Chapter 6 - Hunter

I still can't believe the way Dad and Mom were yelling at each other last night. It was unfair to Ollie to hear those things, and I know it affected him. I had to hold him all night to make him feel safe—not that I minded doing that. I prefer keeping him close at all times. Except this morning, when we woke up, Dad opened the door and demanded we never sleep in the same bed again. I guess Mom didn't win the argument. We agreed not to, but let's be serious: Ollie will end up in my arms again soon. It's just how it's always been.

There's a commotion across the cafeteria, and I glance up. Ian has a hand around Ollie's neck, and Ollie looks like a deer in the headlights. Frozen in fear. He doesn't dare move, and I shove away from the table and stomp my way across the space between us.

"What the fuck is going on here?" I put my hand on Ian's shoulder, squeezing the space between his shoulder and neck. His hand goes limp around Ollie's throat, and he drops him. He whimpers in pain, and I face him. "I thought you were best friends."

Ian sneers, "He's a fucking faggot." I flinch and so does Ollie. How the hell does he even know Ollie is gay? I peer over at Ollie, and he nods once. Which tells me he's the one who came out to his friend.

"So he's gay." I shrug. "What's the big deal?"

His lip curls. "I'm not." Ollie takes a step back, and I shove him behind me. "And he asked me out."

I close my eyes briefly.

Fuck, Ollie .

Why the hell would you do that?

As I open my eyes again, Ian steps up to me. "I don't want him anywhere near me." I nod with a smile. "You hear?"

"Oh, I hear ya," I growl, shoving him. "But you call my brother a faggot again, and I'll knock your goddamn teeth out."

"He is, though." He chuckles, and my hands fist at my sides. "An ugly fucking faggot."

I throw my head back and laugh. "Are you blind?" I roll my eyes at him. "Ollie is fucking beautiful." And then I throw the first punch. He did what I told him not to do, and I have to back up my words.

My knuckles hurt as they split over his jaw, and I draw my arm back and punch him on his cheekbone again. It fucking hurts, but I ignore the pain. Especially because Ian's whimpers fill my ears, bringing me a great sense of satisfaction. He doesn't even try to fight back.

With one last punch, Ian falls to the ground.

Maybe it's too much, and there's a commotion with all the students screaming, fight, fight, fight . But I don't care. He had it coming. He can't disrespect my brother without consequences. And fuck him for betraying him. They've been inseparable for years.

I look back at Ollie, and he's looking down at Ian with a trembling bottom lip. I tilt his chin up to me. "It's okay, Ollie boy." He nods rapidly. "I took care of it. I'll take care of you." A wobbly smile tilts up his pretty lips, and a smile also blooms on my face.

Even as the principal parts through the crowd, I don't move. Instead, I grab Ollie's hand and squeeze once, then turn myself in. I don't bother looking back at Ian, who I'm pretty sure is still on the floor, and drag Ollie with me to the principal's office. They have a zero-tolerance bullying policy here, so hopefully, that works in our favor. Either way, I don't care. I'll take my punishment willingly.

I just wonder what Dad will say about it now that he knows Ollie is gay.