Jason

I woke in a panic. The sun was up, but it was still early based on the yellow cast of light shining around the blinds. I couldn’t wait for my mom to assign me stupid tasks today. I needed to get out there and find Zayn. I hadn’t been able to reach him, which sucked.

After dressing quickly, I headed to the kitchen and grabbed some food and bottles of water. I raced out, jumping on my bike without looking back. I didn’t care if my mom was angry with me. I had work today, so she couldn’t expect me to be home all day, but I’m sure she would complain about me leaving.

Once at the park, I pulled out my phone and called Zayn. He answered on the third ring. “Jason, is that you?”

“Oh, thank God, I tried calling you yesterday and last night.”

“They came there searching.”

“Oh no, where are you?”

Zayn chuckled, and I heard something behind me. I turned and saw Zayn walking toward me. “I’m here.”

Zayn hung up, and then I did too. I pocketed my phone and went to Zayn, pulling him into a hug. “I’m so sorry.”

“I’m fine. I slept okay last night, not something I can do every night, but I’ll be fine there for a while until we can figure something else out.”

I shook my head as desperation filled me. “My dad is going to put cameras in.”

“Cameras? Like security?”

“Yes. He thinks teens are having sex at the church or something. This is awful. What are we going to do?” Torn, I needed to know Zayn was safe. With the current situation, he was anything but safe.

“Hey, it’s okay. Did you bring food?”

I nodded and held out the bag. “I did.”

“Okay, then let’s grab a seat at our favorite table. We can eat. Then we can talk.”

Zayn was being way too chill, and I wasn’t sure what to think of it. I would freak out if someone had gone to the church to catch me sleeping there. At the table, I handed Zayn the bag of food. He picked up a biscuit and ripped it in half then put some cheese and meat in the middle before he bit down and moaned. He took another bite, chewing like he’d never eaten food before. That was the Zayn I’d grown to love.

I picked up an orange and started peeling it. He looked at me over his biscuit sandwich and smiled. “Thank you. I was starving.”

“They found a blanket one morning, and that’s why they think teens are doing it. I don’t know where you’ll sleep.”

Zayn shook his head. “Being on the streets wasn’t so bad.”

“But what if it gets bad? I mean—”

Zayn held up his hand. “I’ll be fine. I don’t want you to worry about me.”

Anger built, and I knew it would seep out. “You don’t want me to worry. Of course I’m going to worry. You’re in this mess because of me.”

He shook his head. “No, I’m not. I’m in it because…because—I made a mistake.”

I threw up my hands and shook my head. “What mistake could you have possibly made?”

“I got lazy and got caught. I’m gay, and my mom and her mom don’t like gay people.”

“But that’s because of me.”

“Jason, I’m into you, but I’m not gay because of you. Besides, my grandma caught me, um…”

I waited, but he didn’t say anything else. “Caught you what?” His cheeks were pink. He shook his head. “Tell me,” I begged.

“Oh God, it’s so embarrassing.”

“What?”

“It was after I talked to you. I—um, I was in bed, and she came in.”

His face was red, and he wouldn’t meet my eyes. My fingers were on his chest then his chin, and I applied just enough pressure for him to look up. He gave me a wobbly smile and rolled his eyes.

“I’d unzipped and was jacking off.”

“Oh.” I drew in a slow breath and nodded. “Um, did she walk in?”

“Yelled at me.” Zayn wiped his hand over his face. “Sheesh, she was screeching and yelling. It was horrible.”

“Oh God.”

He had paled a little. “I was so embarrassed. Then she kicked me out.”

I sucked in a breath as guilt hit. “See, it was because of me.”

His eyes narrowed, and his lips turned down. “It wasn’t because of you. And I’m fine. I can do this on my own.”

I didn’t know what was happening, but I felt further away from Zayn than I ever had. An alarm rang on my phone and my heart squeezed. “I have to go to work.”

He gave a sharp nod. “Fine.”

“Zayn, don’t be like that. I don’t want to fight. I just want to take care of you.”

He shook his head. “But that’s what I’m supposed to do for you.”

“How can you take care of anything when you’re homeless? You need my help.”

Zayn stood up and squared his shoulders. His voice rose as his face turned even more red. “I don’t need anyone’s help.”

“How can—” Out of the corner of my eyes I saw a cop car slow as it drove past. The last thing either of us needed was the cops circling around. “Zayn, I have to go to work and us shouting at each other won’t help anything.”

Zayn’s lips twisted down in a frown, and his eyes narrowed. “Fine, go to work. I’ll see you around.”

