Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:38:50 -0500
From: kell1reilly2@aim.com
Subject: The Real Dream-9

As I noticed Bob sitting next to dads boss, I started to think how much
bad luck I've had in the last day & a half. We walked over to the table &
dad re-introduced mom to the rest of his boss's family. Ben & I were
completely forgotten about.

I wasn't sure if Bob had noticed me or not, but he wasn't talking to me
or anything, which was fine by me. I didn't want to talk to him. We
ordered our food & talked while we waited. Dad sucked up to his boss,
showering him with super corny compliments, almost sounding queer
sometimes. I smiled on the inside. What an interesting family I would be
a part of I thought.

Mom talked with Bob's mother, while they both entertained Alison, who,
even though wasn't doing anything to me, was looking at me, most likely
thinking I remember you. And I'm going to get you again. I grabbed my
fork in an aggressive way. I would never actually hurt her, but I guess
it was just instinct.

Ben had just been drinking his water & eating the little bread things on
the table when I noticed he got a sudden look in his eyes. He reached his
hand down to his pocket & then got up.

"I just got to go to the bathroom" he said, no one in particular. Just as
he turned towards the bathroom, I saw a rolled up magazine in his pocket.
. I chuckled.

"What are you laughing at?" asked mom.

"Nothing."

Our food came like 10 minutes later. Ben had come back just in time from
his little vacation. We got right into our food & it was delicious.
Brown's dad started talking to Ben for a little while & then turned his
attention to me.

"So, Tanner, how are you doing in school?"

"Eh, I could definitely do better" I said, regretting it already when I
noticed the glance between my folks.

"But I just got back a math test today. I got a 97 on it."

"A 97? Wow, that's impressive. Now please don't tell me you're one of
those kinds of people who thinks a certain grade is bad when everyone
else says it's not bad, are you?" he questioned.

"Oh God no, I don't like those kinds of people myself. 'Oh no, I got an
80, I'm so dumb!' Those kinds of people are the kinds that are going to
end up suicidal cause they expect too much from themselves" I told him.

"Absolutely. In fact, when I was in middle school, I knew this kid who
needed all A's. I remember when she had a breakdown one day because she
got a 92 on a French quiz. After highschool, I had heard that she had
committed ."

All this talk about was making me think emo. And the emo was making me
think of Bob. I glanced over at him. He had a frustrated look on his face
& was just staring at the half full plate of food in front of him.

Everyone continued the conversation on their own while I just watched Bob
try at a staring contest with his plate. At this point, I'd have bet his
eyes were so dry he could've won.

All the talking stopped when he stood up.

"Excuse me" he said quietly, kicking my foot under the table before he
left. I took that as a sign to go with him.

"Um, I gotta go to the bathroom too" I added.

"Ok, but hurry back," said dad, "you need to finish your food."

"Yeah" I muttered, being full anyway.

Bob was waiting for me in the bathroom. When I got in, he shut the door &
locked it, making sure that no one could interrupt us. That got me
thinking & I stayed by the door in case he tried anything, which I was
praying to God he wouldn't. He was twice my size. If he wanted his way
with me, then I'd be crushed under him. I decided I'd rather talk
instead, & that's when I opened my mouth to talk as he was walking to the
toilet.

"I know that Gonzalez is here again."

I heard his stream stop. "What?"

"I said, I know that Gonzalez came back to Miami recently."

Brown zipped up his black jeans & walked away from the post & faced me.

"How'd you find out Gonzalez is back?" he interrogated.

"I found out, no thanks to you" I shot back.

"Well, you're not getting to get any more info outa me, kid."

"I don't need any more. All I need to know is what I already learned.
Look, if you're friends with Gonzalez or something, then tell him I'm not
scared of him. Just tell him that I'd like to be left alone or I'm going
to call the cops & get him arrested once & for all" I explained.

He had to think for a second about what he was going to say next.

He answered "I don't personally know him. I have no connection to him.
But I'll spread the word & I'm sure he'll pick it up."

After that, we left & returned to the table.

"You boys alright? You both were in there for quite awhile" noted dad.

"Yeah, everything is fine" stated Bob.

"It better be" I muttered.

We left about an hour later, dads boss payed the check. My dad seemed
very happy. Maybe he got a promotion while I was in the bathroom.

When I got home, I went up to my room & went right on the computer. I
signed onto AIM & I noticed that Jamie was on.

TanMan91: hey
HostMcara: hi
TanMan91: wats up?
HostMcara: remember Stars Burn Bryter?
TanMan91: yeah, y?
HostMcara: remember riley?
TanMan91: yup
HostMcara: his mum just passed away
TanMan91: oh my god, r u serious? how do u know?
HostMcara: his bf ryan just texted me
TanMan91: oh

Wait a minute.

TanMan91: wait, how dus ryan know yer cell #?
HostMcara: after the concert, while u were in the bathroom, the 2 of them
gave me a kiss ON THE CHEEK & gave me their #'s. they asked 4 mine & urs
& since u had dropped yer fone so many times from jumping up & down that
nite, i had it & i gave it 2 them
TanMan91: ok. man, that sucks that that happend 2 his mom. do u know wat
happend?
HostMcara: i think ryan sed his mom got hit by a car
TanMan91: god i feel so bad 4 him
HostMcara: me 2

We continued to talk for about half an hour & I then asked Jamie if he
wanted to come & sleep over. He said sure & arrived about 5 minutes
later. We didn't fool around like we normally did, because there were
people were home & we were both kind of tired.

After a couple of ours of us boys just being boys, mom told us we had to
go to bed. After I said g'night to my boyfriend, we got in my big bed,
undressed down to our boxers & crawled in. My new thought for the night
was to see what I could do about Gonzalez. It took too long to think of
something & I was tired, so I closed me eyes & tried to sleep.

During my sleep, I was having a nightmare. My dreams of having Jamie were
happening less & less, probably because I already had him. But this time,
I was imagining I was in an ally in downtown Miami, somewhere near Noche
territory & Gonzalez was there. He was beating me up & Jamie was watching
from the side, just leaning against a wall, almost enjoying the sight. I
was all bruised & y & Gonzalez was saying something in Spanish.

I was going in & out of consciousness when another Latino man came along.
He grabbed me up & shoved me against the wall of the ally. While he held
me there, another man came out & started hitting me with a closed fist
everywhere, including in between my legs. Every time I was hit there, I
would scream in pain. It was hell. I looked through tears at Jamie. How
the hell could he just leave me this way?!

Many more Latinos came from around the corner, from the street &
everywhere else & they all just seemed to attack me. I was kicked,
punched, slapped, elbowed, kneed (a lot down there) & once, bit.

I didn't know what time it was, but somewhere in the middle of the night,
but I was shaken awake by someone & I gasped loudly from fear & sat up
quickly. I grabbed their arm & held on to it very tight. It was Jamie's
arm. I looked at him & he had a scared look on his face. I started to cry
out of fear of my nightmare.

"Tanner, what's wrong? You were making grunting noises & making little
gasping sounds. What's wrong?"

I couldn't tell him because I was still sobbing. I grabbed him & pulled
him in for a very tight hug.

He started telling me everything would be ok, even though he didn't know
what was wrong, & rubbing my back soothingly. That felt nice & it was
relaxing. After a while, I had calmed down enough that I pulled away &
told him what happened. He reminded me it was just a dream. He pulled me
in for another hug & kissed me gently on the lips. He knew I was too
upset for anything, so we just left it at that.

We eventually fell asleep in each other's arms. I dreamed about how
Gonzalez was going to pay if he dared interfere in our relationship, or
our lives.


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