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The contents of this story is purely fictional. The content matter of this story concerns love and may include sex between consenting males teenagers. If this is not what you like reading or it is illegal for you to read this material because of age or laws go somewhere else. This story is copyrighted by it's owner and may not be copied or published elsewhere without the owners permission.

Author's note:

Hey! Here is chapter 10. Thanks again to David my editor. Here's a link to his stories: David's stories.

Sam Lakes

SamLakes dot writer at Gmail dot com

The Greatest Gift

by Sam Lakes

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

Chapter 10

<Ethan Lewis>

I was so happy and so stuffed with pizza. It was great now that Tony and I were on good terms again. It was also so great to see Jorge and Tony all lovey-dovey. It made me smile.

“I love you two,” I said as we entered the house.

“Yeah, well, we love you; how about a movie?” asked Tony.

“Yes!” I said.

“I’ll make some popcorn,” said Jorge. I held my stomach and groaned. “Baby bro you have to have popcorn with a movie. It’s the law. Right Babe?” said Jorge.

“Right!” Tony said. “And soda!”

“I better go pee first,” I said, and went off to my bathroom.

I had no sooner washed and dried my hands after peeing when I heard both Tony and Jorge yell out, “Ethan Lewis front and center!”

“What did I do now?” I mumbled.

They were both in Jorge’s office with their arms crossed. They were trying so hard to look serious, I wasn’t too worried.

“We just talked with a former acquaintance of yours from say, July 22nd of last year. He has demanded to see you tomorrow morning at 9:00 A.M.,” said Tony.

“I have no idea of what you’re talking about.”

“Does the name Robinson ring a bell?” asked Jorge.

“Oh, yeah, the judge. He’s not really an acquaintance. I mean, I only met him once. Why does he want to see me?”

“Oh gee, I wonder,” said Tony with a sarcastic tone. “You only saved his life!”

I rolled my eyes. “He made a big deal out of nothing. He’s just trying to get publicity or something. Really, I didn’t do anything special. I threw a rock and told him to duck.”

“Damn it, Ethan! You saved his life! And if it hadn’t been for you, they wouldn’t have caught the guy who tried to shoot him!” chimed in Jorge. “And then you disappeared.”

“He put out an APB on you,” said Tony, “Only the drawing of you was pretty crappy.”

“Yeah, I saw it on TV. You have no idea how scared I was every time I saw a cruiser. I almost went back to wearing Dan’s motorcycle helmet. Talk about paranoia city! And for what? I threw a rock. Maybe the shooter would have missed the judge completely if I hadn’t thrown the rock.

“He made far too much out of it and still does. Now, can we watch a movie…how…how about ‘Dark Knight’ –,” then, in my best impression of Heath Ledger, I said, “ ‘See, I’m not a monster…I’m just ahead of the curve…’ ”

“You’re scary,” Jorge smiled. “How many times have you watched that film?”

“Lots…” still in my Joker persona, “you have all these rules…and you think that they’ll save you? He-he, he-he, he-he.”

 “Okay, okay,” laughed Tony. “We’ll watch ‘Dark Knight’ on one condition.”

“What’s that?” I giggled.

“You keep quite - no talking, no script quoting. Sit quietly and watch the movie.”

“Okay, but I get to sit between you two cuz I don’t wanna be distracted by kissing or smooching sounds.”

We watch the movie. I kept quite, but only because I fell asleep – too much pizza.

The next day started a lot better than the one before. I told the judge thank you for signing my guardianship papers. Of course he wanted to hear my whole story. I still think he was making a big deal out of nothing and politely told him so.

I finally got to school at eleven and saw Mr. Curtis. Half my classes were junior classes and the rest were senior classes. I got to see the auto mechanics teacher, Mr. Jarvis. The auto mechanics shop was a pretty nice setup. I told him about working with June Landry; she owned an auto repair shop near the apartments. She taught me a lot. Mr. Jarvis was impressed, and said I should be placed in the senior auto mechanics class. By the time we finished talking with Mr. Jarvis it was almost my lunchtime. Mr. Curtis said I needed to come back after lunch and collect my books and schedule, and that I would be assigned a ‘buddy’ to show me where things were.

I had to pee something bad so went to the restroom then made my way to the cafeteria. I got in line in the cafeteria. The guy in front of me seemed to be excited over something. “Becky, guess what! Guess what!” he exclaimed.

“What?” she asked.

“Noooo, you gotta guess.”

