Date: Wed, 20 May 2015 22:11:30 -0500 From: Kit Darling Subject: A Rose Among Thorns Part 12 *DISCLAIMER* This story contains depictions of male on male, graphic sexual interactions. The characters are high school aged and sometimes have unsafe sex. ALWAYS USE A CONDOM! This is a complete work of fiction and any similarities to persons or events is purely coincidental. Enjoy the story and any feedback is welcome. Remember that Nifty needs your generous donations to continue on, Dears. So make sure to toss a few dollars their way so they can keep tossing great stories your way. Love ya! CHAPTER 12 I waited in the dark on the side of the road until I saw the headlights blazing toward me. The car pulled over, headlights bright on my face. The driver stepped out and came over to me. "I took Sam and Shayla home and was on my way to my house when you called," Nolan said. I looked up at him trying to hide my broken heart. He grabbed my hand and I stood up. "What happened?" he asked looking at me closely. "I don't want to talk about it. Will you please just take me home?" I begged. He nodded and we went to his car. He pulled away from the shoulder and headed toward town. We were silent for the entirety of the ride. He parked in my driveway and turned off the engine. I sat there picking at my nails. He took off his seat belt and turned toward me, "Did Logan... rape you?" he asked as he scratched the back of his neck. "No!" I responded, "I wanted it. I just didn't realize how... meaningless it was for him." I felt my eyes welling up with tears. Ugh, I was such a cry baby. I wish I could toss my emotions out the window like normal boys. Nolan leaned across the center console and wiped my eyes. "I'm sorry that happened to you on your first time. Guys are jerks, Cori. This is why I like girls," he chuckled a little, a half smile coming onto his face, "It's gonna be alright." "Is it? Is it ever going to be alright?" I asked, my voice suddenly filling with anger. He sat back as though I'd slapped him. "I know that you're hurt, man. I'm sorry he made you feel this way. If I even had a chance, I'd kick his ass, but we know how that ended up last time," he pointed to his eyebrow. I looked down at my feet. "I just wish this was so much simpler," I whispered. I grabbed the door handle and opened it. I climbed out leaving Nolan, "Thank you for the ride." I walked into my house. I climbed the steps and was going to go to my bedroom but instead I tip-toed into my little brother's room. "Kitty Cat?" Tommy mumbled sleepily. "Shh, go back to sleep. I'm going to sleep in here tonight, okay?" I whispered through my tears. "Are you okay?" he sounded like he was waking up. "Yes, I just want to be with someone tonight." I climbed onto the other side of his bed and crawled under the covers. Tommy rolled toward me and looked me in the eyes. "I love you, Kitty Cat." "I love you too," I said softly. His little hand came up and grabbed mine and we drifted off to sleep. When I woke up on Saturday morning, Tommy was downstairs with Mom in the kitchen. Dad was already at work. I went to my bedroom and changed into my silk pajamas and robe. I went down the stairs and sat down at the counter. Mom was making some eggs and Tommy was gabbing non-stop to her. "Happy Halloween, Kitty Cat," Tommy said to me excitedly. "Happy Halloween, Tommy," I replied. Mom smiled at me. "How was the bonfire? I hear the Moon Valley Wolves beat the Eagles. You must be really proud of Logan. You should invite him over here for dinner tonight," Mom said as she returned her attention to scrambling the eggs. "Mom, you know tonight is a very important night for his family. Samhain is the Wiccan new year. He needs to be with his family to honor the dead and prepare for the new year," I said knowing she knew that but was hoping I could convert him. "Oh yeah, well did you have fun at the bonfire at least?" "It was a blast," I said sarcastically. She turned and eyed me as if to ask if I wanted to talk about it privately. I shook my head and she nodded and went back to the food. "Breakfast is almost ready," Mom announced. She put a couple pieces of bread into the toaster and buttered the ones that had just come out. I went and got some plates and glasses down and set up the breakfast nook. The sun illuminated the pretty yellow table cloth. I grabbed the pitcher of orange juice and put it in the center. Mom plated up the sausage links, bacon, eggs and toast. She set them at the table and slid onto the bench. Tommy and I sat across from her on the other bench. We grabbed what we wanted and began eating. "So what are your plans for this lovely day?" Mom asked me, secretly hoping I wouldn't say going to summon Satan with Logan. "I was thinking Tommy and I could go get some pumpkin ice cream and take a ride on the ferry or something," I said looking at Tommy who seemed to be excited. "Oh that sounds fun," Mom said. I suddenly realized, I hadn't spent much time with her since Logan and I started "dating". I bet she was missing me. "You should come too, Mommy," I smiled. She looked up and her eyes were sparkling. "What a great idea!" Mom said excitedly. We finished