Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2012 10:20:48 +0100
From: David Spowart <davidspowart3@hotmail.com>
Subject: Well that was unexpected  chapter 25

O.K., the usual warnings apply: This story contains sex between males of
consenting age, and if your state or country does not allow such material
to be read, or you are offended by male-on-male sex and you are under the
age of 18, please leave this story now. Otherwise, enjoy Josh's continuing
journey.

Please help keep this site going. Donate what you can.

Written by David S
Edited by Russ J
E-mail justdave68@hotmail.co.uk

Well That Was Unexpected

By Dave S

Chapter 25

8:55am Sunday

I woke up alone and Cal had already left my side. I felt some form of
panic, but then I heard voices, familiar voices. I heard my Mom laugh and
Cal joining in the merriment; I got out of bed, slipped on my sweats and T,
and went down stairs.

"Morning, sleepy head," my Mom announced. "Yeah, morning, Mom," I replied,
grabbing a cup of coffee, and a piece of bacon from Cal's plate. "Morning,
babe," I said, kissing his cheek. "Bad dreams last night?" Cal
asked. "Yeah, but not a long one," I said. "Meeting Dr Benet on
Friday. Hope she can help me," I continued. Cal stood up, wrapped his arms
around me from behind, and whispered in my ear.

"Have faith. She will help you. Just have faith," he said, kissing the back
of my neck. "Yeah, I know. Thanks, babe," I replied in a small voice, just
above a whisper. I just felt, I don't know...low. I guess.

"So, boys, all packed?" Mom asked. "Yeah, just about," I replied. "Just
some shirts that need ironed and then I am done," I continued, hoping mom
picked up on the hint about the ironing. "So, what are you boys doing this
morning?" Mom asked, as Dad walked into the dining room. "Morning, honey,"
he said, kissing Mom on the cheek. "Boys," he said to us. "Morning, Dad,"
we said in unison. "We are meeting the gang at Jitneys at about eleven,
Mom," I eventually answered. "Just to say our farewells, is all," I
finished. "So what time is your flight?" Dad asked, and I replied, "2
o'clock, Dad. We're so pleased we are not driving back, to be
honest. That's a long drive," I responded. "We are back in three weeks for
Thanksgiving, and it just seems pointless driving the cars back, and Dale
agreed, so," I said, and yes we will miss the freedom a car/truck gives
us. But, the cost of gas getting there and then driving back for
Thanksgiving just seemed stupid since the flights were inexpensive. So, we
are flying back.

"Aaron is driving us to the airport in his truck, so we are sorted. Thanks,
Dad," I explained further. Soon after breakfast I went into the living room
and Cal went to finish packing his stuff for the flight back to New York. I
sat as my dad entered the room.

"You okay, kiddo?" he asked. "I will be, Dad. I hope so, anyway," I
replied.

"Care to explain what you mean, son?" he asked, with a touch of concern
when he spoke. "I am having nightmares, Dad. Horrific
ones. And...well...they hurt...Dad. I cannot really...explain it. But, I
feel pain in them...and I feel terror," I told him. "Cal seems to be the
only thing that brings me calm, Dad," I carried on. "Dad, I keep seeing Cal
stabbed and dying at the hands of my attacker. And it feels real, it feels
so real to me," I said, with some tears beginning to fall. "It feels like I
am re-living it, but with Cal on the receiving end of the pain. It's like I
am being forced to witness it," I went on. "He's in jail, so I know,
rationally, he cannot hurt me, or us. But, mentally, he still is torturing
me," I said, as he wrapped his arms around me, and like Cal, my dad's
strong hold brought me comfort, made me feel safe.

"I don't know what to say to you, son. I don't know what I can do, apart
from support you all I can, all that your mom can do. I am sure Cal will be
with you every step of the way, and, yes, perhaps your therapist will bring
some light into the dark and help you," Dad went on. "Joshua, you have been
through so much for someone so young, but, hey, you are still here. You
survived it, and you will be stronger for it. Trust me. You will get
through this," he concluded, and kissed my forehead.

