Shaking his head, he felt guilt run through his veins when Alex said sorry. "I can't lose you Alex." Sky said as his eyes darted to Alex's. "While that may be true, this isn't the kind of relationship I want, but I don't want anyone else." Sky said, slight panic in his voice. "and Im sorry. What I did was selfish." Skylar then added, reaching out for Alex's hand as another tear silently fell. After all the speaking Sky just done, he was kind of surprised Alex understood what he was saying because he for sure wasn't speaking clearly. Sky kept his gaze on Alex, most of his anger faltering.

Alex didn't look up or toward Skylar until he heard him state that he didn't want anyone else. The anger he'd felt raging like a torrential storm moments ago was gone, and in its place was a current of emotion Alex wasn't entirely sure what to do with. Slowly, he lifted his blue gaze to look at Skylar, listening as he apologized, and when he took hold of his hand, Alex swallowed thickly. After being still for a moment, he slowly turned his hand in Skylar's and let his fingers slip between the grooves of Sky's own. "I don't want to lose you either... Sky." He said softly, his gaze momentarily following the tear that fell. He hated himself for being so much of a coward that he was knowingly putting Skylar through his... hated that he didn't have the courage to tell his parents and to step out into the open.

Sky looked down at their hands for a moment, squeezing a bit. "Im sorry, I'll stop drinking." Sky said, barely believing his own words. "I don't know what to do to stop feeling the way." Skylar then added quietly. Letting go of Alex's hand, he turned to make his way out of the truck. Now the only thing he wanted to do was drink more and sleep, even after telling Alex he'd stop. Grabbing his keys, he got out of the truck. Sky began to think about why they are still dating. Sky was a recovering addict, coping with more unhealthy addictions, and Alex wasn't able to come out to anyone, making it so the relationship was a secret. He shook his head at the thought as tears began to swell in his eyes again.

Alex managed a faint smile in response to feeling Skylar squeeze his hand. He returned the gesture and then listened as he spoke. The vow to stop drinking had surprised him, and he was sure that was evident in the slight raise of his brow. "I don't think..." He started and looked away. "I don't think you have to stop... at least not completely." It wasn't like there'd be any more family dinners for him to attend, not after tonight. When Skylar let go of his hand, Alex was left acutely aware of the lack of warmth or the comforting weight. He glanced down before pulling his hand back and letting out a soft sigh. Slowly, he moved to unbuckle himself and then opened the door to slip out of the seat. He wasn't sure what else to say, and so found himself remaining quiet as he closed the door behind him and moved to step away from the truck, his blue gaze falling on Skylar as he did so.

As he made his way to his front step, he threw one last look at Alex. Alex's face was enough to set Sky off. He was waiting until he got inside to break down, but he couldn't handle it. Quickly looking away, the tears began to spill from his eyes. He tried to sob quietly as he made his way inside, and once he got inside, he let it out as he made his way to the bathroom. He brought himself to the floor and lay down. He still had his shoes on, but he didn't care. Closing his eyes, he continued to cry as he moved onto his side.

Alex's chest tightened when he heard the sound of a stifled sob, and he moved to step around the truck to approach Skylar. Before he could reach him, though, Sky was pushing his front door open and stepping inside. Slowing to a stop, he let out a sigh and shook his head. He didn't know what he was doing... why he was so torn between his guilt and his upset, or why he was even doing this at all. He loved Skylar... he really did, but was this relationship beneficial to either one of them? If he really put some thought into it, into all that had happened since they'd started going out, since he'd agreed to give this relationship a try... There were a lot of bad things that had happened. Like Skylar getting hooked on drugs again and almost ODing... their seemingly constant arguments... and now this. Turning, he let his gaze fall to the concrete of the sidewalk and to his shoes as he began to walk home, dreading having to return and hating every step that he took.