up eating and she ran upstairs to pick out something to wear. I went to my room and searched through my closet. It was a fairly warm day so I settled on some purple shorts and a pale orange sweater. I slipped on my black Chuck Taylor's and went downstairs to wait for Mom and Tommy. Mom came down wearing a pair of yellow capris and a light blue cardigan over a gray t-shirt. Tommy came down wearing jeans and a t-shirt. We all piled into my car and drove on over to Freeze, the ice-creamery. After a day of hanging out with Mom and Tommy, we retired to the living room at home to watch one of the movies Tommy got me for my birthday. We ended up picking "The Children's Hour" a movie where Audrey Hepburn plays a school teacher who is accused of being a lesbian. Very taboo back then. It's actually a really sad movie but it was groundbreaking for it's time, so I love it. Dad came through the door and greeted us. Tommy raced over to him and gave him a big hug, "We had such a fun day today, Daddy! We went and got ice cream and then we went for a spooky ghost tour in New Orleans and then we went on the ferry and now we are watching movies!" he chattered excitedly. "Sound's like it was a good ol' time!" Dad said as he kissed Mom on the forehead. He patted my shoulder and then asked, "What do y'all want for dinner?" "Pizza!" Tommy blurted before Mom or I could give any input. "Sounds good to me, any objections?" Dad asked looking at us. "Pizza sounds great," I agreed. Mom nodded and Dad left to make the call. Mom and I were sobbing onto our pizza slices by the end of the movie. No matter how many times I've seen it, I still cry. I wont ruin the ending for you! "There is a picnic tomorrow after church and I was thinking you could make one of those pies you do so well," said Mom as she turned and looked at me. "Sure, what kind should I make?" I searched through my mental recipes trying to think of one I wanted to bake. "Ooh how about that chocolate pie?" Dad said from the kitchen, obviously eavesdropping on our conversation. I looked at mom and she smiled. I nodded and went to the kitchen to get started. I was getting all the ingredients when I heard a knock on the back door. I turned and saw Logan through the glass. I was confused why he wouldn't just come to the front door but I decided to go answer it. I slipped out the door and shivered from the chilly breeze. I pulled my sweater closer to me. "What happened to you the other night? I went to take a shower and when I got back, you were gone. Did you walk all the way home?" Logan asked. He ran a hand through his hair waiting for me to respond. "No, Nolan came and got me," I said flatly. "Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?" Are you kidding me?! You told me, to my face, that I still don't mean anything to you! I thought we had come so far, but every time we get two steps forward we fell three steps back. "Logan, the fact that you don't think you did anything wrong is a problem, in and of itself," I crossed my arms and stared up at him. He still looked confused. "How can I still mean absolutely nothing to you? You kiss me when there is no one around to see. We had sex for Christ's sake! We collaborated costumes. You take me out for fun. How am I still just a friend with benefits?" I was livid at this point. "I'm sorry that I don't feel anything for you?" he said as more of a question than a statement. "I know you feel something, Logan, but you are a God damn coward," I hissed, "You can't let anyone know that under all those rough edges is a heart. A heart that cares about people. A heart that loves people. God for-fucking-bid anyone ever learn that Logan Black fell in love," I turned to go back into my house. He grabbed my arm but remained silent. After a few seconds he opened his mouth to say something but then closed it. I looked at him and then jerked my arm free, "That's what I thought." "I want to break up," Logan said quietly. I whipped around and looked him in the eye. "You what?" I asked confused. I didn't see that one coming. "I want to break up. I want the contract to be over. I've done nothing but hurt you since this whole thing began. You deserve to be with someone who wants you," he kept his eyes on the ground. "You don't?" I asked. His words stung deep, deep within my core, "you don't want me?" "No," Logan said. His voice quaked for a second. I stood silent. Wondering what to say next. Logan was breaking up with me. We had spent two months pretending to date. Two months. Sure that doesn't seem like much. Two months is a long time in teenage years. I'd shut down everyone for Logan. And, of course, by everyone I mean Blake. "Logan," I reached out and touched his hand but he stiffened and that's when I knew it was really done, "Okay." "Okay?" "The contract is terminated. You are free to do whatever you want, Logan. No hard feelings," I lied. Of course there would be hard feelings. I was probably going to cry as soon as I went inside the house. You must think, by now, that I'm just an unstoppable fountain of tears. I swear these past two months, I've cried all the tears I never cried as a kid. "See ya around, I