Chapter 28~Empty Classroom

"Okay, Denver, it's only two weeks. You can do this. You can last that long without him." I say to myself in the mirror. I'm supposed to be checking my outfit, but at this rate, I don't give a rat's ass about what I look like. I just want Austin. These two weeks are going to be hell. It could have only been three days, but no. Austin couldn't keep his temper in check and just had to cuss out our principal. I'm going to have to find a way to hide from Finn because god knows he didn't get punished for anything.

Deciding my outfit is suitable enough, I grab my black denim jacket to add an extra layer. I'm not going to be able to steal Austin's hoodies anytime soon, so I guess I'll have to wear my own clothes for a change. Austin always has gives me his hoodie to wear when I get cold. Before I start crying over not having him at school again, I walk down the stairs.

"Hey baby, are you ready to go," Andrew asks, handing me a granola bar.

"I guess so," I mumble, making it obvious I'm sad in hopes of getting comfort.

"Awh honey, It'll be okay. These two weeks will fly by," Andrew says, pulling me into a hug and kissing my head.

"No, they won't. I'll be all alone," I reply, his chest muffling my reply. Honestly, I'm on the verge of breaking down.

"Hey Drew, have you seen my- what's wrong with Denver?" Jack asks, coming down the stairs looking for something.

"Your backpack is by the couch, where I told you to get it from last night," Andrew answers, not even needing Jack to finish his sentence. It must be the dad in him.

"Oh yeah, sorry. What's up, Den?" Jack asks again, heading to the living room to get his backpack.

"He's just worried about school without Austin. Are you almost ready?" Andrew quickly replies.

"Are you worried about Finn? Hopefully, that moron got it through his thick skull when Austin slammed it into the tile," Jack says, shrugging on his jacket hanging by the door.

"But Austin isn't there," I answer after I wince at the tile comment.

"We all will be there though, Nothing bad is going to happen," Andrew says, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

As I walk down the hallway, all eyes are on me, and I absolutely hate it. If Austin were here, he would do something stupid to make all the attention go to him instead of me because he knows I hate attention. But he's not, so I have to walk to my locker with roaming eyes and soft whispers pointed in my direction. I have no idea how I went through a school day without a friend, it's so dull, and I feel like people judge me. Austin has really been the best thing that has happened to be in a while.

Before I even make it to my locker, I see him. Finn. Why! I've only been here ten minutes, for fucks sake. I've already failed at hiding from him because he obviously sees me, and he's coming toward me. Being the mature fifteen-year-old I am, I just turn around and walk as fast as I can to the closest empty classroom, shutting the door behind me and leaning against it. Finn must have seen me go in here before I closed the door because not even thirty seconds later, he's opening the door with me still leaning against it. My weight does nothing to help hold the door; all it does was scoot across the floor when the door opened.

"Denver, I just want to talk," Finn says, trying to catch his breath from running after me, or so I assume.

"Yeah, and when have you ever just wanted to "talk," I say back, crossing my arms.

He breaths out a laugh and looks me up and down like he's sizing me up for something. It makes my blood run cold. He must have noticed because his smirk falls and now he looks hurt.

"Are you still scared of me?" he asks, his face falling even more.

"Honestly, Finn. Yes. Why wouldn't I be? You literally beat the shit out of my friend, and you have been making my life miserable for years," I say truthfully.

"He started it, and like I've said before, I don't want to hurt you," he says

"Don't you get it, Finn, you already have. For years you bullied me, and then you almost killed me. I think that classifies as hurting someone. Not to mention, you took my best friend away from me. All of that doesn't go away because you are in love with me," I say, not taking a breath and putting air quotes around "in love."

He honestly looks close to crying, and just knowing I caused the tears makes me feel like a terrible person.

"God, I know Denver, and I'm so sorry. It's the only way I can stay sane. My friends are assholes and don't understand anything, and my parents don't give a damn about me. I am in love with you, though. I know you don't believe me, but that doesn't make my feelings any less real. Just being near you makes me feel like maybe I can get through the shit show that is my life," He says, his voice breaking throughout his entire speech.

"Then why not just be my friend and not beat the shit out of me? It doesn't make any sense Finn," I say, rolling my eyes, not wanting to give into him.

"Because guys like me just aren't friends with guys like you, you know that better than anyone," he says like it's obvious.

I just look down because he's right. I mean, look at what happens with Matt and me.

"Just what I want to say is I'm sorry. You don't have to forgive me, but I just want you to know there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about you," he says, walking out the door before I can even answer.

What the actual fuck?

~Time skip~

"How was your day, little one?" Andrew asks when I get to his classroom after school. "Eventful," I say, grabbing a snack.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asks, getting up from his desk chair.

"Just that. Eventful," I say, opening my snack.

"Don't get an attitude with me, little boy," he says, going into dad mode.

"Okay, sorry," I say, throwing away part of the wrapping.

"No, I'm serious. I won't have you being disrespectful to anyone, especially one of your brothers. I've been lenient on you lately because of the whole Finn thing, but you said that was getting better, so I won't put up with it," he says, going into full-on dad mode.

Getting scolded made my eyes tear up. I didn't mean to pop an attitude. I just wish I knew what the hell was going on. I just need to figure this whole thing out, but I have no idea where to start.

"It's not better, Drew. It might actually be worse. I think it's better when he's hitting me; at least he doesn't confuse me then," I say, breaking down. This is just so overwhelming.

"Denver, you have to tell me what's happing so I can help you," Andrew says while embracing me.

"I..I..I can't," I shudder out, crying into his chest.

"Yes you can, and you will. I want to help you, and I can't without knowing what's happening. I'm not going putting up with it like I did last time. So you're either going to tell me now, or you can tell me after a trip over my lap," He says, making me look at him.

Andrew doesn't really whip us. I mean, he will if need be, but he likes to talk it out first. So for him to threaten to whip me, he must really be serious about this

I don't really want to tell him, I would probably be awkward to tell your brother, who thinks your straight, that some boy is in love with you. But then again, I want to save my backside.

"He's in love with me, and I don't know what to do," I say, trying to be casual about it.

"HE'S WHAT!" Andrew yells about the time Ryan and Jack walk into the room.

So much for being causal.

He looks at them and at me

"We will continue this at home," he says, grabbing his stuff and walking out the room.

"What the hell did you do?" Jack asks, trying to lighten the mood. But it doesn't work, because when I get home, I have to explain to my very overprotective big brother(s) that the same boy that tried to kill me is in love with me.

Fucking Fantastic.

Again I am so sorry about not updating and editing. I could not for the life of me get this chapter the way I like it. I decided to post it anyway even though I don't love how it turned out. Until Next time 💜