Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:07:26 -0800 (PST)
From: Aaron Hull <wah.stories@yahoo.com>
Subject: One or the Other: Chapter Twelve

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	This is my first story that has chapters! My other stories are
Hayden's Story and Gavin's Got Game, they're here under the High School
section. If you like this story then you should check them out because
there are some similarities except this one doesn't have sex. So if that's
what you were looking for I'm sorry. My shorter stories may have sex but
this story will contain no sex, there may be references to sex, but I will
not go into detail.
	If you like this story, contact me at wah.stories@yahoo.com. I
strongly encourage it. Also, If you want to be on my e-mail list to find
out when the next chapter comes out, please include that in the email!

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-Mason's perspective-

	The hardest thing in life was not running over to Spencer as the
ambulance men picked him up and kissing him and holding him and
just...showing him how much I care for him. I know I should have, but I
just...everyone would have found out.

	"Dude!" Tyler said. "What if they found out it was you?" I looked
over to see he was talking to Jordan.

	"You did that to him?" I asked.

	Jordan smiled a little. Thankfully Megan wasn't around because I'm
sure she would have killed him. "The little shit ran into me when I was
talking to someone so I put the fag in his place. He tried apologizing but
I didn't give a fuck. Drug him by his collar and beat the shit out of him
by the dumpsters. I didn't mean to knock the little bitch out but I guess
that works too."

	"You know if Megan-"

	"Any of you assholes tell Megan and I'll make sure your ass is
next. I ain't losin' Megan because of that fag." Tyler and I didn't say
anything.

	When we got back to class, Jordan asked me if I would like to go to
his place to smoke some, I declined and told him my dad would have my ass
if I wasn't home soon. He believed me even though he has met my father and
knows how nice he is.

	I ran to my car and got in. I drove to the nearest parking lot. I
cried and cursed and told myself it was all my fault. I kept saying I could
have done something, anything, to save Spencer and I didn't. I knew I had
nothing to do with it, but I knew I could have done something.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

-Daniel's perspective-

	I couldn't help myself. All I could do was cry. Spencer was laying
in Lizzie's arms unconscious. I was crying on Kurt's shoulder. Macy had the
other one. I looked down at Trey and saw him sitting there next to Spencer
with this lost look. He looked like he had lost everything in his life.

	After everyone had left, Macy, Kurt, and I got up and headed back
to our individual classes. We met back up at the front door. Today Macy's
brother was taking Kurt and me home. When we got in his car though, Macy
told her brother to drop her at our house. Max, her brother, knew about
Spencer and knew he was close to us so he didn't argue with her.

	Max dropped us off, but before he left, he made sure he gave Macy a
huge-ass hug. When we got inside, Dad was drinking. He slurred out "Where
have you guys been? You're late."

	"Something happened at school and we had to stay longer. Sorry."
Kurt said.

	"It's okay with me. Mom ain't happy though. She thinks you all are
out doing something you shouldn't." Dad occasionally talks about Mom as if
she were here when he's drunk. Each time he does I can feel the hole in my
heart getting better. "She wanted me to tell you that dinner will be done
soon." Dad then went back to drinking and watching the game on the TV. Macy
had been over enough times to know our dad is a heavy drinker so she wasn't
as scared as most would be.

	Kurt and I enter our room, we have shared a room our whole lives
and never really wanted to get out own rooms. When Mom was still around we
thought about it but after she died we decided neither of us ever wanted to
be alone.

	"Do you think he'll be okay?" Macy asked.

	"He should be." Kurt said. "I just hope he wasn't there for too
long."

	"I swear if I find out who it is..." Macy's voice trailed off.

	"We need to get our minds off of that." Kurt said. "I'm sure
Spencer wouldn't like it if we sat here and moped over what happened to
him."

	"You would be disappointed if we didn't." Macy said, trying to make
us smile.

	She was able to get Kurt to smile; I still felt dead inside. "Y'all
better cry like babies when I go. And you better be single for the rest of
your life." He said to Macy. "I better not hear that you replaced my ass."

	"There is no one in this world as dumb and as weird as you are,
babe." She smiled.

	Kurt hugged her. "Thanks, babe. No one is as bitchy and as fat as
you are."

	Macy giggled. "You're the best."

	"I know I am." Kurt said. "Hey Daniel! I don't want you replacing
me either."

