Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 07:54:07 -0400 From: Stan Unknown Subject: Chapter 14 of Beating The Odds Chapter Fourteen Josh laid rubber for almost a half block as he left school. He was fuming. He hadn't done anything wrong. All he had done was keep the two smaller boys from being beaten up by a crowd of football players. And now he had to cancel his plans that had been made for over a month. He stopped at a red light and got his cell phone out of the console. Cell phones weren't allowed at school, even in a parked car, but Josh couldn't have cared less about their stupid rules. He propped the phone between his chin and his shoulder until he could shift from first to fourth and take the phone back in his free hand. He loved his Trans Am, but he hated the fact that Pontiac blocked the use of second and third gears unless you were heavily accelerating. He kept the steering wheel steady with his knees as he eased into fifth gear, where he would keep it in slow traffic. Sixth gear was just for higher speeds, like on the highway. "Bill, I can't make it tonight." "WHAT? You cancelled last time we had a date." "Don't yell. I'm sorry. Look, I can still meet you, I just can't spend the night. That's better than nothing, isn't it?" "Oh. Yeah, at least you can make it. How late can you stay?" "I think I can stay long enough to make sure you are safely tucked in bed and fast asleep. Is that all right with you?" "Yeah. That's fine. What happened, anyway?" "I got into a fight at school. I have to be back at 9:00 in the morning. It really sucks." "You didn't get hurt, did you? I wouldn't want your face to be bruised and sore," Bill said, as he laughed. "I'm fine. I have a small bruise where one guy sucker punched me while I wasn't looking." "What were you doing when he hit you? I thought you could take care of yourself." "Bill, I can. Trust me. I was kicking the shit out of two guys and he turned me around and hit me before I could react." "hehehe That sounds like some fight. You'll have to tell me all about it when you get here. 9:00 still OK with you?" "Yeah, that's fine. Remember to park directly in front of the room you get." "I will. I'll make someone move if they're parked in front of my room. I don't want to miss you tonight. Have you thought any more about the offer I made you last time we had a date?" `Oh God, not again', Josh thought. "Bill, please don't start in on me right now. I'm in a really bad mood. I just left school a few minutes ago and I have to go back in the morning and spend it in one room all day." "Ok baby. You're the boss. It's just I could give you the best of everything if you would just move in with me. You know I love you." `There it is, the "L" word again', Josh thought, as he shifted the phone under his chin again, downshifted into third gear, and sped around a car that was going too slowly on the two lane road. "Bill, please. I don't want to argue with you right now." "Who's arguing? I really do love you. You've seen my house. You could even have your own bedroom. Not that you would really get to use it," he laughed. "But anything you wanted, and I mean anything, would be yours." "Bill, I appreciate it. But you already know the answer." "Yeah. I guess five or six hours tonight will have to do, then. But you know the offer is good any time if you reconsider." "Thanks, Bill. Look, I have to go, OK? See you tonight," Josh said, as he ended the call and put the phone on the passenger seat next to him. `Like I could love you,' he thought, as he downshifted again and sent the Trans Am flying down the road. His temper had flared again and he had to do something to calm himself down. He hit his FM radio pre-set buttons looking for something to listen to he liked. He finally tuned into a classic rock station and what did he find? An old Tina Turner song, `What's Love Got To Do With It?' "Yeah, that's perfect," Josh said aloud. "That's exactly how I feel." ****************** Everyone walked out of the school together. Even Mr. Corwin. "All of you have missed your bus. Who has cars?" Mr. Corwin asked. "I have an SUV," Tim replied "I can give a ride to anyone who needs one. I have a mini-van. It'll be a tight fit, but we should be able to manage it," Mr. Corwin replied. "I can take three or four," Tim said, as he looked eagerly over towards Kevin, who was also looking at him. "I'll ride with you, Tim," Kevin said. They walked over to Tim's Chevy Jimmy and Mr. Corwin said, "Why don't you take Brian, Jim, and Kevin? I'll take the rest." "Fine with us," Jim said, as he and Brian walked with Tim and Kevin towards the Jimmy. "See you tomorrow, guys," Jim said, as the others walked off. "And thanks for helping us, Mr. Corwin." "No problem, Jim. I knew if you got suspended for fighting the first day of school, there would be Hell to pay with your Dad," Mr. Corwin answered as he laughed. Jim laughed too. "You're probably right. But my Dad is lot's more understanding than you think he is. Isn't that right, Brian?" Brian laughed too. "Yeah. He's