The rest of dinner goes smoothly and I learnt a lot about Alex and her life back at Diamond Bar, she didn't have the plainest sailing childhood like most people probably expected but she said that's she's glad she went through it now because it made her the person she is today.

We walk back and go through the back entrance again avoiding any media that could still be lurking near the front entrance.

"I had a great night T, thank you for taking me out," Alex says as we get back to our room.

"It was my pleasure, I had a great time even if the beginning was a little emotional," I say chuckling awkwardly

"well I thought it was really sweet that you were willing to open up to me like that" Alex says coming over towards me.

"speaking of that, could we you know do it now since we're kind of onto the topic already?" I ask not really sure how to go about this situation

"of course whenever your ready I'm here to listen" Alex replies putting her hand into my knee.

"you know how I said that when I was 15 I ran away because the foster parents I was living with found out I was gay?" I question her. She just nods her head in reply.

"Yeah well I didn't run away they took me somewhere instead," I say

"they took you?" Alex asks sounding a little confused

"They were a very religious family and followed the Bible to a tea, so when they found out I was gay the only solution to them was to help me, and their idea of helping someone isn't very modern to say the least. They sent me to conversation therapy" I tell her letting out a deep breath when I finally said those words

"damn that felt good to say" I mutter to no one in particular.

"They're still a thing?!" Alex asks me in shock

"Unfortunately yes, they stay open because of the sicko rich people who fund them" I say thinking about all the athletes and millionaires that came through that place.

"Jesus Christ, how long were you there for?" I get asked by a very concerned looking Alex.

"Almost a year, they did a lot of horrible stuff to the patients in there, beat us, starved us, forced manual labour on to us, electrocuted us. Raped us " I say looking down at my feet

"I'm so sorry T," Alex says making my heart melt a little.

"We couldn't do anything, there was physically no escape and even if you did try to run away they would try and break you twice as hard. It never actually worked though all the patients that they thought they'd cured had just gone crazy instead. Being locked up and tortured on the daily does that to someone. To them being crazy was better than being gay" I tell Alex remembering the scream of other people in their rooms around be, banging their bodies against door and walls until they knocked themselves out.

"How did you escape," Alex asks

"Someone came to save me. This man came into my room and I thought he was there for the same reason all the others were but he wasn't, he handed me a key and a shit ton of money and told me to run when the sun went down. He told me everything was going to be okay, you'll be okay" I say reciting the phrase that's got me so far in life.

"it all makes sense now, why that phrase means so much to you and why you took Law and Criminal Justice at college," Alex says putting the pieces of my life together.

"you know he gave me this card that day to," I say going over to my wallet and finding that price if card I've had in me since that day

"he told me to call that number if I was ever in trouble, it didn't matter if it was 10 days from then or 10 years but to use it whenever I need help." I say running my fingers over the battered edges

"Why have you kept it so long if you don't need it anymore?" Alex says

"well you never know what life might throw at you and somehow this number could be my last resort but the main reason I still carry it with me is because I might see someone who needs it more than me, someone who didn't get a get out of jail free card in life but they deserve a second chance just as much as the rest of us" I explain having been able to think about this for many years now.

"did you ever see the man who saved you again?" Alex asks me, rubbing her fingers over my knuckles

"No not since that day almost 10 years ago, I wish I could meet him and just let him know that I'm alive and that he was right, I would be okay because right now I'm living the best life out there" I say turning to give Alex a smile.

"you're the bravest person I've ever met and I feel so honoured that you trust me enough to tell me about your past. It's a part of you that you'll never forget but I know it's made you a stronger person, I can see that now and I just want you to know that I'll be by your side no matter what" Alex says honestly as I nod my head to scared of speaking because I know I'll cry as soon as my mouth opens

"it's okay to cry babe, it doesn't make you any weaker" Alex whispers and that's all it takes for me to break down and cry into her shoulder.

"shh, I've got you T," Alex says running her fingers through my hair.

After I've cried all the tears I've got in me, Alex helps me get undressed and changed before tucking me in under the covers. She's about to walk away when I grab her wrist.

"I need you tonight" I whisper to Alex hoping she hears me

"Then I'll be right by your side the whole time" Alex replies snuggling in next to me.

"sleep tight T," Alex says giving me a sweet kiss in the forehead.