Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2007 01:16:49 -0600 From: Cody Kramer Subject: As Long As You Love Me Part 3 Hey again to all of you reading. You've already waited a while for the third installment and here it is. Many of you have given me some positive feed back and I thank you guys for that, it lets me know how many people are actually reading. You guys are my motivation for writing another chapter so thank you, all of you. If you're a first time reader then please email me and let me know what you think, I enjoy hearing your opinions. Okay so enough babbling, on with Drew and Brian, you all have waited enough. Thanks again and enjoy! My Email: all-star07@hotmail.com And then he kissed me. It took me completely by surprise, I don't know why since I was kind of expecting it but it did. It was awkward but we both soon relaxed into it as I started to kiss him back. He placed his hand on my check and I ran mine through his hair, things I could tell were already starting to heat up between us. Then, before we got too carried away, he gently pushed me away. "Wait," he said, getting up from his seat beside me. "I'm sorry but I can't do this, I shouldn't have done that." "It's okay," I said, trying to hide my disappointment and the sting of being rejected. I got up and went to stand next to him. "No," he said. "It's not okay, that was completely irresponsible. I shouldn't have done that." "Hey," I said to him as I turned him to face me. "Like I already said its okay, no harm done, why don't we just sit and talk like we were?" "I can't, I...I have to go." He looked me in the eye before he turned and left, looking almost like he was about to cry or something or that he was chastising him self for making a move to soon. I just stood there stunned at what happened as I watched him run out the front door and down the stairs. After a few moments I moved to the kitchen and dinning room and debated against cleaning up or leaving it all till morning. I decided to just clean it all up and get it done before I went to bed and headed into the kitchen to wash dishes. I turned on my stereo for some noise so I didn't have to listen to the quiet and my own thoughts. Immediately `One In A Million' from Hannah Montana started playing. `What timing.' I thought as the song made me stop for a second just to think. And then that one thought popped into my head, `what did I do wrong?' "So he just ran out the door? Without saying goodbye? Or anything?" "Yeah, its strange ain't it?" "More like just down right rude, what an ass hole." Brytany, like I previously mentioned before, always had my back. I called her the next morning to get together and talk before I had to go to work again and tell her about my date with Drew. Already she had him picked out to be the heart breaking type just from what I told her, and I knew it probably wasn't a good idea for the two to meet for a while, that is, if he still wanted to see me. "Damn Bryt, that's kind of harsh don't you think?" "Okay, this is just too weird." "What?" "You!" "What about me?" "Do you even have one small mean thing to say about him?" "Why would I? Okay I know he was kind of a jerk for kissing me and then just rushing out of there like that but, I don't know, I think there's more to him than we think." "So he's a two-timer as well!" "Not what I mean Bryt! What I'm saying is that I know I should be upset with him but I'm not, I just can't bring myself to be angry with him." "See this is why I don't know how we can be friends, cause sometimes we are just complete opposites you know? If it were me, I'd rush over and kick his ass!" "Well that's the difference between you and me, I'm a nicer, better person than you!" "Oh you little bitch!" "Bryt, I wouldn't be tossing around the L word if I were you, Thumbelina." I said with a laugh, Brytany was much shorter than I was and I always gave her a hard time about it. She tried chasing me down the street but I out ran her and she quickly gave up, we swore eachother out, called eachother names, then just continued walking acting like it never happened. "But, you're not going to see him again are you?" "I was planning on going over to his place after work." "Why!? Brian, I love you, you know that. And I know that I pushed you to go out with him, but after what he did on your first date, I don't think it's a good idea for you to continue seeing him." "Bryt, I know you mean well, but just let me handle it okay? I know my past two relationships failed miserably and you're partly to blame for that, by the way..." "Me! How?" "Cause you set me up with Josh remember? Then he left me for some girl at work?" "Oh yeah, but that was so long ago, we were sixteen then." "Not the point, it still counts. Anyways I know you're just looking out for my best interest but really, just let me handle this okay?" "I can't make any promises." "Brytany, you will promise me you won't do anything stupid." "Who? Me? Never, now go to work." We arrived outside the Starbucks in town where I worked, again I know not the best job but in this town, it's all I could get. Me and Bryt said our goodbyes, promised