Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 07:55:37 -0700 (PDT) From: Drizzt DoUrden Subject: Ups and Downs - Chapter 3 DISCLAIMER: Standard disclaimers apply. If you are underage (18 or 21, depending) and/or are offended by mature themes including consensual sexual contact between teen males, then DO NOT continue. This work is entirely fictional and any resemblances to persons either living or dead, is entirely coincidental. If you wish to reprint this story, just drop me an email letting me know where, and make sure you give me (Menzo) credit. Feel free to give me criticism; my writing is far from perfect! Comments are very much appreciated, so please drop me a quick email at menzoberranzen_of_the_drow@yahoo.com ~Menzo I also post this story on GayAuthors.org, so please check it out here: http://www.gayauthors.org/eficiton/viewstory.php?sid=322 ********************************************************************* 'It is not the rich man you should properly call happy, but him who knows how to use with wisdom the blessings of the gods, to endure hard poverty, and who fears dishonor worse than death, and is not afraid to die for cherished friends...' ~Horace, Odes I was lying in my room, trying to digest the change of this last week, when I heard a gentle knock on the door. "Come in," I said unenthusiastically. "Hey Fyr." It was Kale, and I couldn't help but smile, despite my reservations about moving in with his family. It was a mark of their desperation, I think, that they allowed their son's boyfriend whom they have never met before, to move in. "Hi K," I replied with a warm smile. He lay down on the bed beside me and wrapped his arms around me. We lay there cuddling until a formal, sharp knock on the door interrupted our tender moment. "Come in," I sighed, disentangling myself from Kale. He removed his arms from around me but made no move to get off the bed. "Hello Fyr," said a familiar voice. "Hello..." "Dave," he supplied. "Right," I said, nodding in recognition. "So, have you given our proposal any more consideration?" Kale turned to look at me and I gave him a reassuring smile before responding. "I have," I said simply. "And..." "And I'm afraid I cannot accept it. Thanks for the offer though, it was very kind of you." "Why don't you want to come live with us? I think we would be well suited to your needs." His blunt manner reminded me of a child and I was unsure what it meant. "I'm sure you would," I said, politely but with a hint of sarcasm. "But I've already decided where I'm going to live." "That's not confirmed, though, is it?" "Who told you that?" I asked, annoyed. Who the hell was he to try and pressure me? "The adoption coordinator did. She said you might be going to live with your boyfriend and his family." "He is," Kale interjected. "My parents have already agreed to it, it is just matter of paperwork that needs to be signed." "Fyr," he persisted. "I'm really not sure it is a good idea for one so young to live with someone he is obviously infatuated with." "Enough!" I snapped. I wasn't going to take this from someone I had met only once. "Good day, Dave." "Fyr..." "Good day," I repeated firmly. My pulse was rising and I could tell things were going to get ugly if he didn't just turn around and leave. "You won't necessarily be adopted just because you and the family want it. You have to be approved by a social worker and a psychiatrist. Frankly, I think it unlikely that this will ever really happen." "Dave," I said calmly as I stood up. "Please leave." "I think that you would be happy with Caroline and myself," he maintained stubbornly. "I doubt that, given this conversation," I said dryly. "I think you will find that I can be most unpleasant when I wish to be. If you stand between me and what I want to do, I assure you that I will not make your life any easier." I think my calm, almost austere tone finally got my point across. Dave opened his mouth to speak but then shut it again. "Fine," he said at last. "But I still doubt you will be allowed to leave with him." He gestured to Kale but when he received no response from either of us, he left the room. "Fuck!" I cursed, collapsing back onto the bed. "What's wrong?" Kale asked with concern. "I dunno," I replied truthfully. "I'm just a bit overwhelmed at the moment. I mean, three weeks ago I was living off of stolen vodka. Now, I'm on my way to live with people I have never met and have no reason to trust." "You trust me?" he asked softly. "I do." "They are good people, Fyr, and you will like them, I think." "Why did you leave that