Could It Be Worse - Kickthestickz

"You know what? Fine! I'll go! AND MAYBE THIS TIME I WON'T COME BACK!" I roared, slamming the door shut. Fucking family. We'd had yet another argument that had resulted in them kicking me out. Fan-fucking-tastic. I shivered against the near arctic winds of the North and instantly regretted not getting a coat or jacket before I left. It's not like I can go back now, though. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and quickly texted Dan:
'Hey, can I stay round yours for a while?'
He must've had his phone on him or something because before I could return my phone to my pocket, he'd replied saying:
'Sure, family problems again?'
'You know it.' I typed, physically rolling my eyes. I slid my phone into my pocket and was about to start walking when I had one of those feelings where you think you're being watched. I scanned the area and my line of vision rested on a human shaped pile of clothing, with a pair of stunning, pale green eyes poking out under a mess of muddy brown hair. As soon as he saw me looking, he averted his gaze. I began to walk towards him, curious and wanting to know more. He looked up at me, fear in his gorgeous eyes.
"I-I'm sorry for sta-aring, S-Sir. Pl-Please don't h-hit me, Sir." He croaked, a throaty cough emitting from his pale, cracked lips.
"I'm not going to!" I cried, horrified that he'd even consider me doing so.
"Oh..." He lowered his hands that were shielding his face.
"Umm.. Not to pry or anything, but don't you have a home to go to?" I crouched down beside him and he flinched away from me.
This kid must have really been through some shit.
"This.. This is home." He said quietly, gesturing around, moving his arms rigidly.
"Really?" My eyes bugged out. I'd slept on the street before, but I've always had a warm home to return to, even if I wasn't welcomed with open arms.
"Uh-huh." He nodded, blowing into his hands to keep them warm. He was wearing worn, fingerless gloves on his blue hands.
"Hey," I started softly and he looked up at me. "Come with my tonight." I said on impulse, even though I didn't know if it would be okay with Dan and his family. They've been so kind to me, taking me in whenever I needed help, but I'm not sure how they'd react to this guy. I didn't even know his name!
"Oh, n-no Sir, I-I.. I couldn't bother you like that." He shook his head and I took hold of one of his hands. He sighed happily at the heat on his stone cold hands.
"Please, and it's Chris, not Sir." I smiled, getting to my feet, still holding on to his hand. "Come on. I insist." I held out my other hand for him to take, which he did, reluctantly.
"O-Only if you-you're sure, Si-... Chris." He stuttered. "And my name's PJ." I love the way my name rolled off his tongue.
"Okay then, PJ, just let me ring my friend."
Now for the moment of truth.
I took my phone out of my pocket and quickly dialled his number.
"Hey man, you coming round?" Dan answered, his mouth full of something. Probably maltesers.
"Yeah, um, d'you mind if my.. friend comes to stay too? He just got kicked out." Okay, so I might have told a teensy lie there. I saw the worry on PJ's face and mouthed: 'It'll be fine.' to him.
"Hang on, lemme check." He swallowed. "MUUUUUM?!" Dan yelled to his mum and I heard their muffled conversation before Dan was clearly speaking to me again. "Mum says you two can have the spare bedroom."
"But that's only got 1 bed in it?" I asked, confused.
"Oh, shit, yeah. Whatever, we'll figure something out when you get here. See you in 5." I heard the bag of maltesers crinkle before he hung up.
"Sorted." I smiled at PJ and slid my phone back into my pocket. "Lets go." I set off, still holding PJ's hand in mine. He trotted along beside me, his teeth chattering quietly.
~
When we got to Dan's, he was already waiting with the door open, so I ran up to him, craving his delicious warmth, and wrapping my arms tightly around him.
"Hello to you, too." Dan chuckled softly. A cough from behind me made me jolt back into reality and remember PJ.
"Shit, sorry." I tore myself away from Dan and turned to an awkward and blushing PJ.
"Dan, this is PJ, PJ, this is Dan." I introduced them.
"Hi..." PJ mumbled shyly and Dan gave him a weird look.
"Hiii.. Come in...?" Dan stepped aside, letting PJ through. As I skipped after him, Dan grabbed my arm.
"You didn't tell me he's a tramp!" Dan hissed in my ear and I growled at him. We both looked up the hall at PJ, who was staring at the photos of Dan and his family on the wall... He mustn't have family, or not a very nice one, at least.
"That doesn't matter, he needs help and we're going to give it to him, whether you like it or not." I put my foot down. Literally. I stomped on Dan's foot, smirked and followed after PJ.
"D'you want to have a shower?" I asked, making him jump.
"Oh, um, yes please." The colour was returning to his face, making his eyes appear even more pale. I glanced back at Dan who was scowling at me.
'Behave.' I mouthed to him and he pouted, jutting his bottom lip out.
"Kay, I'll show you to the bathroom and pick out some clothes for you, okay?" I began to lead him upstairs and he nodded. I took him to Dan's en suit and showed him how everything works.
"Tell me when you're done and I'll give you your stuff."
"Thank you." He whispered and I smiled.
"Don't mention it." I replied, closing the door and starting to go through Dan's stuff. I got a random pair of clean boxers, his wild cats t-shirt and some pale teal jeans. When I heard the shower turn off, I knocked on the door, before opening it slightly and dropping the pile of clothes on the floor.
"Me and Dan are gunna play Mario Kart. You can come play when you're dressed, if you like." I called through the door to him.
"Thanks." I could just about hear him mumble a reply.
I set up the game, connecting all the needed remotes, knowing Dan would have his boyfriend round later. I sat on the bed, controller in hand, waiting for Dan to come through.
