Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 16:35:44 -0400 From: Stan Unknown Subject: Chapter 24 of Beating The Odds Chapter Twenty Four They had almost reached the front door when someone shouted, "Look, here comes the faggot parade." They looked over and saw Billy smirking beside several of his friends. Brian started to stop and confront him, but Jim came up behind him and pushed him forward. They got inside without any further problems. "We aren't going to start anything. No matter what they say, we have to take it. You know what Dad said last night, Brian," Jim said when they were safely inside and in a corner away from everyone else. "I know. I know. It's just really difficult," Brian answered. "We have to do it, though. We all know there's going to be people who say things today. But you just have to keep walking like you never heard what they said. If they touch you or start something physical, that's a different story," Jim continued. "Then I can kick their asses?" Brian asked, smirking. Jim just shook his head. "What am I going to do with you?" he asked. "Love me?" Brian asked, giggling. "It's your fault how I act, you know." "My fault? How can it be my fault?" Jim exclaimed. "You're the sculptor, remember? I'm just the humble modeling clay. If you had done your job properly, I'd be a model citizen by now," Brian kidded, as he playfully pushed Jim away. Everyone laughed, and Bruce said, "He has a point, Jim. You started this earlier. Brian's learning quickly." Jim laughed along with everyone else. "Ok, I accept responsibility. But Brian, no violence unless someone starts it first. Ok? That goes for everyone. Do we all agree?" Everyone agreed. Josh and Kevin were the last to agree, but they were finally united. And they all walked to their home rooms, uncertain about how their day would go. ***************** It took a while for the rumors to start to spread. It really wasn't until lunch that anything major happened. Ryan and Rob had their trays and were walking to their regular table, when Matt, the senior quarterback on the football team, stuck his foot out and tripped Rob. He didn't fall down, but his tray fell out of his hands and fell to the floor, spilling everything. "Watch where you're going, fag boy," Matt said. "Really funny," Rob answered. "Yeah. Since you're not good enough to get a college scholarship, at least you have a future in comedy," Ryan said, standing up for his boyfriend. Matt, Mike, and several of their friends stood up and got in both boys faces. "That wasn't a very nice thing to say. All I was doing is stretching my legs and fag boy here tripped over my feet. And then you insult me to boot. What should I do, guys? Think I should make an example of these two fag boys?" Matt asked. "I don't think that would be a very good idea," Josh said from behind. The other boys all whirled around and saw Josh and Brian standing there. "They're kind of small to be picking on, don't you think? We're more your size. If you want to make an example out of someone, maybe Josh and I would work better," Brian said. "I don't have a beef with you too right now. This one insulted me," Matt said, pointing to Ryan. "Yeah, right after you tripped his boyfriend and made him spill his lunch on the floor. We both saw it. So did lots of other people here. You really do want to get kicked off the football team, don't you?" Brian asked. "No, of course not. I didn't do anything, right guys," Matt asked, as he looked around at his buddies. They all quickly agreed. "All I did was stretch out my legs. What are you two, fag body guards?" Brian started to walk towards Matt, but Josh pulled him aside. "You promised Jim, remember?" Brian stared at Josh and then at Matt. Then he reached for his wallet and pulled out two dollars. "Here Rob. This is all I have. You should be able to get something to eat with it." "I've got it, Brian. Keep your money," Josh said, as he got out his wallet and handed Rob a five dollar bill. "Matt, you do think you can watch where your legs go if Rob walks by here again, don't you?" "I'm not sure. I get cramps in my legs all the time. Just tell your little fag buddy to stay away from me, Ok?" Matt, said, as he sat back down. "We'll try and remember that," Josh said, as he and Brian walked off. "Oh, and one more thing," Matt said. Josh and Brian turned around and stared at him. "About the little fight we had on Friday. We aren't through with you fags yet," Matt said. "None of us are going to start anything. But if you start something, we'll defend ourselves," Josh answered. Brian just stared at all of them and didn't say a word. Then, they turned and walked away. ***************** The rest of the day went by quickly. A few people said some rude things to the smaller boys, but there wasn't any violence. Several people did come up to them and ask if the rumors were true, but no one denied it. The worst thing that happened was to Josh after lunch. His best friend Dan came up and said, "Josh, there are