"I wanted to die, Dad," I said, and a shocked look appeared on my dad's
face. "You wanted to kill yourself? Why?" he asked, with worry and
concern. "No, Dad. When they were hurting me, I was in so much pain—you
have seen the things they did to me—I was in so much pain, Dad, I begged
them to kill me," I said with tears falling freely, as I cried into my
dad's shoulder. This was the first time I had opened up to one of my
parents. I hadn't realised that my Mom was standing in the doorway,
listening to what I had been telling Dad. "I said goodbye to Cal in my head
so many times," I wept out.

Lucas had joined Mom in the doorway, and I still had no idea at that moment
they were witnessing me breakdown. Mom walked over, knelt down, and also
wrapped her arms around me. "Be strong, son, just fight. Don't let them
take your spirit," my mom said, kissing my tear-covered face. "You have a
family that loves and adores you, and a man who dotes on your every
movement and loves you more than life itself. So fight, sweetheart, fight,"
she said. I honestly felt better for her words. I was loved. And with Cal I
felt desired and loved. So I will fight. I won't let the bastards win.

Cal walked back into the room. "Everything okay?" he asked, looking over at
this Hallmark moment, and wondered if he was intruding on something. I
stood up and went over to him and just said, "I love you so much. And this
thing I am going through, I will fight it babe. With your help, I will
fight it." He just smiled and planted a soft but loving kiss that I needed
at that moment. I turned and looked at my brother, and he was crying. He
was crying for me, as he had always seen me as invincible. But lately, he
had seen me battered and bruised, and, well...vulnerable, and that made him
sad. "Hey, bro, I will be me again," I said, holding him tight. "Promise?"
Lucas sobbed out. "Yeah, Bro, I promise," I said, kissing his cheek. "I am
just going through some shit...sorry, Mom. But, I will be back, I promise
you, okay?" I said, staring into my brother's eyes.

Mom and Dad looked over at me, and from what I could make out they looked
proud of how I was talking and comforting my brother. I must admit, I am
fortunate for how my family still loves me, and I actually felt for Cal, as
he would soon come face to face with the person who rejected him. Rejected
by his own mother because he was gay.

"I am fine, okay? Just let me get cleaned up and we will go meet the
guys. You can come as well, bro," I said to Cal and Luc. I went to my room
and grabbed some clean clothes and made my way to the bathroom. I looked
into the mirror and could see what my family saw: a sad face, a very
troubled, sad face looking back at me. I jumped into the shower and made
quick work of it. I determined I could do without a shave and proceeded to
dry, then dress myself, before heading back downstairs readying myself for
today's events. Despite the strong desire to curl up and cry, I went
downstairs.

"Okay, guys, ready," I shouted. "Your ironing will be done for when you get
back, sweetie!" my mom yelled, and I smiled and kissed her. "Thanks, Mom,"
I said as we headed out of the door.

Cal drove over to Jitneys and we parked and went inside. Tom and Lacy were
already sitting, smiling at each other, not noticing us come
in...yet. "Hey, guys," I said as we approached their booth, and Lacy stood
up, giving me a hug. "You look like you have been crying," she said to
me. "Nah, just tired is all," I lied. "Hey, Tom, you look happy. Something
up?" I asked as we took our seats. "Nope, just happy," he said, looking
over at Lacy. "Hello, fucktards!" yelled Mark, as he, Dale and Todd walked
into the coffee shop. "Use brain, retard," yelled Dale at his jock-brained
brother. "Is Aaron still taking us to the airport?" I asked. "Yeah, he will
pick us up at twelve from your house," Todd informed us. "So, about forty
minutes from now," he went on.

"Dale, Tuesday and Wednesday, if Cal and I give you a list, will you go
round to our classes and collect any work assignments that have been set
for us, please?" I asked, already knowing his answer, as for the most part
he has never let me down. "We will split the list," Todd interjected. "So,
you going with Cal to Chicago then?" Dale asked. "Yeah, I am," I
answered. "Got a feeling he needs me there," I said, looking at my
boyfriend's expression.

