Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2003 22:15:43 -0600 From: Rhaven Subject: Avery's World Chapter Four This story contains strong language and sexual content between boy/boy and boy/man. www.rhavensreply.com Avery's World BY RHAVEN2002 Chapter Four Avery mowed the lawn. It was the job, Eric had promised to his mother. Actually, when Avery had mentioned the odd jobs to Eric at breakfast, the man was taken aback from the question. Even confessing that it had just been talk. However, Avery wanted to help and didn't give up until Eric thought of something for him to do. It wasn't an easy job, the yard was large and still wet from the night's rain. In addition, Avery had to deal with a ton of soggy toilet paper, before he could even start mowing. He was happy to get rid of the toilet paper; it was like ridding himself of King King, into the trash with him. "Ready for a break?" Eric asked waving a chilled can of coke in the air as an incentive. "I thought you were writing?" Avery asked, wiping the sweat from his brow. "All work and no play, makes Johnny a stick in the mud! Besides, its summer and even writers need a break." Avery laughed, though he didn't understand the joke. "Let's take a walk." Eric suggested, handing Avery the coke. "Where to?" "Anywhere, just need to stretch my legs." Eric shrugged his shoulders and they started walking. They didn't head into Hoffman's field, but back behind the house. Eric seemed to know where he was going. A faint path etched through the grass disappeared into the thick woods. "It's going to be a scorcher today." Eric said, trying to make conversation and shielding his eyes from the blazing sun overhead. Indeed it was hot, the storm the night before had brought with it a sticky humid breeze. Even the coke couldn't cool Avery off. "What's this way?" Avery asked as they made their way through the trees. "Something special." Eric said with a mischievous smile. They continued to walk in silence, a path was still visible, but Avery could tell it had been a very long time since anyone had come this way. As they broke through the trees into a clearing, Avery gasped. "It beautiful." Avery whispered. There before him a peaceful river, blue as the perfect sky. But what amazed Avery the most was the little cottage build at the edge of the river. Once it was painted blue, but years of neglect and weather had taken its toll on the small place. Eric stared at the place as if in dream. Above the door was a plaque it read; Eric's Hideout. "This is your place?" Avery asked looking at the man for answers. Eric said nothing, he slowly reached out for the door and opened it. "Adam built this for me." He said as he entered. Avery felt as if he was entering a church. The small cottage was empty except for a broken down bed and faded paintings on the wall. Pictures of stars, planets and strange oval spaceships covered almost every inch of the four walls and ceiling. "This place is wonderful." Avery whispered, stepping closer to the wall to examine some of the paintings. "It was, but that was a long time ago." Eric opened the door in the back of the cottage, the sudden flood of sparkling light, blinded Avery. "Come on." Eric said, putting his arm around Avery. The deck hung out over the river, Avery felt as if he was traveling on some elegant yacht, an illusion he loved. Eric took off his shoes and sat down at the edge of the deck, dipping his feet in the cool water. It only took Avery a second to do the same. The rushing water tickled gently at his toes and made Avery giggle. "This place is great, Eric." Avery waited for a reply, but none came. Eric was staring blinding out onto the smooth waters. "Why did Mr. Hoffman built this place for you?" Eric kicked at the waves, splashing Avery's legs, he was tempted to splash the man back, but could tell he wasn't in the mood for horseplay. "I should have brought a picnic." Eric finally said. "We could have had a swim and then something nice to eat." Avery looked over the edge at his reflection, the water looked very inviting. Eric was in a sad mood, something about this place, perhaps memories or the lack of memories depressed him. Avery smiled to himself and stood. "I'm not hungry, but I am hot." He unclipped the strap on the overalls and slid them off. "What... what are you doing?" Eric asked. "I'm going swimming." Avery laughed and jumped into the water. "You are insane." Eric couldn't help but laugh. "Come on in! The water is great!" Avery swam up and grabbed Eric's foot for support. "Not this time, you go ahead and enjoy yourself." "Sure?" Avery asked, he wanted Eric to join him. Splashing around in the river was a great way to feel better. However, he could tell, Eric didn't want to do it. "I'm sure." Avery frowned, but swam out into the middle of the river. The cool water was refreshing. Though Avery loved to swim, he would have preferred to be swimming with Eric. There is just so much you can do to entertain yourself in the water. After a while, he grew bored of splashing around the river. He had explored the bottom of the river and only found rocks and pebbles. He found an old slimy log, but that proved just as boring as the rock bottom. "Ready to get out?" Eric asked, as if reading Avery's mind. Avery swam to Eric and reach out his hand; he wasn't tall enough to climb back onto the porch by himself. With a quick heave, Eric had Avery out of the water and back safely on the wooden deck. "Did you have fun?" Eric asked. "Yeah, I