guess," Logan said before turning and leaving. "Logan?" I said putting on my best smile. He turned and looked at me, "Happy Wiccan New Year." "Blessed be," he said solemnly and then left. Sunday afternoon, my family was sitting at a little picnic table with Pastor Smith and his family. His oldest daughter, Georgia, had come home for the weekend and was sitting next to Dianne and Mom on the end. I was across from Blake and Dad and Pastor Smith and the little ones were on the end. I stared at the food on my plate barely saying anything to anyone. There was meaningless chit chat about the weather and what the ladies were thinking of wearing to the Thanksgiving Banquet. I heard Julie and Tommy arguing about which Disney movie was the best. Dad and Pastor Smith and Blake were talking about sports. Other tables were filled with other church goers. We were all at the big park across from the church. There was a shelter house that was still open to the outside. Birds were singing in the trees and there was a nice breeze. "Did y'all hear about my boy wrangling a girlfriend, finally?" Dianne asked enthusiastically. Georgia looked at her younger brother and laughed. "Who's the poor girl?" she asked as she took a bite of egg salad. "Shayla Thompson," Dianne said before Blake could, "She's such a sweet girl. I'm glad they found each other." "To be honest I always thought you were gonna end up with Cori, the way you're always telling me stories about him," Georgia said to Blake. I looked up for the first time and Blake's face was dark red. I bit my lip and smiled a little. The table was quiet and I finally spoke, "Ha, Blake? I'm not nearly pretty enough to date him!" I joked. Mom smiled and Dianne did too. "You are beautiful, Son," Dad said, patting my arm. "Besides, Corrigan is dating Logan," Mom said with a squeeze of my hand under the table. Dianne looked really uncomfortable. She was the kind of woman who was okay with homosexuals unless they were HER children. Pastor Smith always preached that homosexuality was not a sin and that God didn't make mistakes. We don't choose who we love. "Actually, not anymore," I said nonchalantly before taking another bite of my ham sandwich. Blake's eyes darted to mine. Mom and Dad looked at me open mouthed and I finished, "We broke up last night." "Really?" Blake asked. Dianne's head whipped toward him. She looked fearful that he may propose to me right then and there. I nodded at him. Georgia changed the subject and started talking about college and I gave her a thankful look. The ride home was a quiet one. Tommy had fallen asleep and Mom and Dad were whispering so I couldn't hear them in the front. I looked at the trees passing by and then down at my phone. Sam had texted me asking if she could come over and I replied that she could. We pulled into the driveway and Sam was leaning against her car, filing her nails. "What a surprise! Sam's here," I said to Mom and Dad as we pulled into the garage. I got out and motioned for her to follow. We went inside and up to my bedroom. "I have something to tell you," she said, twirling her hair nervously. "Okay?" I looked at her anxiously awaiting the news. "Okay so like... You remember when you asked Nolan to take Shayla and me home?" "Yes..." I was still waiting. "Well when we got there, Nolan and I kind of- well I suppose it was more me- but I was drunk so does it- anyway, I kissed Nolan," she bit her lip waiting for my response. "Well that's not good. Does Connor know?" "No... Should I tell him? Should I talk to Nolan and explain myself?" Sam was chewing on her lip crazily. I was worried she was going to salt it and eat it for dinner. "Sam, calm down. I'm sure Nolan understands that it was a drunk thing and not an I'm into you thing," I said as I sat her down on my bed, "you should tell Connor that you did it before he finds out from someone else though." "You're right," she pulled out her cell phone and called Connor. He answered and she told him. "Okay but- I mean, I was drunk- No I know that's not an excuse- If you'd just let me- So you're breaking up with me? Connor please-" She stared at her phone after it went dark. He'd hung up on her. "That went well," she scoffed, "I mean I guess I was going to break up with him sooner or later." I just looked at her. How could she be so composed about every little thing? Sam had the ability to throw her emotions right out the window and be stone-hearted about the saddest stuff. I envied her for that. "So how's it going with the love triangle?" she asked suddenly. "What?" I was caught off guard by that. "You and Blake and Logan?" "It's more of a love...dot now. Blake's dating Shayla and Logan and I broke up," I said quietly. "That sucks bro. Well now I guess we're single together," she patted my arm and I smiled at her. *AUTHOR'S NOTE* Hello, Dears! I know this chapter wasn't much but it's all important to the story line somehow. I'd like to get your opinions on who our hero should end up with or should he end up with anyone at all? E-mail me! Oh and thank you Robbie for your amazing editing skills and for helping me to publish a piece of work and not a piece of trash! -Kit =^.^=