There's going to be so much happening in each part. I wanted to spilt them up more but then, the first book's in 3 chapters and I wanted to have the same trait.

Warning: 

There's mentioning of homophobic activities. Mature words are used and violence is also mention. Please remember that this is used solely for the purpose of plot. 

The author doesn't support any of it and if anyone is having a hard time dealing with anything related to a scene in the plot, please seek help. I'm always available to chat with if you want to talk about it. But, professional help is a better path to take.

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I tried my best to sneak in Theo.

It's been two months since he first kissed me. Two months of seeing each other, even if we didn't label anything. Two months of sneaking into my room. Two months of dating at school and my room. No where else. Theo understood for some odd reason.

We didn't go on dates because I couldn't. We didn't kiss in public, or at school. Strictly only in my room.

We chatted late nights, where I hide under my thin blanket, trying my best not to suddenly laugh out loud and wake my parents.

It was our little thing now. We talk a little during classes, I'd sit with his group of friends who were very inviting to me —something about me being an eye-catching figure, whatever that meant— then he'd drive by me and wait a few houses from mine. Once I was in, he'd come a few minutes after my mum drove out. Then we'd sneak in and spend the hours in my room.

I never drove with him. My mum would doubt why I suddenly come earlier than usual.

We'd talk, kiss and just be normal. Two normal teenagers hiding behind doors so they could be comfortable with each other.

Theo wanted to me to meet his parents, because he never hides anything from them apparently. But then, he also knew that I never tell him how mine are, never mind introducing them.

He didn't ask, thank the lords.

"Hey, stop daydreaming when I'm with you." It was a teasing statement and it made me smile at him. I only did that with him. He made me feel like I deserved it.

"Who told you that I was day dreaming?" And I talked more with him.

"Because, you had that dazed smile you get whenever you're thinking about me."

"Oh really now?"

We leaned in together, connecting our lips for a kiss. I smiled into it and it made him smile in return. Then we were leaning our forehead on each other, taking a breath. "Stop smiling," he warned.

I raised a brow making our folds on our forehead rub on each other. "Why?"

"Because, I can't kiss you properly."

I choked on my laugh. "Oh no, the almighty Theodore Hudson is stuck with a terrible problem of not being able to—"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence."

"But—"

"No, Riley, no."

I laughed at his serious face, pulling away enough to fix my sleeves. "Okay."

We stayed quiet for a second until he broke it. "Why do you wear full sleeves?"

He didn't sound suspicious, but it still didn't settle with me. This was why I never got close with anyone. "I like it."

"You like it?" Theo looked like he just got punched in the gut. "You like wearing long sleeves during these warm weathers?"

I shrugged, giving a sheepish smile to lower the tension. "It's comfortable."

That's a big fat lie.

Even though they helped me cover who I really was, it still didn't help me in any other way. My parents also didn't like it when I wear clothes that show more skin so I couldn't even wear something comfortable at home, but they never got comfortable. The only comfortable kind wear the old materials, since they're worn out.

"Riley—"

"Riley!" My dad's voice froze the both of us as we heard the doorbell ring downstairs. "Open the door, preferably, right now!"

Theo was never around when my dad came. He knew nothing of him.

Snapping out of my state, I pushed Theo towards the only exit from my room: the window.

"I don't know how but just, get out of here before my dad comes up. Bye, see you tomorrow." And then I almost shove him out of the window.

When I heard my dad only start to yell more, I stopped worrying about Theo and rushed down the stairs, snatching the door open.

"Sorry, I fell asleep."

"Asleep?! At this time of the day?!" My dad walked into the house, dropping his work things on the floor, removing his coat. "Do you have any idea how hard I work everyday to feed your little ass?! And you're here telling me excuses that you fell asleep?!"

I stumbled back with my slow legs as he marched up to me. I really wished he wouldn't start so early.

"Go, and do your work for the day. Don't make me wait."

I knew what that meant. It meant: Do your stuff before you make me my food for the evening. Be a good boy when your mother comes home for tonight. Don't show your face to me unless you want a good beating.

I knew it all too well.

Why did I have to be so naive? Couldn't I have waited until I was stable in life?

It would've been less painful...

Ignoring my dad muttering to himself as he retreated to the tv room, I went and did my routine. I started with washing my clothes before getting the dryer started. I made food for my dad, then I went into my room, remembering that I'd left Theo to runaway by himself.

Checking over the window, as if I'd see if he'd made it or not, I turned back to get the homework done. When I'd finished, my mum was home from work and dad was yelling again.

It was at my mum, probably because she'd start spraying the hallways and stairs with her bottles because I would've walked around it. I got used to the empty feeling of that. She's been doing it for more than five years. It's a daily routine.

"Riley! Get down here!"

I stopped whatever I was doing, running down the stairs in a hurry. I sometimes trip on them but it's a rare thing. But every single step I take every night, I just wish that one day, they'd tell me to slow down. To not rush down it, because I'd fall and hurt myself.

Never have they done that.

"What is it- mum?" I huffed at the end, watching her finally place the bottles. The last spray next to her, fluffed into the air, disappearing into nothing.

"What did you make for your father tonight?"

I shrugged softly so it didn't look like I was showing an attitude. "Just some sandwiches. You'd left a few tomatoes from dinner yesterday so I used them before they went bad."

She nodded after a second of silence. "Fine, but have you finished drying your clothes?" I nod. "Good, now go back and do whatever your—"

The doorbell rang making her halt. It rang again and I gave her a look.

