Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2021 22:44:10 -0400
From: Just Forfun <jst4fun2nyt@gmail.com>
Subject: New Reality Chapter 1

This is my first story, so your input is extremely welcome. Email me at
jst4fun2nyt@gmail.com and tell me what you like, what you don't like, and
even where I mess up continuity or details. There will be sex, but it will
be tame compared to some stories. The story is fiction, and any
similarities to people, living or dead, is purely coincidence. STDs and
Corona don't exist in my fantasy world, so they don't use protection. You
should use protection, always!!!

Many of my characters are underage, and they will be having sex. If reading
this is illegal where you live, don't break the law!

DONATE to NIFTY so you can continue to hate me for any cliffhangers.

**************************************************************************

Everything you know is wrong. Everything you think you know is wrong, and I
will go as far as saying everything you think you do not know is wrong too!
Scientists only know what they have studied, and theologians only know what
man has said about the gods they have studied.

I was just finishing my run Monday morning and was passing Mr. Kline's old
house. Mr. Kline was a widower and it got to be too much for him to care
for the place so he had packed up and moved to Florida. I was sorry to see
him go because he would always be there waiting for me with fresh made iced
tea when I finished, and he had the coolest old car I'd ever seen. This
morning there was a moving van unloading and a big black Ram and a blue
Suburban, both with PA plates. I stood and watched, and then I saw a young
woman with red hair telling the movers where to put the boxes. I stepped up
and said "Good morning Ma'am, I'm Greg Fowler. I live over there," pointing
at my house a few doors down and across the street, "I used to help
Mr. Kline around the house. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Nice to meet you Greg, I'm Donna Warnick. Our son should be around here
somewhere. I'm sure he'd appreciate some help."

As she was saying this, a slim blond-haired boy who looked to be a year or
two younger than me came running up, "Mom, the moving guys say they can't
get Dad's desk in that room." then seeming to notice me for the first time
he blushed. "Sorry."

"This rude young man is my son. Scotty, this is Greg, he lives in that
yellow house." she said, pointing like I had. "I'll go show them how to
make it work. Is everything in your room?"

"MOM!! Please don't call me Scotty, you know I hate it... And yeah, all the
boxes are stacked and my furniture is all set up."

"Well take a break. Maybe you can convince Greg to show you around."

When he looked at me all I could see were his green eyes. Never in my 17
years had I seen emerald green eyes and I was lost in them. I must have
frozen because the next thing I knew, he was saying "It's OK, if you don't
want to. I can unpack my room."

"Uh, no, no. Sorry, I was just thinking about what I have to do. I've got
time and I'd love to show you around. Or I can help with unpacking and we
can hang out after, if you like?"

"Really? Um, sure, if you don't mind."

"Nah, lead on 'Scotty'." I said with a grin. I was surprised when he didn't
get upset but just smiled and tilted his head.

"Ya know, I think I like you calling me that."

He led me in and up to his room. I had only ever been in the foyer of the
house when Mr. Kline lived here. We went in and immediately turned left and
up the stairs. There was a small hallway with a bathroom at the top
straight ahead, and a bedroom on each end. Scott had the room to the left,
towards my house. There was a queen bed, a dresser, and a floor to ceiling
stack of boxes. I walked over and could just see my front door out of his
window.

"It's not much, but it's mine. And with Mom and Dad downstairs I get the
bathroom to myself."

"It's bigger than mine. I think it's cool. And you're lucky, I'm stuck in a
twin bed. Dad uses the bigger bedroom for his office."

"Do you read much?"

"I love reading, why?"

"Follow me." and he led me to the room on the other end where there was a
desk and several empty bookshelves. Stacked all around were dozens of boxes
marked 'books'. "My library."

"Dang dude, this is better than Dad's office! What all do you read?"

"Harry Potter, J.R.R Tolkien, Mark A. Roeder, Ranger's Apprentice, pretty
much any fantasy genre. The rest are law and history and investing that I'm
studying."

