My world was turned upside down. In a good way. Eric had kissed me. He had given me his New Year's Kiss! It had been quick, but soft, sudden, but warm. When he pulled back, his ears were as red as the next firework. I gaped at him, and he smiled sheepishly at me, scratching the back of his neck.

"S-sorry," he stuttered. "It just felt as if this was the right place, and like I'm really sorry, oh my god I just pushed myself onto you, God what if you didn't want it? Shit what if you aren't even gay! Lucas I am so sor-" I cut him off by connecting our lips once again. At first, he tensed up, but soon his hands found their way to the back of my neck, grasping it as if his life depended on it. My own hands were secured on his face, holding it steady as we kissed. When we eventually pulled away from each other, we were both out of breath, face flushed. Eric's lips were red and swollen, and slightly shiny from our kiss.

"Wow," he gasped out. I nodded absentmindedly, hardly grasping that I wasn't dreaming. "So... does this mean that you feel the same way, or?" Eric asked timidly. I let out a breathy laugh.

"Of course you idiot!" I laughed. "I wouldn't just kiss you if I didn't have feelings for you! This should mean that you're gay. Right?" Eric chuckled and traced his knuckles over my cheek.

"Well, you're a guy. I'm a guy. We have kissed. That should mean that I'm at least a little bit gay, shouldn't it?" he smiled, I smiled back.

The garden was still filled with teenagers, all making out, talking and laughing. Eric and I was standing on our own, just a little bit away from the largest groups of people. We were no longer pressed up against each other, however, our hands were linked together. The fireworks exploded in large, colorful flowers to decorate the night sky. It was cold outside, it made our breath turn into puffs of white air, slowly fading away. Eventually Eric and I walked inside again, not wanting to get frostbites in our horribly inconvenient clothing. Slowly, the garden was cleared of people. The party was in full bloom once again. This time, however, Eric and I stayed at the sidelines. We didn't talk. We just stood close together, feeling the warmth of the other.

Eventually I became restless. I wanted to do something. Subconsciously I began walking up to the dancing teenagers, dragging Eric behind me. The world around us disappeared as we began dancing, such as we had before. He held my hands tightly in his, and spun me around. As I became more breathless, he became harsher with the spinning. Ultimately I was so dizzy and nauseous that I had to stop dancing. I was panting loudly, sweat pouring out of my every pore, face red, but with a smile on my lips. Tiredness came over me, making me stumble slightly in Eric's arms. He grabbed ahold of my waist, and I smiled sheepishly at him.

"I'm kinda tired," I said softly. He smiled and nodded in understanding. "I think I'm gonna go to bed."

"Are you sure that you'll be able to sleep with the turmoil down here?" he asked me, obviously not tired in the slightest yet. I nodded.

"If not, I'll just call Manfred. I wanted to wish him and the other a Happy New Year anyways. You stay here, be the host as you should," I decided, he seemed slightly unsure, but nodded eventually anyway. I patted him on his shoulder and made my way up to his room.

After closing the door behind me, I threw myself unceremoniously on his bed, immediately picking up my phone and rolling over on my stomach. The group chat was unusually quiet, which wasn't very surprising as they all were in the same place. Well, except for me. I quickly dialed Manfred's number, he picked up after the third signal.

"Whazzup Lucky-boi?" Manfred's happy, and slightly too loud voice boomed from the other end. Music was heard loud and clear from the background, as well as shouts and laughter.

"It's good, but you'll never believe what just happ-" a loud crash followed by multiple shouts, from

Manfred's end interrupted me.

"Ey, shut up you idiots!" Manfred barked at them, murmurs of what sounded like a mix of apologies and taunts followed. "Sorry Lucas, what did you say?"

I cleared my throat, "Eric kissed me."

Silence.

"Oh no, he did not just fucking use you! Again!" Manfred roared from the end of the line, making me distance myself from the phone.

"No no no! He kissed me. As in, mutual like kind of kissing!" I tried to explain.

Silence again.

Then, cheers. A lot of cheers.

"Fucking finally!" Manfred sighed. Then I heard a grunt and Odd's voice appeared in the mic.

"That guy is hella slow, congrats Luke!" he cheered. Everyone took turns in congratulating me, then Manfred was back, out of breath and muttering.

"So, does this mean that you're no longer available?" he asked, and I could almost hear him smirk. My face heated up, instantly.

"Nothing is official! I mean we only just kissed toni-" the click of a lock startled me, cutting me off mid-sentence. I rolled over on my back, facing the door.

My heart stopped.

"Hello, faggot," Joseph sneered. Immediately my heart began thundering in my chest, filling my ears with its rapid thuds. I could distinctly hear Manfred's voice from my phone, but I couldn't make out any words. I could only hear my thundering heart, and my ragged breaths.

As Joseph took a step forward, I scattered back to the headboard, dropping my phone in the process. He didn't stop, instead he made a move to get onto the bed. I leapt out of it, an attempt to reach the door and catching him off guard.