all behind Kale?" I asked tentatively. Apparently he had never told anyone before and I wasn't sure he would now. Bottling up a secret so obviously traumatizing for so long could only lead to a release of pent up emotions. He looked at me for a few moments before finally speaking. "We'll talk about it when we're out of here. I...can't do it right now." His voice was toneless and his smiled looked strained. "OK," I agreed. "Come on, lets go outside." "Outside?" he questioned. "You haven't left this room for days." "Come on," I said with a broad smile. As soon as we stepped into the foyer of the main dormitory I was forcibly reminded of why I hadn't left my room. The conversation came to a halt and all eyes were on Kale and I. They invariably looked at me and then their eyes traveled down to our interlocking hands. I held my head up haughtily and walked through the crowd of people milling around. There were a few dozen people at the center and it was difficult to find any solitude even on the spacious grounds. As of yet, people had only stared and whispered behind my back during meal times but as Kale and I walked through the grounds holding hands, a few boys stopped what they were doing and, after a few whispers to one another, walked up to us. They looked to be a couple of years younger than us, but that didn't seem to deter them. They all walked with the same arrogant swagger. "Hey faggots!" called one, eliciting a laugh from his brutish compatriots. I cast a disdainful, up-and-down look over them and didn't break stride. Kale simply ignored them altogether. I hadn't expected them to leave us alone and I was secretly glad when they didn't. "Do you know what we do to faggots around here?" asked another boy, flexing his muscles. I stopped and dramatically turned my head to give them a condescending stare. "I could hazard a guess," I smirked. "I'll show you - " "No," I cut him off. "You won't. If that's everything, we'll be going." "Fyr..." said Kale warningly. I was spoiling for a fight though and hardly heard him. The largest of the three boys cursed and threw a punch at Kale, thinking him the easier of the two targets. They were obviously here for aggression issues, I noted dispassionately. Kale might have been the more tempered of us, but he knew how to hold his own. He didn't have the same fluid grace that I did, but he accepted the punch in his arm without flinching. Surprised by his opponent's lack of reaction, the large boy was caught off guard as Kale's fist plowed into his face. Despite seeing their friend so soundly pummeled, the other two felt it prudent to join in. I took a more defensive approach, preferring not to get hit at all, and lazily avoided the boy rushing me. Ignoring him, I brought my foot crashing into the stomach of the second boy running towards Kale. I just saw him fall before turning my attention back to the final standing boy. He didn't look so eager to fight, but my adrenaline was pumping and I didn't give him a chance to back down. I swung my foot low, tripping him onto his back. He struggled to get to his feet but when I placed my foot over his groin and applied some pressure he quickly thought better of it. The boy I had winded was just getting up now, but Kale quickly slammed his elbow down onto the boy's back, crumpling him. The one underneath me was the vocal one but seeing the look of detached loathing in my eyes, thought better of acting tough. He opened his mouth, most likely in an attempt to extricate himself from me, but he was cut short as a woman ran screaming towards us. "Dr. Green," I said pleasantly as she approached. "Fyr!" she yelled. "Get off of him!" I obliged, pushing down slightly before removing my foot. The boy groaned loudly but managed to rise. "What is the meaning of this?!" she asked furiously. "They were being childish and I taught them a lesson," I said at the same time Kale said "Nothing." He glared at me and I shrugged unapologetically. "All of you, into the main office immediately." "Yes ma'am," said Kale courteously. I nodded respectfully and with another contemptuous look down at my assailants, made a grand production of wiping dust of my clothes. I shook my hair out of my eyes - another exaggerated action - and started walking. Kale quickly caught up with me and I felt his hand reach down for mine. I clasped the proffered hand tightly and stopped myself from looking back. When we walked into the main office, it was empty save for a single social worker sitting at a desk. Kale dropped himself into a chair and I sat down on top of him. I must