lots cooler than I thought an adult could be." "Well, I'm glad of that. Night, guys. See you in the morning," Mr. Corwin said, as he led the other five around to the teacher's parking lot. "Is it all right if I sit up front with Tim?" Kevin asked. "No, it's not all right," Brian answered with a straight face. "Sorry. I didn't mean anything by it. You're bigger than I am. You want the extra space?" Kevin asked, slightly shaken. "Look, I'm kidding," Brian said, as he came over and put his arm around Kevin. "It's not only all right, Jim and I would insist on it. We're boyfriends." Tim looked shocked. "No kidding? Jim, I about hit the floor when you raised your hand as being gay. How are you going to keep this from your Dad? He would kill you if he found out." "He already thought I was gay before I told Mom so she could help me get Brian out of jail. Brian's living with us now." "WHAT?" both Kevin and Tim yelled at the exact same time. "It's a long story. Want to go somewhere and the four of us talk?" Jim asked. "I don't have to be home right now," Tim answered. "I live with my uncle and he doesn't get home until after 6:30, so it's fine with me too," Kevin said. "Uh, can we stop and get something to eat first? I'm really hungry," Brian asked. "You're always hungry. Mom told me that our food bill might go up another $200 a month with you living with us," Jim said playfully. "That isn't fair," Brian said before he saw that Jim was kidding. "I ought to beat your butt, but maybe I'll settle for this," he said, as he roughly pulled Jim to him a kissed him hard on the mouth. Both Tim and Kevin were shocked by their display, out in the open where anyone could see them. They both looked around to see if anyone else was watching, but the parking lot was deserted. They looked back and Jim had returned the kiss with eagerness and it looked like it could go on for a little while. Tim looked at Kevin, who returned his stare. Tim blushed and turned his eyes away. Kevin continued to stare at him after Jim and Brian finally broke apart. "McDonalds Ok with everyone?" Tim asked, as he opened his door. "Yeah, that's fine with me," Brian answered, as he walked to the nearest back door behind the driver's side. "Don't tell me. I already know. You don't have any money," Jim said, as he walked around the SUV to the other side. "I told you all my money is at my house and I can't get in because Dad's there," Brian answered, as you could tell that he was hurt by that comment. "I know. I'm just kidding you. Get over it. If we are going to get married, you have to take a joke better than that," Jim said, as he laughed as he got into the back seat on the other side. "So I'm homeless and you like making jokes about it?" Brian asked, as he pulled Jim towards him and started tickling him. Jim screamed in laughter. Kevin and Tim looked at each other and grinned. They both could tell Jim and Brian were in love. Their gaze lasted longer than it should have. Their expressions changed. But the eye contact held. Finally, Tim turned his eyes away from Kevin and started the Jimmy. He slowly backed out and headed for McDonalds. Kevin turned to look at them in the back seat and asked, "How did you two meet?" "That story is too long to tell you on an empty stomach. Once I have eaten a Big Mac, then I'll tell you everything," Brian said. "I agree. But I have a feeling that one Big Mac isn't going to do it," Jim said, as he was immediately attacked by Brian again. Tim and Kevin just laughed at them in the front seat. **************** "This is it, guys. How are we going to fit all of you in here?" Mr. Corwin asked. "Neal and I can get in the back. He can sit on my lap," Bruce answered. "Rob and I can do that, too," Ryan said, as he grinned at Rob. "He stays on my lap a lot, anyway." "You guys are sick. That's fine with me. I'll be glad to sit up front," Jimmy said. "Ok, that works," Mr. Corwin answered, as he unlocked the mini-van and slid the door open so everyone could get inside. Bruce hopped in first, followed by Neal, who sat on his lap as instructed. Ryan was next, and Rob quickly sat on his lap. Jimmy just raised his eyes straight up like he was disgusted and opened the front door and got in. Mr. Corwin slid the sliding door shut and walked around and got in too. "Where do all of you live?" he asked. "You ca can dr drop all of us a at my ho house," Bruce stuttered. "Ok. Tell me how to get there." Bruce did, and they were quickly on their way. Jimmy turned around his seat and stared at the four other boys. "Can I ask you something?" "Sure," came the response. No way to tell from who or how many said it. "You guys aren't ashamed of being gay? You aren't ashamed to let everyone know?" Jimmy asked. They all started to talk at the same time again, but Neal silenced them as he waved his hand in front of them. "Guys, if I may," he said. They all stopped talking and listened to what Neal was going to say. "Jimmy, you said you aren't gay, right?" Neal asked. "Absolutely not." "Then, do you have a girl