The Trouble With Love (SHOEY Fanfic) DISCONTINUED

A Corrupted Heart (Chapter 18)

I set the food down at the table after preparing supper, which as usual, was chicken.

I yelled for Izzy and Sawyer, and Izzy being Izzy, came running immediately to tackle me with a hug.

"Joey! I swear if you make chicken one more time!" She giggled and squeezed my waist.

She's still pretty feisty even when she's pregnant...

We sat down and Sawyer slowly walked in, glaring at me.

I swallowed and fidgeted in my seat. Izzy noticed Sawyer's mood and looked at me questioningly.

She doesn't need to know...

I quickly shrugged and looked at my food.

"Hey..." I glanced up at Sawyer, trying to calm my shaking hand. One wrong word and he could blow up again. Izzy doesn't need to see him like that... She's probably had enough of watching violence.

He roughly picked up his fork and started eating. I stayed still for a few seconds before starting to eat, myself.

Izzy looked uncomfortable and finally spoke up.

"Soo... Any thoughts on baby names?"

Sawyer's mood seemed to lighten drastically, or he was just very good at acting. Probably the second was true.

"Uhh... If its a boy, we could name him Oreos?" I sighed in relief. Maybe dinner won't be as tense as I thought it would be.

We spent most of dinner arguing, but it was mainly Izzy and Sawyer going back and forth. I was not planned on getting my butt kicked again if I ticked Sawyer off.

They eventually agreed if it was a girl, they would name her Ashlynn, a boy, they would name Ashton. It works, ya know?

When I finished I quickly excused myself.

I didn't want to risk any more trouble with Sawyer. I know he meant well, but if he can't control his temper, its bound to land me in the hospital... Again. Except this time it'd be from his fist to my face, not from shards of glass in my skin.

I went to my room and picked up the pencil off my dresser. After sharpening it, I flopped down on my bed and pulled out my sketchbook.

I quickly sketched the outline of a city, dotting the horizon with skyscrapers. I ended up silhouetting it, and it looked pretty nice.

I put up my sketchbook and did my evening workout, working up a decent sweat. Push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, jumping jacks, you name it, I did it.

I tossed my sweaty clothes on the floor and got into the shower. I let the water hit my back and I sighed. The gentle hum of the water against my back calmed me.

I zoned out and was brought to a memory I had almost forgotten about...

I was my regular, normal self, right before it happened. Mark was alive. We were best friends, kinda in a bromance. At fifteen, we just started experimenting with our sexualities.

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"Joey, you want me to show you how to play guitar today?" I looked down towards him and nodded. Mark was only a few inches shorter than me. I was tall for my age, 5ft 7, and still growing.

"Sure! Why not?"

He grabbed his guitar from the case and brought me into his living room. I watched him as he slowly sat down, messing with the strings. He patted to a spot next to him and I sat down.

"Okay, now this is a G..." He held the guitar in his small arms and moved his fingers, quickly strumming.

"And this is a C, a B, an A..." He continued, and I listened to his soft voice. Everything about him was soothing and comforting.