Tenth

Baekhyun

"You aren't just giving up, are you?" Kyungsoo said the following day before the start of our first class.

"What else would you like me to do?" I replied. "Chanyeol obviously doesn't want anyone's help, especially not mine. I should have just stayed out of it in the first place."

"So after all the worrying you did, you're just giving up?"

"There isn't much else I can do without just reporting it myself, which doesn't seem like a smart decision at this point. I don't want to push him too far," I replied.

"He has a point," Kai said, earning both Kyungsoo and I's attention. "Chanyeol is really stubborn and even though I do think he needs help, it's probably not smart to get too involved."

"Aren't you supposed to agree with me?" Kyungsoo said in response and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"That doesn't necessarily mean you should give up on him," Kai added after. "He does want help, but he just needs someone he can fully trust before he admits that." I sighed and looked down at my desk.

"Then it's settled. We are going to take you to his house after school today and you're going talk to him," Kyungsoo said, getting up to throw the trash from his breakfast away.

"We?" Kai and I questioned in unison.

"We," Kyungsoo repeated, getting farther away. Kai looked at me and we shared a worried look.

Chanyeol

I didn't mean to come off as an ungrateful asshole or anything. It was just a sensitive topic and I really didn't want to drag an innocent bystander into the dumpster fire that was my life. I appreciated that Baekhyun seemed to be genuinely interested in helping me, but what he didn't know was that helping me could very well hurt him.

Luckily, my uncle wasn't home after school, so I could relax a little. But I still had to be careful because he would find anything to get mad at me about. I was watching television when I heard a knock on my door. I lowered my eyebrows in confusion before getting up. I walked up to the door and opened it to see Baekhyun standing there. I sighed heavily.

"You really shouldn't be here," I said plainly.

"I know, I just..." he started, almost silently. "I just wanted to apologize for yesterday. I'm still really worried about you, but if you really don't want my help, I can't do anything about it. It just really doesn't sit right with me that he hurts you like over something that isn't your fault." He paused, closing his eyes for a brief moment. "But anyway, I guess I just wanted to say that if there is anything you want me to do, I'll do it. I know I can be a conceited asshole most of the time, but I mean it."

Almost as soon as he finished, he turned around and started to leave.

"I've tried to tell someone," I said suddenly, making him stop in his tracks and slowly begin to turn back around. I sighed and stepped outside, leaning against the door. "I tried once and all it got me was a big-ass bruise and a speech about how if I would just be a better nephew, he wouldn't have to hit me. Nothing good will come out of me telling anyone, so what's the point?" 

He looked down, looking slightly guilty. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that," he said. I just sighed and looked away. "But I still want to help in some way...if you'll let me," he added with a slight smile. "And Kai does too, and Kyungsoo. You have a lot more people who want to help than you realize, Chanyeol." I looked down toward the sidewalk to see Kai and Kyungsoo standing there, Kyungsoo sending a small wave in my direction. I turned my eyes back to Baekhyun.

"Why do you care so much?" I asked after a short silence passed. 

"It started out as a selfish thing admittedly," he said. "I realized I misjudged you and thought that if I helped you, I would feel better. But the more I thought about it, the more it just bothered me. You were kind enough to help me even when you knew I had been so mean to you. No one deserves to be hit by their family, but especially not people like that. I just want you to be okay."

I was confused. His face looked so sincere, but there was still a small voice in the back of my head that was telling me he didn't actually care. But that was also that voice that told me I deserved to be hit, that it was my fault my mom died.

"Thanks," was all I could find the strength to say. Baekhyun smiled nonetheless, nodding faintly as his eyes never left my face. 

A/N

Hi so yeah I took the kiss scene out because I read it back and was like woah, Chanyeol just opened up to him and they're already making out? Seemed a little rushed to me, so I decided to cut it out and slow things down a bit more. I don't know how many more chapters I have just dedicated to them, but either way, I'll sprinkle in updates about their relationship throughout. 

Thanks for reading or re-reading! xoxoxo