It was a few weeks later and the trust in each other definitely improved their friendship. It was much more open, as much as that was possible without Josh actually revealing everything.

On this Thursday afternoon Lance and Josh strolled the mall, not really planning on buying anything just walking around and enjoying the atmosphere was enough, it were the last few days of Christmas vacation. The atmosphere was at its best around this time of year, the Christmas trees still up and the lights still on, making you forget Christmas was over already but it didn’t matter really because the feeling was still the same.

They talked about their Christmas, well Lance talked, Josh mostly avoided to talk because he had nothing to talk about. He didn’t get to celebrate Christmas because Henry hated it but he was content to listen to Lance’s stories about his Christmas celebration. Josh was enjoying himself now but trouble was on its way….

“Josh!” a voice called, Josh immediately recognized it and turned, seeing Henry approaching.

Did he follow me here? Josh wondered as he quickly checked on Lance out of the corner of his eye to make sure he’d stay away.

“What are you doing here?” the man asked and Josh recognized the angry and more than curious tone in his stepfather’s voice.

Henry had been suspicious, Josh had gone out to friends a lot lately and Henry didn’t know what to think about that. He wanted to know what was going on, being in the dark pissed him off so he’d followed Josh wanting to meet whoever Josh had agreed to meet in the mall. Henry never really paid attention to him, only when he needed him to get another beer. He hadn’t noticed the regular absence of his step-son but as the weeks and even months passed by Henry slowly started to notice how often Josh disappeared in comparison to a few months prior. He wanted to know what his step-son was doing when he disappeared out of the house. He had to keep control over him because otherwise he would loose his easy source of income and he couldn’t have that so today he’d decided to follow his step-son to see what he was up to.

“I’m just here with someone” he answered as calmly as possible, praying his stepfather wouldn’t drag him out of there and that Lance would stay away long enough for him to get rid of Henry.

“Someone I know?” Henry asked strictly as if he gave a damn but he was playing the nice father who is supposed to be interested in their child’s activities.

“No just a friend” he shrugged trying to act nonchalant but knowing he was failing. He cast a quick glance in Lance’s direction and saw him still waiting for his order.

“I’ll be home in time” Josh said quickly as a hint for Henry that he could go now but if there was anything Henry was bad at, it was taking hints. Actually he simply ignored hints, knowing when his step-son had something to hide and this was one of those moments so he decided to stick around.

“Aren’t you even going to introduce me to that someone?”

Josh groaned inwardly knowing his plan to get rid of him before Lance got back had failed. His mind was racing with possibilities, what could he do to make sure his step dad wouldn’t find out he was hanging out with the son of a rich man and even worse the owner of the house he should have robbed a while back.

“Well he’s quite shy” he said as a last attempt to keep them from meeting each other.

“Who is?” Lance asked who joined the two men with drinks in his hands.

“No one” Josh mumbled while he grabbed his drink from Lance taking a long sip so he wouldn’t have to talk.

“I see Josh forgot his manners, let me introduce myself; I’m Henry Matthews, Josh’s stepfather” Henry said proudly. Lance looked a little shocked, Josh never mentioned a stepfather but he shook the man’s hand nevertheless.

“I’m Lance B…”

Josh coughed loudly, pretending to choke on his drink which made the rest of Lance’s last name inaudible. Henry shot Josh a warningful glance before returning his attention on Lance.

“Excuse me, what did you say your last name was?” he asked politely. Josh closed his eyes and prayed Henry wouldn’t recognize it while Lance answered his question,

“Bass sir, Lance Bass”

Josh slowly opened his eyes, peeking out from under his eyelids scanning Henry’s face for clues whether or not he recognized the name.

It was a long time ago right? Maybe he wouldn’t recognize it, sure he wouldn’t remember all the names of the people he robbed. However what made this one different was that Josh had failed to rob this house and therefore the name did stick.

One glare in Josh’s direction gave him the answer; he knew.

He quickly sobered and smiled at Lance once again, “Well if you boys will excuse me I have to go home. It was nice meeting you Lance”

“You too sir”

“Josh be home soon” he ordered playfully, it might sound that way to Lance but Josh knew the emotion his step father was hiding; anger. He disappeared in the crowd and left Josh worried.

“So that was your step dad” Lance said carefully after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence as they walked over to a bench to sit down.

Josh nodded warily, “Yeah”

“I didn’t know you had one”

“Well there is a lot you don’t know” Josh snapped and immediately regretted it.

“I’m sorry” he apologized looking down at his shoes.

“It’s ok” Lance said looking at his friend, he didn’t know what just happened, something upset him though, changed his mood completely and he knew Josh’s step dad was the cause of it. Lance just didn’t know why and what Josh’s step dad could have possibly said to him that changed his attitude towards him.

“I’m sorry Lance, sometimes he just reminds me of my mom and I don’t know it gets to me” Josh ended his apology with a shrug.

“What do you mean?”

“He just… I don’t know” Josh said, he didn’t know where Lance was going with this question.

“Where is your mom?” Lance asked carefully, sensing something was not right.

“She’s um… she’s dead” Josh said hesitantly, gazing down at his hands.

“Oh my” Lance gasped, shocked to hear this information. It was the first bit of information he’d gotten to know about Josh’s life. He knew he would have not found out if they hadn’t run into Josh’s stepfather but although that had been a shock it was nothing compared to how he felt hearing this bit of information.

“I’m sorry” Lance said softly, the shock driven out the volume in his voice but it was respect as well. Josh had actually tears in his eyes when he met Lance’s compassionate ones.

