Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 01:46:29 +0000 From: Darren C Subject: Life Starts Again Chapter 3 Please, If you are not of legal age to be viewing this material, or have a problem with homosexual relations, leave...and seek therapy for being so closed minded. This is the trid installment to my story, and I would like to thank everyone who wrote me, you greatly influenced this chapter. I am always open to critique, comments or questions about my story, so please email me if you have any of the afore mentioned. _________________________________________________ Chapter Three: Perspectives Drew couldn't get the images out of his head; they flooded his mind throughout his dreams. The moment Matt had shown him the pictures Justin had drawn. Each piece had a caption, and notes about each person drawn; some were detailed while others were vague. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, Justin was gay and had never told him; but why? They were supposed to be friends and this is what he got for it? "Was I not trustworthy?" Drew thought. He glanced at Matt who had the suggest look on his face, a smirk of deceit, proud of what he was doing. "How did you get these?" Drew demanded. "What does it matter? That little faggot lied to us..." He retorted angrily. "Answer my question. Now!" Drew yelled. "I stole them from his folder, what does it matter?" "You did what? You looked through someone else's personal things?" "Yeah, so what?" Matt's anger was growing, things weren't working out as he had planned. "Listen, and listen good. If you ever so much as go through anyone's things again without permission, I'll break your hands." Drew had his fist clenched by his side, resisting his urge to punch Matt. He was so angry, not just with Matt for stealing, and invading someone's privacy, but at Justin as well, he felt betrayed that his friend wouldn't come forward and be honest with him about something so trivial as sexuality. At least if Drew had known, he could have avoided any uncomfortable situations... and he was mad at himself for not picking up on it. "Whatever dude, that fag's getting what he deserves" That was the last straw for Drew, He couldn't handle Matt's attitude towards other peoples sexuality any longer, and with one swift move, he smashed his fist into Matt's right eyes, knocking him backwards. "Leave Justin alone... now if you'll excuse me, I have to go talk with him" Drew's voice sank into an emotionless tone as he walked out of the school. It was still raining outside, But drew didn't care anymore, he was too angry to worry about staying dry, he needed to talk to Justin. Drew just couldn't understand it, why couldn't Justin have been forward about this? Why couldn't he put some trust in his new friends? Why? Why? Why? That question killed him inside as he thought about it more and more. Drew didn't really care about people's sexuality, he had a gay uncle and lesbian cousin, it didn't change who they were. It was a long walk to Justin's house, a very long walk, and with the rain and the wind smashing at his body relentlessly, it seemed like an eternity. He stood at the door to Justin's home for about ten minutes, debating the idea of actually talking with him, he was so angry that he figured he'd lash out at him, probably say things he really didn't mean. But he had to talk to Justin now as well; he knew what he wanted to say and now was the best time as any, while it was fresh in his mind. He took his hand and slowly brought it up to the door, his hand once again in a fist and gently tapped on the door. He took a deep breath, and knocked again, harder this time. As the door opened slowly, he saw Justin standing there, he look tired, drained... sad. Drew wanted to ask how he was, but kept up his stern posture. "Drew, c-come in...what are you doing out in the rain like this?" Justin said voicing his concern. `I'm here to talk to you' he thought to himself, his anger forcing its way to the surface, its unrelenting force driving him to be cruel, but shoving that little annoying voice of hatred into the recesses of his mind he was able to regain control and speak, "Two reasons, the first being; I don't break promises. And the second being, we need to talk" and yet, his voice still echoed hatred... "Alright, fair enough. But before you do anything...strip." "Excuse me?" Drew thought. " I'm not kidding." "I gathered that" His thoughts continuing along as Justin spoke. "Come with me to the laundry room and take off all of you wet clothes, grab a towel and we'll take a look and see what I have that might fit you, got it?" It was just then that he realized just how wet he was, his shirt was stuck so tightly to his body that you could see his muscle definition, hesitantly he walked into the house