Don't Want to Start a Fight

“Lex, what are we doing here?” I asked.

“Rian needs our help to get some shit out his attic. Duh,” Alex shrugged.

I sighed and nodded, walking into Rian’s house with him. I really just don’t fucking care any more. This argument with Kyle is draining me. I know I’m the one not talking to him, but I can’t trust him! Not after his jealous bitch fit over John! Why should I have to be the one in the wrong? Alex and I walked up the two flights of stairs to Rian’s attic, Alex pausing outside the door.

“Shit, I was meant to call my mom. I’ll catch up with you when I’m done,” Alex said suddenly.

I frowned as he ran downstairs but shrugged. I don’t know what’s up with him today, but he’s acting weird. Whatever. I opened the door and smiled when I was greeted with Rian in front of me…but then he pushed me into the room, making me land on the floor on my ass, and slammed the door closed. What the fuck? I jumped to my feet as I heard the click of a lock and cursed when I saw that there was no lock on the inside of the door. It was one of those attics that only locked from the outside. What the fuck is going on?!

“What the fuck RIAN!” I yelled, pounding my fists on the door.

“My parents are away for the weekend so we decided that you and Kyle need to sort out your problems. Now,” Rian said firmly.

“We decided?” I growled.

“Yeah, we,” Alex said.

That little shit. I should’ve known he was tricking me into something!

“Let me out. I’m not talking to him, wherever he is,” I demanded.

“Don’t be so stubborn, Jack. This isn’t like you,” Zack sighed.

“I can do whatever I want,” I retorted.

This is ridiculous!

“Open the wardrobe,” Caleb said.

“What?” I said, confused.

“Just do it!” Pat said.

I rolled my eyes but turned around, scanning the room. This must be an old bedroom, or something. There’s a double bed with a flowery, frilly duvet on, as well as one of those old iron frames. There a desk in the corner, a few piles of books and boxes…and a wardrobe. I sighed and walked over to it, and unlocked the door. What’s with all the locks? I couldn’t help but gasp at the sight of Kyle with a gag around his mouth, and his hands and feet bound with neckties. What the fuck?!

“You guys are messed in the head,” I said, not taking my eyes of Kyle.

He looked so tired, so broken, and I know I was the main factor in this. That hurts, y’know? I do love him, even after all the shit he put me through last week.

“Kyle was a little reluctant when we told him we were forcing the two of you to talk. That’s why we didn’t tell you. We ran out of neckties,” Rian said.

“Now untie him and talk,” Caleb ordered.

“I might leave him like that, actually,” I muttered.

I almost felt bad as Kyle’s eyes glazed over with tears.

“Jaaack,” Alex warned.

“You guys are going to have to unlock the door and untie him yourselves,” I retorted.

There was a moment of silence. Come on…let me out!

“No. We’re not letting either of you out until you sort out your problems. Not even to pee. So the quicker you untie Kyle and talk, the quicker you’re getting out,” Zack said firmly.

I groaned and tilted my head back as I closed my either. It was a lose/lose situation for me. Either I sit in here all day with my friends waiting outside and Kyle tied up helpless, or I unleash hell. It was when Kyle whimpered that I knew what I had to do.

“Fine. But I don’t want you guys listening in. You can all fuck off somewhere else,” I said loudly.

I didn’t wait for a response and headed straight over to Kyle. Crouching down in front of him, I quickly untied the necktie around his mouth and threw it over my shoulder.

“I didn’t think you were going to untie me,” Kyle said with a weak smile.

“Are you okay?” I asked, ignoring what he said.

Kyle stared at me for a couple of seconds, before nodding. That’s good enough for me. I picked him up in my arms and walked over to the bed, placing him down on it so I could reach the ties around his legs easier. Kyle stayed silent as I released his legs, and then his arms. There, I’ve done my part. He can start talking. But what I didn’t expect was for his palm to connect with my face.

“WHAT THE FUCK?!” I shouted, clutching my stinging cheek.

“That was for ignoring me for a week,” Kyle whimpered.

Maybe I deserved that one. I scowled at him and dropped my hand…only for him to slap me again.

“Kyle!” I growled, rubbing my face again.

