Carly Rae continued about ‘all the other boys chasing but here’s my number.’
Byron slammed the door and came to his side. He could barely control his anger. He was staring down at Quentin. “What’s with you?”
“I don’t like you acting like a kind of knight in shining armor for me and then insulting me with the way you talk.” Quentin however had the presence of mind to realize that the song was adding fuel to the situation and shut it off. “Look whatever my faults I’m not frisky. I didn’t mean to sound the way I did. Things have been happening so fast. Let’s sleep on this and maybe tomorrow everything should work itself out.” He felt he had given a speech.
Byron relaxed considerably.
“Okay,” he said almost absentmindedly.
Can we shake on this one?” Quentin said as he extended his hand.
“I think we’ll keep this one open for the time being,” Byron said forcing a smile.
+++++
It was deep in the night and Quentin couldn’t sleep.
His granddad came into the room. “Quent you’re okay?”
“Grand dad, is it hard to forgive?”
He switched on the light and saw a boy struggling with deep emotional battles.
“It takes time,” he said as he sat on the bed.
“I’m trying so hard to forgive but it’s so difficult.”
“On your own it may be difficult to forgive. But you need that spiritual thing inside you to help you forgive.”
“Why does dad hate me?”
“I don’t think he hates you. He’s just too busy with his career. I’m sure that with time, he’ll get to appreciate you.”
“I hope so.”
“You’ve a father in heaven who loves you 24/7. He cares for you and will never leave you nor abandon you. Never forget that Quent.”
Quentin felt much better.
“This father works in mysterious ways. I am sure it was his plan for you to come to us. To let you know that you’re loved.”
“Grand dad I’m so terribly sorry for what happened today. I’ll try to improve.”
“As you process your issues you’ll let go and you’ll be free.”
Quentin knew why he had said that. He was still in pain and he still hated his dad for abandoning him. His preoccupation with driving at breakneck speed was one way of overcoming his frustrations. He also had a death wish. He however hoped that he would be able to forgive his dad and get on with his life in a normal healthy way (before he got seriously injured or killed.).
“As you process your issues you’ll let go and you’ll be free.”
“Granddad you’re the best,” Quentin said as he drifted off to sleep.
Mathias had come in earlier and stood quietly for a while.
“You too Mathias.”
“And you’re the best grandson God has blessed us with. Never forget that” He came over, “And don’t tell me you’re too big to be kissed,” Mathias said warmly as he kissed him on the cheek. “Have a good night’s rest.”
“I’ll have a chat with your dad Quent,” Bradley said resolutely.
He felt tears stream down into the pillow as he went to sleep feeling very calm and at peace. Love was truly a wonderful thing and certainly conquered all woeful feelings.
He thought of Byron. “My life would just be awesome if I could date him.” He allowed that it was okay to dream even though it could be an impossible wish.
Chapter 8: The Moment of Truth
They were leaving for Griffin Observatory in the 6th period and were all expected to appear very promptly at the planetarium by 2.00pm. Byron went in Quentin’s sports car. The Observatory was on the south side of Mount Hollywood with a breathtaking view of the greater LA city area.
Their lecture was held in the Oschin Planetarium Theater and was on the theme Centered in the Universe. The presenter also talked and demonstrated supernovas. These were exploding stars. They were intrigued to see and to be told that some stars seemed to go through tantrums like in soap operas. They seemed to fake their own deaths. These were oddball sort of stars that were born out of the merger of other stars, They ran on nuclear fusion and when they ran out of fuel their core collapsed and they exploded making up new cosmic bodies. The presenter showed a stellar merger image showing that large stars brushed against each other. Although they appeared to die, they didn’t and merely became much larger stars.
For some strange reason Byron thought that these stars resembled them too. They tried to form units with one another. Many times it worked well. Sometimes it didn’t work out. They always took something out of these interactions whether good or bad.
+++++
They went up to the ramparts and admired the breathtaking view.
They stood closely together in deep thought.
“There seems to be a lot going through your mind,” Quentin said.
“A teen thinking deeply can be stormy,” Byron said cryptically.
Quentin couldn’t quite get where that quote came from. “Why?”
“I’m too embarrassed to tell you.”
“Try me.”
“You won’t get angry with me?”
“Let me hear it first.” Quentin paused. “You’re a great guy. You made a stand against a bully.”
Byron was going to make a comment but thought better of it and remained silent.
“I want to be part of your scene,” Quentin said gently.
Byron looked at him pleasantly.
“I’m going to say this anyway even if you punch me on the nose,” Quentin said bravely. “I wanted to hug you at the park and perhaps kiss you for standing by me. On the cheek,” he added quickly.
“A brotherly kiss,” Byron smiled.
“What I was thinking of was a passionate French kiss where time sort of stood still,” Quentin teased
“Sort of Romeo and Juliet.”
“Minus the suicide bit.”
“You sound very persuasive.”
Quentin hugged him playfully. “I’m not coming on to you.”
“You’re not,” Byron said definitely.
