I Give My Heart to You- Zarin

Arin dashed down the school hallway the soles of his shoes squeaking against the scuffed tiled floor. He could hear the sounds of people directly behind him laughter swelling up and filling his ears.

He could feel exhaustion coursing through his veins but if he stopped he would be severely beaten and his battered and bruised body could barely withstand it, especially after being jumped after school the other day. His tormentors didn't seem to hold back.

His tormentors, almost the entire baseball team, everyone else poked fun at him because they were the popular crowd and you don't go against people who have power and status in high school. They, being more specific, were seven guys.

First and third base, Jason and Matt Berry, or as everyone calls them, the Berry brothers. They did most of the dirty work, i.e. the ones who give him most of his bruises, and also the ones who love to pull humiliating and twisted pranks on the outcasts.

Second base, Johnny Seward. Arin didn't understand how he fit in with the others. He was short, incredibly scrawny, and three years younger than everyone else. The only way he was ever friends with them was because he was on the team. In fact if it weren't for it Arin was sure Johnny would be running alongside him at that moment. He just had a huge fucking mouth and loved to insult and degrade others, and his tone of voice was so condescending.

Centerfield, Matt Sanders. He was arguably the most muscular guy on the team. He always wore these pair of aviators which actually made him more intimidating not that the muscle shirts showing off his gargantuan arms wasn't intimidating already. He had beaten Arin up a couple of times but he was more into watching. He was also dating Valary Dibenedetto, she was extremely sweet, kind, and beautiful s why she went for someone like Matt Arin couldn't understand.

Shortstop, Jimmy Sullivan. People always joked about his position on the team considering Jimmy stood at a staggering 6' 3" and was without a doubt the tallest kid in the whole of the school. Whenever Arin would get beaten, Jimmy would always have a sadistic smile slapped on his face and would laugh with a maniacal sort of ring to it.



Pitcher and Co-captain Brian Haner. He was extremely handsome but probably the biggest prick in the whole of school. He made sure to make everyone else's business his. He was dating the biggest bitch in school Michelle Dibenedetto and he was best friends with the most horrible guy in school, his biggest tormentor and the object of his sick and twisted desires.

Catcher and Captain also said ring leader and the object of his affections, Zacky Baker. He never hit Arin, and was barely ever there when he got beat up. The reason why he was the worst? He's the one who decides who gets picked on. His friends are all suck ups and followers and if he didn't like someone they would take care of them and make their lives hell. Arin didn't know what he did wrong to get treated the way he did.

But boy was Zacky gorgeous. He had platinum blonde hair; the fringe falling just above his eyes, and fell over his gauged ears. He had a heart shaped face, and the brightest emerald green eyes. His lips were like two plump rose petals set against pale porcelain skin. To finish it off he had two silver hoops threaded through his bottom lip and a silver ring was pierced through his septum.

His personality was nothing special. Arin didn't understand why everyone loved him; his personality was, well boring. He always had a blank face no emotion whatsoever present. He always spoke in monotone, showing no emotion through his words either and his hands were always in his jean pockets. The only time his poker face would change would be during a game. A look of pure concentration would always overcome it.


Arin was brought back to the present when he felt someone's arms wrap around his shoulders before he was roughly shoved into the wall next to him. He could feel the person's heavy breathing ghost over the back of his neck, fingers digging into the skin of his upper arms, and the voice to accompany it confirmed that it was third basemen, Jason Berry.

"Where do you think you're going, fag?"

Arin couldn't help but let out a slight whimper and the laughter bubbled up behind him. He could recognize the people as Johnny, Jimmy, and Brian. They had such distinct, obnoxious laughter it was so easy to pick out. And his guess was, if those three were here the other two Matt's were present as well, after all practice had just gotten out.

"Awe is he crying? Fucking queer," Matt Berry sneered.

"If he isn't now, he'll definitely be crying in a minute," Jason chuckled.

He was flipped around and Arin held his breath waiting for the hit when a firm and neutral voice interrupted the scene.

"Leave him alone."

All heads snapped to the person speaking. There stood with an apathetic expression, and hands shoved deep into the back pockets of his white baseball pants considering they had no front pockets, his navy blue jersey clung to his torso with sweat.

Arin's jaw fell open at the words and when he side glanced to see the others he could see the looks of shock and surprise written all over their faces.

"What do you mean leave him alone?" Matt asked, even with his aviators on the expression on his face so obvious.

