The expression on Brian’s face slowly changed from confusion to disgust, as if he knew what Carey was going to say.
“I didn’t want you to go out with him because I knew he was a jerk, first hand.”
“Hey,” Mark frowned.
“Mark knew about me and threatened to tell. He’s been holding it over my head for years.”
“Years?” Brian questioned.
Carey realized he was going to have to tell the whole story. He preferred not to do it in front of Mark, but he couldn’t think about him at the moment.
“Mark was the first boy I kissed. It was way back during the summer after seventh grade,” Carey began.
“What?” Brian said quietly.
“It was at a party. You weren’t there. It just happened because of a spin the bottle game. I barely knew him. But afterward, he threatened me not to tell anyone. He’s been making comments and innuendos ever since he came out. I’ve been worried about him telling everyone.”
Brian stood silent.
“I wish I had just told you then. But up until then, I wasn’t positive how I felt. I thought it was curiosity.”
Mark grinned. “So, it was me that brought you to the dark side.”
“No. It wouldn’t have mattered who it was. I needed to see if I liked kissing a boy.”
“And you did like kissing me,” Mark said. “Or you wouldn’t have come looking for me at the end of the party.”
“That was before I knew you were a jerk.”
“You’re conveniently leaving out the part about the note,” Mark said.
“What note?” Brian asked.
Carey’s brow furrowed.
“The note I wrote to you when we got back to school,” Mark said.
Carey’s expression didn’t change.
“I said I was sorry. You don’t remember? I put it in your locker the first day of school. I told you that I did like you and I hoped we could be friends. Well, more than friends,” Mark chuckled.
“I didn’t get any note,” Carey said. “You’re making that up.”
“I swear,” said Mark. “I did write you a note. But you never responded. And you looked at me like you hated me in the hallways. I assumed you didn’t like me. So, maybe I took it out on you over the years. It was easy to get to you, ‘cause I knew you weren’t going to tell anyone what happened. When you and Gina went out, I figured you were really straight after all. Like I said before, nothing more pathetic than a gay guy hung up on a straight one. Maybe I was jerk,” Mark shrugged.
Carey shook his head. “Even if you did write a note, it doesn’t matter. I’m with Brian.” He grabbed Brian’s hand. “I’m not interested.”
Mark glanced down at their hands.
“And, for the record,” Carey said. “If you really did write that note, I probably wouldn’t have answered it, or not the way you wanted. I wasn’t ready.” The part of Carey that liked to believe that people were good and honest needed to explain. In the back of his mind, he still thought Mark made it up. But he wanted to apologize just in case.
Mark nodded. “And you can’t blame me Brian, for wanting more than a couple of kisses and hand holding.”
Brian just looked at him.
“Well, if you change your mind Carey, you know where to find me,” Mark said, then walked away.
“I won’t,” Carey called after him.
“Are there many more things you didn’t tell me?” Brian asked Carey, seemingly dejected.
“I’m sorry.”
Brian pursed his lips. “So, I wasn’t your first boy kiss.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Carey leaned forward and pressed his lips gently to Brian’s. “You’re the only one I want to kiss now.”
They grinned at each other, then left the building together, hand in hand.
“Damn,” Carey muttered. The baseball team was leaving at the same time. They picked up their pace trying to avoid being seen by David Messner and James.
Unfortunately, David did see and made a bee line toward them. He got around them and blocked their way.
Carey’s heart was beating fast as he kept eye contact with the bigger boy. He noticed that David didn’t seem quite as tall as he did in the Fall.
“What’s your game fag? Are you waiting until it’s too late to defend myself before you tell what happened?”
Brian’s voice was a little shaky as he answered. “N-no. I only told Carey. I’m not going to tell anyone else if you leave us alone.”
James laughed. “This one really is a fag.” He pointed at Carey. “And all this time I thought you were just a glutton for punishment.”
“Shut up,” Carey said.