“Zayn, don’t—”

Zayn held up a hand and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I just—this is difficult.”

I reached out, and he took my hand. “I know. We’ll meet up after work and talk.”

He blew out a breath and nodded. “Okay. I’m sorry, I’m an ass.”

“Can I have a kiss before I leave?”

Zayn glanced around. “That cop is parked and he’s staring at us.”

“Okay, then just a bro hug.”

Zayn picked up the food bag and stuffed everything uneaten into the bag. He left out his sandwich, which I figured he would consume before he left the park. It had to be tough living like this. I had my bed, my room, food, and I was protected from the weather. I wasn’t sure what Zayn would do the next time a storm blew through. Some of the storms here were brutal.

I moved to the side of the table where Zayn was and pulled him into a hug. He resisted but relented once my chest pressed against his. The slaps to my back resonated through my body, all the way to my toes. We weren’t touching for long because Zayn stepped back, his eyes still on the parking lot and the cop.

“I don’t want him following me,” Zayn said.

“I’ll walk towards him. If he looks like he’s going to follow you, I’ll wave him down and keep him busy.”

“How?” Worry spread across Zayn’s face.

We were in a weird place. Zayn wanting to take care of me though he couldn’t even take care of himself. I understood his desires, but he needed to just let me do a few things for him.

“A few cops go to my dad’s church. If he’s not one of them, I’ll say I thought he was.”

Zayn’s brows bunched, and he shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t like the idea of you approaching a police officer. What if he starts some trouble?”

“Zayn, you need a chance to get away. I’m clean-cut and look harmless.”

He blew out a huff of breath. “Are you saying I don’t look harmless?”

My heart sped up. I shook my head. “No, man, you look dangerously hot and sexy.”

Zayn rolled his eyes. “No, you’re the sexy one.”

I laughed. “Neither one of us will win this argument.”

Zayn shrugged. “Probably not.”

“Okay, you go the other way, I’ll go talk to the cop then head to work. I get off at two.”

Zayn winked and then grabbed his stuff. “I’ll see you here, later.”

“Yes, later. And you know I’m helping you.”

Zayn’s lips thinned, but he said nothing before he turned and walked away. Sadness filled me as I watched him go, but I didn’t have time to think, I had to catch the cop before he followed Zayn. I took off at a near jog, heading up to the parking lot. The officer looked like he was about to pull away when I waved. When I was about twenty feet from him, I realized I did know him. It was Greg, a guy who went to my dad’s church.

He got out of his car and stood with one hand on the top of the opened door. “Jason, what are you doing out so early?”

“I have work this morning.”

“Oh, where are you working?”

“The grocery off Napier.”

“Doesn’t Dave Johnson’s mom run that store?”

I nodded, hoping Zayn had disappeared from view. “Yes, sir. I guess I need to head out or I’ll be late.”

“One thing first. Who was that punk you were talking to?”

I glanced over my shoulder, hoping Zayn was gone. He didn’t need any trouble since he was already having enough. “Punk? Oh, you mean Zayn. He’s a guy from school who is going to church and wanted to do a bible study for students. He’s real nice. If you’re at the same service next weekend, I’ll introduce you.”

“He didn’t look nice. You should stay away from guys like that.”

I hated generalizations like what Greg had just delivered. He’d already decided Zayn wasn’t a nice person which was so far from the truth. Zayn was one of the best people I’d ever known. Sometimes adults just had no idea what the heck they were saying. They thought they knew everything, but really, they knew nothing.

I shrugged. “Well, I need to head to work or I’ll be late.”

“Do you want me to drive you?”

“I have my bike with me, and I’ll need that to get home.”

“Okay, but really, you should stay far away from guys like that. They’re bad news.”

I nodded, knowing if I started an argument with Greg, it would escalate with him talking to my dad, or worse, my mom.

Work was normal. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, and I was looking forward to two in the afternoon when I’d get off. I was standing at the front register helping Sam, one of the cashiers, bag groceries when Zayn came in. He had blood dripping down his forehead, and his white shirt had dirt and blood on it. I gasped, Sam gasped, the woman I was bagging for gasped.

Zayn’s gaze met mine. I wanted to go to him more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life, but I couldn’t. I still had ten minutes left on my shift, and I had to take these groceries out to the car. I held up my hand and mouthed five minutes to Zayn. I prayed I could get off early and go find out what the heck had happened to him.

The customer, one of our regulars but I didn’t really remember her name, took longer than I wanted to spend. When I came in, Mrs. Johnson told me I could clock out. I gave her a quick nod and moved behind the service desk where our timecards were kept. Once I finished, I headed back to the bathrooms where I assumed Zayn was.

