11 comments/ 23692 views/ 25 favorites Keep Me Safe Ch. 01 By: miles801801 This is my fist story so please tell me what you think. All the characters are part of my imagination. ~#~ Ryan looked up from his text book and groaned at the sight of his best friend. Yet again Miles, or Miley as he was known by some, was wearing nothing but a pair of tight, low cut, purple boxer briefs and looked completely beautiful. Ryan wasn't sure if it was a groan of mock annoyance or lust. He knew Miles was gay and had no problem with it or admitting that his best friend was gorgeous. His long silvery blond hair reached to the small of his back, his small frame so child like at 5'1" with not a hair on his body (or at least a visible hair anyway) and his eyes. Miles had particoloured eyes which could un-nerve some people under an intense gaze or look completely sensual under his long lashes. His right eye was a sapphire blue while his left was an emerald green. Ryan's own appearance was a lot different from his friends. Standing at 6'2" with a shortish brown mop of hair and permanent 5 o'clock shadow. Blue eyes and a slightly muscular build from his running. Ryan felt pretty average compared to his friend. Deciding it was better for his lust to not watch Miles walk about practically naked, Ryan turned back to his text book. Ryan had known Miles since they were ten and both had lived together since they were 14. Miles had no family left and had been taken in by Ryan's not long after Miles' 14th birthday almost 5 years ago. His mother had died shortly after his birth and his father was in prison while Miles had a restraining order against him. A week after his 14th birthday on the 2nd of November, Miles' dad had came home drunk. He hadn't even gone to work just spent all day drinking at various bars until about 6 o'clock and felt like sex. With no one else about he took the only option that he thought was available, Miles. His dad was a builder and there was no way Miles could even fight him of, drunk or not. Ryan had turned up at 6:20 to get some help with his homework but instead he found Miles screaming for help as he chased Miles around their home. There was a sickening cry when his dad caught Miles and punched him in the chest so he would keep still. That's when Ryan pulled out a hammer from his dads work belt and hit him on his shoulder earning a cry from the man as his shoulder blade broke under the impact. He stumbled clutching his damaged arm an ran out the back door. Instinct took over as Ryan knelt by his friends side as he shook and cried and called 911, his side already a dark bluey purple. Miles had made it through the incident with 2 slightly cracked ribs and severe bruising. That was when Miles came to live with Ryan's Family. Even though he was openly gay, Miles was very wary of guys. After the incident with his farther Miles had two more encounters with similar guys. The second, Ryan had been there to stop. Miles had been on a date and the guy forced his way into the dorm room after Miles said good bye. The guy had said Miles owed him something for paying for dinner and Miles said no. Ryan had been walking to the room when all he could here were muffled cries for help. He found Miles struggling underneath the guy who had his hand placed across Miles mouth. Ryan hit him and threw him out calling the campus officers as he comforted a shaken Miles who was crying and clinging onto Ryan for dear life. The third time Miles was on his own. He'd been walking back from the library and it was all ready dark. They had only been at the college two months and winter was already set in. Some guy had started to follow Miles so he tried to loose him, when that failed Miles ran but the guy was much faster. Something caught Miles foot causing him to go flying and land hard on his side, hitting his head on the floor staining his beautiful silvery hair with dark crimson blood. A second guy came out of a near by ally and help the first drag Miles into the darkness. The world was spinning around Miles as muffled cries escaped from his lips. One of the guys said something to Miles about how his blood had spoilt his pretty hair but it didn't matter. Miles was absolutely terrified, It wasn't the fist time he had been in a situation like this but it was the first he couldn't fight back and had multiple assailants. The second guy was undoing Miles' jeans which he made as difficult as possible be wiggling his hips. The first guy moved his had away from Miles' mouth for a split second to try and keep him still enough to strip. That's when Miles screamed. It was no doubt the most desperate pleading cry he had ever made, hoping that some near passer by would come and investigate. That's how Miles met Chris. Chris was walking back from the football field when he heard the scream. Instantly he knew what it meant and jumped to the conclusion that a girl was in peril . It was a shock to him when he found a beautiful boy that looked no older than 14 half naked and squirming franticly under the grasp of two guys. Chris hit the first guy he came to who he went straight down. The guy was big but Chris was massive and it was pure muscle. At the sight of his friend dropping, the other guy ran. At the sight of the blood staining Miles' hair so dark, Chris called an ambulance and the police. He turned to the pale little bundle that was shaking in his arms and wrapped Miles in his jacket. "Thhh...Thannn..Kkkyou." Was all Miles managed to get out between the shivering and the crying. "No probs little guy. What's your name?" He was trying to keep Miles talking to keep him from blacking out and aware. He was more likely to be able to tell the police what happened if he remained conscious. "Mmmm... Mi...Milessss." He struggled to reply. His body felt really heavy and cold so he just wanted to sleep but he knew he couldn't do that. Once at the hospital, Miles was given the all clear and told he could go home. He would have to take it easy for a few days and wasn't allowed to sleep more than an hour at a time in case of a concussion. And that's how they became friends. After those three instances, Miles was a little nervous around certain guys and he had became increasingly shy. He'd had about 7 dates over the short 3 months they had been at college but he never went on a second even after 3 attempted rapes Miles was still very much a virgin. *~* "AHH!" Ryan cried as something flashed across his eyes unexpectedly. "Sorry, trying to get my phone" Came the mumbled reply from Miles who was kneeling on his bed. His perky little butt was in the air as his head was pressed against the bed. His arm was down the side by the wall trying to get his phone. Something shiny under the bed had reflected the light into Ryan's eyes. "Err Ryan?" Miles called out. "Yeah?" He replied curiously, trying hard not to think of what it would feel like to **** Miles in that position. "I'm stuck." Miles said causing Ryan let out a short laugh. Ryan got up and went to help his struggling friend. The swaying little butt was all Ryan could see as he crossed the room. Without thinking Ryan spanked Miles cotton clad ass causing the smaller boy to yelp in surprise. However to Ryan's surprise Miles also groaned and wiggled that delicate posterior of his very provocatively. Ryan resisted doing it again. Once he could get away with calming innocents but twice and after such a strange reaction from Miles he didn't think he would get away with claiming it as a spur of the moment thing. "What was that for?" Miles said in mock annoyance once he was free from his dreaded bed. "Pay back." Ryan glanced at his watch 8:45 "Hey doesn't your first class start at 9?" "Yeah, why?" Miles looked at his phone and his eyes widened at the time. "AHHG!" Miles frantically got dressed in a pair of pale blue jeans and baby blue t-shirt. Grabbing his bag Miles ran out the door shouting bye and causing Ryan to laugh with amusement. It was 9:15 before Ryan realised Miles had left his keys in the room. He had got the day off and planned on just studying so he thought it to be no big deal. Finding it hard to concentrate after the mornings entertainment, he remembered the shiny thing under Miles' bed. After some rummaging Ryan managed to pull out the source of the shine. A metal box about 2 feet long and 1 wide and about 6 inches deep, with two locks built in was the source of the reflection. Ryan tried to flip the catch but not surprising him it was locked. Grabbing Miles' keys, Ryan found the most promising key. A small silver key which fit perfectly into the first lock. With a gentle flick the latch popped open. The second lock