	I tried to say something but couldn't. I opened my mouth once more
to try to say something and began crying uncontrollably. Kurt held me again
while I cried. Macy hugged me from behind. I felt horrible.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

-Mason's perspective-

	"Don't worry baby, we're almost there." My mom said. I was in the
passenger seat of her car crying, not as hard as earlier though. Once I was
able to pull myself together I slowly drove home. Right as I got out of the
door the tears came back. I ran inside and found my mom in the kitchen
making dinner. She started off asking what took me so long but when she saw
me crying she dropped the plate and ran over to me. She held me and asked
me what was wrong. When I was able to tell her everything, even the part
about Jordan, she dragged me out to her car and asked me which hospital he
was in.

	"Thanks, Mom." I said.

	"No need to thank me. I know how much he means to you and as a
mother it's my duty to keep you happy."

	I smiled a little bit. "I love you. You're the best mom ever."

	"Now that statement I'm okay with hearing." Since we were at a red
light she turned and smiled at me. "I love you too, Mason."

	We were only on the road for about another five minutes before we
reached the hospital. While walking in my mom got a call from Dad, he found
the plate on the floor and thought something had happened, she told me to
go on while she talked to Dad outside.

	"I'm looking for Spencer McAlister." I told the nurse at the front
desk. She looked up at me and rolled her eyes when she noticed I was a high
school student.

	"Just a minute." She started typing on her computer. "He's recently
been put here so I'm going to have to go find his doctor. I'll be back."
She got up and left. I think she mumbled something under her breathe about
teenagers being stupid.

	"Who are you?" I turned to see a short, blonde haired woman. You
could tell she had been crying.

	"I'm Mason. Mason Glover."

	"Why are you looking for my son?"

	It took a minute for it to register. This was Spencer's mom! "I'm a
friend of Spencer's. When I got home and told my mom about what happened we
immediately came here. I would have been here earlier Mrs. McAlister but I
couldn't think clearly knowing Spencer was hurt. I'm sorry."

	"Don't be sorry. Spencer deserves friends like you." She smiled a
little bit. She then hugged me even though I was basically a stranger to
her at the moment. "His own damn sister hasn't even shown up. She's too
busy with her boyfriend."

	"I'm sorry Mrs. McAlister."

	"Mason. Is everything okay?" My mom said as she walked up to the
counter.

	"Yeah. Mom, I'd like you to meet Spencer's mom."

	"It's nice to meet you. I'm sorry about your son." My mom said.

	"Thank you, from the few things I've heard, he should be okay."

	"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but the doctor has said he is now
allowed to have visitors." The nurse said as she re-entered the lobby.

	"How many are allowed back at a time?" Mrs. McAlister asked.

	"We only allow three at a time and the girl that came with him is
already back there so one of you will stay here."

	"I'll stay behind." My mom said. "You two know him better than I
do."

	"She's coming with us. I'm sorry but he's my son and I don't give a
rat's ass about what you guys say when it comes to who is allowed to see my
baby." Mrs. McAlister then walked in through the double doors, my mom and I
followed. The nurse stood there with a pissed-off look.

	When we got to his room, we saw Lizzie sitting in the chair beside
him. She was holding his hand and talking to him. "Lizzie?" Mrs. McAlister
said. Lizzie looked up. "You should go call your parents sweetie. They are
probably worried sick about you." Lizzie didn't say a word. She got up and
crossed the room to give Mrs. McAlister a hug, she then left.

	My mom and I decided it would be best if we let Spencer's mom see
him first. Thankfully the hospital was able to get the word "FAG!" off his
forehead. That would have killed her. She walked over to where Lizzie was
sitting and sat down. She then started to cry as she saw her son covered in
bruises and scars.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

-Daniel's perspective-

	"What should we do?" Macy asked.

	"I'm not sure. Maybe we should take him to see Spencer." Kurt
replied.

	"Your dad is drunk though and Max will be pissed if I call him and
ask him. He just gave us a ride here."

	"Well he's not going to get any better. Anyways it would be best if
we were all there for him. He's our best friend."

	"I'll call Jessie and see if there's any way her mom could take
us. If I know her then she's probably getting ready to head over there."

	I was lying on my bed in the fetal position, facing away from Kurt
and Macy. I was thinking about what had happened to Spencer. I wanted to be
by his side. That's what you're supposed to do when you love someone.

	Thinking about what could happen to Spencer scares me. I just keep
thinking something bad is going to happen and I'll lose him forever. I know
he's not mine, but the thought that I have never really been able to show
Spencer how much I love him scares me. I'm even scared to blink because
each time I do I see Lizzie holding Spencer and crying.

	I felt a hand on my side. "Come on. Jessie is going to pick us up
to take us to the hospital. She'll be here any minute." Macy said.

