Knowing sooner or later, they would need to get going. Whether it be home or to fucking Florida, they needed to go. Because these days, camping out in a stalled car on the side of the road was illegal.

But Justin didn’t want to go home and he told Josh as they traveled along the long stretch of highway, Justin’s back to the door, his legs stretched in front of him, his ankle resting on Josh’s lap. The brunette just smiled towards him whenever he had the chance to.

Justin looked different to him now. They were on the same level on this, their relationship having different standards, but both feeling the same emotion. And he didn’t feel so unequaled in the situation. Plus, he thought looking over to Justin again, the blonde catching his smile with a smirk of his own, he had said he loved him.

And got damn, if Josh didn’t want to believe him with very nerve of his body.

“Where are we going?”

But still...

“Justin’s going to hurt you, too... Going back to Georgia.”

Justin, watching as the elder switched lanes, noticing the twitch of his jaw, sighed. “Let’s stop at a diner, or something. Next time food is advertised, lets just go there.” He wasn’t hungry but even Josh’s smiles wasn’t masking the feelings beneath his eyelids.

They stopped at Piggy’s diner, advertising the greatest waffles in the world. Justin decided to see if it was legit, ordering the towering stack of waffles. Josh just shook his head, ordering a coffee. Black, he had grumbled, grabbing the container of sugar already. Yes, something was definitely still upsetting him. And though Justin hadn’t blurted the endearment just to satisfy Josh, it was needed and he had hoped it had worked at least. But there was still trouble wrinkling the brunette’s face.

He reached over and grabbed Josh’s hand. “Hey,” he whispered and ice eyes raised, the other trying to give a smile but Justin shook his hand. “Whats wrong?”

A thumb passed over the blonde’s palm. “I already told you–”

“Then why are you still sulking? At least tell me that.”

He leaned back, tapping his fingers against the dirty linoleum. He took a look at Justin again, squinting when he saw the ugly mark on the younger boy’s underside of his chin. He leaned closer and Justin looked behind him.

“The hell are you starin’ at?”

Josh reached out and tilted the boy’s head, and the moment he grazed it, Justin’s hand grabbed his.

“It’s nothing, please don’t freak out. You have enough shit–”

“You tell me what happened and I won’t ignore your question,” he proposed and Justin couldn’t help the wide grin that nearly split his face.

“I think I’m rubbing off on you.” He took a breath. “That makes me unbelievably happy,” he whispered looking down at the tabletop also.

Suddenly the waiter set down their plates, Josh grasping the mug right out of the guy’s hands, the sugar ready and thick into the swirl of brown. Justin took the oppurtunity to stuff his face, the thought of telling Josh about home life scaring him much more than anything Josh could say.

After finishing up and sitting for an extra five minutes, Justin stopped pretending to be reading the menu.

“You ever gonna tell me?” Josh encouraged, reaching over to lay down the menu and picked up Justin’s hands, peeking a look to the counter, seeing just a few patrons before leaning over, softly landing his lips on Justin’s, the boy’s wide eyes making his lips curve against the other’s.

When Justin’s eyes fluttered close, Josh twisted his neck and touched tongues before pulling away. Exhileration swam through his veins fluidly and he couldn’t help the beam that hurt his cheeks. “You wanna go?”

It was so simple Justin nodded, still a little awe struck. And just a little more sure of this love.

When they slid out of the booth, their hands were still connected, and they stayed together all the way until the truck, Josh looking back at the diner, expecting the eyes, but never knowing it would feel so good to be honest.

“You can tell me on the ride back.”

Justin looked over and, surprisingly, nodded. “Alright.”

“What did you do?” Josh asked, the night sky a bit overwhelming as he turned back to the road.

“You mean why did he hit me?”

They had been traveling for a little while, mostly going in circles, delaying the inevitable where they would go home and face the consequences awaiting them.

“Well um, I got the one on my jaw... I called him somethin’, I can’t even remember now. But he told me to say it again, and I did. He popped me and I got in trouble. Thats the most recent one. I think I’ve gotten hit at least once a day now, I...” He trialed off and Josh looked over, slowing. He couldn’t imagine what that must feel like.

“I’m so sorry,” the brunette said hushed, blinking.

“I’m... I’m not even scared, because thats the worst he can do now, ya know? And... and if thats what I have to do to get him to respect me, then–”

“That’s not fucking respect. And if it’s on the road to it, then you’re gonna be a fucking pulp before he gives it to you.” Filled with a rage he turned back towards the road. “Fuck, don’t tell me that shit,” he muttered.

Josh’s mouth was set and his cheekbones were definied by the usual flash of the streetlights, the shadow darkening before fading before repeating. Justin felt the words heavy on his tongue.

“You’re so gorgeous,” he breathed and Josh turned slowly, licking his lips.

“Justin,” he murmured and the blonde was at his will.

“Yea?”

Josh faced forward suddenly, his hand running roughly through his hair. “I’m... God dammit.”

“Josh, what?”

Blue caught his blue and suddenly, Justin knew something was wrong. That his proclamation hadn’t done much good, maybe even brought something even more horrible to the surface. This night was already so drama filled, he was a little exhausted.

“Josh, what–”

“I’m going back to Georgia...” Slowly, Josh caught eyes with Justin and swallowed. “You do realize I’m leavin’ in a couple of weeks... right?”

And shit. If that didn’t just dawn that by the end of August, Josh would be gone, back to school in Georgia and he would be a senior, still stuck in his home, his life unchanging.

“Oh my god,” he sighed and suddenly put his head in his hands, taking deep breaths to get rid of this overwhelming dejected feeling. What the hell was he going to do? Who was he going to... He couldn’t just invest himself into this and watch it go... Could he?

His eyes roamed over to Josh who was sitting starchly straight against the velvet interior of the seat, his jaw clenching again. He tried to imagine someone else, maybe even a chick. And damn...Shit, he didn’t know if he could.

And when the car slowed to a stop Justin still looking into the darkness of his hands, a soft hand wandered over his back, a warm palm slipping beneath his shirt. Fingers danced over the dips of his spine and he willed away the urge to cry and stomp and curse all at the same time, why?

“Just, we’re at your house.”

He looked up to see his grand abode, the dark door against the pale flanks, now painted whiteblue by the moonlight.

He watched the building for a moment, seeing through walls to what awaited him before turning to Josh. “Are you gonnna come up with me?”

TBC...

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