*Kyle*

I smiled my stripper smile at Zacky and walked over to him. I bent down slowly and kissed his lips softly and reached my hands behind his head. I grabbed the remote and turned on the television.

“What are you doing?” He whispered on my lips.

I smiled and pulled away.

“I’m keeping you awake.” I said as I sat up and turned on Netflix.

I flipped through the choices until I found what I was looking for. TruBlood. I looked over to Zacky and saw that his mouth was hanging open.

“Are you kidding me?” He said with an eyebrow raised.

I laughed and pressed play.

“Oh no. This will definitely keep you awake.” I said with a smile.

He groaned and sat up so that I could sit beside him.

“Well, this isn’t exactly what I was thinking, but I guess it will have to do.” He said. I laughed and we watched the episode.

For the next three hours, we watched about a season and a half and like I predicted, Zacky was very much awake. I think it had more to do with all of the sex scenes in it, but never the less it worked.

“Wait, wait. Sookie is in love with Bill, but she kind of likes Sam and Eric too?” Zacky asked. I rolled my eyes.

“Yes, but in the end she falls in love with Eric because Bill cheats on her with his ‘ex’ and basically rapes her.” I explained to him.

I’ve read the books so I know just about everything about Sookie Stackhouse and her love life. Zacky just shook his head and stretched his arms over his head.

“Do you think I’ve stayed up long enough now?” He asked me.

I shrugged.

“Why?” I asked. He turned his head to the window.

I followed his gaze and saw that the sun was slowly rising up over the hills. I laughed and stopped the episode we were watching and turned on the news.

“Well you might as well just stay awake now. It’s day time.” I said as I stood up.

Zacky groaned and stood up as well.

“Yeah, well I could’ve went to sleep too last night, but no.” He said. I laughed again and went into the kitchen to look for something to eat.

“True, but then you would’ve missed out on an amazing TV show.” I said.

Zacky just shook his head and went off to the bathroom. I giggled to myself and leaned against the counter. I was still in disbelief that he actually got Angelo to let me go. That has never happened before. Angelo took a girl last year to court because she wanted out of her contract early. He won. The girl had to work the remainder of her contract and pay him 500 for legal fees. How did Zacky do it?

“Hey, why don’t we go out for breakfast?” Zacky called from his bedroom.

I didn’t answer. Instead I walked back to his room and closed the door behind me.

“What did you do to let Angelo let me go?” I asked him softly.

Zacky didn’t answer me. He turned around and pulled his shirt off of his body.

“I just asked.” He said.

No way I was buying that.

“Bullshit. Angelo doesn’t just let girls go Zacky. What did you do?” I said.

Zacky stiffened, then shrugged it off.

“Does it really matter? You’re off the hook. You never have to do that again in your life. Just drop it.” He said as he pulled on a plain black shirt.

He sprayed on some cologne and started to leave the room. I caught his arm and pulled him so he faced me.

“Zacky, tell me. Please?” I asked.

My eyes caught his and I could see he was hiding something. He shook his arm free and shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter.” He said.

He turned around and walked out the door. I let out a deep breath and went into my room. Something was definitely up and I was going to find out what. One way or another.

Not long after our conversation, I woke up Troy and got him and myself ready to go out for breakfast. Zacky was having a cigarette outside and I was picking out a shirt for Troy.

“How was work Kyle?” He asked me. I smiled and sat down on his bed.

“Well, Zacky got knocked out, and then convinced my boss to let me quit.” I told him.

Troy grinned and ran out of the bathroom.

“He did what?! Are you serious!” He shouted. I laughed and handed him his shirt.

“Dead serious. Wait until you see Zacky. He has a huge bruise on his face.” I said.

Troy pulled his shirt on and then shot out of the room to see Zacky. I chuckled and went into the bathroom to check my hair.

“Whoa! That’s huge!” I heard Troy shout.

I laughed and gave my hair one last fluff before walking out. Zacky was smiling and Troy was looking at his bruise like he’d never seen one before.

“That’s worse than anything mo-uh grandma ever had.” Troy said.

Shit. Zacky couldn’t have missed that one. Troy glanced back at me and I just glared at him. Zacky didn’t seem fazed by it and just laughed.

“Yeah well, it was worth it.” He said, looking at me.

I blushed and looked away. He did go through a lot of trouble to get Angelo to let me quit. I just wish I knew the whole story.