"I bet your teachers love you!" I knew who Roeder was but I didn't want to
assume so I didn't mention that I read all his books.

"She has to, I'm home schooled." Scott laughed.

"Wish I was, I'll have to borrow your law books. I want to study it in
college."

"Criminal law?"

"No, Corporate. I want to get into corporate management."

"I want to do financial planning; I love working the stock market."

"Yuck, numbers!"

"You need numbers to manage businesses silly!"

"Yeah, but not like tracking stock trends and such."

He laughed and said "Why don't you unbox these and organize them on the
shelves? That way you'll know where to find them. I'll go put clothes and
stuff away. I doubt you want to handle my underwear."

"Deal!" but the idea of his underwear somehow made my stomach tingle.

The next few hours passed with me sorting and shelving books. He wasn't
kidding either, I swear he had an entire law library along with more
accounting books than my dad and two whole shelves of books on analyzing
the markets, stock valuation, and long term investments.

We talked while we worked and I learned how they had moved a lot all most
of his life but hoped to be here a few years. I shared that we'd been in my
house as long as I could remember. I told him about the huge wooded area up
the hill and how I loved to explore it when the weather was nice. Someone
years ago had carried boards and plywood way out there and built a tree
stand about 2 miles away. I told him I had just found it last week and when
we were done we could hike up I'd show him.

Before I knew it, I was surrounded by empty boxes. "All done I think. All
that's left is your computer and I don't want to mess with that, it's
personal. At least mine is."

"Yup, it's a personal computer, duh."

"Your humor is going to kill me dude, I swear. So are you done with your
underwear?" I said grinning.

"Yeah, let me go get a drink and we can go see this fort. You want
something?"

"Coke Zero?"

I followed him downstairs and waited while he ran to the kitchen and got
the drinks. I heard him tell his mom we'd be back before dark, he handed me
the Coke Zero, and we set off. As we walked, I pointed out houses and told
him who lived where, who he might get along with, and who to avoid. As we
approached the tree house, he was saying how we should fix it up and spend
the night out here sometime.

"I didn't even climb up to look in it. I didn't want to climb the ladder
and fall since I was alone. You're lighter than me, I think, you up for the
climb?"

"Sure, I'm game. You gonna catch me if I fall?"

"Always" I almost sighed. I had no idea what was going on with me. I had
just met this guy but I felt some weird connection, like fate was telling
me he was mine.

"Always is a long time. How about just for today? We'll see about forever
later."

"Yea, that's what I meant. You gonna climb or talk?" I pushed him towards
the ladder. He kicked the lowest board and it didn't move. He grabbed the
next two and pulled hard and when they held tight, he slowly climbed,
pulling on each board as he climbed the homemade ladder. When he reached
the top and climbed in, I heard him shouting.

"I'm the king of the world!!!"

"OK 'Jack', come back down and make sure I don't fall when I climb."

He came back down and I climbed up. Since he had tested it, I didn't
hesitate but scrambled up and in. Once I was in, he followed. The platform
was about the size of my bedroom and there was a 2x4 nailed to the tree
branches making a handrail around the whole thing. The floor was covered in
dried leaves and twigs but it seemed solid. We kicked the leaves out and
sat talking about coming out here to read and just get away. I noticed the
sun going down and said we should head home, so we climbed down and raced
home. I was out of breath but he must be a runner cause he wasn't even
breathing hard. He said he'd text me and we'd hang again tomorrow and I
headed home.

Dad had dinner ready when I got home, and like always, I ate in the living
room watching TV while he ate at his desk. I went to my room and spent a
few hours reading. I finished the latest Roeder book then spent an hour
reading about contract law. I couldn't focus, I kept thinking about
Scott. While eating, I was wondering if he liked scalloped potatoes and if
he ate meat or not. When I was reading, I kept wondering if he had read
this one and if he liked it. Then I wondered if he was trying to tell me
something when he mentioned Roeder's books. Reading books about gay teens
doesn't necessarily mean you're gay, the stories are great and who the
characters love doesn't matter.

