So we went through our next year uv schoolin, keith a year a 'head uv me. We di'n really kiss 'gain…cept once er twice, it wus mostly holdin hands an goin' places together secretly. Then summer came…an fer some reason, things got more complicated….

Y'see, it wus a custom fer the older kids, in mah case the higher grades uv our middle school, tuh come an... well… pick awn the younger students. Wunnit right, but it wus how it wus. And the worse the thing they were teasin yew fer, the meaner it wus. Now, ah c'nt *really* say this from experience, havin' *two* 6th graders as mah best friends (we had made quick friends wit the new kid from up north, Dave Rivers) ah had ample protection. a'course, until some uv the older kids found out an amazin' lil' secret 'bout me an a certain redheaded 6th grader...

It was summer again for the two Georgian boys and most of their time was spent outside with their newest friend, Dave Rivers; a quiet raven haired boy from further north, placed in Keith's class. Of course Keith, being the outgoing amiable kid has was, he almost instantly forced his friendship upon the shy northerner.

So the three boys were eagerly awaiting their vacation and time off to spend lazing about or playing out side, and were more then ecstatic when it finally came about.

"M'bored" the elder of the two southerners mumbled, falling back from where he sat to stretch out in the browning grass.

"Well… how 'bout we go see what Dave's doin'?" the brunette next to him chirped, hugging his knees to his chest as he watched the others actions. Ellis had become quickly attached to their third member, always happy to have a new friend, especially when that friend had stories to tell of places Ellis himself had never been.

"Naaaw" Keith drew out the vowel, "he's busy er summin..." Ellis quirked his mouth to the side as his plan fell through, "but tha's okay...ah like spending time wit jus yew.." the young redhead grinned wide up at his friend, looking for the usual reaction.

He didn't have to wait long.

The younger's cheeks lit up as he quickly tilted his head down in an attempt to hide behind his short bangs, teeth finding his lower lip. Keith sat back up, grin still playing on his lips as he leaned over towards the flustered brunette.

"Hay El?" he inquired, trying to get the light blue eyes to meet his.

A hesitant moment, then he glanced up, "yea?"

"Kin...ah have a kiss?" He asked almost timidly. The brunette stared for a moment, taken aback by the rare request but easily accepted. The red head's demure fading instantly as he scooted closer to Ellis, practically radiating his excitement before pressing a quick kiss to the others lips.

The two stayed a while longer in the open field, chatting happily, the elder's boredom long forgotten after the short kiss. They enjoyed their time sitting in the dieing grass and parted ways with a tight hug and another peck on the cheek from the forward red head, oblivious to their on looker.

Ellis woke the next morning, sharing his plans to spend the day over at Keith's with his mother who, after a reassurance it was okay with Emma, (Keith's older sister who'd be their babysitter for the time their mom was at work) allowed it, wishing him a safe trip.

The brunette took his time, dragging his feet against the concrete, enjoying the rays of sun light streaming down and warming his skin. The road both he and the Marshall's lived on was quiet today, whether it be the family's away on vacation of the early hour didn't concern the young southerner as he made his way to his friends house.

Although, the shuffling between two of the houses he passed did. He turned his head in curiosity, seeking the source of the noise.

"Hay, yew! Yer Marshall's friend, aint'chya?" Ellis jumped as a boy not much older then him rounded the corner of the house he was near.

"Y-yea, yea ah ahm..." he replied, abit confused at the question, attention grabbed by another two boys follow behind the first.

They approached him with out hesitation, eying him almost menacingly, "yer sick." he stated plainly.

The brunette's confusion came back tenfold at the statement. sick? he felt fine. Luckily the elder was quick to elaborate.

"mah pa's talked 'bout folk like *yew*" he emphasized the word as if it were a curse, "aint right, yer gonna go tuh hell fer what'chyer doin" he glared down the bridge of his nose.

Ellis blinked, bright blue eyes wide at the accusation, he didn't even know what it was that he was doing. He opened his mouth to speak, only getting out a stuttered 'what' before he was interrupted with something hard connecting with his cheek. He fell backwards, landing on the ground with a 'thud'. Hand shooting up to cover his face as pained sob formed behind his lips, his attacker taking another step towards him.

"Ah saw yew kissin' Marshall, pa say's they used tuh kill people like yew cus God di'n want them spreadin' sin-"

"Ah aint done nuthin' wrong!" Ellis yelled up at him from his place on the ground.

He yelped sharply as a swift kick was aimed at his thigh, "shudup, fagot."