did the same gently he opened the lid as if something might pop out if he opened it to quickly. What Ryan found shocked him to his core... *~* Miles was hardly aware of what he was doing. Subconsciously drawing on the fresh canvas before him as his mind wondered back to what happened that morning. He was hoping Ryan didn't notice his reaction to when he spanked him and prayed for Ryan to be oblivious. He was glad it looked like he was going to be late. Miles was hoping Ryan didn't notice how hard he had made Miles when he was pressed against him and when he spanked him. In Miles' eyes the act had worked but unfortunately he had forgot his keys in the rush. Miles trusted Ryan with his life. He had saved him twice already, but Miles had a slight dark side to him. He wasn't as totally innocent as people thought. Yes he had never been with another guy but some things he had done on his own he hoped Ryan didn't find out till Miles was ready. "Earth to Miles!" A female voice said as a hand waved in front of his face causing him to jump back startled. Amy one of his closest friends had been trying to get his attention for the last 5 minutes. "I'm guessing you haven't heard a word I've said have you?" She said with mock annoyance. "No, sorry. It's been a frantic morning and I'm in my own little world." He hanged his head and smiled in reply. "It's ok we all have days like that. Any way what I was saying is that Chris wants you and Ryan to come over this Friday and he's gonna cook for the four of us. You up for it?" She asked. "Sure." Miles said instantly. He had introduced Amy to Chris a few days after he saved him and they hit it off instantly. Chris rented a small apartment about 10 minutes away from the college so he had the added benefit of his own space and kitchen. A lot of people thought Miles and Chris were dating, but the both set people straight. Yeah they mock flirted with each other but Chris was more like a big brother to Miles. A very protective big brother but who could blame him after the circumstances they met under. "Great I'll tell him tonight." She practically giggled. "Lucky you." Miles laughed, Amy got what he was insinuating instantly and lightly smacked his arm. "Yeah well I am lucky. Anyway what about you?" She questioned a smile on her face. "What about me?" Miles asked, not quite getting at what she was asking. "Guy's! It's been weeks since you last dated and half this class is drooling over you!" She spread her arms as if to encompass the room. Miles smile faltered and shrugged his shoulders, "Someone's caught my eye but I don't think he is interested." "Well at least it will be better than your first time when it happens." "What first time?" Miles asked confused again. "Your first time y'know." Miles stared at her blankly. "Oh my God!" she cried "Your not, no you can't be, It's impossible for you to be and look like that!" Miles still stared blankly at her "What?" "Your still a virgin!" She whispered in his ear. Miles blushed deeply and nodded. "Well screw me till Sunday. How on Earth are you still a virgin?" "Waiting for someone." Was the whispered reply she got before Miles turned back to his work. *~* Ryan stared at the contents of the silver box on Miles' bed. Some of the things he knew exactly what they were, others he couldn't believe belonged to Miles and a very few he didn't understand. The vibrators in the box he could understand, why he needed 6 and in so many different shapes and sizes he put down to preferences. The lengths of rope, chain and a collar and ball gag he didn't expect and was quite stunned that Miles was into such things but Ryan knew they belonged to Miles as most of it was purple. The black leather paddle with the words bad boy etched backwards into it scared him. It took him a while to understand why the writing was backwards but then he realised that if the person was hit hard enough it would leave the words Bad Boy raised on the receivers skin. The thought alone caused Ryan to shiver in a mix of fear and delight. Along with the various toys was a black silk nightie. Hidden inside the nightie was a small wooden box containing photos. Ryan's eyes nearly popped out of his skull at the first photo. The standard sized photo was of Miles in the little black nightie that reached just below Miles' waist, teasing the photographer. The second was of Miles in that little piece of silk on his knees with the collar around his neck and a length of chain in the photographers hand. Miles was looking up at the person holding the chain, his eyes were big and seductively biting his bottom lip. Ryan couldn't help but see the need, the begging in those big particoloured eyes. Ryan became hard instantly at the sight of the third and final photo. Miles was tied down to a bed but not his own. At a closer look he could see that it was HIS bed his best friend was tied to. Miles' wrists were bound above his head with purple rope, and his legs held wide by more. The nightie had been raised to just above Miles' belly button reviling a pair of small black boxer briefs that couldn't hid Miles' arousal. The head of Miles glistening dick peaked out from under the waistband of the straining underwear. Miles' eyes were half lidded and again he was biting his bottom lip. The whole scene screamed touch me but the look of lust and need that crossed Miles' face hit Ryan hard. The more Ryan looked at the pictures the more he wanted to be the photographer, the more he wanted to hear Miles beg for his touch, the more he wanted Miles in his arms. Reluctantly Ryan placed the photos down and picked up the last two items in the box. Two small black leather diaries. One bound in fine chain and the other in thin purple ribbon. Ryan carefully undid the chain bindings on the first diary making sure he knew how to wrap it back up. Miles had bound it so the chain made a kind of angular heart shape in the middle of the book which Ryan had to admire. Once free of the chain, Ryan began reading the first few pages. It had started of as a simple store bought diary but Ryan could see where Miles had attached the leather to the cover. The diary was very recent. All the pages before the start of the school year had been removed making the book start in September. It was literally full of numbers and times. Every day there was a tally then a series of times always in pairs. Ryan flicked through the diary watching the numbers in the tally increase and decrease. He couldn't make heads or tails out of what the numbers meant but they had some significance to Miles. He noticed for every mark on the tally there were 2 times recorded. Most of the days averaged about 4 marks a day with times from 5am to midnight but every now and then the numbers reached about 7. When Ryan got to about 2 weeks before there current date he noticed the numbers shot up. The week before last the numbers changed from the steady 3s, 4s and 5s to 10s, 11s. One date particularity caught Ryan's eyes. The Friday before last had been circled and a big number 13 had been written in the space. He looked at the times and they were nearly continuous starting at 8am and not ending till midnight. Ryan wondered what had happened that week for the numbers to rise. Something niggled him about the dates that he 't quite put his fingerer on. Suddenly it clicked. Looking back to the dates with the highest tally scores, Ryan realised they were always dates that he had something important on or had to leave college. Two weeks ago he had had his Grandfathers funeral. He'd been gone 7 days and in those 7 days Miles had racked up a score of 67. Ryan began to wonder if the other diary was the counterpart to this one. Each only containing part of the information needed to complete. Just as Ryan reached for the other book, his phone let out a short series of beeps indicating a text received. The message was from Miles reading 'Hi Im just packing up and I cant find my keys are you in the room? X'. "Damm!" Ryan almost shouted he quickly sent a message back saying he was in the room as he hurried to put the stuff he had found back in the box. He'd have to wait till Miles was gone before he could check the last diary to see what secrets it contained. Putting the chain back on was harder than he thought as it kept on slipping. As he was putting the diary's back in the box he realised he wouldn't be able to get them back out again without the little silver key. Reluctantly Ryan pushed the box back under the bed when there was a gentle knock at the door. Ryan opened the door to find a flustered Miles on the other side. "Lost your keys?" He said causally. "Yeah, I can't believe I did