Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2002 14:01:45 -0500
From: Rory M <st_rory@hotmail.com>
Subject: Bailey chapter 8

Bailey
By Rory M
Chapter 8


	After parking in the lot behind the Princeton Record Exchange,
Bailey and Rich slowly started their walk up towards the bustle of Nassau
Street on a Saturday night.  Conversation was kept light and pleasant, and
Bailey's anxiety faded as they progressed onto the fountain by the
Princeton library.
	One really good thing about walking around P-Town was checking out
the students.  Like most College towns, this was a good enough site as any
for the local tourists.
	  The boys passed two guys who were obviously students at the
university.  The shorter one wore dark framed glasses and a polo shirt
while the other was blonde with a light blue long t-shirt on.  Bailey and
Rich slowed their walking to watch the eye candy stroll by; it was the high
light of the evening for the two teenagers, almost.

"All I have to say is...GOD DAMN!"  Bailey laughed at Rich's comment.

"The brunette is worth a wet dream."

"No no no, the blue eyed one, the blue eyed one.  Did you see that package?
Definitely the blue eyed one."

"Sorry, I usually don't refer to the package, and I'll take the short one,
thanks."

"I guess he's more at your level anyway, huh?" Bailey laughed and punched
him in the shoulder. "And sorry, I guess we all can't be saints like you."

"What? I just don't think looking at the guy's package is more interesting
than his face.  Besides, his ass wasn't that great," they both laughed as
they continued to walk into the fountain.

"The water is going in next week," Bailey never understood why they drained
it so much.

"It's about time, after you?"  Rich hopped down into the empty fountain
pool and held out his hand for Bailey to do the same. "The last time I came
here my friends Christy and Lena threw my boxers up into the sculpture, I
wonder if they're still there," Rich walked up to the large sculpture that
was the focal point of the empty fountain and looked up for his lost
underwear.

"I didn't take you for someone to have orgies in public."

"NO, it wasn't like that!  I had my gym bag with me and I had an extra
pair...which they stole. Oh fine, give me that look. I don't care," Rich
grabbed Bailey around the neck and tousled up his hair as they seated
themselves on the edge of the pool.  They were both silent for a moment,
which made Bailey uneasy.

"Can I ask you a question you don't have to answer?"

"I guess.... is it gonna hurt?"

"Why don't I just ask it first," Rich rolled his eyes at him. "Why are you
home schooled, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I've.... been sick," Bailey suddenly wanted to go home.

"We can drop it if you want."

"Why do you ask in the first place?"

"Remember how I said you remind me of someone I once knew?"

"Yeah, I'm guessing they were home schooled."

"I was, I also go to Dr. Lavine.  I just have a feeling we have more in
common. I don't want to pry, I just kind of wanted to offer myself to
you...as a friend."

"You don't know the situation I'm in, what makes you think..." Rich cut him
off.

"Bailey, I'm sorry.  Just forget about it," the two of them were both
silent for a few minutes.

"Why do you go to see Dr. Lavine?"

"Because about two years ago I slit my wrists."

"Why?"

"Some guys at school found out I was bi and threatened to out me, and at
the time that scared me more than death. They basically said if I didn't
kill myself one of them would kill me.  The guys on the football team then
were really good guys..."

"I'm...sorry to hear that.  I guess everything has worked out better for
you now?" Bailey couldn't make eye contact with him.

"Not whiskers on kittens and raindrops on roses, but much much better."

"Were you outed anyway?"

"When I came back I came out myself, pretty much beat them to the punch
line. I lost a few friends and went through a lot, but it's so much easier
being myself. So, what about you?"

"What about me what?" he was getting defensive.

"Why do you go to Dr. Lavine?  You don't have to tell me, really."

"Same reasons.  Don't tell anyone else at the meetings, please?"

"I won't buddy, I won't.  Calm down," he placed an arm over his shoulders.
"I wouldn't do that, I just kind of want to be there for you, because I
know where you are, I can see it from a mile away. I just thought I'd try
to be there for you, because at the time I really didn't have anyone
myself."

"You'd do that for me?  You just met me?"

"SO...what's your point, Skippy?"

"I...I don't know, it's just strange."

"You'll get used to strange. Anyway, how long are you on school leave?"

"Till the fall."

"NICE."

"Yeah, I know."

"So, do you want to catch a movie or something?"

"You're so strange."

"Haven't we been over this?  Why am I so strange again?"

"You rip out my darkest secret and then move on like it was nothing."

"Well, do you want to talk about it, you seemed uncomfortable."