	I got up off the bed and followed Kurt and Macy out of the room and
out of the house. Dad was shouting at us, thinking it was Mom going to the
store to get some groceries. He wanted her to pick up some more beer since
his darn sons were drinking it all up on him. I felt a twinge of pain from
him bringing up Mom. Most kids would feel insulted from hearing their dad
saying they've been stealing beer, but he only does that when he's
drunk. The few times he's sober he actually admits he has a drinking
problem and knows that Kurt and I are good kids.

	"Are you going to be okay?" Kurt asked me. He wrapped his arm
around my shoulders.

	All I did was grunt. Kurt then pulled me closer into him. I could
see a tear in his eye. I knew that what happened to Spencer got to him, but
I think I'm partly the reason for him crying this time. Kurt is protective
of me and knows how much this hurts me.

	When Jessie and her mom finally arrived in their van, we saw that
Trey was with them as well. It was obvious that all of them had been
crying. "I'm so sorry about Spencer. I know you guys have been friends for
a long time." Jessie's mom said.

	For the first few minutes of the ride it was quiet. Then Kurt
started to talk. "So, how is Dusty enjoying California?"

	"He likes it so far. He recently got a job at the local
McDonalds. Right now he is at work, he tried getting out but they said if
he left then he would be fired. He'll be over in about two hours and will
probably stay as long as he can. He really cares about you guys even though
he hasn't been here long."

	"That's great. He's always welcome to hang out with us." Kurt said.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

	"We're looking for Spencer McAlister." Kurt said as we approached
the nurse's desk. The woman rolled her eyes and mumbled something under her
breath about more people worked to the bone.

	"There are already three people back there. I will go back there
and check with his mom to see what she wants." The nurse then left. The six
of us: me, Kurt, Macy, Trey, Jessie, and her mom; went and sat down to
wait.

	While we were sitting there, we caught sight of Lizzie. "Lizzie!"
Jessie shouted as she stood up.

	Lizzie looked over. She started running and Jessie ran toward her,
they embraced and exchanged a kiss; it was like Lizzie had just come back
from war and Jessie was sitting here waiting for her all these years.

	"Is Spencer all right?" Jessie asked.
	"He's still unconscious." I could see tears in Lizzie's eyes.
	"Excuse me." The nurse said. All of us turned towards her. We saw
Spencer's mom and some strange woman with her.

	"Two of you can go back there now." Mrs. McAlister said.

	Everyone looked at either me or Trey. "I think you and Trey should
go." Kurt said to me. Everyone else there started to agree with him. I
looked over to Trey and saw him nod his head.

	We both started to walk back there, the nurse was leading the
way. Even though there was obvious friction between me and Trey, we were
able to walk side by side without the slightest sign of hatred.

	When we got to the room, the nurse opened the door and ushered us
in. Mason was in the room. He had tears in his eyes. He was sitting in the
chair next to Spencer's bed. I heard him whispering something to
Spencer. He stopped when he saw us. "Oh. I didn't know you all would be
here. I guess I'll get going." He then stood up.

	"No. Stay here." Trey said. "All he does is talk about you. You're
probably like one of his newest best friends. You deserve to stay here."
Hearing Trey say that almost made me tear up. I had yet to look at
Spencer. I knew the minute I saw him I would cry and I didn't want to do
that with a crowd around.

	"What about everyone else?" Mason asked. "I'm sure they'll want to
see him."

	"I can't stay long. So they'll come when either Daniel or I
leaves."

	Mason sat back down. "If you say so."

	Trey and I then walked over to Spencer. I still didn't see his
face. I was only looking at his hand. I grabbed it and stroked the back of
it. I decided that now was the best time to really look at Spencer. When I
saw the wounds on his face, tears started to stream down my face. I was
holding back the endless flow of tears that were about to burst out.

	Trey bent over and kissed Spencer on his forehead, Spencer's lips
were in bad condition. Trey then whispered, "I love you." He then started
to tear up. He turned and left the room without saying anything. I looked
over at Mason and he shrugged.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

-Mason's perspective-

	Daniel and I are the only ones sitting in here right now. Each of
his friends have come in to sit for a while, but left a little
after. Lizzie came back in and told me and Daniel that they were going to
get something to eat some place down the road. She invited both of us to
come along, but we declined. She looked at Spencer before she walked out of
the room, you could see the pain in her eyes.

	At one point the nurse came in and checked on how he was
doing. Daniel and I sat there and stared at her; hoping she'd tell us how
he was doing. "He's doing great." She said with a smile. "I know I
shouldn't be telling this to you all but he should be awake soon. He won't
be back at school the rest of this week or the next one though. He only has
to stay here for about two of those days. He'll need time to rest and the
doctors want to monitor him for the first few days while he's on this
medicine."

