Daniel's P.O.V.

I once again wake up tangled in the beautiful mess that is my boyfriend. And as another repeat if events, the guilt starts rolling in again as soon as I see him. I lied to him last night. I told him I came out because I felt like it was the right time. I lied. I didn't actually come out. Well, I wish I had. I just put on a show.

My dad and Joey's mon are just using me as a puppet to hurt Joey. And I can't warn him because I will get hurt. I'm such a coward. I'm supposed to protect the people I care about, not hurt them.

But maybe, one day when Joey finds out, he won't be upset. Maybe he will completely understand why I had to do it and go along.

Or maybe he won't. Maybe it will tear him apart. Maybe it will tear us apart. But for now, I don't need to think that far into the future. Right now I need to enjoy the little ball of Joey that is curled up toght against my chest sleeping in his own little world.

"Good morning beautiful," I say leaning down and kissing him on a spot on his neck that I know makes him whine.
"G-good mo-morning," he says through the soft bites I place on his neck.
"What do you want to do today?" Joey says leaning up to where I can't access his neck anymore.
"I would like to stare at you all day but I don't know if that is a sufficient was to spend my day," I say with a wink and run my hand through my hair.
"Yeah not really," Joey says with a little giggle as he strides to the bathroom. I hear him open a cabinet and I make the bed.
"I don't know. You are pretty beautiful," I say with a smile gleaming on my face. I love complimenting him. I love how gidy he gets when I do it too.
"Whatever yo-" and then he stops talking. He goes completely silent.
"Joey?" I call out for him. No answer. Why didn't he answer me?

I slowly walk into the bathroom and I see Joey there looking down at a piece of paper that appears to say something. However, I have never seen the piece of paper before in my life. A single tear slips down Joey's face and I embrace him into a hug. Seconds later, he pushes away from me.

"What aren't you telling me?" Joey says. His mood has done a complete 180 since we were just laying down in bed.
"What do you mean Jo-" I begin to say but stop whenever he hands me the note. I gladly take it and begin to read it: Daniel, make sure not to tell Joey or you will pay. Xoxo
So evidently my dad wrote this as a little reminder since we are staying here without them watching my every move.
"Now, tell me what the fuck you are not telling me before I end this right here right now," Joey says crossing his arms over his chest and begins to hold back more tears that try and breach through.
"Joey, I really have no idea. You know how my dad is. He abuses me for christ sakes! He is just trying to start something between us!" I say digging myself deeper and deeper. The only thing is, I have now reached a level in which I can't take it back.
"Daniel Christopher Preda," he says very seriously while he looks directly in my eyes.
"Joseph Michael Graceffa," I say looking into his eyes equally as intent.
"You're not telling me something and I really really don't like it. Go to the guest bedroom and leave me alone until you want to be my true boyfriend and tell me what the hell is going on," he says placing his head into his hands.
"Joey I-" but yet again he decides to cut me off.
"JUST GO DANIEL!" He says in a fit of tears.

I walk out of the bathroom and out of his door. I slam it on my way out, which I kinda regret doing now because I could here it made him cry harder. I go to the guest bedroom and just lay on the bed looking up towards the ceiling.

As i'm laying there it takes every muscle in my body not to get up and tell Joey the truth. I know that's what I need to do, I just can't. I need to fix this with another lie. But for now, I need to let him cry it out and I need to sit here.

The guilt is eating me. But i'm the reason i'm in this mess. So here we go. Here's me putting everything on the line hoping that somewhere down the road Joey will understand. I'm trying not to hurt the one I love. Wait, did I just say the one I love?