"Why are we always at my place?" Billy asked one afternoon as Teddy drove them home. Teddy didn't answer for a while and he was about to repeat himself incase Teddy hadn't heard when he finally replied.
"I like your house. And besides, you didn't want to go to my house when I asked."
"That was then," Billy scuffed offhandedly. "Anyways, why would you like my house? It's hectic and the twins are always running around. Plus, Tommy is always interrupting us. What's to like about all that?" Billy complained, sighing as they were almost to his house already.
"It's a change from my home. It's usually really quiet since my mom works the long shifts, as you know. You and your house is a nice change to have for once." He gave Billy one of his charming smiles as they came to stop. Billy smiled back, leaning over to give Teddy a quick kiss before opening the door and climbing out.
"Well, next time we are going to your house." He said matter-of-factly, leaning against the door of his boyfriend's truck. He pushed off with a two fingered wave, disappearing into the house before Teddy could even argue or agree. He sat their with a goofy smile before driving off.
School sucked.
Billy could almost feel the time slowly ticking by. It was pure torture. All he wanted to do was cuddle in his bed with his comforter and sleep.
Friday's were always the worst. It was football season-the end, thank God- and Teddy never hung out after games. He hung out with his team, good team building time apparently. Of course, Billy was always invited but he turned it down every time.
"Everybody give all your hope and love to our football players! Let's win tonight!" These words were said every game day over the intercom and really, Billy was getting damned tired of hearing them. The bell rang moments later, everyone rushing down the halls. He didn't rush-crowds were the worst-just slowly packed his things. Teddy's head popped in the doorframe all smiles, before the rest of his body joined it.
"Hey Mister Kaplan, you're running a little late." Billy practically melted at his boyfriend's smile, he supposed he always would.
"I was planning on walking home. You know since you have your game today," Billy trailed off, slinging his bag over his shoulder. He was happy Teddy came to check on him, but it was unnecessary. He looked worried as he walked over to Billy.
"You okay Beels?" He whispered, tugging the smaller boy into his arms. Billy squirmed, panic tugging at him. What if someone saw them? What if they recognized Teddy? They were still at school!
"I'm fine Theodore, just let go." Billy murmured, eyes frantically looking anywhere but at Teddy. The blonde slowly let him go.
"Are you ashamed of being gay Billy?" Teddy whispered after a moment of tense silence. Billy's head shot up, eyes wide as he looked into his boyfriend's face.
"What? No!" Billy yelled in surprise.
"It sure seems like it. You won't tell your parents about you, let alone about us and you refuse to let me hold your hand or just you in public." Theodore was angry now, face red with contained emotion.
"It's not like th," Billy started but was cut off with Teddy's cruel laugh.
"What? It's not like it seems?" God, B, do you know how many times I've heard that? You know what, never mind. Just, never mind." He shook his head, eyes cast to the ground, "I have to go." Teddy departed with those last words and Billy wanted to go after him, God, did he want to go after him, but he was frozen to the spot. He couldn't breath correctly and his chest hurt. What just happened?
Billy heard a choked sound, almost like a sob, and absently wondered where it came from before he noticed it was him, tears streaming down his face. He wiped at them fiercely, it wasn't like they were broken up. It was just a fight. They'd get over it.
Billy slowly walked out of the class room, body slumped in on itself.
"Hey fag boy, long time no see."
Billy found himself stumbling around in the rain later. He'd been wondering for hours now and he felt like giving up. Billy's face was bruised and battered and his clothes were completely and utterly soaked. He wanted to be home already, but he didn't know where that douche bag Greg had taken him. Billy tripped again, knees hitting the hard concrete of the sidewalk.
"Shit," He muttered. Billy gave up trying to get anywhere and sat down holding back tears. At times like this, he really hated his life.
Billy wanted to call Teddy and tell him he was sorry for whatever he had done and have him come get him. But Greg had snapped his phone in half and even if he hadn't, Teddy was probably still playing football.
Billy shivered and stood, new energy towards getting somewhere warm springing up. He wouldn't be able to make up with Teddy if he never got home. He quickly made his way through whatever neighborhood he was in, skinny legs aching.
