Just Friends? Troyler.

Chapter Sixteen- Brad

AUTHOR'S NOTE

My mate helped me with this one, so I thank her for that. New character in this chapter, woop.

TROYE'S POV:

Set in high school

I keep my head down, trying to walk through the hallways without attracting attention.

"Yo faggot!" Sh*t, I take larger steps, attempting to avoid confrontation, when my collar begins to choke me and I'm jerked back, I know I've failed. Brad and his gang stand in front of me, buff, tall and hot, they're the guys every guy wants to be. Brad pulls back his fist and launches it right into my left eye, as I plummet to the ground in pain, they kick me continuously until I'm not sure I'm breathing anymore. That was every day of my high school.

***

Set a few days earlier

I keep my head down as I walk to the shops, I wouldn't have left my apartment if I didn't need more food, but there's only so long I can live without Nutella. I speed walk down the street, trying to get to and back from the shops as fast as possible. In my haste, I bump into a guy, about my age, tall, buff and hot. I step back and blink a few times before muttering, "Sorry," and continuing on my way. Just as I turn to leave he grabs my arm,

"Troye?" The second his voice says my name I am enveloped in fear, I glance around rapidly, hoping for anything to save me; for here, right in front of me is Brad, the high school bully.

"Troye it is you!" His tone sounds too friendly, I look around, waiting for the rest of his group to jump me, it's been 2 years but I still fear with every ounce of my body.

"Troye, please stop looking around you in fear. I need to talk to you, I need to... Apologise." Apologise? He has to be joking, he made six years of my life living hell and he wants to 'apologise'?! No way, I begin to walk off but he pleads with me,

"Please, just come out for coffee."

***

We arrive at Starbucks and take a booth near the corner, as we sit down in silence, Brad fiddles with the menu.

"Look, Troye, I know it's not going to change anything, but you have to know that I was in a bad place. Ever since I was 7 my dad abused me, every night I'd go to sleep crying. I wasn't the man he wanted, Troye he treated me that way because I... I'm gay. And he didn't want his only son to be gay, he wanted a 'real man'. I couldn't take it if anyone else knew, I couldn't handle that abuse at school too, so I... I became the abuser. And Troye I know this doesn't change anything and I know you'll still hate me but I want to try again, please. Please just give me another chance." The sincerity broke my heart, no child should be abused because of their sexuality. I offer him a small smile,

"Wanna come back to mine and watch Mean Girls?"

***

It's been a few days since I bumped into Brad on the street, and we've been getting to know each other. We like the same bands and movies and we actually have a lot in common, it seems surreal. I wake up at 3PM and decide it's time for breakfast, I yawn and go downstairs and have some toast, after witnessing a dosing Brad in the guest room, I go off to take a shower, I grab a few towels and some spare clothes. I walk into the bathroom and turn on the shower, testing the temperature with my hand, I yank my shirt off and throw it in the corner, as I test the temperature again and almost get my hand burnt by the scalding water. I twist the cold tap, wait a few seconds and cautiously test the temperature again. It's still boiling hot.

"Brad!" I yell, hoping he'll awake from the guest room, I open the door for him in a minute as he yawns and steps in,

"What's up?"

"I need you to twist the cold tap for me, please."

Brad flexes and turns the tap, but it has no effect,

"Sh*t, I need a better grip."

Brad pulls off his shirt and wraps it around the cold tap to adjust his grip.

"Aha!" He shouts as the miracle cold water pours down the drain.

"Troye?!" I hear from the main entrance, I freeze. I hear the footsteps coming closer, so I shut off the shower, hoping he won't think I'm home. When I hear him plop on the bed, I sigh and figure it's time to reveal myself. I step out into my bedroom and am immediately hit by the cold temperature in contrast to the steam in the bathroom. It's then that I remember I am shirtless, as is Brad, behind me.

"Troye!" Tyler's lights up when he sees me, then he notices Brad.

"Who the f*ck is this?"