I know I said I was going to be finishing up BMR before posting another Crooked chapter, but when inspiration hits you just have to roll with it. So here we are. In the media, we have a beautiful song by Daughter and the video in the background is my favorite video game series called Life Is Strange and it comes highly recommended. And my baby Andrew is in this chapter... look at his little smile...

Anyways.... hope you like it, even though it's short... Enjoy!

Never in my life has a text scared me as much as the one I got from Amber this morning. 'Austin is in the hospital'. It takes me only minutes to roll out of bed, get dressed, and jump in the car, even with the raging hangover. My heart races at an unnatural rate the whole way and it doesn't ease when I get there, not even when I find out what room he's in.

The elevator feels slow as fuck and the air is so thick it's impossible to breathe. I pull my inhaler from my back pocket and inhale deeply when it reaches my lips.

When the doors finally open, I rush into the hallway. I look to either side of me and let out a sigh of relief when I see a familiar face. Sabrina sees me instantly as I rush to her side, pulling me into a hug when I reach her. It's weird, since we've never hugged before, but in the moment, it feels right.

"Please tell me he's okay," I plead into her ear, a desperate whisper.

She pulls away and nods. "Harry, he'll be just fine. He only has a concussion and a couple bruises."

"Only?" My eyes narrow. "What happened?"

"I-" Her gaze falls to the floor. "I don't know."

I'm taken back, because I can tell she's lying to me. Whatever the reason, it better be a good one.

When the nurse exits the room, Sabrina and I enter. A cold set of eyes find mine, causing me to freeze where I stand. Andrew Griffin, Austin's father, stares me down with his condescending eyes and I swear I almost piss myself. I've been scared of Whitney's dad for as long as I can remember, but he's never terrified me as much as Mr. Griffin. There's something so unsettling about him that it's hard to believe he's won a Humanitarian Award.

Shaking his gaze, I rush towards Austin's side. Some things are more important than my own fears right now.

"I heard you were here and came as fast as I could. You're not hurt too badly, are you? Sabrina said something about a concussion! Does it hurt? Oh god, of course it does. That was a stupid question. Are you getting enough water? I could go get you some. Just tell me and I'll-"

"Harry! Harry, calm down." He laughs. "I'm fine."

"You're sure?"

He nods. "I'm sure."

Without thinking, I reach out and take his hand. Not a moment later, Andrew's voice cuts in.

"Visiting time is over. It's getting late and Austin needs his rest." The aggressiveness in his tone gives me the shivers, even though it's hidden well.

Reluctantly, I let go of Austin's hand.

"Actually, could Sabrina stay a moment?"

I sigh. Of course he wants her to stay.

My sourness reminds me of my feelings for him, but I try to leave them behind when I leave the room, the reassurance that he's okay helps me.

A gruff voice calls my name and I freeze in my tracks. I almost forgot Austin's father was right on my heels. Out of respect, I turn towards him, but if it weren't for my mother's strictness in holding others in the highest regard, I would have shown him the finger and kept walking.

Ignoring my racing heartbeat, I adjust my sights upwards to look at him. It's hard, but I don't back down, even though the glint in his eyes is incredibly daunting. There's this look on his face that I can't quite place, even in it's strange familiarity. He has such a presence that it distracts me from everything else, his dominance striking my very core.

He closes the distance between us, his chest mere inches from mine. Instinctively, I take a step back, causing Mr. Griffin to let out a harsh chuckle. "My son is straight, you know."

"What?" I couldn't hold back my surprise. There were multiple occasions where he'd hinted at knowing I'm gay, but this is the first time he's said it so blatantly.

"Don't play the innocent. We've been dancing around this long enough, don't you think?" His eyes narrow before a smirk sneaks onto his lips. "You're eighteen, aren't you?"

"Yeah." I barely get the word out without my voice breaking. "But I don't see why that's-"

When he takes one step closer, my back hits a wall. It's the first time I've seen him without a tie and his collared shirt is open enough to reveal his chest hairs. The smell of his cologne invades my senses as my heartbeat intensifies.

"You need to stay away from my son." His voice is so serious that it dispels any doubt that he's joking.

"E-excuse me?"

Mr. Griffin sighs. "The last thing Austin needs is one more thing complicating his life. And you? You're a complication."

I take a deep breath and exhale in an attempt to calm down, but it doesn't work.

"No offense, sir," I say carefully, "but I don't think it's your place to tell me what to do."

His glare is lethal, and I'm thankful we are in a public setting. He must have realized how he was coming off as well, because the look disappears. It's replaced by amusement and a light snort.

"That's true." A fake, perfect, smile pulls at his lips. "But you're a smart kid, Harry. I'm sure you'll make the right choice."

On that note, he turns on his heel, leaving me to wonder what the hell just happened. Did he really just tell me to stay away from his son, because I'm gay? What makes him think he has the right?

Then again, he isn't the only Griffin who likes to control other people's lives, which is a thought that has remained dormant until now.

"You haven't answered my calls all week." Bradley catches me in the halls before first period. "I've left you like three voicemails."

"I was busy." I admit being busy isn't the only reason I have ignored him.

The last time we really talked was when we kissed and then, not even an hour later, I had sex with Whittney. That was a little over a week ago and I have managed to keep my distance from Bradley. It's not that I didn't want to see him, but I feel terrible about kissing him one minute and letting my lust take over with Whittney the next without a second thought.

"You haven't answered my texts either." A sad expression crosses his face. "If you're not into me like that, you should just say it."

"No. You know that's not it."

"Do I?" He sighs, glancing down the hall before pulling me into the blind spot under the stairwell. "Harry, I really like you." His hold on my arm moves to my hand. "And I really feel like we would be great together if you'll just give me more chances to show you. So I was thinking... what are you doing tonight?"

I lick my lips before smiling. "Um, I don't think I have anything planned."

"Good." He leans in to where our lips only barely touch, the warmth of his breath fanning me, but pulls away just before I can lean in. "I'll pick you up at seven."

When he turns around, I catch a glimpse of Amber and he freezes.

"Amber," he says stiffly.

Judging from the amused smile, he must be beet red. "Bradley," she greets back.

He quickly shuffles in the direction of our shared class.

"And what was that all about?" she asks when Bradley is gone. That 'I know everything' look she always wears is shining brightly and she nudges my side.

"I may have been asked out on a date."

She claps her hands. "My god, finally!" But then she squints. "Come on. Why aren't you head of heels excited?"

"Um, I don't know. Maybe it's-"

"No, please don't tell me this is about Whittney."

Besides my better judgement, I had told Amber about what happened with Whittney. I should have known that she would not have shared my excitement considering Whittney doesn't have the best track record at this school, but she could have at least been happy for me.

Amber scoffs. "I can't believe that both of my best friends are into guys who just treat them like shit. Even when an amazing guy like Bradley comes along, or Aaron, but-"

"Who the hell is Aaron?"

"That doesn't matter. Point is, there is a genuinely sweet guy who's into you. Someone who is actually sure about their sexuality and doesn't use you in some self serving way to figure it out."

As much as I appreciate Amber's protectiveness of me, Whittney doesn't treat me like shit. There's a side of him that a lot of people don't see, because they don't take the time to get to know him. They just don't understand him like I do. He isn't anything like the asshole everyone sees; he's my best friend.

"He's not using me." I say it with conviction, though I'm not sure if I believe it myself.

"Whatever you say, Hare. I hope you're right."