Knockout Boys

Chapter 25: Treasure

Kevin was still holding me tight, keeping me together like tape. We stayed like that, under the cold night sky, sparkling with millions of faraway stars. I read somewhere that starlight took millions of years to reach our planet, and most of those stars were long gone. What we saw was just a picture of the past.

Kevin held me until I stopped shivering, and my breathing returned to normal. Then he slowly released me. "We should go," he said, an arm still protectively around me.

People were leaving, some running to their cars, backing out recklessly, even though the danger already passed. I looked down at the disassembled semiautomatic, lying in fragments at my feet. "What's going to happen to him?"

"I don't know," Kevin said. He bent to pick up the gun, and he wrapped it in my coat, a make-shift bag. "We should turn this in."

"N-no, don't," I choked out. Paul needed to get help, not get locked up. Involving the police would just lead to more drama, and maybe scare Paul into doing something really stupid. "We'll figure it out."

"He's dangerous, Rocky." Kevin frowned, his mouth in a thin line. "There's no way in hell I'll let him go after," he swallowed. "He almost-"

"But he didn't, Kevin!" My hands were balled in fists, my bloodied knuckles ached. "He's more of a danger to himself at this point. The last thing he needs is people chasing after him!"

I grabbed my coat from Kevin, reaching into a pocket for my phone. I stared at the screen, at the contact I hadn't talked to for months, not since my life became a living hell. My heart was racing, and I took a deep breath before typing my message to Paul. I hope you're home and safe. It's going to be okay. Always your friend, Rocky.

I prayed for a response, even though I knew I probably wouldn't get one. Wind rustled through my shirt, making me shiver slightly. I looked up from my phone. Kevin was frowning at me, a crease between his brows. He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.

"Can we deal with this later? Please?" My voice was shaking. "I just want to go home."

Kevin stared into my eyes, and I glared back defiantly. Then he sighed, looking away. "Okay," he muttered.

We hitched a ride with one of my new fans. She was more than happy to help us out, despite being shaken by the night's events. I gave her my address, buckling my seat-belt for safety, and made sure Kevin did the same. We rode home in silence. I took the bundle from Kevin, the gun wrapped in my coat, and carefully lay it on my lap. I stared at the cold machine that could have ended us in seconds, now resting in harmless pieces. I wondered how the hell Paul got his hands on this thing. Probably stole it from his father, but for what reason his father could casually possess that kind of weapon was beyond me.

The road was long and bumpy, and I must have been really tired because I kind of dozed off, my eyes shutting on their own. I found my excuse to lean on Kevin's shoulder, surprisingly comfortable. I smiled because he was letting me have this, this moment of contact.

All too quickly, we arrived at my address, and I had to sit back up, interrupting my nap. Rubbing my eyes, I sighed and unbuckled my seat-belt. I thanked the girl for helping me get home, and got out of the car. Kevin followed me. My eyes traveled over his arm in a sling, the bandage wrapping his knee, his battered skin. "Uh, shouldn't you go back to the hospital?"

"No," he said shortly.

I frowned. "Are you sure?"

Kevin watched me through narrowed eyes, the dark intensity making me shiver. "Can I stay over?" he asked.

I stared at him, my eyes widening.

"No," he grimaced. "I don't mean that." Kevin swore, running his fingers through his hair. His eyes were sad and longing. "Rocky, I almost lost you. I can't just leave."

"Oh." A smile formed on my lips. "Of course you can stay."

I opened the door to my house slowly, carefully, so I wouldn't wake my parents at this ungodly hour. I carefully lay the wrapped gun on the table by the stairs. Kevin shut the door behind him, and we stood there in hallway, saying nothing. A feeble nightlight dimly lit the hall, casting our silhouettes on the wall. The silence was long, punctuated only by the sound of our breaths.

Suddenly needing to be sure, I took Kevin's hand, lacing my fingers with his. Kevin's eyes widened, then he cracked a smile. I led him up the creaky stairs to my room and shut the door behind us. My lamp was still on, lighting up my messy room. The textbooks and old clothes were strewn on the floor, the dorky Avengers poster above my unmade bed, where I dragged Kevin to sit beside me. We sat there, uncertain, just looking at each other. What was unsaid like a physical wall between us, and I needed it gone.

So I let the words spill out. "I love you." Then I flushed because it was crazy to say it now, after everything, and I didn't know if Paul was okay, I didn't know what was going to happen. But we were alive and breathing and real, when it could easily have gone the other way, and nothing was more terrifying. I almost lost you.

Kevin's jaw dropped. His brow wrinkled, and he leaned forward, his eyes searching mine as if trying to figure it out. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to kiss him so bad. His beautiful, bruised face, blue smudged jaw, the way he looked at me with those dark eyes.

With a faint smile, Kevin brought my hand to his mouth, pressing his lips to my bloodied knuckles. Then his mouth was on mine, warm and firm. His hand rested on the back of my neck, his fingers messing up my hair as he pulled me closer. I wasn't sure what to do, so I did what Kevin did, kissed him like he kissed me, his tongue in my mouth, then mine in his. I wrapped my arms around Kevin, trying my best to be gentle, careful not to hurt him, I pushed his shirt up and ran my fingers down his hard muscles, avoiding the bandages. Kevin wrapped his arms around me gingerly and pulled me down to lie beside him. I rested my head on his bare chest, listening to his fast beating heart and the rise and fall of his chest. We were alive, alive and safe. A sudden wave of exhaustion passed over me, and I fought to keep my eyelids open.

"Rocky." His breath tickled my hair. "I don't know how... I'm not..." he stammered.

"I love you, Kevin." The words came out easier this time.

"I don't know what to say," he whispered. His fingers ran through my hair. I raised head to meet his eyes. "Tell me... how can I..."

"Tell me you love me," I pleaded. The way he was looking at me with wide eyes, like a deer in the headlights.

"Rocky, I-" his voice broke, as if it hurt to say the words. "I love you."

I intertwined my fingers with his. "It's okay," I smiled. "I want you. I've wanted you for so long." I flushed, but it was true. I wanted Kevin from the moment I saw him, that blue-eyed stranger, who messed with me, who pushed me around, hot and cold; who spent time with me, looked out for me, who helped me believe in myself when my world was falling apart. Kevin was finally mine. Grinning, I leaned forward to kiss him, knocking our teeth together.

"Slow down," said Kevin, pushing me back gently. A corner of his lips turned up. "We have time."

I couldn't stop gazing into his mesmerizing blue eyes. Sky blue, with little shards of green, pupils dark and wide. "Are we together?"

Kevin's expression softened, the hard edge of uncertainty fading, a shy smile in its place. "What do you think, treasure?"

My heart raced as I searched for the words. Taking a shaky breath, I asked him, "Be my boyfriend?"

Kevin laughed lightly, and kissed my cheek. "I'm yours." He looked different in that moment. Younger. Happier. I was sure then. Kevin was mine.

The rise and fall of his chest was lulling me to sleep. I traced a heart on his skin, and my eyelids fluttered shut.