Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 19:12:31 -0800 (PST)
From: Brittany Martinez <yaoifan95020@yahoo.com>
Subject: Breaking Barriers chapter one

Jason was sitting in his desk staring out the classroom window watching
the rain fall. It was now late October and this was the first time it had
rained in the last few months. The bell that ended fourth period had rung
nearly five minutes ago, but he was too lost in his thoughts to realize
that he was all alone in the deserted classroom.  A strand of light
blonde hair fell over his right eye as he breathed softly, the cool air
from the open window made him shiver slightly.

"The bell has already rung Jason...You'll be late." Luke whispered
standing behind the blonde. His arms were full of textbooks and binders.
A faint blush crept across the red head's cheeks as he admired the
picture Jason made, sitting there lost in his thoughts.

"Hmm?" The blond said as he looked at Luke. "Oh, I'm sorry, I must've
spaced out." He said standing up and throwing his backpack over one
shoulder.

"You've been doing that a lot lately." Luke said, sitting down in the now
vacant seat and arranging his belongings on the desk top.

"I guess it's because I have so much on my mind lately, I've just been
out of it a lot." Jason answered brushing back his blond hair. "But hey,
that's to be expected when you have so many responsibilities."

Luke nodded. "True." He paused, thoughts of the man before him floated in
to his mind. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts he added, "Hey, I'll
talk to you at lunch. You only have four minutes to get to class."

"Oh... right, see ya." The older man said as he shot a smile at Luke
before leaving the classroom.

Luke blushed slightly and opened his notebook. All through the class all
he could think about was Jason. `Why am I thinking like this?' He
thought. This time it was the junior who spaced out and missed the lunch
bell.

Jason sat in the quad with his back up against a tree looking up into the
dark grey sky, his thoughts once again taking over him. 'Damn it...' he
thought once he realized he had been spacing out. 'I really need to learn
how to control my thoughts...'

Luke jogged up to the older man and stopped, panting. "Sorry. I'm
late...missed the bell."

"That's alright." Jason said with a smile as he looked back up at the
sky. "I kinda spaced out again anyway."

The younger man flopped down next to the blonde. "Mind sharing some of
your thoughts? It might keep your mind from continuing to wander."

"Well, you know how my life is; I have so many things going on, maybe a
little too many..." Jason started twirling his hair in-between his
fingers. "I just don't think I can take anymore stress."

"I wish I could help." Luke said wrapping his arms around his knees. 'If
only you knew the stress you put me through by just existing.'

"Are you busy tonight? I mean... do you want to hang out after school?"
Jason asked as he looked at Luke.

"Sure." The younger man replied, biting his bottom lip to stop himself
from blushing.

"Alright." The older teen said as he let go of the strand of hair
in-between his fingers and focused his attention on Luke. "Meet you
here?"

"Alright." Luke said nodding.

"Later." Jason stood up, picked up his things and started to walk away
from the younger teen.

"Later..." Luke murmured, blushing dark red. To the red head, the rest of
the school day seemed an eternity away.

When school got out, Jason was already standing by the tree. A book in
one hand as he held one of the straps to his back pack with the other.

"Hey!" The young man walked over to the taller male, his book bag slung
over his right shoulder.

"Hey." Jason said with a smile as he bent down to place the book in his
bag. "You ready?" he asked as he reached in his pocket for the keys to
his car.

"Of course." Luke said blushing slightly. He raised his hand to push back
his dark red hair.

"Then let's go." The older male said as he began walking toward the
parking lot. "I need to stop at my place to get a few things...do you
mind?"

"I don't mind." The red head replied, following.

"Great." Jason said as they got to his car and he unlocked the doors.
"Then let's roll."

Luke nodded and climbed into the passenger's seat.

Jason put the keys in the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot.
When they arrived at his apartment he started looking around his bedroom
for the things he needed.

"What are you looking for?" Luke asked, leaning against the door frame.
"I might be able to help you find them."

"I found it." Jason said as he picked up a small box from under a pile of
clothes and withdrew the money from inside. The blond then walked over to
the full length mirror on the other side of the room, brushing his hair
away from his face and then removing his shirt.

Luke traced the older man's form with his eyes and blushed and looked
away. `What is with me?'

Jason stretched his arms then pulled on a white and blue button up shirt.
"Okay, I think I have everything I need." he said as he looked at Luke.

"Alright." The younger man replied. "Where are we going anyway?"

"Not sure yet." Jason answered as he left his bedroom and walked towards
the front door. "We'll figure something out."

