Chapter One
Aidan Mathew Hale (Matt)
I wake up at 5:30, like always, and go to the bathroom to take a shower. When I get out and dry off, I look in the mirror and see the scars from my surgery, causing me to smile a little. I finish drying my hair and go into my room, and pull out a t-shirt, a flannel, skinny jeans, a pair of briefs, some socks, and my sneakers. I get dressed and look in the mirror, pulling on an old hat that I got from Austin Dominic Scott, my old best friend, and walk downstairs. I walk into the kitchen and see my beautiful and accepting mom.
"Hey there Matt. Did you sleep good?"
"Yeah. And I'm almost ready for school. Just need my T."
"You want me to do it while you eat?"
"Yes please."
She hands me a plate of waffles and takes the bottle of testosterone and a syringe from the drawer. I eat my food and wince a little as she pushes the syringe into my hip. After she finishes, I put the empty plate in the sink and I stretch my arms and back.
"Alright. I'll be going to school now. Thanks."
"No problem. I love you."
"I love you too. I'll see you later tonight."
I go to the living room and grab my book bag, phone, and wallet. I go outside and start my walk to the school in the cool air.
"Hey! Nerd! Hop in!"
I look over and see my best friend, school quarter back, Johnathan Malachi Black, driving right next to me with a couple of his buddies in the backseat. I open the passenger side door and get in.
"Hey man," I say with a fist bump.
"You look different today, but I can't place my finger on what's different."
"I got my hair cut. And it's been like, three months on T, so that may be it?"
"Maybe. Your voice is so sexy," he purrs jokingly as he slides a hand on my leg.
"Hold up, is Johnathan gay for Matt?"
I glance into the backseat and laugh at the guys' faces.
"No. We've been like this for years. Perks of growing up together I guess."
Johnathan's hand slides further up my leg and I smack his wrist as it goes a little too far. We pull up to the school and we all get out once Johnathan parks the car.
"You guys go on ahead. I need to talk with Matt," Johnathan tells the other two. They walk into the school and Johnathan turns towards me.
"What's wrong, J?"
"Ya see Aidan. The thing is, I kind of like you. I hear all of the things that people say about you, and I try my hardest to defend you. But you do perfectly fine without me. You're so brave and I love that about you. I wanted to ask, would you go on a date with me?"
I look at Johnathan with wide eyes and I see him blushing deeply. I take a step back and see Austin walking towards the car.
"What's going on here?" He asks as he approaches us.
"None of your business Scott. Now get lost," Johnathan growls to him, but he doesn't move. "So what do you say? Will you go on a date with me?"
"J-Johnathan. You already know that I like someone."
"So? He may never like you back. I don't even understand why you like him! He's obviously not gay! We'd be perfect together!"
He grabs my shoulder roughly and pushes me into the side of the car. I wince and groan as he pushes his body weight into me.
"Ow! That hurts Johnathan! What are you doing!?"
Out of nowhere, Johnathan is ripped off of me and sent falling to the ground.
"What the hell Austin!?"
"Couldn't you tell that you were hurting him?"
"What does it matter to you?"
Austin grabs my wrist and pulls me into the school, completely ignoring Johnathan's question. He pulls me to the bathroom and pushes my sleeves up, looking at the already formed bruises on my wrists.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I say as I pull my arms out of his grasp and look away from him, feeling a blush creep onto my cheeks. He grabs my wrists again anyways and when I turn to look at him and tell him to stop, he leans down and places a soft kiss to each fingerprint.
"I'm sorry that I didn't stop him sooner."
"It's fine. Thanks for stopping him when you did though."
"Of course. I'm gonna go. I'll see you around."
He goes to walk out the door, but I grab the back of his leather jacket.
"Wait. Are you going to go to classes today?"
"What's it matter? Not like you care anyways."
"I care a lot more than you think," I mumble and look down at the ground.
"So you actually do care?"
"I've always cared, Austin. I tried so hard to get you out of the drug business, but you just wouldn't listen to me."
"And why do you care what happens to me in my life?" He says viciously.
"Because you were my best friend. I love you like a brother and I don't want to lose you."
"Yeah right. Have you ever thought that you are the reason that I started with drugs?"
I look up into his eyes as they are narrowed at me. I feel a tear slip from my eye and I let go of his jacket. I take a step back and he turns to me.
"You're always saying that we're just friends and that we are as close as brothers. Those times that you said you loved me hurt because I knew that you didn't mean it in the way I wanted you to. So yeah, I got hooked on drugs. Then you dropped me and started hanging out with that jerk out there, not even thinking about how controlling he was over you. I fell in love with my best friend, and you never even realized how I felt towards you."
His whole face turns red and he covers his mouth with both hands. I take a step towards him, but he turns and sprints out of the bathroom.
"I-I love you too," I whisper once he is gone. I wipe a tear off of my cheek and walk out of the bathroom to see Austin walking away with one of the other guys that is known to be a drug dealer at our school. He glances back at me and I walk the opposite way to my locker. I get there and pull out the books I need for classes.
I walk into first period after the bell rings and take my seat next to where Austin would sit if he ever actually showed up. I pull out my sketchbook and start sketching the thing that I love most on this world, my dog, Ginger. After the second bell, the teacher walks in and starts the lesson. About ten minutes later, the one weirdest thing happens, Austin walks into class.
"What brings you to class today, Mr. Scott?"
"Sorry for being so late, sir. But I guess I just couldn't help but come for a certain someone if it's hurting them so much that I'm not here," he says as he looks right at me.
"Very well then. Your seat is next to Matt."
"I feel so bad for him. He has to sit next to the tranny."
I look back down at my drawing, and jump when I hear something slamming to the ground. I look up and see Austin standing in front of the guy that said that with the guy's desk on the ground.
"The fuck did you just say about Aidan?"
"What? Are you friends with that tranny?"
Next thing I know, Austin slaps the guy across the face, sending him to the ground. I jump up from my seat and grab Austin's arm, pulling him off of the guy as he continues to punch him in the jaw.
"Austin! Stop!"
Austin looks up at me and I pull him to his feet, dragging him out of the room.
"I-I was just defending you," he says sadly.
"I know. But that doesn't mean you need to try and kill him. I hear those words on a daily basis and I deal with it. Please promise me that you won't do that again."
"I can't promise something like that."
I wrap my arms around him and bury my head in his chest, which just shows how short I really am.
"Please, Aussie. Promise me."
I feel him tense up as I use his old nickname, but he wraps his arms around my shoulders anyways.
"I can't, Aidan."
I sigh into his chest, being fed up with him being so stubborn.
"Then at least tell me why you can't."
"Because I love you too much to just stand by and watch as people are assholes to the only person that I have ever fallen in love with."
I feel my heart clench a little as he says these words and I look up into his eyes as he cries.
"Do you truly love me like you say you do?" I ask.
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Just going to leave this here. Tell me what you guys think? I don't really know how good it is. But I'd love to hear what you guys think. So just drop a comment to tell me if you guys like it or not. If there is anything wrong, I would gladly fix it for all of you. Anyways. Catch y'all next chapter!
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