Things We Hide || Sanders Sides

~Part 9~

~Trigger Warning~
Intense descriptions of injuries, homophobic language and actions, violence, not being able to breathe

Having managed to slip into class just as the bell was signalling for the start of lessons, Logan managed to avoid being late and, consequentially, the questioning of his parents in regards to why his attendance record was not perfect. He had the feeling that they would soon be switching from over-controlling to barely remembering he existed, but right now he had to be careful.

It also turned out that people blamed Logan for Roman's disappearance from school. It didn't matter that he has skipped on multiple occasions previously and none of them had been anything to do with him; but with the addition of Roman outing himself the week previously it suddenly became the fault of the only other known gay person within the school. People found a way to trip him up just that bit more often, more jabs directed at his already bruised skin and by the end of the day, the second one with Roman absent, he was forced to limp his way onto the school bus.

He'd been correct though. Upon arriving home he found no trace of his parents, probably out somewhere having forgotten he was still alive. At least it meant he could eat and sleep when he wanted, without their restrictions.

Sleep, it turned out, was more difficult to snatch onto then he had anticipated that it would. Injuries caused no position to be comfortable. No reply to his persistent messages caused concern. Thoughts in complete turmoil caused him to turn repeatedly on the bed. Eventually grasping at the edges of unconsciousness, Logan's thoughts drifted to his final conversation with Roman and a faint smile tugged at his lips as he finally got pulled under by dreams.

Whether it was from exhaustion or how much he ached Logan wasn't sure, but by the time he was rising with his alarm and out the door within minutes he realised that he hadn't dreamt of anything.

Roman ran along the pavement, feet pounding on stone and body twisting around various people that he past. He wasn't late, in fact he was early compared to when he usually arrived, but the exercise sorted his thoughts out and he really wanted to just get away from the house as soon as he could. Besides, he'd missed out his daily run for the past couple of days and he needed to get the control, the rhythm back into his life.

Stumbling past groups of people as they filtered into the entrance, he finally slowed down until he was walking alongside students. Breathing regulating itself quickly, Roman ran a hand quickly through his hair as he searched the corridors.

"What ya doing? The queer looking for his boyfriend?"

The sneer came from behind him, a jarring jolt back into the reality of highschool that smacked Roman like a baseball bat to the head.

"Excuse me?"

"Don't act dumb with me fag. So, are you looking for your boyfriend or what?"

If it was entirely his choice, Roman would have proudly stood there and beaten the shit out of this guy whilst saying that yes, he was looking for his boyfriend. But he wasn't the only one in this relationship and frankly, he was sick of people not leaving Logan alone.

Not moving, Roman stared at the guy. Watching as his amused grin turned hesitant, a small step taken away from him as though he was changing his mind on questioning Roman, he sighed and gave the guy an irritated glance before turning down the hallway. There was a trash can he could climb onto, gripping onto random things on the wall until he was stood upright on top of a set of lockers, stomping against the clanging metal until the chattering of rumors died down and everyone was silent.