Hey everyone! thanks for all the emails!! its great! so i thought i would reward you with another chapter! hehe mmmm.. anyway ive been pumping this stuff out so it might be a bit unedited! Anyway thanks for your support guys!
Rian Chapter 3
The horrible routine of staying in his room, never seeing friends outside of school and leaving the house before his parents got up, went on for another month and Rian felt completely broken. The only change came at soccer practice, Jake stood up for him now, telling the other guys to back off. Jake was a skilled player and he had come to be fairly popular so the teasing eased off and Rian noticeably improved his game and found an outlet for his pent up sadness and anger. The coach gave him more playing time both in practice and in the games on Saturday. Rian had resigned to walking home after both and usually snuck off before Jake noticed and offered him a ride. He didn't want Jake to see him humiliated again.
The home situation was getting worse. His dad drank more becoming louder and angrier; he had slapped Rian a few more times. His mum had become more withdrawn from the family and spent a lot of time watching TV or coming home late. Rian felt like he had destroyed his family and the guilt was terrible. Tristian was getting worried and was close to breaking his promise and telling his dad. His dad had been asking where Rian was these days and Tristian had been making up excuses for him.
Then one day two and a half months after the `misunderstanding' something dreadful happened.
At practice that afternoon, Jake had cornered him. "Are you avoiding me? You only say hi and you leave practice before I can give you a lift." He looked hurt.
Rian gave him a weak smile. "I'm not avoiding you. I just have a lot going on at the moment that's all."
Jake didn't look convinced. "Do you want to come hang out at my place for a while? I'll drive you back."
"I can't. It's getting late so I better go home." Rian made up the lame excuse.
"Dude, it's only quarter to five. You can have dinner at our house if you want." Jake smiled and nudged him.
Rian shook his head and smiled apologetically. "Mum's expecting me home."
"Call her. Come on, you'll have fun I promise!" Jake pleaded.
"I just can't ok? I'm late even now." Rian smiled at him briefly then started to walk away.
"Wait. I'll give you a lift a least. Don't say no to this as well or I might start to think you don't like me." Jake looked a bit defeated and led a reluctant Rian to his car.
"Maybe some other time huh?"
"Maybe." Rian didn't hold much hope.
The ride was fairly silent with Jake glancing at Rian every few seconds. Rian's hair had started to grow out and he had a head of short black curls. Jake had always noticed Rian's big green eyes because they were one of the brightest green's he had ever seen. Jake thought the boy was gorgeous and was developing some interesting feelings towards the raven haired beauty. He had noticed the defeated look in Rian's eyes lately and was getting really worried about why Rian looked as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. He had been immensely proud to see the way Rian's skills in soccer were improving but he just seemed so distant. Jake felt himself blush as he remembered seeing Rian's slender body in the showers, water streaming over his tanned skin.
Rian frowned as they pulled up at his house. His father's car was parked crookedly in the driveway with the driver's door still open and all the lights were on in the house. His mother's car wasn't there but that wasn't unusual.
"I'll see you at school." Rian said quickly. "Thanks for the lift." He hurried off not waiting for a reply.
The front door wasn't properly closed and Rian pushed it open cautiously looking around. He was yanked inside and the door slammed forcefully. His dad's face was inches away from his.
"She's gone you know. She left with some prick from work." His words were slurred and a powerful smell of whisky hit Rian's nostrils. "It's all your fault you little fag! She left because of you!"
"M...mum's gone?" Rian asked in shock.
"That's what I said didn't I?" The man yelled, smacking Rian across the face. Rian stumbled. He punched him again and Rian reeled back.
"Dad, stop please." Rian pleaded holding his cheek. His father was too drunk and continued hitting him. He stopped when the doorbell rang just behind them. He pushed Rian away from him and went to the door.
"Janis!" He exclaimed in expectation but that disappeared when he saw Jake standing there with a concerned look.
"Sir? My name's Jake and-" His eyes widened when he saw Rian leaning against the wall. "Rian are you ok? You're bleeding!"
Rian stared at him for a moment. "What are you doing here?" He wiped his mouth feeling the sting of a spilt lip.
"Are you ok?" Aaron asked again.
"He's fine! Who the fuck are you huh?" Rian's dad interrupted.
"I'm on his soccer team, I just came to see if he was coming to hang out with the guys tomorrow night at the shopping centre." Jake made up the lie on the spot his eyes never leaving Rian.
"Well he can't bloody go! He's grounded! He doesn't deserve to go!" He went to slam the door but Jake got in the way.
"Are you sure you're ok Rian?"
Rian nodded, feeling embarrassed. "I'm fine. Just go."
Jake seemed reluctant but his dad basically pushed him out. Rian escaped upstairs while his dad drunk himself into oblivion. Rian's room was trashed, his dad had ripped posters off the walls, pulled his draws out and smashed his mirror. Rian just fell on the bed and went to sleep.
The next day at school, Jake was waiting for Rian near where Tristian waited. Both worried. When Rian appeared he had a bruised face and a spilt lip. Tristian and Jake rushed forward bumping into each other when they got near.
"Ree!"
"Rian!"
Rian looked up and frowned. Tristian grabbed him. "Who did this? Rian tell me!"
Jake decided to spill. "Was it your dad Rian? He was really angry last night!" Both Tristian and Rian looked at him. Rian in annoyance and Tristian questioning.
"I'm fine! Ok? He just got upset alright! Mum left him, he'll calm down. Just stay out of it ok?" Rian told them angrily his eyes flashing. Neither boy had ever seen him so angry and stepped back. Rian brushed past them and stormed away.
Tristian turned to Jake. "Can you tell me what happened?"
Jake told him he thought things looked a bit off when he dropped Rian home and decided to knock on the door. Tristian's eyes grew wide as he listened. It was worse than he ever dreamed.
Tristian was torn. If Rian's dad was really hurting him he felt he should tell but it would bring up everything and Tristian had made a promise. He couldn't talk to anyone about it and his best friend had turned into the walking dead. He was showing up at school looking more and more haunted. This week his fading bruises were replaced with fresh ones. People were starting to ask questions. Jake had come and found him during the week worried because Rian hadn't turned up to practise or the game. He seemed really concerned and Tristian was surprised because he didn't realise they were that close.
Then four days later of Rian not talking to anyone and hiding away at lunch or skipping school to avoid his worried friends. Rian didn't come to school at all. Tristian tried calling him but there was response. The next day Rian was still absent and Tristian was extremely worried. He decided to skip school at lunch and go and see Rian. He needed a car.
Tristian's plan to find Jake and convince him to skip was pointless. Jake found him and needed no convincing.
Rian's dad's car was gone so they figured it was safe to go in. Jake was about to knock when Tristian stopped him.
"I know where the spare key is."
Tristian assured Jake this was the best way. Given the way Rian had been acting lately there was every possibility he wouldn't open the door. They entered cautiously. The house was trashed. The once incredibly spick and span house looked like someone had robbed them. Jake's hand closed around Tristian's arm tightly. They exchanged horrified glances. Tristian lead them both upstairs to a closed bedroom door and knocked lightly. When there was no answer he opened the door. Rian's room was a disaster zone. It looked like an angry hurricane had ripped apart his room. Someone had made an attempt to clean it up but it hadn't made much of an impact. Jake's gasp and sudden movement drew Tristian out of his reverie and he looked over at the bed.