“Alright, let’s go get something to eat.” I said.

Troy nodded and we left. After breakfast, Troy and Zacky went to Matt’s for a little practice and I relaxed at home. I was catching up on some laundry when my phone rang. It was Tate.

“Kyle, where are you?” He asked me.

“At my new place. Why?” I asked.

He sighed heavily and I could tell he was pacing.

“Because your mother was in here last night madder than hell because you and Troy were missing.” He said.

Shit. I groaned and sank down onto the floor.

“What else did she say?” I asked.

“That she was gonna kill you when she finds you and that she’s taking Troy. You’ve got to do something.” He said. His words were coming out fast and I could tell he was worried.

“Tate, what am I supposed to do? I can’t let Troy live with her anymore. He’s just a kid. He doesn’t need to grow up in a house like that. He doesn’t deserve that.” I told him.

“I know that Kyle and I understand what you’re doing but the truth of the matter is he’s her son. You don’t have any right to take him.” He said softly.

I closed my eyes and some tears spilled over.

“Kyle, she said she was gonna call the cops. I talked her out of it last night, but I can’t promise she won’t today.” He said after a few minutes of silence.

“Shit. Tate, I can’t let them take him.” I said.

I shot up and ran up to his room and started throwing clothes into a bag.

“Kyle stop. Don’t even think about running. It won’t do you any good.” He said.

Damn it. Tate always did know what I was thinking.

“What should I do?” I asked softly.

He sighed and I could almost see him running his hand through his dark hair.

“Take him home. Maybe you can talk to her about signing him over to you.” He said.

Yeah, like that would happen.

“Kyle, please. I don’t want to see you get hurt. I know you’re just trying to protect him, but you have to do what’s right.” He said.

I nodded even though he couldn’t see me.

“I know. Thanks for the heads up Tate.” I said. My voice was tight with tears.

“You’re welcome. And if there’s anything I can do, you’ll let me know?” He said.

I just nodded and he sighed again.

“Goodbye Kyle.” He said.

We hung up and I just let the phone fall to the ground. I collapsed to the ground and pulled my legs under me and started crying. I cried so hard I was actually almost screaming. If I brought Troy back to that house I would never see him again. He would be forced to live with that drunk for the rest of his life and there is nothing I could do. But if I kept him, she would most definitely call the cops and I would go to jail. Either way, I lose him.

After pulling myself somewhat together, I picked up the phone and called Zacky.

“Hey, what’s up?” He asked cheerfully.

“Zacky, I need you to bring Troy back.” I said. My voice was hoarse from crying.

“Kyle? What’s wrong?” He asked.

“I’ll explain later, just please hurry.” I said.

I hung up without even letting him get another word in and started packing Troy’s things. He was going to hate me for this, but my hands were tied. Not long after, Troy and Zacky burst through the doors and came looking for me. Troy got to me first and shut the door behind him.

“Kyle, what’s going on?” He asked.

My face must have said it all because he started to cry.

“No! I don’t want to go back!” He shouted.

I ran over to him and scooped him up in my arms and held in tight.

“I know baby, I know. I don’t want to take you back. But if I don’t I’m going to get in a lot of trouble.” I told him.

He pulled back and looked at me.

“She said she’s gonna call the cops if I don’t bring you back.” I told him.

“But she’s an alcoholic! She’s never around! How am I supposed to take care of her and me!” He shouted at me.

By this time Zacky had come in and was just standing silently in the doorway.

“I don’t know honey. But I promise I’m going to do everything I can to get you back, okay?” I told him.

Troy clenched his fists and pushed me away, hard. He grabbed his bag and stormed out of the room. I lost it. I dropped to my knees and started crying all over again. Zacky came over and held me as tightly as I was holding Troy.

“It’ll be alright. I promise it’ll be alright.” He whispered to me.

I shook my head.

“No. It won’t.” I said.

Our eyes met and I could see the confusion and anger swirling in his eyes. I gathered myself and we stood together.

“I’ve got to take him back to my mother. She’s threatening to call the police on me.” I said.

Zacky shook his head and we walked out the bedroom door.

“Wait, why would she call the police? He’s your son.” He asked.

I shook my head and grabbed my keys off the table.

“Zacky, I’ll explain everything when I get back okay?” I told him.

Before he could answer or ask any more questions, I walked out the door and looked in my car for Troy. He wasn’t inside.