"Go check who's here. Tell your father to get decent on your way there."

I did as I was told and rushed to open the door. What I definitely didn't expect was Theo's figure standing there, just like all the time he does in the evening: when I was home, alone.

"Theo? What are you doing here?" My voice was hushed and rushed. I didn't want my parents finding out that I had someone visiting me. Damnit, if they find out, it's going to be ugly.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt anything, if I was. I forgot my phone in your room and I didn't really have any other way to tell you that. I just realized and I really—"

"Fine, fine. I'll give it to you at school. Now go." I got ready to slam the door on his face.

"Wait—"

"Riley! Who's at the door?! Tell your dad to see them!"

I gulped, ignoring Theo's questionable gaze at my mum's tone. "I-it's for me mum!"

That got my parents to rush to the front door immediately. They both eyed Theo up and down, staring plainly. Now, how do I explain this to both sides?

"I-it's my friend. T-Theo, this is my mum and dad." I flickered my hands at their direction. "Mum and dad, this is Theo. Um... w-we're classmates in maths."

I didn't look up to see his reaction. I was more worried about my parents'.

"Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

They both nodded, ignoring the open hand he'd held. I groaned on the inside of my head. "Why's he here this late at night, Riley?" My mum asked, giving me a tight smile.

"Oh, that's just because I—"

"He forgot to tell me that he'd done a... a thing, for class." That, was close. There was no way my parents can find out that Theo was in the house when they were out.

Theo cleared his throat, probably to hide his surprised look. I couldn't actually tell because I was completely ignoring his look.

"What... thing?"

Of course, my dad had to analyze every little thing. "Just, things—"

"It's for the maths project in school," Theo butted in. "We're seat mates so we kind of have to work together for it and I forgot to tell him that I'd do the first half for him. I don't have his number, so I couldn't tell him otherwise. And I've seen him walk from home on my way to school so I thought I'd just come by and tell."

"Projects? For maths?"

"Yes Sir. Just a bunch of equations and history involved into a bunch. It's the new teacher."

Both my mum and dad slowly came to agreement, smiling at Theo before managing to see him off since he'd done what he'd come to do.

I watched him go, driving out of the street after a few seconds of slow reversing. It felt like he wanted to stay and it made my heart jump a little.

But not as much as how it did once my parents pulled me into the house.

They slammed the door shut, pushing me up against it. My mum had returned to having the spray in her hands, while dad glared at me, burning holes on my face as usual.

"Why do I feel suspicious of your, seat mate?"

I shook my head, already feeling the sweat fall from my face. "It's nothing of what you think. We're just class mates. We don't talk about anything else and he has a group of friends already so we're not actually—"

"I don't care! I told you to never talk to anyone when you're outside of school!" My dad held my neck with a tight grip, his eyes burning in flames. "What if you—" he started with a hushed voice.

"I can't not talk to some of them! The teacher won't let me just—"

"Don't you dare interrupt me when I talk to you!"

"Sorry!" I squeaked.

He tightened grip on me and I felt like as if he'd actually choke me to death.

"Honey, let him go. It's not wroth it. Just, don't touch him too much or you'll be sleeping on the sofa tonight."

I gulped down the bucket of tears that almost burst out to the world to see. My dad wouldn't like that, and at the moment, I really would like to avoid more disruption.

My dad let go of me in an instant, which only added more to the sting. His glare at me continued which made me lock my gaze to the ground.

"Know how much of a disappointing son you are to us," he spat. "Did your mother tell you about the boy? We've been busy going through the paperwork and meetings. You're going to have to meet him soon and see how we bring him up well. You should see why we know that what you're being is wrong. He'd be the model you were supposed to be."

I whimpered there, standing like a pathetic pig I am.

My mum started to spray her liquid on me and I just took it. I really feel like shattering into pieces right then and there.

What did I do to deserve such cruel words?

"Here, I'll show you a picture. I haven't showed him how he is because I've been busy with work darling." In a flash, my mum was shoving an envelop in my hand, making sure to not touch me.

I took it since I had no other choice and flipped the cover open. Pulling out the single photo, I turned it around to take a glance at my new brother.

He had black hair just like me, but his face was so off. He had a rounder face, good-looking - definitely and his lips were curled to the side as he smiled softly at the camera. He seemed like a good kid, my age and happiness printed all over his face.

That's not going to last when he gets here but I didn't comment that out loud.

I couldn't tell if he's a homophobic or not. Would my parents have asked about that before selecting him? Maybe. They'd be more worried about if he was homosexual himself.

This guy must be as straight as they come.

"Drop the photo and get back to your room. No dinner for you tonight."

I did as I was told, keeping my eyes cast down. Returning to the stairs, I couldn't even make a gasp when I felt my dad hit the back of my knees, making me stumble forward.

I fell knees down on the stairs, barely catching myself.

Great, now my knees were going to be weaker than usual days.

But of course, the hit didn't stop there.

My dad, being the father he is to me, decided that he was suddenly in the mood to take his daily dosage. He started with pulling my leg back to the floor, flipping my body around as if I was a doll and a kick right on my stomach.

When his legs didn't do enough work, he picked me up, yelling in my ear to stand up and take it like a 'fucking man'. He didn't touch my face. He never touched my face. Or my neck.

Theo never got past my neck.

It was my first time getting a hit on the face.

I couldn't tell which hurt more. My body, my mind or my heart.

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