"Hey." He appeared at the door, then bounded over to me and I threw a controller at him. "Your room's all set up. You're sleeping on the blow up bed, if that's okay. It's got your bedding on it." I'm here that often that Dan's family shop for me as well. I have my own wardrobe, bedding, half of my stuff's here actually.
We started playing and about 20 minutes later, PJ appeared and god damn did the boy look good. His curls were still slightly wet and tousled from towel-drying, all of the colour had come back to his face, the tight skinny jeans and t-shirt hugged him in all the right places and showed off how gorgeous he really is. I couldn't help myself from staring as stood there, letting my eyes rake over his body . I heard Dan wolf whistle.
"Hawt daaayum!" He cried happily and I slapped the back of his head.
"You have a boyfriend! And he's mine." I uttered and he stuck his bottom lip out. "C'mon." I turned back to PJ who was fiddling with his fingers nervously and I patted the bed beside me. "Come play, it's all set up."
He came and perched on the edge of the bed, gingerly picking up the remote.
~
By the second race, PJ was really into it, yelling at Yoshi to go faster.
"Come on you piece of scum... Yes... Yes... YES!!" He threw his hands in the air, laughing as he crossed the line first. Seeing him so happy made me smile.
"I was never good at Koopa Cape anyway." Dan grumbled, dropping the remote on his bed. "I'm gunna invite Phil over." Dan stared, snatching his phone up off the bedside table. PJ looked at me confusedly.
"His boyfriend." I looked at him knowingly and he nodded.
We played a few more races, PJ winning every time, until the door bell rang and Dan dashed out. The sound of Dan yelling "BABY!" then very loud kissing filled our ears. They came back upstairs all giggly and happy.
"Hey Phil." I did the 'sup' nod and he grinned. "This is PJ." I gestured to PJ who smiled and waved.
"Hi PJ." Phil hopped on to the bed in between Dan's legs.
We played a few more successful rounds of Mario Kart until Dan's mum yelled us down for food. I hadn't realised how hungry I was, I hadn't eaten since last night.
"Dinner time, bitches." Dan's tongue poked out of his mouth, licking his lower lip, then climbed off the bed, grabbing hold of Phil's hand and pulling him out of the room.
"Hey.." PJ turned to me, a look of worry on his face. "I.. I'm not very good with people." He admitted shyly.
"It's okay." I smiled and put my hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to talk, y'know. Just... eat." I grinned.
"Okay.. I'm just.. not very good at talking." He sighed and I squeezed his shoulder.
"Come on, lets go and eat." I changed the subject, clambering off the bed and making my way downstairs, PJ hot on my heels.
Dan's mum had made spaghetti and meatballs, my favourite.
I gasped, running to the table and grinning wildly.
"Thanks, Lorraine." I immediately tucked into my food, sauce splashing everywhere.
"What out, Chris, you're going to take someone's eye out!" Dan's mum laughed.
"Well, it's my 2 favourite things! Meat and balls!" I exclaimed before realising how wrong that sounded. Apparently it did to PJ, too, who choked on his water, struggling to keep it in his mouth. Dan was smirking at me from behind his fork and Phil was giggling.
"Whatever." I rolled my eyes, cramming more of the delicious food into my mouth.
~
We went back into Dan's room after dinner, PJ had seconds, I had thirds but Dan and Phil stuck with their original portion.
They immediately went over to the bed, Dan pulling Phil down on top of him. He giggled happily. I went to turn the TV off, and as I did, Phil rolled his hips against Dan's and Dan moaned.
"Woooah, guys.." I backed off, my hands held up in a surrendering motion. PJ's eyes were wide with fright. "We're just gunna.." I began, but they didn't even hear me. They were too involved in each other. I grabbed the top of PJ's arm and pulled him into our room.
"We better get ready for bed, huh..." PJ said slowly.
"Yep." I yanked my trousers off and he stared at me, shocked. "What?"
"N-Nothing.." He stammered, a slight blush appearing on his face and he turned away quickly. I slipped my t-shirt over my head and crawled into bed, pulling the duvet up to my eyes so I could sneakily watch PJ getting changed. I eyed him carefully as he stripped out of his clothes, feeling like a complete pervert, but you can't exactly blame me.
"Should I.. Uhh... Turn the light off?" He turned back around and I instantly averted my eyes.
"If you like." I tried to mask the nervousness in my voice. He nodded and flicked the light off, stumbling his way back into bed.
"Night." I mumbled. He didn't reply.
We spent the next half hour or so in complete silence... Well, not complete silence. The sounds of Dan and Phil next door were completely audible. Also, PJ's light breathing filled my ears, too.
"Chris.." He murmured, breaking the 'silence'. I propped myself up on my elbow and squinted through the darkness, trying to find him. "Come here, please." He pulled the side of the duvet back and I chuckled softly. I padded across the room and slipped into bed beside him. Immediately he snuggled into my chest, my arms automatically wrapped around him.
"Chris, are you gay?" He looked up at me through innocent, green eyes.
"However did you guess?" I replied and he giggled. There were a few more minutes of silence.
"Thank you." PJ whispered, his breath tickling my chest.
"What for?" I looked down at him.
"For caring. Today was the first time in 6 years anyone had ever talked to me. You've cared for me, made me laugh, made me smile. I'm warm and I have a stomach full of delicious food. You're amazing. So thank you." His voice was so little and so quietly hopeful that is almost reduced me to tears. I placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and hugged him tighter.
"Sleep now, Peej."