I Would Take A Beating For You

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Richie

I wake up in Julius's warm arms. I savor the feeling before sneaking out of bed. I pack up my things. This is the day. The day I go back home. To my home. With Steve. After Mom and I's phone call yesterday I realized something. I really just want my Mom to be happy. And if being with Steve makes her happy then that's what makes me happy.

"What are you doing babe? It's 5 am." He says. I didn't realize it was that early. "I gotta go home. My Mom needs me and I can't hide forever I-" Julius silences my rambling with a sweet soft kiss.

I kiss back. I'm gonna miss him. He won't be there to hold me after Steve fucks me up anymore. I have a plan to stay away from Julius after school until Steve is dead, in jail, or being sent back to Ireland or what ever god forsaken country he came from.

This is gonna be tough. Julius walks me out. We kiss one last time for good measure and I walk back home. It's raining heavily. I'm soaked, sad, and cranky. It's also dark so I have to squint to even remotely see anything through the falling droplets. I wish Julius was here. I get to my rickety old house and use my key. I sneak in.

"Where the fuck have you been?" Steve growls. I groan loudly. "Hey! You can lose the attitude. Your mom and I were worried sick." He says. "Oh, you were worried that you would lose your punching bag?" I snap.

He slaps me. "Case and point." I say. He punches ne in the stomach. "Watch you damn mouth!" He screams. "You know what fuck you! I'm only here for mom! You can choke on a dick!" I shout running upstairs. I run into my room and slam the door. "OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR BEFORE I MAKE YOU!" Steve shouts. I baracade the door with my dresser and try not to listen to his attempts in breaking my door down.

He suddenly stops. I unbarry my head from my knees and stand to move my dresser. As I'm trying to push my dresser something finally breaks through. Steves hand reaches throught the hole in my door and grabs my neck. "Your mom and I are getting married whether you like it or not." He growls.

"I'll call the cops!'' I shout desperately trying to get my myself out of his grasp. "Who do think they'll believe? A jealous stepkid or a loyal cop?" He says. I pry his hands from around my neck and start running. Steve grabs my wrist and I hear a giant pop. I cry out in pain. "Face it kid Tina already picked me over you. Just give up. She's forgotten all about little old you." He says as I'm still fighting.

He finally let's go and and fall to the floor. Wow I've only been home 10 minutes and my door is broken, I'm ready to leave again, and I think my shoulder is dislocated. I pull out my phone to google "How to get shoulder back in socket". My phone rings. It's Julius.

"Hey Rich. Just wanted to make sure you were home safe." Julius says. I don't respond. He's so sweet. "Rich? You alright? You sound out of breath." He asks. "I think my shoulder is fucking dislocated." I say abruptly into the phone. "Steve...that fucking prick." Julius growls. I can feel his anger through his words.

"Okay I know how to get it back to normal." He says. "What? How?" I ask. "Med science class. It was that or marketing. I had to buy the stupid text book. Why not read it?" He answers. "Fractures, setting, ah here it is relocation. Okay you need to be standing or sitting straight up." He begins. I pull myself of of the floor and flop down in my computer desk chair.

"Okay I'm at my desk." I say. "Okay now take your dislocated arm and place it infront of yourself to realign the bones." He countinues. I do it, wincing as I do so. "Done." I say through gritted teeth. "Alright, push back onto arm to re-Rich just pop the thing back in." He says.

"I can't do that." I breath. "Yes you can." Julius says. "Julius this fucking hurts." I sob. "Open your window." He says. "What?" I sniffle. "Just open it." He repeats. I limp over to my windowsill to see julius hanging off our old trellise. I knew that thing would come in handy someday.

Julius

Okay okay, I know it sounds crazy to sneak in through a window but hear me out. We live within walking distance of eachother and my boy needed me. "Julius! What the fuck is wrong with you?" Richie says as he opens his window. I climb in. "I'm here to help." I say. Richie sits down on his bed, knowing what's about to happen.

He puts his arm out. "Okay on the count of 3. 1...2.....I'm so sorry!" I scream as I pop Richie's shoulder back in. He doesnt scream, shout, or react really. "Ow." He says quietly. "Okay don't move your arm." I say slowly laying Rich's arm on his lap. "Sorry babe." I say quietly, sitting down next to him. "How'd you get here so fast?" Richie asks. "I ran." I respond.

"Through rain?" He asks. "More of a drizzle now." I say. "Juls you didn't have to do that." He sighs. "Yes I did. You needed me." I say. Richie laughs quietly. "You're an idiot." Rich says. "You know you love me." I say. Suddenly loud footsteps acsend through to hall. "WHO THE FUCK IS IN THIS ROOM WITH YOU?!" Steve shouts loudly.

"Leave me the hell alone! No one is in here! Now go back to phsyc ward where you belong!" Richie screams weakly. Steve's fist flies through richs already broken door, creating new holes in it. "Let's go." Richie whispers. He heads to the window. We climb out. "Damn Rich you just went home and you're already running away again." I say once we're on his lawn.

I start walking off when I notice Richie isnt moving. "You alright Bleeder?" I ask. "I can't go, J. My Mom needs me." He says. "Ok you want to me help you back inside?" I ask. I admire Richie's bravery. Staying in a house with his abuser for his moms sake. Damn, my little knight in shining armor.

I help him back through his window. "Bye juls." He says kissing me on the forehead. "Make sure you don't move your shoulder to much." I say. I climb down and head home.

Richie

Steve's rampage is over by the time Julius leaves. It's quiet I can think. "Richie!? Baby are you home?" I hear Mom scream from downstairs. I drag myself downstairs. "Richie! How could you do that to your door?" She asks. "What?" I ask.

That dick snitched. "You broke your door! Steve told me." She says. "Well he's lying. He went phsyco and broke my door and dislocated my shoulder!" I shout. "Don't raise your voice at your mother!" Steve interjects. "Shut up!" I scream. "Richie!" Mom screams. "No! I'm done! You're naive and oblivious to the abuse going on in your own house!" I shout.

Steve glares at me. "Richie there is no need to lie!" Mom says. "I get you miss your father and this hard for you, but making things up won't stop me and Steve from getting married." She says. "Besides the wedding is already half planned. There's no going back." She adds.

"What?" I ask in disblief. "We have a venue, date ,the invites have been sent. All we need is my dress and a suit for you." She says. "No! You are not marrying him! Anyone but him." I sob.

This nightmare is about to be my reality forever if I don't do something.