“Thanks” he whispered, he swallowed hard.

It was still so hard to think about his mother, he missed her still so much, his life had changed so much since she died and changed in a bad way; it made him long for her. He craved for her to make it all better again, to make Henry stop and to make him a normal teenager again.

“When… when did she die?” Lance asked carefully, he didn’t know if it was a good idea to continue with his questions but he also saw this opportunity would not present itself again in the near future so he asked, if Josh didn’t want to answer he wouldn’t press the issue but he had to ask, it might be the only chance he got to an insight in Josh’s life. Josh looked up at him, he brushed away a tear and swallowed.

“Two years… she died… two years ago” Josh told him. He decided to tell, he needed to share this, he wanted to share this with Lance. He now trusted Lance but he would still be careful with how many questions he would allow and answer.

“I’m sorry…. I had no idea” Lance said apologetically although he did not know what he was apologizing for exactly he just felt he had to. Josh tried to smile but failed miserably, he nodded though.

“So… it’s just you and… Henry?” Lance asked carefully after a few minutes of silence.

Josh brushed away a few more tears as he nodded. “Yeah”

Lance did not know what to say or to do, finally he slowly moved closer to Josh and put his arm around him. Josh flinched at the touch but relaxed almost immediately when he looked in Lance’s concerned and gentle green eyes. He slumped in Lance’s half embrace and allowed the comfort of a true friend.

“I’m sorry Josh” he whispered as he rocked them both slightly, not caring they were in the middle of the mall and received quite a few strange glances from the people passing by.

“Thanks” he whispered back as they continued to rock, Lance offering comfort and Josh for the first time allowing someone to comfort him, letting his walls down completely and trusting Lance to not take advantage of his weak position. But he really did trust Lance not to and he accepted the tenderness and comfort with gratefulness.

“So you’re best buds with that rich kid?” Henry asked getting in his face as soon as Josh set one foot inside the house, grabbing Josh’s shirt pulling him inside and shoving the door close behind him.

“Henry, let… let go... of me please” Josh pleaded his voice slightly wavering.

He’d headed for home about 45 minutes after they’d bumped into Henry, forgetting him completely when Lance started asking questions about his mom. However when he finally pulled out of Lance’s comforting embrace, told him he had to go home and once on his way Henry’s words and glares seeped into his mind again. He’d dreaded going home but he knew he had to otherwise Henry would be even angrier once he finally did come home.

He’d expected this, had tried to prepare himself for it but no matter how much he prepared himself for Henry’s next temper tantrum it was never quite as he’d imagined and preparing himself for it was basically useless because he could never really be sure what to expect.

“What are you trying to accomplish by that?” Henry asked, fisting his hand in Josh’s shirt so he had a better grip on the boy while Josh squirmed and cringed in his grasp.

“Nothing” he said fearfully, almost frantically as he saw the look that passed the older man’s features. Indicating that his mind was forming a plan. Josh, by now knew the most dangerous looks, knew when he should stay away from him and when he was in trouble.

This was one of those looks; this look meant trouble.

“Good thinking Josh” Henry praised, nodding while the plan got details. Josh looked strangely confused as Henry released his shirt without even hurting him. He clumsily took a step back still in shock as he cautiously glanced at his stepfather.

“Huh, what do you mean?” he asked carefully, pulling his shirt back down and ironing the wrinkles out with his hands.

“You’ll get a second chance after all” Henry smiled brightly. Josh looked at him, his panic growing.

“I couldn’t find the safe back then and since you got caught...” he sneered which made Josh cringe.

“A big house like that is bound to have a save, there has to be. Find out where it is and check what else we can get”

“What? No!” Josh asked confused, letting the instructions sink, refusing immediately once they finally did.

“What did you say?!” Henry spat angrily, grabbing Josh’s t-shirt again, getting in his face, staring down at him with cold angry eyes. Josh shrunk back afraid Henry would start hitting him and he quickly tried to cover his mistake.

“I’m sorry!” he cried frantically.

“Please don’t hurt me” he pleaded in a whispered tone of voice, he couldn’t stop himself from shaking in the man’s grip. He desperately tried to curl himself into a ball as he anticipated the first blow.

Henry soon struck his left cheek with the back of his hand. Josh’s head snapped backwards but quickly recovered to try to avoid the other punches that followed. The air whooshed out of him as his step father punched him in the gut, he awkwardly doubled over and all he could manage to breathe out was; no, please stop. Henry continued his attack on the helpless teenager for quite some time, still careful not to hurt his face but the rest of his body wasn’t spared. It was beaten thoroughly and finally with the last punch Henry released him. Josh fell backwards from the release of force and stumbled to the ground, not able to hold himself up after the several punches he’d received.

“You’ll get on with it tomorrow, you hear me?” Henry asked harshly.

Josh was too busy trying to breathe that he just couldn’t form a word to answer his step father. Henry didn’t like being ignored so he kicked his step-son hard in the ribs. Josh curled even more into himself as Henry shouted at him.

“Answer me dammit!!”

“Yyyyes… ssir” Josh breathed through the pain, he hugged his knees to his chest the best way he could as Henry stormed off without a word.

Josh lay unmoving on the floor, another night where he couldn’t get himself up anymore and another night of pain. His whole body ached, a dull pain searing through his muscles as he cried silent tears. He didn’t move a muscle, his breathing was swallow and every breath was painful till he finally fell asleep, the aching that surged through his entire body got pushed to the background as he lost himself in the oblivious, dreamland; his only escape in life.