that." Miles shook his head causing he long silvery hair to sway back and forth. Ryan felt kinda sorry for Miles. The smaller boy looked almost lost and on the verge of tears and it struck Ryan like a knife to the heart. Ryan wondered if Miles upset was because he had lost his key's in general or the fact he had lost the key to his secret box that would surely be difficult to replace. When Miles lay back on his bed Ryan took the opportunity to put the poor boys keys right onto his lap. "What the..Where were they!?" Miles shot up as he realised his keys were in his lap. Ryan thought about his answerer. He could tell the truth and say he forgot them this morning or see what reaction he would get if he said he found them under Miles' bed. Then again Miles might get scared and hide the box somewhere else, somewhere safer. "You left them on the side this morning." Ryan shrugged. "Sorry, I was going out of my mind thinking where they could have gone." Miles began to put his art stuff away then turned to Ryan who was at his desk reading his text book. "Hey, Amy and Chris have asked us over for dinner friday night wanna go?" "Sure" Ryan mumbled his lack of conversation cause Miles to frown but he put it down to exam nerves. As far as Miles was concerned Ryan had been studying for the last 3 hours. Keep Me Safe Ch. 02 Miles sat alone at a table in the canteen nudging his food around the plate. It wasn't like he didn't like the food but he found himself not wanting to eat. Ryan had been really funny with him the last few days, hardly speaking to him. Even when he did speak his comments were sarcastic and in an acidic tone. The more Miles thought about what he could have done to upset Ryan the more he came to the conclusion that it was because of Monday. He and Ryan had been fine up until then and the thought that such a small notion offended him was like stabbing Miles in the heart. Over the past few weeks Miles had noticed certain things about Ryan. Miles had loved his best friend for years but he always kept it to himself, never letting on that he wish he and Ryan could be so much more than friends. He had never been able to tell if Ryan was interested but more recently Ryan would look at Miles in a certain way that made him melt. Touch him in ways that made him shiver and say things that made him groan. Miles thought his dream might be coming true and had decided to tell Ryan today but now all hopes for that had turned to ash. His friend was disgusted with him and all those little gestures were just accidental. Miles looked at the plate of food before him and gingerly took a bit of a lukewarm potato. It was still edible so he carried on eating his mistreated lunch. His thoughts disturbed by a group of guys talking behind him. "I'm gonna talk to that kid, he seem pretty down." Said a deep voice. "Dude do you know who that kid is?" Came a second. "No but he's in my classes so he can't be that bad." "Dave look, I know you like guys, oh don't give me that look we all can tell, but that's the Ice Prince. Your more likely to score with that big football guy than him!" The guys voice was half way between a whisper and a cry. A tall dark haired guy slid into the seat in front of Miles. He swear he could actually here the guy friends wince. "Hey little guy you looked a little down so I thought I could keep you company, my names David or Dave or Davey." The guy said smiling. Miles swallowed the reset of the potato before he spoke. "I'm Miles or Miley or more recently The Ice Prince." Miles said the hurt in his tone making the other guy wince. "Shit sorry about that. My friends can be ass holes some times." Again he smiled and it was enough to get a little smile from Miles. "FUCK YOU DAVE, BETTER YET FUCK ICE PRINCE!" His friends shouted shattering the little piece of calm Miles was feeling. He grabbed his sketch pad and ran through the doors. Fighting the tears that were threatening to fall. Miles had no one at the moment. Ryan been disgusted with him and Amy and Chris out of town till tonight, he was alone. Miles was half way to the little coffee shop by campus when a hand was placed firmly on his shoulder. Miles froze. "No, please no." Miles repeatedly whispered the tears that he fought back now running freely. The hand spun Miles round. Not wishing to see the owner of the hands face. "Oh God. I'm so so sorry I didn't mean to, fuck." Miles was pulled into Dave's hug as he broke down. The initial fear was gone but that spark had opened the flood gates. Miles didn't realise he was at the coffee shop till a glass of water and a large slab of hot fudge cake and ice cream was placed in front of him. "I'm sorry about my friends upsetting you like that." Dave said politely. "The really can be ass holes some times." Miles took a small piece of the desert and swallowed it. The richness of it helping calm him down. "It wasn't just them. You shouldn't have touched me like that." Miles replied gently. "They were fucking right. Sorry for disturbing you your highness." Dave began to get up. "No it's not like that, I thought you were like the others!" Miles shouted before sinking back to his seat. He didn't realise he even stood up. "What others?" Dave asked, one eyebrow raised in a questioning look. "I was.." he didn't hear the rest of what Miles said. Dave sat back down. "Sorry what?" he asked again a little annoyed at Miles' behaviour. "I...I thought you were one of the others.. When you grabbed me I thought you were gonna try and rape me." Miles said in barely a whisper not raising his head from the food. "That's not funny." Dave said seriously causing Miles to look up. Dave's face was a mask of disgust but when Miles' eyes met his it changed from realisation that Miles was deadly serious about what he just said. "Your not joking are you?" Dave said breathlessly. Miles shook his head in a negative. "What happened?" "I've nearly been raped 3 times. The most recent two were guys from this college since the start of the year. The first was.. was by my dad when I was 14." Dave's mouth was open in shock at what Miles had just said. Miles went on to explain what happened and that each time Ryan and Chris had stopped it before Miles was taken. "Your waiting for Ryan aren't you." It was a statement more than a question. "Yeah, well no." Miles sighed. "I was till this week. It's complicated." Dave looked at Miles confused. "What's complicated? What happened to make you stop waiting?" "Bar that fact that he's now horrible to me and wont even look at me. I'm just gonna get hurt." "How about we go out tonight?" Before Miles replied. "Not on a date, just to see a film. Yeah I know that sounds like a date but I mean as a friend trying to cheer up another friend kind of way and with no sexual contact or meaning behind it. I promise." "Mm I guess that would be ok." Miles replied. He stood up "Nature calls." Miles said lightly blushing. As he walked away Dave watched the small boys perfect perky bum sway side to side. While Miles was gone he quickly sent a text to his friends. 'I'm having Ice Prince for desert tonight.' Various replies came back. *~*~* Ryan twirled Miles' keys in his fingers as he walked back to the room. He had said that he dropped his keys down the drain and asked if he could borrow Miles' so he could get another key cut. The real reason was so Ryan could have a key to Miles' box. Ryan had been a bit harsh on Miles recently. Snapping at the beautiful boy or ignoring him all together. Part of him felt guilty for this but that flame of guilt was squashed by the need to find out what was in the other diary. When Miles had asked Ryan to go to lunch with him Ryan had said no. The tone he said it in put an end to all questions. He didn't turn round to see the few tear that escaped Miles' eyes. Ryan locked the door as soon as he got into the room and pulled out the large silver box that Miles kept hidden. He tested the copy key to make sure it worked and the a satisfying pop the latch opened. This time he went straight for the books. Carefully recording how to undo the chain and ribbon, Ryan unwrapped the books. Flying to today's date Ryan found a few knew entries in the black book. Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday had been marked 4 times while today had only 2 marks against it both reading very early in the morning. To Ryan's surprise when he opened the other diary for the first time he found at it was actually a personal diary. Everyday Miles had made an entry about something but he paid the no attention looking for the week Miles had made so many marks on. He found it. Written in Miles almost gothic style handwriting was the first entry of the week. 