We talked about what was going on over the next few weeks, and what was
planned for Thanksgiving for when we get back. I explained that after all
we had to do next week I had to re-sit my mid-term papers that had been
postponed due to my attack and kidnapping. Hopefully all the information
was still in my head somewhere, but some study time with Cal wouldn't go
amiss. I mean, this exam only accounted for twenty-five percent of my
overall grade, and we scored A+ with distinction on the 1947 engineering
project that connected me with Cal, or sex-on-legs, as I knew him
then...okay, still do.

But I wanted to pass this part of my degree highly, as I wanted a career
out of this. I want to develop things. When I am older and with kids, I
want to point out to them, "Look, son, I designed that," so yeah, I need to
do well, and hopefully build my own company much like Cal's great-grandpa
did.

"Okay, guys, we should be off," Dale announced, as it was almost eleven
fifty. "Shame Liam couldn't say goodbye," I said, hugging Lacy. "Kidding,
right," Lacy laughed out. "Right now his parents have him trapped in my
dad's church, being lectured about the sins of the flesh. Hypocrite," she
said. I wondered what she meant by that last statement, but we didn't have
time to delve.

We left and jumped into Cal's truck, with Lucas and Cal chatting away about
bloody Harry Potter and me being bored out of my skull. I'm just pleased
that the series is now over. Now, if the discussion was about The Lord of
the Rings, well that's a great series of movies, and very close to
Tolkien's vision, and, in my humble opinion, a world of difference from the
Potter crap. We arrived back home with Aaron already waiting and looking
happier than he was yesterday. "Why the shit-faced grin?" Todd
asked. "Kyle's coming to New York!" he said excitedly. "His mom told him he
had to move on. She's going to move in with her sister," he said. Todd
couldn't be happier for him. "Fantastic, Bro," Todd said, embracing his
best friend.

I went into my home with Cal and Lucas and kissed my parents. I told them
that both Cal and I would be back in three weeks, and not to worry about
me, even though that was an impossible task on their part.

I stood for a while, reflecting on my visit home, happy in the knowledge
that I still have great parents. And, despite all that's happened to me
over the past year, I have some amazing friends. Even though this place has
its fair share of drama, I love it, and look forward to Thanksgiving, as
despite the bad things that have happened to me, and there has been a lot
of that, I also have a lot to be thankful for, nothing more so than Mr
Calumn Kenner, my lover, my future, my life.

Soon after we left for the airport, heading down the motorway, we started
chatting about when Aaron and Kyle would enter college, and the smile that
spread across Aaron's face could have powered the truck all the way to New
York. Todd teased him about it. "Aaron, I am pleased you have sorted it
out, and that brings me some joy, I can tell you," I informed him. "Oh, why
is that, pray tell?" he joked out. "Oh, nothing. Just Todd will now have
someone else to tease the shit out of," I pissed myself laughing. No
kidding, I actually pissed myself. "Fuck, yeah," Todd exclaimed, also
pissing himself laughing.

Some fifty minutes later, we boarded the plane bound for JFK and back to
the real life of freshman year. That made me slightly apprehensive. How
would people treat me now? I am the boy who was kidnapped and tortured, and
my name is now known on campus. Me being known as gay did not really bother
me now. I had faced evil head on in the guise of Ben Kips, or Derrick
Reynolds, or whatever he wanted to be known as. I will just refer to him as
that sadistic bastard from now on. And I know I am not a vindictive person,
but if what Dale told me was right, with the passing comment Todd sent in
Terry Reynolds direction when Cal, aka `Bruce fucking Lee,' took him down,
I hope Derrick and Duke have a `Bubba' in their respective cells, and that
Bubba is hung like a stallion! Hurt much? I laughed at that last point.