“You gonna make me?” James stepped closer. He wasn’t nearly as big as David. He and Carey stood almost toe to toe and eye to eye.
“Knock it off James,” David said. “If you try to screw up my scholarship, I’ll come after you. You’ll wish all you got was a broken arm. You hear me?” he said to Brian.
“I told you, I’m not going to say anything.”
“I think we ought to give them a little preview, just to make sure,” James said. He shoved Carey’s shoulder with his own. Though they were roughly the same build, he had no fear of the band geek.
“Maybe I’ll chase him around the lot for old time’s sake,” David laughed.
Brian dropped his book bag in anticipation of having to run. Carey dropped his as well.
“Boo!” David shouted, sending Brian off.
David only got to take one step before Carey grabbed at his shirt, stopping him.
“Get your hands off me you little queer.”
Brian stopped running and turned to see the shoving match between Carey and the other boy. It amazed him that none of the other boys from the team would do anything to stop David and James. Brian ran toward them to help, but James grabbed him and easily held him in place while they watched.
“Carey, run,” Brian urged as he squirmed unsuccessfully to get out of James’ hold.
Carey saw Brian being held and knew they were not going to get out of the situation unscathed. He figured he could take on James, and maybe even get some good hits. But David wasn’t going to stand by and watch that happen.
“Your girlfriend told you to run,” David teased. “You’d better take his advice. I won’t hurt him too much. But you are another story. You should have stayed out of it.”
“Hurry up David,” James urged. “Before Coach comes out. We’ll get kicked off the team.”
David pushed Carey hard enough to send him to the ground, knocking the wind out of him.
“Stay out of my way, fag,” he pointed at Carey on the ground. “Come on, James.”
James let go of Brian, shoving him away, but not too hard. Brian looked at Carey on the ground, slowly getting up, then watched as the other two boys walked away. He was tired of getting picked on. He was tired of letting it go.
“Brian, wait,” Carey said, when he saw him charging toward the pair. He quickly got up and followed, fearing the worst.
In a move that was half ballet, half karate, Brian leapt up and kicked out his right leg, hitting James square in the back. The boy was sent lurching forward, completely unprepared for the attack, and landed on his face in the grass.
“Ow, ow.” James gasped. “I can’t breathe. What the hell did you do to me?”
Brian stopped, wide eyed as David turned with fury in his eyes. Focused on Brian, he didn’t see Carey until the fist connected with his face. Still dazed by the first punch, David didn’t have time to defend himself from the second. He blinked and swayed just a bit. Carey gave him a push, forcing him to sit down before he fell down.
“Leave us alone!” Carey shouted.
The commotion finally garnered some attention, but by then, most of the team had gone. The few that remained looked confused as to what exactly happened.
“Unless you want everyone to know a couple of little fags beat you up,” Carey finished, bending over David. �
��Brian said he wasn’t going to tell, and he won’t. Now we’re even. So, leave us the hell alone.”
By then, James was sitting up. He’d probably have a bruise on his back, but nothing serious. David’s eye was already turning purple, though.
“Okay, okay. We’re even.”
“Are you going to leave Brian alone?” Carey asked.
“Yes,” David hissed. He glared at them while they walked to pick up their backpacks.
Brian noticed that Carey’s hand was shaking, almost violently. And it looked bruised.
“Are you all right?”
Carey nodded. “I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
“You’re not going to throw up. Come on.” Brian smiled and wrapped his arm around Carey’s waist as they walked home.
By the time they reached the Reid’s home, Carey’s hand was throbbing and swollen.
“Jeez, you must have punched him really hard,” Brian said. He led him to the sink to wash his hand, though it didn’t look like the skin was broken.
“I think you need ice.”
“Hi boys. How was school?” Mrs. Reid asked. Then she saw Carey’s hand. “Oh my God, what happened?”
“Nothing,” Carey answered.
Brian continued to get out the ice. “Carey punched somebody.”