Skylar had passed out right on the bathroom floor, only sleeping til 6 am before he was spilling his guts. He knew it was coming with how much he had drank, especially on an empty stomach. After throwing up, he went right back to sleep. His head was pounding, but he was surprisingly able to go back to sleep for a couple more hours before he had to go to school. He really didn't want to go to school, but for some reason, he felt compelled to. So once he woke up at his alarm for school, he forced himself up from the bathroom floor. He looked down at the floor, seeing some vomit before making a disgusted face. Grabbing some toilet paper, he cleaned whatever messes he made before hopping in the shower. He was disgusting and felt terrible. What a way to start the day. He also wasn't really excited to see Alex. After everything that went down, because of his own stupidity, he really didn't want to see Alex sober. Maybe he could just get a little tipsy, shrugging at the thought. He finished up in the shower, getting out and drying himself off. He groggily got dressed, not bothering to brush his hair, so he put it in a messy manbun. Then he grabbed his bottle of Advil and popped two before putting it in his backpack.

'

The walk to school was horrid, but his mind was starting to ease as he felt the effects of the alcohol and Advil. He had told Alex he'd stop, which made him feel a little guilty, but didn't stop him. He only drank enough to make himself tipsy, but then proceeded to mix some juice and vodka in his water bottle to bring with him. His anxiety about seeing Alex slowly faded away. Once he arrived at school, he went straight to his first period. He didn't bother to find Chris or even text him. He didn't know who was being a bad friend, but neither one of them was trying to reach out to the other. Sky didn't put too much thought into Chris, instead, he began to think about Alex. If Alex didn't get his ass beat last night, then he probably would turn up in class any minute.

As Alex began the long walk home, he found himself wanting to run back to Skylar's place and beg him to let him stay the night. Each step felt as though he were walking toward a prison sentence. But he continued, he had his pride to think about and, despite how they had parted, Alex was still terribly hurt and angry about what had happened. His hands were curled into fists at his sides as he walked, his mind replaying the dinner, the argument, the kiss, the way his father had looked at him in vivid detail. He had never seen his father so angry... and regardless of whether or not his mother had succeeded in calming the man down while he'd taken Skylar home, he knew he was in for one hell of a night. And he dreaded it. As his house came into view, his steps slowed until he was moving at a snail's pace; the desire to run, to flee, and get as far from here as possible was overwhelming. In fact he'd caught himself glancing back into the night behind him, desiring to disappear within the darkness. But again, he pushed onward. His heart was hammering within his chest like a war drum, heavy, loud, rapid. He could hear each beat thundering in his ears as he reached his door, and could feel his stomach flipping with nerves as he grabbed the doorknob, hesitated for a moment before pulling it open and stepping inside.

`

His blue gaze was quick to find his father. It would have been impossible to miss the guy, considering he was standing at the door, his face still a mask of fury. Instantly, Alex was dropping his gaze and parting his lips to speak. Whether it was to apologize or to lie and try and convince his father that he wasn't gay, he wasn't sure. Not that it would matter because he wasn't given a chance to say anything before he was sent stumbling backward, pain erupting like a volcano in his cheek. His head had snapped to the side, and his eyes had widened in surprise. "How dare you bring that rot into this house." His father snapped, his voice cold and holding nothing but anger. Alex had heard his mother gasp, heard her say her husband's name, but as he turned to look back at his father, he caught the look that the man had given her, and knew that she was very likely in the same boat as him.

___

That night... had been long, and had gone just about as well as Alex had expected it to. His father had never hit him before, but then he'd never been so angry either. Groaning as he moved to sit up, his body heavy and his face aching, Alex sat on the edge of his bed. He hadn't slept, didn't think he could despite how exhausted he was. It had taken ages to appease his father, to get him to believe that he wasn't gay, and he'd hated himself for committing to the lie. But he had found himself far more terrified of what his father would do if he'd taken this opportunity to come out. He'd been struck once, and he had no reason to doubt his father wouldn't beat the shit out of him if he said anything other than what he wanted to hear. Slowly pushing himself to his feet, Alex grabbed his phone from the nightstand and turned off the alarm just as it had started to go off. Then he was moving, grabbing a change of clothes and heading into the bathroom. One look in the mirror confirmed what he'd already known. What had been a red welt and a cut lip last night was now blooming into a royal bruise. "Fuck..." He grumbled. Setting his change of clothes down, he moved to carefully feel the cut to his lip. It looked fucking awful, like the kind of shit you saw in movies... and it hurt a hell of a lot more than he would have expected it to. Sucking in a breath when his fingers grazed the tender and broken flesh, he took his hand away. For several moments, he simply looked at himself, at the bruise and the cut on his lip, and then he turned and moved to get a shower started.

