Chapter 7
The following week was a blur. The boys who tortured Kevin were put away, Aaron's family held a service, and Edd continued to fall apart at the seams.
Kevin, for his part, had been picking the pieces of his sullen love the best he could. He couldn't think of anything he could do or say that would return everything to normal. However, there was still one last ditch effort that Kevin had put aside if all else failed.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Edd asked, raising an eyebrow at his obviously bonkers boyfriend.
"Look, Edd, I know being in this town now is taking a toll on you more than ever," Kevin explained. "But neither of us have friends or family that care for us, so why not?"
Edd sighed. "We can't just run. Are you nuts?"
"No. We're all we have in this world, so why don't we just move our world somewhere else. All we have here is torment and pain. We can fix it, get away. You and I can make a new life."
"What about money?"
"Your parents always send you a fortune each month. Plus I can dip into my savings. We also have all the money we won from when we took those bullies to court. We'll have more than enough to get a house and get our life started."
"What about my parents? What about your dad?"
"My dad won't notice. He's too drunk to care. And just leave a note for your parents or something."
"I don't know."
"Edd, being here is just causing you emotional pain. We can have a life of happiness together, but you know we can't have it here."
Edd sighed. "Okay. We'll leave tonight. Go pack. We'll take my car."
Kevin squealed, lunging forward to wrap his boyfriend in a tight hug. He leaned up on his toes to kiss the other lingeringly. "You and me! On the road! Like an adventure!"
Edd smiled. "Where is it you wanted to go?"
"New York."
"Okay. Anything for you."
Kevin grinned and bounded through Edd's front door, heading back to his house. Edd smiled, maybe this would be a good idea. A new start in a new place that hasn't caused him pain. Sounded like a great idea, actually. The swimmer turned and went to pack his bags.
Edd stepped outside his front door, leaning against the doorframe as he waited for Kevin. He was beginning to worry. He thought Kevin would've burst through his front door again immediately, all smiles and excitement for the new life that awaited him. What worried him even more was that all the lights were off and his dad's car was in the driveway, which he learned was an odd occurrence at this hour.
Taking a deep breath, he crossed the cul-de-sac, heading straight for the Barr residence. Suddenly, the front door swung open, and Mr. Barr came storming out of the house.
"You ain't taking my son anywhere, you dirty faggot!" he slurred, holding a bottle of vodka. "You poisoned him and made him gay! Get the hell outta here before I fucking kill you!"
Kevin came out next, running with all he had toward Edd, when an outstretched arm blocked his path.
"Go any further, and you are no longer my son," his father said.
Kevin swatted his arm away, and glared at his father. "You were never my father. What kind of a father drinks all the time then treats his son like shit. I'm fucking leaving."
Mr. Barr was shocked as he watched his son walk up and grab his lover's hand. Kevin threw one last look back at the man he once called "dad" as they walked back to Edd's house. He then smiled; Kevin was finally free.
