Something Like Lightning

by Jay Bell

  “You knew!” Kelly said accusingly. “All this time, you knew!” “Yes,” Nathaniel said. “Are you going to hold that against me?” Kelly tried suppressing his emotions and thinking about it logically. “You stopped me from discovering the truth.”

  “I stopped you from getting hurt. At least I wanted to. You could have torn through Marcello’s home and caught them in the act, but I suspect you already knew what was happening, even if you didn’t want to admit it to yourself. Instead of a very ugly scene, we sat down and enjoyed a bottle of wine together. When I saw this Jason Grant person later, I told him to stop with the secrecy.”

  “You did?”

  “Yes.”

  Kelly took a shuddering breath. “William wouldn’t have cheated on me. I figured maybe a kiss at most, but he never would have—” He shook his head. “Why does this matter? If William had shown up at my door yesterday and begged for me to come back to him, I would have said no. We’re not meant for each other, I get that. But learning all of this, it still hurts!”

  “Love is vicious,” Nathaniel said. “Relationships and all the expectations that come with them—people are only setting themselves up to fail. What I told you that night still stands. You don’t need anyone. You might want someone, but at the end of the day, only you are responsible for your own happiness. And until all this unpleasantness resurfaced, you seemed a lot happier without William in your life.”

  “I was,” Kelly said. “I am. But part of me needs to know the truth before I can put it all behind me.”

  Nathaniel stared at his coffee. “Only two people in the world know what happened that night. You could always ask one of them.”

  Kelly nodded. “Then that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Aren’t they adorable?”

  Kelly looked to where Layne had pointed. Bonnie had Emma pressed up against her car, their kisses so intense that one was liable to swallow the other. He was glad to see this, not just because it meant his best friend was happy, but also because it implied a certain someone was here. Jason rarely attended the youth meetings these days. Normally he only did so when Emma was in town, and that was just an excuse for her and Bonnie to hook up, Jason playing the role of apathetic chaperone. Kelly didn’t attend so often either, but he’d been at every meeting for the last six weeks hoping for a chance like this.

  Of course he could have texted William and asked to speak on the phone, but Kelly wasn’t sure he could handle hearing the truth from him. Somehow that would hurt more. Just last week Kelly had stopped by William’s old house to pick up some camera equipment he had left there. Seeing Mrs. Townson again made him oddly nostalgic, but that changed when he was allowed to go alone into William’s old room. Once there, he noticed the shelf of animal action figures, now covered in a thin layer of dust. Maybe that’s how it worked with the things William loved. Maybe he left them all behind without a second thought. Then again, the rescue helicopter Transformer hadn’t been found. Kelly had even searched for it, but to no avail. He liked to think that William had taken that small piece of their past with him when he left.

  “Geez,” Layne was saying, attention still focused across the parking lot, “look at those two go! Do you think lesbians are better kissers than gay guys? Maybe I should go undercover—dress in drag and find some butch beauty to rock my world.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Kelly said. “Where’s Jason?”

  “He had to use the little boys’ room.” Layne crinkled his nose. “I guess the ride was too long for him. Hey, I wanted to ask... Is he single?”

  Kelly thought about it. “Ever see that movie about the dog who kept waiting for his dead owner to return home, even though years had gone by?”

  Layne pressed his hands to his cheeks. “Oh my gosh! That’s so sad!”

  “Yes, it is. Hopefully he gets a happier ending, but for now, don’t waste your time.”

  “Oh.” Layne peered at him. “Are you single?”

  Kelly laughed. “What exactly is this about?”

  Layne rolled his eyes, exasperated. “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you. Actually, it would make a phenomenal television drama, starring Robert Pattinson as yours truly. It all started when—”

  “Excuse me,” Kelly said, moving away. Jason was coming out of the church building, blinking in the afternoon sun. Kelly forced himself to remain calm as they neared each other. He had promised himself not to cause a scene. What would be the point? Of course not being emotional about this subject was nearly impossible, but he had to try.

