Days before

6 Days Before: Runaway

Wednesday

Kai should've known better than to indulge Peter's plans, especially when they involved getting up at 3am to drive to the other's house.

As of now, Kai's forehead was pressed against the rough leather of his steering wheel; he was trying to calm the bundle of nerves tumbling about in his stomach. There were so many things that could go wrong, in fact, there were enough reasons as to why this was a terrible plan that it could fill up at least three pages and yet, he was still here. Sitting in his car which was parked in front of the Bellam family mansion at 3am; trying to muster up the courage to step out the car and fetch his boyfriend.

Kai sucked in a large breath, steeling himself for the worst and then, got out the car and headed towards the mansion. He quickly sent a message to Peter telling him that he was here before stopping outside a pair of massive green gates that blocked him from entering the place. Kai was unfazed. The plan wasn't for him to get into the property but, more or less, to help Peter get over the gate. It wasn't a risky plan (except for the chance that Peter could get impaled on one of the pikes of the gate) yet, the nerves were still there, stabbing at Kai's mind.

The consequences, if they got caught, would be shattering. Not only would Peter's situation worsen but Kai would also be affected.

Colin was a powerful man and unfortunately, like most powerful men, he would have no qualms abusing his power to make Kai and his family feel just as inferior as they knew they were.

Kai didn't want that. His mother worked hard so that Kai could have the things that he wanted, could attend the school that gave him the most sense of pride and Colin, with a flick of his wrist, could ruin it all.

Guilt stabbed at his heart. He needed to work on his marks, biology especially. He owed it to his mother to do better and to not be stupid.

Colin had given him a light warning last time, Kai wasn't sure that he would be so benevolent this time.

He was risking a lot by doing this for Peter but he knew that if the other continued to stay here.

Kai didn't want to think about that.

"Psst, Kai!" A voice from his right called for him.

On instinct Kai turned at the familiar tones of the voice and was faced with a weary-looking Peter standing by the edge of the gate, a grey backpack hanging on his shoulder.

"Pete, you're here," Kai gawked. It wasn't as if he hadn't expected the other to be there, it was just that he didn't know what else to say. What could you say in a situation like this?

Helping his boyfriend run away from his abusive father wasn't something that Kai did frequently.

Peter gave him a quizzical look before his features melted into relief and gratefulness.

"Thank you for coming," Peter muttered. His eyes were practically shining with tears of gratitude.

Kai suddenly found it very hard to swallow. All he could think about was how much he wanted to pull Peter into a hug and crush away all the pain and sadness that he had endured.

"Anytime," Kai whispered.

"Do you think you could help me get my bag over first?" Peter asked him nervously, his fingers pulled at the loose strands of his grey hoodie.