ridiculous rumors going around that you're gay." "They're not ridiculous. It's true," Josh answered. "IT CAN'T BE TRUE!!!! We've been best friends forever. We've spent the night together so many times, I can't count them," Dan exclaimed. "So? What does that have to do with me being gay?" Josh asked. "What does it have to do with it? You never came on to me! We never did anything like that together!" Dan yelled. "Dan, lower your voice, OK?" Josh asked. They both looked around and saw lots of people staring at them. "Let's go over here," Dan said. Josh followed him away from where everyone else was standing until they were by themselves. Dan finally whirled around to face him and said, "Why couldn't you have told me the truth? I thought we were best friends." "We are. Maybe I couldn't because I was afraid you'd react just like you are now," Josh calmly answered. "How can you betray me like this?" Dan yelled. Josh just laughed. "When you were so in love with Cindy, did I get mad at you?" "No. Of course not. That was totally different," Dan said. "How do you figure that? You told me all about how hot she'd get you, then she'd stop you just when you thought she was ready to go all the way. We talked about it every time you had a date. Remember?" Josh asked. "Yeah, I remember. What does that have to do with you being gay?" Dan asked. "Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. I don't like girls, Dan. They just don't do anything for me. I knew you did. I was glad for you. I did everything I could to help you with Cindy, didn't I?" Josh asked. "Sure you did. You were my best friend. If I couldn't talk to you, who could I talk to?" Dan asked. "Were?" Josh asked. "You know what I mean," Dan answered quickly, and he turned away. "Yeah. I'm afraid I do," Josh answered, as he turned and walked away. ****************** Everyone met just inside the school, facing the parking lot, when school finally ended. No one was expecting any trouble, but they all wanted to be together, just in case. "Is everyone ready?" Jim asked. "I sure as Hell am," Brian said. "I'm going to kick your big round butt. No trouble, remember?" Jim scolded. "I won't start anything. I promised that. But that's all I promised," Brian answered, as he stared at Jim. "Come on, let's go. Nothing's going to happen," Bruce said. They all agreed and they exited the school together. They made it almost to their cars before they saw the group of boys, led by Matt and Mike, cutting them off. "Oh shit," Tim shouted, as he saw them. They were out numbered almost two to one. Lots of other students were also following the lead group, and they were almost all football players. Everyone stopped in the center section of the parking lot between rows. Matt walked up with a big grin on his face and said, "I told you we weren't through with you fags yet." "What do you want, Matt? Why can't you just leave us alone?" Jim asked. "No one wants fags in this school. I just brought some friends with me to help persuade all of you that you might like it better at another school," Matt said, as he laughed with his buddies. "If you need your butts kicked for it to finally sink in, then we're all ready to help teach you how it's going to be around here from now on." Just then, everyone heard the roar of a high powered engine rev up, followed by a squeal of tires. A red Z-28 Camaro drove up quickly and parked in the middle of the parking lot, blocking all the other cars in their parking spaces. 4 boys quickly jumped out and two were carrying metal baseball bats. They all walked up, headed by Dan. "What's going on, guys? We were just about to go to the batting cages and get in some hitting practice. Want to come, Josh?" Dan asked, as he held his bat in both hands and started swinging like he was warming up. "Uh, I'm kind of busy today, Dan," Josh answered. "You're best friends with that faggot over there?" Mike asked Dan. "Yeah. What's it to you? That's between Josh and myself. It's really none of your business. You don't exactly have good taste in friends either," Dan answered, as he motioned towards Matt. "Fuck you, Dan," Matt yelled. "You couldn't get it up long enough to do it, shit for brains," Dan yelled back. "That may be why Elaine broke up with you today. Either you can't satisfy her or she finally got tired of your macho bullshit. It really doesn't matter. I'm taking her to the football game Friday night. Hey Josh, want to double date?" Dan asked. "WHAT?" Matt yelled. "You heard me, Matt. I was there when she broke up with you at lunch. I asked her to go to the football game Friday before she even got out of the cafeteria. Lots of people are tired of your act. Not just me. So, if you want to try me, I'm standing right here," Dan said calmly. "You talk really big with a baseball bat in your hands," Matt answered. "Oh, this? I don't need this to kick your ass," Dan said, as he tossed it to Josh. Josh easily caught it, and handed it to Bruce. "Thanks, Dan," Josh said. "Thanks? For what? I've