"What's in the box?" Luke asked, following the older man.

"I keep all my money in it, that way I don't lose it so easily." The
blonde said as he walked out side and got back into his car.

"Ohh..." The red head climbed back into the car and looked over at
Jason. "How about a movie?"

"That'll work." The older teen said pulling out of the drive-way.

"Okay." Luke replied, laying his head on his hand. His thoughts began
to wander once more.

"What's on your mind?" Jason asked as he glanced over at Luke.

The red head blushed slightly. "N-nothing. My mind was just wandering."

"Oh... alright..." The blond said as he parked the car in the movie
theatre drive-way and stretched his arms.

Luke lifted his head off his hand and looked at Jason. "What movie should
we go see?"

"I don't really care." The older man said as he leaned up against the car
door and looked up at the sky.

"What's up? I can tell you're thinking of something."

"It's nothing really; there's just been a few things that have been
bothering me lately." Jason answered as he kept his focus on the clouds.

"Like what?" Luke asked, watching his friend curiously.

"Rumors." The older man said as he brushed his blond hair out of his
face.

"Rumors are rumors. You shouldn't let them bother you." The red head
stretched his arms. "What have you heard anyway?"

"Never mind." Jason said as he started walking away from the car.
"There's no way it can be true anyway."

"No I want to know. What is it?" Luke said trying to keep out with his
friend's pace.

Jason turned to face Luke, his hands in his pockets. "Are you gay?"

"Ah...What? Were did you hear that?" the red head asked, shocked. `Who
the hell could of??'

"It's something that I've heard around school." Jason answered as he
looked into Luke's eyes. "And it bothers me not knowing if it's true or
not."

"I..." Luke murmured and diverted his eyes.

"It's alright Luke; I don't care if you are." Jason said as he looked at
the younger teen.

"That's just it..." The red head said, looking back his friend. "I
don't know..."

"You're not sure?" Jason asked as his eyes locked with the red head's.
Luke nodded mutely.

"There's nothing wrong with that." Jason said as he looked at Luke and
smiled. "You are what you are; you have no control over that."

"I guess... I wish I knew for sure though..."

Jason tucked his index finger gently underneath the dark haired teen's
chin and made him look into his eyes. "I am."

"You-you are? I never knew."

"Nobody does." The older man said as he looked down at the concrete. "And
believe me; keeping something like this inside for so long really damages
you."

"I'll keep your secret for you."

"Thanks." Jason said as he moved closer and kissed Luke softly on the
lips.

Luke blushed deeply. "Ja-Jason..."

"I'm sorry." The older man said as he slowly pulled away. "I-I shouldn't
have done that."

"No no...It's..." The red head looked away, blush deepening.

"What?" Jason asked as he looked at Luke.

"It's nothing."

"Don't lie." Jason said as he looked at the red head. "I know you well
enough to know when you're lying."

Luke was blushing so much that the tips of his ears turned red.
""Re-really, it's nothing."

"Let's skip the movie, I don't really feel like it." Jason said as he
walked back toward his car.

"Wait..." Luke called, biting his knuckle. `I can't believe I'm gonna
do this...'

"Hm?" The older teen asked as he turned to look at the red head.

The red head took a step forward and pressed his lips gently against the
other man's and pulled away. "I didn't mind that kiss..." He whispered.

Really?" Jason asked as he looked at Luke and smiled as he got back into
his car. "I don't want to force you into something you're not ready for,
alright?"

The younger man climbed back into his seat. "I understand..." Luke
whispered.

"Where should we go now?" Jason asked as he leaned back in the driver's
seat.

"I don't care. I'm out of ideas."

"Then let's go to the beach." Jason said with a smile.

Luke looked up and smiled. "Okay...we're not swimming are we?"

"No, just for a walk." Jason said as he started driving once again.

"Then that's fine, just try and not walk so fast, you're the athlete not
me."

"Sorry." The blond said with as he got on the free way. There was no
reply; the red head busied himself by looking out the window. When Jason
finally stopped the car, he got out and took a deep breath. "It's a bit
chilly out here." He said as he looked at Luke.

"Yeah it is." Luke murmured, shivering through his tee shirt.

"Let's go." Jason said as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and started
walking towards the ocean, the cool sea air blowing lightly through his
blonde hair.

The young artist walked beside his friend, the smell of sea salt tickling
his nose. "I love the smell of the ocean." Luke sighed, running his right
hand through the deep red strands of his hair.