"What do you think it means?! It means stop, go away, let go, get the fuck out. Do you understand now or should I you know keep going?" He asked stoically.

"I think he means why," Johnny clarified.

"Why? Well he doesn't deserve it," Zacky shrugged his shoulders like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Brian broke away from the rest of his friends heading towards his friend. He placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder his eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Dude, why do you care?"

Zacky didn't answer. His mouth opened slightly as if he were about to speak but he quickly closed it again. His fingers wriggled in his pockets but other then that he didn't move much at all. In fact even if his face expressed no emotion he still seemed to be contemplating the question. He looked his best friend in the eyes.

"Why do you care if I do?"

"He's…he's a fucking freak! I mean look at him he's a fa-" Before Brian could even finish his insult Zacky's left hand shot out of his pocket and latching onto Brian's right wrist squeezing it as he did. A look of what someone could describe as anger overcame his face.

"Do NOT insult him. One more word out of you Haner."

His voice shook with venom. That's when Arin noticed it. Zacky's wrist was an angry purple color, finger marks stretched around it like someone was trying to cut off all circulation in his wrist by constricting it. Brian's face went from shock to concern when he saw his friend's arm. He shook Zacky's hold on him off, before gingerly holding it.

"Did he do this to you?"

Arin had to really think of who he was. Who would pick on Zacky Baker? He was popular and his friends were so overprotective, how could anyone get away with it? And almost instantly he realized. It was Zacky's father, it had to be. Mr. Baker was the baseball coach and he always seemed so strict and on his son about being perfect. There had even been an instant when Mr. Baker had literally stopped a game grabbed Zacky's shirt and drag him off the field because he didn't think he was playing good enough, although he was the reason the last three batters struck out.

Zacky gently took his hand away from his worried friend.

"Don't worry about it."

Don't worry about it?!"

"Oh like it doesn't happen everyday, Brian. Just…go home. Take the guys with you."

"But Zack-"

"I'll be over in a bit just go."

Brian slowly nodded his head before beckoning to his friends to leave. Arin breathed normally when Jason moved his hands and left. Zacky leaned against the wall, hands back in his pockets. Arin turned to go when the blonde boy stopped him yet again.

"Don't leave."

Arin was confused as he stopped moving. He furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at him.

"Why?"

"Why?" Zacky chuckled, "Why what? Why am I asking you to stay or why I stopped my friends from beating you? Or," he paused as he non chalantly walked over. Arin slowly backed himself against the wall as Zacky kept moving forward. He made to where his chest was pressed against the curly haired boy's, and he gingerly rested their forehead's together, the tips of their noses brushing against each other. "Why have I been such an ass to someone like you?"

"Like me?" Arin's voice came out small, timid.

"Like you. A smart, funny, kind," Zacky paused yet again bringing his calloused hands to gently stroke the side of the boy's face. "Handsome boy like you?"

"H-Handsome?"

"Mm, yes. Maybe I was angry at everything. Angry that my father forced me to play baseball. Angry that he couldn't just accept me and forced me to be perfect. Angry that I was hurting and someone as beautiful as you could be happy. Angry at myself because I didn't stop this all sooner. Angry that I seem all confident but really I'm a weak, pathetic, human being scared to admit to his father, his friends, and everyone else that I'm gay. Angry because you made me feel this way."

Arin's heart stopped beating as he heard that last sentence loud and clear.

"Angry, because you take my breath away. Angry definitely, scared? Infinitely more."

Arin tried to swallow the lump in his throat. Zacky leaned forward head tilted to the side as he pressed his lips against the curly haired boy's. The blonde's lip piercings rubbed against his own set of lips, gently almost caressing him and finally it hit him. Things might be okay. Zacky pulled back.

"I'm not angry anymore. I'm scared," tears collected in his eyes as he said that.

Arin cautiously reached a hand up and wiped at a tear that had started to fall.

"There's nothing to be afraid of."

Zacky bat his eyelashes willing everything away.

"It doesn't matter. This," he held up his bruised wrist, "them, anyone. What matter's is you Arin."

Arin couldn't form any coherent words after that.

"I have been beaten, broken down, and stripped of everything, but I…I want to give you one thing that has managed to hold together, one thing that I haven't trusted anyone else with."

Arin wasn't sure what he meant. Could he be giving him a necklace, or something as equally valuable? What Zacky said next caused Arin to fall speechless and all he could do was nod his head in acceptance.

"I…I want to give my heart to you."