  “Hey!” Jason said, offering a smile. “Long time no see! Although I did see you in an advertisement at the mall. You were wearing that black suit and walking next to a panther. Did you really get to—”

  “Photoshopped,” Kelly said, cutting him off. “Listen, I need to ask you something, but I want you to know ahead of time that I’m not looking to reopen old wounds.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  “The night you and William played waiter...” Kelly said. He felt he didn’t need to make his point clearer. The way Jason’s expression became guarded convinced him he was right.

  Jason didn’t answer immediately. He kept taking deep breaths like he was about to speak, but then those intense eyes would search his before darting away. Finally he exhaled. “When I first met William, he wouldn’t talk about you. The subject was off limits, but not because he wanted to pretend you weren’t there. Once I finally got him talking, it would always boil down to him wanting to do the right thing. For you. Regardless of his own feelings or mine, you were like this moral roadblock I couldn’t get around. He made promises to you, and he intended to keep them.”

  “But then?”

  “But then I decided to fight for him. Not at first. I didn’t set out to wreck your relationship. I tried keeping my distance, emotionally at least, but I fell for him so hard. I still wanted to see him and be around him, even if he would never be mine. One day I realized that I loved him and eventually I discovered that he.”

  “Loved you,” Kelly said. “I’m fine with that. In fact, it makes what happened more forgivable.”

  “He loved you too,” Jason said. “I really think he did or he wouldn’t have struggled with leaving you. It wasn’t a decision he made lightly. He wanted to make you happy, and he wanted to keep all the promises he made.”

  “But that night at Marcello’s home, what really happened?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to answer. I could give you details. If you really need them, I’ll tell you, but what matters most is that William regretted what happened. He made sure to tell me that more than once. It was wrong, and I agree. Kind of. If I hadn’t forced William to break at least one of the promises he made to you, then I think he would still feel bound by them. Even today.”

  Kelly supposed that was all the answer he needed. Part of him felt like asking Jason to say it outright, just so there couldn’t be any shred of doubt remaining. After all, he still didn’t know if it was a simple kiss that had broken the spell or something more. But he was certain that it no longer mattered.

  “You didn’t force him to do anything,” Kelly said, “and honestly, if I had to put up with his virtuous ass for much longer, I probably would have gone insane.”

  Jason looked puzzled. “Really? I like that about him. He’s so—” “Noble?” Kelly shook his head. “You two are made for each other. I don’t mean that as an insult. I really hope this long-distance thing works out, because you guys have more potential than he and I ever did.” “You’re not angry?” Jason asked.

  Kelly shook his head. “Nah. I’ve got mine.”

  Jason’s surprise turned into interest. “Who’s the lucky guy?”

  “We’re keeping it on the down low,” Kelly said. “For now.”

  “You tease! Sounds kind of romantic though. Someday I want to hear all the juicy details.” Jason glanced over Kelly’s shoulder and appeared confused. “Uh, why is Layne talking to hi
mself?”

  Kelly glanced back and sighed. “I believe he’s in the middle of telling his life story. If you’re feeling charitable, we should probably go pretend to listen. Someone should be there to catch him in case he forgets to breathe.”

  Kelly stood in a dark corridor, fluorescent tubes flickering occasionally. Normally dim during the daytime, at night the hallway was positively gloomy. All those lights in Marcello’s studios must burn a crazy amount of energy. Maybe the idea was to compensate by keeping the public areas dim. If so, Kelly wished they wouldn’t because he was getting spooked. He jabbed at the elevator button again, willing the doors do open. “Come on, come on!” he grumbled.

  “You have a meeting with Marcello in a few minutes.”

  “Gah!” Kelly spun around—not an easy feat on crutches, which was why he stumbled.

  Nathaniel caught him, gaze still penetrating.

  “I know I have a meeting,” Kelly said, straightening himself. “What are you doing here?”

  Nathaniel let go. “You can handle yourself. You know I believe this.”

