"Door stays open," my mom calls up the stairs.

Jack holds my hand as he walks me into my room. He kicks the door with his foot lightly, and it creaks. He sits me on my bed, helping me scoot against the backboard. My ribs hurt less when I'm sitting up. I ask him to grab my laptop, he does, I make him sit next to me. He lies down. I swallow as I see him look up at me, he looks drunk. I'd love to see him drunk, I bet he looks funny.

"What's with that look?" He asks then puts his head on my lap.

"I'm trying to picture you drunk."

"Why, you wanna go drinking with me when you're healed?"

"I'm not opposed to the idea."

"I'd also like to see you drunk. Even though you're smoking weed all the time I've never seen you high."

"It's because the dose isnt enough to get me high, I probably could if I have 3 pods within 5 minutes, but I'm forbidden."

"God, I have some fucked stories from being drunk and high."

"Again, I'm not opposed to the idea, I would probably just be nervous. I'm not good at experimenting with stuff, my cancer scared me into hiding away in my room so I dont feel pain. I'm safe here."

"Baby, I'm never going to let anything hurt you. Ever again. No person is going to hurt you, nothing is going to hurt you. I will protect you."

"You can't protect me from my cancer."

"I can't, but I can try and protect you from your demons. And demonic people."

It's a comfortable silence. I was going to play something on my laptop, but I enjoyed the comfort too much. Then my question from earlier comes to my head.

"Jack," I start and I brush my hands through his hair. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything, Love."

"What are your parents like?"

I watch him swallow, then his eyes close gently. "They're gone a lot. When I was younger they were so in love, and they were so kind to me. They wouldn't leave my side. They did everything for me. But, when I got older that changed. I saw them fall out of love, they fought a lot. I think they both had affairs, at least that's what they always screamed about. I started getting into more fights, I started drinking. I started hooking up with people. My parents hated each other, and they slowly started hating me. I was the reason they had to remain together, to keep the public eye happy. They are both big figures, so I had a big role as their kid. It was pressuring, but they did care. They needed to keep me perfect, and I couldn't do that anymore.

"The more I acted out, the more they hated me. The more I got in trouble, the more the public eye saw them as bad parents. They couldn't have that. So, they started traveling without each other, without me. They leave so often, I see their faces once in a blue moon. That blue moon is whenever I'm in the hospital or in trouble with the cops. When you saw me in the hospital, they were yelling at me. I couldn't help but smile, because that was the only time I ever saw them agreeing with each other, together in the same room. Even if they are yelling at me, they are together, so it's okay. At least they aren't yelling at each other."

"I'm so sorry, Jack. I thought you had everything. I thought the worst. I thought you were just a spoiled brat," my head falls back.

"Baby," he says, I look down and see tears in his eyes. "It's okay."

"It's not, Jack," he blinks and the tears slip. My hand wipes them away. "It's not okay. They shouldn't put you through that. And you shouldn't accept it"

"It's not all bad," he puts up a fake smile. "I have my grandma, she's always been there for me."

I sigh, "Get up here."

He raises an eyebrow but listens. He sits up and scoots closer to me. I grab his face and pull him into a kiss. He sinks in, his hand locking with my hand, his other hand holding the bed.

"I see you're hurting, you don't have to act strong around me. I'm your boyfriend, I'm the person you should be vulnerable around."

He chuckled, then leaned his head against my good shoulder. He kisses my shoulder, neck, cheek, then lips.

"I love you, Malcolm."

"I love you, Jackson. So, don't hide your pain from me. Let me be the person you could cry on, let me be the person you can rely on. Let me into your head, Jack."

He kisses me again, passionately. Our tongues dance together, and our hearts drum against our skin. Our skin tingles, our breath mixes, and our hands crave each other's skin.

"I love you, Malcolm."

"I love you, Jackson."

—

"Mac, Jack," I hear a knock at my door. I open my eyes slightly to see the hallway light on.

I groan and shut my eyes, I try to turn but I can't because of some type of weight. I look down and see Jack's arm wrapped around my abdomen, keeping me still on my back. I smile, closing my eyes again.

"Hunny, it's time for Jack to go home," I hear my mom's voice.

"No, please, no," I turn my head, shoving it into the base of Jack's neck. "Don't make him go."

"Won't his parents worry about him?"

"They don't give a shit about him, they're evil people," I say in my sleepy state. I realize not only did I just spill Jack's secret, but I also cursed at my mom. "Sorry, I didn't mean to swear."

"Their evil?" My mom laughs. "I'm sure they mean well."

"No, they don't. They hate him, they do. I don't want him seeing them again."

My good arm finds Jack's shoulder. I manage to move myself to my side so my body is pressed against Jack. He moves and pulls me closer to him.

"Please, don't make him leave tonight," I whisper to my mom. I open my eyes and see her giving me a sad look. "Please, Mom," tears fall from my eyes. "He hurts."

She swallows then sighs, "Okay. The door stays open. You can explain tomorrow, so just get some rest."

"Mac," Jack's raspy voice growls out. "Malcolm?"

My mom keeps the door wide open, walks out, and turns off the hall light. The only light coming through is the moon.

"I'm here, Jack."

"What time is it?"

"Late, you're staying the night."

"But, my parents," he tries to sit up, and I pull his shoulder back down.

"No, you're not going home tonight. Just stay here. Don't worry about them right now. Just rest."

His eyes flutter open, I watch his eyes dilate. He rubs his forehead against mine, then kisses my lips once, then twice, then a third time. I giggle, he smiles and then kisses my neck.

"I love you, Malcolm."

"I love you, Jackson."

We fall back asleep.