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I pull my bag over my shoulder and sigh relieved, just grateful that the day is over.
“Ready to go home?” Vic smiles and I nod.
His mood had improved more and more as the day went on which I’m grateful for. He was a really great help today. He introduced me to all the teachers, helped me with my work and showed me around. He was very patient with me when I didn’t understand things and he was just generally here for me.
“Vic, are we friends?” I ask, as we walk down the hall towards the exit. This is something that I’ve been thinking about for a while. We hang out a lot. We get along. Isn’t that what friends do?
He frowns a little before it changes into a cheeky smirk.
“Do you want us to be?” He asks.
“I guess so.” I murmur, blushing slightly. Why am I even blushing?
“Well, you either do or you don’t.” Vic says, still with a cheeky smirk.
“I do.” I assure him and myself. “I do want us to be friends.”
“Well, then we are.” Vic shrugs.
“Really?” I ask happily.
“Yep.” He chuckles, throwing his arm over my shoulder.
I smile and lean into him a little. We’re suddenly stopped as a few kids stop in front of us. There’s four of them. I recognize two of them from earlier, when Vic was shoved into the lockers. I recognize the other two from the mall when I was shoved into the wall.
“Oh look, it’s the fag’s boyfriend.” One of them says grinning at me. I don’t like the way he’s grinning though. There’s something not right about it.
“He’s not my boyfriend. Just leave him alone.” Vic sighs.
“And why should we do that?” Another guys asks.
“Because he doesn’t deserve your shit.” Vic groans. Meanwhile, I’m standing here shaking in fear. What are they going to do to me? What did I do to them? “I do. Just do what you want to me. Just leave him alone.”
Vic steps forward and pushes me back.
“I like the sound of that.” Another guy grins.
Vic swallows hard and fear flashes across his eyes.
“Kells, go wait by the car.” Vic says but I don’t want to leave his side. What if he gets hurt?
“But‒”
“Kellin, I said go.” Vic says sternly and I nod.
I walk around the guys and they glare at me. I let out a small whimper as I hurry towards the exit. When I get to the doors, I look back to see Vic on the ground getting kicked. I cringe as I hear him groan in pain. I quickly hurry out the door only to find out that it’s raining. Vic told me to wait by the car and that’s what I go do.
I sit in the pouring rain against the car worrying non-stop about Vic until I spot him limping towards me. I stand up, my body shaking and my teeth chattering.
“Kell, what are you doing in the rain?” Vic asks confused and shocked.
“You t-told me to w-wait by the c-car.” I shiver.
“God damn it, Kells.” He sighs opening the back door.
He pulls out a towel and wraps it around my dripping body.
“Quick, get in the car before I get soaked as well.” Vic says and I nod.
We both get into the car and Vic drives off. I stare at him concerned. His lip is bleeding and there’s a swollen bruise on his cheek.
“I’m sorry that they hurt you.” I whisper and he gives me a confused frown.
“Why are you sorry? I’m just glad they didn’t hurt you.” He murmurs.
“You didn’t have to stand up for me. It’s nothing I can’t handle.” I explain still feeling guilty.
“It’s fine, Kellin. I’m used to it. Besides, that’s what friends do.” He smiles but I can’t look past the fact that he said ‘I’m used to it’.
“Why are you used to it?” I ask and he sighs.
“It’s not the first time I’ve gotten my ass kicked Kellin. And I’d also appreciate it if you didn’t mention this to Mama and Papa.” He says sternly and I nod. “Good. Now tell me why you waited out in the rain instead of under shelter so you wouldn’t get wet.” Vic asks and I start feeling stupid.
“You told me to wait by the car so I waited by the car.” I murmur.
“Don’t take things too literally, Kell.” He sighs.
“If I didn’t do what I was told back home, Mother and Father would get mad at me.” I explain and Vic gives me a curious look.
We pull up at home and Vic turns to me, a guilty look on his face. The bruise that was forming is now a lot more prominent. It’s dark purple and very noticeable. I don’t know how he’s going to hide it from Mama and Papa Fuentes.
“I hope you don’t get sick. Go inside and have a warm shower, okay?” He says and I nod.
I get out of the car. It’s still raining lightly as I walk into the house.
“Kellin, how was your first day? Why are you all wet?” Mama Fuentes bombards me with questions as I enter the house.
“My first day was really good.” It’s kind of a lie, it wasn’t that great. It was nice though, other than the last part. “And Vic told me to wait by the car and I took it too literally.”
She laughs a little and ruffles my hair.
“I’m going to shower.” I smile and she nods before kissing my head.
“You do that and then you have to come tell me all about your first day.” She grins and I nod. “Honey, where’s Vic?”
“Here, Mama.” Vic says from behind me.
