Accident That Never Happened 2
"Pepper." I placed my hand on his arm and he released Hale. "Thank you, but I think I can handle him from here." He backed away, giving Hale a nasty scowl. Pepper walked out of the room, just out of our sight. "Hale, please just give me a break, you don't know what it's like, being the only gay person within miles of this place." He relaxed a bit while I talked to him, but some part of him was still angry at me. "I'm just gonna leave you two be." Lisa said, walking quickly out of the house. "You have too much to live for, all those people who will miss you, all your friends would be devistated, WE would be devistated." Hale's speech made my stomach roll. I didn't think of how other people would feel about my death, just me. "Just forget it, come on and get into the car, I'm taking you home." Hale said, grabbing his keys. "No! I want to stay here, with you." I said, grabbing his arm. "You can't stay, you have school, and dad, and Lisa." Hale said, pushing me away. "Just let the kid stay for a day or two." Pepper demanded, walking into the room with his arms crossed. "Were you... Listening to us?" I was internally freaking out, thinking he heard the entire conversation. "Yeah, I was listening, and it sounds like your jerk of a brother completely forgot you need some serious chearing up." Pepper said, exchanging growls with Hale. "Fine, you stay, but I don't want your friend anywhere near me." Hale could just settle for that, and with some good luck, Pepper would be spending a lot of time with me.
It was getting dark, there was almost no light in the house. Hale and I were sitting at the kitchen table, complete silence made the room creepy, I wished to be anywhere else. Pepper was still in the house, although I didn't know where. I didn't know why he wanted to stay, or why he even showed up. "You should probably get into bed, you have school tomorrow." Hale's voice penetrated the silence, making it a little more bearable. "Where will I sleep?" I asked. There was only one bed, since Hale thought he was going to be the only person here. "I don't care, just find somewhere. There's a couch in that room, be my guest." Hale said, walking into a room, shutting the door behind him. "So much for being like a father." I walked around, trying to find Pepper, searching every room. The house wasn't too big, nor too small. It was perfect for Hale. "Allen." I turned around and Pepper was standing behind me. "What did Hale say?" His voice was sincere, caring, kind. "I have to sleep on the couch, and he's shut himself in his room for the night." I walked to the couch, sitting on the edge. "You uh, you want some company?" "Yeah! I uh, please." He sat down beside me, looking at his phone. He texted someone, then put it away again. "Who did ya text Pepper?" I asked, trying to sneak a peak at his phone. "No one, just go to sleep." He leaned back and closed his eyes. I curled up into a ball, leaning on my side. I slowly closed my eyes, trying to sleep. Something felt right being this close to him, just inches away.
"Allen, wake up now, it's time to go to school." I opened my eyes and saw Hale's face. He was smiling, he seemed happier than last night. "Come on gotta hurry, get dressed, eat breakfast." "Ok, ok, I'm up." I stood up, a little woozy from sleeping on the couch. Pepper was already up, making breakfast for us. Hale walked into the kitchen with him and took a plate of food. "Here." Hale said, handing me the plate of food. Nothing special, just scrambled eggs, a pancake, and some bacon. I wasn't much of a breakfast eater, but I didn't eat dinner last night, so I emptied the plate quickly. It was pretty good, but I didn't really stop to taste it, I was more focused on getting to school. Everyone probably knew what I told Hale by now. Lisa wasn't very good at keeping secrets. She had to be the worst gossip in school. Word traveled fast where I live. "Lets get going, grab your stuff." Hale said. He had gotten my stuff before I had even woken up. "Pepper will drive you today." He said, walking out of the house quickly. I didn't have time to speak to him, or ask him why he wouldn't drive me. I was old enough to drive myself, but my father would never get me a car, so I would always ride with Hale. He was already going to college, and my school was miles out of his way. "We have a few minutes till we have to leave. Anything you want to say... or do?" Pepper said, smiling at me, but I just shook my head. "Fine, lets get going." We picked up our stuff and walked to his car.
It wasn't a long drive to school, just a few minutes before we were already at it's doors. I wasn't always the best in school. Never made anything over a C. But what would my father do? Ignore me? Neglect me? He already did enough of that. We walked inside the bustling halways, and separated as soon as we got to our classes. Time for the lectures to start, time for the dissapointment, time for a nap. I always sat in the back, so I would never get caught. The teacher began his lecture just as the last student walked in the room. I put my head to the desk to catch up on some sleep.
The rest of the day went smoothly, almost got caught only once, but managed to get past that. "Time to go home, get in the car." Pepper said, throwing his things into his car. I got in and we drove away, I smiled back at the school, just happy to be away from the place. He parked the car and got out with me. He walked me inside and I was happy to throw my stuff on the floor. "Ok, I will see you tomorrow." He said, slowly walking out the door. "Wait!" I yelled, grabbing his hand. I pulled my hand back quickly. "Please, stay." I smiled at him, but he didn't smile back. "Give me one got reason that I should stay." I looked around, deciding if I should tell him I liked him. "Because, I really l-" "Hey! I'm glad you're home!" Hale interrupted me, picking me up and swinging me around. "Yeah, me too." I was dissapointed to see Pepper was already gone, I looked to the floor, to ashamed I didn't tell him. "I picked something up while you were gone." He handed me a diary, completely empty, with a lock on it. "You can write down anything you like in it." He smiled and rubbed my head. "Yeah, thanks." I threw it with my books, and walked to the kitchen. "What's for dinner?" I asked, already halfway to the kitchen. "Pizza, it's on the table, I have a date tonight, have a nice night." He was already out the door when I looked back. "Oh yes, leave the guy who just tried to kill himself all by himself in a house." I whispered to myself, taking a slice of pizza. I ate it quickly and decided to sleep. "Hale won't mind if I use his bed while he's gone." I went to his bedroom and crawled in. Much better than the couch I had slept on the night before. I soon dozed off, unphased by the thought of Hale finding me in his bed.
When I woke up, Hale was curled around me, hugging me from behind. I could hear a faint knocking so I shook him. "Hale, wake up someone's at the door." He woke up instantly, letting me out of his embrace. He ran to the door. All I could hear was mumbling, so I had to get up. I looked down, but all I was wearing was my boxers. "Oh well, no one will see me but Hale." I into the kitchen and poored a glass of juice. "Hale, who is at the door?" I yelled just as the door shut. "It's Pepper, he's here to pick you up." I heard footsteps and I panicked. "D-don't come in!" I ran out of the kitchen and into the bedroom, slamming the door behind me, hoping Pepper didn't see me. I grabbed my clothes, strategically flung across the room in random places, putting them on and stumbling over my pants. I walked out of the room, opening the door slowly. Pepper was waiting in the kitchen, smiling when I came out. "Get your stuff, we need to hurry." Pepper said, walking out the door. I was quick behind him, rushing myself.