Taming 7

If drugs were to Joey Lynch what Claire Biggs was to me, then there was no amount of rehab that could sway me to kick the habit. Because she was the habit of my lifetime.

Gibsie belonged to the rest of the world. Gerard belonged just to me.

Because this boy had always been my favorite boy. My favorite friend, person, human, everything.

You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, and I love the fucking bones of you, ya mad eejit.” He choked out a pained laugh. “And if you think this is going to chase me off then you’ve another thing coming, fucker, because I’m never leaving you. Do ya hear me? Because you’re my Gibs.

Claire Biggs had a lot of things. My back. My attention. My heart. My soul. Yeah, she had all of me and that wasn’t an exaggeration.

It’s all good, though. Some of the best things in life aren’t meant to last forever. That’s why we cherish them when they happen. Like your favorite chocolate in a box. Or shooting stars. We don’t refuse to eat the sweet because once we do, it’ll be gone, or stop looking at the stars after one shoots by. We enjoy the moment because we know it’s worth living in.

Being happy was a decision I made for myself and, miraculously, it helped. It wasn’t real, I didn’t truly feel that way, but I was a firm believer in faking it until you made it. After all, I would be dead without the sentiment.

He had darkness in his life and so much pain, but he kept the most beautiful sunny disposition about him. It was incredibly humbling to be around the boy. To know all he had endured in his short life and that he still woke up with a smile on his face in the morning.

One: Hugh was my brother. Two: Bethany was my sister. Three: Claire was mine.

The sky was blue outside. The birds were out. The sun was shining. It was another blissful day. And I wanted to scream

would much rather live my life with mistakes under my belt than regrets chipping away at my heart.

Love these boys with our whole hearts, and hope and pray that they’ll pick themselves back up and show us that they’re worth the pain. That they’re worth fighting for.

And that was how I spent the rest of the evening, on Gerard Gibson's shoulders, painting his world just a little bit brighter.

You're so beautiful... I swear you shine even in the darkness.

Hurt people hurt people. Shes a hurt person. A hurt but very redeemable person.

It couldn’t hurt when I was Gibsie, because Gibsie was my armor, and humor was my sword.

So where's your other half?" "Clair-bear? shes in the year below us." "No, asshole. Kav." "Oh!" Gibsie laughed. "You mean my other, other half

From as far back as I could remember, my mind had always been very clear about three things. One: Hugh was my brother. Two: Bethany was my sister. Three: Claire was mine.

For most of his life, Gerard had been trapped in a room in his head, while I had been banging on the door, desperately trying to break him out.

If I could sew this girl to my skin without causing her an ounce of harm, then I would do it in a heartbeat. That’s how vital she was to my life. How essential she was to my existence. If drugs were to Joey Lynch what Claire Biggs was to me, then there was no amount of rehab that could sway me to kick the habit. Because she was the habit of my lifetime.

She never left. She always seemed to have a level of energy that balanced mine. Our personalities complemented the other, and when I was little, I used to believe that Holy God had put her on earth just for me. Because she was the only person I didn’t seem to scare off. Hell, even Hugh and Feely got tired of me. But never her.

to live in the moment with the person responsible for keeping my heart beating since I was seven years old.

Moments before the pain in my lungs exploded and everything went dark, I saw it. A halo of light. An orb of pure sunshine. Her. I saw her. And that’s when I knew. That’s when I knew…

All the things he did to my body.” Feeling lifeless, I stared blankly ahead, feeling the tears trickling down my cheek. “I didn’t want any of it, Johnny.” “I know you didn’t, Gibs…” He choked out a pained cry and continued to rock me back and forth. “I believe you.

I guess that’s what true love was, though. It wasn’t perfect. It didn’t come in the perfect gift-wrapped box. It was messy and raw and pushed you to your absolute limits.

Remember when I told you that beautiful boys with big muscles complicate everything?

I killed Gerard with my hymen, Daddy!” I wailed, throwing the bloodstained duvet at his feet. “Here’s the murder weapon for the Gardaí when they come to arrest me!

Who are we fighting?” “No one. We’re not fighting anyone,” Johnny was quick to rebuff. “Because I am in contract. You are on a warning,” he added, pointing at me before turning his attention to Joey. “And you are on probation.” Ignoring Johnny’s words of warning, Joey looked to me and repeated, “Who are we fighting, Gussie?

Some of the best things in life aren’t meant to last forever. That’s why we cherish them when they happen. Like your favorite chocolate in a box. Or shooting stars. We don’t refuse to eat the sweet because once we do, it’ll be gone, or stop looking at the stars after one shoots by. We enjoy the moment because we know it’s worth living in.

I’m glad it’s not you in the box,” I whispered in his ear, leaning close enough so that only Gerard could hear me. “You’re my favorite person in the whole wide world, and I would swap everyone for you. Even Hugh.