“What? You got in a fight?” She took hold of Carey’s hand to inspect it. “It’s not broken, is it?”
“God, I hope not. I won’t be able to play in the concert,” Carey said.
“Forget about the concert. What happened?”
“It was great,” Brian grinned. “You should have seen him.”
Mrs. Reid frowned.
“But it wasn’t Carey’s fault. These kids were picking on us, and we just had enough. I did something stupid and Carey had to save me.”
“Hardly,” Carey corrected. “I got lucky.”
“Are these the same kids you were telling me about before?” his mom asked. “I’m calling the school.”
“No, Mom don’t. Please. I think they’re going to leave us alone now. Besides, I’ll get in as much trouble as them. They didn’t really hurt us today. But we got them pretty good, huh Brian?”
“My hero,” Brian batted his eyelashes. “You can be Superfag.” He handed Carey a baggie of ice wrapped in a paper towel.
“Maybe we should take you to the emergency room to have that x-rayed,” Mrs. Reid suggested.
“Who’s going to the emergency room?” Mr. Reid asked, walking in the door early from work.
Brian, Carey and Jeannie all remained quiet.
“What’s going on?” Malcolm Reid asked.
“Carey had a run in with some bullies today.”
“Jesus Christ, I told you this would happen if he started telling people.” Malcolm ranted. “How badly did you get hurt?”
Carey held out his hand. “I don’t think it’s broken, but it’s swollen pretty bad. I can move it.” He winced as he opened and closed his fingers.
“How’d that happen? Did you punch somebody?”
Carey bit his lip. “Yeah.”
“Good for you,” Malcolm nodded curtly. “He’ll be fine Jeannie. He can move his fingers, they’re not broken.”
“Good for you?” Jeannie repeated, hands on hips. “That’s all you have to say, is good for you?”
“Would you rather he be the one who got punched?”
“Well, no, of course not,” she replied. “But I still don’t condone it.”
“It’s part of being a man. You don’t understand. Even a gay man has to stand up for himself.” He glanced at Carey. “I’ll bet that kid will think twice before picking on him again.”
Nodding, Carey was calm on the outside, but inside his heart was soaring. His father was accepting the facts and standing up for him.
Carey said, “We came to an understanding. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about him anymore. Or the other one. You should have seen Brian kick his ass. Uh, I mean, butt.” Carey blushed.
“Good for you too,” Malcolm said, a small smile betraying his approval.
Jeannie rolled her eyes. “Men.”
“I should go home. My mom’s expecting me for dinner,” Brian said.
“I’ll walk you out,” Carey said.
Out on the front step, Brian kissed him. “You really did save me. I didn’t think it through. David would have pulverized me.”
“I’m not going to let anyone pick on you ever again. Not people like David. Or Mark.”
Brian smiled. “I’m so lucky.”
Me too, Carey thought as he watched Brian walk home.
When Carey walked back in the door, his father was still standing in the kitchen, his lips pursed. “I’m sorry that happened to you. You shouldn’t have to put up with verbal, or physical attacks . . . from anyone. I am truly sorry for slapping you. I had no right. And not knowing how to handle all of this isn’t an excuse.”
“It’s okay,” Carey said.
Malcolm shook his head. “No, it isn’t. I’ve never laid a hand on you or your sister before, and I shouldn’t have done it yesterday.”
Carey nodded.
Picking up his briefcase, Malcolm walked toward the stairs. Without turning around, he said, “And Brian isn’t disgusting.”
After his father was upstairs, Carey looked to his mom. “Did you tell Dad to say that?”
“No. I did suggest he talk to you about what happened. That was a start, but I was thinking of something a little more heart to heart.”
Carey raised his eyebrows. “I don’t really want to talk about my love life with Dad any more than he wants to hear about it.”
Jeannie chuckled. “Fair enough.” She paused. “Other than the fight, how was school? Did anyone else say anything mean to you?”
