Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2011 12:37:43 -0800 (PST) From: Joey Young Subject: Untitled Love Story, Chapter 8 Usual disclaimers apply. This is a complete work of fiction. All rights reserved by the author. If you are underage, object to gay erotic fiction, or it's illegal where you are, please leave now. Send all comments to Joey Young at untitledlovestory23@yahoo.com Author's note: So this chapter isn't as long as the last, but I hope it answers a few of your questions, which I get a lot from readers. But I enjoy exploring those questions through the chapters, which is a big part of why I write. To make you wait anxiously for the next chapter and to also bring you entertainment, which brings me to a new idea. I was once asked by a reader if I had a general idea of what the character's looked like. I did at the time, but thought that the readers had their own ideas. So this got me thinking about what readers thought Dante, Drew, Caleb, Stacey, Justin and the other main characters looked like. Now let me just remind you that this was just an errant thought, so in no way do you have to participate. But I just wanted to see what the readers thought the characters look like. If you would like to participate please send your ideas to my email. Thanks. -Joey Young Untitled Love Story Chapter 8 I stared out the window and watched Drew throw things around in the yard. He grabbed the lawn chair and flung it across the grass into the fence. He kicked a potted plant, spraying soil all over the ground. It immediately became mud as the rain continued its relentless pouring. Drew's shirt and hair was plastered wet with rainwater. He threw his hands into the air, shouting something I couldn't hear. Finally, Finn his younger brother ran outside to him. Finn grabbed Drew by the shoulder and forced him to sit down. Immediately Drew slumped to the ground, taking Finn along with him. He faced away from me, so I couldn't see if he was crying. In the end, I couldn't watch anymore. I turned away from the window and scooted off the bed. My heart felt swollen with grief. No matter what I did, I was always hurting someone. I just needed to leave and take all my problems with me. I scurried along the floor and tried to find my clothes. I entered the bathroom and searched for my clothes. I was still in the large, oversized shirt and my boxers. I probably looked like a boy, wearing a grownups t-shirt. My wavy chestnut hair lightly brushed my forehead and my eyebrows knitted in frustration. I frowned in confusion. I thought errantly about the tumor inside my throat and experimentally moved my hand to my neck. I ran my fingers along the base of my throat and fingered my Adam's apple. My frown deepened, but I didn't feel any different. I didn't feel like I had icky black stuff encompassing my whole trachea. I swallowed just fine. I breathed completely alright. I was just simply confused as to why my cancer hadn't appeared. Suddenly I heard the bedroom door softly open and close. I jumped at the quiet click, before turning and moving to the bathroom door. I silently peered around the corner and saw that it was just Finn. I sighed in relief and walked through the door. "Hey," I whispered and stared at my feet, suddenly aware of my bare legs. They were smooth, with a light downing of hair. "What did you do to him," Finn instantly accused and walked over to face me. "He's out there hysterical because of what you told him, but he won't tell me. So, you're going to tell me." I looked up then and stared at his defiant expression. "I don't have to tell you anything," I replied calmly and stepped back from his aggressive stance. He moved with me and roughly grabbed my arm. "Hey," I protested and yanked at his grasp. My arm moved to slap him, but he caught it and twisted it behind my back. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't comfortable either. He pulled me closer with that arm, before he suddenly leaned in and kissed me. I gasped in surprise. It was a soft, hesitant kiss. Like a light feather had touched my lips. It only lasted a second, but the action had a more profound effect. I felt unbalanced and empty. What just happened? My body thought as he gently released me. "I'm sorry," he whispered. His face showing no remorse, but confusion and awareness. "Umm," is all I got to say, before he bolted from the room. The move quickly left me tumbling to the floor. I watched as he left, and continued to stare at the door. My mind felt like mush. Nothing made sense anymore. I just wished people would stop kissing me. My mind couldn't take anymore. Finally, I stopped staring long enough to move back to the bed. I plopped down on it, feeling empty. I couldn't find my clothes or didn't have a way to get home. I didn't even know where Drew was. I felt alienated in this large house. The rain continued to fall; getting louder the longer I sat. It no longer provided the peaceful atmosphere I enjoyed. Instead, it sounded like a clocks continuous ticking of time passing. Tick, tick, tick. I tried to count each time it hit the roof, but lost count after ten. Every few minutes the room flashed with lightening and the sound of thunder had me flinching in fright. Time passed and still no Drew. He didn't have a clock in his room and I didn't want to explore the house on my own. So, instead I just curled up on the bed, facing the open window. I grabbed a small blanket from the side and covered myself, while I watched the lightening flash by. The rain had picked up quickly and the storm clouds were varying shades of gray. I counted the lightning strikes in my head. One, Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi . . . Boom a loud crack of thunder sounded off in the distant. I shuddered involuntarily and drew the thin blanket around me. Eventually the sounds of the rain drifted me off to a nap. My eyes closed drowsily and my mind coasted peacefully into oblivion. I abruptly awoke to the sound of the loudest crack of thunder. My head jumped up instantly and connected with something hard. "Ow," I hissed and grabbed my head. I heard someone else cuss and felt an arm unwrap from my waist. I stopped then and moved my hand from my head. I turned over and looked up, into a pair of bright blue eyes. Drew chuckled when he noticed me. "Hey," he said quietly, while he rubbed his head. "That hurt." "Sorry," I whispered back and curled up on my side facing him. He kept his arms to himself and rested his head on his hand. I traced the form of his muscles with my eyes, and noted the way it bulged beneath his shirt. That's when I noticed for the first time that he was dry. I glanced at his whole body and saw that he had fresh clothes on. His golden hair was nicely combed back away from his sharp features. His bright blue eyes were amused with my assessment. His lips were curved into a smile. "You're not mad at me," I stated bluntly as I suddenly realized it. "And you changed." His smile became more pronounced. "No, I'm not mad at you," he replied and delicately traced my jaw with his free hand. "And yeah I changed. Your clothes are done too. There by the computer." I gave my clothes a fleeting glance before turning back to Drew. "Are you okay?" I asked quietly and watched his face for a reaction. His smile dimmed, but he answered anyway. "I just feel like I should be doing something, you know?" he said and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. I was acutely aware of how little clothes I had on. "I want to help, but I just feel so angry and frustrated all the time. But then I can't be, cuz you have cancer. So, I took out on the lawn." "Yeah, I saw that," I said quietly and nestled my head into his chest. "I really am sorry, Drew. I didn't mean to get you mad. From now on, I'll just keep my mouth shut." I felt his body stiffen with tension. He hooked his finger underneath my chin and made me look at him. "Caleb," he said so softly I had to look. "Do you not understand my feelings for you." He moved then and swiftly pulled me on top of him. I straddled his body and stared down at him. "I love you," he said with such confidence it couldn't be denied. "And nothing that you say or do will ever change that. I knew this after you left me that