"What you laughing at?" Cal asked. "Oh nothing, just thinking about some
stuff is all," I smiled back at him with that goofy smile he always induced
in me.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR SEATS, AND PLACE THE TRAY IN
THE UPRIGHT POSITION, AND FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS AS WE WILL BE SOON
DESCENDING INTO JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WE WILL BE LANDING IN TEN
MINUTES. THANK YOU FOR FLYING AMERICAN AIRLINES. HAVE A SAFE TRIP."

Sure enough, ten minutes later we pulled up to the gate, ready to leave the
aircraft, and soon were collecting our luggage and heading out of the
airport. The cold that hit us was harsh; winter was coming and coming
fast. The strangest thing came to mind when the cold first hit me, and I
announced it to my friends, "I bet the fucking air conditioning is working
now," I laughed out, and they all followed suit. "We hailed a cab and we
were soon bearing down on our campus, getting ready for what life threw at
us. I had a class first thing, as did Cal, in applied mathematics, and then
my interview with assistant D. A., Sarah Watson, at eleven. But, before we
got on the plane, I was happy to find out that Scott, the guy who asked me
to help him with his course work for engineering, had done quite well in
his exam and e-mailed me to thank me for my assistance. He said he would
thank me personally when I got back. I sent him a message back telling him
it wasn't necessary. I was pleased to help and if he needed it in the
future he should feel free to ask.

It was late when we got back on campus, and I suggested, "Dale, use my bed
for tonight, dude. I am going to crash with Cal, okay?" and he nodded,
embraced me, as did Todd. "Love you, man," Todd said, whilst pulling away
from me, and I shared his sentiment I did for both my friends. It had been
a long day. It had been an emotional day in many respects.

"Okay, guys, see you later, tomorrow, okay?" I said, whilst walking away
and heading towards Cal's dorm. When we got close I looked over to my tree
that held so many memories for me: the day I was outed by Dale; the time
Cal waved at me, as I am sure it wasn't the girl behind me; and, of course,
Connor Brian. So many feelings surround this tree. I also noticed a few
bunches of flowers placed on one side of the tree, some old and some
looking like they had just been placed. It brought a lump to my throat and
I said, whilst holding Cal, "I feel guilty. I feel so damn guilty. This was
supposed to have been me," I said, with my voice trembling. "Yes, my love,
but it wasn't though, was it?" he said, holding me. He pulled me away and
we headed back to his dorm complex. As I said, it was an emotional day,
very emotional.

I walked into Cal's dorm room and sat on his bed and he sat beside me and I
just started to cry from all the emotion that had built up inside me. This
is everything that had built up over the past weeks, the past few
days. This morning's little break down released some of the pressure, but
now the rest came flooding out. Here I sat, with the knowledge that I
survived, but a kid I never met nor knew was dead. That beating was meant
to be me, which was confirmed by Terry when they held me captive. So I knew
with certainty that it should be me six feet down. Also, if it had been me,
they wouldn't have stopped, as they would have targeted Cal for similar
treatment. That is what hurts. Is it the statement that the sadistic
bastard made...that Cal would be next...the reason for my nightmares?

I sadly stripped down, climbed into bed, and Cal did the same. I don't
think my own personal sleep aid would help me tonight, but Cal's scent and
his arms holding me would. That's what he did, he lay down and I lay my
head on his chest and snuggled into him as he wrapped his arms around me. I
felt safe. I always had felt this way with him. At the moment I am an
emotional wreck. There were times when at home I had a good mask I hid
behind, but over the past couple of days that mask had fallen away and my
family saw how I was feeling. My mask never fooled Cal though. He knew I
was hurting and he always gave me comfort, either by just being there for
me, or with love and desire and lust. Whatever I needed, he provided. At
this moment, being held by him was just what I needed. It had been, as I
have said over and over, an emotional day.


To be continued...

Yeah, thanks again for the comments. These keep me writing Josh's
emotional, but loving journey. So, keep the comments coming as always at
justdave68@hotmail.co.uk

Dave