Scott heard rustling in the carpet of leaves trailing out of the woods behind him. He glanced over his shoulder. “Hey, there you are.”
“You came,” Aaron said, looking pleased, despite his tired and red eyes.
“Yeah. I came here right from school.”
“This late?”
“I got detention,” Scott explained.
Aaron shook his head. “Always getting into trouble.”
“I can’t help it. I like to paint things.”
“Just not paper?”
“Not always.”
Aaron sat next to him, rigid. Scott put an arm around Aaron and pulled him against his chest. The boy immediately snuggled into him.
“You ok?” Scott asked.
“Yeah. Just…my dad, ya know. The Packers lost, so it’s worse.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I know, but I’m sorry he’s such a mean drunk.”
There was a moment of silence.
“My mom suspects things,” Aaron said softly.
“Us?”
“Yeah.”
“Is that bad?” Scott replied.
“Only if my dad finds out.”
Scott looked down. “I won’t let you get in trouble because of me. I’m going to ask my mom if you can come stay with us for a while.”
Aaron jerked his head up. “What?”
“…I overheard the teachers talking to your mom on the phone,” Scott admitted, “They said your grades are slipping.”
Aaron said nothing.
“Besides, I wouldn’t mind having you in my house.”
“Wouldn’t people figure out sooner that we’re…..you know.”
“So what? If your dad can’t get to you, who cares? I’d rather be open and happy than quiet and miserable.”
Aaron didn’t respond right away. He just stared at the neighborhood sprawl below them and listened to Scott’s heart beat in his chest. Scott, always the contrarian, the rebel. Scott the rock.
“Ok.”
“Ok?” Scott repeated.
“Yeah, ask her,” Aaron clarified.
“Ok, I will.” Scott ruffled Aaron’s hair. “Don’t you worry. Everything will be ok.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” Scott kissed the top of his head, “It will.”

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Text is fictional. I had some trouble tracking the source. The original image is in color and used as a still in this Youtube video to solicit funds for a film narrative about homeless LGBT youth called Hooked. I think it’s actually a still from the promotional material, and not just yanked from elsewhere. If you want to support the project, the IndieGogo page is here.