I've never had a boyfriend or even a crush, was this a crush? I never even
explored with a friend like I'd read about. I've known I'm gay for years,
but I haven't told anyone. My Dad is a devout Catholic and it won't go well
if he finds out. We live in a small community in West Virginia, so I know
the rednecks at school will be a problem. The school has an anti-bullying
policy but considering most of the teachers are the worst bullies, it's not
enforced. One boy came out a few years ago and was beaten so bad he had to
transfer schools. The guidance counselor said "It's his own fault, if he
wasn't like he is he would've been fine." so yeah, I'm deep in the closet.

I showered and got in bed and was still thinking about Scott. I couldn't
get his green eyes out of my mind. When he looked up at me I felt like he
could see into my soul and I felt at peace with that. His awesome smile
made me want to grab him and kiss him, and his trim body made me think of
doing other things. I finally gave up. I threw my blankets back, pulled my
boxer briefs down, and took care of things. After I cleaned up, I curled up
and held my body pillow imagining it was Scott and fell asleep.

School was out for summer so I was free to sleep in, but I woke up
wondering what Scott was up to. I didn't want to seem weird so I didn't
text him. Instead, I put on some basketball shorts and went to my basement
to lift. I wrestle, and Dad had bought me a weight bench and recumbent
stationary bike I spent 30 minutes on the bike and was doing some light
presses when I got a text from Scott 'Whachadoin?'

'Workin out. Want to?'

'Sure. Where?'

'My basement. Back door open'

'cya'

Five minutes later he was waving through the sliding glass door. I waved
for him to come in and he came bouncing in saying "I should work out too,
maybe I could put on some weight. I'm too skinny."

"I think you look great."

He blushed and said "I'm too skinny. You've got muscles."

"And you can too, here, let me show you."

For the next hour I showed him basic bench press, curls, chest fly, reverse
fly, dead lift and a few other weight training exercises. I explained how
it's best to work on arms and legs on opposite days to give the muscles a
day to rest and recover. He was working hard but wasn't covered in sweat
like I was. Maybe he's in better overall shape than he thinks.

"You do this every morning?"

"Yup, I get up, spend an hour in here, then go for a run if the weather's
good. In the winter I do more time on the bike. What's your plans for
today?"

"Thought I'd find someone for a bike ride, explore some more. Know anyone
that would want to?" He gave me a wicked grin knowing I'd go.

We filled our water bottles and headed off. We spent most of the morning
biking the back roads and taking several trails through the woods. As we
pulled up in his driveway his dad was getting out of his truck. "Hey Dad,
this is Greg. He lives down the street."

"Nice to meet you Greg, are you guys having fun?"

"We were riding some of the back roads, Mr. Warnick. I showed him some
trails too."

"We're not formal around the house, call me James, please."

"Sorry sir, er, James."

"It's fine. Donna has lunch ready, can you join us?"

"I'm 17, do you think I'll refuse food?"

"Oh he's a funny one, I like him Scotty."

"Really Dad?"

"Oh, sorry, Scott." and looking to me, "He's so sensitive about his name
sounding childish."

"I like Scotty."

"Well YOU can use it, they can't."

James looked from Scott to me then shook his head and walked in to the
kitchen. We followed and Scott grabbed two Coke Zeros and handed me one as
we sat down. "How do you like your burgers Greg? Cheese or no?"

"Medium well and yes please Mrs. Warnick."

"I heard my husband say we're not formal. Don't make me hold your food
hostage."

"Sorry Donna."

As we ate, James and Donna quizzed me. I told them I was going to be a
senior this year, I was on the varsity wrestling team, and my hopes to go
to law school. I learned that James was a business owner while Donna was a
housewife. Scott and I both polished off 3 cheeseburgers and decided to go
set up his computer. As we were heading up the stairs, James was speaking
to his wife.

"Did you see it?"

"Yeah, do you think they know how strong it is already?"

"Not a chance, Greg has no idea."

"What do we do?"

