"Hey, Alex?" Laf said to Alex as he was leaving the lunch room the next day.
"Yeah?"
"Can you come over after school? I need help with my English."
"Yeah, sure I can."
"Thanks."
"Yeah, no problem. Just meet me by my car then?"
"Alright." Laf nodded. "Thanks."
"So, what do you need help with?"
"Can you read through my essay?"
"Yeah." Alex replied. "Did you want to work on our other homework first so then we can help each other with it, and then I'll go over your essay?"
"Sure, that sounds fine." Laf agreed.
"Great. You're better at math than I am anyway."
"Thanks. Too bad John isn't here, he could help us with our science homework."
"Right? At least that's not due until Friday." Alex said, taking out his notebook. "You have your math book?"
"Oui." Laf said, flinching automatically as he said the word. "It's on my bookshelf."
Alex noticed the flinch immediately and furrowed his brow, worried. "Laf? Are you alright?"
Laf slowly shook his head from side to side.
"Did Thomas hurt you?"
"Y-yeah…" Laf said quietly. "A-and I hurt myself…"
"What do you mean?"
Laf pulled back his sleeve, revealing the cuts that crisscrosses his arm.
Alex's eyes widened as he let out a gasp of shock. "Oh my god…"
Laf leaned into Alex, his eyes wet. "S-sorry…"
"Hey, I'm not mad Laf. Please, please don't hurt yourself again."
"O-okay." He replied quietly. "I'll try not to."
"Thank you." Alex replied, equally as quiet. "I really do think you should break up with him, though."
"No." Laf shook his head. "Things will get better. He'll change." He slowly stood up and went to his bookshelf, grabbing the thick math book.
"Alright, Laf. Just be careful."
"Okay." He replied, flipping the math book open. The math homework took a short amount of time, and then Alex went through the essay, fixing things and giving Laf notes as well.
"There you go." Alex said, shutting the computer and then glancing at his watch. "It's four already?"
Laf's face paled. "Four?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I gotta go. I told Thomas I would be at his house by three." Laf said, rushing down the stairs with Alex following behind him.
"Alright." Alex said. "Stay safe."
"I'll be fine." Laf replied, getting in his car.
"Okay. See you tomorrow." Alexander replied, getting in his own car.
As soon as Laf arrived at Thomas's house, he practically jumped out of the car and let himself in, racing up to Thomas's room. "I'm sorry I'm late! Laf stuttered out, standing in front of Thomas. "I-I lost track of time…"
"Where have you been the past hour? You were supposed to come straight here at three!" Thomas scolded.
"I-I needed help with my English homework…" Laf replied quietly. "Alex came over to help me…"
"Uh-huh. You expect me to believe he was at your house that entire time helping you with homework? What were you really doing?"
"I just told you, he was helping me with homework!" Laf exclaimed, eyes glistening. "Don't you believe me?"
"I don't know how I'm supposed to believe you when you're inviting other guys over to your house and doing god-knows-what with them!" Thomas yelled before turning and going over to his desk, pulling out a small item from the top drawer.
"I'm-I'm not doing ANYTHING with Alex, or any other guy for that matter! Why can't I hang out with my friends? You hang out with James all the t-"
"SHUT UP!" Thomas roared, freezing Laf in place. "That's better." He continued, wrapping his hands tightly around Laf's waist and pulled him closer before planting a cold kiss on Laf's forehead. "Those guys are bad news. I'm doing this so you can learn what happens when you hang out with them. It's for your own good." He revealed a small pocket knife in his hand, the blade flipped open as he slid his hands underneath Laf's shirt and quickly pulled the blade along his waist.
Laf let out a gasp of pain. "T-Tom...please...please stop…" he cried.
Thomas made three more cuts, smiling to himself with each gasp of pain Laf released. When he was done he kissed Laf again. "Don't betray me, okay? I don't want to see you with those guys again."
Laf nodded, the tears now streaming down his face as red beads of blood began welling from the deep cuts on his waist.
"Good. I love you."
Laf choked back a sob. This doesn't feel like love.
Yes, I know the wording in this chapter is slightly different than in Just Starting Out, but I changed it so it would go a little smoother. Please review!
