Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2016 00:47:14 -0400
From: Jesse McMillan <writingafewstories@gmail.com>
Subject: Giving Us A Chance - Chapter 15

Summer had arrived once again in the Appalachians, bringing the balmy,
humid days that warm the region from May to October. Once again the
mountains had dawned their emerald cloaks of foliage, nature's green now
reaching from the warm valleys below to even the mountaintop "bald" Aidan
and Mason knew as home. The begrudged pace of racing from home to vehicle
and back again each morning and evening to escape the frigid temperatures
of the high altitudes had finally given way to nights spent round the fire
pit viewing the beauty of the celestials while the "lightening bugs" flared
their tiny lights across the meadows.

Warm breezes "swished" and "hissed" their song through the swaying green
boughs of forests just beyond the surrounding fields. The air constantly
rang with the excited chattering of the countless varieties of birds that
knew the region as home. But for all the life that abounded along the
ridges and crests of the mountains, and for the flurry of activity within
and roundabout the house, spring cleaning, vegetable gardening, etc., one
room within the house remained silent and still. Indeed, had one not known
the young lad had spent the last few months living with his elder brother
they would've been greatly surprised to have known a young man by the name
of Dylan McManus even existed!

The change in his younger brother's disposition hadn't gone unnoticed by
Aidan. He'd seen the signs from his earliest hours after returning home
from visiting his friend Paul. That late evening when he'd stumbled
exhaustedly through the door he'd expected an icy greeting from the young
man at best. When he'd received the pained look that somehow managed to
appear half an attempt of a smile, yet verging on a fear of making eye
contact, only to have the young man practically race up the stairs, Aidan
had hardly known what to make of the situation. All the time he'd been with
his friend he'd hoped against hope that Dylan and Mason might, somehow,
come to a form of an understanding, and, indeed, it did appear there'd been
a change in the young man. But as the days progressed and Aidan watched the
solemn young man that ghosted through the rooms of the house he began to
fear that something was gravely wrong.
===========================================================================================================================

The hallway leading along the Math Department was deserted. The young man
gazed dejectedly along the corridor toward the exit he trudged toward. Of
course it was deserted! Only an idiot such as himself would be here an hour
after school had ended on the last day of the year! He absently kicked at a
crumpled bit of paper that had fallen to the floor as he passed, wishing he
could somehow feel the pain of the kick himself. How stupid could he have
been to think Mr. Webb would talk to him now? He hadn't spoken to him in
almost three months; what would change now?

These last months had been the worst time Dylan had ever experienced, and
that included learning about his dad's illness. The cruel irony of
realizing that what he'd once believed to have been the most wonderful day
of his life had brought about the saddest time in his life was almost
unbearable. That afternoon he'd spent with Mr. Webb had been the stuff of
dreams. He'd experience both a physical and emotional pleasure that day
he'd not known before. But it wasn't to last. The terrible truth was that
that one day of pleasure had led to a loneliness that had rendered him
practically lifeless.

Though his body had felt the physical effects of that evening for days
after the scars his heart had received the following days had never
healed. Dylan had returned happily to school that next morning believing
that, even if theirs was to be a secret relationship, he'd found someone
who with whom he might share his heart. But the cold reception he'd
received had all but broken him in front of his classmates. Indeed, it had
taken every ounce of self-restraint he possessed not to break down and weep
throughout the rest of the day.

For several days afterwards he'd returned hopefully to the person who held
his heart, hoping against hope that there'd been some
misunderstanding. "Yes," he'd assured himself, that had to be it. He knew
Mr. Webb better than that; he wouldn't treat his favorite student that way,
especially not after they'd...well, he just wouldn't. But the days of
indifference had persisted. Finally, becoming frustrated, and more than a
little hopeful for another day together with Mr. Webb, Dylan had waited a
full two hours after class one Friday evening to discuss their situation
privately.

Upon first hearing the cold response he received from Mr. Webb Dylan first
believed he'd misunderstood. But upon asking an explanation from the man
who peered somberly over his glasses at him Dylan received a heartbreaking
confirmation of an unspoken fear. "Dylan I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we're
not going to be able to spend time together anymore."

"What? Wh...what do you mean?" "Well, frankly put, I think it's a bit
obvious I've not been talking to you in class. You're a bright young man; I
think you know why. I also believe that, whether either of us like the idea
or not, we cannot be what you are hoping for." "But Mr..." "No, there's no
changing my mind! What happened between you and I was a terrible mistake on
my part. You don't know how I wish I could go back to that day and alter
what took place between us. I've hated myself ever since. And the worst
part is I've not even been able to be man enough to approach you about
this; I've waited on you to come to me!"