And like magic, he say a very familiar house. He'd only ever seen Teddy's house twice, but he recognized it like it was his own. He tripped and stumbled his way up the drive way, trying to shake as much water off himself as he could. He sighed in relied to see Teddy's mom's car sitting there. He knocked loudly, heart racing in fear that he wouldn't be welcomed inside. The door open slowly and Billy froze again when he saw Ms. Altman.
"Hello," She paused as she got a good look of him, "oh my," She exclaimed. Billy smiled weakly. "Come in, come in. Are you okay?" She pulled the soaking teen inside, excusing herself to make a quick run for dry towels.
"Thank you, Ms. Altman." Billy muttered as she dried his hair off.
"You know me?" She asked and before he could answer her she continued, "Or you know my son, Teddy," Ms. Altman handed him one of Teddy's shirts and a pair of blue basketball shorts. Billy smiled, taking the too big clothes with appreciation.
"Teddy, I know Teddy. We're, uh, you could say we're friends." Ms. Altman led him to a bathroom. Billy noticed how much smaller the house was than his.
"Ah, and your name is?" She finally asked. Billy laughed, what person just let a stranger into their house without asking their name?
"I'm Billy, Billy Kaplan. It's nice to m see meet you. I'm sorry you had to see me like this." Billy waved at his messed up sate, bruised and soaked.
"You're Billy? My son talked about you a lot." She laughed in a knowing way before closing the bathroom door. "After you're done changing, I'll have some hot cocoa for you." She was gone, leaving Billy alone to dry off and redress. Billy tried to avoid the mirror, but failed, catching a glance of his swollen face.
"Stupid, Ted doesn't even like you. He just feels bad for a wimp like you." Pain fogged his mind as he tried to scramble away. But Greg was relentless, Billy was being yanked up by his collar, air way closing from the pressure before he could get too far.
Billy shivered, shaking the memories from his mind. He didn't want to remember. He felt tears streaming down his cheeks again and it hurt, everything hurt. Billy couldn't remember the last time he'd been beaten this bad, maybe never. He pulled the basket ball shorts on before collapsing against the wall and sliding down. This wasn't fair. A choked sob escaped him. He clutched at Teddy's t-shirt helplessly.
"Ted's mine," The words had been clouded by pain, but now he could hear the anger in them, the resentment. Another sob left him.
"Are you okay in there, Billy?" Ms. Altman's voice sounded outside the door, but Billy couldn't find it in him to answer her, he couldn't stop crying. The door opened hesitantly and in walked Ms Altman.
"Oh Billy," She whispered, sitting down next to the sobbing boy. He looked so tiny and pale. She absently wondered if he'd eaten that day, he looked so skinny. Ms. Altman pulled her son's boyfriend into her lap and wrapped him in a hug, letting him sob into her shoulder. He looked so.. So broken. "Shhh, shhh, it's okay, everything is going to be okay." She said the words and hoped she was telling the truth. A lie was the last thing Billy needed. They sat there for another hour before Billy could speak again.
"I don't know," He stopped, choking back another sob, "I don't know how to make it stop. I, I," He shook against her, body almost vibrating with the sobs he withheld, "I don't want Teddy to go through this, the things I've had to go through," It was silent for a while, Billy clutching onto her like she was his only life line.
"Mom?" The front door opened with a creek, "Why did you need me home? I brought Greg with me, if that's okay?" Billy froze at Teddy's voice, before springing away from Ms. Altman's warm embrace, almost hitting his head against the wall in the process. She watched him with something akin to worry.
"Billy?" Billy's wide eyes met Teddy's before they frantically moved away from the boys in the doorway. "Shit B, what happened?" Teddy was by his side in a flash, large hands holding the boy to him. "Who did this? Iswear," He snarled against the top of Billy's head, "I swear to God I will kill them." Billy pulled away from Teddy, eyes automatically looking up at Greg. The other teen was glaring at them, eyes burning with that same ugly rage as earlier.
"No, no one did this. Nothing happened. I, I, I," Billy's whole body convulsed as he held back another sob, "I'm fine Theodore."
"I think Greg needs to go home. I'll drive him." Teddy's mom stood up abruptly, taking Greg with her and leaving the couple alone. Teddy ignored them, eyes scanning over Billy.
