Page 60 of Chase

“Get out,” he says weakly, “Esme, get out.”

He then starts coughing so I rush over to get a glass of water with a straw in it. He takes it with gratitude, the effort of even drinking looking like it’s exhausting for him.

“But Will, I-” she starts to argue, actually stamping her foot on the floor like a spoiled child being told no for the first time.

“Please, leave!” Will says as forcefully as he can.

She looks at all of us with pure hatred before stomping out of the room.

“Shit, Will, what the hell happened?” Jaime is at Will’s side within an instant, shuffling around on his feet and looking like he wants to hug him.

“Hey, Jaime, I’m ok,” he says with a crackly voice. “You know me, I’ll survive the apocalypse,” he teases, to which his friend smiles with relief. “But do you think I could talk to Izzy for a minute?”

Everyone looks at each other before they nod and make a move to leave.

“I won’t go far,” Theo says before kissing my cheek. “Mel has gone for the day so it’s my shift,” he says with a wink, to which I roll my eyes.

“God, Will, I’ve been so worried about you,” I tell him with fresh tears of relief rolling down my cheek as he grins up at me from his pillow. I help him raise the bed slightly so he can talk more comfortably.

“I feel like shit,” he laughs, and I can’t help but giggle with him.

“You look like shit, honey,” I tease, and he laughs again.He then ends up grabbing hold of his ribs in pain. I wince over my thoughtlessness. “What happened? We’re all kind of dying to know.”

His expression turns from mirth to sadness, so I instantly grab his hand to offer some kind of comfort and reassurance.

“I told my family on Sunday afternoon, just like I told you I would. My parents, my sister, and my grandmother were all there. Dad instantly disowned me and told me to leave the house. Mum was in floods of tears and flinched away from me when I tried to comfort her. Dad even told me to get my ‘filthy hands’ away from her.” I shake my head with disappointment on his behalf. “My sister told me that I made her sick, but my grandmother stood up and held me in the most loving and supportive hug I think I’ve ever had. Believe me, it was the only thing that stopped me from wanting to hang myself right there and then.”

“Oh, Will, I’m so sorry,” I tell him as I kiss the back of his hand. “Maybe I should have talked you out of it. It’s not what I’m supposed to do, but that must have been utterly horrible for you. I’m so…so…angryfor you.”

“Don’t be sorry, Iz,” he says as he strokes my hair with a smile. “I’m so glad I did it, so glad it’s out in the open now. I don’t need to hide and battle with myself anymore. My grandmother has set me up with some finances and she says they can’t touch my trust fund, which means I can still go to Uni. She’s even said I can live with her when I’m not studying.”

“That’s great, Will, I’m glad” I tell him with my eyes suddenly full of tears that are threatening to fall. “So, how did you end up in here?”

“When I went back to collect my car and Dave, I was attacked from behind by three or four guys in masks. I don’t knowwho they are but seeing as they were on my parents’ property and calling me all kinds of homophobic names, I’m guessing Dad had something set up,” he sighs as he looks away in what appears to be shame and sadness, all rolled into one.

“Are you kidding me?!” I gasp in shock. “You really think your own father would have you beaten bloody and blue over this?”

His expression with the eventual nod of his head tells me he certainly would.

“Will, that’s…that’s…I have no words!” I flap my arms in the air. “He needs to be locked in a windowless room with four guys beating the crap out of him!”

“Says the girl who has put up with shit from her entire family,” he says, lifting my chin with his finger and smiling at me.

“We’re not talking about me,” I whisper sadly, now unable to look him in the eye.

“What is it they say? The truth will set you free?” he says softly. “It does, Izzy, it so does. Maybe you could start with that beefcake out there? The one who is so desperately in love with you, everyone can see it written all over his face whenever he’s in the same room as you.”

“I’m scared to, Will, what if he sees me differently? I can’t even say it out loud to myself; it’s not pretty,” I admit, anxiously biting my lip.

“Honestly? I don’t think he will, but if he does, it will still set you free from all the doubt and hurt swimming around inside of that overthinking head of yours. And if you can’t say it out loud, write it down,” he suggests.

“I’m the counselor, remember? Stop being so intelligent and logical,” I pout. “Will you keep walking the dogs with me?”

“Try and stop me,” he smiles warmly. “Actually don’t, because the last time that happened, I got my arse kicked.”

He gestures to his injuries and chuckles.

“I’ll call you, but I best let your brofriend come back in,” I tell him quietly. “Don’t tell him I told you, but he was completely distraught.”

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