day in the truck. I knew this when I saw you after the game. And I knew this after you told me about your illness. I'm here. Which loosely translates too I'm in this." I sighed and brushed a lock of golden hair from his eyes. He grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips and lightly kissed it. "I don't expect you stay," I whispered and stared into his crisp blue eyes. His eyes tightened, but his smile remained. "I don't expect you to expect me to stay," he replied and kissed my wrist this time. "But what if I want to stay?" I sighed and leaned my head down to make him look at me. He lowered my hand to his chest. My brown hair was barely brushing his forehead. "I can't make any promises," I whispered, emphasizing my point. "Neither can I," he replied confidently and let go of my wrist. "So, for now were just friends?" I replied and pulled my face away from his. "Until you figure out what you want," he answered with a half-smile. I relaxed immediately and let my head fall into the crook of his neck. I breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you," I whispered into his neck. His arms enclosed me and he held me to his chest. "Just know that when you're ready, I'll be waiting in the dugout," he whispered into my ear. I smiled at the baseball analogy. Slowly he disengaged his hold and I slid off of his chest. "And no more hugging for me," he chuckled and covered himself with his blanket. I nodded and moved to give him room. He quietly closed his eyes and started to hum a song to distract himself. I stifled a laugh and got up from the bed. I grabbed my clothes from the desk and went into the bathroom to change. When I was done, Drew was himself again. He calmly got up from his bed and moved to stand in front of me. He lightly brushed my hair back from my eyes and rested his hand on the side of my cheek. "You ready?" he asked quietly. His eyes melted like blue lava. I nodded and moved from his caress. He sighed, but let my little gesture slide and guided me to the door. "My mom is probably worried about me," I said as we walked to the door. "No," he said just before he opened the door. "She called your cell and I told her you were with me. She seemed fine with it." "Really?" I asked in shock as we walked into the hallway. "I didn't even think she remembered you." He chuckled, "What, am I that forgetful?" I smiled but was distracted by his hallway. It was small and ordinary, but different in so many ways. There was a small window at the end which had a view of the house next door. There were two randomly placed coffee tables lining both sides of the hallway. And there were dozens of picture frames hanging on the walls. I had never been to Drew's house before and coincidentally he had never been to mine. We had known each other for the past year, but neither one truly knew each other's personal lives. There were a lot of family portraits of Drew, his brother, their parents and a girl that looked just like Drew. She had golden hair and soft, porcelain skin, but her eyes were a sea green, rather than the iconic blue her brothers shared. Drew's mom had pale blonde hair that was tightly pulled back into a bun. She seemed stern and clever with dark gray eyes. Drew's father, however was smiling a genuine smile. He had laugh lines around his eyes and mouth. His baby blue eyes were alight with amusement and happiness. Both his parents seemed to balance each other out. There were other pictures too. Of grandparents and adults and other children, but Drew whisked me past them, before I could really look closely. It did seem, however, that Drew had an extended family. While I on the other hand had one mom, and an Uncle who rarely visited. "You have a sister?" I asked suddenly taking him by surprise as we descended the stairs. He looked at me once before pulling me downstairs behind him. "Yeah, I thought I told you. She's in college," he replied. "She's really cool except that time at the wedding, remember?" Oh, that's right, I thought. I remember him mentioning that at the wedding. He smiled at my revelation. He gently pulled me as we got off the stairs. I noticed more pictures, but didn't pay attention, when I saw Finn sitting on the couch in the living room. "Hey bro," Drew called to his brother, who was watching a baseball game on a huge flat screen TV. "Is there any pizza left?" Finn waved at him distractedly as the game continued. He jumped up from the couch and shouted at the TV. "Come on, you had it," he bellowed at the screen, before it went on commercials. He turned to us then. "Wha-" he said, not able to finish when he saw me. I was still holding Drew's hand. "Uhh,hey." Drew let go of my hand and moved down the hall to the kitchen. Finn stood still, trying to not make eye contact. Drew came back. "Hey, there's pizza in the kitchen," he said addressing me, before turning back to his brother. "So, what's the score?" I didn't hear much after pizza. My stomach growled and I let it guide me down the hall to the kitchen. I softly nudged the swinging door open. Immediately the smell of tomato sauce and cheese enveloped my senses. But before I could move someone popped up from behind the island. "Oh!" A woman with soft blonde hair said with a start. It was Drew's mom. She was wearing an apron and had a pot holder on one hand. She looked different than her picture in the hallway. He gray eyes however were still clever and flashed with intelligence. "Hi, there. You must be Caleb." She quickly took off her oven mitt and patted her apron with her hands like she was cleaning them. "I made the boys pizza, help yourself," she said with a small smile. "I'm Drew's mom, Briar." She instantly pulled her apron off and twisted her blonde hair into a bun. Now, she looked like the woman in the picture, I thought just as she walked around the island to greet me. "We've heard a lot about you over the past few months," she said with obvious warmth. "It's nice to put a face to the name." She extended a hand then and I shook it. "It's nice to meet you too," I replied timidly. "Drew's said a lot about you as well." She smiled, oblivious to my lie. "Come, have a seat," she said as she moved me to a stool surrounding the counter. "Would you like something to drink?" "Sure," I replied as I settled into my seat. She stared at me expectantly. "Oh, uhh, tea if you have some." "I do, actually," she said and moved to the fridge. I noticed then what she was wearing. She had on a dark blue frilly blouse, and a gray almost black pencil skirt. I wondered what she did to have to wear that on a Saturday, but didn't ask. I grabbed a slice of pizza and took a bite experimentally. Good, I thought and took another bite. "So," she said as she poured me a cup full of tea, pulling me out of my reverie. "Drew tells me you're dating." I immediately choked on my pizza. I spewed bits of it onto the counter, trying to clear my airway. She gently placed the cup of tea onto the counter in front of me and watched as I took huge gulps. I coughed a bit when the tea first entered, but I managed to drink it all. Finally, when the glass was empty I could breathe again. "Excuse me?" I asked breathlessly and handed her back the empty glass. "Oh, don't worry," she said her brows knitting in concern. "We love our children very much and we don't judge. In fact we have quite a few gay friends ourselves. I was just concerned when Drew brought you home last night." "You see," she said as she refilled my cup. "We may be open about many things, but sex is a subject we take seriously. Gay or otherwise." She handed me back my cup with a smile. "Thanks," I replied and took a sip of tea. "Don't worry, we didn't" Here face relaxed even more, "Oh thank god." I smiled at her timidly, feeling a little ashamed for lying. But we didn't. At least not last night. But she didn't need to know. She seemed to misunderstand my hesitation. "Oh, I don't mean that you're bad for Drew," she said hastily. "I just want to have him wait. For a while, at least." I smiled despite the awkwardness, " I understand." She smiled too, "Thank you." Just then the door banged open. "They won!" I heard a man boom with excitement. "They won!" I jumped at the loud noise and turned to see who it was. It was a tall