as Justin took him by the arm, pulling him to the laundry room. He was shoved inside and began to strip off his clothes. "It must be really important if you needed to walk in the rain" He heard Justin say from outside the door. Drew sighed, making sure he knew what he was going to say, and how to say it, he wouldn't be rude this time, "Believe me, it is..." Drew stepped out of the laundry room wrapped in a towel and proceeded to head upstairs to Justin's room, not saying one word to his friend. What did he have to say at this point? What was the reason he had come here? He had almost forgotten, seeing Justin in that saddened state made him feel bad about being here, about being mad, but yet, he couldn't help feel the way he did. He stepped into Justin room and headed over to the window, looking out into the dismal horizon that was shrouded in a blanket of gray. The image before him was suiting, he felt dark, cold, and empty. He wanted to cry, he wanted to yell, throw something, hold someone; he was torn inside, for reason he had always kept to himself. Drew heard the door shut quietly and Justin stride across the floor to the dresser. He was rummaging through his things, looking for something to lend to Drew to wear, not that much would, Drew being bigger then Justin. "Hmm, well, here's a package of boxer briefs, they're unopened so you can have the pair you take... now lets see... I have a tee here you might fit into, its two-times to large for me so it should fit you fine... But I don't have any pants that'll fit you... way too tight." Justin said, giving a little chuckle. "You'd like that wouldn't you? Actually you're probably enjoying this sight right now, me in nothing but a towel... when were you going to tell me?" He turned about to face Justin, who was in shock, a lump forming in his throat so he couldn't respond. It came down to this, he would either admit it or deny it, and both could irreparably damage the relationship they had. "When were you going to tell me that you were gay?" In that one moment, both guy's felt Justin's world collapse. It crashed and burned with a righteous fury that no one could control. It was his only safety net that held him up, kept him going from day to day. "Joanne Told---" Justin began. "Joanne? She has nothing to do with this. Matt showed me the pictures you drew, you know, the gay couples, naked men, etc. Granted I'm equally mad at him for doing that, but you betrayed my trust by lying to me" "To...To be fair. You never asked." Justin spat out. "And the reason I didn't tell you is because I was afraid that what happened to me at my last school would happen all over again, if not with you, then with Matt or Ryan or someone else! I'm tried of people calling me faggot, or getting beat up over something I can't control! I didn't tell you cause I didn't want to ruin our friendship! Don't you get it!?" Justin was overcome with anger and sadness at the same time, tears now pouring down his cheeks. "I just wanted to feel the slightest bit normal for once in my life... but you can't understand that, can you? I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I had my reasons..." It was at that moment that Drew realized that he never did truly take into consideration why Justin would keep something like this to himself. He never knew what Justin had gone through at his old school, and how it affected him; he even realized that maybe the reason they moved here was for his benefit. "You were afraid of me hating you? I don't hate you, I just... I just don't like people keeping things from me." He walked over to Justin and gave him a hug, a tight embracing hug. Justin shivered at the cold damp skin he was pressed against. "Promise that from now on you'll tell me everything?" Drew meant this with all his heart, had he thought about this through more, he may have realized that there are some things people just cant say, some demons we just keep buried in an attempt to keep our lives peaceful. "I promise...."Justin buried his face in Drew's chest, "and yes, I do like you in a towel" He said weakly, his voice cracking for a moment. Drew laughed and hugged a little tighter before releasing Justin and looking at him, his face pale and exhausted, as if the years of torment, all the pain he ever suffered had rushed back to claim him. "See, was it that hard to say?" "No, not really. Not now that I know you are ok with it. But you'd like to hear the story wouldn't you?" "Yes, but you can do that in your own time... when you are ready, ok?" Justin just nodded, still afraid that this was too good to be true. Was this just a set up, a plot to make him suffer more? No. He had to shake that thought and begin to put more trust in people; after all, it wasn't Joanne who had done this, so his trust