to call eachother later and I headed in to start my shift. "Hey Bri! You're just in time, the breakfast rush is starting, hurry and clock in and get out here." "On my way Mike." "By the way, how was your date the other night?" he called after me. "Don't ask." I replied as I started to help him take orders and make coffee. The morning went by in a blur. I was practically working on auto pilot, taking orders and making coffee, zoning out while doing so and not paying much attention to what I was doing, the sting of hot coffee spilling onto my hand snapped my attention back. "Ow!, fuck me!" I shouted. "What? Whats wrong?" Mike came running over trying to see what I did. "Nothing, I just fucking burned my hand!" I snapped back as I went into the back to run it under cold water. The water felt good at first but then I didn't do much to dull the pain. After a few minutes, Mike came back to check on me. "You okay?" he asked. "Does it look like I'm okay?" I snapped back. "Hey don't get mad at me, I'm not the one who burned your hand, if you had been paying attention..." "Oh yeah, cause it's all my fault!" "What is your problem today?" "None of your damn business Mike just leave me alone!" I tried to walk away and go back to my work but he put on hand on my chest and pushed me back. Since Mike was much stronger than me, there wasn't much I could do to push him off. "Don't feed me any of your bullshit today Brian, cause I'm not in the mood for your attitude," he scolded me in a hushed tone so that the customers couldn't hear. "What ever personal problems you're having with your little boyfriend or whatever, check it at the door when you come in, but don't you dare take it out on me!" He let me go and he walked out to assist the people already impatiently waiting. He left me standing back there practically going red in the face with anger. Him bringing up Drew like that and using him against me in a fight just pushed me over the edge. I knew I shouldn't have told him, and that was the reason why Mike wasn't one of my closest friends, because he pulled shit like this. While sitting there getting more pissed at my boss by the second, I knew what I had to do and I knew what my problem was. It wasn't with Mike or anyone of my friends for that matter, it was Drew. Just then I got up, grabbed my things, and walked out from behind the counter. Mike saw me leaving and grew confused before asking. "Uh, Brian where do you think you are going?" "Home." Was my one worded answer. "Like hell you are, there are people here you need to serve, I'm not letting you go just cause you have personal problems." "Correction Mike, you have people to serve. I have something I need to do. So fuck you Mike, I quit." I walked out the door and started walking home. Since my home and work were so close I barely drove to work, I just walked and right now I was glad I was walking, the hot summer sun was burning down on top of me but I didn't care I just need to clear my head. I made my way to the river front and walked up the path to my condo building. After taking a few moments of looking over the water and people passing by, I decided to go up and see Drew. I jogged up to the third floor and came to his door. After taking a moment to catch my breath, I knocked, and knocked, and knocked again. No answer, just like last time. Feeling frustrated, I went up to my apartment, turned on the stereo and just fell down onto the couch, staring at the ceiling, not knowing what to do. Not a lot of time passed, well I didn't think a lot of time passed but I was pretty zoned out, before the phone rang. It took a while for me to realize that it was my phone and I got up to answer it, glancing at the clock noticing that it was almost four in the afternoon. "Hello?" "Brian? What the hell! Where are you?" "Who is this?" I asked, feeling tired. "Who do you think this is dumb ass?" "Oh, hey Bryt. Whats up?" "Well you know it's the weirdest things. I'm standing here out side Starbucks waiting for my best friend to get out here after his shift. I'm waiting about half an hour when I thought `hey, why not go in and see what's taking him so long?' I go in and he's not there, I ask his boss where he is and he says that he quit, now do you mind telling me what the hell you are thinking lately?" "Long story, Bryt." "Give me the short version." Oh yeah, she was mad. "Mike was being an ass, so I quit. End of story." "Bull shit, tell me the rest of it." "You wanted the short version." I reminded her. "Well I lied, now spill." "Brytnay I really don't feel like talking about it right now." "I don't care! You had better start talking or..." "Bye Bryt, I'll see you tomorrow." Then I hung up on her, I knew it was mean but I couldn't help it, she was giving me a head ache. I knew I was going to get it when we talked again but maybe then I could deal with it. I went out to look outside the window, the sun was starting to set and everyone was out partying. Some fireworks were going off since it was July 3rd, and the college students who were still on the OSU Campus were out drinking and celebrating, but I couldn't find any reason to go out