`

It hadn't taken him long to shower, to get ready for school, or to leave. He didn't stop to eat. Didn't want to see either of his parents after last night. Slipping on his shoes, he left the house, not bothering to announce his departure like he normally would have. The bruise was too big and too dark to try and cover up, so that left him trying to figure out how to explain it and the cut lip away if any teachers or friends asked him what happened, as he walked to school. Considering he was leaving early, he took his time reaching the academic building where he spent so many of his days. His gaze he kept on the ground as he moved into the building and began making his way to class. He could feel the eyes of his peers on him, or at least a few of them who'd noticed the bruise on his face. Perhaps he could tell anyone who asked that he'd gotten into a fight. It wouldn't be a lie... at least not exactly, and considering the injury it'd be believable... or he hoped it would be.

Sky sat quietly in his seat, waiting for Alex to show up. He grew a bit nervous as he clock continued to tick. Grabbing his water bottle, he took a big swig before setting it down on his table. His eyes kept glancing back to the classroom door, anticipating. Then finally once Alex walked in, his heart dropped. Seeing him made a rush of guilt go through him, but upon seeing the big bruise on his face and the cut on his lip, the guilt turned into anger. He knew his father did that, but it was Sky's fault it happened. Guilt and anger flowed through his body as he felt himself get up, pushing on the desk. His brows furrowed as he stared at Alex. He subconsciously made his way to Alex. He grabbed his face gently and turned his head to the side to get a better look. He didn't care if people saw, he was worried for Alex and it wasnt gay to show he cared for his friend. "If he wasnt your father I'd beat the shit outta him." Sky said quietly, letting go of his face. Clenching his jaw, he shook his head and turned around. He went back to his seat before turning his gaze back to Alex. He kept his gaze locked on the boy, refusing to look away.

Alex paused at the entrance to the classroom, his eyes having instantly fallen on Skylar. He watched him, noting the exact moment that Skylar saw the bruise. His chest tightened upon seeing first the guilt and then the anger. Swallowing thickly, he tore his gaze away from Skylar and looked down, both embarrassed and mildly ashamed. Why, he wasn't sure. It wasn't like he had any reason to feel either of those things, and yet he did. Clenching his jaw only to wince slightly, he drew in a breath and was just about to start toward his desk when he realized that Skylar had moved to stand in front of him. He paused, looking up in slight confusion, only to tense a little in surprise as Skylar grabbed his face and turned his head to allow him to get a better look at the bruise. Though anyone could see him, and despite the fact that his classmates were present, Alex didn't pull away. He couldn't, wouldn't be able to even if he wanted to, and he didn't want to. He hadn't realized how much he'd needed this... to be touched with such care, to have someone worry about him, or to see both the concern and anger in Skylar's eyes as he looked at the bruise until right then. When he heard Skylar's words, Alex's blue gaze glistened with a sheen of tears, though he furiously held them back. The last thing he needed was to start crying here and now in front of everyone when he'd managed to keep himself together since the disaster of last night. "It's... not that bad." He managed, his own voice quiet as Skylar let go of his face. He was still for a moment longer before shifting the bag on his shoulder and moving toward his own seat. He paused when he reached it, looked at it, and then let his gaze drift to the open seat beside Skylar. There was a moment of contemplation before he sighed and found himself moving to claim the empty seat beside Sky.