Zayn

It was nearly five o’clock, and I was only just finishing the chores Grandma had me do. It’d been three days of this bullshit. She wouldn’t let me eat until things were ‘done the right way’, and she threw a fit if I argued about her methods. Like when she had me clean the bathroom on the second floor, but she wouldn’t allow me to get water in the bathroom or use a bucket. I had to carry the water up one cup at a time, rinse the floor, wash out the rag then go downstairs, wash the cup with soap then rinse it before I repeated.

She put off the vibe of being a sweet, old southern bell when other people were around, but she was anything but sweet. I now knew where my mother had gotten her bitterness from.

Growing up, my mom rarely ever visited my grandmother, and she didn’t come see us. I had to talk to her on the phone a few times, but I didn’t know her. The one time we visited, it was right after my dad left. That had been a terrible trip, but I’d blamed my mom. Now I wasn’t sure who’d been at fault.

After I ate, I sat in my room enjoying the quiet. The sun was starting to go down. I’d stretched out on the bed, staring out the window at the noisy street. My thoughts were on Jason. I needed to do something to find him, but I didn’t have any time what with Grandma making me clean all day.

I was close to sleep when my grandma yelled up the stairs, her voice cracking. “Zayn. Zayn, get down here. Someone is on the phone for you!”

“Shit,” I said under my breath. I didn’t want to talk to my mom. No one else could call because I didn’t know anyone else. I ambled down the stairs, taking my time. Once in the kitchen, I took the phone from Grandma. Mom still hadn’t called since I’d gotten back from camp and I was ready for a bitch-out session. Hesitant to say hello before my grandma left the room, I put the phone to my ear, cringing as I thought of all the things my mother would say.

“Hello,” I said in a voice barely above a whisper.

“Zayn! Oh my God. It’s you. It’s me!”

My heart sped up so quickly I nearly dropped the phone. “Jason?” I couldn’t believe Jason called me.

“Yeah, it’s me. Oh my God. How’re you doing? Where are you? Are you okay?”

I couldn’t help the smile that spread over my face as he talked. “I’ve been better, but I’m okay. I’m at my grandma’s house in Macon. You?” I spoke desperately, checking the back door every couple of seconds to make sure Grandma hadn’t finished her cigarette and come back inside.

“Where is it? What’s the address?” Jason asked.

“It’s not safe here. We need to meet somewhere.” I heard the knob turning, and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. “Jittery Joes. Tomorrow at eleven in the morning. I gotta go. Bye, Jason.”

I slammed the phone down so quickly I must have looked like a deer caught in headlights. Grandma looked me over a couple times before shaking her head and moving to the pantry.

“Who was that on the phone? Better not have been a gay boy you fornicated with.” Grandma’s disdain echoed through the small tiled kitchen.

“Uh, just a friend,” I said before running up the stairs as I tried to escape her anger. I was floating on a cloud and could barely contain my excitement. As soon as my door was closed, I fell onto my bed, pure happiness radiating over me. I’d been so worried Jason wouldn’t even want to talk to me, and if he did, he wouldn’t be able to find me. I had so many burning questions, but they could all wait for tomorrow when I got to see him.

After I relaxed a little, I slid my hand down the front of my body. I toyed with the button on my pants, thinking of Jason touching me like this. It wasn’t enough just to think about him. I needed relief.

My fingers shook as I opened my pants and slid my hand over the waistband of my underwear. I closed my eyes, excitement filling me. My underwear was getting in the way. If Jason kissed me right where my hand was, I’d explode.

Maybe he would kiss me even lower, like on my dick. Slowly, I ran my fingers under the elastic, almost brushing the tip of my cock. I was going to come, I knew it. Just one single breath, one single touch, I would come unglued.

I closed my eyes as I reached into my underwear, grabbing my dick. So lost in my fantasy, I didn’t hear the door open. The shriek from my grandma made my heart race. My cock deflated.

“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

My heart had never raced this quickly. I flashed open my eyes and turned my head, seeing my grandma standing in the doorway, her eyebrows scrunched together, a scowl on her face as she threw up her hands and yelled.

“You’re a homosexual sinner, fornicator, and probably a drug addict. This is unbelievable! Get out now! Get out of my house!” she screamed like a banshee. She picked up my things and threw them in my still open duffel bag on the floor. Panic filled me as I zipped and buttoned my pants.

Her voice pitched high as she continued to yell about gay people and inviting the devil in. I gathered what belongings I could, trying to avoid Grandma’s swinging hands as she yelled more crap at me.

Before I knew it, I was running out of the house, tears streaming down my face as she slammed the door.

“You’re not welcome here,” she called out after opening the door again. I heard it slam one more time.

I looked back at the door once more before slinging my bag over my shoulder and stepping out in to the street. I’d never felt as alone as I did in that moment.