Carl

It took me thirty minutes to reach the hospital, I hated every minute of it. The nurse was kind enough to show me the hall that had screened beds.

Standing next to the screen that hides his bed, I take deep breaths. I can't open the screen, I need another minute to get myself ready to see the damage. To see the broken Terry.

The screen opens from inside, a grumpy looking guy looks at me with scary eyes.

"What do you want?"

I recognize the gruffy voice. It kinda grounds me. Like, I'm needed here, I have to be strong.

"I'm the boy. Millie asked me to stay with Terry until he can come."

He nods and moves backwards making room for me to go inside. I force my eyes to the bed, Terry's asleep, his head has a bandage covering half of his forehead, small band aids litter across his face. Bruises, small patches of it everywhere. Except his chin. It has the biggest bruise that's still red. His lower lip has a wound that has no dressing. It looks like it burst open. Like someone punched him. I've seen enough body wounds and got admitted more times than I can count. It's part of kickboxing. But seeing Terry with so many cuts and bruises twists my inside. Terry isn't a fighter. He is a boy who talks about knees and hugs and answers your dumb questions without making you feel dumb. He is just a boy. Young boy, how could his dad do this to him?

"Don't look so glum. He is good. What happened?" The deputy shows me the chair next to the bed.

I sit. "We were walking towards the pizza shop. And Terry was telling me something. Suddenly he came, pulled Terry with him. Terry didn't fight, he just left. But I saw him shivering inside the car, I saw him crying. So I went to Millie. He called you." I recount in a quiet voice. My hands find Terry's hand, under the blanket. I take it in mine.

A heavy hand lands on my shoulder. "You did good. What's your name?"

"Carl Stimson."

"Stimson... as in George-"

"Yes, I'm his son."

"Good, good. Here, my number. Call me if you need anything. I've to go now." He gives me a card.

I stand up, "thanks. I didn't get your name sir." He stayed with Terry, instead of doing whatever he did on normal nights. He isn't in uniform. He must be a good cop to work off duty.

"Quentin. Sam Quentin. I'm with the Sheriff's office. It's in the card."

After he leaves I pull the chair as close as possible and take Terry's hand again.

The card slips from the bed.

I let go of his hand and take my phone.

There are multiple messages in princlings group. I first save the cop's number and then open the chat.

Princess Fio: Carl went on a date with a guy.

How the heck did she find out?

Prince Harry: prank? Bet?

Princess Fio: no for real. That guy is totally out of his league. Like totally. If Carl is on earth, Terry is on a well developed planet light years away.

Prince Harry: in English?

Princess Fio: he is super smart. Like brilliant. He did this project last summer explaining how friction of footsteps can be used to produce light on crowded places. I can't believe he wants Carl.

Prince Harry: you fangirling worries this brother's heart.

Princess Fio: shut it. He probably will skip the senior year and graduate and go to some elite college with full scholarship, and he is dating Carl!!! Can you believe it!!??!!

Prince Harry: um, Fio... You aren't talking about the important stuff. Carl is dating a GUY.

Princess Fio: yep, forgot that. Is he gay?

Prince Harry: Carl, buddy? Any thoughts?

Prince Carl: fuck off.

I lock the phone and put it in vibration.

I thought Terry is good with studies, I didn't know he is super good to the level of inventing stuff.

Brilliant Terry is in hospital because of Dumb Carl.

I put my head next to his hand and close my eyes. I shouldn't have taken him out. We should have gone directly to my room. He would be safe now.

"Carl..." fingers run through my hair.

I wake up disoriented. Millie is looking down at me.

Oh. Oh.

I glance at the bed.

"He is still sleeping. You go home. I think he should stay the night here. But the nurse says he can go home. She actually said we can wake him up. But I don't want to." Millie runs his finger over Terry's face, without actually touching anything.

"Is his dad still home?"

"Yes, he came back after a warning from the sheriff." Millie says with disgust.

"And you are gonna take him back there?" I ask in disbelief.

"It's his home."

"Actually I can take him to my house. My parents are cool. Tomorrow when he is better, he can decide if he wants to go back to his dad or not."

"He is seventeen, of course he has to go back. Fucking law."

"If it's law, then there will be some exceptions. My mom works for a lawyer. She'll figure a way out. I don't want him to go there without learning to block a punch."

Millie looks at me strangely. "Alrighty. Did you eat dinner? I brought some sandwiches. Have it, if he doesn't wake up when you finish, we will wake him up. You can take him home."

As I eat the sandwich, which is the best tasting one I have had, I ask, "what about his mom?"

Millie, sitting at the end of the bed, shrugs. "She wouldn't lift a finger against her husband. She's under medication for some stuff, anyway the bastard loves her. From what Terry has told me, his dad used to love him too."

Being gay has put Terry in this condition.

Terry doesn't wake up and my sandwich is gone to my belly.

I stand up and watch his face. Should we wake him up? It's already ten.

As if he heard my worry, his eyes move under the lids and he opens them in slow motion.

I watch transfixed. His eyelashes are golden color, as they sweep up, his gaze lands on mine. His eyes are grey with lots of veins like things running along in different colors. I can't seem to remember what I was thinking before.

I...just...stare.

"Oh, baby," Millie cries and I blink.

"How are you feeling?" I ask.

"Water." His voice is raspy.

Millie magically produces a bottle. I adjust the bed height so that Terry can sit.

"It's a good thing you woke up. You're staying at Carl's house for the night. I'll call you tomorrow. " Millie swipes Terry's hair away from his face. "Get changed. We can get going."

Terry nods without saying anything.

I don't know what to say either. So I say what's needed.

"I'll go get my truck to the front. I had to park in the back." I say and leave them.

*****

"Call me." Millie says for the hundredth time. Terry is in the back seat, because the nurse said so.

I watch Terry from the rear view mirror as he nods.

"Terry?" Millie calls again, still leaning into the window.

"Um?"

"You can remove the no entrance board." Millie says.

Terry smiles, a slow smile and he catches my eye in the mirror.

I look away, not getting the joke. Millie comes to my side and pats on my back. "Call me, doll. Anytime."

I nod and to my utter surprise he kisses my cheek.

Millie laughs at my expression and waves.

And then we are off.

I don't make any small talk. I can't talk and drive. I don't know how others do it. I just can't.

Terry stays silent. He is awake but doesn't make a single move.

I hope for the best and concentrate on the Friday night traffic. I almost forgot it's Friday.

**** End of Chapter Ten ****