'such a pity, a boy so pretty'

7. late night calls

Keith walked Lance home as he'd left his bike there, the rain had washed most of the mud away and was clearing up a little, the sun started to shine through again, causing a rainbow to beam across the sky.

"Must be pride month." Lance joked, Keith was surprised at how quickly he could go back to his original mood as he was sobbing in his arms a few moments ago. "Bye Mullet." Lance said as they made it to his front door.

"Bye Lance." He'd yet to find a nickname for Lance, and it was really starting to get on his nerves. He grabbed his bike and waved him goodbye, Lance walked inside the house with a small smile on his face.

Lance liked Keith, he really did, he was just unsure of how he liked him. He was scared, mainly of what people would think, what his mutual friends would think, what his family would think and worst of all what his dad would think. He was also scared of getting hurt, not by his dad, but by Keith himself, Keith might not even like guys! Lance had, experience bad relationships in the past and all the guys had been assholes to him, treating him more of an object than a boyfriend, and Lance had let them.

All Lance wanted was to make his dad proud, to not be a disappointment, he wanted his dad to look at him the way he looks at Robert or Sophia. Am I a disappointment? Lance thought as he trekked up the stairs, zoning out on the noise in his home. Lance had wondered a lot about what would happen if he told them about his sexuality, then stopped himself, because he was a coward.

He would do it though, soon, first his mum, then Sophia, then Robert. And then.. and then his dad, and everyone else.

Lance stumbled into his room, taking his soaking towel off his head and hanging it up, he went to the bathroom and had a shower, washing all the remaining mud off him. He felt cleansed, as if he hadn't told Keith all about his dad and it had all been a dream. He turned the water off and walked back to his room, changing into his joggers and T-Shirt, even with the random rain, it was still pretty hot.

—

Keith rode home, the rain not as hard anymore, he nearly slipped off his bike as the tires slid across the tarmac. A car zoomed past and Keith swallowed, getting back on his bike, slowing down a bit, he got home soon enough. Opening the door, silence greeted him, again his dad wasn't home, not that he cared.

Keith had a quick shower then turned the TV on and made a sandwich, an action film was just starting. The ending credits came on about 2 hours later when the door opened, his dad walking in.

"You alright Keithy." His Dad asked. "How's that Lance kid, asked him out yet?" Keith just rolled his eyes, though he know he took for granted the fact that his dad had been accepting of him. And no he hasn't asked Lance out yet because there was this feeling in his stomach that told him no, yet every time he saw him it just felt right.

"No Dad I haven't." Keith turned back to the TV, though he wasn't really watching the channel. He couldn't help but think, if he ever did ask Lance out, how would he do it? Would it be a big romantic gesture, or was Lance not into that kind of stuff? Would he just ask him casual? Should he just kiss him and see what happens? Or would that make things complicated? Keith sighed as these million thoughts ran through his head.

"Oi, lover boy, your phone's ringing" Keith's Dad told him. He hadn't even realised as he'd been too engrossed in his thoughts.

"Hey Lance." He rolled his eyes at his dad again as he decided to make weird faces at him.

"H..hey." Lance's shaky voice sounded on the other end, Keith grew instantly worried, and stood up to walk to his room. His dad gave him a patronising look, Keith jokingly stuck his finger up at him.

"Hey-" his dad began, but Keith was already up the stairs.

"Are you okay?" Keith asked him, opening the door to his room, flicking on the light, kicking a few cardboard boxes out of his way, sitting down on his bed.

"N..no not..t reall..y." Lance was currently huddled on his roof, his blanket wrapped round him, a bruise forming from the cut on the side of his head.

"What's the matter? Are you hurt?" Keith's voice hitched a little. "Do you want me to come over?"

"I'm so stupid." Lance sighed, completely disregarding Keith's questions. "And I can't take it back."

"Take what back?"

"I just didn't think he'd react that badly." Lance touched his bleeding head where his dad had thrown him against the wall after shouting in his face, his mum's cries still echoed in his ears.

"Lance what's going on?"

"I told him. God dammit Lance you're such an idiot." He shouted to himself.

"I'm coming over now, are you at home?" Keith was panicking he grabbed his coat and ran out the door, he ignored his dad. Over his breathing he barely heard Lance's 'yes' he hoped on to his bike. "I'll be there in a minute.

Keith raced over there, the rain now stopped the road was still a bit slippery but it was nothing Keith couldn't handle. He made it to Lance's neighbourhood and parks his bike next to Lance's truck. He walked round the side of the house and saw Lance on the roof. Keith climbed up the vine holder then the drain pipe and shuffled across the roof to sit next to him.

The first thing Keith noticed was the blood, and lots of it, Lance had a gash on his head. Keith pulled off his jumper, then his black shirt, he held the shirt onto Lance's head in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

"You don't have to do that, it's fine." Lance's voice sounded monotone and tired.

"It's not fine what happened?" Lance had taken the shirt now, holding it against his head, sighing.

"I told my mum I was bisexual. I didn't think he was home. I thought I could tell them all separately. But then he came barging in, reeking of alcohol. My mum, she tried to hold him back, but he pushed her away." Lance's free hand clench into a fist So Keith took it in his own, outraged at Lance's father.

"Where is he now?" Keith asked pulling Lance to lean on him.

"Out. I don't know if he left or not but when he smack my head against the wall I didn't really hear anything and came straight up here, the windows locked from the outside." Lance told him.

"Is your mum okay?" Lance nodded looking at the ground.

"Thank you." Keith hugged Lance.

"What is this?" Keith asked.

"What?"

"What are we? What am I to you? I can't figure it out. Please Lance I need to know." Keith asked randomly, with pleading eyes, sick of waiting, it was now or never.

" 'What am I to you?' that's pretty complicated. You were a concept at first, the new kid, a project I guess, I saw you and I thought, I want to be that guys friend. You were the one I practiced my pick up lines too, but I actually meant them. Then I opened up to you and now I don't know anymore. You're untouchable, yet human. So human it scares me because you want what everyone else wants while I'm stuck here in a constant loop. 'What am I to you?' You're my...friend Keith, I guess. It's just sometimes when I look at you." Lance looked him right in the eye. "I just want-"

Keith closed the gap between their faces, hoping he hadn't made a mistake, until Lance started to kiss back, dropping the shirt and cupping Keith's neck with both hands.

Lance smelt of pineapples and cinnamon, his mouth tasted salty from his tears, Keith kissed harder.

Lance was in heaven, the ecstasy that was Keith was now right here right now kissing him and for once Lance finally felt like he belonged.

end of chapter seven