Here We Are (boyxboy)

Here We Are part 2

Lucas smiled at me and slid off the bed. I pulled my sweatshirt back on and zipped it up slowly. Lucas led the way out of his room, thundering down the stairs to the kitchen.  I followed, slipping down the stairs almost silently.  It was a skill I’d learned a while ago. Sometimes Dad had liked to punish me by not letting me eat, so I had to teach myself to sneak food or starve.

I walked into the kitchen, sniffing appreciatively.

“Theo, honey, come sit down. I always say you’re too thin… you need to eat. Here you go.” She slid a plate of hot pizza in front of me. “I want you to eat all of it, okay? Promise.”

I nodded. “You got it, Mrs. T.”

When I was in rehab, I couldn’t eat- the nurses all thought I was just being rebellious, but I literally couldn’t do it. Every time I tried, each bite would burn all the way down, and would sit like a ball of fire in my stomach for hours. Even now it’s a struggle to eat.  It takes all my willpower just to pick up a fork, not to mention actually putting the food in my mouth.

“C’mon, Theo. You can do it,” Lucas said. I look at him, anxiety sketched across my forehead. He smoothed the lines with his thumb and pushed the plate at  me.

“One bite at a time.”

I took a deep breath and lifted the pizza, closing my eyes as I opened my mouth to take a bite. I bit off a miniscule piece and put the slice down, forcing my jaw to move up and down.  When the pizza was chewed, the hardest part of all came-swallowing. I inhaled slowly, then forced the bite down.

God, it burned. It was like swallowing a hot coal.

Finally I swallowed it all the way, trying to ignore it as it lit my stomach on fire.

And that was only the first bite.

I stayed at the Thomasons’ for as long as I could, dreading the moment when I knew I had to leave.

When the streetlight outside Lucas’s living room window flickered on, I sighed and stood. Lucas gave me a sad smile.

“I’ll drive you home.”

We didn’t say anything during the drive, as usual. Lucas drove one handed, keeping hold of my hand on the seat. When he pulled up at the corner two houses down from mine, he squeezed my fingers tight.

“I’ll be here tomorrow.”

I made an attempt at a smile. “On the corner.”

Lucas stroked my cheek. “Waiting for you,” he finished. I kissed him quickly and pushed the car door open before I lost my nerve.

I walked down the sidewalk and pushed open the door to Hell.

A/N:

Sorry this is so short… I’ll upload soon… when I figure out what’s going to happen with this story J