Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:18:22 -0400 From: Kevin Parker Subject: Against All Odds 9 DISCLAIMER: This story is a work of fiction, drafted from the creative mind of its author any resemblance to any person living or dead is merely a coincidence. Do not attempt to copy in part or whole any part of this story without permission from the author. This story also depicts sexual relations between two of age teens if this content offends you or if it is illegal for you to view such content please leave now. Otherwise enjoy the story. CHAPTER 9 The bright 9 AM sun shone through the blinds of Evan's room, alerting him to a brand new day. He got up without hesitation and walked into his bathroom to get himself ready for church, a 20 minute shower (with a little release) and 10 minutes in front of the bathroom mirror Evan went down the stairs to greet his family for breakfast, they ate quickly and were soon out the door. After the service Evan had left his parents talking with other members of the congregation to pick up Dylain and Sarah from Children's Service. He went down a back hallway that he knew was very seldom used. "Hey." Max said sleepily. "How was church?" "It was fine, for a church service anyway. How are you." Evan asked sweetly, the answer of course was obvious. "My brain hurts. Will I see you today? Max asked a little more awake. "No baby, I wish I could but my dad has this Sunday is family time thing and I have a little more studying to do." Even though he said nothing, Evan could feel the sadness and sure enough Max let out a sad sigh. "Aww babe don't feel sad, I promise as soon as all these tests are over I will make it up to you. I promise." Evan said filling the boy with reassurance. Max lightened a bit and agreed. They said their goodbyes and ended the call. Evan continued down to the end of the hallway, unbeknownst to him Christy had heard the conversation. As he reached for the door Christy readied herself for her plan. He opened the door and was a little surprised to see her. "Hi, Evan." Christy said with a sly grin. "Christy." Evan said coldly, he tried to walk around her but she blocked his path. "What do you want?" "I want to talk." Christy said faking an apologetic tone. "About what? There is nothing to talk about." Evan said a little fiery. Something to him just felt so wrong about being around her. "Us." Christy said wrapping her arms around Evan's neck. "Christy, you screwed up. YOU ended this. There is no us, the moment you cheated on me the, us died." Evan said angrily he threw her arms from around his neck and walked away from her. "I've found someone else and h-I am happy." Evan said turning back to her. He turned away and then headed to the Children's Service Center. Christy's smile faded and the revenge rose from her eyes when his back was turned. She turned in the opposite direction and began to walk away, "No way this is over, It's time to get a little drastic." She thought. Evan's family arrived back home and split off into different corners of the house, Sarah and Dylain to the living room, Janet to the kitchen to prepare the family's supper, George to his office, and Evan to his bedroom to study until his brain couldn't take it anymore. The hours slowly ticked by and Evan had very few disturbances and his head in a book. There was a quiet knock on the door that Evan probably wouldn't have heard had his name not been called. "Evvie?" Dylain called out softly. "Yea Dyl?" He called out, Dylain opened the door silently, walked to Evan and crawled into his lap. "It's Dinn-o time." Dylain said in his cute way. Evan closed his book and smiled at Dylain, he picked him up and carried him downstairs to the dinner table. The family convened around the delicious all-American feast of mac and cheese, pot roast, rolls, assorted vegetables. The family prayed and then ate in silence until Mr. Lonzo cleared his throat to draw attention to him. "So Evan, I didn't see Max in church today, in fact I haven't seen him." Mr. Lonzo pointed out. Evan didn't want to respond, partially because he wasn't sure of what to say. "Is he a spiritual person, Evan?" "I don't know." Evan said silently. "I've never really asked." Evan said not making eye contact. "Son, If you don't know then I don't you should be hanging out with this boy. Who knows what horrible sins he takes part it and I don't want you falling in with the wrong crowd." The entire room seemed to stop, the family felt the tension that filled the air. "Dad, I don't think I should be concerned with the spirituality of whoever I decide to hang out with." Evan said a little defensively. "All I'm saying Evan is that sin lurks around every corner and it targets strong Christians who happen to have their guard down and then attacks." Mr. Lonzo concluded. "Excuse me." Evan said, he quickly removed his plate from the table and brought it into the kitchen and went up the back staircase to his room and shut the door. He returned back to studying and his father's words continually ran through his head. He shut his book and paced around a bit. He opened his window and crawled out onto the shingled roof, he used to sit out there every night when he was younger and really only used it when he needed to think, and this is one of those times. He closed his eyes and let the soft, cool wind wash over him. He lied back and stared into the ever darkening sky, he