The Boy Next Door

The Boy Next Door - Part 4

"Morning baby...hope you have a good day X"

A morning text from Ant always meant the day was going to be a good one. Although they hadn't told anyone about them yet Dec made it no secret that he was in love. It was written all over his face. He stared giving Ant lifts to college again but this time stealing a few quick kisses before he dropped him around the corner from the college. This annoyed Dec slightly because Ant was still thinking about his reputation more than how Dec felt but the more he thought about the more he understood. He didn't want to deal with the upset and the ever so promising beating up that he would get if the older lads found out.

However even though they kept it a secret college life became a little easier for the older boy. Ant kept an eye out for him and tried his hardest to keep his 'friends' away from Declan as they walked around the college. And of course the quick kisses shared between them in the secret places around the college campus always made the day go little more smoothly.

Well they thought they were secret but little did they know one of the other students had seen them making out one lunch time and was slowly going around telling everyone. It was a normal day for the pair and as always Dec had just dropped Ant off and was getting on with his day. He didn't have college that day luckily but he still dropped his boyfriend off. However as it got to lunch Declan hadn't heard anything from Ant. Which was strange because even when they were both in class they would still be texting one another constantly. Not wanting to worry or think much of it he brushed it off. Maybe it was just a busy day, ant had mentioned he was working on a big project lately.

It got to the end of the day and Declan made his way to pick his boyfriend up like they had agreed but after 15 minutes of waiting there was no sign of Ant. He called him a couple of time but got no answer so made his own way into the college in search for him. As he made his way down the now empty corridors he was stopped on hearing noise from the mens toilets. What he thought sounded like crying was confirmed when he entered the toilets. He approached the only locked cubicle and knocked gently. "Ant babe is that you?" He spoke gently his heart breaking as he already knew the answer. The sound of the lock moving and the door creaking open filled the now quiet room. A small gasp left the shorter boys lips as he saw his boyfriend. "Anthony what the fuck!" He almost shouted as a mixture of emotions filled his body. "Declan...I.." Ant croaked out between sobs. Who ever had done this clearly had it in for his boyfriend and had really gone to town on his face. "Come on let's get you home" Even with being the larger of the pair Ant was still a slim lad and Declan found it fairly easy to get him back to the car. "I can't.." Ant took in a deep breathe as the pain from talking washed over his swollen face. "...can't home" He cried out. Ant was the man of his house. If his mother saw him like this he would feel even more ashamed than he already was. "I know baby" Dec said sadly and placed a hand on the back of his head. "We can go to mine" He smiled softly and drove the pair back to his.

Declan quickly got Ant into his home and got him safely into his room without his own family seeing the state of his secret boyfriends face. Luckily for him most of them were still at work or college themselves so he managed to raid the first aid box and grab some ice with no questions asked. He helped Ant clean up his face trying not to hurt him anymore than he already was and placed the ice gently on his swollen eye. After being cleaned up it didn't look so bad and it should heal itself within a couple of days. "Who did this to you?" Dec asked concerned after making Ant comfortable on his bed and snuggling up to him. "No one Declan don't worry about it" The younger boy spoke quietly trying not to make his lip bleed again. "But Anthony they hurt you... the only person I care about got beaten up and you don't want me to worry!?" He got off the bed and started to pace. "Was it because of us?...Anthony is it because they found out about us?" Dec cried and started to panic. If they'd found out about them then his beating was coming. "Declan sweetheart please calm down...yes it was but it doesn't make me stop loving you!" Ant moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Dec stopped as he heard the words spill from his boyfriends swollen lips. "You...you love me?" Dec asked surprised. "Yes you idiot of course I do" Ant tried to smile and grabbed Dec's hand to pull him closer. The smaller boy stood in front of his boyfriend hands linked together. "I love you too Anth" He moved to sit on his lap and he leant in and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Ant winced at the contact and he pulled away. "Maybe the kissing can wait" He laughed reaching up and placing a hand on Dec's cheek. "I'm gonna make sure nobody touches you Declan I promise"