Set Me Free

Drew is...a drunken mess. He had convinced me to let him go to a bar because ‘it’s been such a long time’. That boy can whine until you feel like shooting him in the face; of course I’ve never felt like that; I just wanted him to shut the hell up. I gave him a time limit; three hours; I didn’t want him coming home complete shitfaced. I may sound overprotective, clingy and a ‘spoilsport’, but you haven’t seen Drew when he’s drunk. The boy turns into a perverted ball of horny; it’s terrible.

But aside from the fact that drunk Drew was trying to get in my pants, I have more important things to worry about. It has been exactly two days after my birthday and I’m currently helping Jorge pack. Kris left yesterday after fake tears and sloppy kisses to the cheek. We haven’t talked, Jorge and me, and I really don’t want to. That question that’s been haunting me ever since Kris was getting ready to leave just had to shove itself right back in my face.

‘Do I have to go’? I’ve made up my mind that I don’t want to go anymore, and even though I am now 18 and a legal adult, Jorge still makes the decisions. He hasn’t led on, not once, what his decision is and I don’t want to hear it. He’ll either tell me goodbye for now or to pack up my things. Drew hasn’t talked about it either, but I know he thinks about it, maybe more than me. That was mostly the reason he went out drinking tonight, though he wouldn’t tell me, it was painfully obvious. He wanted to get his mind off of the fact that I might be moving five hours away from him. He wanted to be plastered so that he wouldn’t hear Jorge’s decision. I don’t even think Jorge knows his own decision yet.

“So...”He began, “How are you liking it at the Connellys’ so far?” Here it comes; he’s just buttering me up to tell me that it’s time to go.

“They treat me good.” I cleared my throat, suddenly finding it very difficult to speak. “So how’s San Francisco? You think I’ll like it there?”

“I don’t know...will you?”

That’s all he left me with. After speaking, he just turned around and left the room. What kind of answer was that? He knew what I was asking and he just turned the question around right back at me. So...does that mean he’s asking me if I want to go? Is he leaving the decision up to me? Well, of course now I want to stay; I don’t want to more five hours away from Drew, that will be torture.

A small smile crept its way onto my face as I thought of what it would be like if I really did live here. I don’t think it’ll be too weird, but maybe Drew will just get tired of seeing my face every day. I don’t care, I don’t want to go.

“You really should just leave.”

Twisting my head around (so much that it hurt) to face the door, I saw the slightly darkened figure of Sam, casually leaning against the doorway. I didn’t even hear him. At his presence, the room immediately filled with the undeniable scent of weed. Great, now everyone will think I was the one doing it; the room stinks now.

“W-What are you talking about?”

Samuel Connelly frightens me to some degree. He’s a man-whore jerk who’s done nothing but deride Drew and I ever since I got out of the hospital. I know he’s a homophobic asshole who can’t stand people and loves to get laid, but he needs to start minding his own business and leaving Drew and I alone. Not only that, but he’s also done nothing but demean poor Felicity for having an illness that she can’t possibly control. Mr. and Mrs. Connelly cannot possibly control him, but they can’t stand the thought of their eldest child being so far away from them. Sam needs to get his priorities straight or leave.

“I mean that you should just go away.” I was so lost in my thoughts that I half forgot I was even talking to him. I had to rack my brains for a while to remember what I’d told him in the first place, but it came to me.

“Why should I go away? I love it here, you parents love me here and Drew doesn’t want me to go. If you can’t stand the fact that I’m here than don’t acknowledge my presence. Trust me, my feelings can take it.”

“Ha! Don’t try to act so tough boy.” Sam stepped forward into the room, closer to me. I never knew how intimidating he could look with dark shadows cast over his figure. His somewhat large muscles just seemed to become more pronounced in the moonlit room. It was somewhat terrifying. Everywhere I go, someone just has to bully me; do I not deserve some peace? “You think that just because you’re with my brother that means you’re safe? You make me laugh. Go the fuck away, no one wants you here and I can guarantee that if you don’t, your life will turn into a living hell.”

“I was already living in hell and I highly doubt that you can do anything that will scare me away.” Where this courage was coming from, I don’t know, but I kind of wanted it to shut up now. “Are you just mad that someone else will be in the house to steal your spotlight? You’ve gotten thrown in jail, sold drugs and did everything in your power for a little bit of mommy and daddy’s attention, haven’t you? And now having me here will just take it away again, won’t it? Well you’re just going to have to learn that not everything is about you. Just suck it up and try smiling for once in your life, maybe then someone won’t be so damn afraid of you and like to be around you.” SHUT UP!!! SHUT UP!!!