I opened the door to the bathroom and found him sitting on the floor, his arms crossed over his chest, head back against the tile. He looked like shit with the cut across his forehead. His forearms had long scratches, and he had faint bruising around his eye.

“Zayn, what happened?”

He looked up, and his lips turned down in a frown that made him look pathetic. I moved to him and dropped to the floor. I didn’t know where to touch or what to hold. He just looked so sad and injured.

“Are you okay?”

He nodded as a sob escaped. Fear made me freeze. How badly had he been hurt? I feared what had happened to him. What if something awful had gone down? By the looks of it, something pretty terrible had occurred, but what if someone had tried to really hurt him?

“Zayn, tell me what happened.” He held up one hand and swallowed. I jumped up and moved to the door. “Do you want water?”

Zayn met my gaze, his eyes filled with sadness and something else that scared the crap out of me. He nodded, sending me out the door and into the store. I picked up a bottle of water and a sandwich along with some wipes to help Zayn clean up. I debated about getting Band-Aids, but bought a box, wondering if there’d be enough. Mrs. Johnson saw me checking out.

“Jason, I didn’t know you were still here.”

“Um, I’m heading out in a minute. I just need to use the restroom before I go.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re working here this summer. We had another customer call up and tell us how wonderful you’re working out.”

“Thank you.”

I didn’t want to be rude, but I didn’t have time to sit and chat with her. I grabbed my purchases and headed to the bathroom. Luckily, few people went into the men’s bathroom other than kids getting out of school. Since it wasn’t during the school year, no one had come in and seen Zayn sitting on the floor looking pathetic with fresh blood on his forehead and running down his arms.

“Here, drink some water then tell me what happened.”

Zayn took the water and drank almost a third in the first gulp. He pulled the water away from his mouth and put the lid back on. I’d taken two napkins from the dispenser and got them damp before dabbing away the dirt on his arm.

“I was walking down the street minding my own business when all of a sudden a dog came at me. I ran. I had to climb over a fence, and that’s where I got the first scratch. Then the cops found me and chased me. The chase didn’t last long because I hid. But while I was running, I fell down. It was bad. I totally wiped out, and I almost knocked myself out. They almost caught me.”

“Had you done anything wrong?”

“No, but your cop friend from this morning must have put out a message about me or something. Cops have been looking for me all day. If they see me, they make U-turns and come after me. The cop got close. I guess I’d been distracted by the dog and wasn’t paying attention.”

Horror washed over me. “I’m so sorry. What else happened?”

“After I fell, I found a warehouse to hide in. But I wasn’t alone. A homeless guy came at me. He pushed me down and caused me to fall down the stairs.”

I gasped, and Zayn flinched as I rubbed over a cut on his forehead.

“How bad does it hurt?”

“I’ll be okay.” Zayn took a wipe and rubbed his arm. He hissed in a breath. I took the wipe and rubbed gently at the spot he’d been working on.

“Maybe I can get the new key for the church.”

Zayn shook his head then squeezed his eyes shut. His face grew pale, and a shudder gripped his body.

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t do the church again. If they find me, it will be trespassing. I don’t want to go to jail.”

Blood flowed down Zayn’s forehead, and I wiped it away. I guess I’d rubbed off a spot that had already scabbed or something. Zayn closed his eyes and let his head rest against the wall.

“You need to eat.”

He shook his head, which caused him to cringe again. “I can’t.”

“I don’t like how you look.”

“Well, this is me.” Zayn’s angry voice echoed around the bathroom.

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

“What do you mean then?”

The fierceness with which he spit the question out caused both of us to pause. Our eyes locked and held. My heart was beating fast, galloping like a runaway horse. There was a knock on the door before someone pushed it open.

“Is everything okay in there?” It was Mrs. Johnson. When she spied me sitting on the floor, she opened the door all the way and gasped when she saw Zayn covered in blood. “Jason, what’s going on?”

Zayn moved to stand but swayed on his feet. I jumped up and caught him, easing him to the floor. I turned to face Mrs. Johnson, afraid of what she would do.

“Who is he?”

“A friend,” I replied.

Mrs. Johnson sighed. “Let me help you get him to my office. Then we can figure out what we’ll do.”

Zayn took a couple more sips of water before I helped him up. He shuffled to Mrs. Johnson’s office and collapsed on a chair.

Mrs. Johnson narrowed her gaze at me and shook her head. “You’d best start talking fast.”

“This is Zayn. He’s a friend of mine. He just fell down, and I’m helping him.”