"Wee need to change your shirt. It's soaked." Teddy whispered, hearing the door shut first before pulling the brunette's shirt over his head. His torso was littered with bruises, a few already turning a dark purple. Teddy felt murderous, he wanted to obliterate whoever did this to his boyfriend. "B, I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you, I'm so sorry." He muttered. He was sorry he hadn't been there, that he had been mad at him for not answering his texts all night, for their stupid fight.
"You couldn't have done anything, trust me. You have nothing to be sorry about," Billy whispered, shifting slightly away and pulling the shirt on. "I'm sorry I came here. I should probably go." Billy got up, a little unsteady, and headed toward the door.
"Billy, wait," Teddy stood too, and pulled him to his chest. They were face to face now. No escaping.
"I'm sorry. You're probably still mad at me and all and I came here with my stupid problems and I'm so sorry. This was a bad idea." Billy tried to pull away but Teddy just gripped tighter.
"What was a bad idea, Billy? Coming here, or dating me?" Teddy asked, vulnerable expression written across his face.
"Teddy, don't do this." Billy looked away. He did regret going out with him, but not in the way that he thought.
"No Billy, tell me the truth. I really like you, but if you can't do this, can't do us, then I need to know now before I get any farther into you." Teddy let go, arms crossing over his chest.
"You don't understand Teddy," Billy tried, keeping his eyes on the floor.
"I don't understand! Why don't you enlighten me?" The crudeness in Teddy's voice made him look up.
"I don't want you to go through this." Teddy's anger dropped at how small Billy's voice was, "Through the pain and suffering I've had to go through. I didn't even come out, Teddy! They just thought I was gay, and look at the results! I'm in constant terror that the someone is going to beat me up. I don't want you to go through this too! It's horrible." Billy ran out of steam, breath heavy and loud. He waited, waited for Teddy to just say something.
Yet they just stood there.
"Damnit Altman, open the door! I know Kaplan's here and Mrs. Kaplan wants him home!" Teddy left the room, not really looking at Billy. The brunette felt his chest ache as he followed after him.
"Altman, where's Kap-Holy shit Billy! Who the fuck did this?" Tommy rushed into the house, fingers tracing a bruise on his twin's cheek.
"He won't tell me. See if you can get it out of him." Teddy murmured. Billy looked at the blonde, eyes sad and regretful.
"Uh," Tommy looked at the couple, "what happened? You were all lovey-dovey last time I saw you two and now you're all angst." Tommy looked back and forth between the two. Teddy sighed and Billy flinched.
"Nothing happened Tommy," Billy whispered, pushing past his energetic twin. He noticed it had finished raining, but it was still freezing cold outside.
"Billy?" Teddy questioned and he turned around to face him. "I don't care what I have to go through or whether people like me or not. Not when I have you by my side, at least. So," Billy was already back in front of him, smile small but there none the less, "will you stay by my side?" Tommy gagged. Billy laughed softly as Teddy was pulled down for a sweet, loving kiss.
"Boys, I see you're better now, but I think Billy's parents are waiting outside." Billy jumped at the sound of Teddy's mom's voice.
"Uh, it, uh," Billy stuttered, blushing and looking back and forth between Teddy and Ms. Altman.
"She knows, it's okay." Teddy muttered. Billy smiled weakly, guilt filing him from how he's been treating Teddy. Billy thanked Ms. Altman and waited until she retired upstairs and Tommy had already left to get into Billy's mom's van before kissing Teddy again. It was soft, but Billy winced when Teddy's hand cupped his cheek.
"I'm sorry," Teddy mumbled into his lips, hands moving to Billy's waist before pulling him in for another kiss. This kiss was different from the last two, it was heated as they pressed their bodies fully together.
"You mom's waiting, Kaplan!" Tommy yelped as a throw pillow was thrown at his head from the couch. He dodged and laughed, skipping down the lawn to the Kaplan's van.
"I gotta go." Another kiss and Billy followed his brother. He didn't see how Teddy's hands clenched into fists as he found out who had beaten Billy up, now did he see the rage settle in those dark blue eyes.