I turn around and notice that he now has his hoodie up and his head down. I guess that’s how he’s hiding the bruise.
“Vic, I wanted to talk to you about getting a tutor.” Mama Fuentes says.
“Can we talk another day? I’m just really tired.” Vic murmurs and Mama Fuentes looks sad. If only she knew that it’s not her fault, he just wants to hide the bruise.
“Of course sweetie.” She nods and Vic walks past me before limping upstairs.
I pull Mama Fuentes into a hug, surprising myself. I’ve never done that before. I’ve never hugged someone. Mama and Papa Fuentes have hugged me before but I’ve never initiated a hug.
“Thank you Mama Fuentes. Thank you for doing so much for me.” I whisper and she hugs me back tightly.
“It’s my pleasure, Kell.”
I smile and pull away before following in Vic’s footsteps upstairs. I go to our room and find Vic lying across his bed, holding his stomach in pain.
“Vic, are you okay?” I ask softly.
He lets out a little laugh and shakes his head.
“No but it’s nothing I can’t handle.” He says and I nod.
I get my clothes and head down the bathroom. I have a quick warm shower before getting out and getting dressed. I then go back to Vic and I’s room. He’s still in the same position that he was in when I left. I don’t say anything to him, just put my wet clothes in the hamper before leaving to go talk to Mama Fuentes.
She’s already waiting for me on the sofa when I enter the living room. I take a seat next to her and she ruffles my wet hair again, something that she seems to do a lot.
“So how was your day? Tell me everything and don’t leave out any details.” She grins seeming excited.
I tell her all about my day, leaving out specific details even though she told me not to. I respected Vic’s wishes and didn’t mention him getting pushed or the kids beating him. She then tells me that she’s going to go out to buy dinner to celebrate. I’m not sure what we’re celebrating though. She leaves the house and I go into the kitchen. I open the freezer and pull out many packets of frozen vegetables. I’m sure Mama Fuentes wouldn’t mind as long as I returned them.
I then make my way upstairs and back into Vic and I’s room. Vic still hasn’t left from the position he was in when I was in here half an hour ago. I go over and sit on the edge of his bed, hoping that I’m not crossing any boundaries. Vic turns his head to me and I notice the exhausted look in his eyes. I silently press a bag of peas to the bruise on his cheek and he lets out a relieved sigh. He places his hand over the bag to hold it in place as I let go. I lightly tug up his shirt, feeling nervous and a little shy. He doesn’t seem to mind or protest so I press more frozen vegetable packets over the forming bruises littered across his skin.
“This will stop the swelling and soothe the sting.” I explain and he nods giving me a grateful look. “Not yet but when you feel comfortable, you should sit up. Elevating the bruise will help the blood stop rushing to it and it will heal faster.”
Vic gives me another nod and I go lay down on my bed staring at the ceiling, just trying to wind down from the day. I kind of have a headache but it should go away soon.
“Kell, what were your parents like?” Vic asks, sounding curious.
I swallow hard, memories of them flooding into my mind.
“They, they were bad, I guess.” I mumble, not really knowing what to say.
I don’t know how to explain what they were like. I can barely grasp the fact that what they were doing was wrong.
“In what way? Did they hurt you?” Vic asks and I nod, not even sure if he’s looking at me.
“Yeah.” I breathe to clarify.
I hear Vic groan so I avert my gaze from the ceiling towards him. Pain is spread across his features as he gets out of bed. He comes over to me motions for me to scoot over so I do. He climbs into bed next to me and lays down. He rolls onto his side and he slides his hand up my shirt, pushing it up.
“Did they do this to you?” He asks running his fingers over the light, yellow, fading bruises that still litter my torso.
I nod and he sighs sadly. His fingers move to my neck, sending goosebumps across my skin.
“What about these? What are they from?” He asks, referring to the hundreds of round scars from my mother’s cigarettes.
“Mother smoked.” I say simply.
“And she put the cigarettes out on your neck?” He asks sounding shocked.
I nod and he sighs sadly again before nuzzling his face into my neck.
“That’s so fucked up.” He murmurs to himself.
“It’s okay now though, because I’m here.” I smile.
Vic brings his hand up to my cheek and runs his thumb along under my eye.
“You’re safe now, Kellin. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Not ever again.” He explains softly.
“I don’t want you to get hurt either. You stood up for me and you got hurt.” I say sadly, feeling guilty.
“That’s not on you. I’d rather me get hurt than you. So don’t feel bad, okay?” He explains and I nod, although I still feel crappy about it. “I’m going to so my absolute best to keep those assholes away from you Kellin. They only want to hurt you because they know it’d hurt me.”
“Well, why do they want to hurt you?” I ask confused, but I never get an answer.
Vic just stays quiet.
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