Luke

I lied. I said dad wouldn't mind what time i was home, and at the time, had hoped my dead would be out by 7 or 8. That's what I continue to pray as I step quietly into my house and glance around. dad wasn't passed out on the couch, like he usually was.

Maybe he's out?

I quietly ran up the stairs, only to be met with my dad drunkenly stumbling around my room.

I tried to stay silent. He hadn't seen me. I wasn't supposed to leave the house without permission, and he ply ever let me g to get groceries, but I left all the time without his consent. Usually, he was too drink to notice.

"Whe-whereveyou been?" Dad slurred as his eyes locked with mine.

"You sa-said I could go to the grocery store, remember? I was getting groceries."

"Well yooouurew late."

"The bus broke down and delayed an hour."

"Don't fucking lie to me, Lucas!" I shutter.

"I-I'm not. There's um, there's, I can make you dinner if you want?" I tried to distract.

"N-NO! Go to mahroom and wait!" I gulped as he tried to force back tears. There was no point arguing now, it'll only make things worse.

All I can do is pace dads room wondering what he's gonna do today.

I don't have to worry about anything sexual. He has never hurt me that way. But he has a wooden bat he seems to particularly enjoy wailing me with.

What will I tell Delilah tomorrow if I'm all bruised up?

I quickly throw my phone in my room to be sure my dad won't break it, then go back to his room.

I'll have to tell her nevermind. But I really don't want to.

I can't believe I was such a brat today. God she'd probably be glad if I cancelled tomorrow. I wipe away the tears flowing from my eyes as I hear my dad coming up the stairs.

Why couldn't she have just let me stay the night? She didn't know, obviously, but I almost wish she did. But she can't. She can't know.

My dad storms into the room, and as I predicted, he has his wooden bat.

***

I try to keep my sobs quiet as I quickly crawl to my room.

"Fucking pathetic, whiny little baby." My dad mutters, mostly sober now.

I close my door and lock it, crawling into my bed and letting my sobs rack my body.

It hurts so much to cry but I can't help it.

There's no marks on my face, I made sure. I didn't let him hit me any where Delilah would see. I'll just wear a long sleeve shirt tomorrow for the bruises on my arms.

I grab my phone and see that Delilah texted me goodnight, which for some reason helps me calm down a bit.

I wish she were here to rub my back and play with my hair and cuddle me and call me baby boy. I live it when she calls me baby boy.

I can't believe I almost called her mommy. I know she noticed, too. But she didn't seem to mind. Still, its embarrassing.

I teach over and grab some of the pain medication from my bedside table that Ashton gave me. He's the only one who knows everything. About ageplay, about my dad, although I haven't gotten a chance to tell him about Delilah.

The medication instantly knocks me out, and I have a strange mix of nightmares and happy dreams.

***

I wake up to my alarm at 7. I groan at my sore limbs and torso. There's a huge bruise across my tummy, and it's turning weird colors.

I whine as I grab ibuprofen and swallow four with water. I put on a black long sleeve shirt with my usual black ripped skinny jeans and run my hands through my hair to fix it. I rub my tired eyes as I try to stay out of little space for the time being. I check my phone and see no new notifications. I brush my teeth and then run downstairs, knowing my dad will be at work today.

My phone buzzes and I see that Delilah is on her way. I smile widely and giggle as I slip into little space.

I respond with a see you soon and then grab a glass of milk, chugging it so that the pills won't upset my stomach.

I really want Delilah to be my mommy, but she hasn't made any moves or acted like she wants to be my mommy. Maybe she just feels bad for me, but I like hanging out with her so unless she tells me she doesn't want to hang out anymore, I'm gonna. Maybe I'll try to make her like me. I definitely like her.

Yeah. I'm gonna try to make her like me. I'll just... I'll be really cute and sweet and stuff. That... that'll work, right? Yeah. And I'll be really good today. I won't whine again or argue and I'll help her and stuff.

My phone buzzes and I giggle and run outside, climbing in her car and leaning over to kiss her cheek. I try not to wince at the movements I make, that irritate all the bruises.

"Hi lili!"

"Hi Lukey." She chuckles. "Buckle up."

"Mkay." I do as she says as she starts driving.

"Where are we going today?"

"I was thinking we could go shopping for some stuff for you." She smiles, glancing at me.

"I-I don have any money."

"I'll pay for you, babes."

"No, you don't have to-"

"Let me." She smiles as she puts her hand on my knee. I sigh and bounce my leg, wishing she'd move her hand a bit higher up to my thigh, not to be inappropriate, but the touch feels so platonic. Maybe she just doesn't want me to be uncomfortable. Instead, she takes her hand away. I sigh, but smile anyway.

"Mkay." I giggle.

She drives to the mall and unbuckles.

"Did you have anything to eat this morning?"

"Nuh uh." I shake my head. "But I'm ok." I smile.

"No, let's get breakfast, I'm hungry." She gets out of the car and I get out as well.

"Make sure you stay next to me, ok? Don't wanna lose you."

"Okie!" I smile widely at her. She leads me to the breakfast restaurant and when we cross the street she grabs my hand and i interlace our fingers. When we get to the restaurant, neither of us let go of the others hand, and I smile widely.

"Can I have pancakes?" I ask as the waitress seats us. She smiles and nods.

"Sure baby boy." I smile widely.

"I ike it when you call me dat." I giggle quietly, so no one around us hears.

"What, baby boy? Well good." She chuckles. After we order and eat, and she pays, we go to a few different stores in the mall.

"Lili! Lili!" I call as I see stuffies in a window of a store.

"Huh, baby boy?" I point and she chuckles.

"Yeah, go get a few." I run into the store and grab three as she trails behind me. She pays for them and I smile.

"Thank you." I giggle as I kiss her cheek. She kisses my forehead as she nods.

"Can we go back to your house?" I ask as we ext the store. Everything is really hurting and it's becoming a struggle to not limp. I know Delilah has ibuprofen at her house, I'll say I have a headache or something.

"Yeah." She smiles, ruffling my hair. We get in the car and I let her buckle me in, then she gets in her side and drives to her apartment. When we get there sh helps me out and carries me inside, and I smile and wrap around her tightly, burying my head in her neck. When she gets us inside, she sits on the couch with me in her lap, and I giggle at her.

Delilah

Oh my god he is being so fricken cute today. I don't know why he's so happy and giggly but I freaking love it.

I set him in my lap and hug him tightly.

"Thank you for taking me shopping. Lili." He smiles.

"You're welcome. My, you are being so good today." I chuckle as he giggles.

He pulls away and looks at me. "I'm sorry for being a brat yesterday."

"Don't worry about it baby boy. Why didn't you wanna go home though?"

"I just- I like it here." He mumbles, and I frown.

"Please don't lie or keep stuff from me Luke."

"I'm not!" He whines. He pouts up at me and I hum, kissing his forehead.

"Alright, alright." I sigh, hugging him again. I'd understand him just throwing a small fit because he didn't want to go home, but he actually seemed scared or something. It didn't seem like the usual bratty fit.

"Cartoon?" He asks shyly.

"Sure baby boy. What do you wanna watch?"