He shrugged. “A couple people. But most people didn’t care. I think it’s going to be okay.”
Chapter 13
Carey’s hand healed in plenty of time to play in the concert. His hand had been sore for a few days, though probably not as sore as David’s eye.
David had made up a story about getting jumped by a couple of guys at the Seven-Eleven. Turned himself into some kind of hero. It irked Carey to no end, but it kept David off their case.
By early June, David and his fanboys graduated, hopefully never to be seen again. Brian and Carey had moved to the top of the food chain, so to speak, even if they were not part of the in-crowd. They still had seniority. There were going to be several weeks between the end of classes and the start of band camp and Brian’s summer dance session. They took advantage of the time, spending the vast majority together.
“Hey, mom?”
“In here,” she called from the kitchen. She was sitting at the table in front of her laptop.
“Can I go to the movies tonight?”
“Sure.”
“Can I borrow your car?”
“Who’s going?”
“Just me and Brian.”
Jeannie smiled. “All right. I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.”
Carey picked up a carrot and bit it. “Um, I was also wondering . . . about next week.”
“What about it?” Jeannie asked innocently.
“Mom, I know you didn’t forget my birthday.”
Smiling, Jeannie asked, “What about next week? You know Sunday’s the reunion.”
“Oh, crap. I forgot.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“Well, do you remember a while back you said I could go to Aunt Dina and Uncle Rob’s house for my birthday, and bring a friend?”
“Yes, but that was before your father’s family planned the reunion. You haven’t mentioned it, so I never made plans with Dina and Rob. And besides, you haven’t had your license that long. It’s almost ten hours away.”
“I’ve had it for six months. And I’ve been driving for a year. Besides, Brian and I can take turns driving. He’s been driving even longer than me.”
Jeannie bit her lip. “I don�
�t know. That was also before you and Brian started going out. I haven’t even told Dina about the two of you.”
“She’ll be cool about it. And we’ll follow the same rules, I swear. Come on, please? She always said I was welcome to visit her down there. We haven’t been there in two years.”
“Believe it or not, I’m more concerned about the driving than anything else. It’s a long way, and you’ve never driven that far before.”
“We’ll take turns and use the GPS. And I’ll print out directions too. I promise we’ll drive the speed limit. Please? Talk to Aunt Dina?”
“I’ll call her tonight. But you can’t go next week. I want you and Michelle at the reunion.”
“It’s going to be so boring,” Carey complained.
“You have lots of cousins to hang out with.”
“Yeah, and they’re all younger than me. At least Kevin and Rachel are close to Michelle’s age.”
“They’re only two or three years younger than you.”
Carey picked up another carrot. He looked at his mother.
“What?” she asked.
“Um, well, I was wondering if Brian could come too.”
She stopped cutting up the carrots. “You want to bring him to the reunion?”
“A lot of them know him already.”
“Yes, but as your friend.”
Carey smirked. “He’s still my friend.”
“You know what I mean. Are you ready for that?”
He took a bite of carrot and chewed thoughtfully. “Maybe.” he paused. “Maybe not. But, there’s nothing wrong with me bringing a friend, right?”
Jeannie smiled. “All right.”
◆◆◆
Two kids ran past Carey, practically knocking him over.
“Watch it Chris!” he yelled after the boy. He rolled his eyes. “Sometimes I hate my cousins.”
“I don’t know, it’d be kind of cool to have a big family. I only have four cousins on both sides,” Brian said.
“I have nine just on my dad’s side. He’s got three brothers and a sister, and they all have kids. And I don’t think they’re finished,” Carey laughed.
They carried their plates of food to one of the tables set up in his grandparent’s back yard. The Reid family reunion was in full swing. Two of Carey’s uncles played guitar and sang on an impromptu stage they set up. Carey’s cousin, Melanie, joined them to sing a couple of songs. There seemed to be a lot of musical talent on his father’s side.
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