Part 27

Third Person's POV

As soon as Justen reentered the house, his dad shoved him to the ground.

"Who the hell was that?!" Justen's dad demanded.

"Why do you want to know?" Justen asked, glaring at him.

"Because I want to know who the fuck you brought into my house," Justen's dad yelled.

"He isn't anyone," Justen said, getting up. "He's just a guy I brought home."

"Just a guy?!" Justen's dad said, shoving him back down. "I'm not stupid, Justen! I know you and him are up to something."

"Up to something? He and I are just friends," Justen said.

"Just friends?!" Justen's dad said. "I saw you naked in bed with him!"

"You weren't supposed to see that anyway!" Justen said.

"Exactly! You and this guy are hiding something from me!" Justen's dad roared.

"We aren't hiding anything!" Justen yelled.

"Yes, you two are!" Justen's dad yelled back.

"Just leave me alone!" Justen yelled, getting up again.

"I'm not done with you yet," Justen's dad said, shoving him down again.

"Just stop!" Justen said. "Some things just need to be left alone. So please, leave me

alone."

Justin's dad kicked Justen once before picking him up and shoving him towards Justen's room.

"Go before I change my fucking mind," Justen's dad said.

With those few words, Justen left and went to his room.

Meanwhile, when Josh got home, his parents weren't there. Confused and concerned, Josh went into Michael's room to see that Michael wasn't even there. Now scared, Josh went down into the basement looking for anyone. When Josh was completely in the basement, he heard the basement door slam shut. Josh ran up the stairs and tried to open the basement door only to find out that it was locked. He pounded on the door, now knowing that he'd been fooled.

"Josh," he heard his mom say from the other side of the door.

"What do you want?" Josh asked. "What is even going on?"

"Listen to me, Ryan told your dad that you were with the brown-haired boy again," Josh's mom said.

"What is he going to do?" Josh asked, worried for Justen.

"He's going to try to find this boy," Josh's mom said.

"No!" Josh said.

"I know you care for this boy, that's why I'm going to let you warn him," Josh's mom said.

"What is he going to do when he finds Justen?" Josh asked.

"Your dad said he's going to kill him," Josh's mom said.

Josh fell silent. Why didn't he think about this before? Josh became scared for Justen.

"Mom," Josh said, his voice breaking. "Can you help me with this, please?"

"Josh, you know I…," Josh's mom started.

"I know, okay?" Josh said. "I know you never wanted to beat me but did it because you didn't want to lose dad."

"Honey," Josh's mom said.

"Please, mom. I love this boy and I don't want dad to hurt him," Josh said.

Josh's mom froze. "You love him?" she asked.

"Yes, mom. I never thought I could love a guy but when I met Justen everything changed. It's not a friendship love either. I actually love him. And if something ever happened to him I don't know what I would do," Josh said.

Suddenly, the click of the door was heard. Josh's mom had unlocked the door to let Josh out.

"Josh, I love you and I am so glad you found someone to love," Josh's mom said. "I am so sorry I beat you. But know that every time I did, I cried for you. I wanted to be a good mother but when I found your father and saw what he was doing, I didn't want to lose him so I joined him. I never meant to hurt you this bad and I certainly never meant for your father to go this crazy. Go get your man and I promise that afterward your father and I will get a divorce, we'll get a restraining order against and I will take you and Michael and make you two the happiest boys ever."

Josh couldn't stop himself and gave his mom a hug.

"I am so sorry for everything your father and I put you through," Josh's mom cried. "I'm sorry that you felt scared for yourself and Michael. I promise that after this, everything will be different."

"I love you, mom," Josh said.

"I love you too, Josh," Josh's mom said, hugging him tighter before she let him go. "Now go get your man."

Josh smiled at his mom and grabbed the keys to his truck and went to go get Justen.