"What is there to do?"

Scott pulled his PC out and set it in the desk shelf as he said "I need to
upgrade, this one's just a basic one we got at Best Buy a few years ago."

"Hey, if you're not gaming, it's fine, right?"

"I never got into gaming. It always seemed like a waste of time."

"Yeah, me too. I'd rather be reading a good book if I can't be
outside. Hey, I finished Roeder's newest, have you read it?"

"I just got it so no spoilers!"

During this, I was feeding the wires through the desk while he was
underneath hooking them up. I fed the USB through for the keyboard "You see
it?"

"I got it, babe." and felt him freeze. I froze too, did I hear right?

He crawled out from under the desk and stood, looking at the floor. He
mumbled "I need to be honest with you Greg."

I could tell he was as scared as I was, so I tried to lighten things up,
"You want to move all your books cause I put them in the wrong places?"

"No, they're fine, I'm serious." as he looked up into my eyes.

"Ok, I'm listening. Is this bad?"

"No, look, I um... I like you but..."

My heart stopped. But what? Was he saying he had figured out I'm gay and he
wasn't? Was he gay but had a boyfriend? Did he think I was ugly? "I like
you too Scotty. What's wrong?"

"I want to say it but I don't know how, and I'm scared."

I could see same the fears in his face and felt a change deep
inside. Somehow I knew what he was thinking, so I took a deep breath and
reached out to grab his hands. "Like I said, I like you too Scotty. You're
smart, you're attractive, and I'd like to see where this goes."

His eyes lit up and I could see the fears melting away. He broke into a
huge smile, and pulled me in to a quick hug. "I was terrified I was reading
things wrong. We just met and I didn't want to scare you away as a friend
but it just felt right to say it."

"Don't freak out but, somehow I see us together forever. I don't know if
that's as a couple, or as friends, but I know right now that I want you in
my life."

"Yeah, that's where I am too. Let's just see where it goes but um..." as
his face turned bright red.

Again I got the feeling that I knew exactly what he was thinking, so I
leaned down and gently kissed his lips. I'd never kissed anyone so I'm sure
it wasn't' the greatest kiss in the history of the kisses, but it sure felt
like it. Just a quick chaste kiss but I felt a peace settle on me, like
everything was going to be OK.

He pulled back and looked at me "Um, wow, yeah, that was..."

"Yeah, it was." as I grinned "We can't do this all afternoon, what do ya
wanna do?"

"What are the options? I'm new here, remember?"

"Yeah, and you've moved to the sticks. We can wander the woods, ride bikes
some more, or hang out here. We can wander the mall and hit a movie
there. There's bowling, if you like that, but we don't have the long list
of options like city boys do. In the fall everyone hunts, but not everyone
likes that either."

"I've hunted all my life so that'll be fun. I suck at bowling, if I'm
shopping I'm buying, and if I'm going to watch a movie I'd rather do it at
home. Would you be upset if we just hang here? We can read and talk and
watch a movie later?"

"Sounds great."

Scott turned to go downstairs, "I'll tell Mom you're staying for dinner,"
then he turned back, "you are, aren't you?"

"Sure hon, always."

He smiled at me, "You called me hon?"

"You called me babe."

"Oh yeah." He grinned and ran downstairs. When he came back, I was sitting
on the floor leaning against the wall reading a book on contract law. He
grabbed his book, handed me a Coke Zero, sat beside me and leaned into my
shoulder. It felt natural sitting there with him against me like that, it
felt good.

After we had been reading a while, he mentioned some of the supernatural
aspects of Roeder's books. I said they were nice in a stories though I
didn't believe in those things. I didn't disbelieve either. I'm smart
enough to know that I don't know everything, and if I was given evidence of
something I'd reconsider but it all seemed so unlikely. Angels, ghosts,
witches, werewolves, and vampires couldn't have been around for thousands
of years without someone having discovered them. He said many things in
science had been unknown until just recently, and many more things were
still unknown.

