Pretty Boy

24

When I got out of my shower, and into Phil's clothes, I headed over to the guest room. I laid out a few of my belongings, plugged in my charger, and turned on the night light Katherine gave me. As I turned the over head light off, I heard the door creak open.

"Hey," Phil whispered, closing the door behind him. "You okay?"
"Yeah," I mumbled.
"No, you're not," he sighed, sitting next to me on the bed. "C'mere," he said, pulling me into a hug. He held me tight and lightly rubbed my back; I missed him so much. "Dan... Whether we're dating, or not, I want you to know that, I love you, and that I'm here for you,"
"Thanks, Phil..."
"So, what happened?" he asked, letting go. No response. "Dan, you can tell me,"
"You're gonna get mad," I pouted.
"Yes, because I think you deserved this," he sarcastically said. "Why would I be mad that you got hurt?"
"It's why I got beat up... You'll be upset..."
"Try me," he said.
"I..." my voice broke. "I was raped by my boyfriend..."
"Oh my god..."
"See, I knew you'd be mad when I told you I had a boyfriend..."
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
"You swore,"
"That is not the point here, Dan! You were forced, into sex, against your will! Okay? I don't fucking give a shit that you have a boyfriend!"
"I don't like it when you swear..."
"Dan, focus,"
"Phil, I don't wanna talk about it. Okay? It happened, and there's nothing I can do about it..."
"No, we're gonna talk about it cause I wanna make sure that you're okay,"
"I appreciate that but-"
"But nothing," he whispered. "Do you wanna sleep with me, tonight?"
"Really, Phil?" I smirked.
"No! I didn't mean it like that!" he blushed.
"I'm just teasing," I smiled, nudging his arm. "And as much as I'd like to, I think it'd be best if I just don't touch anyone for a while," I, half jokingly, said.
"I understand," he said.
"I missed this,"
"What do you mean?"
"I missed talking to you. I missed being next to you. I just... I fucking missed you,"
"I missed you too, Dan," he smiled warmly.
"I should get to bed," I sighed.
"Okay," he whispered, hugging me once more. "I love you..."
"I love you too..."

***

"Dan," Katherine said, lightly shaking me awake. "Dan, honey, I made breakfast. Come downstairs before it gets cold,"

I rolled over and lightly rubbed my eyes. As soon as my closed fist rubbed up against my blackened eye, I couldn't help but flinch. I slowly sat up in bed; every single muscle ached. Katherine grabbed my hand, lightly touched my back, and helped my out of bed. Everything from the day before hurt like hell.

"Come on," she mumbled.

She kept a firm grip on my hand and back as we walked downstairs. Once we were there, she carefully sat me down in a dining room chair and brought me breakfast. She made me a few pancakes, with bacon, and some scrambled eggs. Along with the meal she gave me, she set down a Starbucks cup Phil had got me; it was my usual vanilla latte.

"So, Dan," Katherine said, taking the seat next to me. "I wasn't able to get in touch with Stacy so I called your father instead. I know, you told me not too, but I had to call someone... I'm sorry..."
"No, no, it's fine," I sighed. "You had to do it..."
"Thank you for understanding,"
"What time is he coming over?"
"Around noon,"
"Where's Phil?"
"School," she said. "How's breakfast?"
"It's really good, thank you,"
"I'm glad you like it."

***

I lounged around the house for a while; then, exactly at noon, the doorbell rang. My body froze in fear. I wasn't ready to face my father. I sat on the couch, too terrified to move. After a minute or two, Katherine ran in to open the door.

"Dan!" Mum rushed in.

She saw me sitting on the couch and she ran to me. She collapsed onto the couch and gave me a tight hug. We started rocking back and forth as she cried into the crook of my neck. When she broke away, she held my face and started observing it. She lightly rubbed her thumbs over my eye, nose, and lips. Her cries only got louder as she pulled me in for another hug.

"Stacy, dear, I know you're upset but, you have to let go of the boy," dad said.

There wasn't a harsh or angry tone in his voice yet, at the same time, it wasn't upset or filled with sorrow. It was just indifferent. Mum reluctantly broke out of the hug. As she pulled away, she lightly rubbed her hand up and down my arm for reassurance.

"So, Dan, Katherine gave us a quick briefing on the situation but, we'd like to hear the full thing from you," dad said.
"Promise me you won't get mad..." I whispered.
"Why would we get mad?" mum asked.
"Not you... I know you won't get mad... I'm scared that dad is gonna get mad..."
"I won't, I promise," he said. "Now, what happened?"
"My roommate, um-"
"Your roommate did this to you?" dad asked. "But he seemed like such a nice boy,"
"He was, for a while... May I continue?"
"Yeah, sorry,"
"Okay... He... I can't say it," I cried.
"Want me to?" Katherine offered.
"Yes please..."
"Dan's roommate raped him," she said.
"Oh my god," dad muttered.
"My poor baby," mum sobbed, hugging me.
"What's this boy's name?" Dad growled.
"Michael Davis," I said.
"Okay, we're going to give that principle a call and have that boy moved to another room,"
"What? No! James, we are taking him out of that school!" Mum yelled.
"Where are we supposed to send him?"
"Back to his normal secondary school. Let's face it, there was absolutely nothing wrong with it,"
"Excuse me," I mumbled, heading upstairs to the bathroom.

Tears were prickling at my eyes as I locked myself in the bathroom. I fell to the ground, curled into the fetal position, and just cried.

"I don't want to send him back there," dad continued.
"And why not?"
"He doesn't want him to date my son," Katherine smirked. "Isn't that right, James?"
"Yes, 'mam," he mumbled.
"I never understood why you don't like my son. He is the sweetest boy to ever walk this earth; he's never done any harm to anybody,"
"Yes, I know, it's just... My late wife never really cared for Phil and-"
"By honoring her, you made your son miserable?" Katherine raised a brow.
"Yeah, I guess..."
"Look, our sons love each other, whether you like it or not. If we put them in the same school, the odds of them going out again are pretty high. You can either continue 'honoring' your late wife by making your already traumatized son more miserable. Or, you can follow I your new wife's foot steps and make Dan happy. It's your call, James,"
"Hi, sorry that took so long," I sniffed. "What'd I miss?"
"You're going back to your old school."