and enjoy the party like I normally would. My thoughts were getting the best of me when I heard a soft knock on the door. I went to go see who it was; when I was halfway there I heard a small, muffled voice. "Brian? It's me, can we talk?" "What do you want?" I snapped back through the door. "Brian, I...I'm sorry. Please just let me in so I can explain." "You wanted to talk Drew, so talk." "Brian, I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean to imply that kissing you was horrible, because it wasn't. I made a move too soon and I didn't want to do that. You're way too kind and sweet and I wanted to do things right with you." He sighed before continuing. "Brian, I like you, a lot actually. I was hopping to start something with you, but when I kissed you last night, I rushed things and I was so pissed at myself for doing so. That's how I screwed things up with my last relationship and I promised myself that I wouldn't do that again." When he spoke again he sounded like he was close to tears. "Brian, please just know that I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Then it occurred to me, if I didn't care that much about Drew then why did I go through the rush and nervousness the night before to cook him dinner, why did I want him to be impressed with me? And why did I care so much about what he thought of me? I already knew the answer, to all of those questions, and I turned and opened my door to reveal a very depressed looking Drew. He looked as if he hadn't slept all night, like he was worrying about something. His hair was all messed up and he looked like he didn't give much effort to make his appearance worth while. When I opened the door, he couldn't look me in the eye, but I put my hand under his chin and made him look at me. "I really like you too, Drew." A spark of hope seemed to light up his face. The corners of his mouth quivered a bit as if he didn't know wither to smile or cry. I just smiled at him and pulled him into a hug. I don't know why I did so, I'm generally not one for making any move what so ever but I just got the instinct to want to hold him and make him feel better. We stayed locked in each others embrace for a while before I let him come in and rest. We sat down on the floor and watched the sky get darker and more stars appear. After we got over the awkwardness of being with eachother again we both relaxed and just talked. I told him all about my family and me growing up, I told him about Brytany and my life in high school, told him most of my interests from sports to music. By the end of the night he was practically an expert on me. "So, I don't know why I never asked before but, where is it that you work?" "Well right now, no where." "What do you mean?" I sighed before answering. "I lost my job today." "You got fired?" "I quit actually." "Why?" "Long story." I said. "I got time." So I launched into my story and told him about my boss and how I was hurt by what he did last night, he seemed to get quiet then, but still listened. I told him how my boss was being a dick to me so I walked out on him. "I'm sorry." Was his reply. "What for?" "It's my fault, if I hadn't been an ass last night, then you wouldn't have quit today." "Hey, there's no way this is your fault. My boss is a dick, I probably would have quit today wither or not I was upset. He's just the kind of guy that I can't work with you know?" "Yeah." Trying to change the subject, I started thinking of something else to talk about. Then, finally realizing that I had hardly any idea of where he came from, I started to ask him about his life." "So, since we're talking of careers, what is it that you do?" "You don't wanna know." "Try me." "It's nothing glamorous." "Hey, whatever it is, it can't have been worse than my old job. I'm not exactly looking for glamour here, I just want to know." "Well, I'm a singer. Not a professional one but I hope to be one some day." "Really? That's so cool." "You think so?" "Yeah, I love singing but I don't think I could ever really do it professionally, though I'd like to sometime. It's on my list of things to do." He smiled before continuing on. "That's why I came to Corvallis; get some gigs here for the Fourth of July celebration tomorrow. I'm hoping I can get noticed there. If not then I don't know what I'm going to do or where I'm heading off to next." "I thought you lived here?" "I never said I did, I'm just renting my condo right now, like I said before I'm not staying here for very long. I never stay in one place for very long." "What do you mean?" "Never mind," he said as he got up to go to my music rack by my stereo. He started thumbing through my CD collection, trying to avoid the subject. Not wanting to push and start a fight I just kept quiet. "Wow," he said after a brief moment of silence. "Hannah Montana?" "What?" I said in defense. "Hey, it's good music and it's something to dance to." He giggled a bit as he put the CD back and grabbed the next one. "High School Musical?" "Hey that's an awesome movie and the music is just as good." He laughed. "If you say so." "It is! Oh my god, here listen." I grabbed the CD from