like to swim." Avery sat down and shook his head, trying to get some of the water out. "Wish I had a towel though." Eric looked down at his shirt and then pulled it off. "Go ahead and use this." "Are you sure?" Avery asked, taking the shirt carefully. "I was getting hot anyhow." Using his left arm as a pillow, Eric lay down on the deck. "I use to spend almost all my time here when I was younger." Avery finished drying off his hair, tossed the wet shirt to the side and laid his head on Eric's chest. "Aren't you going to get dressed?" Eric said raising head slightly to look the boy over. "Not until I'm completely dry." Avery yawned. "Nudist." Eric snickered and rested his head back on his arm. "Did Mr. Hoffman come here with you?" "Yes, he did. Adam wasn't the monster this town made him to be." "I heard stories..." Avery started, but they sounded to dumb now to voice. "Avery, don't believe everything you hear." Eric's right hand moved to Avery's shoulder. "People love to gossip and when they can't find enough gossip, they'll make it up." Slowly Eric moved his hand to Avery's chest. The touch sent a flood of warmth through Avery's body. He closed his eyes and took a deep relaxing breath as Eric slowly ran his fingers over his chest, stroking a finger around his nipple. "Eric can I ask a question?" "Uh huh." His hand now was moving over Avery's side and to his stomach. "Why did you leave?" Avery scooted closer to Eric, resting his arm on the man's stomach. In everyone's life there comes a time of discovering that a touch is as magical as the universe itself. For Avery, it was this moment, with Eric caressing him. It was like sharing his soul, nothing else matter. Appearance, personality or differences, all of it floated away, only love remained. Eric fidgeted a little, but finally answered. " I guess I left Haven, because I... " Eric swallowed hard. " I... was a coward. It was a very difficult time for me, I was young and believed that other people's options mattered." Eric moved his hand back to Avery's stomach and patted it gently. "I guess I'm still a coward. Hell, my aunt has to bring my groceries to me. I just can't find the courage to go into town. And to think, here I am a best selling author, been interviewed on TV, did Larry King for God's sakes! I'm too chicken to walk into a grocery store. Funny isn't it?" Avery frowned, he had to think of what Eric had just said. It didn't make any sense. "Your aunt?" "Yes, Pearl Randell or I guess you know her better as ' The evil old Lady Randell'!" Eric said followed by his best evil laugh. "Mrs. Randell? You're aunt is Mrs. Randell." Reality was collapsing around Avery. He rubbed he's forehead, suddenly a throbbing pain had began between his eyes. An aunt, he had an aunt. How was that possible for an alien? "It's not that big of a deal, Avery. I'm not going to transform into some kind of hideous English teacher, just because I'm related to Pearl." Eric laughed again, but it faded quickly once he saw Avery's face. "What's wrong?" Avery stood up and pulled on his overalls, tears rolling down his cheeks. "You're not from space are you?" Avery sobbed. "You're not my... my father." "What?" Eric quickly stood up. "What are you talking about?" "Nothing!" Avery almost screamed. "I'm stupid." "Now what a moment, Avery. What are you talking about?" Eric grabbed Avery's arm. Avery stared blankly at Eric's hand holding him. All of a sudden, the man's touch seemed foreign. "Avery, did you think I am your father?" "You can't be my father, my father is from outer space." Eric released his grip and stepped back. "You think your father's an alien?" "I'm an alien!" Avery screamed. He couldn't stay there any longer, he couldn't look at Eric. Avery ran, he ran without looking back at the confused man. The landscape was a blur, along with his life. Nothing was in focus, nothing made sense. Avery ran back to the house, he raced through the living room and down the hallway. He jerked opened the door into the mystery room. There on the table, the strange metallic item, and on the shelves the mini metal birds. He cautiously walked over to the metal rifle and with a shaking hand picked it up. It was light, too light for metal. Avery thumped one of the barrels with his finger; plastic, the stupid thing was made from plastic. Then he noticed and inscription on the rifle butt; Captain Zen and the Void Demons, Chambers Award (2000). That sounded familiar to Avery, he had heard that before. He moved over to the six metal birds, nothing but toy models of spaceships. He laughed, while tears blinded him. All this pain, over stupid toys. Then something else caught his eye. A row of books; Captain Zen and the Astro Maiden, Captain Zen and the Meteor Men, Captain Zen and this... Captain Zen and that. Avery grabbed one, holding it tightly; the author was Eric Hunter, his Eric and not his father. He threw the book across the room and pushed the rest to the floor. He was a joke, he had been so willing to believe his father had return. He ignored all the true clues. His head was pounding and his heart ached with a pain no medicine could cure. Avery ran out of the house and away from the cursed house. His father hadn't returned, he was still alone. How he made it to his house, he couldn't remember. Everything was a blur of dull colors and smells. His mother was in her room, still sleeping, oblivious of his pain, as she always was. He raced to his room and slammed the door. He hated this