This debate was still going on during dinner and Scott's parents gave me
some odd looks. James admired my desire for evidence before I accepted
something while Donna was surprised I had no sense of wonder. She said for
centuries men said the earth was flat, until it was proven otherwise. After
what had developed between us, I was a little uncomfortable debating with
his parents. I didn't know if they knew about him and I didn't want to slip
up. It seemed like they were looking back and forth between us more than at
lunch. Eh, maybe I'm just imagining it.

After dinner we watched a movie on Amazon. Scott wanted to watch the new
'How to Train Your Dragon' one, but James and I won out and we watched
'Downton Abbey'. I said it was cool to see how they lived and had no
concept of the money they wasted but James pointed out that many people
depended on that money for their jobs. Scott agreed with his dad, and even
the movie mentioned how the rich need to spend money so that it circulates
and helps people. I said I couldn't imagine having that kind of money and I
am glad I'll never have to worry about it.

When the movie was done I got up to go and Scott got up saying "I left my
bike outside, I'm going to put it away." and walked out with me. "Wish I
could walk over with you but I couldn't think of a reason." I wanted to
kiss him again but there might be someone watching so we did a 'bro hug'
and I went home.

I got home and Dad was packing. His work had called him to fly to Texas in
the morning for a few days. I was used to these trips and went to check the
kitchen. We were good on food but he said he'd run out and get another
gallon of milk if I'd pull the clothes out of the dryer for him. I started
folding things, and when he got back he told me he was driving to
Pittsburgh airport early and would be gone when I got up. It was late, so
once he was packed, I headed to bed.

My text alert woke me Wednesday morning at 7:00, 'lifting?'

'not yet'

'cya in 5?'

'k'

I threw on my shorts and met him in the basement. "Dad offered to drive us
to the mall this afternoon, up for it?"

"Sure."

"I brought clothes, hoped to shower here, if that's cool?"

"Yeah, let's get to work." I spent the next hour showing him exercises, leg
work today since we did upper body yesterday. It had rained but we didn't
care so we hopped on our bikes and took to the trails. Scott was really an
awesome rider, taking jumps and sliding down the hills like an expert. He
was 50 yards ahead of me and took a nasty tumble, before I could get to him
he was back on his bike and hard at it.

Two hours later we walked into my basement covered in mud. "Me or you
first?"

I hesitated a minute, then said "There's room for two."

"Greg, I've never..."

"Neither have I, and that's not what I'm looking for. I just want to be
with you, hold you. Washing each other will be nice. I promise I'll
behave."

He stood there staring at me for what felt like an hour, then he grinned
"OK, but I don't know if I can make that same promise." as he blushed.

He followed me to the shower off my workout room and we looked at each
other, unsure, then he reached out. I felt my skin tingle when his fingers
brushed my sides as he slowly peeled my shirt up over my head. I reached
out and did the same to him. I froze and stared. This was Scott, my Scott,
and he was hotter in the flesh than the fantasies I'd had about him. I
could see the insecurities in his eyes and I had to make sure he knew how I
felt. I reached out and touched his face "You are absolutely beautiful. Are
you sure?"

He smiled and nodded "I've never been surer of anything. Let's do our own
underwear tho?"

I nodded and reached for the waistband of my shorts as he did the same. We
both pulled shorts and underwear down at the same time, slowly,
carefully. I felt a mix of fear and excitement as I exposed my most private
parts to someone for the first time in my life. I hadn't looked at him down
there yet and when I stood back up he was looking at my eyes. He smiled and
said "I want to touch you but I want the shower more. Let's get in."

I laughed and got the water warmed up, grabbed a washcloth from the shelf
and got in. He got in behind me and took the cloth as he grabbed the
soap. The last time anyone had washed me was my mom and I was 6 or 7. That
felt good, but this was incredible. He started on my shoulders slowly
working the cloth down my lower back and over my butt. I felt him kneel as
he started washing my leg, running the cloth over my right hip, down the
outside of my leg to my foot then switching hands and working the cloth up
the inside of my leg to the top. I gasped when his hand brushed against my
sac but he didn't hesitate as he went back down the other leg and
continued.