The look on Sam’s face screamed bloody murder and I was the only one in his way. Sam’s gotten thrown in jail for assault and rape, but they didn’t keep him in because the woman they accused him of doing said crimes to refused to show up in court. She was too afraid of facing him and now here I am...facing him.

Now I don’t think I’ll have any other choice than to leave; Sam will skin me in my sleep. But he can’t do anything with his family here, can he?

“Choose your words carefully kid. You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

“I’m not afraid of you, Samuel. Stop trying to dig fear into everyone’s lives. There’s only one person I’m afraid of and that’s my father and you are nowhere near as bad as he is; whether you like to think so or not.”

I shouldn’t have said that; I am afraid, just not as much as I usually am with dad. The things that man would do to his own flesh and blood; I know Sam would never do any of that to his own family, so he doesn’t scare me. He has limits and my dad didn’t.

Sam apparently didn’t agree with me because my sentence was accompanied by a punch to the stomach.

“Just go away kid. You’re a fucking burden, can’t you see that. My parents may act like they want you hear, but can’t you see the lies in their eyes?”

“Can’t you see the lies in their eyes when they say they want you here?” I spit back at him, crumpled over, holding my middle.

That was accompanied by a punch to the face; my eye to be more exact.

He didn’t even say anything after that, he just kept throwing punches like the coward I know he is. Hiding behind his fists when he knows his words don’t hurt. A true person to fear can not only hurt you with their hands, but with their words and his words were flat. They were empty threats that he’d actually have to follow through on for anyone to take him seriously. Sam’s a joke and apparently, he can’t take anyone telling him the truth.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It hurt to sleep that night, but I got a sufficient amount of rest. I was afraid of what everyone was going to say when they saw me, so after taking my shower, I proceeded to flatten my fringe over my face and to wear a hat and sunglasses so no one who notice; that was where most of the damage was done. My middle still hurt of course from the kicks and punches and slams, but I could manage to stand up straight for fourteen minutes without wincing, so I was pretty good.

I’d skipped breakfast that morning, claiming that I going out for a jog and luckily everyone bought it. I just walked around the neighborhood for a little while. Then, when I came back, I ran straight into the guest room and locked myself in there, refusing to look in a mirror. I should’ve searched the room before locking myself in there because then I would’ve seen Drew casually leaning against the balcony doorway.

“You know you suck at lying, right?” He said, after I’d carefully locked the door without making a sound. Of course I could always count on good ol’ Drew boy to catch my bluffs. “What’s up with you? Grow a pimple overnight?”

Good, so he didn’t know why I was lying in the first place. Why was I even lying? I guess I was afraid of Jorge finding out and not letting me stay at the Connellys’ because of Sam. Am I really willing to risk living in another household of nothing but pain just for Drew? I guess I am.

Drew bounced off of the wall and walked closer, trying to get a look at my face. Maybe he won’t tell Jorge; he wants me here just as much as I do. Maybe he’ll keep this up until Jorge leaves and then lash out at his brother for it. Maybe I have wings and birds taught me how to fly.

I tried twisting my head away from Drew when he tried taking off the cap, but I was backed up against a wall and that just seemed to intensify Drew’s curiosity.

I, not being strong enough to fight Drew off (like I was even trying), lost in the end and had to shake the fringe out of my face eventually when it fell in my eyes. I could hear the gasp and feel the soft fingertips tracing the black eye and bruises, but I didn’t really want to acknowledge them.

“Baby, what happened to you? Who did this?” I was about to get lost in the world where Drew called me ‘baby’ all of the time, but was forced out when he began to softly shake my shoulders.

I turned away, not wanting to meet his eyes, not wanting to tell him any more. Aren’t couples supposed to be able to trust each other with everything? It’s not that I don’t trust Drew because I most certainly do, but...I don’t even know what my problem is at the moment.

“It’s nothing; I just tripped and landed on my face.” I mumbled, not bothering the cover up the fact that I was lying.

“Dane, you can’t just lie like that straight to my face. I know for a fact you didn’t go anywhere yesterday and you looked fine when I came home. It won’t be that hard to find out; I just want to give you the opportunity to tell me yourself...maybe.” He whispered out the last part, hurt evident in his tone. I am, by far, the worst boyfriend in the history of the earth. I know you’re supposed to get into your fights now and then, but we just started dating and it’s already begun?

“It was Sam.” I mumbled, not daring a look at his eyes. I knew he probably guessed and was most likely right, but maybe hearing it from me made it that much more official.