'Ryan's gone away for the week. I'm gonna miss him.' He skipped Tuesdays entry and went straight to Wednesdays and he found more than he bargained for. 'I made a new personal record today. With the help of that new toy I came 13 times and I'm not even sore. It would have been 14 but technically the 14th mark was on Thursday. I wish it was Ryan and not a toy in me. I can always dream of love though right?' Ryan repetitively read that entry certain that if he took his eyes away it would say something different. He counted all the tallies in the black diary and came to a total of 412. Miles had played with himself over 400 times since they moved here in mid September. His friend was a nymph. Then the last line sunk in. Miles dreamt about Ryan, more importantly him and Ryan. Hope filled his heart but was soon replaced by anger. If Miles loved him so much like it was proclaimed a throughout his diary why had he let someone take those pictures of him. He suddenly doubted his friends virginity very very much. *~*~* Miles had spent the afternoon with Dave and was willing to except the guy was genuinely nice. Miles picked up instantly on the flirty behaviour that Dave constantly showed and tried not to do the same back. Miles didn't want a boyfriend at the moment. In truth he was still willing to wait for Ryan. Just a little longer he thought. It was only a month until Christmas and if he couldn't see any chance by then he would move out of the room he and Ryan shared for the start of the next semester. If Ryan hated him the odds of his parents still allowing Miles to stay were slim. They were very nice people but if Miles was upsetting Ryan so much he wouldn't be able to stay. He wouldn't want to stay. Miles laughed in his head. The though of him upsetting Ryan was funny. If only Ryan knew the pain he was causing Miles right now. "What's so funny?" Dave asked. Miles hadn't realised he had laughed out loud. "Sorry, remembered something I was once told." "Care to share?" Dave asked hopefully. "Not yet." Miles smiled. Dam he thought, he was flirting back. By the time they had got to the theatre it was dark. It was only 7.30pm and the theatre was only a half hour walk back to the campus. "What do you want to see?" Dave asked. Tilting his head to look down on Miles. Miles liked taller guys but nearly everyone was taller than him. "That one." Miles pointed to a Sci-Fi flick that had only came out the other day. He and Ryan had talked about going to see it together once he had finished his exam. Miles had been looking forward to it but once they had brought their tickets he suddenly felt guilty. They stood in line for snacks which moving very quickly for once. Dave had a large diet coke while Miles had a bottle of water and the shared a bag of mix sweets. About half way through the film Miles went to the bathroom to get something out of his eye. When he sat back down and took a sip of his drink he knew something was very very wrong. There was a horrible after taste to the water and a slight fizz. Miles knew the water was plain and still. At least it had been an hour ago. Miles stole a glance at Dave's jacket and he could see the tip of a silver packet glinting in the screen light. 'OH GOD!' His head screamed. The bastard had spiked his drink. Miles tried not to panic, he couldn't take a lot of medication as the effects on him were extreme at best. He once took a pain killer and spent half the day in bed. The worst part was it was a non-drowsy variety and whatever Dave had put in his drink would be powerful enough to make a normal person dopey. Even the little bit Miles had taken would be enough to put him dopey for a while. "Err, I need to go the bathroom." Miles asked shyly pretending to sway a little as if the drugs were taking effect. "Sure." Dave grinned as he moved so Miles could squeeze past. Bastard Miles thought. Once he was past the screen room doors he ran for the exit. Several people shouted at him as he weaved delicately between people and made for home. He could feel the drugs kicking in. *~*~* Miles was burning up as he reached the door to the room. Everything was slightly spinning and seemed very loud. The cold handle of the door stung his skin. His clothes made him itch and were all pulled where he had tried to stop the sensation. When he opened the door Ryan was sitting across the room. Miles box laid out before him. "I've been waiting." Ryan said darkly. "Wh..what?" Miles voice was trembling. " I FOUND YOUR FUCKING BOX! I KNOW WHAT YOUV'E BEEN DOING!" Ryan flew out of his chair shouting at Miles who was cowering up the door. "Y...You what?" Miles was beginning to panic the world around him was crumbling and everything was really really sensitive. "I know about your play record, I know about the other guys and I know that you cant possibly love ME!" "WHAT O...OTHER G...GUY'S!" Miles was petrified he couldn't control his body and Ryan couldn't see it through his rage. "THE OTHER GUY'S THAT TOOK THE PHOTO OF YOU TIED UP AND THE OTHER GUY THAT'S JUST OBVIOUSLY FUCKED YOU!" Ryan screamed. "TH...EY W...ERE TA....KEN BY A...AMY FOR Y....OU AND I'VE B...EEN DR...!" Miles didn't get to finish his sentence before his head hit the desk as his seizure took hold. Dark crimson blood stained his hair and the floor as his body spasmed uncontrollably. Ryan starred in horror... Keep Me Safe Ch. 03 Ryan didn't know what was worse as he sat at the hospital, the screams or the quiet. Miles was unconscious when the paramedics arrived and he didn't regain consciousness until reaching the hospital an hour ago. Then the screaming started. The desperate cries coming from Miles made everyone feel sick. These weren't the usual cries from a hospital patient, these were cries of agony and Ryan couldn't tell if they were physical or emotional. The doctors had been able to stop the majority of the spasms but his body was still twitching lightly. They had told him that from what they could tell Miles had a severe allergic reaction to the cocktail of drugs in his system causing his brain to miss fire. To Miles' credit his body wasn't giving up the fight. Everything the doctors had given him had been rejected by his body as it tried to purge the chemicals out of his system. The bad side was even though Miles was getting better his body was destroying itself. He had constant stream of people trying to keep him cool before his fever did any permanent damage. Ryan was trying to think back to what Miles had said as he couldn't make out the last sentence before his friend hit the floor. The door to the family room opened and a panicked Amy and Chris were led in by an officer who then left without a word. Ryan sighed at least it wouldn't be as quiet. "What in hell is going on Ryan? How did this happen?" Amy asked frantically, Chris just sat in a chair with a cup of coffee. Ryan's anger rose at the girl before him acting as if it was his fault. "He swanned off with some guy and took something he shouldn't of!" "What do you mean?" she asked confused. That didn't sound like the boy she knew. " I mean the little fucker was shagging another guy then came home half dressed and hit the floor!" Ryan shouted. None of them noticing the doctor and officer that came in. "I don't believe it." Chris said calmly from his chair looking at Ryan. "Yeah well Miles gets up to all sorts of things with other guys so I can." Ryan said in a hateful tone. "What type of things?" Christ asked, Amy pacing the room trying her best to not hit Ryan and make things worse. "Like you didn't know, I bet you've had a go at fucking him too!" Chris was stunned " What the fuck's that suppose to mean!" The police office cleared his throat loudly gaining the attention of the 3 fighting friends. "Right before were go any further this is a hospital so can we place keep the shouting down. Secondly we have the toxin reports back from Miles blood tests and would like you to clarify things." With silent nods from the 3 of them the doctor continued from where the office left off. " Right then, Miles' test show his body contained trace amounts of diclofenec, rohypnol and various other things we cannot identify. Was Miles taking diclofenec?" "What's diclofenec?" Ryan asked. "It's a muscle relaxant and anti inflammatory." Chris said casually. "A few of the guys at college take it." "Right, we'll check that out." The officer said and left. "Your not saying that whoever did this was gonna take advantage of Miles are you cos the poor guy already had that happen twice before." "Three times." Ryan corrected mentally kicking himself afterwards. Neither Amy or Chris knew about what happened