Page 104 of A Long Way Back
“You want everyone to know you’re gay?”
“I’m not fucking gay. I just want my dick sucked.”
“By a guy? You’re gay.”
“You fucking…”
“Clear off.” Killian pushed past him, no longer wanting the changing rooms to be empty just in case Wes decided to follow him in. But everyone had gone.
He pulled his gear out of the locker, carried it to the bench nearest the showers and stripped off quickly. After dropping his towel on top of his things, he went into the big open area where there were about fifteen spray heads attached to the walls. He turned on the closest and filled his palm with soap from the dispenser.
Be quick, be quick, be quick.Killian rubbed foam down his arms and legs, wincing when the soap hit grazed skin on his arm, then threaded his fingers in his hair. The moment he’d got rid of the mud, blood and suds, he turned off the water and turned to take the few steps to his towel only to see Iron Balls standing in the changing room. Killian’s heart thumped. He was pretty sure members of staff weren’t allowed to watch pupils taking a shower.
He swallowed hard. He had a choice now over which part of his body to shield. Should he wrap the towel around his waist or put it over his shoulders?
He chose to wrap it around his waist. Maybe Iron Balls hadn’t seen his bruises.
“Who did that?”
Ah shit.“What, sir?” Killian struggled to pull his boxers on over wet skin.
“All those marks.”
How long were you watching?“No one, sir.” He struggled with his trousers as well, but he was too desperate to get dressed to dry himself properly.
“Who did that to you, Byrne?”
“I fell.”Hurry, hurry.
He shoved his arms into his shirt, his fingers fumbling with the buttons.
The teacher moved closer, softened his voice. “Tell me who’s knocking you around. I ought to tell social services. I definitely have to tell the head.”
Killian froze. “Please don’t, sir. It’s not my dad.”Mostly not, and don’t come any closer.
He gave up on his shirt and sat to pull on his socks.
“Does he touch your brother?”
Killian wanted to laugh. Yeah, he did. He loved Ru. He cuddled him, tousled his hair, played games with him. “It’s not my dad. Really.”
He shoved his feet into his shoes, stood and tried again with his shirt.
“Killian…”
I’m Killian now and not Byrne?
“I can’t just walk away from this. Did a pupil from this school do this to you?”
He swallowed hard.
“Who?”
I need to go!Maybe Killian ought to have thought more carefully about what he said, but he didn’t. “If you say anything, I’ll tell the head you watched me shower and…touched me.” Killian stared straight at his teacher’s horrified face. “I mean it.”
Iron Balls features hardened. “I’m trying to help you.”
“I know, but you’ll help me by keeping quiet…sir.”
