First of all, a huge thank you to my new reviewers and for the feedback :D This one is for you guys 3

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Sunset Ave.

Chapter Fourteen

Queers in the woods

At first, Billy wasn't sure wherever he'd gotten the right place. The house was at the edge of town, some windows bordered up, grass overgrown in the garden. It looked abandoned and he doubted anyone would answer the door if he knocked.

He knocked and to his surprise, someone did answer the door. Jessie. She stared at him for a moment; her dark hair was pulled into a bun, but wisps fell around her face. Her dark eyes were narrowed as she looked at him, deep deep bags under her eyes. She was wearing a blue, flowered summer dress and baby Teddy was resting on her hip, looking curiously at the boy who was his uncle.

'What do yer want?' she demanded. Billy ducked his head; if he was going to get anywhere with this, he had to at least at like he gave a fuck.

'Jessie, I need to ask yer for a favour.'

'Well, ask somewhere else,' she snapped and attempted to close the door. Billy's hand shot out and she let it bounce open again.

'At least hear me through,' he said. She sighed. Glared at him. 'I want t'take Percy away from all this,' he said. 'I want to keep him safe.'

Jessie scoffed. 'Have yer heard yerself?' she asked, shaking her head. 'This is bullshit, Billy. Like yer give a damn about anyone other than yerself.'

'Maybe I've changed,' he replied simply. 'Yer don't think people can change?'

'A leopard can't change his spots, Billy,' she told him.

'I just need money, Jess. Please. Then, I'll be outta yer hair for good. Just a few hundred dollars, is all.'

'Do yer think I have that kinda money?' she laughed.

'I know yer do.'

It was quiet for a moment. Jessie stared at him. 'Please,' he continued. 'I'm fuckin beggin yer here. I jus' need the money and then we can get away from this place.' He could tell she was thinkin about it.

'Why should I help you?' she asked finally, voice dropped in tone. 'After everything yer've done. Teddy doesn't have a father because of yer.'

'I'm sorry.'

'No, yer not,' Jessie said, shaking her head.

'Please,' he tried again. Finally, she sighed and took a step back.

'How much?' she asked, voice dull now.

'Three hundred.'

Jessie disappeared and Billy waited, rocking on the balls of his feet. She returned, clutching a wad of green. Billy reached out for it, but she held it away. 'I've been saving this for a long time,' she told him. 'If I hear yer've fucked me about…'

She handed it to him. Billy pocketed it. Leaning up, he kissed her cheek and then jogged off down the road towards Billy's house. Jessie watched him go, then shushed Teddy who began to cry. She shut the door, shutting Billy out of her life forever.

--

Billy found Percy sat on his porch, legs stretched out in front of him. He smiled when Billy approached. 'Yer dad home?' he asked.

'No,' Percy replied, shaking his head. Billy swung himself down beside him. It was quiet for a moment, before Billy looked across at him.

'Is this serious?' he asked. Percy frowned.

'Why?' he asked, worry rising in his chest. Was Billy having second thoughts?

'I just…' Billy rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly flushing. 'Yer wanna live with me?'

'Live with you?' repeated Percy. Billy nodded, dropping his hand.

'Yeah, like… in a cabin.'

'In a cabin?'

'In the woods.'

'In the woods?'

'Yeah,' Billy said, a faint grin on his face.

'You want me to come and live with you in a cabin in the woods?' Percy repeated, in slight shock and awe. Billy nodded. 'You don't think that's a ridiculous idea at all?'

Billy frowned. 'No, it's good. See, then no one can try and … y'know,' he shrugged awkwardly; when the fuck had he become so soft? 'Why is it ridiculous?' he demanded.

'Cause you'll loose interest in me,' Percy replied, looking away. 'Eventually.' Billy shoved him in the arm.

'Shit, Percy, yer really think that low of me?'

'Well, what will we do for supplies?' Percy asked, looking back at him. 'Food? Clothes? What about money?'

'Look, the nearest town is a mile away. I'll take Kenny's truck from the farm. We can get jobs. No one down there knows us.'

'And how long will it be until they do realize what we are?' Percy asked. Billy ignored him and Percy sighed, still unsure.

'Look, we can't be together if we stay here,' Billy pressed. 'Come wit' me, Purty.'

'Why? So we can be the queers in the woods,' he muttered sourly. Billy rolled his eyes in a dramatic way.

'No, because I love yer, yer fucking idiot. And I wanna keep yer safe.'

Percy stared at him for a moment; that was the most sentimental thing Percy had ever heard him say and it sounded odd coming from him. A small smile curled at the corner of Percy's lips and he looked down, abashed. 'I'll come with you,' he said. 'But, not yet. I have to say goodbye first.'

--

'Could you go over and take this milk to dear Mrs. Jonas?' Irene asked, setting three milk bottles in a carrier and handing it to Percy. He nodded and she smiled at him; things seemed a little less tense in the household now.

Percy wasn't sure if his mother knew the truth about Billy and Percy, or wherever she'd just thought it had been a fall out, the rumours being speculation. Whatever the reason, she didn't mind Percy going out to see him. She'd only been a little annoyed when she'd caught him climbing out the window near midnight as he'd had school in the morning and she didn't want him sleeping late because he was too tired.