Everything happened too quickly.

Strong hands grabbed me by my shoulder, digging into my flesh. I gasped as Joseph forcefully threw me on the bed. I scrambled for my phone, it was nowhere in sight. Shit! He grabbed my shoulders once again as he too climbed onto the bed.

I inhaled deeply, preparing to scream, but he slapped a hand over my mouth pressing me down with it. My fingers latched onto his wrist, scratching as hard as I could. He let out a scary sound, much like a scream, but also similar to a growl.

Immediately I began throwing punches, not watching where I hit, only caring that I hit. My leg swung into his side, making him groan in pain. With a small sense of satisfaction I kicked him again. This time my luck seemed to fade.

He grabbed my leg, holding it firmly to his side, and used his knees to push my legs completely apart. Fear flooded through my body. Joseph's free hand grabbed my left wrist and held it above my head. As my right hand was free, and he was completely open, I focused all my strength into the punch.

A satisfying crunch was heard and felt under my knuckles. His strangled cry bringing me an unlimited amount of pride.

He let go of my leg, but used his full body and his knees to force my legs apart. Both of my hands were now contained in his. Hot liquid dripped on my face. Blood. I stared in fear as Joseph lowered his face, blood pouring out of his nose, down to my face.

The kiss was nothing like the one Eric and I had shared. He vigorously made my mouth open, forcing his tongue to enter. His kissing techniques were sloppy, blood mixing with his overflow of saliva made me choke. As I began to cough, he pulled away. Blood and saliva dribbled down my cheeks and chin, and I could do nothing about it.

My coughs were raspy, and they hurt from the lack of air in my lungs. Joseph softened his grip on my wrists, and I wasted no time. As fast as I could manage in my current situation, I tore myself from his grip. Aiming for his eyes, I scratched my nails across his face. He screamed in pain, slapping his hands over his eyes. I kicked him in his side, successfully making him stumble a bit to the side.

I took my chance.

Never before have I tried so hard to run five metres, not while trying to catch a bus, not even when I had been chased by bullies not so long ago. I had my hand on the door handle when he grabbed me again. His eyes were blaring with anger, red, angry scratch-marks stretching themselves from his scalp to his chin. I was barely even proud.

Once again I was thrown on the bed, this time landing on my stomach. Joseph straddled my hips, securing both of my arms behind my back, pressing them hard against my spine. He tied them together with some kind of cloth, the flipped me over so that I was facing him.

He punched me in my face, enough to make blood dribble from my own nose. Breathing became harder. One of his hands, smeared the blood over my face. I felt the warm, sticky liquid cover my cheeks and neck. Everything hurt.

He traced his fingers down my neck, stopping by my collarbones. Picking on something. My necklace! Joseph grabbed ahold of the small pendant, studying it. I stared in fear at him, and he noticed.

"Got this from your boyfriend? You fucking faggot!" he growled, and with one quick movement he snapped the chain off my neck, unceremoniously throwing it behind him. My neck left to burn in pain from where the chain had cut the skin.

My shirt was ripped apart. I screamed as the fabric was torn in the middle. The scream was short cut as he shoved another piece of clothing down my throat. I couldn't breath. Or rather, I could, but they came out in short, erratic puffs through my nose.

His hands roamed up and down my torso, scratching harshly down my sides, most likely breaking the skin. Next, his mouth was on me. Biting, sucking, tearing. I began to cry, which wasn't very cleversince it became more difficult to breathe. His hand came up to my left nipple, tugging and twisting it painfully. I groaned into my gag, barely able make a sound.

Joseph's hand grabbed me by my hair, tugging me towards him. Disgustingly, he began licking my face and neck. Sucking hard on the soft skin of my jawline, collarbones and throat. He bit down on my neck, breaking the skin. I screamed into the clothing in my mouth, desperately wanting to call out Eric's name.

But the time had barely passed two in the morning, the guests not even considering leaving yet. Eric wouldn't come up here in hours. And where did that leave me?

My pants were tugged down, along with my boxers. This is when reality struck me.

Joseph was going to rape me.

I screamed pathetically into my gag. Wriggling and kicking in despair to get away. He flipped me over again, pulling my arms into an angle so unnatural that I was sure they were going to break. My legs were bent apart. I felt vulnerable and scared, being exposed to him like this.

My face was pressed into the pillow beneath me. Eric's pillow. It was already covered in blood, I wasn't sure if it was my own or Joseph's. Tears ran freely down my face. Slowly mixing with the blood.

His hands grabbed me everywhere. My hips, my thighs, my bum, my neck, my waist. He grabbed my butt cheeks, separating them. My face flushed red. I had never felt so exposed before. I heard him clear his throat, then he spit on me.

As his hand was shoved between my thighs, he leaned forward, so close that I could feel his hot breath in my ear.

"This isn't going to be over quickly."