She rolled her eyes, “Nope. I’m not going to guess cuz you’re going to tell me anyway,” she giggled.

“I love my mom! She’s the best! I’m going to be his buddy! He’s in half my classes. Mom says he’s really smart. I was hoping he’d be in my math class cuz then he could probably help me out but mom says he’s college level math so he’s not taking senior math.”

Right away I knew he was talking about - me. He was really cute and he looked familiar but I couldn’t figure where I had seen him before. The girl looked at me and smiled. I smiled back.

“Do you think he’s cute?” she asked. I couldn’t believe she’d ask such a question.

“He’s a babe,” the boy said, and then sighed dramatically.

She laughed.

I blushed.

He turned and saw me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone blush so hard. Oh, man! He was so gorgeous.

“Hi,” I squeaked. Damn my voice still does that.

He looked at her, “You bitch!” And then he took off.

“Justin!” she called.

I wasn’t sure what to do. I didn’t want him to feel bad. I felt like I needed to do something. It was almost like Billy was inside my head shouting at me, telling me that this boy needed me and that I needed him. I looked at her. She looked upset that she had upset him. I ran off to find him, which was a pretty dumb move on my part because I didn’t know where anything was. 

After searching a few of the restrooms, I headed for the office. I don’t know why I thought he might have gone there. Except that it was his Mom’s office. If he wasn’t there, then I’d tell his mom what happened or something.

When I got to the main office I went straight in to see if Justin was in his mother’s office. I looked through the glass panel at the side of the principal’s office door. He was there and he looked like he was about to cry. My own emotions got the better of me and I opened the door without knocking or being asked to enter. Mrs. Washburn looked at me. I guess somewhat surprised. Justin looked away from me.

“Uh, hi…uh, Justin…uh…Mrs. Washburn…sorry to interrupt…I just wanted to tell Justin…uh well, it’s all right what you said…uhmm...I’m flattered and I…ah…well…” I could feel myself blushing. I peeked at him and he was looking at me, “I…I think you’re a babe too…well, you know…ah…cute.”

Mrs. Washburn was smiling and so was Justin. Me? I think I was still blushing because my face felt hot and my heart rate felt like it was going through the roof.

“Well, it’s lunchtime and I think you two boys should go and eat,” Mrs. Washburn said.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said.

Justin and I left for the cafeteria.

“Thanks,” he said.

“For what?”

“For uh, you know, saying what you said.” He blushed.

I wanted to tell him I had to say it because I felt Billy’s presence, and it was like Billy said that was the one I had been hoping to meet. But I didn’t. It was probably just my imagination anyway. So, instead, I said, “You’re welcome.”

“Did you mean it?”

I blushed. “Yeah. You’ve got really nice eyes – nice green eyes. Your eyes are so unusual…not in a bad way…a beautiful way.”

We got our food, and Justin lead the way to a table where his friends were.

“Hey guys! This is Ethan Lewis. Ethan, that’s Jerome Johnson, next to him is Marlene Sparrow, then there is Alicia Forrester, Alexia Marsh and finally Becky Monroe.”

“Hi,” I said.

“Okay, Ethan, what’s the real story about the handcuffs? We’ve all heard Justin’s version,” Alicia asked.

“It’s pretty stupid. I was nervous and I was playing around with the cuffs and cuffed myself not realizing that Tony didn’t have the key.”

“Who’s Tony?” asked Alicia.

“My temporary guardian until my guardians return from their honeymoon,” I answered, and then took a bite of my salad.

“Why do you have guardians? Did your parents kick you out?” asked Jerome.

“It’s a long story but the short version is the state requires you to have a guardian if you’re a minor. I’m an orphan, my parents died in a plane crash when I was eleven.”

“Oh, sorry,” he said.

“Sookay,” I said. There was not really much I could say. I had gotten over their deaths a long time ago…I didn’t have much time to dwell on it. I had to survive, and that’s what I did.

“So you’re like a superhero, at least that’s what Justin told us,” said Alexia.

I looked at Justin; he was blushing and said, “Well, you are. I mean you saved Judge Robinson’s life. It was all over the news and you disappeared. That’s what superheroes do, right?”

“I didn’t disappear…I had to get…home.” I really didn’t want to get into what had happened and why. People tend to blow the whole thing out of proportion. “Anyway, I have to get back to the office and get my schedule,” I said as I got up to leave.

Justin followed me.

“You pissed with me?” he asked.

