?Hey, wake up." Oliver got pulled from an amazing dream, only to wake up to a fairytale. When he opened his eyes, the first thing, he saw was the beautiful smile of his boyfriend, Dominick. A small smile crept up on his face, but a yawn ruined it.
?What time is it??
His boyfriend gave him a small peck on the cheek before getting up from bed.
?3 AM. We fell asleep last night. I got to go. You know, before anyone knows I was here. Stevie already called me a million times.?
Oliver sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. He didn?t want Dominick to leave; that perfect moment would be ruined, and he knew that he didn?t get to speak to him before tonight, after his whole family had gone to sleep. And he didn?t want that. He wanted to be able to hug, kiss and hold hands with Dominick in school in front of their friends, at the mall in front of Dominick?s colleagues at American eagle and at their houses in front of their family. He wanted to do what a normal couple would do. However, that wasn?t what Dominick wanted, he wanted to hide, to sneak around, and not let anyone know that they were together.
?Do you really have to go? I don?t want you to."
They had been together for over a year, and it was still the same. No-one knew off them, not their best friends, not their family, no-one. They hadn?t been on a real date, and they hadn?t even told each other about their feelings. Oliver was hopelessly in love with Dominick, and he didn?t want to end things. Dominick, however, wasn?t sure about his feelings for Oliver. He liked spending time with him, and he loved just holding him in bed, watching him sleep, but he hated what he made Oliver go through. Even though Oliver didn?t say anything, he knew that he wanted more, wanted to be able to go out with him, wanted to walk up to him in school and give him a simple hug, and wanted him to come over for dinner, meet his family and just spend time with him outside the bedroom. However, Dominick knew he couldn?t. People wouldn?t accept him; he would lose his friends, his family and his life. They didn?t want a ?fag? in their life; to them, he would be a disgrace. He wouldn?t be one of the most popular boys in school; he wouldn?t be the star of the soccer team, wouldn?t have a job and he certainly didn?t have a place to live.
He saw how people in school treated Oliver; they called him names, pushed him around, made fun off him, ruined his things and threw food at him. He hated people doing that to him, seeing his boyfriend getting bullied every day was hard for him, but he couldn?t do anything. If he did he would be the one who defended the ?fag," and people would start wondering.
It killed him seeing Oliver in bed, looking tired and sad, asking him not to go. He looked so broken. He didn?t want to leave; he wanted to get undressed, go back to bed and just cuddle up to his boyfriend again and sleep until they had to go to school. He couldn?t, however. People would know that he wasn?t home, start asking where he was and what he was doing. He wasn?t ready for that.
?I do, you know I don?t want to, that I want to stay here with you. I just can?t. I?m sorry.?
Oliver looked down, rubbing his eyes, drying away the tears that were threatening to fall. He just wanted his boyfriend to stay there for one night. He wanted to wake up before him, kiss him awake, wanted to watch him get ready for school, wanted him to drive him to school, and kiss him goodbye before going to class.
Dominick got onto the bed and sat beside Oliver and lifted up his head.
?Hey, don't cry. I?ll be back later, after work. I promise.?
?I know. I just wish that one day; you?ll stay with me the whole night. I like having you here.?
?And someday I will, but just not right now. I?m not ready for it yet. You know I like being with you. If it?s something I would love to do, it would be sleeping next to you all night long, watching you get ready for school, eating breakfast with you and take you to school.?
He leaned down and gave Oliver a soft kiss on the lips, which made Oliver smile. At least he knew that they wanted the same thing.
?But now I really got to go. Go back to sleep, and I?ll see you tonight.?
Again, he leaned down and gave Oliver a quick kiss before going over to the window to climb out. Oliver just sat in bed looking after him.He still felt a little hurt that Dominick couldn?t stay over, even though he knew they wanted the same thing, to be a real couple. Dominick, however, wasn?t ready to face it. And it hurt him. He felt like he wasn?t good enough for him, that Dominick would be ashamed of him, of them, if he came out. He dried the last of his tears away, and got up from bed to grab his guitar. The only thing that helped him lately was to sing and play his guitar all by him self. Singing and playing lyrics, he wrote himself made him feel better.
After leaving Oliver?s house, Dominick started walking home. It wasn?t very far, but it was a bit cold, but driving to Oliver?s house would be a risky thing to do. People would see his car there, and his parents would know that he was gone if his car wasn?t at home. So he just walked every night.
