Author’s Note: Sorry about not updating like I should’ve this past week, guys. Hope you aren’t too upset with me ;). School’s been pretty busy and I already had three projects to do the first week. I promise to try to update more, but I’m not guaranteeing anything. Well, anyway, welcome to the superextraawesomely long chapter seven! Enjoy and review!

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Reese’s POV

As soon as the words left his mouth, I was out the door. Tyler didn’t want me. He had a boyfriend and I probably wouldn’t stand a chance. I ran past my house and straight to the park. He hadn’t been to the park, or so I assumed, so I headed in that direction. I just hoped he wouldn’t find me, not that he was looking for me anyway.

I sat under a tree, in the shade, and stared off into space. I tried to push him out of my mind, but he kept appearing again and again. The memory of him kissing my cheek hadn’t even begun to leave my mind. I kept thinking about it. I couldn’t help but hope for a chance with him.

That’s when I heard him call my name. “Reese!” he called from far away. I wasn’t going to answer. I couldn’t face him. He didn’t want to be with me the way I wanted to be with him.

“Reese!” he called again, this time, a lot closer—too close for my comfort. I stood up and moved to the swings. His voice kept getting closer and closer as he repeated my name. Soon I could hear quick footsteps on the asphalt path. I wanted to move again, to walk away, but my legs wouldn’t let me.

“There you are,” Tyler said gently. I was upset. I wanted to be alone, but with him at the same time, even if he was the one who had just caused my heart to break a little.

Get up, Reese, I told myself. Just move. Run away from him. He doesn’t want you. I stood up from the swing I had been sitting on.

“Reese… please. Don’t run away from me again,” he begged, stopping a few feet in front of me. I covered my bruised eye somewhat subconsciously and kept my head down, and it was a good thing I had because tears were starting to form in my eyes, no matter how hard I willed them away.

“Why do you care?” I snapped at him angrily.

“You know why I care, Reese. Don’t play dumb. Tell me why you ran out, please! Do you really think I have a boyfriend or do you find it weird that I’m gay? Just tell—”

“It’s not that, Tyler. It’s just… Wait, why should I tell you?”

“Because I care about you, Reese! I may have only known you for two days or so, but I still care about you and if I did something to hurt you or that scares you, I want to know so I won’t do it again,” he said honestly. He eyes shone with what I thought might be tears. I didn’t get my hopes up.

“Tyler, for that you’d have to break up with your boyfriend!” I spat, without thinking. I regretted the words the minute they left my mouth. Goddamn, Reese, way to be a jealous bitch.

“Boyfriend? What?”

“You even told me! The guy you were on the phone with! Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about! I won’t ever be him or even close, you seemed so… happy.”

“What?” he started. “Oh, Zack? Reese, he’s my best friend. He’s not even close to being gay or bisexual.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“Please, Reese, just believe me. I’ll even prove it to you because he’s coming here tomorrow,” he begged again, stepping closer, attempting to take my hands in his. I pulled away.

“Fine. If you prove it, then I’ll believe you, but why do you even care so much?”

“Because I don’t want you to be upset or jealous over something that didn’t exist between me and my best friend,” he said, with extra emphasis on “best friend.”

“Jealous! I’m not jealous. I’m just…”

“Look, Reese, I figured it out. I didn’t know you were gay until you ran out of my house.”

“You didn’t?”

“No. If I had known, I would’ve asked you out already.”

My mouth dropped and my heart started to beat faster and faster.

Tyler’s POV

I couldn’t believe I had just said that. My mind was whirling. He did like me, I could tell, but he thought I had a boyfriend. That needed to be fixed right away. If he wouldn’t believe me now, he’d have to tomorrow.

I got nervous suddenly. I attempted to reach for his hands again, and this time he didn’t pull away. They were cold, despite the warm weather, and I could feel him shaking. Maybe he’s just as nervous as you are, I told myself.

Then, he closed the space between us quickly and kissed me hard and on the lips. My knees buckled slightly. I had never felt like this before, so light yet so grounded. I wanted to feel this more often.

His hands snaked their way around my waist and mine found their way to his soft face, tenderly cupping his cheeks. I had no idea where this was coming from on his part, but I know I had wanted this since I saw him for the first time.

