I know I've focused on Ross's life because of the secret, but I decided to show a bit of Ratliff's private life at the beginning.
Bold- Texts
The Next Day
Ratliff's eyes slowly fell open. His vision was fogged up from the gunk in his eyes. He wiped it away and saw that it was 11:30 AM.
"Shit I'm late!" Ratliff cursed as he jumped out of bed to get ready. His date with Austin was in an hour and he needed to look presentable.
He bolted into the shower and took the fastest shower of his life. Once he was done and dried, he stared at himself in front of the mirror.
"Should I shave?" he asked himself softly as he rubbed his hands over his noticeable stubble.
He decided to text Austin and ask him for his opinion.
Hey, should I shave or not?
Within seconds, he got a response.
Don't shave! I think the stubble makes you look sexy ;)
Ratliff chuckled at the text. He never knew how dirty minded Austin was. He quickly ran a comb through his hair and ran into his room.
After nearly twenty minutes of deciding on an outfit, he finally decided on a white Green Day t-shirt and blue jeans with black converse.
He checked himself once more to make sure his appearance looked good. He nodded before speed walking out of his room.
He stopped himself as he passed an old picture of his mother holding him in her arms when he was a baby.
He sighed as he took in every physical feature of that memory. He knew he'd never be able to remember it, but he was desperate for any memory he could possibly have of her. He doesn't like to talk about it, but he misses his mom everyday. She was always there when Ratliff needed her, but he didn't have her when he needed her the most.
He wishes he at least knew that it was going to happen so he could've said a proper goodbye instead of "Bye, mom. I'll see you after school."
He wiped away a single tear before walking through the living room towards the front door. He was stopped by a slurred voice.
"Where the fuck are you going?!"
"Out with a friend," Ratliff sighed as he turned to his drunken father on the couch. He wasn't going to tell him he was going on a date.
"Pick me up some beer," his dad slurred. Ratliff saw all six empty bottles of beer spread out on the coffee table.
"Dad.. That's the fifth time I've gotten you beer this week," Ratliff said cautiously.
Suddenly, Ratliff found himself roughly pinned against the door. "What did you say?" he growled drunkenly. Ratliff had to breathe out of his mouth to avoid smelling the disgusting smell of liquor.
"I-I'm just looking out for you. I love you dad," Ratliff said nervously. "Don't be such a fucking faggot," Ratliff's dad growled before roughly pushing him against the door even harder.
"Now you listen to me, and listen good. If I ask you to get me my beer, you're gonna get me my fucking beer!" Ratliff's dad yelled. "Do I make myself clear?" Ratliff's dad asked.
Ratliff nodded, only to receive a punch in the chest. "I SAID DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!" he shouted. "Y-Yes," Ratliff croaked nervously.
"Fucking pussy," his dad grumbled before giving one punch to his stomach and letting him go. Ratliff fell to his knees as his dad stumbled to the couch and slipped into an intoxicated coma.
Ratliff got up and quickly left the house. Tears were streaming down his face as he walked to the park.
"How do I look?" Ross asked nervously as he motioned toward his outfit. He had on his usual Austin Moon wig and makeup, his black glasses, his black Panic! At the Disco t-shirt, his black jeans and his white converse.
"Ratliff will swoon over you," Rydel assured. Ross sighed of relief. "I can't believe you're going on a date!" Rydel squealed. Ross playfully rolled his eyes. "Alright, I have to go so I'm not late for my date," Ross said before grabbing his Fall Out Boy hoodie and sliding it on.
"Okay. Tell me EVERYTHING when you come home," Rydel demanded. Ross nodded before leaving.
Ross happily walked into the park and looked everywhere for Ratliff. He smiled when he saw Ratliff, but his smile wiped away quickly when he noticed Ratliff looking down and wiping his eyes. Ross pretty much ran towards Ratliff.
Ross didn't even say anything when he sat beside Ratliff. He just wrapped his arms around the older boy and cradled him in his arms.
Once Ratliff's soft cries calmed down, Ross looked him in the eyes and wiped his tears with his thumbs. "Care to tell me why you were crying?" Ross whispered.
Ratliff knew that he was going to have to say it sooner or later. He decided to just say it. "Family problems," Ratliff sniffled. "Like what?" Ross asked.
"Umm.. Well my dad is an alcoholic, and I try to help him stop but he never listens. And today.. He.." Ratliff sighed as he felt a lump in his throat forming again. Ross sighed before gently rubbing Ratliff's back. "It's okay," Ross assured.
"He pinned me to the door and punched me and called me a faggot and a pussy," Ratliff sighed. Ross's eyes widened. He gently grabbed the hem of Ratliff's t-shirt. Ross looked at Ratliff, basically asking for permission. Ratliff nodded. Ross slowly lifted up Ratliff's shirt to see a small bruise on his chest, but a large one on his stomach.
Ross sighed as he pulled his shirt back down. "Ratliff, I'll always be there for you, okay?" Ross assured. Ratliff nodded. "Thank you, Austin," Ratliff said softly. "Mhm," Ross assured.
"Now.. I have a frisbee and sidewalk chalk. Which one do you want to do first?" Ross asked. "Frisbee," Ratliff grinned. Ross smiled as he grabbed the frisbee out of the small bag.
It was currently 8:30 PM and Ross and Ratliff were laying on a picnic blanket and staring at the stars. Ratliff was snuggled into Ross's arms. "Look at that star over there," Ross whispered as he pointed to it. It was the largest and brightest star of the group. "Wow," Ratliff gasped.
