Part 19

Justen 's POV

I woke up the next morning to find out that Josh wasn't next to me anymore. I got up and found him over by the cliff. He was just sitting there watching the sunrise.

"Good morning," I said, sitting down next to him.

"Hey," Josh smiled, turning to face me. "How are you feeling?"

"A little better," I said.

"Last night was rough, huh?" Josh asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"So, I was thinking about the other thing that happened last night," Josh said.

"The kiss?" I asked.

"Yeah," Josh said.

"What about it?" I asked, getting a little scared.

"I liked it but I don't know if I'm going to go through with this," Josh asked.

"Like date?" I asked.

"Yeah, I mean I don't know if I'm gay or not," Josh said.

"Listen," I said. "I never thought I was into guys until I met you. I want to be with you but if you need some time to think then that's okay."

Josh was silent.

"Josh?" I asked.

His eyes found mine before he grabbed the front of my shirt and kissed me.

"I don't need to think about it anymore," Josh said, smiling. "I want to be with you too."

My heart pounded and I kissed him again.

Is this what love feels like?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally, a few hours later, Josh and I decided it was time to go home.

"I don't want to leave," I said.

"I don't either," Josh said. "But I know if we stay longer your dad will get even more pissed. And my parents will probably never let me leave the house again."

"Yeah," I said, sadly. "Well, if we're going to leave, let's go."

Josh and I stood up and walked to his truck. He got in his truck and I got in the passenger side.

"You ready?" Josh asked, starting his truck.

"No," I said. "But we have to leave."

"Yeah," Josh said, beginning to drive to my house.

"I really enjoyed spending all this time with you," I said.

"I did too," Josh said. "I just wish we could have spent more time together."

"Well, we spent the whole weekend together," I said. "But I totally agree."

"I hate that I have to drop you off at your dad's house," Josh said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because of all the things you've told me about," Josh said. "He might not even care that you're hurt."

"He won't," I said.

"And that's why I don't want to drop you off," Josh said before sighing. "But I have to."

"Yeah," I sighed.

The rest of the ride was silent until Josh pulled into the driveway.

"You know if you need me you can call me, right?" Josh asked.

"I don't have your number," I said.

"You don't?" Josh asked.

"Nope," I said. "You have to remember that the last time I texted you was over Instagram."

"Well, let me see your phone," Josh said.

I unlocked my phone and handed it to him. Josh put his number into my phone before he handed it back to me.

"Now you don't have an excuse to not call or text me," Josh smirked.

"Yeah," I smiled.

Just as I smiled, my dad came bursting out of the house.

"Shit," I said, unbuckling. "I have to go."

"Wait," Josh said.

"I'm so sorry," I said, watching my dad walk off the porch and over to Josh's truck. "I really have to go though."

"I'll see you tomorrow," Josh said.

I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and got out of his truck.

"Where the hell were you?" my dad demanded.

"With a friend," I said, noticing that Josh's truck was still there. I waved him goodbye and grabbed my dad by the arm.

My dad slapped my hand away and grabbed my arm instead. He dragged me into the house and threw me on the floor.

"Where the hell were you?" my dad asked again.

"I told you, I was with a friend," I said.

"I want to know exactly where you were," my dad said.

"In the forest," I said, not wanting to reveal my secret spot to my dad.

"Where?" my dad asked.

"We were hanging out in the forest, that's all I'm telling you," I said before my dad forcefully slapped my face.

"Tell me!" he yelled.

"No," I said.

My dad kicked me in the ribs, making me cry out in pain. He smiled and kicked me again. My dad continued kicking me until he grabbed me by my hair and dragged me to his room. That's when he threw me into a wooden trunk. Once I was inside, he locked the trunk.

"Let me out!" I yelled.

"No! my dad yelled back. "You're going to stay in there until I let you out."

"Let me out!" I yelled again. "Now!"

There was no response.

I punched the sides of the trunk but eventually got tired. I sighed and gave up. Hatred burning inside me, I just let it burn and tried to get comfy in the uncomfortable wooden trunk. Then, by some miracle, I fell asleep.