admit, I do take vindictive pleasure in flaunting my sexuality when it makes others uncomfortable. We hadn't been waiting long when the door swung open and Dr. Green stormed into the room, the three boys walking behind her. The two quiet ones averted their eyes but the other one looked deliberately into my eyes. I stared back but our silent contest was interrupted. "Boys, in here," Dr. Green ordered curtly. We all filed in slowly and took a seat in the chairs lined up in a semi-circle in front of her desk. "John, do you have something you would like to say to Fyr and Kale?" Dr. Green asked the loud boy. John looked like he would rather swallow his tongue than say anything complimentary to me but he grudgingly spoke. "I'm sorry," he apologized insincerely. "Fyr?" "That's what I call perfunctory," I said contemptuously. As expected, John furrowed his brow in confusion and the psychiatrist shook her head in exasperation. "Fyr, do you have anything to say to these boys." "No," I stated simply. "I don't believe I do." Kale stifled a snicker and Dr. Green's eyes widened slightly. I assume John and his friends must have had warnings before, because they refrained from saying anything. "Fyr!" admonished Dr. Green. "Perfunctory or not, John apologized to you." "Well bully for John," I said sarcastically. "I have nothing to apologize for." "I think you do," she said warningly. "Perhaps I do," I conceded. "However, you can't force me to be sincere in giving an apology." "You know Fyr, I am one of the people who has to sign the papers allowing for your adoption..." Now it was my eyes that widened. "You're blackmailing me?" I asked incredulously. "Fine. If it's that important that I say sorry, then I will. John, and other nameless people, I'm sorry." I didn't wait for anyone to respond, I simply walked out of the office. This was fucking unbelievable! Ignoring the shouts of Kale and Dr. Green, I stormed back to my room and slammed the door. I hated being in the center, I hated having to deal with people I neither knew nor wanted to know and most of all I hated feeling like I wasn't in control of my life. "Hi Fyr," greeted Tommy cheerfully. I ignored him and collapsed onto my bed. Thankfully nobody followed me into my room and I was able to escape to the peaceful sanctuary of sleep. ***************************************************** "Fyr, can I have a word with you?" asked Dr. Green as I cleared off my tray after breakfast. I nodded and followed her out of the cafeteria. We walked in silence to her office where she gestured for me to sit down. "About yesterday, I need you to..." "Can we not talk about that?" I interrupted. She pursed her lips but nodded. "Fine. Then lets talk about your future." "As you wish." "I heard you spoke with Dave again yesterday. What happened?" "Are you just waiting for me to tell you something you already know?" She glared at me, but chose to be polite about it. "Can't slip anything past you, can we?" "Unlike most of the people here, I am not a moron." "Why do you insist on looking down on everyone else, Fyr?" "Most of them have given me no reason not to. I don't like them and I wish to be left alone." "You know, they're not all bad people. You should try and make some friends, Fyr." "Why?" I asked. "I had a life, with friends. Real friends. I was happy, Dr., and now I'm cooped up here." "It's for your own good," she said, trying to be sympathetic. "So I've been told. When can I leave, then?" "Well, I'm still not sure going with Kale would be the best option. I think..." "Cut the crap, please," I said sarcastically. "Are you or are you not going to sign the papers?" "I am not," she responded simply. "Fine," I snapped. "Are we done here?" "No, we are not done," she said firmly. "I will, however, sign the papers for you to go with Dave and Caroline. The average stay here is almost a year, so think carefully about what you want to do." "Do you really think that forcing me into something I don't want to do is in any way, shape or form the best choice? I am a stubborn person, I know, but I will at least make the effort to live with Kale and his family. I will extend no such courtesy to Dave and Caroline. Please, Dr. I am begging you to reconsider." I wanted to vomit at my own obsequious tone, but it didn't make a difference anyway. "I will think about it, but I suggest you take Dave's offer. You will be much better off there than here. I will come find you when I have made my decision. Goodbye." "Bye," I said tersely. I already knew what she would decide, and I wasn't going to play along. There was a