“Let’s call your parents, Zayn.”

“That’s not necessary,” Zayn said.

“No, don’t call anyone. Please.” I had no idea if Mrs. Johnson would do as I asked. She’d been by the book with my parents and hadn’t given me any wiggle room. This was bad. She would end up doing something awful. I just knew it.

“Jason, I like you. I think you’re a nice kid, but something is wrong here. I can’t allow a hurt child to just walk out of my store without calling his parents. Zayn, give me your mom’s number and I’ll call.”

He shook his head, his gaze on the desk. No way Zayn would give out the information. Though I hadn’t known Zayn for long, I knew he had issues with authority. Mrs. Johnson being all up in his business wouldn’t sit well with him.

“Mrs. Johnson, Zayn is a great person. He’s a good friend. Please don’t call his parents.”

Her gaze narrowed, and her lips thinned. She moved to the chair next to Zayn and put a hand on his arm. He turned and met her gaze.

“Did your mom or dad hit you?”

Zayn gave his head a short shake. Mrs. Johnson didn’t look like she bought it. She met Jason’s gaze and nodded to the door. She wanted me to leave, and I thought about it, but I couldn’t leave Zayn alone.

“I’m not leaving him alone.” Bravery bolstered me. Usually, I did whatever adults told me to, but after standing up to my dad, it was getting easier and easier to say no. Zayn turned and reached out his hand. I took it, squeezing gently. “I’m here for you, always.”

“Okay, Zayn, if you won’t tell me how to contact your parents, I’ll have to call the police, and they can find your parents.”

“No,” Zayn said, desperation made his voice sound strangled.

“No? Then how do I get in touch with your mom?”

I cleared my throat and squeezed Zayn’s hand. “I can bandage him up. He’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad?” Mrs. Johnson looked at me like I was crazy. “You’re kidding, right? He needs to see a doctor.”

“I’ll take him to see one.”

“How are you going to pay?” Mrs. Johnson’s question threw me.

I had cash, but doctors were expensive. I’d heard over and over again on the TV and the radio when my parents listened that health care cost was out of control. I had a few hundred dollars, but what if it cost thousands?

“We’ll go to the clinic,” Zayn said.

“Your mom will see your cuts,” Mrs. Johnson said. She was standing up now, her eyes narrowed and her lips even thinner. “This is crazy. Just give me her number.”

“Don’t you get it? She’s not in the picture,” Zayn yelled.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

I couldn’t stay silent. “She kicked him out. She lives in Washington state, and she sent him here, but his grandmother tossed him out a few weeks ago. I’m sorry, Zayn. I shouldn’t have told her that, but I don’t know what else to do.”

Zayn slumped down in the seat and bit his lower lip. He looked like he might cry. The church was out. My family wouldn’t take him in. I had no idea how to find a place for Zayn to live, but I didn’t want the cops involved. Bad things happened to kids who ended up in the system. Just up the road, a two-year-old died in foster care. I didn’t want Zayn to have to chance it.

“Please, Mrs. Johnson, help us. Don’t make him go to jail or foster care.”

Five seconds ticked by then ten. It was painful. I knew it could all go to hell so fast. Though I’d worked at the store for a few months, I didn’t know Mrs. Johnson well. She didn’t play games, and she didn’t put up with crap from anyone. If Zayn said something smart-alecky, it would all be over.

“Why are you here when your mom is in Washington state?”

“I—I’m—” Zayn blew out a breath. “I was—”

Mrs. Johnson sat down next to Zayn and held his hand. “You don’t know me, and I understand you have no reason to trust, but, Zayn, I’m not a bad person.”

Zayn’s eyes grew unfocused, and his face squinched up. “I’m gay.”

“Oh.” Mrs. Johnson bit her lip and looked away. Her gaze settled on the wall behind her desk. “So you two met how?”

“The camp my dad made me go to,” I whispered.

Her gaze met mine and intensity burned a hole straight through me. “Were you hurt there?”

I shook my head. “No, ma’am. Not really.”

She turned back to Zayn and her eyes narrowed. “Where are you sleeping?”

Zayn picked at a thread on his pants. “There was an alley behind some shops.”

“Jesus.” Mrs. Johnson stood up, and I thought we’d lost her. I was about ready to say anything when she started talking. “Tonight, you will stay at my house. Right now, we need to get your insurance information. What is your mother’s phone number?”

“You can’t call her,” Zayn said.