Upon arriving at his house, he saw Stevie?s car in the driveway, and a light in his room, meaning that Stevie was there. A lot of thoughts went through his head at that moment, and he thought about an excuse to tell Stevie when he asked where he was. He could have been taken a walk, a very long walk. He could just have been out partying with some friends from work, or maybe on a date with a girl. No, he wouldn't say that, that wouldn't be fair to Oliver. He would just say that he went out with his friends from work. Stevie didn't know them, and he was banned from the American eagle anyway, so he wouldn't get to know them either, his colleagues didn't like him.He walked over to his window, opening it up so that it was open enough for him to climb in, and got in. Stevie was sitting in the couch watching TV, but turned around at the sound of people coming in.
?Where the hell have you been? I?ve been calling all night, and it?s almost four AM! I need a place to stay for a while. Parents kicked me out again. I won?t bother you for long; it's just until I can find my own place to stay.?
Dominick got inside, took of his jacket and shoes and jumped down on bed before answering Stevie. He needed to get him not to stay at his house. He would be there all the time, and that wouldn?t be good if he was going to Oliver?s house every night.
?I?ve been out with some friends from work. Just hanging out, drinking a little, not too much though, and we lost track of time. And I had my phone on vibrate. I always turn it on vibrate when I?m at work, and I just forget to turn it back on sometimes. Are you sure you want to stay here? I?ll be gone most of the time anyway; it won?t be any fun for you. I?ve got school, soccer practice, work and I?ve been asked to hang out with my friends for work everyday this week. I know I?m your best friend and everything, but are you sure you can?t ask anyone else to stay with them??
?Everyone has a girlfriend, and I really don?t want to live with somebody if I have to listen to them having sex all the time. You?re the only one of my friends who doesn?t have a girlfriend. Come on, just, please let me stay here; I won't be long; I promise. I can live with you being out all the time. Come on, we?ve been best friends since kindergarten; I'm partially your brother, and your parents know me. I?ll even cover for you when you?re out.?
He thought about it, and maybe it could be helpful. His parents always thought he was asleep, but what if they decided to check on him sometime, or ask him something important and his room was empty; he would be in so much trouble if they didn?t know where he was. And for all Stevie knew, he was out with his friend from work, who Stevie didn?t know, so it would all work out.
?I'll ask my parents tomorrow, but it can only be for a couple of weeks. You?ll get bored out of your mind if you stay here without me, since I?m mostly gone all the time.?
?Fine. Can we sleep now? I know it?s only a couple of hours until school start, but I?m pretty tired. Unlike you, who have been out all night having fun, I?ve just been sitting here watching TV and waiting for you to get back.?
?Fine, I?m a bit tired myself, so I?ll grab a bit of sleep too. You know where to find pillows and stuff, so help yourself. I?m going to the bathroom and get ready.?
The next day at school went as usual. Dominick and Oliver didn?t talk to each other at all; they went to their own classes and didn?t even show any sign of knowing each other. Dominick was the hot popular guy, and Oliver was the gay freak who got bullied every day.
At lunch time Oliver was sitting under a tree outside their school with a book on his lap and a pen in his hand. His best friend, who didn?t go to his school, had asked him to sing a song to her on her birthday, and he was trying to write it.
It was hard though, because all he could think about was Dominick and how hot he looked today. He couldn?t wait until tonight, to be able to have him all by himself for a couple of hours.
His cell phone vibrated in his pocket and when he took it up, he saw that it was a text from Dominick.
?You look so freaking cute today, can?t wait to come over later. Miss you! <3?
Oliver smiled and looked around to see if he could spot him somewhere. And he smiled even bigger when he could see him in the cafeteria window smiling back at him before turning away to laugh about something his friends said.
?You look even cuter and hotter! I miss you too <3. Are you sure we can?t sneak off somewhere to see each other, only for a bit? I can go into the bathroom, and you just come in a little after me. It?s the bathroom; people won?t think that we have a secret meeting, unless we go in there together, or come out of the same janitor?s closet. Everybody goes to the bathroom.?
He could see that it took a couple of seconds before Dominick took up his cell phone and read the text. Then he looked out at him and smiled.
?I?ll see you in a bit. Check the bathroom and text me when it?s clear.?
Oliver couldn?t pack his things and run to the bathroom any faster. He was finally going to be with his boyfriend at school. Maybe not the way he wanted it, but still.
When he got there, he checked the stalls to see if anyone was there, and when he couldn?t find anyone, he told Dominick that the coast was clear. Then he went over to the mirror to fix himself a bit before Dominick arrived.
When he heard the door opened, he quickly turned around with a big smile on his face, but the smile dropped when he saw Stevie stand there, a creepy smile on his face.
?You?re in the wrong bathroom, fag!? He was coming closer, and Oliver just kept backing up and trying to grab his things.