felt so uneasy, he wasn't sure why. He must have sat out there for about an hour before he realized he needed to get back to studying. He went back into his room and walked back to his desk leaving the window open for the cool breeze to come and go as it pleased. He studied for another two hours before deciding that studying anymore would do more harm than good. He got up and went to his bathroom to get ready for bed, when he was finished he climbed into his bed and grabbed his phone and selected and item from his recent calls list. He put the phone up to his ear and heard the soft rings. "Hi baby." Max said exhaustedly. "Hey, you sound tired." Evan said with a slight giggle. "That's from studying all day. I'm glad to hear from you baby." Max said. "You work too hard. You know that?" Evan teased. "I know. I have to, good grades thing you know?" Max said a little more energetically. "So what did you do today?" "Nothing much really, studied, dinner with the family, fight with dad, then study. The usual routine." Evan said nonchalantly. "Another fight? What did he complain about this time?" Max asked already bored. "He threw out this entire lecture because I don't care whether you are religious or not, I'll hang out and befriend who ever I want." Evan said he got a little tense but immediately calmed down at the sound of Max's voice. "Well he'll always try and run your life. If it makes you feel any better sweetheart, I believe in something, I don't know what exactly but I believe that there is some mystical force that binds us together, who inspires chance meetings." Max said contemplatively. "Baby, you have never sounded more philosophical." Evan said chuckling. "Don't get used to it, this is me being tired." Max said. Max let out an exaggerated yawn. "Maxie get some sleep. I'll pick you up in the morning and we'll grab some breakfast before exams, okay?" Evan said playing every part of a good boyfriend. "Sounds good. Night baby." Max said, the sleep slipping into his voice ever so slightly. "Night babe. Sweet dreams." Evan said his own weariness taking control of his body. The call was ended and Evan put his phone on his charger and curled up into his comforters, letting the sleep take him wherever it would lead him. The next morning seemed as normal as ever, but with a heavy sky of dark clouds warning of impending rain. Evan picked up Max at the usual time and took him to a coffee house not far from their school. They talked and laughed, but were careful not to get too affectionate for of being seen by fellow students. After talking, coffee, and blueberry scones they decided they should leave before their finals began without them. They parked as the first clap of thunder sounded around the town followed by a gust of wind. The rain began to fall softly, and then almost pelting them. Both boy's shared a quick kiss in the rain before running into the building. "Damn, I've gotta grab something from my locker. Wait for me?" Max said. Evan just nodded and smiled after the boy began walking into a crowd of students. Max walked into the sea of students crowding where his locker was, some of the students were pointing and whispering while other donned a mortified look on their faces. One of the girls he knew from one of his classes mouthed the words 'I'm so sorry'. He smiled at her but when he realized what she said the smile faded quickly and faced the spectacle that had attracted the students. The word 'fag' was spray painted across his locker in large letters. His reaction got a few laughs from some insensitive jerks, he backed away slowly as tears began to form in his eyes, he turned back down the hall and broke off into a run past Evan, who was very confused. Evan ran and pushed his way through the crowd of students and saw what Max had seen. That instant Evan saw red and became angry. "Who did this?!" Evan yelled angrily. "Come on! Who the fuck did this?!" His loud yells pulled several teachers from their classrooms who came out to see what was going on. They saw immediately what was written and began sending students off to their classrooms. "Evan, what's going on?" A woman asked. Her dark red hair and green eyes were accentuated by the black power suit she was wearing. "Ms. Spring. It's horrible, I walked in with Max and he saw this and I just, I don't know where he is." Evan said his anger had subsided into fear and sadness. There was another clap of thunder. "Evan go find him, you both can take your exams later if you need time to talk to him." Ms. Spring said. Evan looked into her eyes and saw the truth and the understanding she had. "How did you know?" Evan asked softly. "My best friend and brother when I was in college, but that doesn't matter you need to go and find him." She said rushing him off. Evan took off down the hallway and out of the building into the drenched surroundings. Evan wasn't sure where he was going but he picked a direction and followed it. He ran around building after building still not finding Max, he began to panic and tears began to form in his eyes. "Max! Max please, where are you?" Evan called out in desperation. Soaked and cold he persisted his search. Calling Max's name whenever he could. He finally came to a covered stairwell and he heard faint sniffling. "Max." He called softly. "Go away." Max said. Evan saw the boy drenched sitting under the stairwell with his arms wrapped around his knees. Evan