When we pulled apart, slowly and reluctantly, he looked away, looking almost embarrassed.

“Reese?” I asked gently.

“So you really don’t have a boyfriend?” he questioned as a response, keeping his head down slightly.

“No boyfriend,” I stated honestly. Then I smirked evilly. “Yet…”

He looked up at me and I saw tears in his eyes.

“Reese… babe, what’s wrong?” I said, gently wiping a tear from his cheek.

“Why do you want me, Tyler? I’m disgusting. I’m bruised and broken and I have nothing material to give you. You have a wonderful family, a nice car, friends, and money. You’d need someone who could give you nice things because that’s what you deserve,” he said quietly, allowing more tears to fall.

I wiped them away hastily as I said, “Reese, you are not disgusting. I think you’re beautiful, honestly. Don’t think bruises or cuts or anything could change that. And I don’t need anything material. I’m not a material kind of guy, especially not when it comes to relationships. All that stuff, I never asked for. I have maybe two good friends and when it comes to money, I’m usually almost always broke unless I have a job. Reese, don’t think anything is going to change the fact that I care about you.”

He simply looked at me like a small, hopeful child. He was so tiny, I just wanted to gather him into my arms and just hold him forever.

“Really?”

I responded by pulling him close and holding onto him as if, at any minute, he could disappear. “Yes,” I whispered into his ear. “I won’t let go of you, Reese.”

He sobbed quietly for a minute, before he pulled away. “Do you think it’d be okay if I stayed over again tonight?” he asked.

“Of course. But why don’t we relax here for awhile. I had no idea this park existed until I went looking for you.” We both laughed.

“I was almost hoping you wouldn’t find me,” he joked.

“I bet.”

We sat on a picnic table and looked out over the lake as we had that one morning when we watched the sunrise. We sat there in silence for a moment, until he broke it once more.

“Tyler?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t think I told you that I sort of remember the night we were at the movie theater,” he said.

I froze. “What do you remember?”

“You whispered something into my ear, and then kissed my head.”

“You heard me whisper?” I said, stunned.

“Yeah.”

We sat again in silence.

“Do you really want to save me?” he finally asked, his eyes connecting with mine. I could feel the heat exchanging in our eyes, the want, and the need.

“Reese, that’s a stupid question.” I looked at him deeply before kissing him again.

We sat and watched the sun set opposite the lake and more toward the main road. He had wrapped his arms around my waist and I had an arm over his shoulder. I felt comfortable. I felt light. I felt like I had done something right for once. I was happy. There is just something about him….

Reese’s POV

I felt like I was at home. At peace, finally, after a long war. I couldn’t describe it any other way. This boy made me feel things I had never felt before. I needed and wanted him. He made my heart feel full again.

I never wanted to be without him again. He wanted to save me, he wanted to care for me, he wanted to be with me, he wanted me. No one had ever felt like that about me. Ever.

After the sun had set and the stars were out, Tyler and I headed back toward his house. I told him that I needed to grab some clean clothes from my house and we walked up the driveway. Then we ran into someone I had known was there.

The whore my dad had been with for a week was leaving my house and when she saw me, she recognized me.

“Kid!” she yelled. I looked up at her. “Your dad is fucked up, did I mention that last time?”

“Yeah, and every other time before that. Can you just… go, please?” I said to her. I had to go inside to get some clean clothes to wear, not that I minded wearing Tyler’s hoodie.

She saw me walking up the path and yelled from her car, “Hey kid! I wouldn’t go in there!”

“Why not?”

“He’s drunk off his ass. That’s why I left. He started throwing shit around, kid. Be careful.” A whore had just told me to be careful. He had been drunk off his ass before around her and she never cared. This must’ve been bad.

“Maybe you shouldn’t come inside,” I said to Tyler as we reached my front door. We heard the crashing of glass on the hardwood floor and we both flinched; though he was less afraid than I was.

“Reese. No way in hell am I letting you go in there alone,” he said, grasping my hand. “I’m not going to let him hurt you.”

“Tyler, he can’t be stopped. He’s out of control. I don’t want you to see me get beaten or anything. I really don’t want you to see that.”

