It's Complicated

Tomorrow rolled around; no Paine.

The panic kicked it. I couldn’t help but remember what he had told me. His dad…his dad is an abusive dad. Even if he told me it didn’t happen often, it still happens. What if this time he went too far? What if he’s actually really hurt? I don’t know how to handle a situation like that!

It’s either I call the cops and have Paine taken away or I say nothing and let his father beat him. Either way I could lose Paine, which is something I’m not willing to do. Not after I finally realized that he meant more to me than I thought.

Ronnie appeared down the hallway. When he saw me he broke out in a smile and a sprint. I had no time to react before bam he collided with me and we went straight to the ground in a tangle of shouts and limbs.

“Damn it Ronnie! That hurt,” I whined, groaning and trying to push the boy off me.

“Don’t be a pussy, man. So where’s lover boy?” His question brought a frown to my face. One that he noticed immediately. “What’s wrong, Noah? Did something happen?”

“I…I don’t know.”

Ronnie raised an eyebrow but the ringing of the bell cut our time short. As the two of us walked to class I looked around the halls begging for a miracle…but I didn’t get it.

“What’s up?” Ronnie asked, concerned.

I wasn’t sure if Ronnie knew or not. It took me a lot of coaxing to get Paine to tell me about his dad. I don’t know if he ever told Ronnie. So he wouldn’t understand if I said that he didn’t answer my calls last night. He’d probably just laugh it off and say that he was busy.

“Just drop it. I’m just being weird.” I try to blow it off. By the look on Ronnie’s face he knew something was up, but didn’t push it. Instead he changed the subject, talking to me about some girl he met who was apparently making him go slightly psychotic.

I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not…but ok…

At the end of the day I got home fast and called Paine. The rings seemed to take forever and by the fifth ring I was losing hope…

“Hello?”

I sighed in relief. “Paine?”

“Oh, hey Noah.” His voice sounded tired, almost sick. “Sorry I didn’t answer your calls last night. I’m not feeling so great so I won’t be coming to school tomorrow either.”

“You pussy,” I tease him. “What did you catch?”

Suddenly the tension lifted. He wasn’t hurt, but at the same time I was still worried. I can’t see him. I can’t see that not a single bruise marked his angelic body, but he wouldn’t lie to me…right?

“Stomach virus,” he answers. “I never realized how nasty kool-aid was until I spit it back up.”

“That sounds delicious.”

“I know, it was.”

For eight hours Paine and I talked on the phone. Around eleven Paine sighed, “I’m tired…call me tomorrow k, babe?”

A flush dusted my cheeks, but I tried to ignore it by snapping. “Don’t call me that!”I love it when he calls me that.

“Whatever.”

We hung up then and I sighed, falling back onto my bed. As I stared up at my ceiling I couldn’t help but wonder, could he be lying? It’s easy to fake sick, especially over the phone. If he was injured he might lie so I won’t worry, but what if he really is sick?

Sighing, I slam my hand against my bedside table. If only I knew where he lived! It’s sad that I’ve never been to his house, but he always avoided it like a plague.

I bit my bottom lip, determined to find where he lived and go visit.

~

“Ronnie, have you ever been to Paine’s house?”

Ronnie looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Once, but I’ve never been inside. Why?”

“What the hell? I’m his boyfriend and I’ve never even been there before!”

Ronnie frowned. “I don’t think he would want you to see it…it isn’t the best place in the world.”

“Well…can you tell me where he lives?” I couldn’t believe it was that easy. Ronnie actually knew where he lived. If I knew that I would have asked him yesterday damn it!

“Sure! You going to give him some McLovin?”

“Fuck you. Write it down.”