Warning: Mentions of physical assault in this chapter so read at your own risk

CARL'S POV

After a long day of classes, the final bell rang denoting the end of the school day.

"I'm sorry babe, I won't be able to make it to the meeting today. I've got practice." Gavin released an apology, accompanying it with a kiss on my needy lips.

"It's fine." I riposted, reveling in the minute kisses he was showering on my lips.

"Thanks for understanding." He murmured against my lips then left another peck which turned into a full on make out session. He had my back pressed against my locker and one of my legs curled around his waist. My arms were hooked around his wide shoulders as the kiss deepened. We were at the hallway and I can bet my ass that people were staring but I didn't care. All that mattered to me in that moment was my boyfriend and his addictive kisses.

"I love you." I murmured against his lips, miniature breaths sallying from my mouth.

"I love you more. I have to go now before we end up in the janitor's closet." He whispered in my ear then grazed the shell of my ear with his teeth. My body temperature escalated and a soft moan slithered past my parted lips. I was fucking turned on and if it weren't for the Pride Club meeting and his basketball practice, I certainly wouldn't mind getting locked up in the janitor's closet with him for an hour.

I know that I have a serious addiction problem. And that drug is Gavin. I can't get enough of him. It's like the more I kiss him, the more I crave him. I am completely intoxicated with him and at this point, I don't think I can live without him.

"Yeah, you should go before Coach Brinski snaps." I suggested.

"You are right. But after the practice, I would love to finish what we started." Seduction swam in his voice as he addressed me. I couldn't stop the swarm butterflies that were flapping their wings in my stomach. Shivers of excitement ran down my spine as an image of what he would do to me in the showers, plagued my mental realm.

"Oh yeah? I wonder what you have in store for me." I pried, anticipation caressing my mind.

"It's a surprise." He whispered.

"I love surprises." I whispered back then placed a swift peck on his lips.

"See you then, mi amor." He winked at me then strolled away. A boyish grin painted my face as I watched him saunter away, his butt swaying deliciously with each stride. I bit down my bottom lip to drown the arousal that was threatening to consume me. Only he had the power to make me horny like a hound.

"He is so hot." A feminine voice resonated behind me, disrupting my erotic thoughts.

"Indeed." I seconded, watching Gavin make a turn for the boy's locker room.

"It's such a shame he is gay now." Her comment caused me to shift my gaze to the intruder who was non-other than Madeline. Her lustrous straw-colored hair was tied in a tight pony tail using a pink ribbon. Her enhanced lips were rubicund, the same color as her pointed long nails.

"I don't get what he saw in you." She sneered, her blue eyes sizing me up.

"You know, Gavin was better off with me. He wasn't even gay until you showed up and snatched him. The way I see it, you initiated him into a gay cult. And now you have him wrapped up around your little ass." She added.

"Darling, you are Gavin's past and I am his present. So if I were you, I'd stop obsessing over someone who could never love you." I smiled while offering the advice to the queen bitch who looked like she was about to cry.

"I made him feel like a man. You could never do the things I did to him." She carried on, adding fuel to the argument. A small crowd of students had gathered to film our little argument which was stupid if you ask me.

"Honey, you couldn't even suck his dick right." I fired calmly, the smile on my face growing. The anger on her face was as visible as the shakiness of her breath. "Now, if you'll excuse me Madeline, I have a pride club meeting to attend." I locked up my locker and started walking away.

"Hey. Don't you fucking walk away from me you gay shit!" Her heels clicked noisily as she hurried after me. "Nobody walks away from me you little shit!" She yelled then pushed me to the ground. My body collided with the cold tiled floor with a thud, my head hitting the hard surface. A series of gasps from the onlookers echoed through the hallway as flashes of camera blinded my vision. They were taking photos and recording videos of me, lying on the ground.

"What did he see in you? You are so fucking small and weak! Pathetic little fag!" She shrieked, then started kicking me with her pointed heels. Pain shot through my body, as she kicked different spots of my body. I tried to get up but she pushed me down and continued kicking me as the spectators cheered on and recorded the whole thing.

"Please stop." I let out a request.

"Not until you stay away from my Gavin. He is only mine, you hear me!" She screamed, grabbing my hair roughly with an intensity that was capable of tearing off my scalp.

"THAT IS ENOUGH MADELINE!" My mom's voice echoed through the hallway.