with Miles' dad. "I'm not saying anything like that and you three should probably get some rest. If you leave me your numbers I'll call when Miles awakens." The young doctor smiled a genuine smile. The three of them nodded and left, they had a lot to talk about. ~#~ "Tell me that's normal." Ryan handed the three pictures to Chris and Amy. "Meh Amy's done worse." "What!" Amy gabbed the pictures. "Oh! Oh, I took those last week." She shrugged. "WHAT!" Both the guys said in unison. "You took these?" Chris said surprised. "Why?" Ryan asked. "Yes, I took these. Miles tricked me into coming over then I couldn't resist. He said they were to entice some guy he liked that was giving him mixed signals." She said causally. "And the chains?" Chris asked. "He said the guy had expressed an interest in bondage and thought that if the pictures showed him tied up it would show that he would go out of his comfort zone but as soon as the collar and chain was on he didn't want to take it off. Neither did I." Ryan felt a wave of overwhelming guilt strike him. He thought Miles had said they were for him but he thought his friend was just making excuses. No one gave Miles mixed signals that was one of his problems about dating. Every guy was waiting to get him in their bed from the word go. Ryan knew he had been doing things he shouldn't of with Miles like that slap on Monday when all this started. If only he had respected his friends privacy he would have never of hurt Miles so badly. "Oh god." Ryan sighed and hung his head. "What have I done." "What do you mean? Miles was testing the waters with some guy and you found.. Oh OH OHH! IT'S YOU!" Amy screamed in delight. "How did you come to that conclusion?" Chris asked at his girlfriends jump in logic. "Well Miles has been trying to entice some guy but he had no idea if it was working, so he stopped dating, so this guy would know he was single. Who knows Miles better than anyone? Who does he trust most? Ryan." She said confidently without taking a breath. "I need to get him back." Ryan whispered partly to himself. "We'll help." His two friends said in unison. "But first when was the third time? Surely something would have been mentioned in the newsletter reminding us to be careful like the other two times?" Amy asked. "It didn't happen at college. It happened when we were 14. It's why his Dad is in prison." Ryan trailed off. "So Miles lost his Dad cos some guy tried to rape him." It was a statement more than a question. "No." Ryan answered "His Dad tried to rape him. I hope he can forgive me." "He will." The rest of the night was spent discussing Miles' and Ryan's dilemma. ~#~ Miles lay in bed. The room was far to bright for his liking. He'd been awake nearly an hour and everyone in the hospital was checking to see if he was ok after what happened. Even the police had been but the only thing Miles could remember was the cinema and Ryan's shouting. The thought of the latter brought tears into his eyes. There was a gentle knock on the door followed by Amy's tide of brown hair. "Hi ya." She said quietly as she entered the room. Miles smiled a sad smile. He was glad Amy had came to see him but he really needed to speak with Ryan. "Hi." Miles replied weakly. He was still drowsy from the medication that had been pumped into his system. His skin so pale contrasting with the black rings around his eyes. "How you feeling?" She asked concern etched into her features. "Tired, hungry and my body feels like that time Chris picked me up." They both chuckled at the memory. Chris bet he could pick Miles up with one arm not realising how light Miles is, the smaller boy went over his shoulder and landed in the pool with a slap. "Your always hungry." She laughed a short laugh before her tone turned back to concerned. "Do you remember anything?" she asked half hoping he did and half he didn't. Fiddling with the sheets in his hands, Miles gave Amy his reply. "I remember going to see a movie and running." "Ok." Amy said a bit to relived. Miles looked up and knew she knew more that she was letting on. Miles took a deep breath and continued saying what he didn't want to say. "And the shouting. Everything backfired on me. The photos, the teasing all of it and now he hates me." A few silent tears escaped Miles eyes. "Do you still love him?" She asked trying to get a glimpse into Miles' mind. "No, yes, I don't know." Miles sighed. "Every time I think about him it hurts just like.." Miles stopped himself from continuing. "Just like with your Dad." Amy said unaware till it was to late. Miles flinched at the words and couldn't look at Amy. Bad memories resurfacing. Ryan had always kept him safe from everything, school, the streets and even home but when Miles needed him most he wasn't there. There was no physical threat this time. No stones thrown at him, no people trying to rape him, just a shattered dream and a broken heart. Pure instinct took over. Miles curled up into a foetal position, silent tears left silvery trails down his face. Amy had left the room leaving Miles to the darkness the was eating him. It was a place he was very familiar with when he was younger but there was always someone there to help him through it. However now he was utterly alone. No friends or family left, just pain and darkness. For a long moment the window across the room looked very inviting. It would open just wide enough from Miles to slip through and just end everything. There would be no more darkness, only a brief pain on impact. He probably wouldn't feel it. 6 story drop and if he angled it right his head would hit first then nothing. No one would miss him, there was no one to miss him. He had decided that he would get up and take the short fall just as he heard the door open. He ignored it just wanting who ever it was to go away before he felt worse. The last thing he wanted now was some nosy nurse trying to pry into his head. They just stood there out of his sight, and then they spoke. Miles' scream was cut short.... ~#~ Ryan was with Amy walking towards Miles' room when they both heard the short scream. They both looked at each other and ran. Ryan towards Miles' room and Amy towards the reception to get help. Ryan didn't expect to find what he did. A Large man, a really large man was holding Miles down and had placed his had over Miles' mouth to silence him. Miles' eyes were wide, filled with horror and tears as he tried to escape. Ryan pulled the massive guy off Miles who took the chance to run to the other side of the room, curling up in a ball the word 'No' repeated like a mantra. Ryan had the element of surprise and managed to slam the guy up a wall. For the first time Ryan saw his face and even he stepped back in horror. "Mike!" Ryan breathed in shock at the sight of Miles' Dad. Ryan's anger exploded into a super nova of fury. The punch he threw nearly broke his hand and defiantly broke Mike's nose. He staggered back and ran through the door pushing past Amy and the two security officers. For the first time Ryan though of only Miles and ran to the distraught boy. Miles was curled into a foetal position shaking from the fear and the tears. A small trickle of blood ran from Miles' hand from where his drip and been pulled out in his haste. Ryan sat next to Miles and lent against the wall. Gently picking Miles up and sitting him on his lap. Miles' natural response kicked in, his body curling up and pressing against Ryan's warm body. Ryan's arms wrapped around Miles cradling the small boy and gently rocking him backwards and forwards. "Shhh." Ryan cooed "It's all right I'm here." He whispered into Miles' ear. "I'm....I'm so...sorry." Miles managed to get out, his voice barely a whisper. Ryan saw a doctor reach for Miles' shoulder and looked up. The threat in Ryan's eyes caused the doctor to step back. Ryan never wanted to see Miles hurt again. Seeing him like this was a knife to his heart and he knew Miles was going to be in a bad way for the weeks to come. He knew Miles had cut all contact of from his dad since he was 14 and as far as he knew Miles had always kept up with the restraining order. With skill Ryan stood and carried Miles over to his bed and gently placed him upon it. The doctors tended to Miles' hand while Ryan kept his focus on his face. ~#~ One week later Ryan could here Miles talking to himself in the shower as he came in. Miles had been quite quiet over the past week and he had only left the hospital two days ago. Ryan put it down to what had happened to the smaller boy over the past week. Taking the opportunity, Ryan laid out the plastic containers of Japanese food and dishes. They hadn't talked about what