third option. Kale wouldn't like it, but I had to tell him first. I was an observant person and I already knew most of the details about the facility and its security. I spent the morning scoping out the grounds and making preparations. I spent the afternoon attached to Kale's hip, trying to suppress the fluttering feeling in my gut. An hour before bed-time, I drew Kale aside to a secluded spot on the grounds. "Dr. Green said that she wouldn't sign the papers..." "What?!" he exclaimed. "That is ridiculous." "Yeah, I know. But I have no real choice in the matter. She and Social Services have sole discretion as to where I live." "This is fucked up, Fyr. What am I going to do? I can't go home without you. I haven't seen these people in years, Fyr!" He was starting to panic and I didn't blame him. We had always been together, and things had always seemed less difficult if we faced them together. "You'll be fine," I said soothingly. "But I am not going to move in with someone I don't know or trust." "You can't stay here..." "I know," I said softly. His eyes widened. "NO! You can't, Fyr." "Why not?" I demanded. "I understand that you don't want to go back and if we were going to be together, I would have been happy not to go back. But the streets are better than this hell-hole." "Fyr, every police officer in the city will be looking for you if you run. We'll never see each other!" "You remember when you first found me out there?" "Yeah." He was a bit tearful by now. "They were looking for me then, too. But we never got caught." "Yeah, thanks to me," he grinned. I punched him lightly in the arm but his grin quickly faded. "You can't go back, Fyr. I won't lose you again." I opened my mouth to speak, but my eyes watered and I shut it again. I looked sadly into Kale's eyes and pushed myself to my feet. He stood up with me and pulled me into a tight embrace. There would be no tearful goodbyes for us. This wasn't even going to be a real goodbye, if I had my way. "Here's my phone number," he whispered to me, slipping a small piece of paper into my pocket. I kissed him gently and then turned to leave. I resisted the urge to turn around and look back - I refused to admit this was anything but a temporary separation. ******************************************************* To most of the moronic kids in the St. Peter's, escaping from Al Catraz was about as probable as escaping from the 'rehabilitation' center. For me, it was nothing more than a mild challenge. My senses and reflexes had been honed to a fine point on the streets, but this was something more; my natural powers of observation have always been exceptional. When I used to attend school, the moment I walked into a class I could point out every left handed person there, tell you which windows opened and which didn't and guess the income of every child in the class. It was these senses that kept me on the streets for so long. I saw every avenue, every possible means of escape - and with the luxury of time on my side, it was only a matter of minutes before I was crouching on the sidewalk outside the facility. Adrenaline rushing, I didn't take the time to assess my situation. I was stubbornly going to push ahead with the plan and, despite any reservations I may have had, I quickly pushed myself into motion. After a brief walk I found myself standing, teary-eyed, on the second floor of an old parking garage. The same lot where I had first met Kale those long months ago. This floor - of which only one corner was still standing - had been our own personal retreat. My watery eyes flitted across the room, each glance taking in dozens of memories: The sleeping bag we had shared for the last month we were there, the pictures we had taken with a disposable camera we found in the garbage, the cheesy gifts we had always bought - never stolen - for special occasions. I hadn't been back to this spot since Kale's 'death' but the place looked to be inhabited. The photographs, once artfully plastered on the walls, now lay in a soggy pile and the dollar-store gifts lay discarded beside them. "Hey you!" came a rough voice from behind me. Cautious, as always, I turned to face the speaker. My new, albeit cheap, clothing made a stark contrast to the rags hanging off the thin boy facing me. I recognized him; he was young - only 13 - and had taken up residence in my neighborhood shortly before I began my spiral into the bottle. "Cody, right?" I asked nonchalantly, with a slight smile. "Yeah," he slurred. "Who're you?" "Fyr," I said simply. He was drunk and this was not the place to bandy