“What kind of friend would I be if I let him do that to you? He’s not going to touch you. I’m stronger, I can guarantee that.”

“But he’s drunk.”

“Who the fuck cares. He’s not touching you. End of story.”

I sighed and unlocked the door.

“There you are, you faggot,” my father greeted when we reached the top of the stairs.

Tyler jumped in front of me as soon as he saw my dad’s fist pull back. My dad didn’t stop, but hit him square in the chest instead. Tyler didn’t budge, or even flinch. He was stronger than I had thought.

“Sir, I suggest you back off, or I’ll call the police,” Tyler threatened.

“Oh yeah?” my dad slurred, drunkenly. He tried to force Tyler out of the way, and when Tyler didn’t move, he punched him flat in the chest again and again. Soon, he was blocking all my dad’s punches and kicked him in the stomach. My dad doubled over in pain and we both headed to my room.

As soon as we got inside, I closed and locked my door.

“Shit, Tyler, I really hoped you wouldn’t have to see my shit hole of a room…” I whispered shamefully.

He came over to where I rested against the door and kissed me. “It doesn’t bother me,” he breathed as we pulled away.

As soon as my dad started pounding on the door, I started to grab clothes from my closet. I grabbed jeans, shirts, another pair of shoes, and my accessories, which included my makeup.

“I think you’re going to need a bag and more clothes. I’m not letting you come back here for awhile. Not until we sort things out with your dad.” I looked up at Tyler and he smiled at me. His hair, which I had been used to seeing in the faux-hawk style, was flattened on his forehead and he looked absolutely gorgeous. I smiled back.

“Hey, Reese?”

“Yeah?”

“I really want to knock your dad the fuck out,” he said angrily.

“I wish I could. And I wish you could, but don’t. He doesn’t deserve—well, yes he does, but still. He’s my dad.”

“Oh, no, that’s okay. I wasn’t asking permission, I was just stating a fact.

“Maybe we should attempt to climb out the window so we don’t have to deal with him again,” I whispered so my dad wouldn’t hear.

Tyler opened my window and looked down. “Yeah, that’s a good thirty-to forty-foot drop, Reese. Don’t think I’m going down that.”

“We need a plan.”

“No, I need to face your dad again.”

“Probably not a good idea,” I said, since the pounding on the door had gotten heavier and heavier each second.

“I’ll protect you, Reese. You really don’t need to be scared of him. Not now.”

I nodded as I opened the door slowly.

“You little faggot!” my dad screamed as he lunged at me, knocking me on the floor, causing me to hit the wound on my head from the skateboard and bleeding again. “Reese!” I heard Tyler exclaim. I felt hot tears streaming down my face before darkness consumed me.

Tyler’s POV

“Reese!” I called again. He didn’t answer. Blood was starting to spread on the floor. I kneeled down and checked him over. He was breathing and his pulse was slow, but steady.

“Serves him right!” I heard his father exclaim happily.

I felt rage surge through my veins. I leaped at him, unable to control myself. Soon I had him pinned on the floor, my hands at his throat, gripping tightly.

“If you ever hurt him again, I will personally come here and bust your head open. Maybe then you’ll know how he feels! If you come anywhere near him, drunk or sober, I will call the police. Do you understand me?” I threatened. He blinked. “Do you understand me!” I repeated louder. He nodded quickly.

“I’m taking him to my house and you better stay away from him.”

He nodded again in understanding and I hopped off him. I saw the bathroom and went in, grabbed a hand towel and some peroxide. I went back to Reese and poured some peroxide on the wound and applied pressure to it with the towel. Soon, I had had enough of being in that house, so I wrapped the hand towel around his head and carried him and his bag of things out of the house.

As soon as I lay him on my bed, he opened his eyes slightly.

“I’m so sorry, Reese. I should’ve been the one to open the door,” I whispered to him, assuming he could hear me.

“Tyler?” he said weakly.

“It’s me,” I reassured him.

“You’re my angel… thank you,” he managed before he fell unconscious again.

Angel… I thought. I could get used to that.

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Did you like it? I hope soooo! Reviewreviewreviewreview!! I won’t be able to get the next chapter up until maybe Thursday (the 31st) or after the 5th (my birthday!!) But I’ll try to get it up as soon as possible!!