world, he hated everyone one on it. Avery lay on his bed, the room dark and dreary as he watched the shadows move slowly across his walls. This was his sanctuary, his salvation from the real world. He didn't want to see the world outside, it was nothing but lies and pain. He sat up in bed as he heard his mother start the shower. Her day was beginning, it would be nice to run to her and get a hug. But that wasn't going to happen. He didn't have the energy to face her. There was a new noise now, from the kitchen. She was fixing herself something to eat. The aroma of chicken soup filled his room and his stomach growled from hunger. His mother probably thought he wasn't home, or she just didn't care. She was leaving for work earlier and earlier, any chance she had to get away from him. Avoid responsibility, was his mother's motto. It was all coming clear to Avery, no one wanted him, and no one wanted to be responsible for him. His father wasn't coming back. He would never be saved. The universe laughed at him. Avery didn't leave his room until he was sure his mother was gone. He didn't want to eat, but the hunger was too strong. A half-empty bag of corn chips was all he allowed himself to have. He sat in the yellow chair by the window, but didn't look out. What was the point, there was nothing outside that he needed to see. Avery barely moved, for days, his confusion evolved to melancholy and finally to a deep depression. There was no drawing; it seemed pointless to him. He always drew his imagination, his dreams. He no longer had a dream. He couldn't be mad at his father, it had been his mistake. He should have known Eric wasn't his father. He should have been able to tell. And for that mistake, Avery wanted to die. How could he face his father now, knowing he had made this error? He had made the greatest sin there was, fallen in love with a stranger; a love that he held only for his father was tarnished now. "Morning." Avery said as his mother came into the living room. She seemed still tired, despite the fact she had slept most of the day. "Jesus, Avery..." Jobeth paused a second to light a cigarette. "I can't believe you are still wearing those crummy overalls. Let me have them, I have a little time, maybe I can patch them up." Avery didn't argue, he blankly slipped them off and handed them to his mother. "Jesus, they smell like feet. You know, you have to wash these sometime don't you." Jobeth looked down at her son and frowned. "You have been nothing but a sourpuss lately. What is your problem?" She stared at her son until she finally deciding he wasn't talking. "Well, I can't read your mind, if you don't tell me what's wrong I can't help." Jobeth turned on the sewing machine and started stitching the torn fabric back together. "Do you know how you make me feel? I know we don't have much and that I'm sorry for that. But you make the best out of what you have. Pouting never solved anything." "Mom." Avery said barely above a whisper. "What?" "How did you know Eric?" He had wanted to ask his mother this question for days. Avery wasn't sure why he needed to know, it just seemed important to him. "Eric?" Jobeth stopped the sewing machine and turned to face her son. "Eric and I went to high school together. He's someone you should look up to Avery. He had nothing and now look where he is. After all the problems he had in this town and yet he prospered." Avery rubbed his eyes; he didn't want to cry, but that sick feeling in his stomach was growing. He didn't want to think of Eric. When he did, he always cried. "Sweetheart, what's wrong? You can tell me anything, you know that don't you?" Avery nodded his head. Tears soaked his face as he tried to talk. "Mom, who ... who is my father?" Jobeth looked away. "I've told you before Avery, about your father." "Who was he mom?" His mother stood up and lit another cigarette. She walked over to the front window and stared out. "I don't know where he is. Hell, I don't even know now what he does for a living." Jobeth glanced over to her son, but looked away quickly. "Jesus, Avery your dad was only in town for a few months and skipped the second he found out I was pregnant." "Who was he?" Avery asked again, he still hadn't heard the answer he had wanted. "If you have ideas of looking for him Avery, I'd advise against it. Do you hate living with me so much?" Avery felt ashamed, he didn't hate living with his mother, the thought really had never occurred to him. There were times, he wished she would change and times he wanted her to be a 'real' mother, but he never hated her. He just wanted to see and be with his father, where everything would be happy and better. "He was a handsome man..." his mother said, still staring out the window. "Swept me off my feet, such charm and so beautiful. You look so much like him Avery, you have your father's beauty." Jobeth walked passed her son and she sat back down at the sewing machine and started sewing again. "His name is Mark Nova. I don't know how to get a hold of him. I won't stop you if that's what you want." Without looking at his mother, he found it hard to stare into her sad eyes; Avery sat down in his chair. He had a lot of thinking to do. Was his whole life nothing but a lie? He was an alien, wasn't he? "Here you go." His mother said, handing him the repaired overalls. "So what are you going to do?" "Do?" Avery asked, pulling his clothes back on. "Are you going to search for your father?" He stared out the window, the same window