words. I had fallen back into the habit of speaking with far more wit and eloquence than was safe on the street. "You seen Lucky?" "Lucky?" he demanded. "Where you been? Lucky's dead." I felt like I had been hit with a hammer in the gut. Lucky, after Kale, had been my one good friend. He was always there for us, and he never had the cutthroat attitude that many kids out here did. "Jake?" I rasped at last. Lucky was a fixture in these streets - it was like going to Paris only to find out the Eiffel tower had fallen. "Tyler? KD?" He sneered at me and spat on the ground in front of me. "Jake's ova by the bakery, looking for johns. Don't know the others." I mumbled something and set off at a near-sprint. Jake hadn't been a close friend of mine, but he knew Lucky better than anyone. Sure enough, as I neared the dirty bakery - a cover for organized money laundering - I saw Jake sitting on an old bench. I walked quickly over to him, ignoring the car that sped away as it spotted me. "Fucker, you just cost me 20 bucks!" Jake spat, standing up. "Jake, thank god!" I panted, running over to him. Jake was old - almost 19 - and he had always had a soft spot for Kale and I. Perhaps he was just glad to see some shimmer of hope out here, or perhaps it was because he was gay. Whatever the reasons, I was thankful as his face softened and his stance became less threatening. "Fyr?! What the hell are you doing here?" he asked, taking a seat. I gave him the short version of the story, earning me nothing but acknowledgement from him. These things were all to common an occurrence to garner much sympathy from a veteran like Jake. "So...Lucky?" I finally asked. "Yeah," he sighed, leaning back. It was one of the only times I heard genuine sorrow in his voice. Lucky and Jake went back a long way and, no matter how hard we try, it is impossible not to become attached to someone who has been such a large part of our lives. "Funny thing, really," he said with a humorless laugh. "He outrun the damn cops after robbin' a store and some ole man runs him over. Drugs, sex and stealin' things and he gets run over by a minivan? Ain't fair." "Life isn't fair," I said tersely, repeating the cliché that had become our mantra. "Wh...What about the others?" "Tyler got taken home by his parents, Lydia OD'ed on some bad crack and little Kate went home. Couldn' take the cold." "KD?" I asked. My voice was quiet and my face pale. Perhaps this was the interminable sense of loss that Kale spoke of; my list of friends had just evaporated. "Joined some gang. I ain't seen 'im in a while." "Right," I intoned vaguely. "Bye, then." I got up and started walking aimlessly. I was nothing to Jake and the next time I looked back, he was stepping into an expensive BMW. Jake may have been a legal adult, but underage boys were all of similar ilk and even the wealthiest johns had no choice but to come to these seedy streets to satisfy their more depraved urges. I had made a big mistake in coming back here. Kale was right: There was nothing left for me here but sorrow and loss. I had some money in my pockets - pocket-change given out at St. Peter's as a reward for good behavior - but sleeping under a bush without eating seemed like the poetically nostalgic thing to do. ********************************************* When I woke, I realized how soft I had become in my brief stay at the center. My back ached and my stomach growled in hunger. I took a simple, crude pleasure in tearing my clothes. Perhaps it was my flair for the dramatic - or melodramatic, as it were - but I only started walking once I was satisfied that I was unfit for polite society. I ate a cheap meal at a sleazy, 50's style diner before wandering aimlessly around the streets. It was during this walk that I fully realized the futility of my existence out there. I recognized every dealer, every prostitute standing on a corner, and yet I couldn't name one in ten. The people who had cared about me - though care seems like a strong word for all but Lucky - were dead or gone. My presence or absence in that sub-culture made no difference to anybody. I was just another nameless waif eking out a miserable existence in God's Waiting Room. I silently thanked my luck stars that I still had Kale; if it weren't for him, I would have undoubtedly gone down a tragically self-destructive path. I sat on a rusty metal bench smoking a cigarette for what seemed like an eternity before I finally mustered the strength to admit to everybody that I had been wrong. Oh, nobody can ever tell me that I wasn't happy, after a fashion, during my