***Milo's POV***

Monday came way too fast. I am not excited to got to school. Going to school will make going home come far too quickly.

Lux drives me and Max to school. He's in college. But, he loves Max so he drives him to school and picks him up every day.

"Bean, save me a kiss." Lux winks out the window. I wave his moronic self off.

"Your brother was a handful this weekend." I laugh with Max.

"He really has been crushing on you for like three years." Max confirms.

"That's ridiculous." I throw my hands in the air and shake my head.

We walk to our lockers and I see Nat waiting beside mine. I kiss her cheek before grabbing my books out.

"Bean. I'm so excited." Nat starts.

"Why?" I shrug.

"You came out!" Nat squeals.

"Shhh." I shush her.

"Why? Who the fuck cares what these douches think?" Max looks around.

"You're right." I whisper.

I hold my head high as I walk to Literature. I take my seat and smile at Mr. Connor.

"Ew. Is he flirting with our teacher?" Someone squeals.

I turn and look at some girl I have never met. I shrug and turn around. I pay attention as Mr. Connor teaches. When the time comes to read, I slip my headphones in and follow the link for the audio version. I sit quietly and soak in the information I will need for the test.

My second class was Maths. Thank god I don't transpose numbers. My highest grade is in Maths. I sit comfortably and write down the equations for our assignment. I work out Trigonometric Functions. The angles come easy for me and I complete the class with a sweet smile of victory on my face.

Lunch comes and I meet up with my two best friends. Max and Nat follow me thru the line and we fill our trays with the only edible foods available. I sit down at our normal spot at the far end of the lunchroom. Our seat looks out of the Emergency exit.

"Hey Bean, are you gonna tell Neko?" Nat innocently broaches my weekend reveal.

"Eventually." I shrug.

"You can't really be worried. Neko is the one person you truly don't need to stress over." Max tries to convince me.

"I'm more worried about my parents finding out." I admit.

"People that mind don't matter. Those that matter don't mind." Nat states in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Oh, I could care less about their opinion." I clarify.

"Bean? Are you ever going to turn them in?" Nat holds my hand as she leans her head on my shoulder.

"For what?" I feign naivety.

"Bean. They are awful people. Just run away and come live with me. They hurt you. We see it. We told you, we aren't stupid." Max urges me to 'fess up.

"It won't change anything." I try to get them to let it go.

"Does Neko know?" Nat asks.

"He suspects. Sometimes he sees what he thinks is evidence. I beg him to drop it." I confess.

"Did your Dad choke you last week?" Max asks. His head is down and I can tell he is angry.

"Do I have to answer that?" I question. My level of uncomfortable has reached a peak.

"You just did." Max yells as he slams his fist on the table. Max jumps up and the attention of the whole lunchroom turns on us.

"Max please sit down." Nat begs.

"I can't. I just can't stand this any longer. I sit here every day and try to stay quiet. I see it all. Every bruise. I saw your hand while you were playing COD this weekend. The strangulation marks last week. The bruises. You have lost weight. I fucking see it all Milo. And, don't think I didn't notice the egg on the back of your head while you slept either." Max yells and everyone in the lunchroom gasps.

I grab my lunch tray and toss it in the bin. I run towards the bathrooms. I lock myself in the stall. I lean over the toilet and dry heave. I hyperventilate at the realization that Max just announced my abuse to the whole lunchroom and he used my first name. Max doesn't use my real name.

Koala: I need to go home. Now.

Batman: What happened? 😔

Koala: Max just yelled at me in the lunchroom. Everyone heard.

I cry while I type.

Batman: What did he yell about?

Koala: You're gonna be mad at me?

Batman: Never!

Koala: He saw the bruises. 😣

Batman: I'm sending Lux. Go to the office, now please.

I walked out of the bathroom stall and wash my face. I look at the light green bruising on my face. It's hardly noticeable. I reach back and let my fingers lightly touch the large knot that is still prominent on my head. I wince. That one was a doozy.

I walk slowly to the office. My head is down in embarrassment. I approach Mrs. Margaret, our school receptionist.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Evans. Sign here. Your Dad called. You are being picked up." Mrs. Margaret confirms.

I stop by my locker and put my books away. I grab anything I might need for the day.

"Bean. I'm sorry." Max whimpers as he yanks me into his arms.

"I'm okay." I promise. I lean into Max' chest and let him hold me for a moment.

"Bean, we are just worried about you." Nat explains.

"Me too." I whisper.

"I'm going home. I will text you later." I walk away after saying goodbye.

I stand in front of the school with my book bag flung over my shoulder. My fists are balled into the pockets of my hoodie. The cool Seattle air whips across my face. I see the familiar blue Mustang pull up and I tap my foot on the sidewalk.

"Bean." Lux yells. He is out of the car in a flash. His arms wrap around me. He walks me towards his car and eases me in. He buckles my seatbelt before shutting the door and going to his side to get in.

"Did you eat?" Lux asks.

I shake my head No.

I don't say anything as Lux grabs my hand and drives us out of the school parking lot. He pulls into a familiar Diner and turns the car off.

"We are going to eat and you are gonna talk." Lux instructs me. I nod my head in agreement.