broad shouldered man. He had light brown hair almost bronze that was thinning at the top. He wore glasses and a baseball jersey. His tall frame took up most of the doorway. He was grinning ear to ear, and his eyes crinkled with the effort. That's when I saw the flash of blue catch my attention. Drew's dad, I thought as he moved to the counter. "Hello, there," he said with a deep voice, startling me again. "I'm assuming your Caleb?" "Hi," I replied timidly and extended my hand. He took it instantly and gave it a warm shake. "Honey, I think your intimidating the poor boy," I heard Caleb's mom say as she took out another pizza from the oven. Drew's dad continued smiling, but heeded his wife's warning. "Of course," he said and stepped back a bit, lowering his voice. "I'm Greg. Drew's dad." I smiled at him. I like him, I though errantly. He's nice. He smiled back and moved around the counter. "So, Caleb, into any sports?" he asked as he grabbed a slice of fresh pizza. Drew's mom wiped away excess sauce from his mouth. "Not, really," I replied and resumed eating my pizza. "But I'm guessing you are." His smile broadened, "You guess correctly. What gave me away. The jersey or the yelling?" I laughed, "Your son." That made them both laugh. "So I see Drew's been showing off," he said just as Drew and Finn walked through the door. Drew smiled when he saw me talking to his parents. "Don't listen to a word this man tells you," Drew said with a grin. "He's just jealous his baseball days are over." He moved to my side and leaned on the back of the chair next to me. Finn awkwardly stood by the counter facing away from me. His parents were smiling at us, watching each move we made. "Drew can be a little arrogant," Finn said, speaking up. "I think he's learned it from our dad." "A little?" I asked and nudged Drew. Everyone chuckled. Drew pretended he was hurt and dramatically grabbed his heart. "Oh, that hurt, Cale," he replied with a fake pained expression. "I thought you were on my side." I smiled, "Not in front of your parents." Drew's mom laughed, "I like you more already." "He's earning his brownie points," Drew's dad said and ruffled Finn's hair as he passed to get another slice of pizza. We continued our banter a bit more, while we all settled down to eat. Drew kept the conversation going. I just sat back and listened, offering a comment here and there. Drew's parents asked about my mom. Apparently they knew her from the hospital. Finn relaxed too and sat next to me without being awkward. Although sometimes he would steal guarded glances at me. Eventually we all winded down. Drew's parents started to clean up the mess we made. His mom was inclined to bring out his naked baby pictures. "He was so adorable as a baby," she said and squeezed her son's cheeks. "Wasn't he, Greg?" "Yupp," he dad commented as he placed the leftover pizza in a container. "We got loads of pictures you can see, Caleb." Drew quickly began to pull from the kitchen, telling his parents he was taking me home. I laughed and followed willingly. "Bye, Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell," I said with a small wave, before Drew pulled me through the swinging door. "Bye, Caleb," I heard them say with a light chuckle. "Maybe next time." Drew flushed with embarrassment, "Come on, you." I laughed, "But I want to see what you look like naked." He smiled and twirled me around into his arms, "You already do. Besides just say the word and it's done." I smiled and pulled out of his grasp, "Do you always have to work blue?" His smile widened, "Only with you." Just then the door swung open again. It was Finn. He was holding a container full of pizza. "Mom, gave this to Caleb, to take home," he said addressing Drew, but stared at me. "Cool," Drew said and grabbed the container. He handed it to me. "Let me go get my keys and I'll drive you home." "Okay," I said as he bounded up the stairs, leaving me alone with Finn. I turned and smiled timidly at him. "Listen, about earlier," he said, while stepping closer. "I didn't mean to spring it on you like that. It's just Drew's always talking about you and saying how cute you are. . . And well when I saw you I-I just wanted my own shot . . . " He looked down ashamed. He wasn't even able to finish his sentence, before I heard Drew coming down the stairs. He looked up then and stared at me. His pale blue eyes clear and beseeching. "It's okay," I finally said. "No harm done. And thanks for the pizza." I couldn't figure out what else to say to him. I didn't want to talk about what happened. I just wanted to forget it. But he seemed inclined to remember it. He nodded and turned on his heel, disappearing into the kitchen. "What was Finn saying?" Drew asked as he helped me put on my sweater. "Nothing, he was just saying good bye," I replied. He seemed to buy it. When we got outside the rain was a soft drizzle but it managed to still soak us as we ran to Drew's truck. The interior was warm and dry. It smelled like oil and worn leather, but it made me feel comfortable. Drew started the ignition and the engine roared to life, reminding me of the thunder. I placed the container full of pizza next to me and buckled my seatbelt. Drew backed out of the driveway and headed down the road. "I like your parents," I commented as we entered the interstate. "They're so friendly." He smiled, "So, when do I get to meet your mom?" I turned and looked at him, "You already met her didn't you. That Sunday?" "Yeah, but just at the door," he replied and grabbed my hand. "She didn't even know who I was." "Well, she's busy a lot," I said as an excuse. "She's only met Stacey and Justin." "Yeah, but they're your best friends," he said still pressing the issue. "Has she met any of your boyfriends?" I gulped uneasily. Yes, I thought guiltily, but I couldn't admit that to him. I gently pulled my hand from his grasp and changed the subject. "I thought we agreed on being friends," I said still looking at him. He turned then, "Of course we are, but I would like to meet your family soon, too. Boyfriend or not." "You will," I replied too quickly. "But I have to prepare them. Your family already knew about me. By the way, why does your mom think were dating?" He looked away sheepishly and focused on the road. I waited for an answer. "She does, does she?" he asked biding time. "Mm, hmm," I replied, keeping my answers short. He sighed and looked back at me, while still focusing on the road. "I just haven't told her yet," he replied defeated. "Honestly, I thought we'd be together by now. Minus Alley." I frowned, "You're very optimistic." He grinned, "Always." But just as quickly as his grin appeared, it vanished just the same. "Caleb, what will happen when the cancer gets worse?" he asked as he pulled to a stop. I looked outside and saw my house through the sheet of rain running down the window. My mom's car was in the driveway, so I knew she was home. I could also see Stacey's car parked just behind it, trying to cling to as much pavement as possible. I turned back to Drew, who had turned off his truck. He was facing me. His golden hair tumbled around his eyes and looked like copper coils around his face. His expression was somber, with seriousness. "I have to go," I said and reached for the container of pizzas. "Tell your mom thanks for me." I moved to get the door handle, but Drew grabbed my arm before I did. "Caleb, please just answer one question for me," he said his expression had turned vulnerable and sad. "Please." I slowly released my hold on the handle and waited for his question. "How long?" he asked his voice breaking at the end. I gulped again, my throat was thick with sadness. I scooted closer to him and put the container down. I crawled on my knees and moved to his side. I placed both hands on his face and leaned into to kiss him. His lips were warm and soft, with the lightest dusting of hair around his mouth. I kissed him softly, but passionately, until silent tears stained our lips. I pulled away from his mouth and bolted out the door, barely grabbing the container of food before I left. I didn't look back until I had reached the stairs. My tears were no longer visible. The rain took care of that. I was nearly soaked through, but I didn't care. Drew's