tenure as a street urchin, but they were right in one respect: There was nothing for me to go back to. I ambled slowly over to the one functional payphone that I knew of and slipped a quarter into the slot. "Hello." It was a girls voice, cheerful and carefree. My tongue froze and I said nothing. "Hello?" She repeated. "Hello?" When it finally seemed as if she would hang up, I found my voice. "Hello," I replied quietly. "Is Kale there?" "He just got home a few minutes ago...May I ask who's calling." The voice must belong to his sister, I reasoned, and I felt no need to alert her to my identity if she hadn't guessed it already. "Jacob," I responded, cringing. "Tell him it's Jacob." "OK." I waited on the line for a few minutes before hearing a scuffle on the other end followed by a welcome voice, if an unwelcome tone. "Fyr!" he yelled. "What the fuck did you do?" "I'm fine, and you?" I said sarcastically. With no response forthcoming, I was obliged to answer his question. "Come on Kale, I told you I was leaving." "Yeah..." Concern had replaced anger in his voice. "I didn't think you would though. So...?" "You were right," I whispered. "There is nothing left here." "What do you mean?" His naiveté, despite all his experience, was an endearing quality, but it brought me to tears just then. "Gone," I said flatly. I forced the emotion out of my voice as I spoke. "Lucky is dead, so is Lydia. Kate and Tyler are home, and KD is gone." It seems strange to people who haven't lived what we lived, but death wasn't the same thing to us. I was an emotional person when compared to my friends, and even I didn't cry after I found out about Lucky. Before I had come along, Lucky and Kale had been inseparable. Even after Kale fell in love with me, Lucky filled a place in our lives - especially Kale's - that couldn't be satisfied by a lover. He was a best friend to us yet we couldn't manage a single tear for him. That - not the drugs, not the crime, not the misery - was the greatest tragedy of our existence. "I see." His voice was faint, but nothing more. He would grieve in his own unique way, but now was not the time to dwell on what could not be changed. "What are you going to do, Fyr? I was held up at the center for three hours this morning until that doctor was convinced I hadn't smuggled you out. She was ready to spit nails. I think she had a family lined up to meet you." "I don't doubt it," I said, taking a sadistic pleasure out of it. "Kale, is your parent's offer still open?" "Yes, but Dr. Green said no..." "Whatever Fyr wants..." "Fyr gets," finished Kale with a small laugh. "Well, call me when you can. I don't want to lose you again so don't go running off on me, ok?" "Alright K, don't you worry." I hung up the phone - I hated goodbyes - and slipped another quarter into the phone. I pulled a crumpled business card out of my pocket and dialed the number on it. "Hello." "Dr. Green?" I said in a measured tone. "Who is this?" She sounded suspicious and I could mentally see her fumbling for paper, ready to take notes. "Who else has this winning combination of wit and charm?" "FYR!" she bellowed in my ear. I held the phone away from my ear for a moment before speaking again. "Well, I think that last gave it away, no? Still, full points for enthusiasm I must say. Have you missed me that much?" "Don't play games with me Fyr or I swear to god..." she trailed off, her voice shaking with rage and concern. "Fine, lets cut to the chase." "Where are you?" "I'll tell you at the end of the conversation. It doesn't matter; you won't catch me again unless I wish to be caught." "Why did you call me, then?" "Because I think we can help each other out," I said truthfully. "You are genuinely concerned about my well being, as am I. We just have different ideas of what's best for me, that all. But I think we can both agree on one thing: The streets are not the best place for me. Yes?" She grunted her agreement. "So," I continued. "You give me permission to live with Kale and his family, and I will let you find me. I do so love compromises, don't you?" "I seem to be the one doing most of the compromising, don't I?" she retorted. I smiled - this was why I liked her, despite the foolish things she had done. "But I have the upper hand in this deal, so that's to be expected. Come now, Dr., I hardly think I'm asking for something unreasonable here." "I know you don't but I..." "I am well aware of your opinions on the matter," I interjected. "Do we have a deal, then?" "You know what you're doing, right?" "Yes. Blackmail. Should be familiar to you. Dr." "Oh