I stopped and turned to face him. I found it hard not to stare. If I had been pissed, I wasn’t any more. We stood staring at each other. My heart rate was skyrocketing again. It seemed as if time were standing still, but yet it also seemed like an eon had passed before I said, “No,” and quickly turned back towards the office. I could feel myself blushing. God! What is wrong with me! He looks at me and I blush. I hope he didn’t notice…Of course he noticed! I was only a few feet…inches from him. I’m still blushing! Escape! A door! A restroom! I went in.

He didn’t follow. Thank God! And then it became clear why he didn’t follow: a girl exited a stall. She looked at me. I know I turned scarlet. I exited the room and ran! I was so embarrassed…I heard Justin calling me, but I  couldn’t stop…I am such a fuck up! I kept running…across streets, down alleyways. I had no idea where I was or where I was going…I didn’t even see the car until it was too late…

I heard the squealing of brakes. I felt an impact and the sensation of flying through the air. I hit the pavement. I think I fainted, which probably made everything seem worse than it was. When I came to, I was looking into a familiar face.

I smiled. “We really have to stop meeting like this,” I said.

He smiled…I stared…Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me, but he sort of looked like Justin, only older. He had said something. I didn’t hear it; I had been preoccupied with him looking like Justin.

“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. What did you say?”

“Just lie still. The paramedics are on their way,” he said.

“I think I’m all right,” I said as I started to move.

He gently laid his hand on my chest, “Please lie still until they check you out.”

I heard sirens approaching.

“I’m really sorry. I wasn’t paying attention. I’m sorry,” I said. “I am such a fuck up. Sorry I shouldn’t use that word. You look like Justin. He’s a boy at school. He probably thinks I’m weird. Well, I am…weird.” I was rambling, but lucky for me, a paramedic interrupted.

They insisted I go to the hospital. I didn’t really have a choice. I guess it was because my arm hurt a little bit.

As they were putting me into the ambulance, I saw a policeman talking to the man that looked like Justin. I yelled, “It wasn’t his fault! I wasn’t paying attention. I ran in front of him.” I was really worried that they’d give him a ticket or arrest him or something bad. “It wasn’t his fault!” I repeated loudly.

The policeman came over to the ambulance. “It’s okay son. I know it wasn’t his fault. I’ve notified Detective Briscoe and he’s on his way to the hospital.”

Tony was there when they took me out of the ambulance. He looked worried.

“I’m okay. My arm hurts a bit but otherwise I’m okay,” I said.

“Why weren’t you in school?” he asked.

I blushed. “I’m such a dork…he probably thinks I hate him…I got really embarrassed and then I went into the girls‘ restroom! I was even more embarrassed when I came out because there was a girl in there. I saw Justin and I felt so stupid and I ran…”

“He probably thinks I’m a complete dork and totally weird. Well, I am weird. I mean really weird! I think I’m going insane, Tony, because the guy that hit me looks like Justin! Well, not exactly, but probably what Justin will look like when he’s old. I’ve seen him before I didn’t think he looked like Justin then…In fact I always seem to meet him when I have an accident. That’s weird too, don’t you think? Tony, it wasn’t his fault; it was my fault.”

They took me to get x-rays. Tony was going to stay in the waiting room. “Tony, if the man that looks like Justin comes here, tell him I’m really sorry I ruined his day.”

They found out my arm was fractured, and while they were fixing it up Jorge and Tony walked in.

“You okay, baby bro?” Jorge asked.

“Yeah, I guess. I feel like such an idiot.”

“You are,” Jorge laughed, and then, out of the blue, he said, “You like Justin, don’t you.”

Blush.  Blush. Blush. 

Tony laughed.

“Well?” asked Jorge.

I nodded.

“So, why did you run away from him?”

“I didn’t know what to say and I got embarrassed. I mean, you don’t tell a guy you just met that you think he’s the most beautiful guy you’ve ever seen and you think you’re falling in love with him.”

“Yeah, but next time…don’t run so fast,” said Tony, “And by the way, Mr. Washburn did stop by to check on you…I gave him your message.”

“Mr. Washburn?” I asked.

“Yes,” smiled Tony, “You know husband of Anna Washburn and father of Justin Washburn, which might explain why he looks like Justin. He’s also sort of my surrogate dad.”

I didn’t know what to say. It was just too weird.

“Close your mouth, Baby Bro, you’ll catch flies,” Jorge laughed.

I did…close my mouth…not catch flies.

“He also told me that Justin was very upset, and blames himself for your accident,” Tony added.

“But it wasn’t his fault; it was my fault. It was me being stupid. You’ve got to tell him that!”