he had looked out all these years waiting for his father to return to Earth. Avery sniffed and wiped the tears from his eyes. His mother put a comforting hand on his shoulder. His mother looked at him with sad, lonely eyes and as if reading his mind, spoke. "I know you feel different Avery. A mother would have to be blind not to when their children feel alienated and alone." She stomped out her cigarette and fumbled for another one. " Let me tell you a secret Avery. Everyone is different. I'm different, you're different. That's not aways a bad thing." "I'm tired of being different. I just want to be human, like everyone else." Jobeth hugged her son; Avery melted into her arms. This was the first hug he could remember from his mother. It was perfect, time slowed in that hug. "I want you to be happy, sweetheart. Life is screwy, look at me I wasted my life here waiting for something to happen." She looked at her watch and cussed. "Got to go to work. Avery, I just want to tell you that you can't find happiness sulking in this house. What ever you do, I want you to know that I will never stand in your way of happiness." "Thanks, mom." Avery whispered. "Call me at work, if you need to talk, okay?" She left the house looking back at her son, her eyes full of care and worry. His mother had never said that before, in fact the whole conversation had been new ground for both of them. So what if Eric wasn't his father, should he punish himself forever for this error? His father had said his name was Mark Nova. It sounded alien didn't it. Avery shook his head, he didn't want to start doubting himself or his father He no longer wanted to sit around the house pouting. His father would come, when he chose. Avery was going to enjoy life, until that marvelous event occurred. He wiped his nose and walked out of the house. He wanted to be happy and his mother was right. It won't happen sitting on his butt. He headed up First Street; he knew where he had to go. It was beginning to rain, a light sprinkle splattered around him. The far away sound of thunder told Avery that this rain would probably only get worse. "What the fuck do we have here?" King King stepped out from behind a tree. Avery looked quickly around; escape was his only thought. But the T and T twins had appeared behind him. "What are you going to do now? You're freak of a friend isn't here to help you now." "Please, Brandon. Don't do this." Avery raised his hands in submission, but that only seemed to make King King madder. "You started this. Tommy, Teddy grab him!" The twins obeyed without question, they grabbed Avery's arms and followed King King into the thicket. Avery had never been so scared, no matter how hard he tried he couldn't break the twin's grip. He wanted to cry, but he knew that would make King King happy and he wasn't going to give the bully that satisfaction. Finally once they were deep enough in the woods, King King stopped and faced Avery. "You think you're all special now, don't you? Found a freak for a friend. I saw you mowing his yard, I saw you hanging out with him." King King punched Avery in the stomach. "Finally found someone just like you, didn't you!" He hit Avery again. "Let me go!" Avery screamed. "Stop this, what do you want from me?" King King hit Avery again and laughed. "I don't want anything from you. I just want to beat the shit out of you!" "Yeah, beat the shit out of him." Laughed the twins. Avery felt Tommy loosen his hold on his right arm, as King King stepped forward to take another swing, Avery ripped his arm free. His fist connected with King's nose and the boy fell back and stumbled to the ground. Avery freed his other hand, as the twins shocked by what had happened backed away. "Holy shit." Avery whispered. King King stood up slowly holding his bleeding nose. "No more, Brandon. This has to stop." King King snickered, looking at his hand covered in the blood flowing from his nose. "Yeah, this is going to stop." He said as he looked around until he sees what he needs. King King walks toward Avery smiling, in his right hand a thick branch. "Hey, King King, cool down." Teddy says looking at his twin for support. "Come on man, you've hurt him enough." However, King King wasn't listening. Avery carefully backed away from the crazed boy, he was too afraid to run. If he did run, it would have just made Brandon angrier. Avery didn't know what to do. "Brandon, please." Avery threw his hands up in front of him; there was nothing else he could do. King King swung the branch as if it was a baseball bat. Avery screamed and heard his arm 'crack' as the branch smashed into it. He fell to his knees sobbing and holding his arm close to his chest. Sharp waves of pain shot through his arm. His arm wasn't bleeding, but it was now completely numb. He held the arm close and tried to stand, his legs were shaky, but he managed. "Shit, King! What are you doing?" Teddy yelled. "Holy shit." His brother whispered. "Let's get out of here!" Tommy grabbed his brother's arm and pulled him away. Avery looked in desperation as the twins ran away. "Fuck you two! I don't need you." Brandon turned his attention back to Avery. It was raining harder now, thunder roared through the woods, but King King didn't notice any of this. He raised the branch high over his head. Avery watched, as if seeing a movie, it didn't seem to be happening to him, it couldn't be happening to him. King King brought the branch down with all his strength towards Avery's head.