"No, I don't.  It's just...I'm going to stop talking now, I make no sense.
What movie?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


	The boys left Princeton for the AMC 24 in Hamilton but missed all
showings of everything except for the Red Violin, which didn't interest the
two teenagers.  Bailey had grown noticeably tired.  The day was a long one
for him, especially since he hadn't really done much for a few weeks except
lay around and nap.  The strenuous day had caught up with him quick, so
both agreed it best for him to go home.  The conversation didn't return to
anything remotely as serious as it had at the fountain.  Rich talked about
his boyfriend and some of his other friends.  Bailey enjoyed talking about
some of the people he had met earlier at the F&T meeting.  He was being
accepted into a new family it felt to him, and he was extremely happy about
the fact.
	As Rich's car pulled up into the driveway Karen was already waiting
in the front living room.  Bailey said his goodbyes and bid Rich a hasty
get away before him mother came out and started in with him.  He waved from
his driveway and turned around to his mother in the front door, who was
disappointed in not being able to...introduce herself to her son's new
friend.  She noticed immediately Bailey's smile as he walked up to her.
She wasn't used to him looking so happy.

"So, what did you get into?"

"Ehh, had an orgy at a frat house and smoked crack after, it was fun."

"BAILEY WILLIAM!"

"Will you relax, mom? We just walked around Princeton.  Nothing happened,
he's got a boyfriend.  You need to stop looking at me that way."

"Yeah...right.  Well, I'm glad you had a good time, but before you go out
again I want to meet whoever you're hanging out with, ok?"

"Alright Mom, sure.  But I'm kind of tired, I think I'm gonna go hit the
sack."

"OK, sweetie.  Church at 9, I'll wake you," Karen engulfed him in a hug and
kissed him on the forehead before he departed up the stairs.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



	The mattress bounced and Bailey was jostled out of his dream a
little too quickly for comfort.

"Rise and shine, kiddo!" his mother jumped into the bed and curled up next
to him.  He was barely awake, and the last thing he wanted at a time like
this was his mother prying him out of his comfortable bed, or at least
joining him in it.  If anything we wanted to return to his dream, but now
he was faced with his mother and hiding his morning erection from her ever
growing closer body.  God, I must have been so close. His thoughts tried to
remember his dream but the only thing that was remembered was the raging
hard-on left afterwards. He grunted his disapproval of the overly chipped
woman in bed next to him.

"Oh, come on you grouch, get up.  Breakfast will be ready shortly," she
kissed the back of his head before rolling out the other side. "If you
don't get up I will send your grandmother in, I believe she's down the hall
with your brother now."

"I'M UP, I'M UP!!" he threw the covers over his body and whined out his
disapproval. Bailey waited for his mother to leave before he got out of bed
and ran across the hall to the bathroom for his shower. It didn't take long
to finish his dream, though now conscious. Refreshed, relaxed, and oh so
clean, he got dressed for church and joined his family for breakfast.
	Shane was sipping on a cup of orange juice, not dressed yet, and
obviously in a fowl mood for obvious reasons.  First would probably be the
fact that he had to go to church, which he hated. And second would be the
fact that his grandmother's wake-up calls were not friendly in the least
bit, especially to someone who so values their sleep.

"Eggs, Shane?"

"Whaaat?" he wasn't really conscious yet.

"Eggs, do you want eggs?  Please don't lay your head on the table.  Shane,
get your head OFF THE TABLE! NOW EAT!!"

"Yes Ma'am," Shane grumbled while poking at his eggs and propping his head
up in one palm.

"So Bail, where did you end up last night?" Collin was always irritatingly
pleasant in the mornings.

"Just walked around P-Town, it was fun."

"That's all."

"Well, I'll tell you about the wild monkey sex later."

"BAILEY, thee table isn't thee plaece for sooch tawlkin'."

"Sorry, Nanny,"

"Shane, that's it! Go get dressed, we leave in 15 minutes."

"I'm not done eating," he whined.

"Yes, you are.  If you lay your head on that table like a slob again I'll
make you eat in the kitchen from now on."


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

	Mass was the usual, the only ones who paid much attention were
Bailey and his grandmother.  It was a pleasant oration all the same.
Afterwards the family met with Father Raike, which was a usual routine
after services.  On this morning however, he wanted to meet with Collin and
Karen, so the rest of the family stayed outside and mingled with the other
parishioners.  Within half an hour the family was on their way to lunch at
the usual café in Princeton.  Collin and Karen seemed obviously in
thought, and the boys instinctively knew something was up and it was about
them.
	The six McCorristins' were seated to lunch in a large booth that
faced the bustle of Princeton on a beautiful morning.  The boys sat next to
their grandfather as the three other adults faced them.  Each one looked
like they were about to receive punishment of some kind.