“That was for even considering leaving me tied up in the wardrobe,” Kyle said.

He started to raise his hand again but I quickly grabbed his wrists and straddled his waist, pushing him flat on his back so he was pinned to the bed.

“That’s enough of the slaps, Kyle. Yeah, I might have ignored you this week…but I had every reason to. I still have every reason not to want to talk to you,” I said angrily.

“No you don’t! I said I love you more than I love John!” Kyle exasperated.

“That’s not the point! The fact that you still love John enough to throw a jealous bitch fit over him having a new boyfriend when you moved on straight away isn’t fair to me!” I said.

Kyle’s eyes filled with tears, but I didn’t let him go. I need to get this off my chest, or I know I never will.

“You shouldn’t have got so jealous over Kennedy – so what he’s attractive? So what John was fucking him before he met you and now they’re fucking again? What does that even matter? Why do you care what John does?!” I hissed.

“I don’t know. I don’t know,” Kyle sobbed.

I whimpered, but refused to lose my composure. “Fuck, Kyle. Why do you do this to me? Why do you make me think that you love me when you don’t even care?”

“I do care! And I love you with all my heart! Why won’t you believe me?” Kyle cried out.

Why doesn’t he get it? He loves John – I can’t compete with that! I shook my head and got off of him, and walked across to the other side of the room. I can’t deal with this. I can’t deal with any of this.

“Maybe us being together was a stupid idea. Maybe it was a mistake all along,” I mumbled.

By the time I’d registered the sound of running feet, Kyle had pinned me to the wall with his hands on my shoulders.

“Don’t say that. You don’t mean that,” Kyle said desperately, tears still running down his cheeks.

“Don’t I?” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“I love you, and you love me. We can work through this,” Kyle insisted.

“What if it’s not worth it? As long as you love John as much as you do, we’re always going to argue about it – so what’s the point?”

Kyle whimpered and looked down at my chest for a few seconds, before lifting his head to look at me, fresh tears in his eyes.

“Because without you I have nothing. Without you, I am nothing,” Kyle said softly.

“If that’s true then you’ll be able to explain to me why you’re jealous of Kennedy,” I said simply.

I need to know the honest answer. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get over this argument if I don’t know. Am I not good enough for Kyle? Does he miss being with John? Does he want to be with John again?

“For fuck’s sake Jack! Just get over it already!” Kyle exploded.

Avoiding the question. Typical.

“Get off of me,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Why don’t you make me?” Kyle said, pushing hard against my shoulders.

“Because I’m not John. I’m not going to give you the shove you deserve because that would be laying my hands on the person I love, and I don’t do that,” I retorted.

Kyle’s eyes widened and his lips pressed into a thin line at my words. A little harsh maybe, but he needed to hear them. As soon as Kyle released his hold on me, I walked over to the bed. Fuck this shit. He won’t give me a simple answer to a simple question, so I have no reason to deal with him anymore.

“I’m going to sleep. Don’t touch me – I’m not John,” I muttered under my breath.

“Don’t be childish Jack,” Kyle retorted.

“Don’t dream about your ex,” I snapped back.

Kyle huffed as I laid down on the old bed, rolling his eyes as I turned on my side so I was facing him. I’m not being childish – I’m making a point. And my point is that I don’t want to be in a relationship with someone who loves their ex more than they love me. When I felt the bed sink down beside me I quickly snapped my head to face Kyle, who just rolled his eyes again.

“Don’t get a boner – I’m not Alex,” Kyle mocked.

“Now who’s being childish?” I laughed bitterly, raising an eyebrow.

Kyle sighed again and rubbed his eyes before looking at me, the exhaustion in his eyes concerning me a bit. What? He is my boyfriend, after all.

“Just go to sleep, Jack. We might as well try to pass some of the time not arguing until they get bored and open the door,” Kyle said wearily.

I looked at him for a few more second before turning so my back was facing him again. I didn’t need to look to know that Kyle was doing the same, and that made me sad. When did we get like this? Why are we like this? This is the guy that I’ve loved for ages, and now we’re squabbling like children? Why? By the time I had convinced myself to turn around and talk to him, Kyle was softly snoring, making me sigh. I might as well try to get some sleep too, right?