Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:50:32 -0700 (PDT) From: Dan Ham Subject: Sci-Fi/Fantasy: Only The Lonely; Chapter 10 DISCLAIMER: This story depicts graphic sexual encounters between two consenting adults of at least 18 years of age. If you are offended by homoerotic content, please leave. If it is illegal to read this content where you live, please do not stay on my account. I do not want you to get into trouble with the local authorities. That being said, please enjoy. This is my very first story of any kind, so if anyone has any ideas, feel free to let me know. I'll respond, I promise. I have plenty of free time. Any resemblance between characters portrayed in this story and actual people, living or deceased, is purely coincidental and unintentional. Do not copy, change or otherwise use this story's contents (with the exception of reading it) without my permission. Feedback is always encouraged at gaywritercolorado@yahoo.com or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Gay_Writer Only The Lonely From chapter 9: About that time Mark started to stir. I looked at Rick, my eyes filled with fear. "Don't worry, he feels really bad about what he did you," Rick said. That helped a little bit, but I was still scared. Mark heard us talking and opened his eyes. Seeing me, he immediately sat upright. "Where am I?" he asked. "You're in my room," I responded. "My friend Rick here sensed that you were in trouble and brought you back here. Your friends really did a number on you, didn't they?" I asked. With a sheepish look on his face, he lowered his head. I knew that I had hit a sensitive subject. I moved, sitting down next to him. I laid my hand on his leg and he looked at me, a look of confusion in his eyes. "I know you were just doing what Billy told you to do," I told him, in hopes of calming him down. It worked, because he relaxed a little bit. And now for Chapter Ten: "Why don't you tell me what happened," I said, trying to get Mark to open up a little. He was still a little skittish, which I could understand. "I was trying to get them to stop their plan to beat you up and they thought I was turning queer on them, so they beat me up. The thing is, I think I'm already gay. I have always liked Billy, and all the girls those two have ever tried to set me up on a date with never did anything for me." With this admission, I was totally floored. Someone that I hated with every ounce of my being was coming out to me. I looked over at Rick and he was just sitting on the side of my bed, listening to every word that Mark was saying. I didn't know what to do, or even how to react to what I was hearing. "It really bothered me when we beat you up," He said to me. "I've always liked you, but with Billy and John being my best friends...I just didn't want to loose that. I knew that if I admitted I like you and want to be your friend, I would loose their friendship." With saying that, he started to cry again. I sat there, trying to soak up what he had just said. The only thing I could think of, was to pull him into a hug. He eagerly let me hug him, but when his head hit my shoulder, he just broke down and started to sob. I looked over at Rick and all he did was nod with approval. When Mark finally settled down, I looked at the time. It was almost 6:30pm. Not knowing if he had eaten today, I looked at him and asked, "are you hungry?" Wiping the tears from his eyes, he looked at me and nodded. I stood up and said, "I'll be right back. I'm going to go tell mom that we will be having a guest for supper and that you will be staying the night." Mark's face had a look of terror coming across it when I mentioned that he would be staying the night. Before I had a chance to notice it, I had turned and went into the kitchen where I knew my mom was fixing supper. "Mom, we're going to have a guest for supper and he's going to be staying the night." My mom looked at me and said, "do I know this person?" Not knowing how to answer the question, I just told the truth. "Yes, you do. It's Mark." My mom dropped the spoon she had in her hand. "Does your father know he's here?" She asked with a worried tone in her voice. "No, he doesn't. Billy and John really beat Mark up. He was trying to protect me from another beating and they really let into him. He's ok now, but only a couple of minutes ago he came out to me." At that point, I saw my mom's knees go weak. I rushed to her and held her up. "Are you ok?" I asked. "Give me a second to regain my composure," she replied. When she was able to stand on her own two feet again, she asked where Mark was. "He's in my room with Rick," I answered. She headed for my room before I could ask why. When she entered my room, Mark backed himself into the farthest corner. Seeing this, my mom rushed up to him and pulled him into a motherly embrace. When she did, he burs into another wave of tears. My parents knew what kind of family life all three of the bullies came from, so it wasn't surprising to see Mark cry from my mom's embrace. Mark's mom and dad worked three jobs to support him and his three sisters and two brothers, so they were almost never at home. Billy's mom and dad divorced when he was 8. He was sent to live with his mom, who was always drinking. John's father was abusive, but no one dared do anything to him, due to the fact that he was the mayor of our town. His mother left about a year ago because she couldn't handle the beating she got every night. Seeing the care that my mom showed for Mark made me start to tear up. Rick sensed this and came to my side and put his arm around my shoulders. I moved next to Mark and asked him, "what are you going to do now?" "I don't know. I can't hang out with John and Billy any more. I'm too afraid of telling my parents, so I guess I'll just sit at home all the time." "I won't be hearing of that. Let me talk to the school board and I'll see if I can get your expulsion lifted," Rick replied. ************************** Thus concludes Chapter 10. I hope you liked it. Let me know what you think of it. If you have any ideas, feel free to let me know. Chapter 11 should be along shortly. As always, feedback is always encouraged. gaywritercolorado@yahoo.com or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Gay_Writer Authors note: Chapter 10 was edited by Athildur. For my fellow writers, if you are in need of an editor, let me know. I'll let you know how to get in touch with him, or my other editor.