From his concealed position, Russ watched the unfolding scene with contempt. “You slimy little creature, you just want to do it to him. That’s why you defended him so hungrily. Well I have a little surprise for you all,” he said triumphantly as he moved off.
“You have a nice tender face,” Quentin said.
“Oh my God. Okay admit it,” he said forcing a smile.
“What?”
“The sensitive face thing.”
“I said tender.”
“I sometimes hate my face.”
“I know. That’s why I said you have a nice face and you should love yourself. You’re unique.”
“Tender face.”
“Well I just meant that. Nothing more.”
“You think I kiss like a girl.”
“No. I mean that you’re a caring kind of a guy. You’re the type who’d make love rather than screw someone.”
“Don’t they mean the same thing?”
“The screwers usually boast that they have spread their tadpoles in the pool.”
“And the ‘make lovers’?”
“They’re considerate like you. They have candle lit dinners,” Quentin paused.
“I’m tender and cherubic,” Byron sighed. “I’m overwhelmed!”
“You have atmosphere. You’re forever saying that you hate your face. But it’s tender in a very nice way. Be proud of it. ”
Byron looked ahead as if talking to a camera for youtube, “Taylor Swift, did you hear that? Quent says I have a caring face and I don’t cause him trouble.”
“And you’re like a knight for me?”
“Okay I take the hint.”
“You’re always looking out for me. You care for me.” Quentin paused awkwardly mustering up courage to express himself. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you but kept putting it off until after what you did.”
Byron fidgeted.
“I wondered if we could do things together sometime.”
He started thinking of how to refuse without sounding or acting impolite. His fertile mind started conjuring up things like doing treadmill and other work out exercises in matching velvet tights or motor bike rides in matching Bermuda shorts and wrist bands. This would all be done as they exchanged cheesy pleasantries on which fabric had a nice silky feel or which nut jelled well with vanilla ice cream and other goofy talk. He felt immediately ashamed of his thoughts. He felt he was being unfair on Quentin given that he liked him. He just needed to be brave and come out of the closet.
“I hear you like hunting and hiking. My grandparents have a cabin in the forest with a great pool. Just great for swimming.”
“That sounds interesting.”
“I have a Honda and I can give you a few pointers. I hear your dad is buying you one.”
Byron looked excited. “That’s really cool.”
“And maybe you can teach me those games I hear you’re so good at.”
“I’d love to do that.”
“This is a great way of penetrating each other.”
“Penetrating each other?” Byron looked confused.
“You know. Like penetrating each other’s minds and getting to know each other.”
Byron couldn’t stop laughing. It was the funniest thing he’d ever heard.
“You probably know that my guardians are gay.”
The hardest part was coming Byron thought and I’d better behave myself. “ How does that work out?”
“Just great. You’ll meet them when you come for a sleepover.”
Sleepover? Did he hear right? “It must be interesting having gay parents,” Byron said for want of something to say. He felt awkward not knowing if he’d said the appropriate thing.
“They are very caring.”
“That matters a lot,” Byron said. “I thought I might be a little upfront with you.” He began. “It may seem that I’ve been uneasy with you. It’s because I didn’t know you that well and was afraid I might say or do something that might insult or hurt you.”
“You mean about my parents.”
“Yes and also you. I was always tense because I was always trying hard to think through what I said before I said it.”
“Now you can be yourself.”
“Of course.”
“You don’t have to worry about what the world things about being gay.”
“Of course,” he repeated.
Chapter 9: The Chase
It seemed that all good things often had to come to a temporary end.
That was the impression Byron and Quentin got when they reached the car park. They had been walking along at a leisurely pace exchanging pleasantries when they were confronted by Russ and his group who were waiting patiently for them.
They seemed confused by this as they thought the matter had already been settled.
Russ seemed to have intuitive knowledge of when they would arrive in the car park just as he seemed to be very familiar with Quentin’s movements when they attacked him.
Did he have some advanced tech with spiffy algorithms that could hack into their phones’ geographical locations?
They had no time to think through these thoughts because Russ very casually held a handsome looking switchblade that shone sinfully in his hand.
“You thought you could ride off to the sunset?” he said to them without any trace of malice or bitterness in his voice.
“Russ I thought this was over,” Quentin said.
“It’s not as simple as that,” Russ said looking bitterly at Byron. “Wolverine here embarrassed me and became popular at my expense.”
“Russ you made a promise. Be a man and keep it,” Byron said.
“Lord Byron!” Russ teased and his group snickered and cackled. “I promised I wouldn’t hassle fags and other low life. I didn’t promise anything about you Romeo dating Juliet.”
“Don’t be sick. We’re not that stuff you dream up in your sick mind.
“Okay Romeo and Julian or whatever!” Russ said dismissively as he turned to Quentin “That was very sneaky of you to get your horny face on him.”
“I’m not horny or sneaky and I don’t like your tone,” he retorted.
“After I’ve finished with him (he waved to Byron) we’re going to have another talk.”
“Don’t do this Russ,” Byron warned.