The three older boys got a few more solid hits on the already bruising 5th grader before turning and running back from where the had come, throwing a few insults behind them as they left.

Ellis sniffled, pushing himself up off the ground as he blinked back tears. The stubborn Brunette stood fully, and slowly started again towards his destination, only deterred in the slightest by his newly acquired limp.

A slow knocking sent Keith sprinting from the couch, throwing the door open excitedly, "El! Y-...el...?" Keith blinked at the top of the head turned towards the ground, "El..?" He tried again, ducking down to see the younger's face. He only got a soft sniffle in response, as he watched the other pick his hand up to wipe his nose on the back of it. Keith sucked in a sharp breath as he watched the hand fall again, noting the smear of red across the skin there, "a-are yew bleedin'? El?" Keith's voice rose as he grabbed at the younger's wrist, the darkening bruises catching his eye. "Emma!" He yelled pulling the injured brunette through his front door, "Emma com'ere!" his voice was panicked as he returned his gaze to Ellis.

"What? what is it?" she leaned through the opening that lead to the kitchen, "homyGod" she strung her words together as the cup she was holding was tossed onto the counter. The 16 year old hurried over to the silent 5th grader, taking his face in her hands as she did a quick inspection, "Ellis, sweetie, what happened?" she spoke softly, concern touching her soft features as she brushed the short curls out of his face.

He shook his head, lips pressed into a thin line.

She sighed before taking his hand, "then lets get'chu cleaned up at least...Keith, call miss Sommers, tell her Ellis got hurt an tha she can come an get hi-"

"No!" Ellis's eyes widened, "ahm okay! a-ah dun wanna go home yet..."

Emma sighed, tucking a lock of strawberry blonde hair behind her ear, "Tell miss Sommers that he wants ta stay here, bu' ta come over if she wants." Keith nodded numbly, looking over at his bruised friend before hurrying to the kitchen.

The brunette sat patiently on the bathroom counter, wincing ever so slightly every time the cotton ball dipped in disinfectant would come on contact with a cut or bruise. Keith stood next to his sister as she worked, watching Ellis with a worried expression, questions burning behind his lips as he waited for her to finish tending to him.

"Annnn there" she smiled, pressing the band aid firmly against the scrap on his knee before steeping back, "all done, yer free ta go." Ellis mumbled a thanks before jumping from the counter, only to be grabbed again, this time by the younger Marshall, and drug away to his room.

Keith closed his door, huffing a breath as he prepared himself to turn around, fully intent on getting the story from the younger no matter what. He turned on his heel.

And almost fell backwards as Ellis wrapped his arms around his neck, the tears he had been fighting back falling freely from his eyes as he sobbed pitifully against the others shoulder. The red head blinked, wide eyed and disorientated at the younger's sudden change of mood. Shaking himself from his stupor, he hugged the brunette back, leading them slowly to sit down on the edge of his bed.

Amongst the sobs Ellis choked out a few intelligible words,"th-they s-saw us k-kissin' a-an s-said wh-what w-we wus d-doin' was w-wrong a-an w-we wus g-gonna g-go tuh hell" Keith frowned, rubbing the younger's back in a small circle.

"El...yew aint goin' tuh hell...yew dun go tuh hell fer luhvin' sumone" He mumbled, unsure of what else to say.

Ellis sobbed louder.

Keith winced at the sound, tightening his hold around him but remained silent, letting the other cry.

"Keith...?" the quiet call and rapping at his bedroom door drew him from his sleep.

He blinked, rubbing his eyes. When did he fall asleep?

The red head glanced down at the warm weight on his chest to see Ellis curled up against him, eyes still red from his previous crying, but otherwise sleeping peacefully.

"Yea..?" he responded, trying to keep his voice hushed.

"Miss Sommers is gonna be here in a few minutes, kay?"

"Awlright..." He looked back down to the sleeping brunette before moving his arm, hesitant on waking the other, "hay El...? Time tuh go home."

Ellis stirred, glazed eyes finding Keith's.

The red head pulled the younger up, capturing his lips in a chaste kiss, successfully startling the other into alertness and receiving a timid smile.

S'ah went home, mah ma freakin' out over mah state...bu' ah wus otherwise perfectly okay...every day Keith would go tuh *mah* house (he refused tuh let me walk anywhere alone) an summer went on a lil'while longer with us hangin' round...a'course, wha' ah di'n know wus what Keith had in mind fer them boys tha' attacked me...

chp two, guess I'm actually gonna get past the first couple chapters...had to rush to get to the end of this, hope it's still decent~ luffluff