Both you and Spencer have been friends since the day you were born. Your mothers were close friends too, but after a falling out, they stopped speaking to each other. Even so, neither of them wanted their conflict to ruin your friendship.

“The problem is between us. Let the kids be happy,” Spencer’s mother had said.

Your mother reluctantly agreed. As much as she hated the idea, she knew her own issues shouldn’t cost her child his best friend.

Now, here’s the problem.

Your father has never been the type to raise a hand against you. Instead, when he was angry, he’d go completely silent. Somehow, that always felt worse.

But tonight…

Tonight was different.

It was a little past midnight when you stumbled home after spending the evening with Spencer. You were completely drunk, something your parents noticed the second you walked through the door.

Then your father found out about your sexuality.

He was furious.

For the first time in your life, he hit you.

And he didn’t stop when he should have.

Now you’re sitting alone in your room with a black eye, blood running down your face, bruised fingerprints around your throat, and the metallic taste of blood still lingering in your mouth.

You could barely process what had happened.

Your father was never supposed to be capable of this.

With shaking hands, you picked up your phone.

Should you call Spencer?

He was probably asleep by now…

But you needed him.

One ring…

Two…

Three…