?No, I?m not. I?m a boy; I have as much right as you have to be in here.?
He was getting scared now. Stevie was much bigger and stronger than him; he would have no chance against him.
?Are you sure about that? You certainly don?t look like it, the way you dress, the way you color your hair, even the way you sound. Hell, if you grew boobs, got rid of your cock and got some shapes you would actually look hot! Instead, you choose to be an ugly fag dressed in girl's clothes. I don?t know why people like you choose to live. You?ll die of aids eventually. If not, someone will murder you, or rape you, and you?d kill yourself. You don?t deserve to live. You disgust me.?
He was getting really close now, and Oliver was beginning to get scared.He couldn?t move backwards anymore; his back was already pushed into the sink, and it hurt. He just hoped Dominick would come to save him soon.
?What?s the matter, fag? You don?t like me rubbing up against you? I thought it was what you liked, getting rubbed up against another guy. Having him touch you and pushing you down to your knees, making you suck his cock and then fuck you in the ass after. That's what you like, right; being a whore??
Stevie was standing centimeters away from him now; he could hear and feel him breathing. He was really scared, and didn?t have the nerve to answer back, so he just kept quiet.
?Oh, so you?re the quiet type of guy, huh? What?s the matter fag? Did the old guy you fucked last night choke you with his dick and made you lose your voice??
Still, he didn?t say anything, tears were starting to build up behind his eyelids, and he had to blink a few times to stop them from coming.
?I see, well, maybe I can fuck your voice up even more, and you?ll finally talk like a real man. Get on your knees!?
Now he panicked. Stevie wanted him to blow him off, right there, in the school bathroom, where Dominick or anyone else, for that matter, could be walking in every minute. It wasn't before Stevie started to force him down on his knees, that he finally let the tears fall.
?Oh, the fag is crying. That's so sad. Come on, I know you want to have this down your throat.?
?N-no, please d-don?t do th-this to me.?
Right then he could hear the bathroom door open, and Dominick?s voice came trough the room.
?Dude, what the hell are you doing??
He heard footsteps and a loud bang, but he was afraid to open his eyes to see what happened.
?What the fuck is wrong with you??
?Leave him alone!?
?Why are you defending him? He?s just a fag.?
?No, he?s not! He?s the most beautiful, wonderful, thoughtful and amazing person I know, and I feel sorry for you for not seeing that.?
?What the hell are you talking about? You?re a fag too??
?If being in love with Oliver makes me a fag, then I guess I am. And I?m really proud to say that I am. And if this means that I?ll lose you, my parents, my reputation and everything else, I don?t care. I?ll end up with the best boyfriend ever instead. But you know what the best part is? That you?ll lose everything too. You?re nothing without me. You?ve always lived in my shadow; people are friends with you because you?re my friend, you only get invited to parties because I?m invited, and now you don?t even have a place to live. Don?t bother coming to my house anymore. I?ll expect you to get your things out of my house as soon as possible and don?t even think about talking to me again. And if you ever lay a hand on Oliver again, something much worse than a broken nose and a split lip will happen.?
Stevie got up and ran away before Dominic got the chance to do anything else. Dominic ran over to where a scared looking boy was sitting, his head on his knees, and he was sobbing. People were piling up in the doorway, but all he cared about at that moment was Oliver, who flinched when he touched him.
?Hey, relax, it?s just me; everything is fine.?
He hugged him, and he felt Oliver hugging him back.
?I?m so sorry I?m late, I got caught up with a teacher who stopped me in the hallway.?
Oliver sniffed, but didn?t let go of Dominick. He just wanted this little moment to be real. To hug him while people were watching, to talk to him like no one was listening, and experience how it would be like to have the one you love beating up another guy for you.
?It?s okay; it made you come out of the closet. People know about us now, and you really don?t seem to care. It?s wonderful to know that you care about me so fucking much that you had to beat up your best friend and risked everything just to prove it. And I?m proud of you for that.?
Dominick smiled and shifted a little. He could hear everybody talk behind him, but all he really cared about was that one little person in front of him.
?I guess that seeing him speak and treat you that way made me so freaking angry that I couldn?t help myself. You don?t deserve any of that. You deserve what I couldn?t give you for over a year. You deserve to be happy, with me by your side; doing what normal couples do. Not to hide in your bedroom, and today I just realized that.?
He leaned down just so his forehead was resting against Oliver?s and smile.
?And I meant what I said. I really do love you.?
Oliver?s smile got even bigger, and he leaned up and kissed him; he didn?t care who was watching and how they would react; he was just so happy.
?I love you too.?