Chapter 8

Sonny helped me through his front door. Mrs. Moore emerged from the kitchen when she heard the door close behind us. She looked panicked, shaken. She looked at me with caring eyes and walked towards me to give me a gentle hug. I appreciated that. I wasn't sure if Sonny had told her what happened, but she was sure being nice. Not that she wasn't always nice, but there was just something different about it this time. It was more nurturing this time. I liked it.

"Aiden, sweetheart," she said, looking me over from head to toe, "you look awful. Come in the kitchen and let me have a look at you." I glanced at Sonny, a bit frightened, but he gave me a steady nod and I followed her into the kitchen. She pulled up my shirt to see my bruised stomach and almost healed back. She ran her hands over my ribs, making sure they weren't broken. I winced because it hurt pretty badly. She asked me to pull up the legs of my jeans as well, and she did a check over. Everything was fine, I would just be sore for a week or two. She sent us upstairs, with some ice and pillows.

"I was afraid you were going to die," Sonny told me as he sat down on his bed, rubbing his temples, "I contemplated calling 911 so many times, but I just kept hoping you'd wake up. I couldn't bear losing you, Aiden. You've become too important to me. I left so much behind in Philly. But it doesn't matter anymore, because I have you. And if I lost you, I don't know what I'd do. I don't want to go through losing those close to me ever again. I already lost Matt, Derek, and Travis. I left them and they didn't take it very well. Now they don't want anything to do with me. You're all I've got, Aiden. I love you, I really do." As he said that, it seemed like he was about to cry, but he kept strong the entire time. Yes, I felt sympathy towards him. Listening to him spill out his thoughts to me made me love him even more.

With that, I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him closer to me. I looked him in the eyes and said, "I love you too." I leaned forward so my lips met his, and kissed him. I wrapped my arms around him and began taking off his shirt.

He stopped for a second and glanced at me, saying, "Are you sure you want to do this? I don't want to hurt you. You're still fragile yet."

I looked down at the floor, tracing the texture of the carpet with my eyes. I wanted to do this. More than anything, to be honest. The only thing I didn't want was to become too attached to someone that could just walk right out of my life. But I decided to put that all beside me, and do what I wanted for once in my life.

"I want to do this. I'll be fine, promise," I said. With that, he unbuttoned my pants and pushed me onto the bed, falling on top of me, kissing up and down my chest. I quickly unbuttoned and tore off his pants. I wanted to fuck him pretty badly, okay?

He moved in and I braced myself. With each thrust, I felt my troubles slowly fade away. Sonny usually had this effect on me, but more so now. He pulled out and rolled onto his back lying on the bed. I rolled on top of him, heavily breathing into his neck. I gently laid kisses against his neck, rising up to his jaw line, making my way to his lips. He closed his eyes, enjoying the gesture, and contently smiling. I started kissing him then, almost hard enough to bruise but he didn't seem to mind. I pulled away and then I whispered a brief "I love you" in his ear before I sat up to put my boxers on. I left him lying there, because honestly, I really had to fucking piss.

When I came back in the room, I found he had put on pajama pants and pulled the covers far up over him and curled up. I crawled in next to him. For the first time in a while, I felt safe. I didn't have to worry about my dad coming home. I didn't have to worry about going to school in the morning. I felt enclosed in security, and it felt nice

"Aiden?" Sonny said, concern floating on his voice. I raised my head a bit and asked him what was wrong, and he replied with, "I don't know. I just . . . don't want this to change anything between us. Like I said before, I couldn't handle fucking things up between us."

"Sonny, you're pretty much the only person that I've ever connected to. The only person who's ever cared about me. Obviously enough, my dad doesn't even care about me. I haven't made a friend since the first grade. I've been a loser my entire life. I've gotten used to it, yes. But no one's ever taken an interest in me like you have. It's one of the best feelings in the world, too. I love you, Sonny. You're all I've got."

He closed his eyes, thinking and biting his bottom lip. He then opened his eyes and nodded. I wasn't sure if I'd fully convinced him yet, but I could tell I was close. He kissed me on the forehead then turned over, ready to go to sleep. I cuddled against him ready to sleep as well. I was tired and sore, but safe, nonetheless. And I soon fell asleep, to dream of rainbows and butterflies. Wait, did I just say that out loud? Shut up. I can dream about whatever I want, thank you very much.