“Okay Tarzan, you tricked me back there. You became a hero at my expense showing off your cloned body. Don’t push me otherwise your carcass won’t be worth a dime.”
“I’m not a clone,” he retorted.
“Whatever. You do get around,” he said to cackles from his gang.
“I don’t get around. I resent that,” Byron said. It was futile arguing. “Be reasonable Russ.” he said as he moved towards Quentin with the switchblade.
“What do you want?” Quentin asked quietly as he came menacingly closer.
“We are going to have a competition. I’ll race you to the cliff. The first one who chickens out walks away.”
“It’s a crazy idea,” Quentin said.
“It’s dangerous!” Byron said.
“I like danger!” Russ said.”And to make it sweet, you two will ride together.”
“It’s a sick idea,” Quentin said fiercely.
Byron was thankful that Quentin had stood by him in front of Russ.
“This racing doesn’t sound good,” Byron said.
“The other alternative is for you to post on your timeline that you believe Quent and his kind are low life.” He held the switchblade so close to Quentin’s neck.
“I’d rather die first then do that.”
“You love him,” Russ said contemptuously.
“What’s that to you?”
The move came so suddenly that Russ seemed totally unprepared for it. Quentin moved with reckless speed holding up Russ’s hand and cart wheeling his body around. He lay flat on his back on the ground with the knife in his hand.
Russ’s friends reacted very slowly as Byron dived for Russ and took hold of the gun in his pocket. Before they could all rush back to the car to get their firearms he had pointed the gun at them.
“Don’t try anything foolish. I know how to use this thing.”
They all froze as Quentin and Byron rushed to the car.
“You can’t run away from us. We’ll come for you,” Russ screamed.
+++++
“We can lose them in traffic?” Byron said.
“They have a faster car,” Quentin said.
“So what do we do?” Byron asked.
“Let’s hope they don’t get carried away with being Clint Eastwood.”
“Let’s hope so because I’m very good at using this,” Byron said brandishing the gun.
“I hate guns,” he said chiding Byron for the trigger happy way he waved it..
”And I hope I don’t have to use it.” He groaned as he looked back. “He’s coming very fast. If they start shooting I’ll have to shoot back.”
“Don’t hit anyone,” Quentin pleaded.
“I’ll shoot them all between the eyes,” Byron said. Quentin gasped. “No I’m just joking. I’ll shoot their tires but only if they shoot at us.”
Quentin used the brake without slamming it on.
“Oh my God. He’s going to rear end us,” Byron screamed.
“Can you let me drive? He’s got a faster car. Please trust me,” Quentin bristled.
He swerved violently into the next lane just as Russ’s car was within inches. That took them in the opposite direction.
Russ slammed on his brake violently and he almost lost control as he followed them.
His car was fast approaching at much greater speed. He was trying to put the front quarter of his car to the rear quarter of Quentin’s car. Russ assumed that Quentin was not familiar with this maneuver.
What he didn’t know was that Quentin had deliberately got himself in this risky situation. R
uss’s vehicle was a little faster than Quentin’s and made a swerve. Too late. Russ was slow in hitting Matt’s back end. He tried to straighten the car but he lost control and it landed into a ditch.
They were preoccupied with their own thoughts. It had been a very dramatic day and it seemed as if the worst was still to come.
“Let’s go somewhere for a while to think things through. They’ll probably try to get us at our homes.”
“I’m okay with that. I’ll tell mum I’ll be late home.”
“That’s okay with me. I’ll ring my grand dad and tell him I’ll be delayed,” Quentin said.
Byron knew his dad was hardly home so he wouldn’t be missed. But out of consideration for Juanita who was like a mother to him, he rang to say he would be quite late home.
“There’s a mansion in Franklin Hills that a good friend of my dad owns. I’ve been there so many times. He’s hardly ever there. Let’s go and talk there for a while and then think through what we have to do.”
“What if someone is in the mansion?” Quentin asked.
“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind two law abiding American teens stopping by for constructive discussions.”
Quentin shrugged as he took directions from Byron.
They were quiet each lost in their own thoughts.
Then Byron’s Galaxy rang.
It was Russ’s number and Buzz one of his sleazy friends on the line. He put the call on the speaker.
“Byron you really have to come. Russ is injured. He just wants to say he’s so sorry.”
“He’s faking it. He thinks he’s some kind of a dying star,” Quentin warned.
“He thinks we’re his supernova to complete his fall.” Byron said wittily.
“Stop it,” Quentin said trying not to laugh. He thought about it for a while. “If he’s injured, there’s nothing much we can do as the medics will have taken him by now. We’ll report this later.”
Chapter 10: Overcoming obstacles
Quentin swam in the large kidney shaped pool.
Byron stood by the poolside looking down at him. “It must be great having a caring family,” Byron said trying to make ‘small talk.’
Quentin suppressed the urge to groan in the water. Was Byron trying to make fun of his gay grandparents again?
Trouble (YA Gay Coming of Age / Romance Series) Page 3