"Principal Lucia..."

"Get out of here! All of you!" My mom commanded.

Pain-filled groans rumbled from my throat as I attempted to stand. A warm liquid cascaded my brow and dropped to the white floor. It was blood. I was bleeding. I winced, placing my hand on my rib which was flooded with pain.

"Here, take my hand son." She offered, stretching out her hand which I took. She helped me on my feet and for the first time in three weeks, I felt hopeful. That despite everything that transpired in the past, she still cared for me. I knew that she would talk to me again. She can't stay angry at me for long. I am her son and she loves me no matter what.

"Mom." I called out to her, a smile making its way to my lips. She cupped my face in her warm, motherly hands.

"Querido, It pains me to see you like this." She stated, her aquamarine eyes which resembled mine, gazing at me. She traced her hand on my face, inspecting my bruises. Using her handkerchief, she gently wiped off the blood stains from my bruised forehead. Warmth tugged at my heart at how much she cared for my well-being.

"I missed you so much mama." Were the words that flew from my mouth.

"I missed you too, querido." She opened up, a smile crowding her face. I drew her for a hug, burying my face on her shoulder. She reciprocated the hug by throwing her arms around me. "And I can't wait for the day that you finally come back to me." She mumbled.

"I am here mom. We can go back to the way things were." I replied, sinking deeper in the embrace. I was afraid that If I let her go then she'd never come back.

"You are right, we can fix things. Go back to the way things were before the devil seduced you into sin." Her statement compelled me to break the embrace.

"That's not what I want. Mom, I am gay and nothing can fix that. Why can't you accept it?" My voice came out shakier than I had intended.

"That's where you are wrong. Truth is, you can be fixed. This disease you have contacted can be cured. I have found someone who can fix you, dear. She can rid you of this sickness. Then we can go back to being a normal, happy familia." Every word that came out of her mouth felt like a fire, burning away my soul. The pain that had been inflicted by Madeline's physical assault was nothing compared to the anguish that her words were causing me.

"Do you hear yourself right now mom? You think that I am sick?" My lips trembled as I addressed her.

"Yes. I know you are sick, son. And only the power of God can heal you. God can take away this illness of homosexuality from you. Then you can be normal again." She assured, hope shimmering in her eyes.

"Mom, I am perfectly okay. I don't need help. This is who I am because God made me this way." Tears freely cascaded my cheeks as I spoke to her.

"God didn't create you this way. It's the devil that tainted your soul and mind. The devil is to blame for this disgusting illness you have." A mixture of anger and disappointment oozed from her speech. It was evident that no amount of conversation could fix how she really felt about my sexual orientation. I thought that she wanted to fix our relationship but I guess I was wrong.

"Mom this is me and if you can't accept me the way I am, then I'm sorry." I declared, wiping away my tears using my palm.

"He turned you into this person. My son would never even think of kissing a boy. I warned you against Gavin but you didn't listen. And now he is going to drag your soul to hell." She spat, contempt laced in her voice.

"Mom enough!" I yelled.

"See, you even yell at me now. Your own mother. I was right, the demons have trapped your innocent soul. But don't worry, I will fix everything." She declared, reaching out to touch my face but I swatted her hands away. "I am your mother. I love you so much..." She added.

"If you loved me, you would have accepted me the way I am. You wouldn't have tried to change me." I concluded then started walking away.

"It's either him or me. Choose." Her statement caused me to halt in my tracks. I turned to face her approaching form, my heart thumping intensely in my chest. "I am sorry that it has come to this. But you have to choose now. Is it him or me?"

"Mom, don't make me do this." A plea trotted from my mouth.

"I'll make this easy for you. If you choose me, I will forgive you for all your past transgressions. You will go back to being my perfect son. Our family will be whole again. But if you choose him, you will no longer be my son. You will leave my house, never to return again. Your father will be devastated. You know about his heart disease and how delicate his condition is. He won't survive the pain of losing you...his death will be entirely on your hands." Her assertions shoved me in a tornado of emotions.

"I hope you make the right decision, son. " She stated, taking my limp hands in hers. "If you choose him, you lose your family." She planted a peck on my left cheek then ambled off, leaving me rooted to the ground, unable to speak or think. Tears stung my lachrymal glands, blinding my vision and flowing down my slim cheeks as helplessness surged through me.