Bulletproof Love

5: Kellin

They entered the car in silence, Kellin staring out the front window for a moment.

“Why did you react like that when I accidentally insulted you?” Vic asked, breaking the awkward silence. Kellin froze.

“It's what I am,” he then murmured, hoping Vic would understand.

“A fa-oh. A gay guy.” Kellin winced. Vic would jump out of the car. No way he'd want to be driven home by a fag like him.

But then Vic shrugged. “James is too,” he said slowly. Tears built behind his eyes as he started the car. His knuckles were white because of his tight grip on the steering wheel as he drove Vic home.

---

“Thanks,” Vic murmured as the car stopped in front of his place.

“It's no problem, really,” Kellin replied. “Otherwise I'd have to sit through history and math and all those other shitty subjects,” he joked. The corner of Vic’s lips quirked up a little.

God, how I want to kiss him. Kellin shook the thought off. Vic was his friend. He couldn't break that friendship by voicing his biggest wish. Still, he couldn't help staring. “K-Kellin,” Vic stammered quietly. Did he imagine it or did they really have their heads so close.

“Vic,” murmured Kellin. What did he have to lose? His dignity? Vic already knew he was gay. A friend? Would that really matter with the amount of friends he had?

“Vic, get your ass inside!” They sat up straight at Mike’s voice. Vic nodded, looking a little distressed. Kellin was mostly disappointed. He had been so close.

“Y-yeah, you should go,” he stammered.

“Come with me.”

Kellin glanced back at Vic. “Why?”

“You should be let in on the fun too,” Vic replied immediately, eyes narrowed and sarcasm clear.

“You sure?” he asked, unsure.

“Of course, I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't,” he commented. They both got out and Kellin locked the car.

“Come in,” Vic told him, already walking over to the flat.

The apartment wasn't extremely fancy or anything, but Kellin thought that James could easily fit. The rooms were large, a nice TV and even a music room where their instruments were. He himself wasn't bad at singing per se, but his slight feminine sounding voice made him very self-conscious.

“Vicky!” Vic’s head turned at the sound of his young brother. He caught James in his arms.

“Thank God you're okay,” he told the boy. Kellin felt out of place in such a close household and wondered if he shouldn't just leave. He was about to turn when Vic grabbed his wrist.

“That's Jaime,” he said, pointing at the weird guy with a goofy twinkle in his eyes, despite the seriousness of their situation. “That's Tony,” Vic said, switching his gaze over to the unfamiliar tattooed guy. Of all of them, Tony and Mike were definitely the most impressive. They had tattoos up to their necks and many piercings. If he hadn't known better, he would've thought to have walked into a gang meeting. They exchanged numbers with Kellin.

“Alright, James. What will we do with him?” Mike asked after leading James to watch something in Vic’s room.

“I don't want to go back to that house,” Vic growled.

“Vic, it’s for James,” Mike sighed.

“Mike’s right, Vic. You may not have the greatest memories there, but it will be James’ home for another few years probably,” Kellin commented thoughtlessly. Oh God, did I say something wrong?

“Yeah, I agree. All his stuff is there and your mother will probably return in a few weeks. Moving him around like that won't be fair for the kid, Vic,” Jaime agreed.

“Shut up, Stinky feet.”

“That was one time!” Kellin chuckled softly. It was great that Vic had some people to call family he didn't hate.

“They're right, Vic,” Tony mused. He didn't seem the talking type.

“But…”

“Think of James, Vic, not of yourself,” Kellin told his friend quietly.

“Can't James just grab some of his stuff and sleep with Mike or something? I'd rather sleep on the sofa than in that place,” Vic complained.

“Well, I mean, the sofa is comfortable,” Jaime muttered. Kellin couldn't keep an amused smile from forming on his lips.

“No, Jaime, shut up. Vic, we're moving back there until mom returns. It's the least what we can do for James!” Mike scolded.

“I don't want to walk on the floor where I have lain in my own blood, Mike!” Kellin’s smile dropped. He saw Vic, unconscious, on the floor of a hazy house, bleeding half to death. He shivered at the mere thought. “She abused me, hit me in that house! I was her main victim, remember? I protected you two, and now you want me to return there?!”

“Vic-”

“No! We'll talk about it tomorrow!" he yelled before leaving. Kellin followed quickly, a bit disencouraged but still wishing to be there for Vic.

"Vic?" he whispered, wincing at the sound of his own voice biting through the quiet evening. Vic turned his head, eyes red and puffy. Kellin gasped and with a few steps he neared Vic.

"Would it be okay if I... Uh...hugged you?" he asked softly. Vic nodded slowly. Immediately Kellin wrapped his arms around Vic's shoulders. He allowed his friend to cry on his shoulder, how strange it might have been.

"Hey, you're just tired," he murmured soothingly as Vic just released any grip he held on his reputation. Not that he had any, to be perfectly honest.

"Today has been long, Vic. We're all tired. Maybe we should all just have a good night's rest and talk about it later, all right?" he asked softly. Vic nodded. Kellin stroked his hair, murmuring soothing words into his ear. But the main words were left behind.

I love you.