Chapter
8
Josh was up early the next morning. The hunger
finally forcing him out, he still managed to stay in bed till 7, Henry never
wanted to be up before 7 during weekdays and didn’t want Josh to walk around
the house either. Another rule, just because he could and another rule Josh had
to obey, too afraid of the consequences not to obey.
He quietly shuffled out of his bedroom, tip toeing
to the stove. He was so hungry and he craved for some scrambled eggs. He
quietly took out the necessary items before bending down for a pan. He made
quick work of making himself breakfast. The smell made his stomach rumble
loudly and he unconsciously licked his lips. As he spooned the food onto the
awaiting plate the bedroom door opened. Josh barely acknowledged it, he was so
hungry he only had eyes for the food in front of him. Henry sleepily walked
into the living room and adjacent kitchen, smelling the food that lured him out
of bed.
“Smells good” Henry commented as he sat down at the
kitchen table. Josh spun immediately, a deer caught in the headlight’s look on
his face as he gripped the plate tightly when he caught Henry eyeing it. Henry
smirked at him.
“Good, give them to me, I’m starving” Henry
ordered, motioning for Josh to bring him the food. Josh sighed as he eyed the
steaming scrambled eggs, he tightened his hold protectively; he’d made it, it
was his food, he was hungry.
How could Henry say he was starving when he knew
Josh hadn’t eaten diner?
He was fucking doing it on purpose and Josh had the
sudden urge to throw the plate at his stepfather. But as usual in the end; he
dismissed the idea. Because they all asked for trouble and trouble meant pain.
So he slowly walked towards Henry and reluctantly
handed the plate to him as he smirked satisfied. Josh couldn’t help it when his
stomach once again rumbled. Henry laughed heartily.
“This is gonna be good” he smirked before digging
in.
Josh watched for a second but soon turned back
towards the stove and busied himself with making a new breakfast for himself.
The smacking noises of his step father in the background very audible, he was
doing it on purpose but Josh tried to ignore it. He quickly finished it off and
scooped it on a plate, digging in hungrily, eating it at counter saved him
time. He quickly ate, settling his hungry stomach as Henry finished his. The
chair scraped across the tile floor as Henry stood up, he smirked as he saw his
step-son almost choking down the food. He halted behind him and placed his hand
on the boy’s shoulder, squeezing tight.
“Tasty?” Henry taunted.
Josh was stiff from nerves, he nodded carefully,
swallowing his last bite he said, “Yes sir”
Henry squeezed tighter making Josh cringe but he
fought to stay still. Henry tightened his grip even more, Josh’s face scrunched
up in pain but Henry didn’t see it. Josh had his back towards Henry and that
made him actually more nervous since now he couldn’t see what his stepfather
was planning. Henry wanted a response, a pained cry or anything till he was
satisfied so he once again tightened his grip.
“Henry please… you’re hurting me” Josh whispered
finally, squirming in the tight grip Henry had on his shoulder.
Henry smirked, he reached his goal.
“You’re a sissy boy” Henry hissed in the boy’s ear
and Josh shuddered. Henry squeezed tighter again before spinning, taking Josh
with him. He shoved him away, towards his bedroom.
“Go to school, get out of my face”
“Y…yes ssir” Josh said shakily.
He scrambled off quickly, getting ready for school,
anything to get out of this man’s way. It was the only way to protect himself
since it seemed that every time they were in the same room Henry made it a
point to hurt him, didn’t matter whether he really did something wrong or not.
He got hurt every time Henry was near and although he hated going to school
with all those people that hated him, like his step father did, at least they
didn’t hurt him, physical that was.
***
“What were you doing with him?” Justin asked Lance
the next day as he cornered him by his locker.
“We just hung out” Lance informed his friend
nonchalantly.
“Why?” Justin asked.
“Because he’s ok” Lance told him honestly, Justin
was acting like Josh was the worlds biggest criminal, actually he acted like
Lance had committed a crime by hanging out with him.
“Ok? Right!” Justin snorted.
“He is…”
“A thief!” Justin finished for him, not even giving
Lance a chance to finish his sentence.
“So? Ever heard of a second chance?” Lance asked,
he was quite sick of Justin telling him Josh was so much trouble, he would only
take advantage of him but Justin didn’t see what he saw. It would never occur
to Justin that Josh was a person too, yes he might have made some mistakes but
that didn’t mean Josh didn’t need the things Justin needed; friends, having fun
and to be accepted.
“Ever heard of getting ripped off?” Justin
countered, sure Josh was only accepting Lance as his friend so he could rip him
off later.
“Come on Justin”
“No, I don’t know why you trust him, he’s nothing
but trouble” Justin said determined, shaking his head in denial and disbelief.
“I think it might surprise you”
“Whatever Lance” Justin told him dismissively, Josh
was trouble, period.
“Let’s go to class” Justin added.
“Fine” Lance mumbled, giving in but this was far
from over.