It was then that I finally thought about how hard this was for Drew. His brother beat the hell out of his boyfriend. That was the simple truth, but what was he going to do about it? Am I forcing him to choose between me and Sam?

“When?” It was obvious that he was trying to calm himself down enough to speak. Who he was mad at, I’m not really sure.

“Last night...I’m sorry Drew.”

His head whipped up to me, though my head was downcast.

“What do you need to be sorry about? It’s that bastard who should be coughing up an apology right now.”

“It’s my fault; he told me to go away and I didn’t want to listen to him. I might’ve provoked him, so I deserve it.”

I heard the growl, probably agreeing with me that I did deserve this, but that doesn’t mean that I necessarily believe it.
Drew brought his hand up to place underneath my chin, gently lifting my face so I could look him in the eye.

“Don’t you ever say that again; you don’t deserve any harm done to you and don’t you dare listen to anyone who says otherwise.”

I looked up at him, eyes glistening; he really is my hero, isn’t he? He’s saved me too many times to count. Taking two steps forward, I securely wrapped my arms around Drew’s middle and buried my face in his chest. He makes all the pain so worth it; I’d walk through fire for this boy.

Drew lightly kissed the top of my head and soothingly ran his hands through my hair for what felt like forever. All I knew was that I was getting tired. Drew must’ve read my mind because the next thing I knew, I was being lifted into the air and lightly placed on the bed, my eyes closing without my permission. I don’t want to go.

Drew’s P.O.V.

I stayed by Dane’s side until I was sure he’d fallen asleep. It only took about five minutes. He must’ve not gotten that much sleep last night; Sam’s to blame.

I can’t believe he’d do something like this. I know he doesn’t approve and Dane and mine’s relationship, but who the hell had asked him to? I don’t remember even asking him if he was okay with it because I frankly didn’t give two shits about whether he liked it or not. If he has such a problem with it, then he should just move out like he did before; I won’t miss him and neither will Felicity. Mom and dad may not want to admit it, but I know that they don’t really like him living here either. We aren’t the same family we used to be now that he’s around and I’m sick and tired of him always getting in the fucking way.
When mom and dad asked him to come back, they thought he’d changed, hell, I thought he’d changed. He’d moved out because mom and dad caught on to all of the drug use and partying and gang involvement and then the whole rape charge was added onto their backs and they couldn’t handle it. They didn’t ask him to leave, but they didn’t exactly beg him to stay either. Dad had even seemed somewhat relieved.

A week before they asked him to come back home, he wrote them a letter. He apologized and gave some bullshit speech about how much he’s changed and how he just wants to be good again. We all bought it; there were even tears with it. I was afraid of seeing him though, which was when the smoking came back. He was on his way and somewhere deep inside of me, I knew that it was all just some bullshit he probably made up when he was either drunk or high. But that was during the times when the problems with Dane emerged and I had more important things to think about. I still do, but how can he just think he has the right to do something like that?

It took all of my willpower not to burst out of that guestroom and pound Sam’s face in; I can’t believe I’m related to that! That black eye reminded me so much of when Dane’s dad would beat him and I still have a strong urge to kill that man. Dane, of all people! He might have said things to provoke Sam a little, but to just go off like that on him? Why?

Sam’s currently out ‘job hunting’ and he won’t be back for a while. I’ll take care of Dane in the meantime, but when he comes back...he better know how to dodge flying knives. No one lays a hand on Dane...no one.

I set an ice pack on Dane’s black eye and swollen face while he was asleep, luckily he didn’t wake up; I swear, that boy will sleep through the apocalypse.

Don’t ask why I find him the most special person on the face of the earth because I don’t know. He’s just...there’s no word to describe him, he’s just Dane. I don’t care if there are fifty million other Dane’s out there in the world; none of them are this one and this one’s the only one I want. As I turned to fetch him a glass of water before he awakes, the sun caught something that reflected right in my eye. My hand trailed down until they caught the chain of Dane’s necklace, the one I got him for his birthday. I don’t think he’s ever taken it off. And to think I thought he’d hate the thing. I thought it was too simple, maybe he wanted something more extravagant; I was pleasantly surprised. I really do love this boy, whether it’s wrong or gross or whatever the hell else single minded idiots think these days. Planting a light kiss to Dane’s forehead, I quietly made my way out of the room and downstairs to the kitchen.

Jorge and my mother sat at the table, talking amongst themselves. She loves these Santon boys more than she does Sam.

