32. SECRETS

"What are you doing?" I remarked as I walked into T's room. His bathroom door was open. He was wearing a huge gray shirt with paint splatters on it and.. no pants. Just pink boxers.

Anyway, he looked like a weird alien cause he had tin foil in his hair. He was painting purple-blue goo into his roots.

"Dying my hair." T said without looking away from the mirror.

"Oh god. You're going blue?"

Timothy chuckled. "It's bleach. It'll make my hair look even. ...Hopefully." T glanced at me for a moment. "If I don't fuck it up, anyway."

"Your natural hair looks pretty good too." I shrugged.

T stared at me for a while. "Was that a compliment?" He said sarcastically. Then he smiled as he turned back to the mirror and finished painting the front.

"What's wrong with normal blonde? Why do you insist on looking like a snowman?"

"Cause I'm cold as ice. Obviously." T laid the brush down.

I sighed and leaned against the door. "You look so stupid."

"You look stupid all the time and I don't say anything." T grabbed his phone.

I rolled my eyes.

T sat on the counter and eyed me. Guess he knew this wasn't a random visit.

"Are you sure you're ready to go back? You've only just gotten back on your feet and it might wear you out too much. Especially with the... bullying and stuff."

"Well, I'm only doing half-days at first, right? And I don't care about what people say."

"Are you sure you're ready?" I insisted. "There's no way you're all better now."

"I'm much better than before. And depression isn't exactly something that ever fully goes away. It might not get better than this. And I really don't wanna repeat a year so.." Timothy shrugged.

I just didn't want him to get hurt. I wanted to keep seeing him smile. Forever.

"Yeah, okay." I sighed. It still didn't sit right with me but I figured the more I spoke, the gayer I'd sound.

"Don't worry." T said. He smiled to reassure me.

✪

He wasn't quite back to his usual excessive glory, just a calm emo fit consisting of converse, black skinny jeans and a striped cardigan but at least he was out of bed, showered, dressed and he'd had breakfast.

Joe had given his usual 'call me if you need me' speech to Timothy before we left. I was nervous. I was going to be parking at the school parking lot. People were going to see us together. I'd have to explain myself. I would just do it once, and do it well so people would lay off. We got to school nice and early. I'd already texted Allie we were coming today so when I pulled up she was already waiting outside the school.

"Alright, we have to set up some ground rules." I said while T and I were still in the car.

"Of course." T said sarcastically.

"I'm your buddy/babysitter. I don't live with you. We're not friends and we barely know each other in this building, okay? I'm just here for professional reasons."

T smirked. "Aw, really? I wanted to show you off. I was so proud of making a jock-friend."

"Shut the fuck up, it's no time for jokes. My street cred is on the line here."

"Your what?" T chuckled.

"I'm serious! And put that in your bag!" I pointed at the purple plushie in Timothy's lap.

"Fine." T pouted. "You're no fun at school."

"That's one hundred percent your own fault."

T sighed and stepped out of the car. Allie immediately came running towards him.

"AHH TIMMYY!" She shrieked. I smiled and stepped outside.

She flung her arms around T's neck and hugged him tightly.

Timothy laughed. "Hey Allie."

"I've missed you so much, you have no idea!" She started kissing his cheeks and she even planted a wet one on his lips. Lucky dude.

"What the hell is this?" Dave said as he walked up to us. Taylor and Nick were by his side.

Allie rolled her eyes. "Come on, Tim. We have so much to discuss." She grabbed T's arm and pulled him away. They sat on a bench in front of the school.

"What are you doing with him? Did you give him a ride?" Dave made a face.

"Yeah. And I'm going to have to do that a lot more since I'm his.. buddy."

All three of em started to laugh.

"His butt-buddy you mean?" Dave cackled.

"Dude, it pays well. He's on suicide watch and I'm trying to save up for college." I shrugged.

"Oh yeah? I went by your house yesterday. Your dad told me otherwise. He said you're living with him." Dave smirked sadistically.

The blood drained from my face. "..What?"

"Yeah, I visited your little dad. I also ran into Thomas and Simon today. They told me about a certain emo party you were at."

Holy fuck. Shit, had someone seen us kiss?

"You're a fucking liar, bro." Dave accused.