truck roared to life again and I waited until he disappeared around the corner, before I went inside. "Hey, honey," my mom greeted when I walked through the door. Stacey and Justin were lounging with her in the living room. I put on a smile, "Hey. It's really raining out there." I moved to the couch and plopped down next to Justin. Stacey was under his arm resting into his chest. I smiled at both of them but they eyed me suspiciously. "Hey, guys," I said, as the TV show my mom was watching caught her attention. "Where have you been?" Stacey hissed at me from Justin's chest. I leaned in, "Hey, you're the one that got drunk and left me alone with Drew." "Who?" she asked and rested her cheek against Justin's chest. I moved to his chest too and rested my cheek against it. "Caleb, what are you talking about?" "I'm talking bout the partishafelia-" I trailed off when my mom turned back to us. Her show was on commercials. I gently rested my head on Justin's chest and patted it with my free hand. Stacey did the same and smiled. I followed suit and smiled warmly at my mom. Justin quickly joined in the charade and wrapped an arm around Stacey and me. "You three are so adorable," my mom said as she stood up and stretched. We all laughed nervously. "Yupp," Justin said and rubbed our shoulders. I eyed him accusingly and moved out from under his arm. "Like a basket of puppies." My mom chuckled and saw what I was holding, "What do you have there, Cale?" I glanced at my other hand. Oh, the pizza. I moved from Justin's side and handed her the container of food. "Uhh, Drew's mom gave me leftovers," I said and shrugged my shoulders. "You can eat it." "That was sweet of her," she said and stood up. "Justin and Stacey were telling me about Drew. I hear he's a close friend." I turned and glared at them, with accusation. My mom chuckled again. "Mom, can you excuse us. I need to talk to my basket of puppies." "Sure, honey. I'll warm up the pizza, and let you know when it's ready." "Alright, we'll be in my room," I said and calmly walked out of the living room, and up the stairs. I didn't wait to see if they followed, but once I got in my room I spun around to face them. They were barely in the door, when they saw me. They jumped back with my sudden intensity. Justin softly closed the door, while Stacey moved to my desk to sit. "What happened?" I hissed loudly, wanting to yell, but not wanting to alert my mom of our conversation. "Why did you leave me with Drew?" Justin rested against the table Stacey sat at. He crossed his arms and looked down. Stacey was looking down too, but she answered me. "Let me tell you first off that I was really, really drunk," she said and tried to make me smile. I didn't smile. "And secondly I was passed out, so this one is on Justin." Justin shot her a dirty look, and she shrugged in apology. I turned to glare at Justin. He sighed, "Damn Cale, when you're angry about something it's always the wrong thing." "What?" I asked suddenly confused. I looked to Stacey but she shrugged. "What I mean is that two dudes are fighting over you, you're dying, and you're trying to keep this all a secret, but the only thing you're mad about is us leaving you with Drew." He said indifferently, his arms still crossed. "I just think it's kinda dumb," he continued and stared at me pointedly. "You have more important things to worry about than us leaving you alone at the party. I mean buddy, your dying. Don't you get that?" "Shut up," I whispered, suddenly feeling angry at his words. "No, Cale, you need to hear this," he said and unfolded his arms. He took a step closer. "I think you're stupid for doing this to your mom. To make her sad like this." "Shut up, Justin," I warned harshly and stomped my foot in frustration. "You're just trying to make me feel guilty. His face turned livid. "No, if I was trying to do that I would tell you that your mom cries every time you're out of her sight. She cries because you're taking the only thing she has, away from her. And maybe you're right. I might just be trying to make you feel guilty, but it's worth a shott. You don't even care about anyone but yourself. You're rash and thoughtless. And you don't even think things through before making decisions. You're angry with us that's fine. But the person you should be angry at is you, Cale." His finger pointed out angrily. Even though it wasn't touching me, I could feel the pressure of his finger on me. "Stop," I whispered, not wanting to hear anymore. "Stacey cries too. All the time, but you don't care. Instead you care about two boys who will never love you, because you're not careful with your decisions. You race ahead thinking you're a grown up, but in reality your just a scared little boy. A little boy who doesn't know what he wants." "Oh, Justin," Stacey whispered and grabbed his shoulder. He shrugged her off and opened the door. "I'm outta here," he said and slammed the door behind him. His words hit me and left me devoid of any emotion. I stepped back a bit and plopped down on my bed. He's right, the little voice said, suddenly reappearing. You can't run from the truth forever. For once I didn't have a comeback to that annoying voice. I just felt empty. It's true that I never fully thought about my imminent death. All I've been thinking about was Drew or Dante. But Justin's words struck a dormant cord in my guarded heart. I'm dying. My heart thudded with the realization. My hands grew cold, the blood slowly leaving it. I'm dying. My head was silent without thoughts or opinions. My chest heaved erratically. I'm dying. Tears were a distant relief that never came. I sat there on my bed as time moved by. My head spun with the only realization that it could muster. In less than a year. I Caleb Pierce. The only son of Trudy and Steven Pierce would die, without ever experiencing a full life. I would not die tragically and suddenly. I would die at my own hands and at a condensed time. And here I was angry with my best friends about being left alone with Drew. Drew the only other person who knew about my disease. I had royally screwed everything up. I didn't hear Stacey, until she came to my side. "He didn't mean any of that you do know that right, Cale?" she asked quietly. I nodded. She just patted my shoulder. I knew she wanted to go after Justin so I let her. "Go, I'm fine," I said to her, not meeting her gaze. "Are you sure?" she asked hesitantly. "Just go," I whispered so softly I didn't think she heard me, but she did. She left without a pause and took her warmth with her. I sighed and laid back into my pillows, feeling dead inside. I didn't know what to think. My head was a dead weight on my shoulders. My whole world went into question. I felt like I was breaking at the cracks. If another declaration were to present itself I didn't know what I was going to do with myself. I just felt hollow. So, I waited. Waited for an answer to appear. To guide my decision. Dante or Drew. Two romances that hadn't yet finished. Suddenly I heard a loud crack of thunder sound off in the distance. It shook me to my core and had me curled up on my bed. The clouds made it look like nightfall or was I just sitting here that long. I don't know. My mom never came up to check on me. Probably because Stacey told her to leave me alone, but it didn't matter. I didn't want my mom to see me in a catatonic state. Eventually the day wore on. Night became present and the clouds moved from steely gray to evening dusk. My room was cast in dark shadows, but it comforted me. Eventually my mom came in to cover me with a small blanket. She didn't say anything other than to tell me she would be in her room. "Kay," I replied stifling a yawn. The moment she left I curled up under my blankets and turned on my bedside lamp. I didn't know what else to do but read. It provided a great distraction along with the heavy patter of rain. I read about a full chapter and was about to go downstairs when I heard a light tap at my window. I turned and saw the shadow of the tree. It was just the tree, I thought reassuringly and turned to leave. Just then the tap came again. This time it was short consecutive taps. Tap-tap-tappety-tap. I spun around and moved to the window. I peered through it hoping beyond belief