“’Fraid not! That’s for you to do…after all, he’s your crush,” Tony said. “I told Josh, that’s Mr. Washburn to you, that you wouldn’t agree with that, and he suggested that we let you two argue it out yourselves tonight at dinner. We are going to meet them at the Olive Garden.”

“I can’t go. I feel like such a dork!” I said.

“Oh, so you’re just going to let poor Justin sulk in his guilt for causing you perilous bodily harm while you sit at home.”

“Jorge, you could tell him it was my fault. Please…” I begged.

“Yeah, Baby Bro, glad to do anything for my baby bro…Of course, Justin will think you hate him and never want to see him again…poor, heartbroken Justin.” Jorge sighed dramatically.

The idea of Justin stewing in the depths of depression over unjustified guilt was too much for me, and I agreed to go.

<Justin Washburn>

Oh God, he’s pissed at me. He called me a babe, but maybe he’s not gay and was just trying to be nice to me. He’s probably guessed that I have a huge crush on him and it’s pissing him off cuz he’s not gay.

“You’re pissed with me,” I said.

Ethan stopped, turned and faced me. Ohmigod, he is so gorgeous. We stood there staring at each other for several minutes. I didn’t know what to say cuz all I wanted to do was kiss him. I wondered what he was thinking, and then he said, “No.” But then, he turned and headed for the office. I think he was blushing. Then he walked right into the girls’ restroom.

I, in the meantime, was thinking how cute he was when he blushed, and I wondered what he was blushing about. Maybe he felt the same as I felt. I couldn’t help smiling at that. I must have had the biggest grin on my face when he came out of the restroom.

Damn me and my fantasies! He must have believed I thought it was funny that he went into the girl’s restroom, because he blushed even harder and ran off. I chased after him, but he was way faster than me, and I lost him.

I am such a screw up! Mom will probably be pissed with me. I was supposed to make sure Ethan was happy here and got to his classes and had a friend. Some friend I turned out to be.

I slowly walked back to school, walked into Mom’s office, and sat down.

“Your father forgot to pick me up for lunch and drop me off at the service center to collect my car. This means dinner will be late tonight,” Mom said.

“That’s not like him,” I commented.

“No, it’s not like him,” she said. “So, where’s Ethan?”

“He ran away,” I replied,

“He what! Oh, Justin!” she said. She was angry, but quickly became a mom when she saw the tears rolling down my cheeks.

I cried my way through telling her what happened. I was sure it was my fault, and that Ethan hated me.

“Mrs. Washburn, your husband is on line one,” Mom’s secretary interrupted.

Mom picked up the phone. “Hi, hon, did you forget? Oh! Omigod! Is he okay? What! Did you say Ethan Lewis? Yes, I know him. He’s a student here. How is he? Okay call me from the hospital.”

I think my heart stopped when I heard the word, ‘hospital’.

“Mom, what happened?” I demanded.

“Ethan apparently ran in front of your father’s car. Your father couldn’t stop in time, and hit Ethan. Luckily, Ethan didn’t seem to be badly injured and kept telling everyone it was his fault. They’re taking him to the hospital to check him out. Your dad is going to the hospital to make sure everything is okay.”

Mom insisted I go to class. I went, but my mind was elsewhere. I think for the first time in my life I hated that I was gay because none of this would have happened if I’d been straight. I wouldn’t have over-stepped Ethan’s boundaries and he wouldn’t have run off. It was my fault plain and simple. I doubt that he’ll ever speak to me again.

For the second time in my life, I felt lost and alone, just like when Billy died.

How I got through the rest of the day, I don’t know. Mom said that Dad had called, and that Ethan was doing fine. The only thing they found was that his arm was fractured. It still didn’t make me feel any better. It was still all my fault.

When Dad got home, he told us he had met Tony at the hospital. Dad thought it was funny how Ethan referred to him as ‘the man who looks like Justin.’ Anyway, we’re going out to eat with Tony, Jorge and Ethan. I told Dad I didn’t want to go because Ethan probably hates me. It was entirely my fault that he was hurt.

Dad rested his arms on my shoulders, looked at me softly and said, “Justin, regardless of who is at fault, a friend never walks out on someone who needs him. If there is one thing I know, it’s that Ethan needs you as a friend. If you really love him you won’t abandon him.”

The one thing I knew was that I really did love Ethan Lewis…I could never abandon him.

Comments welcomed - So what do you think? Love to get feedback from you.

sam lakes