"So do I." Jason replied as he looked at Luke. "It helps clear your
mind."

Luke nodded and smiled. "It's also very calming."

"Indeed it is." The blond said as he looked down at his watch. "We can't
stay out here too long alright?"

"Okay." The red head turned and gazed at the white capped waves. Jason
sat down in the sand and moved his hand slowly through it. Luke sat down
in the sand next to the blonde. "Thank you for taking me here, Jason."

"No problem." Jason replied as he leaned over and kissed Luke again just
as the sun was beginning to set over the cool blue water. The red head
blinked, caught off guard. The blond stood up and looked down at the
younger man. "We better go, I'll drive you home."

"Alright." Luke said, standing as well. `Oh what I would give to have
him ask me to stay the night with him.'  The red head blushed slightly
and shook his head, shocked at his own thoughts.

When they got back on the highway, Jason heard a really strange noise
from the car. "What the-" he slowly pulled the car over and got out.

"What's the problem?" The younger teen called from the passenger's seat.

"The tire blew." Jason answered as he walked back over to the driver's
side of the car. "Damn it and I don't have a spare."

"What now?" Luke asked worryingly.

"We'll have to wait here and pray that someone stops to help us." The
older teen said sitting in the front seat.

"You don't have a cell phone on you?" The red head asked hopefully.

"I figured I wouldn't need it." Jason said as he laid his head back on
his seat.

The younger man sighed. "What bad luck..." Luke pulled his knees to his
chest. "It's cold out here."

Jason put the keys back in the ignition and turned the heater on.
"Better?"

"Yes, a little."

"That's good." The blond said as he smiled at Luke. A slight blush
touched the younger man's cheeks. "Damn it." Jason said under his breath
as he tried to relax. "I have a dead-line that's due tomorrow and I'm
stuck in a car."

"I know how you feel. I have a project to finish as well." Jason leaned
his head back again and closed his eyes. Luke reached out and touched
Jason's arm. "I'm sorry something like this had to happen."

"Don't be, neither one of us had control over it." The older teen said,
his eyes still closed.

"I'm still sorry. If you weren't with me this probably wouldn't have
happened."

"I know, but you know, what if people at school kind out about me? Things
won't be the same."

"I'll be there to support you. You shouldn't care what people think, you
should be proud of who you are."

"But that's exactly my problem, if I come out; do you know how much
trouble that will start? I'll probably get kicked off both the tennis
team and the football team."

"Why would they do that? You're the best player they have."

"Because I'm gay that's why." Jason said as he looked into Luke's eyes.
"They don't want a gay player on their team."

"That's just wrong! It's discrimination."

"Do you honestly think they care?" Jason asked brushing back his hair.
"And then there's the name calling."

"I don't know why you're worrying." Luke said placing his hand on
Jason's arm again. "I'm not going to give away your secret."

"That doesn't mean it won't get out eventually." Jason answered leaning
his head against the steering wheel.

"Jason..."

"What?" Jason asked as he looked up at Luke.

"Please stop beating yourself up." Luke whispered, looking up pleadingly
into Jason's eyes.

"How can I not? It's hard enough being in the closet, what happens when
I'm out?"

"It could be better, you never know. You don't have to worry about your
parents disowning you and having nowhere no go..."

"True, but being in the closet tears you up, you can't keep something
that big inside, it'll destroy you."

Luke leaned forward. "I know how you feel, really I do."

"It's not the easiest thing in the world." Jason said turning up the
heater and shivering. "Being gay and all."

"Would it be easier if you had someone to share your thoughts and
feelings with?" The red head asked, searching the blonde's face.

"That would make my life so much easier." Jason answered as he glanced
out his window at the passing cars.

"There's always....oh never mind." Luke looked away.

"No, tell me." Jason said as he tucked his index finger under the red
head's chin and made him look into his eyes.

"I...I have feelings for you. I don't understand them but they are still
there..." The red head murmured, cheeks flushed.

The older teen smiled and looked at Luke. "So do I."

The younger teen blinked. "You do?"

"Yes." Jason answered looking into Luke's green eyes.

"Then this.....this is a date then?"

"I wouldn't necessary categorize this as the perfect date, but yeah
that's pretty much what it was."

Luke sighed. "I hope someone helps us soon, or the gas will run out and
we'll be without heat."

"Hopefully." Jason relied as he cupped the red head's chin and kissed him
softly. "I'm going to come out, I want you with me."

"I'll be by your side." Luke replied, pressing his own lips against the
older man's.

