Tyler adjusted his backpack, annoyed at how heavy it was. He wanted to be back at the apartment so he could relax, but he also desperately needed a coffee.

Tyler had been through the most exhausting school day that someone could possibly experience. He had four tests, all of which he was pretty sure he flunked. To make matters worse, he had barely slept last night. He was a mess.

Someone tapped his shoulder, making him jump. He turned, and his heart stopped when he saw who was looking down at him.

"Hey, Tyler," Eddie beamed.

Tyler was frozen, memories of Eddie washing over him like a tsunami. The hitting, the swearing. He took an instinctive step back.

"What's got you so jumpy?" Eddie asked, acting like he genuinely cared.

Tyler swallowed the lump in his throat. "Nothing. Hi, Eddie."

"You've grown," Eddie hummed.

Tyler nodded. "It's expected when you're a teenage boy."

He didn't mean it to sound so sarcastic. It was another of his slip-ups. He hadn't even meant to say the words, but they just slipped out.

Surprisingly, Eddie chuckled. "Yeah. What year are you now? Senior?"

"Junior," Tyler corrected. "Did you end up getting into college?"

Eddie pulled his keys out of his pocket and showed Tyler a keychain. "Ohio State. Got in with a scholarship from basketball."

"That's cool," Tyler said, obviously uninterested in the conversation.

Eddie continued anyway. "Do you still play basketball?"

Tyler nodded. "'m team captain."

Eddie knocked Tyler's shoulder in congratulations, making the younger flinch.

"Hey, how about we get coffee? Catch up a little bit?"

"I have a boyfriend, Eddie. Sorry," Tyler replied.

Eddie scoffed. "As friends. Come on, it'll be fun."

Tyler's throat was constricting. "I don't know."

Before Eddie could say anything else, Tyler's name was being called. He turned, sighing in relief when he saw that his coffee was ready. He grabbed it and walked past Eddie, exiting the café without another word.

Much to Tyler's dismay, Eddie followed him. He jogged to catch up and walked next to him, ignoring the boy's obvious distress.

"Leave me alone, Eddie," Tyler pleaded.

Eddie grabbed his wrist. "I miss you, Ty. We were so good together. I'll forgive you for breaking up with me. Come on, Doll."

The pet name made Tyler's blood run cold. "Let me go."

Eddie just tugged on his wrist, pulling him into an alleyway and making Tyler drop his coffee. "Please, Ty."

"Can you stop being a dickhead for once and just let me go?" Tyler seethed.

Eddie's expression darkened. He took a deep breath, as if he was calming himself down, and his smile reappeared. "It's okay. I get that you're angry, but we can fix it. Let me fix it."

Tyler cried out as Eddie began to kiss up his neck, pinning Tyler's wrists again the wall. Tyler turned his head to the side, trying to block Eddie's access.

"I know you still love me," Eddie whispered as he sucked a hickey onto Tyler's collarbone. "I love you too."

Tyler whimpered and Eddie mistook his distress for pleasure. His grip tightened on Tyler's wrists as the boy writhed, desperately trying to get away.

"You wanna act naughty, huh?" Eddie smirked.

Tyler sobbed. "Let me go."

Eddie raised his hand. "Stop saying that!" He yelled as he brought he fist down.

They both froze. Eddie cradled Tyler's face, and Tyler was too shocked by the stinging on his cheek to fight it.

"I'm so sorry," Eddie whispered. "Ty, I'm so sorry."

Tyler squeezed his eyes shut, willing Eddie to magically disappear. When he didn't, Tyler let out a desperate cry.

Tyler pushed Eddie and tried to run away. Before he could, he felt an arm around his waist. Eddie pulled him back into the darkness of alleyway, and Tyler was sure that he was going to die.

Eddie pinned him back against the wall, his breathing harsh. "You got heavy. Not surprising, since you've grown, like, five inches. You look good, though."

He was speaking so casually, as if Tyler wasn't struggling against his grip. He went back to sucking hickeys. He pushed his hips against Tyler's own and grunted.

Tyler nearly gagged. "Eddie, I'm begging you, please. Just- just stop. You don't have to do this."

Eddie frowned. "Why are you being so difficult? Don't you remember how we used to be? Don't you remember writhing beneath me, begging for more? Or are you too good for me now?"

Tyler tried to move, but Eddie had him completely trapped. He could barely even move his legs. He had no idea how he was going to escape.

"Okay," he whispered. "But we can't- we can't do it here. Let's go to your apartment, okay? And then you can- you can tie me up and fuck me while I beg for more. Just like it used to be."

He felt sick saying the words, but he knew it was the only way. Eddie smiled and took a step back, still harshly holding Tyler's wrist. He practically dragged the boy out of the alleyway and onto the street. Tyler knew that he couldn't overpower him, so he was going to have to wait until Eddie let go.

Dread was bubbling in Tyler's stomach as they walked into Eddie's studio apartment. The opportunity to escape was growing thinner and thinner.

Eddie placed Tyler on the bed. "Strip. I'll be right back."

Tyler nodded. As soon as Eddie was out of sight, though, he stood up and bolted. His hand had brushed against the door when he was being thrown to the floor.

Eddie was dragging him, his face red with fury. "God, you brat. Quit being so indecisive."

Tyler kicked him in the stomach, making Eddie wheeze. He stumbled back, momentarily weakened, and Tyler shot up. He sprinted out of the apartment and down the street, barely focusing on where he was going.

After running for what felt like hours, Tyler collapsed on the sidewalk and brought his knees to his chest. His lip trembled, but he didn't cry. He didn't cry as he pulled out his phone, and he didn't cry as Brendon pulled up in front of him and helped him into his car.

He didn't cry at all.