"Are we interrupting something?" Karl said, eyeing me and Timothy.
"What the fuck is that fag doing here? Why is he wearing your jacket?" Dave accused. He looked disgusted.
"Guys, come on. You know me."
"Well? What's he doing here?" Taylor asked.
T just kept his head down and said nothing.
"I... I'm babysitting. Obviously. Little bitch got cold and I don't want trouble with his dad."
"He's our age-"
"He's mentally impaired obviously," I said.
The guys all laughed.
"Nah, his dad doesn't trust him so I babysit sometimes. It pays good and I get free food so why the fuck not?"
"I see." Dave nodded. Then he glanced at Timothy.
"Anyway, we were about to leave-"
"Nah, dude. Sit with us. We can hang out." Nick insisted.
"I'm starving." Dave went ahead and we all followed him inside.
Nick wrapped his arm around T. "So, how's our boy been treating ya?"
"F-fine."
"Oh yeah?" He was messing with him. Playing with him like he was a toy. Making fun of him. I hated it. I wanted to leave so bad. I'd finally gotten him to a point where he could smile again. This was bad. Really bad.
Karl ordered our food and we sat at a table. I sat across from T. He looked uncomfortable but he didn't say much.
After a while three guys picked up the food. French fries, hamburgers and hot dogs were placed in front of us. Everyone happily began eating except for Timothy.
Nick still had his arm around Timothy. "Aww, why you not eating? Don't you want a french fry?" He mocked.
"Maybe it's not wet enough." Karl added causing everyone to laugh.
"Here," Nick pushed a fry into T's mouth but he pulled away.
"I'm good."
"Aww, really?"
"Guess he must be full from all the cum he's swallowed!"
Everyone laughed again. This conversation was terrible. T didn't look impacted by it but there's no way that didn't hurt.
"Seriously. Sucked any good dick lately? I heard gays love that." Dave asked.
T didn't really reply. He stared at his hands. I couldn't even see his eyes cause of his hair.
"I heard gays suck better than girls." Karl said.
"Duh. They know what to do cause they have one." Taylor shrugged.
"Does he look like he has one?" Dave joked.
Obnoxious laughter roared through the cafeteria.
It actually hurt listening to them talk about him like that. Especially since he was right there.
"Maybe we should check." Nick smirked, moving closer to Timothy. It was fucking disgusting.
"Why you so quiet?" Dave asked, leading the attention to me.
"Because. Don't you guys ever get bored talking about him? I don't fucking care about him? What's all this shit about wanting to look at his dick? That's gay as fuck, man." I said.
"Shit, he's angry." Taylor laughed.
"We'll stop talking about your girlfriend." Dave mocked.
I pushed him hard. "Fuck you, Dave."
"Man, it's a joke!"
I sighed and leaned back. We had to get out of here.
The guys went on about other stuff. T mostly just kept his eye on his lap. He sat very still. I was worried.
"Alright, we have to go." I said after fifteen minutes. I got up.
"Dude," Dave protested.
"He needs to be home by nine, so."
"Aw, he was about blow me, though." Nick squeezed T's shoulder.
I wanted to tell him to go kill himself. Or better, beat his head in. Instead I just grabbed T's arm and jerked him away from Nick.
"Come on." I said to him.
"See you guys." I said before walking off with Timothy.
"Ugh! What the fuck were they doing here!" I screamed when we were outside. I was still dragging him along.
"Ow!"
"I mean seriously? Today of all fucking days!"
"Ow, Josh! Josh, you're hurting me!" T moaned.
"Oh." I let go of his arm. I took a deep breath and we continued walking to the car.
Why the fuck were they here? How come I didn't know?
I checked my messages and saw a bunch from them asking to go play some hardball. Shit. My phone was on silent. "Fuck."
I unlocked the car.
When we got inside I took a deep breath in an attempt to calm down.
I saw Timothy rubbing his arm.
"Shit, does it still hurt? Let me see." I rolled up T's sleeve and his skin was bright red. It was definitely going to bruise.
"Did I pull that hard? I'm sorry..."
"It's alright."
"It's not." I started the car. I was mad at myself. Apparently I didn't know my own strength and now I'd hurt Timothy as a result.
"Your friends are nice." T said, sarcasm dripping off his voice.
I was embarrassed about them too. They were such fucking idiots.
"Sorry about that too."
"At least they think I'm talented."
"Huh?"
"Apparently I'm good at sucking dick." T smirked.
"That's not fucking funny."
"No?"
"They seriously wanted to hurt you, didn't you hear that? That stuff about checking-" I shook my head. I had to calm down or I'd drive into someone. "Doesn't any of it get you? I'm so sick of seeing you put up with that bullshit! Why don't you fight back!"
"They can say what they want. It's their right." T shrugged. "And when it comes to putting up a fight, you know I wouldn't win."
"Still! You're so fucking resigned like you've given up already!"
T sighed and sank into the chair. He stared out the window.
"Don't ignore me."
"I'm tired."
I squeezed the steering wheel.
"If it bothers you so much maybe you should do something about it. They're your friends." T answered listlessly.
"I know!" I yelled.
"Why are you screaming?"
"I'M NOT SCREAM-" I quickly adjusted my volume. "I'm not screaming."
T giggled like a little kid.
I sighed.
"If you hate them so much, why are you friends with them?" T asked.
"Because I'm on the football team. And if my team hates me I can kiss football goodbye."
"Sounds hard having to pretend all the time."
I glanced at Timothy. His look was earnest. He wasn't being sarcastic for once.
How did he manage to have genuine sympathy for me after being mistreated by me and my friends?
He was too good. A truly good person. He didn't deserve the way they treated him. Or even the way I treated him sometimes.
I put my hand on his head. I tangled my hand in his locks and pulled a little of frustration.
"Ow." T whispered.
I stopped pulling and massaged his scalp. "How's that?"
"Mmm.." T smiled. His voice was so smooth. His hair was soft. It moved in front of his eyes.
I kept massaging till we got home. I found he'd fallen asleep.
He looked peaceful enough. Nothing could hurt him. Maybe he knew my friends were just lowlifes. They didn't matter to him. What they said didn't matter. He was so strong. The sense of awe I felt reminded me of when Joe had told me Timothy's story. I realized now they were both fighting the same battle and winning. They were both heroes.
Joe was ecstatic when we came home. I showed him the photo of T holding a bat and the man almost cried.
"So you boys already ate?"
"Barely, I'm starving!" I went into the kitchen. I was relieved to see T join me at the table.
"Hungry now?"
T nodded.
Joe gave us each a good serving. Mine was about triple T's but still, his serving was like.. regular. For a girl, anyway.
He ate the whole thing. I was proud. Not just of him but obviously my plan was working. He was healing.
"What are you grinning about?" Joe asked.
"Hm? Nothing. Just thinking about T hitting the ball today."
"He hit it?!"
"Yep. I was shocked. He hit about four more. I think he's really getting the hang of this whole thing."
"That's amazing!" Joe grabbed the back of T's neck.
Timothy smiled politely before pulling away. He was still mad at his dad about Dahlia even after weeks. Joe never brought his girlfriend home as a result. T wasn't screaming at him anymore but he also kind of ignored him. I felt bad.
✪
I waited on T's bed as he brushed his teeth. After a while he came into the room. He froze when he saw me.
"What are you doing here?"
"Take off your shirt and get on the bed."