"SO, what did Father Raike want?"

"Shane, why don't we order lunch first before we discuss anything, ok?"

"That means she's going to drop the bomb and we're under it."  Shane wasn't
thrilled with his mother's answer, and he honestly was scared shitless.
Speaking with Father Raike meant one of two things to him.  He had done
something bad and was now caught, or he wasn't living up to someone in the
church's potential.  The second one scared him more, because he hated
church more than anything.  It was boring and morose to him, and now he
feared that he was going to have to go more than he already did.  He was
already cringing internally.
	The family went about small talk and ordered a light lunch.  Bailey
hadn't said much and Shane was too busy pointing out all of the good things
he had done in the recent past, including his agreement to go and see
Dr. Lavine.  Enough was enough and Collin had reached a small breaking
point.  When the food arrived, so did the little announcement.

"What do you boys think about getting away this summer?"

"Wha?" a simultaneous grunt came from both the McCorristin boys.

"Father Raike gave us information previously about a youth camp, and today
we decided that we're going to send you guys.  I know that sounds bad, but
we checked into it, and we think you both need it."

"Dad!!  Summer is the only time I get away from church for more than a
Saturday and now you're sending me to bible camp??  This really blows.  I
don't see why I have to go, it isn't fair," Shane was on the verge of a
temper tantrum in the middle of the restaurant. He usually did this, partly
because most of the time it was Bailey's thing and he had to tag along
against his will, or it took away his prized free time.  If he had the
choice he would do nothing but sleep, eat, hangout with his friends and
play a little football, but he was inevitably always compared to or grouped
with Bailey, because God forbid his parents let them be individuals.

"Shane, don't raise your voice in the restaurant!"  Karen was flustered.

"It's not a bible camp, it's faith based, but it's not that bad.  We just
think that you both should get away for a while and try to be more
independent."

"How the hell will that work? Being independent stuck at camp together."

"Shane, out in the car, now!"

"Mom, please don't.  I understand what he's saying," Bailey was staring out
the window; he hadn't really made a reaction to what was going on yet.
Karen reached her hand across the table and cupped his, the expression on
his face worried her, and she was already having her doubts with what Shane
had already voiced.

"Bailey?" she finally asked.

"I don't really want to go, either."

"You both don't understand why we're sending you. We'll talk more about it
when we get home.  For now lets just leave it the way it is, because you're
going and that's it.  You both need to get out for a while, it's obvious
that a break would be good for the both of you, especially with what has
been going on recently.  You won't be in the same group, and you'll have a
lot of liberty around the camp, we checked into it.  It's not boot camp
guys, I don't understand what the hell the drama's about.  Now eat your
sandwiches and stop the bitching.  Shane, one more word and I'm going to
agree with your mother."


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



"Yeah, so I leave June 28th.  It fucking blows, man."

"Sorry to hear it.  Why do you have to go, anyway?"

"Because my parents think I'm too shy and antisocial and that's one of my
biggest problems.  They're pretty much forcing me to make friends.  So,
this summer is going to blow, which sucks because it's basically my last
one."

"Yeah, I hear yah.  We'll give you a going away party at the last weekend
before you go, man."

"Gee Rich, I appreciate it.  Excuse me while I drop the phone out the
window and hurl all over it."

"OK buddy, ok.  Do you really think that's attractive though, puking over
the phone?  Not the greatest social tool. Maybe your parents have a point."

"Hey Rich?"

"Yeah?"

"Fuck you."

"Fair enough.  But I've gotta run, I'll call you later on, ok?"

"Alright, later man."

	Bailey had accepted his fate that he was going to this so-called
camp.  After 2 hours of heated debating with their parents the boys
cracked.  Bailey simply resigned and Shane slammed a lot of doors and
punched a couple of things.  No matter, the boys were leaving in two months
for camp...oh the joy.
	Bailey vented with Rich and felt better, but for the most part was
pretty scared.  Social situations with his peers for the most part were
disasters, at least with one exception being the First and Third
meetings. He was shy, that was certain, and he had bad social anxiety he
had not begun to understand.  Dr. Lavine mentioned it, but with only two
visits the progress hadn't really started yet. So, here he was going off to
some camp in east bumblefuck south jersey.  He wouldn't know anyone, his
brother would no doubt ignore his existence, and he'd be away from home for
the first time ever.

"Great"