I wake up in a hospital bed. Bright white lights blinded my vision temporarily. I groan and shut my eyes. I try to lift my hand, but it's heavy. I squint my eyes as I look over, and I see Jack lying asleep on the edge of the bed, holding my hand in his. I smile. I look ahead of me and see my parents sleeping on each other shoulders.

"Jack," I croak out, and his head shoots up. "Hi."

He exhales, his shoulders drooping, and a small smile fights its way to his face.

"Hi Mac," he whispers. "You worried me, I didnt know if you were going to wake up," I shake my head lightly, then groan in pain. He stands and lightly grabs my face. "Don't move so much, you'll hurt yourself."

He plants a kiss on my temple, then lets go of my hand and heads to my parents. He lightly grabs my mom's hand, she opens her eyes and stares up.

"Macs awake," he whispers out.

My mom shoves my dad awake, Jack moves out of the way. My parents practically fly to my side, grabbing at my hand and my face, examining my appearance. My eyes stay on Jack, he heads to the door and steps out.

"I'm okay," my voice cracks.

"No, you're not. You have a broken rib, a fractured leg, and you're beaten and bloody- this is not okay," my father stands up straight. "We're finding the people that did this and pressing charges," He throws his hands up. "This is a hate crime!"

"Phil, let's not talk about this right now. Just be happy Mac is awake."

2 types of footsteps come into the room, we turn and see Jack and a Woman in a white coat.

"Malcolm?" She asks, standing in front of me. "How are you feeling?"

I don't answer. I hold my hand out to Jack and wait to answer her until Jack is holding my hand.

"I feel like shit," I mumble out, voice still cracking.

"Yes, that's reasonable. You got beat pretty hard. Jack here refused to wait for an ambulance and got you here pretty quickly, and I'm glad he did. You have a concussion, along with a broken rib, and as you can see by the cast," I look down to a cast I didn't notice before. "Your leg was fractured, but it's close enough to a break, so you have to be very careful. You're internal implant wasn't affected, but don't expect it to be feeling better any time soon. Parents, can we have a word?"

They nod and follow the doctor out of the room. Jack keeps staring at me as he sits in the chair.

"I'm okay."

"No, I should've been there to protect you. I should've been there. If I were there this wouldn't have happened. If you weren't with me you wouldn't have gotten hurt," his head falls into the bed, and his hand loosens from mine.

I let go and lay my hand on his head. He looks up and I see the pain in his eyes. He really does like me.

"This didn't happen because of you, this happened because the world isn't kind."

"Who did this to you, Mac?" He leans towards me, grasping my hand in his hands.

"Jack," I shake my head. Their words flash in my head. "I can't," I cry lightly.

"Yes, you can. They'll just keep attacking you, they need to be arrested for this. They could've punctured your lung, they could've damaged your prosthetic, they could've killed you."

I shake my head again, the tears won't stop.

"I will personally hunt them down, I'll make them regret this," he kisses my head and stands to leave.

"Jackson," I say his full name.

He doesn't stop.

"I love you, Mac."

And just like that, he's gone.

I groan. I look out the window and see it's still daylight, meaning he'll be going to school. A part of me doesn't want him to do anything, but the other half of me wants them to die. Part of me is pissed, and the other part of me is worried. Then I remembered, Jack just said he loved me.

I try to stand and go after him, but I can't even sit up without being in extreme pain. I sigh and lay back, becoming tired again. I close my eyes and hope for the best.

Jack loves me, and I love him.

—

Tim: "Hey, you and Jack okay? He's back at school and he's practically boiling."

"Oh no, don't approach him. He's trying to figure out who attacked me. I'm in the hospital."

Tim: "I know, I saw you get carried out. I tried to go up and see if you were okay but he yelled at anyone who got close. Even the nurse. That denim dude and the other freakishly tall stick, blond, and a few other dudes made a path to get you out of the school, not letting anyone touch you or Jackass. The nurse kept saying he couldn't take you out of the school, but he wouldn't listen. Looked like he was about to break down. He put you in his car and took you to the hospital. He told the nurse the ambulance would take too long. He looks pissed like he's about to kill someone. What happened?"

"I can't get into it right now, just stay away from Jack, please don't get involved."

"Okay, tell me when you're ready Mac. I'm guessing your parents are with you?"

"Yeah, I'll be okay. Pay attention to school."

"Alright, I will. Rest up Mac, the gang and I will come to see you soon when schools out."

I get a new text, a number I don't recognize.

"FAG! Remember what we said!"

Then a picture of me curled on the floor, bloody and bruised. I take a screenshot and then block the number. I set down my phone, then another text. I take a deep breath before flipping it. Another unknown number.

"Yo, it's Gene!" the message reads. I breathed out the air I held in, thankful. "Jack gave me your number so I can check up on you for him. How are you feeling? Jack hasn't said a word, just gave me your number and said to keep an eye open for you. He looks pissed."

"So I've heard. He's trying to find the people who attacked me." I tye back then added him to a quick contact.

Gene: "Do you remember what they looked like?"

"No."

"Are you sure or are you just saying that? Did they threaten you?"

I sigh. "Don't tell Jack. Just stop him from hurting someone. They got my number somehow. I know what Jack will do if he finds out what happened, and I can't let him get in trouble with his parents."

"Jack is never going to leave your side until these dudes are locked up or dead."

"I know he will."

"So tell me what they look like Mac."

I think back to the attack.

"White dudes. Blond, green eyes, and dark brown eyebrows, he had on a baseball cap, and it had a NY logo on it. His shirt was a red jersey, a number involving an 8. He was the one that did most of the damage. The other guy had a black buzzcut and black eyes. His shirt was gray and had a video game logo on the back. He wore expensive shoes, nice new green/white Jordans. He took the video and shit. I can't remember anything else."

"Thank you, Mac. Please, start feeling better. I hope you feel better. The gang says hello."

He sends a selfie of him and the gang, all making stupid faces. I laugh. Laughing hurts. So in return, I snap a picture of my swollen and cut-up face, smiling and giving a thumbs up, and I send it.

My parents come back in without the doctor, instead with food. I light up when I see the Whataburger logo.

—

I've never wolfed down food so fast before, but I guess getting the life kicked out of you would make anyone hungry. I'm on a heavy pain drug, it's inside my IV, so I hardly feel the pain in my ribs or my head. My parents just sit and watch me. So I stop eating and look at them.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

My mom smiles and grabs my hand. "What happened, why did they do this to you? Who did this to you."

"Mom, it doesn't matter, I'm okay."

"No, Hunny, you're not okay. The only reason you feel alive is because of the number of painkillers pumping inside you. Just tell us."

"They... they called me a faggot. Called me "Jack's Faggot". They asked me if... no, I can't," I covered my head in my arms. My mom stands and pulls me into a hug.

"How many were there?" My dad asks, I hold up 2 fingers.

"Can't I just go home? I just want to go home," I cry into my mom's shoulder.

"I know baby, but you can tonight, they need to keep an eye on your head and your rib."

"I just want to go home. I want Jack here. I want Tim here."

My mom doesn't let go of me, I sit there crying until I can't cry anymore. I lay back, closed my eyes, and drifted into sleep. I just want to sleep.