They weren't shoving me and they didn't look disgusted. That meant there was no way they knew about the kiss. I gulped. Everything's okay. I can work with this.

"Listen man, his dad's a butcher and their house is sweet, bro. Like if I could live with my deadbeat dad for nothing or with a butcher and his faggy son and get paid, I know what I'm choosing. If you think that's gay than it just shows you get everything handed on a silver platter from your rich daddy."

Dave pushed me back. "Shut the fuck up about my dad, man!"

"You could've at least told us." Taylor said.

"You're right. But obviously I was embarrassed to be living with that dick-downer." I shrugged.

The guys started to chuckle.

"Dick-downer." Nick chuckled. "Good one, man." He slapped my shoulder.

"Just don't lie to us again, bro. We're your family. We don't give a fuck where you live." Dave said.

Yeah. I've noticed.

"Promise." We gave each other bro hugs and then time came to get to class.

"Sup, dick-downer." Dave said as he and the other guys walked by Timothy. They disappeared inside and then I approached him and Allie.

"Sorry about that."

"It's okay." T shrugged and got up.

"You ready?"

T nodded. We said goodbye to Allie and off we were.

So Timothy basically switched all his classes to my classes. At least for the time being. And I must say, it was weird. Everyone stared at us and I had to explain the same bullshit time and time again. Every time I said T meant nothing to me I felt a little guilty but then I'd glance at T and he always looked unbothered.

...I guess he had more important things to worry about, huh?

During History I subtly brushed my pinkie against his in an attempt to show support. Timothy looked up from his book. I just kept my eyes on the whiteboard.

Then he shoved me a note.

w h o t ?

Nothing. I wrote back. I peeked up at the teacher but she wasn't looking.

i named ur bunny  He wrote.

I smirked. That somehow made me way too happy. I glanced at T and he smiled at me.

what did u name him?

JP

huh? why?? I suppressed a chuckle.

Josh Personified :)

fuck off timothy

He smiled. He just loved teasing me, didn't he?

dick downer. I wrote.

T glanced at me before drawing two circles and a long-

Nah! I grabbed the piece of paper and crumbled it up. Timothy tried but he couldn't hold his laugh this time. He covered his mouth with his fist. Everyone stared at us.

During lunch I dropped T with Allie and sat with my so-called friends. The whole time I was distracted though. I tried not to show it.

"Babe!" Jen called. I don't know why I thought she said that to me but when she sat on Dave's lap and practically ate his lips off it was pretty clear who she was talking to.

I pulled up my eyebrows.

Dave gave me a fake apologetic look. I could see in his eyes he was proud he won something from me. Our whole lives he's had the money and I've had everything else, sports, loyal friends, girls.. Now we were co-captains and he seemed to be catching up with me. He was enjoying every minute of it. I didn't really care. I just wanted to get through high school without being spat out by everyone at this point.

"Speaking of secrets, you never told me about that." I pointed to Jennifer. "If Jen hadn't called me during winter break I wouldn't have known at all."

"You called him?" Dave looked at Jennifer as if she'd cheated on him. He was so insecure it was comical.

"Someone had to say it." Jen shrugged. "Anyway, he doesn't care."

"Got that right."

"Well, then there's no problem." Dave sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He often did this when he was nervous or worried.

I rolled my eyes and played with my food. It was absolutely ridiculous but I didn't want to be here. I wanted to be with Timothy. Even Allie and the other freaks.

Timothy only stayed for the break and afterwards his dad brought him home. He wasn't ready to do full days yet so for now they tried halves first.

I had football practice which I was uncharacteristically dreading. It seemed all I wanted these days was to be with with that rainbow-riding emo dwarf.

I was embarrassed of myself but I couldn't help it.

✪

As time went on Timothy got closer to his old self. Smiles stopped being a rarity and T seemed to be content. He wasn't quite like he'd been when Charlie had been around but at least he could wake up and go to sleep at decent times, eat and soon enough he started listening to music again.

Before we knew it winter had passed which meant it was time for our school's Junior Camp.

A/N

I can't believe we're almost at the camp chapters o.o

Things are going so fast in my mind haha. But I know some of you have been waiting for the acción.

All I'm gonna say is.. what happens at camp, stays at camp....

Right?

Thank you so much for reading! Please don't forget to vote and tell me what you think!!!

See you sooon! Byeee