IX

Zeke

Things were hot and heavy between Elijah and I as we laid on my bed. I was making my way down his neck and chest, leaving love bites as I went. He was a moaning mess beneath me and I was shirtless, definitely enjoying our little session if the throbbing was any indication. My fingers teased the waistline of his jeans, just as the door burst open and my mum appeared, making me freeze in the position I was in.

Her eyes widened as she saw me and a guy, shirtless on my bed, with my hands on his jeans buttons and him covered in love bites. The shock quickly wore off and I jumped off of Elijah, standing in front of him and chucking him a blanket to hide him from my mum. I could tell he was embarrassed and didn't want to be seen right now.

"Heard of knocking?" I asked my mum, my voice laced with venom whilst picking up my shirt and tugging it on.

Elijah had managed to get the blanket I had dropped on him over his semi-naked form, which by the thankful look he sent me, he appreciated it.

"Zeke! I am your mother. I shouldn't have to knock and I also shouldn't have to walk in to find you with a boy on your bed doing... that!" My mum burst out yelling, her face red.

This was beyond mortifying.

"You are out of control! This is why you need to be on medication."

"There's nothing wrong with me." I groaned, "The only person who makes me angry or depressed is you! Leave me alone and I'll be fucking happy."

"You're a liar!" My mum screamed , "It's not just your temper: it's the swearing, it's the not spending time with your family, it's bringing guys back here and doing that!"

The way she said guys made my stomach drop. Her rage always returned to the same path of hatred. Ever since I had first told her, she had treated me differently. I couldn't exactly help that I was attracted to men; it's not like I chose to be fucking gay. I felt the threat of hot tears and I resisted the urge to cry, refusing to let her hurt me. No way is she going to get that kind of satisfaction.

"You can't dope me up on pills to cure my homosexuality." I spat with venom, "Now get the fuck out of my room."

"What did I do wrong? I didn't want a faggot son!" My Mum shrieked, her eyes spilling with tears.

She went to retaliate more but I turned around, refusing to engage with her anger, my voice almost cracking as I repeated for her to just leave. She huffed a scream and stomped out like a child. I was seething with anger and hurt.

The whole reason I converted this garage was to have my own fucking space until I finished school and could move the hell away. I couldn't believe she said that to me. She had never approved of me being gay, but her homophobic outrage had been getting worse recently. I suppose seeing me with a guy for the first time was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Wood creaked as Elijah walked towards me coyly, gingerly wrapping his arms around my waist. I took a deep breath and I just felt hot angry tears threaten to spill over again. He whispered 'it's all right' to me over and over and that's when I broke. My face crumpled and angry, frustrated tears began to uncontrollably run down my face. I couldn't breath. I was gasping for breath as they spilled over. It hurt. He led me to the bed and he laid down, me crying into his chest.

"I'm sorry" I gasped out, struggling to get words out through my tears.

I really didn't want him to see my like this but at the moment there's not a lot I can do about it. I had left a wet patch on his shirt from my crying.

"Don't apologise! It's fine, cry all you want. I'm here for you." Elijah soothed me, running his hands through my hair comfortingly.

That made me cry even harder; not many people in my life were willing to be there for me. My band and Bettie were pretty much the only people I had, and now Elijah.

After about half an hour of me crying my eyes out into Elijah's chest, I finally stopped crying. I felt pretty embarrassed to have let myself be that vulnerable in front of Elijah, but I couldn't help feeling safe and comfortable around him. I was beating myself up over the fact I still hadn't asked him to be my boyfriend yet but I didn't think right now was the time. It was kind of weird for me to cry on him for that long and then, out of nowhere, ask him to my boyfriend. I decided I would take him on a date and ask; a proper date this time, where we can sit and talk and not have metal music blaring.

"I'm sorry, you probably have to be home or something. Do you want me to drive you?" I asked, sitting up and facing him.

He looked adorable right now, cuddled up in my black bed sheets with messy hair and rumpled clothes. It reminded me of earlier when he was wearing my leather jacket and I got a burst of pride, having to take a photo. Just like then, I snapped a quick photo, making him raise an eyebrow, but he didn't question it.

"If you don't mind, I could stay?" Elijah blushed, "I mean, I could stay here if you wanted me to? I just thought that if I were in your situation, I wouldn't want to be alone right now, so I thought I would offer but I completely understand if you do want to be alone right now."

As soon as he said that, I sighed in relief. I was dreading the moment he would leave and I would be left alone to sulk in my room about everything she said. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him down to lay next to me again, cuddling up to his tiny frame. He chuckled and hugged me back, getting comfortable. I let my eyes flutter closed and I could see Elijah do the same.