	"Thank you." Daniel said.

	"Don't tell anyone I told you all this. I'm only supposed to tell
his mother. You two seem sweet though since you've been here almost all
day." She turned to leave. "By the way visitation ends in a few hours and
only family members are allowed to stay. I've already tried talking his
doctor into letting some of his friends stay but he said no. Come by after
school tomorrow and I'll sneak you guys back here." She smiled and
left. I'm glad she's Spencer's nurse. She doesn't seem like a total bitch.

	"Mason?" Daniel said. I looked up at him.

	"Yeah?"

	"How come you act like you don't know Spencer in school but outside
of there and away from your friends you act like he's your best friend?"

	"I'm scared. Izzy and Jordan would insult me every day of my life
if they knew I was around Spencer. It's happened before and I don't want it
to happen again."

	"So? If you're Spencer's real friend then you would tell those
morons to fuck off."

	"I can't. They're my friends too."

	"But they treat you like shit and use you. Trust me. Megan used to
talk to us and we saw how Jordan and all those other jocks and preps act."

	"I honestly don't care if they use me."

	"As long as you're popular, right?" I didn't respond. "I think you
don't give a fuck about Spencer. You're just trying to get him to trust you
so shit like this can happen more often."

	That really pissed me off. I stood up and ran around the bed to
where Daniel was; I would have jumped over Spencer but I didn't want him to
hurt anymore than he already is if I tripped. I grabbed Daniel by the
collar. "Listen here you little shit. I fucking love Spencer. I would do
anything for him and I'm not going to let you ruin what I have with
him. Even though he can't be my boyfriend, I will do anything to keep what
we have. If you do manage to get Spencer to hate me I swear I will kick
your ass."

	I let go of his collar and he fell back into his seat. He still had
anger in his eyes so my threat didn't work. He was staring right into my
eyes. "If you loved him you would come out. He deserves someone who doesn't
care what the world thinks."

	I stared right back into his. "If you loved him you would stop
treating him like a five-year-old. Last time I checked he's not."

	I walked out of the room and sat right next to the door. I put my
head in my hands and sighed. I wanted to scream but that wouldn't go down
so well since I was in a hospital and I didn't want to leave Spencer alone.

	When I calmed down I walked back in and Daniel still glared at
me. Neither of us said a word; we just sat there. Eventually Spencer's mom
came in. She told us that they brought us food and we had to go out to the
lobby to get it and then go to the cafeteria to eat it. We both refused,
but nicely. She smiled and handed me a note from my mom. "She told me to
give that to you if you said no."

	I read over it and gulped. I got up and headed towards the
door. "Come on, Daniel. We have to eat. Spencer would hate to find out he's
the reason we starved ourselves." Daniel got up and followed me out.

	My mom greeted us with two boxes of pizza when we walked into the
lobby. "I know you boys must be hungry. It's not like teenage boys to go
any amount of time without something being shoved into their mouths."

	"Thank you Mrs. Glover." Daniel said.

	"Thanks Mom." I hugged her.

	Both Daniel and I each took one pizza and went down a different
hall to the cafeteria. Lizzie and the rest of Spencer's friends were
sitting at a table so Daniel went over and sat with them. I on the other
hand sat by myself at a table far off from them.

	I had one piece of pizza gone when Macy walked over to where I was
sitting. "You're allowed to sit with us. We don't mind."

	"I'd rather not. Daniel doesn't really like me and I'm sure the
rest of you would rather have me by myself anyway."

	"Well then I guess I'll have to sit over here with you." Macy
pulled out the chair across from me and sat down. "You know Spencer really
cares about you and when he wakes up he'll be happy to know you're here."

	"Thanks." I continued to eat. I was hoping my lack of contributing
to the conversation and lack of emotion would get her to leave me
alone. But she didn't stop.

	"You really need to hang out with us instead of those idiots you
usually hang out with. I mean like, we're one thousand times better. And
you'd be the sexiest guy in the group. You're already the sexiest guy in
your clique right now but if you're with us then the margin between you and
the second sexiest guy in the group will be a lot bigger."

	"Thanks."?

	"We also hang out all the time and have sleepovers and shit. Last
time we were at my place, we had a huge-ass fire going and we were all
having a kick-ass time. Speaking of asses, Kurt nearly broke his last
time."

	"Cool."

	"You should know by now that I'm a girl and I will go on and on
even if you don't talk back." I looked up at her and she was smiling.

