What Justin learned from this beating is that white belts with a double row of cone studs hurt far worse than a black belt with triple row pyramid studs.

That and he had many surprising frenemies.

Face slammed into the wall, before being thrown and held down on the bed, belt slapping skin, Corey raging and spitting obsceneties in his buzzing swollen ears.

'You are NOT going to spend time with them!'

'It's only a birthday celebration! And I'm GOING!'

'You've defied me before, sneaking around-' Corey shifted enough to flip Jayge over, hands reaching around, circling, to choke him. 'Going to that damn wedding when I ordered you not to!'

'Tyson invited me!'

'It's disgusting and un-natural and wrong, men marrying women...' Corey snarled. 'Opposite sex couples, it's vile and wrong.'

'Not my problem you're heterophobic.'

'Oh, I AM your problem, you slutty bitch, see how much you mouth off after I strangle the life out of you.'

Belt cinched around throat, tighter.

Hands also.

He wanted to die, if only to see his dad once more.

But COULDN'T.

Who'd take care of his Family if he was gone?

Wade would be without him, and ditzy lovable BFam Heath.

And Drew would be alone, maybe go back to his ex.

She'd end up killing him.

Justin brought his feet up at the thought, no way he'd let HER win, kicked with full force, all his might.

Didn't work.

Now he was going to die.

'Room service.'

Corey paused and both men glanced at the door.

'I didn't order damn room service!'

'But the food is spectactular, ta ta ta ta ta.'

Justin grinned beneath blood thinly masking his face. Faithful insane Leo.

'I SAID...' Corey stormed to the door, flung it open, jumped back at the bizarre sight of leo in plain tee and jeans and a fluffy furry panda hat.

Good god the thing even had ears on it.

'I didn't order-' Corey blinked at loss for words.

'I Believe-' Leo began and the capital B showed in his voice. 'You ordered a hotdog and a banana, one with two colored hair the other a modern day Cactus Jack.'

'What the hell are you talking about, you ugly freak?/!'

By this time Justin had slipped off the bed, rope burns bleeding slightly.

'But no, no...ta ta ta, can you have the delicious delightful Samoan cupcake? No you shall NOT becuase I've already licked the frosting.'

'Get out of here, you lunatic!' Corey lunged at Leo.

And three dogs leaped on him, dobie, rottie and German Shepard.

They bit him, snarling, growling and shook him like a toy.

Leo watched, dancing in circles and clapping his hands.

Justin redressed, making sure not to bleed on his clothes.

'Thanks, Leo.'

'Thank the cupcake.'

'I'll, um, let you do that. You seem more expert at it.'

'Peeling off the paper then take a bite!'

'Just don't wear yourselves out.' Justin laughed. 'Me, I'm going Home.'

'Home is where the lions are.'

'Yeah. And I can't wait to get there.' Justin beamed, speaking about more than only SA.

'Blue and frowning and ginger.'

'Exactly right. Cool hat by the way.'

'Cupcake and pandas are friends.'

'Good for you.'

And he ran.

Didn't look back.

Gone from one.

Back to the others.

finished with Corey.

Through with Seth also.

All he wanted now was his familie en hul liefde.