Anxious Boy

4

The next day, Luke makes me come to the studio and I tell them I can play all instruments and sing as well. So I play their instruments and sing for them as they're amazed.

"You look cute in his clothes." Ash tells me as I'm wearing one of Luke's flannels. It's covering my scars which is good because Luke is the only one who has seen them. After the long day, the two of us pick up a pizza and go home where we eat it. We watch tv and after a while, I go into the bathroom staring at myself in the mirror and then looking at my left wrist full of scars. 

"Hey, Leo." Luke comes in and wraps his arms around me.

"Luka." Tears are streaming down my cheeks as he smiles and holds me close as I turn around in his arms.

"Only you can call me that. You make it sound so sweet. It's almost like a sad love song." Luke whispers to me which calms me down.

"Why did you let me move in with you?" Look into his eyes.

"Was I to let you be homeless? Was I to let you die out in the world alone? Leo, I care and worry about you a lot. It may not seem like it, but I do." It's almost like a confession. He wipes my tears away and I can taste the salt on my lips. Petunia comes trudging in and stares up at us. We walk out of the bathroom as he throws the empty box of pizza away.

"Let's get some rest." His voice is so soothing. We each go to our rooms and get some rest for the night. Wake up in the middle of the night on my back and I realize that I can't move. Sleep paralysis sucks and I feel a weight on my chest making me feel like I can't breathe. Figures that look like my parents are in the corner of the room and I'm trying to yell or scream out for Luke. My door is now open and there's a look of fear on his face as I can move and breathe again. I cough and I feel pain as he holds me close trying to calm me down.

"Stay with me." Beg him as I grip him tight not wanting to let him go. 

"I won't leave you." He holds me close as he makes us lay down. Cuddle into him and somehow fall back to sleep. When we wake up in the morning, we smile at each other and get out of bed.

"Sleep paralysis?" He asks as I nod.

"You were panicking so bad. What or who did you see?" Start to shake again as I think about it.

"My parents. They're homophobic and abusive." Told him as he held me close again.

"So when you came out or they found out you were gay, they wouldn't let you go and hurt you so bad. I'll never let them get you ever again. I promise I'll always be here for you no matter what." Luke reassures me as I calm down. Some back skin is peaking out at Luke and I see he notices.

"Scars." He says wanting to touch them, retrace them.

"All over my body. You haven't even noticed the scars on my neck and face." They're mostly faded by now, but I can still see them. He studies my face and neck, finally noticing them. Then he touches all the scars as my breath hitches feeling his fingers on my skin. We hug and cling to each other, never wanting to let go as we held each other close.