Tears stung Dylan's eyes as memories swirled in his mind. How he'd pleaded
with the handsome man who'd refused to even touch his hand that afternoon!
"Mr. Webb...please, just let's talk..." "No Dylan, I'm afraid there's
nothing else to discuss. I will be resigning after this semester is
completed. I cannot, in good conscience, expect to carry on teaching,
pretending as though nothing ever happened. Quite frankly, it has surprised
me that you've not gone to Principal Sparks about this before now!"

The handsome face had peered sadly at him for a moment before his quiet
voice had spoken its final words. "I cannot ask you to forgive me for what
I've done to you. I certainly will never forgive myself! And I will more
than understand if you feel you must go to the administration about this
matter. I also know that nothing I promise or offer will undo the damage
I've caused. All I can offer is this promise...if you have not reported
this incident to the authorities before the end of the school year, by
whatever grace you might find in your heart, you have my solemn word that
you will never see me again. I will make quite sure I do not harm your life
anymore."

===================================================================================================================================================================

The fire crackled merrily in the pit, echoing across the meadows
surrounding the house. The night sky above glistened with the countless
stars of the heavens, the views unobstructed due to the high altitude and
setting of Aidan and Mason's mountaintop home upon the bare "bald" of the
Blue Ridge. The nighttime had begun to tune her orchestra of symphony for
another night's serenade to lull the mountain inhabitants to sleep.

As the chorus of the miniscule tree frog, known as "peepers" to the
mountain folk, drew to a height of sound, augmented and supported by the
occasional yelp of the coyote and the disgruntled hoot of an owl Aidan felt
himself beginning to feel drowsy. But though a busy week's schedule of
grueling work, both of occupation and home, had brought him to the brink of
exhaustion his mind still pondered the shadowy figure of the small young
man who sat to himself just outside the fire's glow. Aidan studied the
shadowy face the occasionally came into focus in the bouncing, flickering
light of the fire. He knew that look.

Aidan smiled ruefully as realization dawned on him. There were a great many
ways in which he and his younger brother differed, but despite both their
efforts to prove otherwise there were many likenesses. But he'd no more
than allowed this thought to cross his mind than his heart began to ache
for the boy. There was just one problem; that wasn't a look of stubbornness
or anger, or even of aloofness as the boy had attempted before. No, the
forlorn face that now shown within the light of the fire now held nothing
but dejection. Despite his attempts to suppress it a sigh escaped Aidan's
muscle body. Yes, he knew that look; someone had broken the boy's heart!

He studied his brother's small form for some time, chancing a glance at
Mason who's nod only confirmed that he saw Aidan's observation as
well. Yes, there was no mistaking that look. The young boy who sat across
the patio from he and Mason had been injured. He studied his brother for a
moment before looking away, so as not to draw the teen's attention. No
doubt, he'd fallen for some young girl at school who'd not taken as great a
fancy to him and had hurt him.

Aidan felt the corners of his mouth tug into a tiny smile again. Why some
girl wouldn't want Dylan he wasn't sure of; small as he was, he was quite a
handsome young man! Loathe as he was to admit such a thing, Aidan had to
confess that both he and his younger brother had taken their looks from
their paternal family. His own mother, bless her, had always been a rather
squat woman. She'd often begrudgingly stated that, "though she despised the
man with a passion," she was glad Aidan had taken his good looks from his
father.

He chanced another glance toward the small young man that sat staring into
darkness that surrounded them. Who would turn Dylan down? It was true, the
boy had been a pain in the ass with he and Mason; there was not denying
that. He'd been practically impossible to live with the first couple of
months he'd been here. But by all accounts of his teachers and the school
staff he was a respectful young man. Many described him as being a bit shy,
but quite a young gentleman. The math teacher had been all raves about him
at their last conference. Hell, even his own mother had spoken favorably of
the boy!

 ( "Well, maybe it's just your personality! He's always oh-so-respectful
with me. Perhaps you should try to look at things from his point of
view. After all he's been..." )

He allowed his casual glance to turn into an all-out stare. Yes, something
was definitely up. He might not have been the hulking ox that he, Aidan,
had always been, but the boy had quite handsome bone structure. He might
not have been the "overgrown hoss" that he, Aidan, had been at that age
from pumping iron, but he'd begun to develop an athletic build. He had a
pleasant face, and more to the point, Aidan had learned that the sulky
personality he displayed at home was reserved for only he and Mason. So who
would hurt a kid like that?