	"Fine. Why are you over here when your friends are over there?"

	"Because, you seem like a nice guy who doesn't deserve to be
lonely."

	"I'm a jock. So I'm an asshole."

	"Well Spencer wouldn't like being around you if you were an
asshole. He loves hanging out with you, all he does when he comes over
after he's been hanging out with you is go on and on about how awesome you
are."

	I finally smiled. "Really?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

-Daniel's perspective-

	Macy is sitting with Mason and it seems like they are getting
along. I'm sitting with Kurt, Jessie, Lizzie, Trey, and Dusty. Dusty was
finally able to come over here. I don't think he has been back to see
Spencer yet.

	"Are you okay?" Kurt asked me. We really haven't seen each other
much since we've gotten to the hospital. I've been back with Spencer the
whole time and Kurt was only back there for about five minutes before he
left.

	"Yeah. Why do you ask?"

	"You were a total wreck when we picked you up." Jessie said. "It
looked like you were dead inside."

	"I was just worried. I now know that Spencer will be okay so I'm
not as scared as I was when I had no clue what would happen."

	"Are you going to school tomorrow?" Kurt asked the group of us.

	"My mom told me I don't have to so I'm sure as hell staying here."
Lizzie said.

	"I'm going to go, it'll suck knowing that Spencer is here." Jessie
said.

	"I'm going too." Trey said.

	"I have to go or else I won't be able to go to work." Dusty said.

	They all then looked at me. "I guess I'll go. Hannah will be pissed
if I don't go."

	Kurt then laughed a little. "You know what's funny? We all know you
fucking love Spencer but you're putting Hannah before him right now. You
could have said anything else but you say `because Hannah will be pissed.'
If I were you I'd let her get pissed. She knows you're here right now and
she knows how much Spencer means to you but yet her ass is out with her
other friends. Do you really think she gives a fuck about how you feel?" He
then got up and went and sat with Macy and Mason.

	"Wow." Lizzie said. "I actually kinda agree with him on the whole
Hannah thing. If she cared about you she'd be here comforting you. Jessie
came for me and Trey came for Spencer. She's the only one who didn't come
to make sure both you and Spencer were okay."

	"Let me call her." I got up and left the cafeteria. I didn't even
eat a slice of pizza. Mason's mom was standing there. She pointed right
back toward the cafeteria. "I have to call someone." She nodded her head
and let me step out.

	I dialed Hannah's number. It took her a while, but she finally
answered. "Hey babe!"

	"Where are you?"

	"Home. Why?"

	"You should be here with the rest of us."

	"What are you talking about?"

	"Remember earlier? Spencer was found unconscious behind the
dumpsters? He was taken to the hospital and we all came here to be with
him?"

	"Oh yeah! I almost forgot about that. You have Kurt and the others
babe, right now I'm like really really busy."

	"Oh yeah?"

	"Yeah."

	Right now I was highly pissed. "What could be more important than
visiting one of your friends in the hospital?"

	"I have Algebra homework and like I have to remember this routine
for tomorrow's game."

	"Oh that makes perfect sense." I said sarcastically.

	"What's your problem?" She asked. I think she could hear my
sarcasm.

	"There's nothing wrong with me, but there's a lot wrong with
you. I'm sorry but it's over. You're an inconsiderate, stuck-up bitch who
puts herself before the rest of the world."

	"You're breaking up with me?! Through a fucking phone call?!"

	"I guess so." I then hung up before she could say anything. I was
actually smiling now. It felt like all the weight of the world was lifted
off my shoulders. I was also now free to go after Spencer. The only person
who is in my way now is Trey.

	Mason's mom then ran out the doors, she looked excited. "He's
waking up!"

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	Every time I read a story of Nifty, I never read the top part, so
just in case you are like me and only read the bottom portion if you liked
the story, here is my email again: wah.stories@yahoo.com. Also, if you want
to be on my email list to find out when new chapters come out, include that
in your email. AND if you email me, please state what story you're
referring to. Thanks for reading the twelfth chapter of my story.
	I'd also like to give thanks to my editor, John. He's like majorly
epic and catches my mistakes. I make a lot of them so he deserves as much
credit as I do for getting this chapter out. And check out Hayden's Story
and Gavin's Got Game, they're here in the High School section, if you like
this story.
	Also, I want this story to be somewhat interactive, where yo tell
me what you'd like to see happen next. There are no guarantees if it will
make it, but there are possibilities. I already have some things planned
out, but most are too obvious. I need you al to help me think of new things
that no other story has.

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