that it was just the tree playing tricks on me. Abruptly a pair of green eyes blazed at me from the window. I jumped back with a start and stumbled to the floor. The eyes weren't visible from the floor, but I knew they were still there. My heart quickened with delight and fear. What was he doing here? In the rain? Slowly I got up and walked back to the window. I peered through the glass again, but not seeing anything. Hesitantly I moved to open the window. I unlatched the lock and heaved the un-used window open. Rain poured in with torrent amounts. I stuck my head outside and peered into the tree branches. Suddenly the pair of green eyes flashed brilliantly in the light of my window. They were beautiful in the darkness. Hazel really, but the light from my window made them look green, with just the tiniest hint of honey around the irises. All of a sudden the eyes spoke. "C-c-c-an I c-c-come i-n-n?" a deep voice stuttered in the cold wind. I watched as Dante moved into the light. His hair was matted to his forehead, making him look cuter. His long lashes were coated with droplets of water and his hazel eyes gleamed beneath them. His bottom lip trembled with coldness and his arms were wrapped tightly around his chest. He looked like a model in GQ with his chiseled looks and five 'o' clock shadow. I moved from the window and gestured him in. Immediately he jumped from his branch and landed in my room with a soft thud. He shivered once before standing up straight. I stared at him in disbelief. He just jumped in like the effort was nothing. He didn't even seem jostled, just cold. I distracted myself and closed the window behind him. My carpeting was completely wet from the rain and my hands were icy from the wind. Slowly I turned around and faced Dante. He was rapidly blowing into his hands trying to warm them up. He stared back at me when he noticed my attention. He was completely soaked to the bone. His hooded sweatshirt was hanging off of him, dripping droplets of water onto my rug. His light gray t-shirt hung tightly to his body, showing each ab and ridge of his chest. His dark nipples were prominent underneath the thin cotton shirt. His pants were baggy on his tall frame and were drooping around his waist, showing some of his boxers. I gulped quietly and moved to my bed. "There's a towel hanging on the door," I said to him gesturing to my bathroom. "Maybe you should dry yourself off. There should be a pair of sweats in the bathroom." He nodded and moved to the bathroom. He turned before disappearing behind the door, "Thanks, Cale." I just nodded. He quietly closed the door behind him, while I went to my bedroom door. I slowly peered out in the hall, checking to see if my mom was still awake. She was. Her room door had light spilling out from under it. Softly I reclosed my door and locked it. I turned around and was about to tiptoe back to my bed, when I noticed Dante was done. He stood in the middle of my room looking like a sculpted angel. He had on a pair of my sweats, which only covered half of his body. The rest was still uncovered. He didn't have a shirt on, which left only his legs and crotch covered. His caramel skin was pulled tightly over his hard abdomen. Each ridge of muscle was visible under my small lamp. A dark dusting of hair ran from his belly button to the lip of his sweats, where I noticed the V-shape line leading down to his covered groin. His groin bulged thickly from his sweats leaving nothing to the imagination. I gulped unconsciously. He grinned sheepishly. His teeth sparkled in the dim lighting. His broad shoulders were thick and meaty with muscle, which tapered off to his lean waist. His arms moved to place his hands behind his back and made his muscles coil with the movement. "Your, uh, shirts were too tight for me," he replied quietly and moved to the window. I stared at him still in amazement. Slowly I brought myself back into reality. "What are you doing here?" I asked and moved back to my bed. He gazed out the window in contemplation. "I was driving around town trying to clear my head, especially after what happened at the party," he replied still staring out the window. "I tried to forget about you. I tried to forget your laugh. Your smile. The silly grin you always get when you're around me. Even your smell. . . God your smell." He turned then and stared at me, his eyes blazing with intensity and desire. "But I couldn't," he continued. "No matter where I went or who I'd been with, I couldn't forget you." He stepped closer and squatted to my eye level, but kept a small distance between us. "I've never had this problem before," he said sounding vulnerable. "I've dated a lot of girls-well not a lot- a bunch- well you know what I mean. I've dated girls before, but none have ever made me feel the way you do. I feel whole when I'm with you. I feel like me." He moved then and grabbed my cold hand. He softly began to rub warmth back into it. "You've left a mark on my heart," he said quietly, but with such confidence I couldn't deny it. "And every day I'm proud to wear it on my chest, to remind me that I'm my best when I'm with you. It's a reminder that everything with you will be okay. When I'm with you." I gazed at him then and listened. "The past week my mind has been drowning with regret. Regret that I let you go even though it hurt so badly. I regretted breaking up with you over some silly girl that meant nothing to me. Sure she helped me out when I first got here, but it's not her eyes I see every day. It's yours. Your beautiful brown eyes." His hand glided up from our grasp and lightly grazed my cheek. His thumb arched over my eye and softly rubbed my eyebrow. "That girl meant nothing to me, love," he whispered delicately. My heart fluttered when he called me 'love'. "She was just an attempt at a distraction. I thought that maybe if I went back to girls I would feel different. Forget about you. But now after staking out your tree for the past five hours, I know there's no going back." I frowned, "Five hours?" He chuckled, "More or less. But I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about you. Caleb, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I let my fear and doubt cloud my judgment. The whole time I was away from you all I kept thinking about was you. My only love." His hand lingered at my face, before gently gliding down to my neck. "I've fallen for you Caleb," he said seriously. "And I don't think there's any way I can go back. Not now. Maybe even never. But I want you to know that you don't have to be alone. I'm here." He quietly hopped forward and leaned in. "I'm here, love," he whispered. I could taste his honeyed breath on my tongue. "And there's no way I'm leaving unless I'm sure you don't want me." He didn't wait for a response, before he leaned in and kissed me on the lips. His stubble tickling the corners of my mouth. I sighed once in surprise, but held back any other reactions. His lips were soft and warm. They shaped themselves around my cold ones with ease, heating them up with their warmth. His kiss was light and soothing, like a warm breeze. My hands remained at my sides, not able to move. It felt like my heart was slowly awakening from a dormant sleep. My stomach fluttered with a handful of butterflies and my head felt lightheaded and giddy. His tongue entered once and danced around my teeth. I could taste his honeyed breath on my lips, which only fueled my dizziness. Eventually he pulled away. His eyes blazed uncontrollably. His smile brightened even more, making every feature on his face glow with exultation. He leaned in once more and gave me a sweet butterfly kiss, before standing up. I was speechless and dumbfounded. I hadn't expected that. My thoughts were more jumbled than before. I was confused and slightly invigorated at the same time. My lips were warm and flushed with vigor. He gently tucked a finger under my chin, making me look at him. His eyes were tender and vulnerable, hiding nothing from me. His thumb softly rubbed my cheek as he stared at me. "I love you," he said quietly and brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes. Tears welled up in my eyes, but he brushed them away with his free hand. I stood up then and held his hand to