32.

Alex

Gasping for air, I fell on my knees running along the cracked and aged footpath. I can't remember anything after storming out of the building and slamming myself into a taxi straight to my parents house. Now it's pouring and i'm dragging myself to get there. My lungs fill with the rain instead of the air, and I cough and wheeze. Chubs has reclined all the way into the soaked bag, it was still shallow because of the little clothes I brought. I zipped the bag up just a little to try and shade him from the rain after I stopped choking, and forced my legs to pick up the pace once more. I only ran for 5 more minutes until my body shut down, and I landed in a heap on the wonky sidewalk. My heart was racing and I could feel it in my ears, my blood pulsing through me made me feel like I was going to explode. I cried some more, my tears with the rain made for an irrelevant mix. My tears didn't matter, because it wasn't going to bring him back, take back what he did or what they all said. I had seen them all from the moment I got in the taxi and when to call my parents. In the end, I couldn't do it. All because some words got into my head. He never really loved you, it was a publicity act. Hadn't I been here before? He would never get with someone like you. What did I do last time words hurt me? He's not really gay. That's right. I ran. Away from the voices and any memories it would bring, and right back where I always felt safe. It was a miracle I even got to their front step, but as soon as I rung the door bell I could feel the conscious slipping. The last thing I saw was my mother looking horrified at my state, before black spots littered her figure before me and I dissolved into darkness.

That was 2 days ago. Now, i'm here, in the bed I used to cry so often in, doing it all over again. It felt like I was laying on a soaked sponge with al the tears, but I had still so much left in me. Both my parents were concerned, every hour they would come in and kiss and hug me tight, then leave to give me more time and space. 2 days I'd been crying, and even though I still need more time to cry, I couldn't do it forever. I rolled out on the floor and stayed there for a bit before sitting up. I was instantly hit with a mind splitting headaches as I grabbed the sides of my head. Dad must of hear the yelp, and he was at my door in a second. His eyes jumped to the bed before finding me on the floor. He walked over and crouched down besides me,

"Hey, do you need anything?" he asked kindly, rubbing my back tenderly. When I was growing up, I would always love hugs from my mum. They were comfortable and felt safe, but my dad's back rubs were a bit different. His made me feel strong and reassured, which didn't make much sense, but now, I think it does.

"Dad I-I need to talk with you guys. I think I need to finally... Talk to someone. About, well, everything."

He only smiled on nodded,

"Meet us downstairs when you're ready."

And so I did. 5 minutes later, I was sat in front of my parents in our little Victorian style living room. Dad and laid out a glass of water and some painkillers, so I took those before talking.

"Over these past few months, I met a boy. I had known him for ages, but we started talking just now. It was a bit rocky at the start- but that was resolved quickly and well... we started dating."

My mother has started gushing as soon as she had heard I found someone, but that only made me feel worse.

"We were so good together but he-"

I didn't need to finish before their faces went grave. They had hear all this before, and the things they went through at those times were hard. I was crumbling and they had to give their all to keep to together.

"I'm so sorry this happened again. Did you ever think he would...?"

"No, I didn't," I sighed, rubbing my temples harshly, "He's been with women before but was never attracted to them, I don't even know what really happened, which is the worse part."

Dad raised an eyebrow at that,

"What do you mean? Did it not happen or...?"

"Well, I guess I freaked out a bit early and didn't get to hear what he had to say," Mum's face relaxed just a smidge when I said that,

"Honey... Tell us what happened. Everything."

And so I did. I told them about the party and Aether's gut feeling, to us leaving with him clearly upset, and then to the video I got in the morning, the fight and messages, all the way up until how I passed out on the porch and scared the shit out of my mum. They were shocked at many things, but mostly the video and what people had said.

"This isn't right. All those people do not get to dictate you and that boy's relationship. I doubt any of them even know any of you personally."

Dad and I were both shocked at mums sternness. She was always to gentle and sweet, she was worked up about everything. Dad took her hand in his and spoke up too,

"She right, I mean, did you look closely at the video? If his face wasn't in it, clearly the evidence is jumbled then. Billons of people in this world have abs."

I stopped registering when he said that. Had I taken a proper look? His face really wasn't in it. That could mean that it really wasn't him. The more they pointed out evidence that it may not have been him, the more I thought about how dumb I had been. "Oh god. I messed up really bad, I need to-" A knock. Who could it be? I go to open the door, and it was still raining hard. As soon as it's open, i'm met with striking brown eyes, and a strong body soaked in rain.

"Hey. We really need to talk."

I didn't respond for a bit, still thinking it over, before opening the door wider, letting Aether shuffle in.

He just wanted to talk, and I can't find it in me to turn away a wet dog.

I added a bit more to chapter 32, and now i've made one last chapter, so this will end in 4 more chapters!