for fuck's sake," she swore, surprising my. "That was not the same thing at all and you know it." "Perhaps not," I agreed with a smile to myself. "But that is irrelevant at the moment. Do we have a deal, or not?" There was a brief moment of silence before she grudgingly consented: "Fine. You may live with your boyfriend's family. Tell me where you are." "I am not a trusting person, forgive me. I will tell you where I am, but I expect to see the papers - signed - before I get in any car." "Fine, Fyr, fine," she said tiredly. "I've got them right here, and I'm signing them right now. I'll pick you up myself, if you prefer." For all her faults, she did have a genuine concern about the well-being of every kid she dealt with. I had a tremendous respect for the woman and I hoped it was mutual. "I'm sitting in 'Chuck's Cheap Chow,' down on St. Martha's Lane." "I'll be there in ten minutes." I hung up the phone and ordered a large milkshake from the waitress. Kale and I used to eat here on the rare occasions we had the money to and although I could have eaten elsewhere, I had a sentimental attachment to the tacky diner. True to her word, Dr. Green pulled up in front of the restaurant right as I was finishing my shake. I took my time paying the waitress and I walked cautiously into the small parking lot. She appeared to be alone, so I approached the car and she rolled down the window. "God," she said with a smile. "I feel like I'm in a bad spy movie or something. Here are the papers, signed and ready." She held up the short, simple document and I cast a brief glance over it before nodding. "I'm sorry, but I like to be careful. Keeps me alive." She shook her head at that last but motioned for me to get in the car. The car ride back to St. Peter's was remarkably pleasant and I couldn't help but smile at our bizarre relationship. When we did arrive back at the center, I felt like a movie star. As I stepped out of the car, people rushed over to stare. I walked with my usual graceful, haughty saunter but my clothes and face were looking somewhat worse for wear. Without even a cursory glance to the other adolescents, I walked into the main office where I was greeted with a slap and a hug, in rapid succession. "Promise me," Kale commanded firmly, placing his hands on my shoulders and looking into my eyes, "that you will never do that to me again." "Do what?" "Leave me like that!" he exclaimed, looking at me like I was being foolish. "You gave me your phone number! You knew I was going." "I didn't think you'd go," he snapped. "It was to use at Dave and Caroline's house." "Right..." I said with a snicker. "Should have guessed that from the start." He raised his hand and gave me a warning look. I rubbed my stinging cheek and decided that another hug was in order. "So?" he asked expectantly/ "I promise K," I said softly, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "Good," he mumbled, nuzzling his head into my hand. I suddenly became aware of the people standing all around us. I cleared my throat and lowered my hands to my side. "You certainly gave us quite a fright, Fyr," said Kale's father in a stern, but kind manner. "You?" I questioned. "Well, Kale mostly," he conceded. "But I wouldn't want anything to happen to you. You will be living under my roof, after all." "Thank you," I said genuinely. "And I'm sorry for leaving like that, but it has proved an effective way of getting what I wanted." "Fyr!" admonished Kale. "Uhhh..." I stammered, laughing. "I mean, I was frightened and confused. Yes, confused, that's it!" Dr. Green threw her hands up in the air while Kale's father gave me a warm smile. I shrugged - less than apologetic - and then we set to ironing out all of the details. Dr. Green had wanted to keep me at St. Peter's for one night, but after a humorous threat to run away again, she consented to let me leave with Kale immediately. I thanked Kale's father - whose name was Don - and then turned to say goodbye to Dr. Green. She gave me a hug and told me to keep in touch with her, which I assured her I would. She seemed somewhat annoyed that there was nobody else I wished to say goodbye to, but she didn't say anything. Shortly after I was holding Kale's hand, sitting in the back of his Mercedes wondering in what direction my life was heading. ************************************************************* Comments, criticisms and suggestions are all very welcome. I write because I enjoy it, but I post them here for you so please let me know what you think of the story. Menzoberranzen_of_the_drow@yahoo.com ~Menzo