my face. "I love you too," I whispered. I kept my gaze from his, not wanting him to see the secrets I hid. He gently pulled me to his hard chest and held me. I could feel the hard muscles of his chest, which provided comfort for me as usual. His skin was warm and smooth to the touch. I rested my head on his shoulder, loving the texture on my cheek. We stood in that embrace while the storm raged outside, neither one ready to let go. Finally he broke the silence, "Caleb about that girl. I broke up with her. I just never felt anything substantial with her. Only with you. I ne-" "Shh," I whispered and placed a finger on his warm lips. "We'll talk more in the morning. Let's just go to bed." He glanced at the clock, making me look too. It was 10 at night and the rain continued to fall in torrents. He looked back and gazed into my eyes. "With you?" he asked quietly and looked to the bed. I nodded. "Please, stay with me tonight," I replied and slid my arms around his neck. I kissed him lightly, feeling a sense of wholeness. My whole body felt warm and alive for the first time in a long time. His presence felt right. Not like Drew's. Where Drew was my living sun, Dante was my protection and strength. With him I felt normal like the illness wasn't even there. I just felt like me. Gently but firmly he lifted me up into his arms. His muscles bulged with the effort. He softly drew the blankets back on my bed and rested me on the small mattress. I lay still as he moved to turn off my bedside lamp. Once the light was gone I felt an electric pulse charge the air. The pulse increased when Dante got into bed next to me. He scooted to my side and lined his body next to mine. The electric pulse charged once our bodies touched. I stiffened with surprise at the jolt, but ignored it as his arms wrapped around my waist. He threw the blankets around us and pulled me to his chest. His arm rested under my head as I faced him. The pulse was subtle now, but its presence was still known. I moved my right hand under the blankets to his chest, where I ran it along the flat planes of his abdomen. He sighed shakily. His muscles were hard and defined under my hand, which only fueled my desire for other stuff. But I controlled my urges and moved my hand to his back. I wrapped my arm around his chest and hugged him beneath the blankets. I could feel his breath blow on my hair as we lay in silence. I was tired earlier, but now felt wide awake. I could tell his was too, by the movement of his thumb, which was hooked beneath my shirt. It rubbed circles into my bare skin, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. "You still awake?" he asked suddenly breaking the silence. I smile invisibly, "Yeah, you?" He chuckled, "It's hard to sleep, knowing you're in my arms." His arms tightened once he mentioned this. His hand moved from my bare skin to my face, where he brushed a lock of hair from my eye. A faint glow from the street lamps illuminated his hand. I could feel the light touch my face, but his face was indiscernible in the shadows. "Has anyone told you how beautiful your eyes are?" he asked as he softly caressed my cheek. I shrugged, "Brown isn't that great to look at." He chuckled and kissed me on the nose. "Your too adorable for your own good," he replied and pulled me into his chest. I sigh contentedly and rest my head under his chin. "I was stupid," he said thinking aloud. "I went about this all wrong. I should have taken you out on a proper first date. No movies. No other couple. Just you and me. Alone at a small restaurant. You looking cute with your big brown eyes that I could never say no too. Then I would take you home and steal a kiss or two." Gently he pulled my face away from his chest. "I went about this all wrong. I don't deserve your forgiveness. But I will do everything in my power to make it up to you. Even if that means for the rest of our lives. Cuz you Caleb, my love. Are the single most important thing to me since my family. I have screwed things up in the past but I will fix them now." "I'm sorry too," I replied and rested my right hand on his jaw. "For ending it like I did. I was just-just-" But I didn't know how to finish the sentence. If I told him I broke up with him over my sickness he would never look at me the same way again. He would always see me as a walking cancer patient prone to illness and death. He would pity me just like Drew did. "Just?" he asked quietly and brushed my cheek. "You can say anything to me, love." "I just felt betrayed," I finally answered, telling only part of the truth. "I had already been through that once before with Drew, but couldn't handle it with you. I felt hurt and ashamed for displaying my emotions like that and having them thrown back on my face." "I just never thought I could fall in love with someone like that, then have it all crash around me," I continued, while gazing at his shadowed face. "I don't know what I was hiding from, but I did. I hid from you and my family. I hid a lot of things, but now have to face them. I think I was just afraid of getting my heart broken again. But this is a risk I'm willing to take, with you." "So, please don't hurt me again," I whispered softly. "I don't think I can take another heart break." Suddenly in a blindingly fast movement he was on top of me. I could feel his body resting on mine, but none of his weight. It was like he was just resting against my body, without causing me discomfort. I turned to look at his arms and noticed they were supporting most of his weight. His muscles were chorded and hard with the effort. Slowly he leaned down and kissed me fully on the lips. And not a hesitant kiss. A slow and passionate one. His lips were wide and warm around my mouth. I could feel the course hair of his chin rub against mine, but thought that it only added to his masculinity. His tongue slipped into my mouth and deliberately began to play with mine. I sighed as his sweet breath washed over my lips. "I will never hurt you again," he whispered as he drew away. "You are my one and only love, Caleb Pierce." I saw his smile in the faint glow from the streetlamp. It dazzled with brilliance, before he leaned in again to kiss me. Our lips made soft smacking sounds as they connected. I giggled as one of his hands moved to my waist and squeezed it gently. He laughed at my ticklishness. Eventually he pulled away and rested at my side. I turned over and rested my back into his chest. He understood my position and pulled me into his chest. He rested an arm around my stomach and put the other beneath my head. His chin rested in the crook of neck, where he inhaled deeply. "I love the way you smell," he commented as he buried his nose into my neck. I laughed, "Thanks I think." He chuckled, "No, it's a compliment. Most guys smell like a locker-room, believe me. But you smell like lavender or freesia. I like it." I laughed and he gently squeezed my side again. I grabbed his arm and pulled it from my side, placing it on my chest. I held it there as I started to drift off. I yawned once and tried to cover it up. "Go to bed, love," he whispered softly into my ear. "I'll be here with you in the morning." "But I'm not tired," I replied as another yawn came over me. He chuckled and kissed me on the neck. "Shh, just sleep," he crooned into my ear. I just nodded and drifted off to sleep in his arms. ~*~ I awoke to the brightest morning in the last few days. The sun shone brightly through my window and reflected off my white walls. I groggily opened my eyes and yawned stiffly. I was pretty sure something was planned for me today. Drew or Stacey would probably come by to take me somewhere. My mom hadn't checked up on me, so that probably meant she was at work or Stacey was already here. My head was pretty foggy. Oh, that's right, I thought. Justin was mad at me. We had an argument and he stormed out of here. I groaned quietly and tried to turn over, but was stopped by a tanned muscled arm. I froze immediately as the night before rushed back into my head. Dante had come to my window last night. We talked. We kissed. We made up. And he stayed!!! I instantly felt a surge of happiness course through me. He stayed with me all night. I sighed contentedly and rested back on his bicep. He