happened the night Miles went into hospital and only briefly discussed his fathers return. He was dying to tell Miles how he felt but he was just too afraid that after what had happened he had put Miles off so he had planned to seduce Miles with one of his major weaknesses, food. Miles loved Japanese food and not 2 minutes later Miles was stood at the bathroom door in a long black dressing gown. "Mm smells nice what's the occasion?" Miles asked, his eyes half lidded and smile on his face. "All will be revealed once food had been consumed." Ryan ginned and Miles didn't argue. Ryan felt like laughing at the bliss etched onto Miles face as the smaller boy cradled the dish of food close to his chest as he ate. Once they were finished, Ryan stood and placed the dishes onto his desk to be cleaned. Miles hadn't moved from his cross legged position on the floor and Ryan could see the top of the black nightie sticking out from under his robe where it had been pulled down as he sat. Ryan crawled up behind Miles and wrapped his arm around his waist causing him to jump in surprise. Ryan pulled him back against his chest and sat Miles in his lap. "Ahh! What you doing?" Miles asked in surprise at the sudden gesture. "Something I should have done a long time ago." Ryan whispered into Miles' ear causing the other boy to shiver in his lap. Ryan lent in and kissed Miles' neck causing a small moan from the other boy who in return tilted his head to give better access for Ryan. One arm keeping Miles pinned against him, his other reached round and undid the tie on his robe. Ryan reach inside and gently started to stroke Miles' mid thigh. "Ryan I..AH!" Miles back arched as Ryan gently scratched the tender flesh where Miles leg joined his hip. Miles was writhing in Ryan's lap and the feeling of Miles' perk little butt was making Ryan painfully hard in his jeans. "Please." Miles' moaned, him arching into Ryan's touch. "Please?" Ryan's smirked behind Miles. The single word a taunt to Miles' ears. "Touch please!" Miles cried out begging Ryan to touch him. "Where?" Ryan teased as he circled Miles' firm flesh causing the smaller boy to whimpering. Ryan watched holding back a laugh as Miles' mouth gold fished as he tried to talk. "Mnnrg,." Miles moaned as Ryan firmly grasped Miles' rock hard member. "Like that?" Ryan asked. Mile just nodded. His head was back against Ryan's shoulder. "What about this?" "AHGG GOD'S!" Miles cried as Ryan ran his thumb over the head of his dick all ready slick with pre-come from teasing. Miles was thrashing about in Ryan's lap from the intense sensations. "Ryan!" Miles moaned when he stopped touching him. Miles tried to turn round but couldn't. "What the?" Miles looked confused as Ryan came and stood in front of him. "Is that my rope?" "Yeap." Ryan grinned "Now open wide." Miles clamped his mouth shut and shook his head causing Ryan to sigh. Ryan grabbed Miles erection and gently ran his figures over the head causing Miles to moan. Taking this opportunity, Ryan placed the rubber ball gag into Miles' mouth and fastened the strap behind his head. Next he took Miles' dressing gown of his shoulders. He couldn't remove it completely because of the rope so he let it fall down Miles' arms decreasing his already restricted movement. "Perfect." Ryan grinned at the sight of his bound and exposed friend. Taking a camera from of his bed, Ryan began to take shots of Miles. The third photo he showed to Miles. It showed Miles bound to the bed with his legs spread and the little black night behind Miles' hard glistening penis. What added to the photos effect though was the fact Miles' particoloured eyes were coming through his long black lashes giving him an intensely seductive look. Miles' eyes closed, his breathing heavy from the teasing Ryan had been doing to. Suddenly Miles screamed into the gag as without warning Ryan Had taken all of Miles' length into his mouth causing him to buck and cry out with the intense sensations. Ryan was flicking his tongue against the underside of Miles' glands earning a mewling sound from the trapped boy. He used the palm of his hand to gently roll Miles' balls as his fingers worked in and out of Miles' hole. He felt Miles' sack begin to tighten and stopped everything. Miles let out a moan of disappointment at the loss of contact. Ryan untied the rope and the gag and removed what little clothing Miles was wearing. Miles tried to stand up but his body was still shaking from the sensations and gave up. Letting Ryan pick him up and lay him on the bed on his back. He closed his eyes and felt Ryan climb on the bed and slide a pillow under his hips. "Open your eyes." Ryan whispered. Miles obeyed and slowly opened his eyes just as Ryan kissed him. There lips met gently at first, neither of them wanting to be to forceful but when Ryan ran his tongue over Miles' bottom lip Miles couldn't help but moan. When his lips parted Ryan's tongue shot into his mouth and began dancing with Miles'. Ryan pushed his body against Miles' lithe form and for the first time Miles had noticed Ryan was naked. He could feel Ryan's length pressing gently at his entrance. Not trying to penetrate but teasing the puckered flesh with at taste of what was come. Ryan used one hand to balance himself while the other caressed Miles' flesh. His fingers lightly dancing over Miles' skin causing him to writhe and moan. They both broke the kiss to breath. Ryan always kept a part of him in contact with Miles as he he sheathed himself in protection. He hated the fact he had to use this with Miles but he knew he had to be sensible. Ryan placed himself at Miles' entrance and lightly pushed. He felt Miles' ring give way and let the first few inches slide in. Miles gasped at he penetration and Ryan moaned. Miles was hotter and tighter than anything had experienced before. "You ok?" Ryan asked wanting to make sure he wasn't hurting Miles. "Yeah." Miles breathed his eyes half lidded. At that Ryan continued to push in. His length a little larger and wider than average and defiantly the largest thing Miles had taken as his largest toy was a fraction of Ryan's size. "AHG!" Miles cried his back arching. "THERE!" Ryan knew he had accidentally found Miles' prostate and began gently stroking in and out of him, always rubbing against the little bundle that caused Miles so much pleasure. It wasn't long before Miles was panting hard, a fine sheen of perspiration covering his body. "Ryan I can't...OH GOD!" Miles cried as Ryan rapidly thrust in and out of him causing the smaller boy to come with a scream. Come landed across all of Miles' body from his face to his groin. Miles' channel ripple around Ryan as he came but Ryan was able to hold back his orgasm. He picked up his pace and began stroking Miles' length not letting it soften. Miles was bucking furiously under Ryan ministrations he had a death grip on the sheet of his bed. "I..I...OH GOD RYAN!" Miles screamed as he came for the second time. This time more furiously than the first. Come landed across Miles hair and the sheets before it ran to a trickle over Ryan's hand. The second time Ryan couldn't hold back. Miles flesh rippled across his own causing him to fill the condom and release a low moan of Miles' name. Ryan unwillingly pulled out of Miles and threw the condom in the bin. Placing little kisses on Miles' lips. Both of them exhausted and breathing heavily. Ryan when to get up but Miles pulled him back to the bed. Not caring that he was plastered in come he curled up to Ryan's chest and drifted off to sleep. Ryan gently wrapped his arm around Miles and pulled him close, smiling as he fell asleep. ~#~ Miles woke sweating and out of breath. Thankful the nightmare was only a dream even though it felt very real. It had been years since he dreamt of his farther but it was the same old dream of him been bound and raped by his Dad. He needed a shower he thought... Keep Me Safe Ch. 03 Ryan stirred in his sleep, he was cold. His eyes snapped open when he realised his bed was empty. He was cold because Miles was gone from his bed. The room had a lightly orange tinge to it as the early morning sun rose. He couldn't see Miles anywhere and there was no note or anything. It wasn't until he stopped moving that the sound of water reached his ears. The door to the bathroom was unlocked and the sound of the shower filled his ears. The idea of him sneaking and and kissing Miles caused all the blood in his body to rush south but what he found killed his arousal immediately. "HOLY SHIT!" Ryan screamed pulling Miles out of the bathroom. The water had long turned cold but Miles just sat there scrubbing his body with a wash cloth. Miles' skin had nasty raw patches from where he had scrubbed the skin away and was shivering violently. "Miles what did you do?" Ryan ask, worried about Miles' behaviour. Miles just sat there not responding, his teeth chattering as his body shuddered. Ryan grabbed a bottle of baby oil and began rubbing it onto Miles' skin to trap the moisture and sooth where his skin was raw. Miles just sat there shaking as Ryan gently dried him, trying not to irritate his skin more. Ryan had only saw this once before and it was the first night after Miles had moved into his house. "Shhh I'm here, everything's ok now." He cooed as he wrapped Miles in his quilt. When Miles started to softly cry, he was relived. Ryan placed Miles between his legs on the bed holding him as he cried, murmuring that everything will be ok and that he was there for him to sleep. It wasn't long before fell asleep Miles and soon after he drifted off, Ryan followed him. ~#~ Miles sat in the quiet canteen before it was to get busy with both his diaries out in front off him. He was obsessed with his last entry. 