  “Yes. And?”

  “Marcello is the exception to every rule in existence.” Nathaniel’s brow furrowed. “Or at least he’s broken every rule possible. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

  “The devil?” Kelly suggested. “I’m fine. Remember when he wanted me to wine and dine that sleazy client and I brought my parents along as chaperones?”

  “Yes,” Nathaniel said, resisting a smile.

  “Or the photo shoot with the appalling fur coat, and how I showed up wearing a fake bear trap on my stump.”

  “The fake blood was a nice touch,” Nathaniel admitted. “Marcello was distraught until I suggested we sell the photos to PETA. Then he thought it was funny. He was less amused about the incident with the fake rash. We almost lost a major contract over that one.”

  “So major that my image would have been in magazines nationwide. Selling acne cream. I didn’t want the entire country associating me with zits. Besides, the rash Margie created using makeup was amazing. Especially the pus. She should work in horror movies.”

  “The rash was impressive,” Nathaniel conceded. “Sending a repulsive photo of yourself to the company president, blaming the acne cream, and threatening legal action—that was a little extreme.”

  “Maybe. They made sure to choose a different spokesman, didn’t they? My point is that I know how to handle Marcello. At least I could if this stupid elevator wasn’t broken.”

  Nathaniel reached around him and pressed the button. The doors opened immediately.

  “How did you do that?”

  Nathaniel shrugged. “I guess you need me after all.” He followed Kelly into the elevator and started pushing numbers on the keypad.”

  “You know the code to his office?”

  “Of course.”

  “Tell me!”

  “Not a chance in hell.”

  Kelly wore a pout until the elevator doors opened. Then he put on his business face because as much as he hated to admit it, Marcello really did keep him on his toes. Currently the man himself was standing next to the couches, three glasses of freshly poured champagne awaiting them.

  “Nathaniel!” he said, clapping his hands together. “What an unexpected surprise!”

  Nathaniel only shook his head. He walked to one of the couches and plopped down. Kelly did the same after Marcello had greeted him and reached for one of the glasses.

  “Not a drop,” Nathaniel said.

  “Oh, let the boy have his fun,” Marcello said, sitting across from them.

  “Not until negotiations are over.”

  “Negotiations?” Kelly said. “You already have me under contract.”

  “Yes,” Marcello said pleasantly, looking between them. “How wonderful to see you side by side. Such a handsome pair! You’ve become close while working together?”

  Kelly felt like leaping across the coffee table to silence him. Was he trying to spook Nathaniel? Then again, they had been doing this for months now. Kelly turned his head to gauge his reaction.

  “Somebody has to keep him in line,” Nathaniel said.

  “And I can think of nobody more qualified.” Marcello toasted them with a glass before sipping from it. “Of course, one’s personal life has a direct effect on their performance at work, so I imagine if you really wanted to guide him, you would have to put in... extra hours.”

  The muscles in Nathaniel’s jaw flexed a few times. “That’s what friends are for.”

  “For good times, for bad times,” Kelly deadpanned. “Why exactly am I here again?”

  “They grow up so quickly,” Marcello declared with a twinkle in his eye. “I can scarcely believe that we’re sending you off to college next week.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without you,” Kelly lied, still not understanding where this was going.

  “It makes me think wistfully of my own college days,” Marcello said. “The wonderful adventures I had and all the friends I made. Of course there’s a fair amount of grueling work, tedious classes, and professors with severely inflated egos, but I’m sure you’ll weather all of that commendably. No, you’re probably better off studying rather than lounging around Cancun.”

  “Cancun?” Kelly repeated.

  “Oh yes, you know, beaches made of diamonds, water like liquid sapphire, an exotic culture in a foreign land you’ve never set foot upon. What did I read on the Internet earlier? One of the world’s most renowned tourist destinations? How tiresome this must sound to you compared to sitting in a classroom day after day.”

  Kelly stared at him. “Okay, you’ve shown me the bait. Now where’s the hook?”