Ratliff shivered and snuggled closer to Ross for warmth. "Cold?" Ross asked. Ratliff nodded shyly. Ross slowly let go and sat up so he could take his hoodie off. Once it was off, he slid it over Ratliff and laid back down.
Ratliff smiled as Ross wrapped his arms around him again. "Better?" Ross asked. "Mhm," Ratliff mumbled.
Ratliff suddenly felt like he needed to do something. He wiggled out of Ross's embrace and sat up. Ross sat up afterward.
Ross was about to ask what was wrong when Ratliff got up on his knees and turned so he was face to face with Ross. Ross watched as he placed his hands on Ross's shoulders.
Ratliff looked into Ross's eyes and asked. "Austin, can I.." "Yes.. You can kiss me," Ross said softly.
Ratliff grinned evilly before pushing Ross back down. "Haha!" Ratliff laughed as he got up and ran away from Ross.
Ross shook his head before standing up. "Ellington Ratliff, you're not going anywhere!" Ross yelled as he ran after the older boy.
After minutes of running, Ratliff stopped to catch his breath. He had to press his hand against the large tree for support. Ross finally caught up with Ratliff and gently pinned him against the tree as the two of them caught their breath.
They stared intensely into each other's eyes. Ross gently placed a hand against Ratliff's waist. The two slowly began to lean in. Their eyes both went down and focused on one another's lips.
Ratliff gently cupped Ross's face as their lips got closer. Their lips weren't even a centimeter apart before they paused. To break the space, Ross pressed his lips gently to Ratliff's. Ratliff kissed back slowly and gently.
Ross's arms wrapped around Ratliff's waist and he pulled him closer. The two smiled in the kiss before pulling away slowly.
"Wow.." Ratliff said breathlessly. Ross and Ratliff smiled at each other before sharing a hug. "Thank you for making thks the best first date," Ross smiled. Ratliff smiled. "No problem," Ratliff smiled.
Ross's eyes slowly fluttered open and he was still laying on the picnic blanket. He smiled as he remembered what had happened a few hours ago.
He had the first kiss that ever meant something to him.
He looked at his watch and saw that it was 1:30 AM. He thought he should wake Ratliff, but how could he? Ratliff looked adorable when he slept. Well, he always looked adorable, but especially when he was sleeping.
"Hey.. Ell, wake up," Ross whispered before gently shaking him. Ratliff groaned before burying his face in Ross's chest. Ross chuckled as a blush came to his face. He gently kissed the top of Ratliff's head. "Come on, I need to take you home," Ross chuckled as he shook him.
Ratliff slowly woke up and saw that his face was buried in Ross's chest. He slowly lifted his head up to see Ross looking at him. "Hey b- Austin," Ratliff stuttered. "Ell, it's okay. You can call me baby," Ross smiled before kissing the top of his head again.
"I gotta take you home," Ross said. Suddenly, Ratliff's eyes widened and he gasped before pulling away and standing up abruptly. "Fuck!" he cursed as he stood up.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Ross asked as he stood up and tried to calm his boyfriend down. "I was supposed to pick up his fucking beer on the way home and now it's way too late," Ratliff panicked. "Shh shh.. It's okay. There are plenty of places that sell beer twenty-four hours a day," Ross assured.
"That's not the problem! He had that one beer left and unless he slept for twelve hours, he's not gonna be happy," Ratliff panicked even more.
"Will it help if I walked you to the door?" Ross asked. "N-No.. I can do it," Ratliff assured before looking down. "It'll be okay. But we should go so you're not even later," Ross said. Ratliff nodded before the two cleaned up everything and went to Ross's car.
Ross tiptoed into his house and shut the door quietly. He pulled off his hood and took off the wig before turning around to be face-to-face with Rydel and Riker.
"What the hell are you doing walking into the house at 2:30 AM in your disguise?" Riker asked angrily.
Ross subtly looked over Riker's shoulder to see Rydel mouth the words "I didn't tell him about you two dating."
"Well Ratliff needed extra studying time because he has a math quiz tomorrow and we hung out after for a little bit and around nineish, we both crashed.. Then when I woke up, I texted him saying I left and came right home," Ross lied.
Riker sighed. "Fine. Just go to bed," Riker grumbled before going up to his room.
"So.. How was the date?" Rydel asked. "Good," Ross shrugged. "Good? That's it?" Rydel asked shocked. Ross nodded.
A smile was beginning to spread across his face, but he tried his hardest to hide it. "You're smiling! Spill," Rydel demanded.
"We may have snuggled a bit," Ross grinned. Rydel smiled. "And.. We may have kissed," Ross smiled. Rydel gasped and covered her mouth so she wouldn't scream.
"Oh my God!" Rydel whisper-shouted. Ross suddenly remembered he was going to text Ratliff and make sure he was okay and that his dad didn't hurt him.
"I'm going to go to bed," Ross said before going up to his rPom and shutting the door behind him.
He put his wig down on his desk and began to peel off the makeup he had to wear. He threw the makeup in the trash and laid down in his bed and picked up his phone to text Ratliff.
Hey, babe. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?
Second after second, Ross found himself worrying more and more. Finally, after five minutes, Ratliff finally responded.
I'm fine, babe. Don't worry and get some sleep.
Okay.. Night. Text me whenever something happens. Doesn't matter what time. Just text me, okay?
Okay..
Ross smiled contently. He could finally sleep and not worry about Ratliff. He put his phone down beside his pillow and laid down. Within seconds, he was asleep.
Ratliff sighed as he applied an ice pack to his lip. He hated lying to him, but he had no choice if he wanted him to sleep.
"I'm sorry, Austin.." he sighed.
Bet none of you saw that coming. I didn't either. It just popped in my head.
Please review :)