him and put it in the stereo and pushed play. The first song started playing through the speakers and he listened, I guess trying to like the music he was hearing. The chorus of the song started and up to this point I was humming along, then without realizing it, I was singing along. "This could be the start of something new, it feels so right, to be here with you, oh. And now looking in your eyes, I feel in my heart. The start of something new." I must have closed my eyes at some point because when I opened them, he was staring at me, smiling. "What?" "That was pretty good," He said, still smiling at me. "You should sing with me up on stage tomorrow." "No, that's okay. I can't really sing to save my life. I'll just leave it to the professional here." "Oh yeah, sure. Professional. Got it." "Oh shut up." I said as I ejected the CD, he immediately put a new one in and skimmed to find the track he wanted. I couldn't see what it was but instantly recognized it as one of my favorite songs started playing. "A*Teens." I said. "Yeah, never really heard much of this group but this song sounds interesting." "It's one of my favorites." "Really? Well in that case," he put the CD case down, turned up the volume and reached his hand out to me. "Would you like to dance?" I blushed a bit as I took his hand and he led us to the middle of the living room. We started dancing, none of us were particularly good but no one complained. "You know, the neighbors might complain that the music is too loud." I said, off comment. "Neighbors? Please I am the neighbor, and screw them, they can deal with it." I smiled and put my head to rest on his shoulder, he must have heard this song before because he started singing along to it, right in my ear. "I promised myself. I promised I'll wait for you. The midnight hour. I know you'll shine on through. I promised myself. I promised the world to you. I gave you a flower. You made my dreams come true." It was all so perfect; he had the most amazing voice I've ever heard. Everything about him, even being here with him, just seemed so right. I knew then that I wanted to have several more nights like this with him. The song ended and with it, the CD but we both didn't stop dancing. Being with eachother just felt so right and none of us wanted to part from one another. "Brian?" he said, breaking the silence. "Yeah?" "Would you like to go out with me again?" We stopped dancing and I raised my head to face him. "Yeah, I'd love to, when?" "I was thinking tomorrow, after I get off stage?" "Sure, I can't wait." His face lit up when he heard my answer, I couldn't help but thinking that he was just so cute. Even though it was only around nine at night, I tried to stifle a yawn but failed. He, of course, noticed. "You tired?" he asked. "Nope, not one bit." I lied. "You liar," he smiled. "You should head off to bed, and I should get going." I felt a bit of disappointment. I really didn't want him to leave, I wanted him to just stay with me all night, but we both knew that it wasn't right. As much as I didn't want to, I said goodbye to him and watched him head down the stairs to his apartment. I shut and locked my door and went to turn everything off. Then went to my room and got ready for bed, stripped down to my boxers, and was about to crawl under the covers when the phone rang. I seriously debated wither or not to answer it, since I was really tired from a long, dramatizing day. Then I decided to answer it and tell how ever it was, probably a telemarketer, to fuck off. "Hello?" "Brian?" an unfamiliar voice asked. "Yeah, that's me, who is this?" "You're a fag, aren't you?" "Excuse me?" "You heard me." "What the fuck! Who is this?" "You go out with that guy who was just with you tonight, than you better be prepared to deal with the consequences." "Excuse me, dick head, but this is my life, you can't tell me what the fuck to do, who the hell are you anyway? Maybe I should go to the cops and tell them you're threatening me." "Please the cops won't help you, you're a faggot, and cops don't help people like you." "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?" "Just someone who cleans the world of fags like you, you've been warned Brian." Then he hung up. My heart was beating a million miles a second. I was scared to death and I had no idea what to do. Someone was watching me, they knew Drew was with me tonight and they knew we had a date. My hands started shaking violently as I tried to get my jeans on. Once I succeeded in getting into my pants, I rushed out to my front door and swung it open as I ran for the stairs. The door slammed behind me as I was half way down a flight of stairs and made me jump; I glanced back behind me and then lost my footing. I tumbled down the rest of the way and slammed my head into the corner of the wall. The pain was intense and my head started pounding, only thing I could think of was getting to Drew's door, but the pain in my head grew. I saw a bright light and heard some girl shriek and glanced up as I saw someone rushing towards me. Then, I let my head fall to the floor as I passed out from the pain. To be continued...