Mrs. Johnson put her finger under Zayn’s chin and made him look up. “Young man, I will call your mother because this is wrong. You don’t kick your child out because he is gay. You don’t make them live on the streets. If you were my son, you would be at home where it’s safe. I may not have always done the right thing for my son, but I’ve grown a backbone recently, and I’m fiercely protective. If she doesn’t care about you, I will.” She blew out a breath and her body relaxed a little. “Now then, what is her number so I can get the insurance information?”

“It’s on my phone.” Zayn handed over the old device that didn’t have service. He slouched down, his gaze on the floor for a few seconds until it lifted to mine.

I sucked in a breath at the emotions swirling in his depths. There was something there I hadn’t ever seen. I didn’t know what it meant, but the cold glint that had always been there, hiding behind the indifference and upset, was gone. His lips turned up a little as he stared at me. Maybe this was the best thing that could happen. From what he’d told me, no one had ever cared for him.

Mrs. Johnson stood and moved to the other side of the desk. “What is her name?”

“Just call her Mrs. Anderson,” Zayn replied.

She nodded sharply, and her lips pressed together before her whole stance changed. This was a woman I never wanted to piss off. She looked like she could breathe fire. “Hello Mrs. Anderson, I need you to send your insurance information for Zayn to this fax number.” She rattled off numbers, her voice crisp.

Zayn’s lips thinned. He glanced away. I moved to him and put my hand on his shoulder. He wasn’t in this alone, and I sure as heck wouldn’t leave him. I would stick with him because he mattered.

“I don’t care what punishment you think he deserves, he will be treated for his injuries, and you will provide his insurance information, or I will call the police and tell them you abandoned a child. You do realize that is a crime to abandon your child in Georgia. You will serve time in jail and pay a penalty. You can give me his insurance information and send money to him at my address, or we will get the cops involved. And trust me when I say it will be you in trouble and not him.”

Zayn stared up at Mrs. Johnson, his eyes wide and full of something that looked like hope. She finished the conversation, writing some stuff down before going to her computer. He watched as she clicked on her email, typed then hit send.

“There, that’s taken care of. Zayn, we’re going to the doctor.”

He shook his head. “I’ve never once seen anyone talk to my mom like that.”

Mrs. Johnson huffed out a breath. “Well, it should have happened earlier. I need to tell my assistant manager I’m headed out. Jason, we’ll see you later.”

I didn’t want to leave Zayn, but I had a feeling she wasn’t going to let me go with them. “He’s staying at your house tonight, right?”

She gave a crisp nod. “Yes.”

I followed them outside and watched as Mrs. Johnson helped Zayn into her car. My heart expanded as I thought of Zayn being taken care of. I rode my bike home with my mind on Zayn. I wanted to call, but I didn’t. I dove into my chores, finishing everything on mom’s list then doing extra. No doubt, I was nervous. After dinner, I dialed Zayn, praying he picked up. He didn’t.

“Hello,” Mrs. Johnson said.

“Is Zayn okay?”

“He will be. Right now, he’s sleeping. He was a little dehydrated and had an IV bag of fluids. He’s on some medicine that will make him sleepy tonight.”

I was silent for a long moment, my heart thundering and my head spinning. “What’s going to happen?”

“I talked to his mother again. She’s going to give me some documents that will allow me to be the primary caregiver and guardian of Zayn.”

“What does that mean and why did you answer his phone?” I was so confused. How could this have happened so easily? Would she really take care of Zayn?

She chuckled. “Well, he was tired, and I asked for his phone, and he gave it to me. He’ll be living with us. My husband isn’t thrilled, but that’s not your concern. Zayn will be taken care of.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks. My door opened, and Josh stepped in, his brows raised. I needed to get off the phone before my mom knew I was crying. “Thank you, Mrs. Johnson. Thank you so much.”

She laughed, and warmth filled her voice. “Jason, I can’t just let a kid live on the streets, not when I know I can help. I’m sure there will be bumps along the way, so don’t thank me yet, but Zayn is a part of my family now.”

This was almost too much. Zayn had a place to live. “Thank you.”

“I’m going to let you go. I’ll have Zayn call you tomorrow or he can come by after you get off work. Get some sleep. Zayn is safe tonight.”

I hung up and leapt off the bed, pulling Josh into a tight hug. Tears came, though I needed to stop so no one else heard. He didn’t make me speak or ask questions. When Dianna came in, we huddled on Josh’s bed, and they held me as I bawled my eyes out. Zayn was safe and had a place to call home. The stress had been so much I hadn’t really realized how scared I’d been. Eventually I fell asleep in Josh’s bed, which I hadn’t done since we were really young. My brother and sister supported me, Zayn had a place to stay, now I could breathe easier.