friend?" "Not right now. But I have in the past. Why?" "Well, say we were friends. Really close friends. But I didn't like your girl friend. Say I thought she was ugly or had a bad personality. So I told you what I thought. What would you do?" Neal asked. "I would tell you to mind your own business," Jimmy answered quickly. "And if I agreed it wasn't any of my own business and we agreed on that, we could still continue to be friends?" "Sure. As long as you didn't try to get into my personal life," Jimmy said. "I totally agree. See, that is all we want. If we love a boy or a girl, it really isn't anybody's business but ours. We want to keep all our old friends. But who we love isn't any of their business. Just like their personal affairs isn't any of our business. Does that make sense?" Neal asked. Jimmy thought about it for a minute and then said, "Yeah, it does. It makes perfect sense. So all of us can be friends even though I'm not gay?" "I hate to interrupt, but I think I can answer that question," Mr. Corwin said. "I told you about the gay support group I joined in college. Over half the members weren't gay. They just joined because they had a friend or friends who were. They joined to support their right to chose what they wanted to be. And I really want to start something like that here in our high school. But I really need you guys to help me do it. Jimmy, you can be the first straight student to join. Will you do that?" Jimmy looked over at Mr. Corwin and then back at the rest of the guys. "Sure. I would be glad to do that. I'm really good at organizing things. I think I would really like that." ****************** Mr. Corwin finally drove up to Bruce and Ryan's house and let the four of them out. "You want me to pick up back up in the morning?" he asked. "No, that's Ok, Mr. Corwin. We can get a ride," Ryan answered. "It wouldn't be a problem at all. I can also pick up Jimmy too, if he wants. I want to spend tomorrow making everyone closer and maybe making us all into a team." "I would like that, Mr. Corwin. But I really don't like Josh at all. I think tomorrow is going to be a waste of time while he's with us," Jimmy answered. "Leave Josh to me, OK? What about the rest of you? Want me to pick you up too? That means all of you would have to sit together in the back again. Maybe you don't like being that close to each other," Mr. Corwin laughed. "I think it's a good idea if you pick us up," laughed Rob. "What time do you want us to be ready?" "I'll be here at 8:45 in the morning. Be watching for me, OK?" "Will do, Mr. Corwin. And thanks," Neal answered, as they all watched Mr. Corwin drive off. "Guy guys, I th think we all ne need to go insi inside and have a long ta talk," Bruce said. They all agreed and hurried into the house. All four boys had so many questions they wanted to ask each other and none of them could wait. ***************** "And Brian's Dad got arrested for D.U.I. and went to jail. My Dad said they put him in the same cell Brian had been in. They made sure he understood that when he finally sobered up and they let him post bond and go home," Jim said, as all of them laughed. Brian just chuckled since his mouth was still full of a bite out of his second Big Mac. "Where's your Mom living, Brian?" Tim asked. "I don't have any idea. Detective Martin told Jim's Dad that she was going to live with her sister. But that is in Birmingham and I don't have the phone number. I tried asking operator assistance but I didn't have enough information to find her phone number. Jim, I have to go over there and get the rest of my things. I know where Mom kept her phone book with all her personal names and phone numbers. Maybe she didn't take it with her," Brian said. "You know what Dad said. We can't go until he has time to go with us. And he is still trying to get all the paperwork done so they are your foster parents. We don't need to go over there and start any trouble," Jim answered. "But we can make sure he isn't there first. If his truck isn't there, he won't be there. Please Jim. I have to see if I can talk to Mom." "I could take you both over there after school Monday," Tim said. "Your Dad should still be at work then, shouldn't he?" "Yeah. That would be perfect. Would you do that?" "Sure. We're all friends now, aren't we?" Tim asked, looking at all three boys, but especially at Kevin. "Sure we are," Brian said. "Same here," Jim answered. "Me too," Kevin said. "I really like all of you guys." He looked at all of them, but his gaze lingered lots longer at Tim. Tim stared back. Their stare lasted long enough that Jim and Brian quickly looked over at each other. Jim just tilted his head at them and smiled at Brian. Brian just smiled back and nodded his head yes. Brian and Jim had been together less than a week but they were already able to communicate at times without speaking. They both instantly knew what the other was thinking. There might be another couple very soon. To Be Continued If you do have comments, they can be sent to stan992001@hotmail.com