“Hi sweetie.” My mother cooed, holding a cup of coffee in between her hands. “How’s Dane doing? I haven’t seen him all morning.”

“Um...” He might not want me to do this, seeing as Jorge might not let him stay, but I’m not going to place Dane in danger again. I know I’m here, but what if I’m not one day and Sam decides that he wasn’t finished? I’m not losing Dane again. “I need to tell you something that you most definitely don’t want to hear.”

Mom put her coffee down and focused all of her attention to me, so did Jorge.

“Oh dear, this sounds important.” Mom called dad into the room and had him sit down to listen. Here goes nothing.

“I know Jorge hasn’t really made up his mind about whether he’s going to let Dane stay or not and-” Jorge cut me off.

“It’s not my decision; I’m leaving that up to Dane.” Not anymore.

“Okay, but um...last night after I’d gotten completely smashed (*disapproving look from mom*) and sometime after Jorge finished packing, Dane stayed in the guest room and Sam might’ve gone in there.”

Dad stood from his chair and made his way to the door.

“What did Sam do to him?” He growled, reaching for his car keys. He’d search every bar and club in Beverly Hills until he found that boy.

“I don’t know what happened, entirely, but...you should just see for yourself.”

Jorge was the first to bolt up the stairs, followed by dad and mom and finally me. They kept quiet because he was asleep, but I could see the red in Jorge’s eyes. He wanted blood and he wasn’t going to stop until he got it. Dad looked more disappointed than angry. Now don’t get me wrong, he was beyond furious, but I knew what he thought of Sam. Mom started to cry. She walked up to a sleeping Dane with a pout on her face and pet his hair for a good ten minutes. Afterwards, we all somehow managed to calmly make our way to the kitchen.

“I’ll be waiting until he gets home to have a chat with him.” Dad stated calmly. Jorge was seething at the table, glaring holes at the wall. He was set to leave tonight and he wanted to see something done to Sam. Hopefully my parents will allow me to get a few kicks to him before they kick him out for good this time.

“I know I said it was Dane’s choice, but I am not letting him stay in a house with that thing.” Jorge growled though his teeth; it was a surprise smoke wasn’t coming out of his ears.

I knew he would say that, and even though I’ll honestly die without Dane with me, I agreed. He’d be safer in San Francisco; I know what my brother’s capable of.

“Don’t you worry.” My mother sniffed. “He won’t be living here much longer.”

“Mrs. Connelly...” Jorge began, but my mother cut him off.

“No, that’s final; that boy needs to learn that he won’t be handed everything he wants on a silver platter. When I asked him to come back home, I thought he’d changed, became a different person, didn’t rely so much on drugs and alcohol, but I can see how wrong I was. Sam lies, he cheats, he steals and he’s getting everything he wants because of it. How is that a form of punishment? I love my son and I don’t know where I went wrong, but I swear to you that I will not make the same mistakes again. Sam would have had to learn that he can’t just get everything he wants in the snap of a finger sooner or later and before later arrives, he’ll learn his lesson. Jim (dad), call your son and tell him to get his butt home right now.”

Mom rose from her chair, grabbing her coffee and made her way out of the room and up the stairs. I was actually speechless; I didn’t know my mother had it in her. I just wanted Sam to come home so I could kick his ass.

Dad tried his cell numerous times, but none of those worked; so like I said, he went out to find him himself. Jorge went along and so did mom. They asked if I wanted to go too, but I was waiting for Dane to wake up. Felicity was staying at a friend’s house for the week, so until Dane woke up, the whole place was mine. Of course I spent every second of it at Dane’s side.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dane awoke about an hour after my parents and Jorge left. It was about three and Jorge’s flight took off at seven, so they had better hurry up.

Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes with small fists, Dane sat up in bed, glancing over at me.

“Hey Drew.” He mumbled, stretching himself out with a yawn.

I couldn’t help myself; I walked over to the bed and attached my lips to his in what I took as a pretty feverish kiss. I could honestly never get tired of kissing this boy; not only is he perfect, but he’s mine.

Dane’s slightly small hands weaved themselves into my hair and pulled; bringing me down until I was completely on top of him. Of course I stayed up on my elbows so I wouldn’t squish the poor kid, but all the same. Dane and I have made out once, yesterday, and he had been so flustered that he’d refused to meet my eyes for the rest of the day, but he’s actually initiating this one. My breathing was coming out in short pants, but I couldn’t care less, this felt amazing. Prying Dane’s lips open, I just shoved my tongue in there. There was no battle for domination or a wrestling match; it was just a simple meeting of muscle.

