Behind Closed Doors

36

I had stumbled home that night after Fernanda had pulled her father away from her brother and Antony had slowly gotten to his feet and left his room without saying anything to me or even looking my way. I had gulped in anxiety, a rush of pain running through my body as I got to my feet and left the flat as quickly as I could. 

Now, I’m unlocking the front door and I couldn’t even make it up the stairs before I collapsed on the couch, my eyes fluttering to a close. 

-

“Theo! Theo, wake up!” I hear, and I blink until I’m fully awake, rubbing the tiredness out of my eyes. My mum and dad are staring down at me, horrified expressions on their faces. I stare up at them, my eyebrows furrowed. “What the fuck happened to your face?” Dad exclaims, and I struggle to find my words, still a little dazed by the events of last night. I blink up at them and mum huffs, her hands on her hips. 

“Theodore Moore, if you don’t open your Goddamn mouth and tell me why you’re all banged up, you best believe I will-” 

“Theo?” Tom’s voice trials through the room, and I look at the doorway, where he stood shirtless, rubbing his eyes. “What happened to your…” He paused, his mouth parting in realisation. “Was this…?” He blinked at me, and I gulped, shaking my head. “It was, wasn’t it?” His jaw clenched. 

No- Tom, it wasn’t.” I coughed, and mum looked between the both of us. 

“Would any of you like to fill us in? I swear, letting you guys run wild has got to be the worst parenting decision I’ve ever made.” She huffs, and Tom glances at her. 

“It was Barbosa.” Tom confessed, and I glared at him. 

“It wasn’t!” I yell, but my ribs ache in pain. I grip the side of my stomach, laying back onto the couch. My eyes squeeze shut and mum is instantly beside me, the back of her fingers pressed to my forehead. 

“Barbosa?” Dad asked, crossing his arms over his chest. “Isn’t that your friend?” He asked me, and Thomas replied.

“Yes. It’s his friend’s brother that’s done this.” 

“It wasn’t him.” I whisper, shaking a little. “It was-” 

“Don’t worry, Theo.” Thomas interrupts, shrugging on his coat. “Dad, go to work. Mum, take Theo to bed and then leave for work. And, Theo,” His eyes land on me finally. He sighs deeply, and I gulped once more. “Do not leave this house.” He tells me, and I press my lips together before mum helps me to my feet, her arm around my waist.

“Don’t do anything that will land you in jail, Thomas!” Mum yells after him as he leaves, but he doesn’t give a reply. I feel a tear slip down my cheek as mum carries me up the stairs, letting me lean most of my weight on her. She tuts as she lays me on my bed, moving my hair off of my forehead. “What have you gotten yourself into, ey?” She asked me, and I tried to smile up at her. 

“I fell in love, mum.” I tell her, and her mouth parts. “Or… I think I was… I was ready to fall in love.” I cleared my throat, and she smiled down at me. 

“Love is a dangerous emotion, Theo.” She warned me, and I shrugged my shoulders. “It’ll consume you if you don’t have control of it, and clearly, you don’t have control.” I open my mouth to protest, but she doesn’t let me. “I don’t want you seeing that boy anymore, Theo. Not if this is what happens to you. And, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay away, too.” 

“I know what’s good for me.” I mumbled. Antony. He's good for me. He may not know it and no one else may understand it, but I do. Despite everything, Antony is good for me. He’s everything, and I just have to wait to convince him of that. 

“Good.” Mum smiles, twirling one of my curls around her finger. “I’m gonna get some ice for your bruises, okay?” She tells me, her eyes flickering all over my face. I have no idea how bad my face looks, and I’m kind of dreading it.