sighed. 

"Here, I saw Skylar earlier," he said. "He looked really upset - has he been okay?" 

"Why do you care?" It came out without me intending it too. He blinked at me, looking hurt but ony for a split second. Then he shrugged. 

"I don't," he said. "I was just asking a question." 

We didn't speak again for the whole lesson.