breathed softly into my ear. His breath was sweet and light. I lay there blissfully thinking about what I was to do today. Dante was still sleeping, so that would take up some time. He looked so peaceful. I didn't want to wake him up. What was today anyway? I thought and glanced at the clock. It didn't have the date but it had the time. It was 9 in the morning. I smiled happily to myself. It seemed like everything was falling into place. Gradually I moved Dante's arm and got up. I stretched my limps while sitting next to him and looked back at his peaceful expression. His nose cast an angular shadow across his right cheek. His stubble looked a little darker in the daylight, but I loved that fact. I had lightly placed his left hand on his chest, while his other was still lying on my pillow. I outlined the musculature of his arm with my eyes, noting the veins that ran along his forearm, until suddenly I noticed a stain on his wrist. It was a dark maroon stain that was dry and crusty. The pillow underneath his wrist was also stained with the same color. I quickly grabbed his wrist and scraped the dried blood off of it. I moved the pillow out from under his arm and turned it over, hoping he wouldn't find it. My hand shook as I did this. Bile was running up the back of my throat, threatening to breach my mouth. I abruptly bolted from the bed and slid over his chest, running for the bathroom. I barely made it to the toilet, before spewing chunks of vomit all over the rim. I heaved loudly into the porcelain bowl. My throat scratched with the effort. My hands shook with each hurl of vomit, making me shake uncontrollably. Tears stung my eyes and the hollow sounds of my hurling filled my ears. Finally when I was done I dropped to the floor, feeling extremely exhausted. I wasn't aware I was crying until I sniffed loudly. I rubbed my nose and felt the hard crusty blood come off on my hand. I moaned and rolled to my side. My head throbbed with each movement. I had never felt like this before. My abdomen ached and my throat felt swollen shut. I gradually tried to sit up, but only managed to lean against the side of the tub. My hands were still shaking, so I closed my fists in concentration. I needed to get up and wash my face of any evidence. Get a hold of yourself I thought angrily and pushed myself into a sitting position. I ground my teeth in frustration as I moved to stand up. Eventually I managed to stand up. I was wobbly on my feet, but it was good enough to get me to the sink. I turned the faucet on and waited for the water to heat up. I gazed up into the mirror for the first time in a few days. I shuddered involuntarily. I guess I've been avoiding mirrors, I thought nervously as I stared at my face. My face was noticeably thinner and my cheekbones were more pronounced. I had little gray bags under my eyes that made my face look haggard. I also noticed a browning spot near my temple. It looked look a small liver spot, but I knew what it was. It was the beginning symptoms of my sickness. My eyes widened in fright, but I continued to stare at my face. Experimentally I touched it with my index finger. Nothing happened. No pain. No discoloration . Nothing. Slowly I moved my neck to the side. I looked at my throat and ran my fingers along the underside. There was nothing different. I sighed in relief. I slowly began to wash off the dried blood. Taking extra care not to over exert myself. The blood came off in little chunks, leaving a stream of red clumps in the sink. My stomach heaved emptily as I stared at the little pieces. Finally when I was done I washed my face numerous times, trying to make the little bags disappear. They shrunk quite a bit, but under close examination could be found. I sighed. I looked like my old self, somewhat. Lastly I flushed the toilet, destroying all the incriminating evidence of my sickness and brushed my teeth. When I was done I left the bathroom and slowly went back to my bed. Dante was still asleep. I climbed over his body and lay back at his side. As soon as I got comfortable, I felt him stirring. His arm silently slid back around my waist and pulled me close. He inhaled deeply and opened his eyes. Hazel disks blinked awake and stared at me. Little green flecks burst near the irises. I smiled at him. "Good morning," I greeted hoarsely, my voice still recovering. "Good morning, love," he replied and kissed me on the nose. "Sleep well?" I cleared my throat, "Much better." He smiled, "I did too." Abruptly he sniffed my breath. I froze in fear. He eyed me suspiciously. "Did you brush your teeth before I woke up?" he asked and gazed at me expectedly. "Umm, yeah," I replied covering my mouth. He grinned instantly and kissed me on the lips. "I should've thought of that," he replied, making me laugh. "Next time," I replied and ran my hand through his hair. He raised an eyebrow, making his face incredibly handsome. How does he do that? I thought errantly. I could never do that with my eyebrow. "So, there'll be a next time?" he asked teasingly. I laughed. "Of course, my boyfriend can come over whenever he likes, especially when my mom is at work." His face blanched in shock," Boyfriend?" I sighed teasingly, "Well if you don't want too. I could always fi-" But I didn't finish, before he suddenly pulled me onto his chest. I huffed in surprise. My chest rested on his evenly. I gazed into his fathomless hazel eyes as his hands ran through my hair. "You're amazing you know that," he said as he stared into my eyes. I shrugged, "Ehh." He laughed exuberantly and loudly and pulled me into a kiss. It was a light sweet kiss that quickly made me dizzy. All of a sudden I heard a knock at my door. I froze mid-kiss and stared at the wooden entrance. I gulped in fear. "Caleb, honey?" my mom called from the other side of the door. "You awake?" "Uhh, yeah mom, just woke up," I called back as I hastily got up. I pulled Dante along with me and shoved him to the bathroom door. "You do remember your doctor's appointment, right?" she asked through the door. "Yeah, I remember," I said as Dante quietly laughed and pulled me in for a quick kiss. I laughed and tried to pull out of his grasp. "Dr. Cater wants to talk to you about the possible treatment plans," my mother said still at the door. "He also wants to run more CT scans to see what stage you're at. It's just a formality. Have you been experiencing latent symptoms?" Immediately Dante's grip loosened and he pulled away. Confusion and suspicion instantly filled his features. He stared at me, his gaze penetrating. I moved from his grasp and pushed him into the bathroom. He allowed it and let me shut the door after him. When I was sure he was secured behind the door I turned to the bedroom door and opened it. My mom was holding a cup of coffee and was already dressed for the day. Her brown hair was swept up into a tight bun and her face was drawn with exhaustion. She smiled when she saw me. She was wearing a beige cardigan and a dark green blouse. She was in some regular jeans and a pair of sneakers. She offered me the cup of coffee. I took it without hesitation. "So any symptoms?" she asked openly. I shook my head. "None that I've noticed," I lied smoothly, but her gaze swept my face. Her eyes zeroed in on the brown spot on my temple. "Cale," she chastised as she brushed my hair back and examined the spot. "It's nothing, mom," I replied. "It's just a little spot. It'll probably go away soon. Dad's did." She frowned and stepped back. Oops, I thought ashamed. I reached for her shoulder and patted it. "Mom-" but she interrupted me. "Drew's here to see you," she said her face wiped away of any emotion. "He's waiting downstairs for you." My hand froze in shock. My mom's eyes tendered a bit. "Should I tell him to leave?" she asked noticing my tension. "No," I replied hastily and took a huge gulp of coffee. I need to tell him, I thought confidently. My mom gently pulled out of my grasp. "Appointment at noon, kay," she said pointing a finger at me. I nodded and smiled. