August 24th- Book One in the May 3rd series

Chapter 21- yeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyye malaria

Warnings ⚠: Child Abuse, Rape, Violence, Religion, Drug Use, Alcohol Use, Use of Slurs, Homophobia, Bullying, Mention of Suicide, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicidal Actions, Gun Use

Damien's P.O.V.

-Friday October 1st-

I can't believe that Josiah is actually...

My boyfriend.

And we...kissed.

Oh my God, we kissed.

And then I proceeded to panic the entire fucking time.

Because oh my God, we kissed.

And it was the best thing I'd ever done.

But, as fun as it is, we still have to ignore each other at school.

And my parents will never be able to know.

To the rest of the world, we're not together.

It kind of bugs me, but it's better than losing everyone else.

But on Friday, I decided to say fuck it and go somewhere fun.

I'm tired of just worrying all the time that we'll get caught...

I don't know who it would be worse to get caught by, my parents or Hunter and Ethan.

Either way, let's hope it doesn't come down to that.

I wait by the car at the end of day.

Josiah joins me at the car in a maroon sweater I don't remember seeing until now.

"Nice sweater."

"Thanks. Nice band t-shirt."

I laugh. "Thanks. So here's the deal." I say, stuffing my hands into my pockets. "We're not studying today."

"Are we hugging instead? Because that's fun."

"Yes. But first we're going to the store to rent a movie and get ice cream. Because date."

I'll never get over calling it that..

I giggle. "Cause you're my boyfriend. And I like you."

"What movie? Ice cream? DATE?"

"I don't know what movie, yes ice cream and yes DATE." I smile. "Let's go."

I get in the car and he follows after shortly.

"Since we're dating, can we always hold hands?"

Umm.

"In public?"

"Not at school, but, like...in other places."

"I don't know...."

I look over at his impossibly big blue eyes...

Shit.

I can't say no.

"I mean as long as we're careful, I don't see why not..." I murmur.

"Thank you! Now I don't have to be scared around people." He smiles at me sweetly.

My heart melts a little. "Of course."

...

When we get to the store, as soon as I get out of the car, he's beside me, holding his hand out expectantly.