It wasn’t until we heard the front door open did we finally break apart, about fifteen minutes later; me, scattering small, open mouthed kisses all over Dane’s face. He giggled when I moved down his jaw line and neck.

“Drew, stop it, your parents are home.” Oh shit! I forgot to tell him about me telling everyone. Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap. Guess he’ll find out now.

I unlatched my lips from his neck, moving back to survey the hickey. ‘There’s no explaining yourself out of this one’ I thought to myself, smirking. Knowing my mother, she’ll never stop pointing it out until it’s completely gone. Sorry Dane.

“Dreeeeeeeew!” He whined. “You gave me a hickey, didn’t you? I hate you, help me up.”

I had my fun laughing, forgetting completely that my parents had come back, most likely with that douche bag of a brother of mine...that was until I actually helped Dane up. I might’ve been having a little too much fun and accidently slapped him in the stomach. Normally, that wouldn’t hurt a normal person; it would actually just make Dane tackle me to the ground, but he keeled over in pain and grabbed his middle, falling to his knees on the ground

“Dane, baby what’s wrong? What did I do?” I panicked, going to the ground and was about to check for vital signs (even though he was fine) before he attempted to rise from the ground.

“Its fine, I just...fell.” That excuse again?

Helping Dane off of the ground, I carefully lifted up his shirt to see a tummy of black and blue. How much more damage did Sam do? Breathing heavily through my nose, my hands balled into fists and I stormed my way down the stair, Dane at my heels.

I didn’t bother paying attention to the fact that Sam and my dad were going at it in the kitchen; all I wanted was an open target.

Pulling my arm back as soon as I was close enough, I punched Sam so hard in the face; I wouldn’t be surprised if his nose got jammed inside of his brain. My own breath got taken away by the sheer force of it all. The bastard deserves that and so much more. No one lays a hand on my Dane. It took both dad and Jorge to pry me off of Sam, who was barely even fighting back. They managed to lift me off of him, but as he was rising from the ground, hand over his bleeding nose, I kicked his face so hard that it knocked all four of us to the ground. Now his nose can get jammed up his brain. By the time I got off of the ground, Sam just about passed out.

Dane was hiding behind my mother, but when he saw that I was finished, he ran over and buried his face in my chest; he was never one for violence.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Mom and dad were tending to Sam’s wounds while Jorge and I went to Dane. He really was fine, Sam didn’t hurt him too much in the stomach area, he just bruises extremely easily. Jorge and I were looking at the bruises on Dane’s stomach when my parents and Sam walked in. Upon seeing the marks, mom ran right over to him and attempted to touch them without hurting him; that didn’t go so well. When I caught sight of Sam, I expected him to glare or look somewhat frightened, but the dick actually smirked. I just about pounced on him again, if it weren’t for Dane’s hand squeezing mine.

“Sam.” My mother began. “Would you like to tell us why you did this to Dane?” Dane, yet again, attempted to hide behind my mother, but she moved to sit next to me, so...he hid behind me.
Sam just shrugged, looking as bored as ever.

“I was high, bored and that little kid just so happened to be the only one still awake in the house, so I decided to have a little fun.”

Now it was Jorge’s turn to completely lose it. He got three punches in before dad pried him off and made him cool down.

“You think those are excuses? When I said you could live here, I thought you’d changed, I thought you were done with all of this. I am not going to lecture you on how disappointed I am or how I wish I could’ve done better because I did all I could and that wasn’t enough. I never thought I’d tell a child of mine that they were a hazard to their own family, but you are. It’s not just because of what you did to Dane, though that accounts too, but to your own brother and sister. I don’t want you living in this house anymore Samuel.” My mother fumed, placing her hands on her hips as she stood from the couch.

He didn’t look surprised, he didn’t seem fazed; he knew this was going to happen sooner or later. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he looked almost relieved.
Sam was out of the house in fifteen minutes flat, having called one of his fuck buddies to come get him. He only had a duffle bag that he never unpacked. Didn’t even bother saying goodbye either. It hurt my mother more than she let on, but she too looked relieved that he was finally out of the house.

Both her and dad left soon, to pick up Felicity early after she called and told them that she’d run out of meds.

“Dane doesn’t have to move, does he?” I turned to Jorge, asking the question I know was on both mine and Dane’s minds. Sam doesn’t look like he’ll be coming back.

“No, he doesn’t have to move, but if that brother of yours even thinks about coming within 100 yards of my brother, he’s dead.”

Dane giggled and snuggled closer to me. This is one boy I’m never letting go.