Page 64 of Unexpected Boyfriends

“I guess, if his parents get their hands on him. He's still in school, so he's dependent on them.”

“Shit. That sucks. More than sucks actually.”

“Yeah. He’s only been there a couple of months and it’s already fucked with his head.”

“So, how can I help?’

“He needs a place to hide out until school ends next month. He wants to try and graduate. As long as he keeps turning in his assignments, he'll still be allowed to sit exams. He needs somewhere not connected to me or anyone he knows. I thought you guys might know someone in Melbourne. Conversion therapy is banned there, so probably better there than here.

There’s silence as Shannon thinks.

“I wasn’t in Melbourne long enough to make those sorts of connections, but let me ask Max.”

In the background, I hear the sound of someone grumbling, and Shannon’s voice.

“Wake up, babe, Axel’s on the phone. He needs our help.”

There’s more grumbling and then I hear Shannon explain the situation to Max, followed by a few moments of outraged ranting by Max. Shannon calms him down. There’s a moment of quiet discussion where I can’t hear what’s said, and then Shannon gets back on the phone.

“Max might have someone. What time is it there now?”

“9.15 in the morning.”

“Okay. Max is gonna make a call and I’ll ring you back.”

“Thanks, man. And I don’t need to tell you but…”

“Yeah, I can guess. Keep it on the down low. I get it. I’ll get back to you soon.”

We say goodbye and end the call.

JUSTIN

I’m alone in the boathouse and I’m scared.

I can’t stop shivering.

I’m in shock.

That Axel didn’t reject me.

And then, the abrupt transition from sleeping peacefully in that comfortable bed pressed up against Axel’s warm comforting body to hiding here in this cold, dark boathouse before my brain has even fully woken up.

Police.

I knew my family and the ReEducation Centre would be trying to find me, but I didn’t expect them to involve the police. Have they reported me as a missing person? Does that mean the entire police force will be watching for me?

It’s too much. I break out into a sweat, and my hands shake. My breaths come fast and shallow. I’ve been holding myself together for so long, but now in this lonely boathouse I’m losing my shit.

Axel.

My trembling fingers find the unusual starfish charm on Axel’s chain around my neck.

Calm down.Axel’s got this.

As always, my thoughts circle back to Axel. Am I getting him in trouble by being here? Maybe. Yes, if they find me. Maybe I should leave now, before they do.

I clutch the tiny starfish and close my eyes. I won’t go. Not yet. Axel loves me. Despite what they say. I have to trust him. Maybehe has a plan, maybe he doesn’t yet. But this thing is too big for me to handle on my own and I know he’ll help me.

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