Ru and Adam walked into the office a moment later. Ru was on the phone. Bas raised an eyebrow in question at Adam.
“He’s talking to the detective who is working on crap with your garage.”
“You looked?” Bas couldn’t believe it. He’d told them not to.
Adam flushed. “Not me. Ru. He just ran to the end of the hall and came back. He wouldn’t let me see.”
Bas narrowed his eyes at Ru as he hung up the phone.
“The detective is on his way. No one is to touch the lockers until he says so.” He looked tired, but Ru was not a morning person. And he got really growly when anyone threatened Adam.
“Now see here, young man. You’re not even a student here.”
“And pretty soon Adam won’t be either. Not with the way you let people get away with stuff like damaging people’s property, writing hate speech, pushing people around, or raping someone in the bathroom.” The room went dead silent. Ru put his hands over his mouth. “Shit!”
The expression on Adam’s face changed from confusion to understanding and horror. He turned to face Bas. Bas felt tears sting his eyes. He swallowed them back and ground his teeth together. Anger was easier to deal with than depression and fear.
“Yeah, so I was raped in the bathroom. I didn’t want you to know ’cause you’re sweet and innocent and don’t need to be dirtied by my past. Ignore my drama. Maybe you should just go home for the day. I’ll clean up your locker myself. I’ll even get your test rescheduled for tomorrow.”
Adam tackled him in a fierce hug. “You have to stop hiding this stuff from me.” He squeezed so tightly that Bas could hardly breathe, and for a minute he let himself cave to the embrace. “You have to tell. You can’t keep this to yourself. It’s too much for one person to carry.”
Bas sighed. “I told the school, and they did nothing other than enforce some of the mildest bullying policies. As for the police, I’m not ready yet.” He glanced up to glare at Ru, who looked worried and angry with himself all at once. The principal and Mrs. Willcox had stepped away from them and were exchanging heated words.
“I’ll go with you. You know I will. You have to tell. You can’t let them get away with it. What if it’s Hank or Nate doing this graffiti? What if they hurt you again? I can’t let that happen, Bas.” Adam shook in Bas’s arms. This was why Bas had never told him. Adam didn’t need this horror. “I still have nightmares about finding you in the bathroom and all the blood. I didn’t know who it was at first. Thought someone had died.”
He almost had, but he wouldn’t remind Adam of it.
“I’m alive and well. Don’t you worry your ugly gray boxers about it. It would take more than those two Neanderthals to undo me. I’m the queen of queens, you know, like that psycho bitch that used to bathe in people’s blood.”
“Elizabeth Bathory,” Adam supplied.
“You’re a total nerd, Corbin”—Bas let him go and stepped back from his friend—“masquerading as a hot jock. No wonder you got the bad-boy rocker for a boyfriend.”
Ru left the office for a moment and returned with the detective, who went right to the principal.
“We’re invisible. That always drives me nuts.Iwas the one who called.You’rethe ones who are being abused.” Ru grabbed Adam’s hand. “Maybe Bas’s idea is good, and we can go. I could use a few more hours of sleep, and I sleep best cuddled with you.”
“I have a test. Tests are important. It’s how I get good grades to get into a good college without making my parents or myself wallow in student loan debt for the rest of our lives.” But Adam hugged Ru. “Thanks for coming with me, though.”
“I’m rich, you know. I can pay for whatever school you want to go to.”
Adam snorted. “Yeah, yeah, you have money. I don’t want your money. I just want you.”
Principal O’Brien was giving them the stink eye from his office as the janitor appeared to lead the detective to their lockers.
“Best break it up, luvs. I think Stormin’ Norman is about to rain hell on us.”
“He can’t do anything. School hasn’t started, we’re not in class. PDAs are not banned unless they’re distracting a class—I’ve memorized the handbook—and Ru is in the office where he would have to be to get a visitor’s pass.” Adam grinned at them both.
“You’re so hot when you’re all dominant and smart,” Ru told him.
Adam rolled his eyes. He glanced at Bas. “Any chance of getting a chem book so I can review before the test? I know I should have brought it home over break, but there was a lot going on.”
“I’m sure there’s one in the library. I’ll go grab it for you. Have a seat. O’Brien will have a fit if Ru leaves the office other than to leave the building.” Bas motioned to the seating area that was empty. He wasn’t about to leave Adam alone right now. Students were starting to filter into the building. The halls would be packed in a half an hour with everyone rushing from one class to the next.
“I feel like I should go with you. What if whoever did the lockers is still out there?” Adam asked.
“I’ll be fine. The worst he can do is ruin my clothes by throwing paint on me. I’ve already had that happen enough to be prepared for it. I’ve got a bag of clothes in the trunk of my car. Plus, I took self-defense classes after the attack. I can kick a man in the balls like nobody’s business. Don’t you worry about me, sweets. Cuddle with the growly singer and wait for me.” Bas waved and headed toward the library, not staying to hear their protests.