His father however would never mention the Wharton's. He didn't even talk to Percy that much anymore, which stung in a way, but Percy didn't care. He had Billy now. He wasn't prepared to loose him again.

Percy took the carrier and left the house, passing Joelle who was coming up the path with a loaf of freshly cooked bread in his arms. 'Mornin' meester Percy,' she beamed and Percy allowed himself to smile back. She seemed surprised at this, because in the time she'd been with the family, all he could do was scowl and glare and leave the room without eating his food. Which was a sin itself, she thought to himself, because no child should waste food.

She turned, watching him disappear down the path, whistling to himself. Well, something had changed! Joelle smiled, turned and continued back into the house.

Percy headed down the road; Mrs. Jonas lived across the road, down the other end of the street. The sun was warm on the back of his neck and he smiled to himself; despite his reservations, he was eager to see exactly what this cabin looked like. He still couldn't believe he'd agreed to just go and live with Billy. Live with him in the middle of nowhere, where nobody could come and disturb. They could be themselves. Secretly, he liked the idea. No having to answer questions, no having to get stared at, no Lewis Billets to get in the wa-

Percy's thoughts were cut short as he was suddenly tackled; him and whoever it was were sent tumbling to the floor with a yell. The milk bottles smashed, white liquid spreading over the dry ground and glass digging into his palms. A boy managed to pin him to the ground, one knee pressing into his stomach, his hands pinning Percy's above his head.

Percy struggled- he'd seen the boy around. Never spoken to him. Didn't even know what his name was. 'Get off me,' he spat, struggling to kick the heavy weight from above him. The sun was blocked out by a figure. Lewis smirked down at him.

'Sssh,' he said, as if taking to a wailing infant. 'Don't worry, Wetmore. It won't hurt. For long.'

He was surrounded, Percy realized with a bust of panic. He yelled out again. The boy above clamped a hand over his mouth. Lewis leaned back and said something that Percy couldn't make out. A fist came out of nowhere, hitting him square in the face with a burst of white pain.

He cried out, weakly this time, taking the kicks in his side and the beating. He tried to count how many people there were, tried to think of how he could get out of this, but he couldn't. He couldn't think, he couldn't breathe.

Winded, he curled into a ball, arms going over his head and leaving his ribs to take the beating. His body felt like it was on fire, flaring pain, white sparks in his vision. He found himself yelling for Billy, yelling for anyone. He had no idea how long it went on for. He was getting kicked and then all of a sudden, he was hauled to his feet.

Percy was dragged, feet kicking out uselessly. 'I'll kill yer,' he snarled. He spat out blood. Lewis laughed somewhere on his left.

'Yer can try,' he replied simply. The ground became softer; he couldn't see. It was black and for a moment, Percy panicked. Was he blind? The group came to a stop and suddenly it was bright- Lewis had taken a bag off his head.

Percy had had no idea that they'd even put one on. He blinked, one eye swollen shut and tried to work out where he was. They were stood by a barn, but he didn't recognize where. Lewis was watching him, a dark expression on his face. Percy spat at him. 'Yer'll pay for this,' he hissed.

'Bring him in,' Lewis replied. The others dragged Percy into the barn. There was a small, brown, wooden chair surrounded by hay bales sat waiting. They threw him into it. Twisting his arms around the back of the chair, two of them tied his wrists up with rope, until his fingers started to tingle and go cold with numbness. This couldn't be happening, he thought, casting wildly around. Things like this didn't happen in places like this. Lewis stood, observing him. 'Leave us alone,' he told the others. They departed the barn one by one, shutting the door behind them. Then, it was just Percy and Lewis.

He stood in front of Percy, hands behind his back and head cocked; he was wearing a white shirt tucked into neat trousers, the ones he'd normally wear for Church or special occasions. His dark hair fell over his eyes and he strode forward. Lewis was taller than Percy and when he straddled Percy's lap, he still had to look down to meet his eye.

Percy shifted, not liking this new position at all. It wasn't the familiar weight of Billy. 'Get the fuck off me' he hissed, wriggling. Lewis slapped him, the sound resounding through the barn.

'I only wanted the best for you,' he said, now softly stroking his cheek, thumb brushing over the red mark now forming. Percy glared. Leaning back a little, he tugged a roll of tape from his pocket. He looked up. 'Why Billy?' he asked, more out of curiosity than anything.

'Because he's better than you'll ever be,' Percy retorted. Lewis smiled softly, leaned forward and kissed his lips.

'I'm sure he is,' he replied, before tearing off some of the tape and slapping it over Percy's mouth. He swung his leg off Percy and straightened up. He tossed the roll of tape aside and pulled matches out of his pocket. He pulled one out, looking at it thoughtfully. Only now the smell hit Percy; gasoline. It was strong now and Percy's vision was blurred with tears because he was going to die.

He was going to die and there was nothing he could do about it.

Lewis lit the match. He said nothing, but gave a sad smile. He dropped the match on the floor. The flames erupted like a volcano between Percy and Lewis. Percy watched, yelling though his voice was muffled by the tape, as Lewis turned and left the barn, leaving the flames to devour and burn everything in its path.

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