When he got back to my left hip he stood, "Turn around."

"But I'm..."

"I know, me too. Turn around, please?"

So I turned, and he didn't glance down. Instead he added soap to the cloth
and started washing my chest ever so gently moving from my throat to my
sternum then right over my pecs. When he brushed my nipple I gasped again
and he smiled and did it again. He washed the other side then slowly moved
down over my stomach, never moving his eyes from mine. I felt the cloth
brush my pubes and he moved it to the right as he knelt and washed my legs,
totally avoiding my erection. When he had finished my legs he stood, leaned
up and kissed me as his empty hand slid down my body. I grabbed his hand
before he got to his target. "If you touch me, I'll explode."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Only if you don't let me wash you after." I grinned.

I let go of his hand and he continued moving it down. When he touched my
pubic hair he leaned up and kissed me while he found his target. I was
right, as he wrapped his fingers around me my knees buckled as I had the
most incredible orgasm of my life.

When I had recovered, he smiled saying "Sorry it wasn't... I mean I wish I
could..."

"Hush" I said as I touched my finger to his lips. "It's my turn." and I
took the cloth from his hand with a grin.

I took my time exploring his body like he had mine. When I got to that part
I happily discovered that, unlike me, he was natural. He did take after me
on one thing in that I no sooner pulled the skin back than he cried out and
I felt his seed running down my leg as he leaned against me for support.

The water was running cold so we quickly rinsed off and got out. I turned
for a towel to dry him and when I turned back around, he had one waiting to
dry me. As we dried each other and got dressed I said "I guess we should
talk?"

"Might be a good idea."

"Upstairs?"

"Yeah, can I have a Dew?"

I went up to the kitchen and grabbed a Mt Dew for him and Coke Zero for
me. When I went in the living room, he was in the chair looking at his feet
so I handed him his drink and sat on the couch. "I'm sorry if I pushed you
to do something you..."

"No, you didn't. I... well, I was thinking about something like this last
night when I..."

"Me too." I blushed. "I just don't want you thinking this is all I want."

"I never thought that, if I did it wouldn't have happened."

"Good. I want something more than just a friends with benefits thing. What
happened was great but it never would have happened if I didn't care for
you like I do. And as much as I care for you, I don't know if I'm ready for
more. I mean, I want more of what we did but I don't know if..."

"I want to go slow too babe. I've never done anything like that with anyone
and I don't want to go rushing ahead. I just..."

"You need to know that I love you?"

Scott jumped from his chair and sat beside me, leaning in as I opened my
arms, "Yes, I needed to know that you love me like I love you. I needed to
know that I wasn't the only insane one that had fallen in love in 48
hours."

I kissed him and said "You're not insane, but now what?"

"Now what what?"

"Are we going to tell anyone or hide from everyone? My Dad won't accept it
so I can't tell him. I know we can't tell the rednecks at school this
fall. Will your parents freak?"

"They've always said they support me in anything I do. I've never heard
either say anything bad about gays but I really don't know for sure. I know
I'll be fine no matter what anyone says, as long as I have you."

"I'm here for you, always." as I pulled him into another kiss. He texted
his dad and said we'd do the mall another day. We sat in my living room and
started an 'Avengers' marathon and just enjoyed being together. As Thor was
being banished from Asgard, Scott's phone beeped.

"Mom has dinner ready. Dad's home. You ready babe?"

"You're going to tell them?"

"Only if they ask, but I'm not going to hide anything either." he said as
he stood and reached for my hand.

"I'm with whatever you say hon." as I took it and he pulled me to my
feet. We walked to my door and as I opened it he dropped my hand.

"Not yet, not the world at least."

"Your call hon."

He winked at me and we walked over to his house. As we walked in, he
reached for my hand and smiled "This isn't the world."

I smiled back and he led me by the hand to the kitchen.  Donna looked at us
and smiled. "Get your drinks and sit boys."