'Does he love me?' It was a question that had been running through his head all morning. He had felt so safe, so right, when he was in Ryan's arms that he didn't care about weather or not Ryan returned that love. But Ryan chased away the darkness that sat in the back of his mind. The same darkness that had made jumping out of the hospital window so very appealing. The same darkness that engulfed him in his dreams. Miles had felt sick with fear the moment he was in Ryan's arms at the hospital. It wasn't just down to his father's return but what he had almost done. The sound of his phone vibrating against the table broke Miles' train of thought. Tapping the screen a little picture of Ryan came up with the message. 'Where are you?' 'Breakfast.' Miles sent back. A minute later another message came through telling him he was on his way. Miles just sat there looking at the cold bacon on his plate wondering if he should say anything. The sound of the doors opening caught his attention. Ryan waved to Miles from the other side of the large room as he got his breakfast. Miles gave Ryan a confused look when he brought over a second tray of food and placed it in front of Miles. "I've already had breakfast." Miles said just as his stomach growled so loud that people over at the next table looked over in their direction causing Miles to sink into his seat. "If you count that mangled piece of bacon as breakfast you need to take it back and get a refund." Ryan joked. Miles smiled for the first time that morning and began tucking into the food Ryan had brought over. Leaving an awkward tension between the two of them. "Miles can I ask you something?" Ryan said giving Miles a serious look. Miles swallowed the mouth full of food and nodded, scared of what Ryan was going to ask. "How angry are you with me?" "What do you mean? Why would I be angry?" Miles asked, not expecting that question. When Ryan nodded towards his diaries, Miles understood what Ryan meant. "Oh. Ryan you didn't make me angry, you hurt me, really hurt me." Miles paused to let this sink in. Ryan just look at his food, he couldn't face looking at Miles as he spoke. "Now that I know what you were doing I can see why you acted the way you did and you were wrong to do that to me, but If you had just been you I would never have met him. Ryan I was with him because I needed a friend, because you hurt me I was nearly...." Ryan's head was still hung and was overwhelmed with guilt as Miles spoke, his voice full of pain but when he stopped mid sentence Ryan finally looked up at him. Miles' eyes were wide with a deer in the headlights look and all the colour had drained from his face. It took Ryan a second to realise Miles wasn't looking at him but just over his shoulder. "Miles?" Ryan asked with know idea why Miles was looking into the crowd of people at the counters. When Miles didn't respond in the slightest, Ryan said his name again with a shaper tone causing him to snap his attention back to Ryan. When Miles finally looked back at Ryan, he could see the fear written across Miles' face before his eyes snapped back to the crowd. "Can we go?" Miles asked not even waiting for an answer before he started to move, never looking away from the mass of people on the other side of the room. "Why?" Ryan asked confused at Miles' behaviour. "Because he's here." Miles stated as if that was the answer to all the questions Ryan could ask. "HEY ICE PRINCE WANT SOME OF THIS!" A voice shouted from the other side of the room. Ryan suddenly understood Miles' behaviour. In the seconds it took Ryan to turn towards the voice then back to Miles, Miles had ran through the doors to the outdoor seating and was running furiously towards their room. Ryan was used to running but Miles was fast when he needed to be and now was one of those times. Miles had just opened their door when he got there. Both of them were breathing heavily as they entered the room and locked the door. Ryan sat on his bed and pulled Miles onto his lap holding him tight and gently rocking back and forth. His hand was over his heart and Ryan could feel Miles' pulse begin to steady from the furious beating. After a few minutes Ryan noticed Miles had drifted of to sleep. Brushing Miles' hair gently off his face, Ryan smiled. "I'm a coward Miles, I'm such a coward." He said gently running his fingers through Miles' long hair. "I'm here for you even if you stop loving me, I'll always be here. I love you." He whispered to the sleeping boy who as he stirred in his sleep. Keep Me Safe Ch. 04 Hi everyone, sorry it's been so long but I've got myself a new editor! I would like to give her special thanks for the support she has given me. Enjoy. ~#~ Miles awoke on Ryan's bed to find him gone from the room. It was late afternoon and Miles couldn't remember much about that morning after seeing his would-be rapist Dave in the canteen and feeling the instinct to run. Miles also vaguely remembered hearing the words I love you from Ryan but he couldn't be sure. A loud knock on the door pulled Miles from his thoughts. Miles grabbed his keys from his desk and went to unlock the door. As the key turned in the latch, the door flung open, knocking him over and leaving him dazed on the floor. "Hello, boy," was the last thing he heard before a blow to the head knocked Miles into darkness. ~#~ Ryan sat in his car parked at the college as he thought about Miles. Ryan was determined to protect Miles and to show that he loved him. It had taken all his strength of will not to hunt down that psycho rapist Dave once Miles was asleep, but Ryan was afraid that if he got himself into trouble for exacting revenge, he could lose Miles. Ryan had told Chris and Amy to keep an eye out for 'Date Rape' Dave and then called to inform the police of the indecent. Ryan was hoping that his brief statement over the phone would be enough to find him again and he was sure the college would help out by providing the CCTV footage of the canteen. Protecting Miles, however, was the easy part, even though the boy was a magnet for trouble. The hard part for Ryan would be showing his boy that he loved him. Romance wasn't something Ryan was used to doing. His first thought was to take Miles on a date but considering what happened on Miles's last date, Ryan wanted nothing that would further upset his lover. In the end, Ryan chose a special arrangement of flowers . A white rose and a red rose, bound together by a purple ribbon with a card saying 'I Love You, Miles' on it. Ryan sat in his car for nearly an hour trying to work up the courage to go back to their room but again, he was afraid Miles would push him away. The many different ways Miles could reject him ran through his mind on an endless loop. So deep inside his head was he, a sudden tapping on the passenger side window made Ryan jump out of his skin. "You okay, mate?" a guy asked as he looked into Ryan's. Shaking himself from his introspection, Ryan got out, carefully picking up the two entwined flowers. "Yeah thanks. Just got a little lost in thought, I guess." As Ryan turned to face the kind stranger, a loud crack filled the air. Alarmed, he looked at his new friend, reading on his face the same worry Ryan felt unfurl in his gut. Seconds later, another crack sounded and as one, they both ran toward the noise as he dialled the emergency services. As they rounded the corner, pushing through the main dormitory doors, a third crack sounded. ~#~ Chris was on his way to tell Miles and Ryan that the police had arrested Dave for Miles's attempted rape. Apparently, the