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me." I nodded again, before she glided away down the stairs. I closed the door behind me and moved to the bathroom. Before I could open the door, it swung open, away from me. Dante was fully dressed in the clothes he wore last night. They looked a bit stiff, but anything on him looked good. I smiled timidly at him, but he frowned. "Caleb, what's going on?" he asked seriously. "Is there something wrong with you?" "No, nothing's wrong, I'm fine, just a little cold," I lied, trying to keep my face pleasant. I scratched my throat, feeling a slight itch inside. It didn't help. I coughed delicately and felt better. I grabbed his hand and led him to the window. "Listen, I'll explain everything later," I said urgently. "But right now I need to talk to Drew. He's waiting for me downstairs. He needs to know the truth." Dante halted me to a stop, "Caldwell's here?" "Umm, yeah," I replied and coughed again. Maybe it was the coffee. "I'll stay and wait then," he said calmly, but I gently tugged him to the window. "Don't be silly I can handle Drew," I replied as I opened the window. "Besides once he knows the truth you can come back. I promise." He deliberated for a moment, but eventually gave in. "Alright, but you call me if he tries anything with you, okay?" I nodded as he climbed out the window, "I will." Before he pounced on the tree branch he turned back and gave me a long lingering kiss. I gasped at the sudden passion, but kissed back. Softly he pulled away. "Bye," he breathed, leaving me dizzy. "Bye," I whispered, making him chuckle. He moved from my windowsill and pounced on the nearest tree branch. It shook with his weight, before he climbed down it agilely. He turned back and smiled before disappearing in the thicket of branches. Dizzily I sank to the floor and rested for a while. What was I going to tell him? He is so caring. But he did break my heart once too. No that's just an excuse, Caleb, I thought accusingly. Just tell him the truth and he'll accept it. Gradually I rose to my feet, coffee cup still in hand. I didn't even care to get dressed. I was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday and Friday. Slowly but surely I walked out of my room and down the stairs. My heart quickened with fear and guilt. I ran out of coffee and the caffeine wasn't working at all. I gulped loudly when I reached the bottom of the stairs. My throat scratched with the gesture. Drew was by the mantle gazing at the row of pictures there. They were all of me from kindergarten to high school. He was wearing a red baseball cap that covered his wavy locks. Bits of golden hair peeked out from the back. He had on a muscle tee that showed off his well-defined arms. His back was turned to me, but I could see that he was wearing a pair of loose-fitting shorts and sneakers. I softly treaded into the living room, waiting for him to notice me. When he didn't I spoke. "Hey," I said timidly and coughed, making him start in surprise. He turned around swiftly and smiled at me. The same sunny smile I loved. I smiled back, but felt guilty for doing it. His beautiful blue eyes pierced my heart with sadness. His teeth gleamed white between his full lips. He immediately walked over. "Hey," he replied back confidently and leaned in to kiss me on the cheek. "Can we talk?" I blinked in surprise. "Yeah," I answered and gestured to the couch, but he slowly began to shake his head. "Outside," he replied. "It's more private." "Okay," I replied and let him lead me to the door. Once we were outside he guided me to the small porch swing off to the side. We sat facing each other, his arm rested against the back of the swing. He smiled brightly at me and blushed before looking away. I laughed, "What?" He looked back and chuckled. "Nothing it's just I never noticed how beautiful your eyes were till the sun hit them," he replied without blushing. "Oh," I whispered sadly. I need to do this now or it will get more complicated. "Drew, listen. I need to talk to you about something." He stared at me openly, "Okay, me too." I smiled weakly, "Umm, how do I say this . . . . Drew I've made-" I stared into his clear blue eyes and couldn't take it anymore. Quickly I got up and walked to the porch's banister. He came up behind me but I kept my gaze away from his face. Instead I focused on the dandelions growing around the lawn. "Drew," I whispered despite us being in private. "I've made my choice. I've made my choice and it's not . . .You." It was silent for the length of a heartbeat the only sound was of me quietly coughing. The itch in the back of my throat was getting annoying. Slowly I turned around and faced him. "Oh," he replied and stared back at me. His eyes were clouded and steeled like a storm on the ocean. "Drew, I'm sorry," I whispered and coughed delicately, but the itch continued. "If you hate me that's fine. I deserve it. And this might be asking for too much, but I still want you in my life, no matter what." His gaze hardened then and his eyes became blue stones of anger. He turned away and walked to my house. His hands flexed decisively. The muscles in his arms coiled with the movement. Eventually he reached the wall and came back. I was still leaning against the banister. Swiftly he moved to stand in front of me. His face just inches away from me. Both arms grabbed the banister on the other side of me. He pinned me in with his strong arms. I leaned back further and stared at him in fright. He gazed at my expression and his face softened. His eyes melted with tenderness. "Caleb I want you to understand all your options," he whispered into my face. "You need to understand that there is more than one guy vying for you love. And it's me. I want you to see what you're missing when you choose him over me." Slowly he began to lean in, his gaze never left mine. It was like staring into a deep pool of blue water. But I managed to speak. "Drew, stop," I whispered urgently. "This will only hurt us more later. Please." "No," he growled, almost pleaded with me. "No, you can't just do this, Caleb. I care about you." "I know," I breathed making my throat itch again. I coughed into my shoulder. Drew stared at me softly. "I bet you haven't even told him yet," he murmured smugly. I stared back at him defiantly. "I will," I hissed and tried to move out of his grasp. But he held me in. I coughed again, feeling some warm mucus rise in the back of my throat. "Caleb, look at you," he said finally releasing me, but he kept a hand clamped around my arm. I froze. "You look sick already. Your face is withering away and I see the small spot on your forehead. It's getting worse isn't it?" "No," I replied fiercely and yanked my arm out of his grasp. The move made me dizzy and I tumbled into the swing. "I'm fine, just a little cold." Suddenly he yelled, taking me by surprise. "Stop!" he boomed making me cringe. "Stop lying, damn it. It's not helping anyone. Just stop." Abruptly I heard movement on the porch. But it wasn't from the house it was from the sidewalk. Out of nowhere I heard a loud thump and I saw Drew falling to the floor. He landed on his side, but got back up in a flash. He moved swiftly and confronted Dante. I immediately got up and stood between them. Dante's nose flared with anger and Drew's eye's blazed like fire. I shoved against their chests, pushing them away. "Stop!" I yelled hoarsely, my voice breaking with the effort. "Stop fighti-" But a cough stopped me from finishing. It was a loud wet cough that sprayed sticky fluid all over my chin and mouth. They both turned to look at me. Their eyes bulged in shock. I stared back in confusion, before I felt hot liquid running out of my nose and mouth. "Wha-" I tried to say but it only came out in a gurgle. "Caleb!" they exclaimed in shock and fear. The sticky substance was still running like a faucet. And my whole body shook. Eventually my legs gave out and I gradually began to slump to the floor. They both caught me and held me to their chests. My head lolled to Dante's and rested there. Blood seeped into his shirt and plastered my cheek with its wetness. My hand was beginning to shake, but I was totally unaware of it. I tried to stop it but my vision was suddenly overwhelmed with black spots. Suddenly the whole world started to shake around me and my head rolled back from his shoulder. The last thing I heard was my name being called by two angels. Please send comments to untitledlovestory@yahoo.com