We sit in a booth and Lux orders burgers, fries and cokes. I wait until the food shows up so I have something to focus on.

"Now is the part where we eat and you talk." Lux encourages.

"Max is mad at me." I try to blink away the tears that build as I remember the look on Max face.

"No. He really isn't." Lux stares straight at me and the tears break free from the prison of my eyes.

Lux jumps up and has me in his lap before I can think straight, if that's even possible.

My head lays against his chest as he wipes my tears away frantically.

"Bean? Why? Why do you protect them? Max talked to our parents and me while you were sleeping. We all know those bastards hurt you. Neko confirmed it." Lux says. I look up at him with hurt and betrayal in my eyes. Everybody knows. Of course Neko told Lux. They are best friends.

"It will only make it worse. Everything is gonna get worse." I cry.

"What if it gets better? Bean, I adore you. I don't want to think someone is hurting you." Lux pleads with me.

"Why do they hurt you?" Lux questions me.

"They just miss my sister." I shrug.

"God damn it. That was seventeen years ago. They have got to be fucking kidding me." Lux grits out while he holds me tightly.

I don't say anything and Lux holds my burger up to my mouth. I take a bite and chew slowly. Lux bites my burger himself. He holds my coke up to my lips and I take a large pull from the fizzy drink. Lux does the same from my glass. I reach over and pull his drink and plate towards us.

"Don't want my germs?" Lux teases.

"Shut up." I giggle.

"Seriously, Bean. We gotta do something. I suddenly realize why you have so much stuff at our house. Your parents ruin whatever Neko buys you, hmmm?" Lux asks but it doesn't seem like a question.

I nod the answer.

"Are you even aware how many people love you?" Lux asks as he wipes the corner of my mouth with a napkin.

I shrug. Lux pulls my face towards his and pecks my lips softly. I blush.

"My mom adores you. My dad thinks you are the most amazing kid. Nat and Max never stops talking about you. I love you. Natalie's parents love you. But, most of all, Neko would storm the gates of hell to fight Lucifer for you. That's a hell of a lot of love." Lux grins at me.

I snuggle into his hold as he continues feeding me.

"Bean, when do you turn 18?" Lux asks.

"July." I confirm.

"Why are you a junior?" Lux continues his interrogation.

"Mom and Dad wouldn't get me tested for Dyslexia. So, I got held back in first grade. I can read but, sometimes the words don't make sense." I explain.

"My Bean." Lux whispers.

"Lux you are a creep." I giggle.

"Nah, I'm just a member of your fan club." Lux shrugs. His heart beats under my chest. It's comforting.

We eat the rest of my meal and Lux eats his meal as well. I yawn. Crying is exhausting.

"I'm taking you to my house. I will bring you home after we pick up Max and Nat." Lux promises.

I nod my head and he pays the bill. We drive to the Wallace' house and Lux holds my hand until we sit on the couch. He turns on 50 First Dates and I lean against him watching the movie.

Batman: You okay, Koala? 😘

Koala: I'm with Lux. We ate. I'm watching a movie at his house.

Batman: Tell him I said to keep his lips off you. You are mine. 😉

"Neko said keep your lips to yourself." I smirk at Lux and show him my phone.

Koala: I will fight you for Bean. It's Lux. 😈

Batman: Thank you for picking up my Koala. But, seriously, lips off. 😒

Koala: We can't talk right now. Our lips are busy. 😘😘😘

My phone starts ringing and it's FaceTime. I cut my eyes at Lux after glancing at the conversation he texted.

I answer the phone.

"Lux Wallace I will skin you alive." Neko growls.

Lux tightens his hold on me. He smirks at Neko and kisses the corner of my mouth. I blush and giggle.

"Fucking asshole." Neko barks.

"He likes it." Lux shrugs. Neko turns red.

"He's not even gay!" Neko yells.

"You sure about that?" Lux laughs.

I pale. My breathing hitches and I jump from his lap.

"Koala? What's wrong?" Neko cries out worriedly.

I face my brother on the phone as tears pool up in my eyes. My lips quiver and I bite them.

"Don't hate me." I whimper.

"Never!" Neko confirms.

"I'm. I'm." I start but I choke out a sob. Lux pulls me back to the couch and holds me. He whispers encouraging words and rubs my back. Neko growls again. I giggle.

"I am gay. I'm gay. I'm not straight. Please don't hate me." I whisper.

Neko breaks out a beaming smile.

"I love you. I could never hate you. You are my heart." Neko promises. I wipe the tears that have made tracks down my face.

"I'm not with this dufus though." I clarify while pointing at Lux.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Neko asks.

I shake my head no.

"Good keep it that way. And, pull your hoodie off please." Neko requests.

I nod my head and yank the hoodie off. The deep bruising now on full display.

"Dad?" Neko confirms.

"Yeah." I whimper.

Lux grabs my chin and his eyes zero in on the hand prints on my neck.

"I will fucking kill him." Lux roars.

"Calm down." I whimper. Lux and Neko start talking and I am left completely out of their conversation.

A couple hours after the horrible call, we pick up Max and Nat. They drop me off at home.

All hell literally breaks out...