been wanting to take on this piece of shit ever since last baseball season. Matt thinks he's just as good in baseball as he is in football. You're really good at quarterback, Matt, but you suck as a pitcher. Everyone knows it. Anyway Josh, you want to double date Friday?" Dan asked. "Sure. I'd like that. But what if I bring a boy?" Josh asked, grinning at Dan. "That's cool with me. Elaine already said that would be cool with her. But you drive. There's no way you're going to mess up my back seat," Dan kidded. "You guys are really sick," Matt said. "We're just fucking with your little bitty brain, Matt," Dan said. "The news that Josh was gay fucked with mine, too. But then I finally realized that he was still the same guy that had been my best friend for all this time, and I didn't want to lose his friendship. Who each of us has dated had never been a problem before, so why would it be a problem now? None of these guys," he continued, as he pointed at Josh and the rest of the gay guys, "have ever bothered anybody here. They've never come on to anybody. They've kept their sexuality like it should be, something personal. They're still the same people that they've always been, and we liked all of them before we knew they were gay. So I say we support them now. I think they have more guts than any of us here. Who else would be willing to take on the football team in a fight?" The football team continued to stare menacingly at the boys, but the crowd around them started to murmur and then talk loudly. "Leave them alone. They haven't done anything," someone shouted. "Who cares if they're gay?" someone else shouted. "Yeah Matt. If you want to prove how bad you are, why don't you fight just one of them," another one shouted. "Now I like that idea," Josh said, as he stepped forward. "Why don't we settle this? Just the two of us?" "Yeah. The loser gives the winner a blow job," Dan kidded, as he walked up to Josh and put his arm around his shoulders. "Bad idea, buddy. Matt's mouth is going to be really bloody after I kick him once or twice," Josh kidded. "He probably would suck at it anyway," Josh added. Josh walked calmly towards Matt, just as everyone heard the coach screaming in the background. "Where is my damn football team? Why isn't anybody dressed and on the field?" All of the football players looked panicked. They all looked at Matt for what to do next. "We've got to go. This isn't over between us," Matt said. "Yeah it is. If you ever want to make a point again, just come look me up. You don't need all your friends backing you up, do you, just to kick a faggot's ass?" Josh asked, as he grinned at Matt. "Hey, I'm best friends with a faggot," Dan said, as he walked up and put his arm around Josh once more. "If you don't think you can take Josh one on one, which you can't, by the way, you can try me. I'd really like that." "Fuck you guys. Come on, the coach is going to kill us as it is," Matt said, as he ran off towards the gym, followed by all of the other football players. No one left. Everyone watched as the football players ran off, and then the crowd congregated around the other boys. Everyone started to talk to individual guys at the same time. Their new club, Gay Teens Unite, was mentioned and lots of people seemed genuinely supportive. Someone brought out a note pad and before anyone knew it, people were signing up. Josh finally walked up to Dan and stuck out his hand. "Thanks, buddy." "I don't shake hands with faggots," Dan said, as he faked turning around and walking away, then spun around and hugged Josh to him. Everyone around them laughed and applauded. Over thirty people had signed up to join the Gay Teens Unite club as non-gay supporters. Three others had gotten one of the boys off to the side and asked if they could talk sometime, just the two of them. Each assured him that they would gladly talk to them about anything they wanted and what was said would remain with the key members of the group. They had already talked about the possibility of other gay students coming out, so it was made clear that they would discuss anything said with the other members, but no one else. That seemed to satisfy all three of the other boys. It took a long time before everyone finally started to go towards their cars. The boys were sure that they wouldn't have any problems from now on. They had made a lot of friends today, and all had sworn that they would support them from now on. There wouldn't be any more gay bashing at this school, like had almost happened today. To Be Continued E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions or other 'constructive' comments or advice may be sent to: stan992001@hotmail.com. All e-mails will be answered. You can also visit the young gay guys support group I created after my "Matt and Mike" story at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/gbct or our web site at www.gayteensunite.org. There is a forum section there where you can enter comments about this story for everyone to see.