  “No hook,” Marcello said, “unless you’re not willing to play hooky. Ha! It’s short notice, but the photo shoot would be next week.”

  “So I’d miss my first week of school,” Kelly said. “That’s not a big deal.”

  Marcello smiled. “Wonderful, my dear boy! How very generous of you. Let’s drink to our mutual pleasure, shall we?”

  “No,” Nathaniel grunted. “Not until we’re done with business.” Marcello drank anyway, scornfully gazing over the glass in Nathaniel’s direction.

  “There’s more?” Kelly asked.

  “Mm,” Marcello said, nodding while he swallowed. “Your reputation has sailed across the Atlantic. The Pacific too. How would you like to see New Zealand? Or Venice? We’re still in negotiations, but Tokyo is likely as well.”

  Kelly worked very hard not to let his jaw drop. His eyebrows might have shot up, but he soon coaxed them back down. “Sounds nice.”

  “It does,” Marcello replied with a heavy sigh. “What could have been. But no, your education is of more value.”

  “I’m still available on weekends.”

  “To fly to Tokyo and have a team of professionals photograph jetlag’s new poster boy?” Marcello shook his head, jowls wobbling. “No, I’m afraid that simply won’t do. You go become a learned man. In four years, if time has been merciful, I’m sure some lingering interest in your image will remain.”

  His intent was transparent. Marcello wanted him to continue working full-time rather than go to college. What Marcello didn’t know is how little higher education interested Kelly at the moment. He still hadn’t settled on a career choice. Rock star, astronaut, coach, or teacher— whether outlandish or practical, nothing sounded quite right. The same with being a model. He couldn’t do this his whole life, and yet—

  “You could always swing that handsome hammer now,” Marcello said, “strike while the world’s iron is still hot for you. In a few years you’ll have earned enough to pay for your college tuition in full. In addition to a nice little nest egg, I would imagine. You don’t realize how young you are, how much time you have at your disposal, how rare opportunities like these are.”

  “I already paid for my first semester,” Kelly said.

  “I can do amazing things with a telephone,” Marcello said. “I’d
have your money refunded to you by tomorrow.”

  Kelly’s head swam like he’d already been drinking, but he didn’t have to think hard about this. A year or two of travelling the world before he settled down to face life’s realities. What could be better? He was reaching for the champagne glass when Nathaniel spoke.

  “Kelly would be doing the studio a great favor,” he said. “How many international contracts did we lose in recent years? And now they’re coming back, all thanks to him.”

  Kelly glanced up to see a flash of panic in Marcello’s eyes. Then he leaned back, leaving the glass where it was. “Of course I do have a few conditions.”

  “Naturally,” Marcello said, shooting daggers at Nathaniel. “Let’s hear them.”

  “I’m creating a college fund for my brother. He wants to be a doctor, so it won’t be cheap. Whatever I put into the fund, I want you to match it, dollar for dollar.”

  “He wants me to put a doctor through college,” Marcello said to the room in general. “Really now!”

  “Well?” Kelly pressed.

  “Is that your only demand?”

  “No, I also want to get behind the camera again. I used to love taking photos, and lately being around all the equipment has got my shutter finger twitching. I want back in.”

  “Very touching,” Marcello said, “but I can’t put a hobbyist on a paid assignment. There’s too much at stake.”

  “Then give me access to the equipment after hours. And get one of your photographers to show me the ropes. Preferably Rick, since he’s nice. I’ll build a portfolio, and you can judge it as you see fit.”

  Marcello turned to Nathaniel. “Will insurance cover any damage to the equipment?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Marcello nodded. “Very well. To both conditions.”

  “Good,” Kelly said. “In that case, I’ll think about it.”

  Marcello’s eyes narrowed so much that he almost appeared to have fallen asleep. Only the increasingly red hue of his skin suggested otherwise. Then he leaned forward and grabbed the bottle to pour himself a refill.

  “We’ll need another of these,” he said. “Nathaniel, if you would be so kind.”