wasn't misplaced. "Now about that folder, lets see what else you have in there, `cause boy you have talent. Come on; show me what you've drawn. Please?" Justin couldn't resist the slight charm Drew had and nodded in agreement, taking him over to the bed where his drawings lay. Matt lay on his bed nursing his wound with an ice pack. He may have gotten beaten for what he did, but he knew that Drew would take his rage out on Justin too. That thought gave him comfort, he enjoyed ruining people's lives, the way he had Katie's when she was dating Drew. Drew would never find out that he was the reason she broke it off. She really did love him, but he loved her more. Matt hated Drew on so many levels, he was always popular, always the one the girls went too, and even after Katie broke up with him they still managed to be friends, and Drew protected her more, but they weren't dating, and that's what really got to him. That bitch didn't deserve him. "God she pisses me off," He said out loud. "She always gets what she wants... and she takes everything for everyone, fuck." He laid there a little longer, still thinking about his wonderful idea, "Justin is no better, serves him right for trying to fit in with us... he had no place sitting with us... he shouldn't even be allowed to go to school." Matt had been friends with Drew for a long time now, about seven or eight years now, the first time they met, he remembered that Drew was cute. Very cute, and that annoyed him, he was able to get away most anything just by putting on a puppy-dog face. He could get girls no problem; he was smart too. He would stop it nothing until it was just Drew and Matt, friends again, and just them. Matt didn't figure himself as obsessed, he figured that that's how it was meant to be. Beth had heard the entire conversation between Drew and Justin that night as she stood outside the doorway. She didn't mean to pry, but she also felt a need to find out how everything would go, she wanted to be sure that Drew wouldn't abandon her son like so many others did. And she was pleased to find out that Drew was as good a man as she thought he was, not only did he accept Justin, he took interest in Justin's life and work. She would wait awhile before telling them dinner would be ready soon and that Drew's clothes were almost done. Beth stood at the counter with the telephone at her ear; she had called her husband to tell him what was going on as he was once again away from home. Thought he was away often, he always made up for that time with Justin in anyway possible, to show that he still very-much loved his son, and would be there for him. "Robert?" She said in a soft voice. "Yes hunny?" He replied in an exhausted voice. "Drew knows. You remember that friend of Justin's I told you about? He found out Justin's gay" "Really? How did he react?" "Well. They're still friends, I can say that much. He was mad at first, but after Justin explained everything, they just... forgave each other for what they had both done" "Oh god, I'm glad to hear that. Justin really needs a good friend; Drew seems like a great person too. I just wish our son could be more open about his sexuality...he knows we accept it... I don't understand why he cant" "Hunny, I don't think its that he cant accept it, its that other people cant, and they make his life living hell" "I suppose your right" Robert yawned for a moment the returned to his conversation. "I don't want to sound presumptuous but... I think Drew may be gay too. He may not even realize he is..." "Beth..." He said, giving her that tone she knew all too well. "I'm just saying..." "Please keep it that way... I'm sorry hunny, I have to go for now, I'll call back in an hour or so" "Talk to you later sweetie" She said, "I love you." Beth made a smacking sound and blew a fake kiss through the phone to her husband. "I love you too." He slowly put down the phone and went back to work. He too had a feeling that Drew was gay, he had since the first time Beth had described him, and Justin, and he never smiled so much since he was with Morgan. She was his best friend in the entire world, staying by his side... the only one who did. Fourteen years of friendship, Robert only hoped Justin had that same chance with Drew. He just wanted his son to be happy for once. ______________________________ When I got a few emails suggesting that I expand on the second chapter, I too realized that it was a good idea, after re-reading that chapter I hadnt really put a lot of my soul into the characters, however, I knew that I could create a chapter that let you know what most of the characters were feeling while still maintaining the story, and I think I did a good job of that. Please continue to give me feedback about my story, I love hearing from all of you, Darren