Three Simple Words

Chapter 23

The weekend went as quickly as it came and Thomas was once again thrust into the school he so desperately wanted to be out of there. The pair rode up on the motorcycle the school had become used to seeing.

While Thomas wasn't the most popular kid on the campus, the running back had a hard time going unnoticed, so when Jess and Thomas showed up to school together every day, it didn't go unnoticed.

It wasn't that Thomas minded the rumors, he had had been the target of enough over the years, it was the constant bullying by Wren that he received as a result. It had only been getting worse since the school seemed intent on finding out why Thomas broke up with Ariel, it seemed like all anyone could talk about. And Thomas knew that he shouldn't dwell on these things, that after everything he went through, this was the least of it, it still bothered him.

"Yo, Thomas, is this your fag boyfriend?" Wren sneered from across the parking lot. A few heads turned but most were to engrossed in other conversations to notice the confrontation.

"Leave it alone" Bit back Thomas. "Wow, the pansy finally stands up for himself. I guess when someone lets you suck their dick, you become possessive." Wren jibbed, knowing he would get a reaction from the other boy.

Thomas lunged towards the other boy, taking them both by surprise. Thomas was able to get a few good punches in before he felt two strong arms pry him off. Jess couldn't hide the smirk that formed on his face but that didn't mean he wanted Thomas to get in trouble.

"Lucky you have your sod of a boyfriend to protect you" Wren smirked, watching Jess tighten his grip on Thomas. There was blood seeping down Wren's face but the smile never left his face and his friends helped him off the ground.

Turning towards Thomas, the brunette whispered something into his ear and they both got back onto Jess's motorcycle. It roared to life underneath them once more and Thomas didn't need to ask where they were heading before he had memorized it by now.

The pair made their way back through the wooded area to Jess's and what had become Thomas's home. Thomas dreaded having to explain himself to Jess because he was terrified of what he might say. He had been putting up with Wren's bullying for so long that he became numb to it but today, when he was making fun of Jess, it was almost like he couldn't control what he did. The anger, rage engulfed him but what scared him was that he didn't know where it came from.

He'd only ever felt it with his mom. Whenever there was someone who was making her uncomfortable, Thomas became consumed with this protective instinct. The thing was that he knew it came from love with his mom but Jess, he didn't know why it hurt so much to see Wren making fun of him. Jess cut the engine as they sat in front of the white paneled house, Thomas's arms still protectively around Jess.

"Do you want to go in?" Jess asked, feeling the shift against his back. Jess knew that he should have stayed at school, that his parents will be pissed when they find out but what could he have done? The nod against his back was all he needed before he dismounted the bike, keys in hand. His cell phone dinged before he got too far.

Where the hell are you? Ariel's text read.

Jess considered not responding but he knew that with everything going on, she was just worried. She was made at first when she found out about Thomas, not that she would tell him but after she saw what happened with his father, that anger turned into empathy and guilt for not having seen what was right in front of her. Jess sent a quick reply and headed towards the door with Thomas in tow.

"I'm going to grab some ice but I'll meet you up there." Jess urged. The house was quick except for the two boys. Both of Jess's parents were at work and Ariel was at school so it was just them. The door opened to reveal a proud looking Jess with a bag of ice in his hand.

"Let me look at your hand" Jess gently commanded. Thomas did as he was told and that was how the two ended up hand in hand on the floor. His hand had some scattered blood spots but nothing too bad. Jess gave the other boy the ice, trying to work up the courage to ask the question he had been yearning to know since the incident happened.

"Why did you punch Wren? After all the times he beat you up, why now?" Thomas knew what he was talking about but that was a hand he wasn't ready to give away yet.

"I don't know what you mean" Thomas retorted, trying to keep his face as neutral as he could. "Yes, you do, you've never down anything until he mentioned me, why?" As he was saying this, he was acutely aware that his hand still held the ice on Thomas and that their fingers were brushing passed each other.

"What do you want me to say?" Thomas practically begged, his face a mix of fear and confusion. Fear that his hand would be exposed, confusion about whether he wanted it to be or not. "Please just tell me the truth" The other boy pleaded, seeing the pain that it had caused Thomas. "I can't" Thomas spoke, his voice shaking towards the end.

"Please, Thomas, please trust me enough to tell me." Jess sounded almost desperate as he pleaded with the blond sitting across from him. All he wanted to do was stop the pain that raged on in those stormy blue eyes. All Thomas wanted to do was confide in the other boy but he knew that somethings were best kept secret.

"Because you'll hate me if I tell you" Thomas's response drove all of Jess's self-control out of the window. His hand caressed the now tear stained cheek of Thomas. "Thomas Antonio Romano, I could never hate you" Jess could see that he was chipping away at the walls Thomas had built but he wasn't afraid of what he was going to find behind them because they were still Thomas, even if Thomas couldn't face them himself.

"You don't know that; you don't know that you won't hate me and I can't take that chance." Thomas knew he sounded like a child but he kept fighting to keep what he needed to say and bay but it was hardly working.

"Please don't shut me out, Thomas, I promise you that I could never hate you so please take the chance." Jess wasn't sure if he was doing the right thing by pushing Thomas to tell him but he was afraid that if he didn't, he would lose Thomas in the process. "I...I can't... I can't take that chance" Thomas whimpered, tears soaking Jess's hand. Using both of his hands, Jess held Thomas as the tears racked his body.

"Okay, okay... I won't push you but please tell me why you can't tell me" Jess felt tears form in his own eyes. The emerald eyes and the chocolaty brown eyes met, each expressing what the boys couldn't. Thomas felt his last drop of restraint slip away from him as they words rushed out of him.

"Because I love you Jess, because I've loved you since the day I met you and I can't afford to lose you too" The tears were now streaming down both of the boys faces. At the realization of what Thomas just said, he got up and bolted.

He barely heard Jess yelling for him as he ran out the front door, ran until he barely could see straight anymore, ran until he puked and fell down with exhaustion, ran until the sweet oblivion swallowed him up once more.