"Yes, sit. I think we should have a talk." James said harshly.

We froze and I looked at Scott. He looked shattered, like his world had
ended. I squeezed his hand "It will be fine hon, sit and talk, OK?"

When he looked at me I could see him relax. He knew I was here for him, no
matter what. He smiled at me and nodded, we grabbed a drink and sat.

"Thank you Greg, I forgot how harsh a father's words can sound sometimes."
and turning to Scott, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm not upset
at all. I just think your mate needs to know everything he's getting into."

"Dad? Not now, please?"

"Yes Scott. He has a right to know, before it's too late."

"It might be too late already James, don't you see that?"

"I see it, that's why it has to be now." he said to his wife.  "This can be
undone, if Greg can't accept the truth, but he has to know."

"Know what?" as I looked around at their faces. Were they criminals hiding
from the police? Aliens? Escaped from a hospital for the insane?

"Greg we're..."

"NO!" Scott cut him off "No Dad, let me tell him, just not like this?
Please?"

James looked to his wife for guidance and she nodded "OK Scott. You tell
him. You have until morning. It's obvious you care for each other and he
has to know now. If he can't accept it we'll have to deal with it."

"I do know Dad, and I know it will be fine. I feel it, I just..." Scott was
falling apart.

"Hon, whatever it is, it's fine. I love you, faults and all. Whatever it is
we'll get through. I told you, always."

"I told you the fates had chosen well for our son."

"I never doubted that Donna. But I've seen the damage that can be done when
this is delayed." and he turned to me "Greg, please listen with your heart
when my son shares with you. Don't judge us until he's told you
everything. And if you can't accept, please consider what your heart says
before you tell anyone else."

"I only want him to be happy, no matter what." I said looking at Scott
trying to reassure him.

"That's all we want too. You boys might want to go downstairs, we'll leave
you alone."

I hadn't touched my food. I was lost but Scott looked even more lost. I had
no idea what they were talking about, but his parents thought I would leave
him over this secret they had. That wasn't gonna happen. The more they said
about my leaving, the more my heart was telling me that nothing short of
death would take me from him.

Scott looked at his mom for some support but just got a firm, loving
nod. He looked to his dad who motioned towards the stairs "Trust me son,
please? I think it will be fine, but it has to be done."

He looked defeated as he stood. "I guess we should go have a talk babe. Can
we do this in our fort Dad? It's gonna be our space over the summer."

James nodded and Scott headed for the front door, I stood "I don't know
what he's going to say but I'm not leaving him, if that's what you're
trying to do."

"That's not what we're trying to do Greg, I swear to you that's not it at
all. Just go listen with an open heart. I'll see you when you get back."

I looked James in the eyes and I could somehow sense he was sincere so I
nodded and ran to follow Scott. I caught up to him in the driveway but he
didn't look at me. We walked in silence until we were in the woods where he
reached out for my hand. I took it and squeezed to let him know I was not
just with him physically but totally. He climbed the ladder ahead of me and
when I got up there he was standing in a corner with his back to me. I
could see his shoulders shaking with sobs.

"Hon, please, tell me. There is nothing you could tell me that will make me
turn away from you, ever. Just tell me so we can get past this." I rubbed
his back and his sobs slowed then finally stopped.

"I'm not what you think I am Greg. I'm... different."

"Whatever it is we can get through it, please just tell me."

"I don't know how to tell you, where to start."

"Then show me?"

He drew in a deep breath and nodded "OK, just don't be scared, promise me."

"Always."

He took in another deep breath and I saw his body quiver. "This is what I'm
hiding Greg. This is what I am" and he turned to face me.

I staggered back, shocked then I felt the rail behind me as it snapped and
I felt myself falling. I hit the ground hard and heard bones snap. What I
thought I had seen must have been a trick of the sunset because I looked up
and my Scotty was back, kneeling over me screaming my name, begging me to
hang on. I tried to breathe and it hurt. I looked into his eyes and
whispered "I love you, always."