Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 15:14:35 -0500 From: Kevin Parker Subject: Against all Odds Chapter 14 Hey friends all the usual disclaimers apply, If you don?t appreciate gay relationships you should probably leave. If it is illegal to read this kind of story where you live please leave and come back when you?re older or when you move to another city. Sorry for the excruciatingly long wait but here it is chapter 14!!! Chapter 14 Max stood almost frozen making eye contact with Evan, the source of his emotional rollercoaster. ?Would you mind just waiting for me?? Max said in a near whisper to Hayden who also made eye contact with the jock. Hayden averted his gaze, nodded silently, and left the coffee shop without so much as another look to Evan. Slowly Max approached Evan in line, trying to figure out the words that he was going to say. Tell him he moved on? That he needs someone who knows who they are? Or was there another question? ?Hey Evan. How are you doing?? Max said the situation was awkward to say the least, he was avoiding the now apparent hurt that he knew was hiding in Evan?s eyes. ?I?m doing okay, I?ve been trying to call you,? He said trying to summon up the courage to say what he really wanted. ?But now I guess I know why you?ve been avoiding my calls.? Max couldn?t speak, every inch of him felt paralyzed then as if his wish came true at the perfect moment he heard a car horn. ?I have to go.? He said and quickly left the coffee shop, leaving Evan in pain. Max quickly found Hayden?s car and asked him to just drive, sensing the tension in Max he drove and kept driving. He hadn?t realized how much time they had spent at the coffee shop until a quick glimpse at the dash board told him it was early evening. ?Is everything okay?? Hayden asked timidly. He wasn?t sure of what the situation but it must have been quite emotional for Max because he was all but breaking down. ?I?m fine, there?s nothing to talk about.? Max said. The ride was quiet with Max reflecting on what had recently transpired. Hayden flipped on the radio and the familiar sounds of contemporary country music drowned the silence. He flipped through a few stations until he found something to sing to. ?This is my jam!? Hayden said as he began to sing One Direction?s You Don?t Know You?re Beautiful at the top of his lungs although kinda badly, which made Max crack a smile at Hayden. ?What? I love 1D.? Hayden said. The mood finally lightened enough to start some conversation. ?So what was that? Hayden asked treading carefully along his question. Max let out a deep sigh and got quiet and began to stare out of the car window. Hayden pulled to a stop at a lookout point overseeing their little city. The sun was just beginning to make a decent into the horizon casting an orange glow around them. ?You know just because he?s the star jock doesn?t give him the right to do what he wants.? Hayden said. ?It?s not that. He is actually really sweet but?? His voice trailed off. ?But what?? Hayden asked. ?He doesn?t know what he wants, he wants one life but he?s trying to please everyone else around him, mainly his father.? Max said. ?It is pretty sad when you?re stuck between two worlds. You want one thing, but society and everybody else wants something completely different. Lucky enough though, there are those who know exactly want they want and they aren?t willing to sacrifice that to make anyone happy.? Hayden said seductively, putting his hands on Max who returned the gesture. Max?s mind was racing about what was happening. Not sure of what he was doing, yet at the same time he just wanted to move on, to forget and maybe this is what he needed. Max stared into Hayden?s eyes. ?I want you. I won?t hurt you. Ever.? Hayden whispered. Their lips made contact. Evan was angry. At what? At who? At himself? Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew that this was just meant to end up this way. He felt broken. He?d never felt this level of pain and frustration. All through his life he?d never had to face such life changing decisions. Maybe he should go back to that life. He continued to pour over a few books and continued to wrack his mind about his life since Max. After a little while he picked up his phone and found Christy?s number, he hesitated and decided this conversation was best had face to face. After another hour he called it a night. 7:30 came around and the house was silent, a little too quiet for a Sunday morning. He opened the door and made his way to the living room, the smell of eggs and bacon filled his senses. He rounded the corner to the kitchen and saw his family just beginning to share breakfast. ?Good morning, dear.? Mrs. Lonzo said greeting her son as he sat down. ?Morning, mom.? He said quietly, slightly groggy from just getting up. They gave a prayer for the meal and began to eat breakfast, after they began to get ready for service. Evan donned a sleek grey suit with a white shirt and powder blue tie. He was just leaving his room when his mother called him from Dylain?s room. ?You called?? He asked peeking in seeing his mother barely in her Sunday best, trying to get Dylain to put on his clothes. ?Yes, please get your younger brother dressed. He seems to just want to play around and I myself have yet to get dressed.? She said, leaving the room quickly she left Evan to deal with the task of getting a hyper 8 year old dressed nicely dressed for service. ?Okay Dyl, let?s get you dressed.? Evan said grabbing some pants from his bed that their mother had laid out for him. ?No.? Dylain said giggling. ?No? What do you mean no?? Evan said smiling at his brother. ?I wanna play.? Dylain said reaching for his toys jets. ?Okay so, I?ll make you a deal, If you get dressed. I will play with you as much as you want until it?s time to go.? Evan said appealing to the kids sense of play, and just like he thought Dylain needed no more encouragement and quickly had himself dressed and ready to play. Keeping his promise Evan played with his brother until their mother walked in on them. ?Evan Lonzo! You are not on the floor playing with your brother in your church clothes!? Evan stood up followed by his brother. ?I took my jacket off though.? He said smiling and his brother laughing. Coming down the stairs he saw his father adjusting his tie in the mirror. ?Well son, I thought you forgot about the Lord.? His father said snidely. ?Well, sometimes you have to step back from everything to realize what you have to appreciate it that much more.? Evan said. The family got into their vehicle and headed to the church. As they were heading in people began to great Evan as if he had been away for a long time. He saw Pastor Roman just before the service and went up to him. ?Evan! Long time no see.? Pastor Roman said to him. ?I hope whatever you had going on didn?t keep you from the right path with God.? ?I?ll admit, Pastor, that I strayed. In my confusion I was lost. But I?m ready to come back to him.? Evan said. ?Amen. He will welcome you back with open arms for that I am sure.? Pastor Roman said before excusing himself to check on other things before service started. Evan looked around and saw Christy chatting away with some other girls that he recognized from school. ?Christy, can I talk to you for a moment?? He asked. ?Yea sure.? She said. They walked out of the meeting hall and into a quiet empty hallway ?I?m sorry. For everything, I don?t know what I was thinking picking him over you. I was stupid. I just want to go back to what I had before, including you.? Evan said begging her. ?You made me look like a fool. So why should I?? Christy said. She looked at him and decided against her better judgment. ?Okay babe. I forgive you. The lord has made us a stronger couple through our trials and tribulations.? They shared a quick kiss and heading into the service when they heard the opening prayer. They sat and joined in the prayer. Evan was hoping this was the way it was supposed to be. Thanks for reading! I?ll be starting on Chapter 15 very, very soon. I know this chapter may seem a little choppy but I promise it will get back to perfection. Questions, comments, concerns? Please email me aidendstories@gmail.com please message me I love reader feedback good or bad and I always respond.