crawled in next to him and wrapped his arm around the boy. Max began to fight against him, but due to Evan's football history he wasn't letting go. Max gave up crying and began to break down even further, sobbing into Evan. "It's okay baby. Everything is gonna be okay." Evan said trying to be a assuring as possible. He couldn't help but think what people will think now that he's been dragged into this situation. He shook those thoughts off, this wasn't about him. It was about Max. Someone targeted his boyfriend and they weren't gonna get away with it. "Why? Who hates me that much to do this?" Max said in between gasps for breath. Obviously Evan had a few ideas but couldn't prove it although he was deadly certain. "I don't know, but they aren't gonna get away with this." Evan said. "This was a mistake. Us, was a mistake because of me you're gonna pulled into this. I'm sorry." Max said, he made a move to escape Evan's grip but wasn't fast enough Evan grabbed his arm, a single tear began to roll down his cheek, Evan used his thumb and gently wiped it away. He cupped the boy's face and pulled him into a deep kiss. "Max, I love you. Nothing is gonna change that. You've done things for me, you've made me understand. You've made me confront who I am and love it. You will always be loved by me, and I will always protect you. I don't care what they're gonna think. Let them! The only thing I care about is you. So don't ever feel like this is your fault because it isn't." Evan said looking Max dead in the eyes. "I love you too." Max said leaning in to kiss Evan. They broke the kiss and Max stayed in Evan's embrace. "Do you want to go home?" Evan asked. Max nodded his head his cheeks still stained with fallen tears. The rain had let up but was still falling. Evan walked the boy back to his car and placed him in the passenger side and told him he'd be right back. "Where are you going?" Max asked frightened. "I'm just going in to talk to the Dean. I'll be back soon I promise." Evan said looking into his eyes. "Okay. Hurry back." Max said. Evan walked the distance into the building and into the main office. He heard the sounds of hushed whispers and sounds coming from behind the Dean's office door. "Yes can I help you?" The secretary asked. "I need to talk to the Dean. Now." Evan said a little demanding. "I'm sorry, but he's in a meeting." She said politely. "No right now! I need to speak to him now!" Evan said his temper flaring a little bit. The secretary picked up the phone and waited a few moments. "Yes, Dean Richards. You have a student here to see you." She said softly. "I know sir, I told him but he demands to speak with you and I don't think he will leave until he does." She waited for a moment until he was done speaking. "Yes sir." She hung up the phone and looked to Evan. "He'll be right out." Evan stood and waited until a tall, skinny man about late 40's walked in. "Dean Richards." Evan asked solemnly. "Evan, what a surprise." He said feigning cheeriness. "Don't." Evan said harshly. "Is there anyway Max's exams can be tabled to a later date? I don't think he'll be able to cope with this morning's events and his exams. This has caused him a lot of stress. He's in bad shape and he's asked me to take him home." Evan said letting his guard down. "Yes, yes. I'm sorry this happened and the person or persons responsible will be dealt with to the fullest extent of my power. I will look at both of your schedules and tell the teachers." Dean Richards said. "Thank you." Evan said. He turned and walked back to his car. Without a word Evan got in, started his car and drove back to Max's house. The drive home was eerily silent and the boys never looked at each other, Evan couldn't help but feel like this was his fault. The overwhelming feeling of a paradise lost was weighing on him more with every passing second. The drive seemed to be forever until they arrived at the house. Evan noticed that his Linda's car wasn't in the driveway assuming that she wasn't home. Evan turned the car off and the boys walked up to the door. After they were inside, Max went up to his room quietly followed by Evan, the light blue walls of the room had lost their welcoming warmth and was replaced by a feeling of coldness and rejection. Max walked over to his dresser and changed out of his wet shirt and simply crawled into his bed facing away from Evan. Evan crawled into next to him and pulled the boy close to his chest, he could feel the soft heaving of Max's body that can only be associated with soft sobbing. "Hey, don't cry. You will always have me, I will always protect you. Always." Something was telling Evan that this wasn't an attack on Max, but on him. But who could have known? Did someone see him? The possibilities were swirling around his head and then every worst scenario involving his coming out played in rapid succession, back to back almost giving him a headache, he needed to get to the bottom of this before anyone else got hurt. The plot thickens friends. I wanted to thank you all for reading this chapter as well as subsequent chapters. There is a lot more to come so stay tuned, as I get ready for my own changes in life (I graduate from college in less than a month) I will try to be a current and as up to date with the chapters as I can. As always I love receiving feedback of any kind so please email me at aidendstories@gmail.com and I always respond! :)