idiot had set up a web page titled 'I Nearly Fucked An Ice Prince'. That plus the tape from the canteen showing him gesturing to Miles and grabbing his crotch and they were pretty sure they had the right guy. The web site was full of guys talking about how they had failed to screw a guy who was hard to bed and Dave had written that his Ice Prince had legged it half way through a film. When the officers came to him in the canteen, he tried to run, only to be tackled by a woman half his size. Chris had argued with the police, pushing to keep Miles's name out of it so his friend would be spared the gruelling agony of testifying against his assailant, but in the end, the cops were adamant that without Mile's statement, they couldn't hold the guy on any charges. The footage from the canteen and the website, if it could be proven that Dave was behind it, were considered a crime only in conjunction with the attempted rape. On its own, the most they could charge him with was harassment, and then only if Miles wished to press charges. Apparently, the freedom of speech amendment allowed douchebags to say pretty much whatever filth they wanted. As he turned into the hallway of Miles and Ryan's room, Chris was stunned to find a massive guy emerging from a doorway, carrying another person over his shoulder. Spying a flash of white hair hanging free from the limp form like a white silk curtain, Chris knew instantly it was Miles. "Oi!" he shouted, getting the burly abductor's attention. As the man turned, Chris sprang into action, running full pelt at Miles's kidnapper. His heart was racing with terror but he couldn't have stopped even if he wanted to. Time seemed to slow as he ran and Chris was ten feet away when he saw the guy pull out a gun, aimed right at him. With a silent prayer in his mind, a booming crack filled the hallway, ringing in his ears and pain spiked through Chris's left shoulder. Weighing as much as he did and going as fast as he was, his momentum carried him forward and with a roar of pain and rage that rivalled the war cries of ancient barbarians, Chris slammed into Miles and his captor. As they went down in a tangle of bodies and a chorus of grunts, the gun went off again, the bullet disappearing into the heaping confusion. The trio hit the floor with a thud and seconds passed in silence before violence ensued. Before he knew what was happening, Chris was flipped onto his back by the man he now recognised as Mike, Miles's father, and narrowly dodged a punch to the face. With a howl of rage, Mike's fist impacted with the cold concrete slab beneath and with a pop, it sounded like his hand was all but ruined. Punches and fists were flying everywhere, some landing with a satisfying smack, others swishing wildly through thin air, as Chris and Mike fought viciously on the ground. The hallway was deserted, there was no one around to help and the situation was turning bad for Chris as he lay on the cold floor trying to escape Mike's grip. Mike forced his knee into Chris's chest, forcing the air out of his lungs and with the bullet wound to his shoulder, he was rapidly losing his strength. Chris saw a glint of metal just in time to dodge a knife slash to his neck and just barely grabbed Mike's arms before a second strike ended it. Both men struggled to control the blade, fighting against the other's strength, but the point of the knife was getting closer and closer to Chris's throat. Just as Chris felt the panic and despair of his inevitable death, the tip of the blade mere inches away, the echoing sound of a third gun shot deafened his ears and something hot and wet spattered across his face. Mike's grip on the blade suddenly went limp and his body slouched to the side, blood seeping out of the two holes in his head. ~#~ Searing agony brought Miles back to consciousness. His head hurt and his chest was on fire. Each breath brought blood into his mouth and his shirt was soaked in it. Apparently, he had been shot, a bullet piercing his chest, and now his lung was filling with blood, each breath becoming harder and shallower. Lying next to his head was a gun, the gun he had been shot with, he assumed. Half dead and fading fast, Miles could see Chris and his father struggling, a knife working its way to Chris's throat. Frightened for the life of his dear friend, Miles used what little strength he had left, reached for the gun and aimed it at his father. His vision blurred as he pulled the trigger, the blast rang in his ears and the kickback of the gun knocked him down, the weapon skittering out of his hands. Relief coursing through his fading body, the last thing Miles saw before he closed his eyes was his father slumping to the ground. ~#~ The run from his car felt like hours to Ryan as he pushed his was through the doors to the main hallway and made his way to his room. "Oh my god... MILES!" Ryan screamed as he entered the hallway, the man he met outside following close behind. The boy he loved was lying on the ground in a pool of blood next to two other bodies. In sheer terror, Ryan ran over to Miles's prone form as his companion checked the other two bodies. Kneeling beside Miles, he carefully lifted the pale boy's head and placing it gently in his lap. Miles's eyes gently fluttered open, the pupils dilated so much there was no colour left in his irises. "Ry..."Miles managed to say as blood filled his mouth and his eyes closed one last time. "Miles? Miles!" When no reply came, Ryan gently shook his beloved's body trying to get a response, tears trickling down his cheeks. He tried to wipe them away only to leave smears of blood in their wake. "Miles, please. I love you. I need you please! You can't go yet! Wake up! Please, Miles, wake up! Just wake up! Just wake up!" Ryan cried. The man from the parking lot came and pulled a devastated Ryan away as paramedics rushed in and took over, speaking all kinds of medical jargon and prodding Miles in a cruel parody of physical intimacy. The medic checking for Miles's pulse gave his colleague a sombre look and together, they moved the young blond to a gurney and rushed him to their ambulance. For the fist time Ryan noticed Christ being carted off on another trolly and Mikes lifeless corpse. Ryan was left on the floor in a blood covered mess with his two roses, both now a matching blood-red. ~#~ One year later ~#~ The early winter morning was cold and icy. Rows of head stones in the cemetery were covered in a fine white frost and Ryan sat in front of one particular marker. His heavy, black coat did little to shield against the chill of the morning and with cold fingers, Ryan placed a single flower on the ground, patchy grass receding from the dirt as the season claimed its toll. A stone angel knelt at the head of the grave, her hands open as if welcoming the one buried there. The death had come as a shock to everyone and his mother had wept for weeks when it happened. Ryan just kept wishing he had one last chance to say the things he never said, do the things they never got the chance to do together. He had visited this grave every month since it happened but this one was the hardest. Time passed as Ryan retreated into past memories, both good and bad, and the winter chill creeping up his extremities seemed to echo the loss in his heart. "I thought I'd find you here," a soft voice said. A warm hand came to rest on Ryan's shoulder, gently squeezing it for comfort. "Sorry. I just wanted to come here and say hello before tomorrow," Ryan said, warmed by the little gesture. "It's a big day tomorrow, he should have been there," the person behind him said. "Yeah, but I'm glad he didn't suffer much." Ryan sighed heavily and stood up. The hand on his shoulder slid into his and squeezed. "You ready to go?" "Yeah," Ryan sighed again. "Why don't you go get the car started, I'll meet you there." "Sure. Do what you have to do." The sound of retreating footsteps on the frozen ground told Ryan he was alone again, that comforting presence walking away as he turned back to the grave to say his goodbyes. On second thoughts, he knelt down once more, retrieving the flower and placing it in the hands of the stone angel. "I know I never said that I loved you often enough," Ryan whispered, as soft as a prayer on the wind, "but I do really mean it . I wish you could be here tomorrow but things just didn't work that way. I'll always love you no matter what happens. We'll always love you." Ryan stood and brushed the frost and dirt off of his coat. "Bye Dad. My fiancé's waiting for me," he said, a small smile gracing his face as he thought about Miles waiting for him by the car and their big day tomorrow.