"Hey, you guess need some help?" A man said as he walked over to the
driver's side of the car.

"What timing...." Luke growled under his breath.

"Um... yeah, the tire blew." Jason said opening the car door and getting
out.

"Well if you want, I can give you two a ride home so you can call a tow
truck or something."

"Thanks that would be great." The blonde said looking at Luke.


"Anything's better than staying here." Luke said nodding.

"Come on, I'll give you guys a ride." The man said as he backed away
from the car.

Jason got out of the car and put his keys in his pocket. "Let's go."
The blond said with a smile.

"Right." The red head agreed, smiling as well.

                                                  *
*           *
When they got into town, the stranger dropped them off at Jason's
apartment. After he got off the phone with the tow truck company, he
walked over to the couch and sat down beside Luke. "I'm sorry about all
this; I'll take you home as soon as my car gets here alright?" The
blond asked as he looked into the junior's green eyes and smiled.

Luke shrugged his shoulders. "That's fine. I don't really mind hanging
out here." `Ask me to stay with you, damn it!'  He leaned back against
the couch and folded his hands behind his head.

The blonde's hand  moved slowly onto the younger teen's knee. "It
doesn't bother you does it?"

The younger teen twitched slightly. "Hmm?"

"My hand... Do you mind?" Jason asked as he scooted closer to the red
head and looked into his eyes.

A slight blush crossed the red head's cheeks. "N-no."

"Luke..." The older teen whispered as he leaned closer to the junior.
"When we go to school tomorrow, I don't want either of us to pretend
like none of this happened, alright?"

"Alright Jason." Luke whispered.

"And also..." Jason said as he stood up. "I want you to be my
boyfriend."

Green eyes blinked in surprise. "What?"

"I want you to be my boyfriend." Jason repeated.

"Why me?" Luke asked curiously.

"Because you're not like other guys, you're different." Jason
answered with a smile.

"Oh, how am I different?" The junior replied leaning forward.

"You're not a total jerk like some people are." The blond said as he
walked over towards his room.

"Is that all?" Luke said standing and walking over to the older teen.

"And you understand me." Jason said as he leaned against his bedroom
door. "I really like you Luke; we've been friends for what a year?"

"Almost. It'll be a year in a week."

"Well I don't just want to be friend." Jason said as he opened the
door to his bedroom and walked inside. "I'm willing to do anything I
have to do to be with you, alright?"

"I understand Jason, it's just... If my father finds out..."

Jason sat down on his bed and looked into Luke's green eyes. "I don't
want you to worry about anything alright, I'm here for you."

"Jason..." Luke said softly, sitting beside the blonde.

Before the older teen could say anything, the phone rang. Jason stood up
and disappeared out of the room to get the phone. "Hello?" He answered
as he picked the phone up from the receiver. "Oh, hi mom." Jason said
leaning against the kitchen counter. "Yeah I'm fine, I'm home now."
The blond sat on top of the counter and started twirling his hair in
between his fingers. "Alright, see you soon, bye."

"Your mom?" Luke said wandering into the kitchen.

"Yeah, she just wanted to see how I was doing." Jason said with a smile
as he hung up the phone. "She's always been a bit protective over me,
but I guess I can't blame her for it."  The senior said leaning up
against the wall. "Did you want to call your parents?" Jason asked as
he held out the phone. "Let them know you're alright."

"Sure, but it's parent, mom walked out on us two days ago."

"I'm sorry." Jason said as he tried to sound comforting.

Luke shrugged. "It's no big deal really, she hated me anyway, both my
parents do..." the red head sighed and looked down at his feet.

Jason slid off of the counter and walked over to Luke. "Things will get
better, I promise."

"Thank you." Luke whispered faintly.

"No problem." The blond said as he caressed the red head's cheek.
Jason walked over to the front door and stared out the screen. "What's
taking them so long with my car?" he said in almost a whisper.

"What's the problem?"

"Nothing, their just taking forever with my car and it's getting
late." The older teen glanced at Luke. "I have to get'cha home soon,
it is a school night."

"Oh, right..." `Can't you see that I want to stay here with you?'

The blond smiled at Luke and closed the door. "If the car isn't here in
half an hour, call you're dad and tell him you're staying at a friend's
house." He said placing the phone in the red head's hand and sitting back
down on the couch.


The young artist set the phone on the counter and walker over to where
Jason sat. Kneeling in front of the older teen "Jason," He whispered,
placing his hands on the blonde's legs, "Thank you for all of this." Luke
leaned forward and pressed his lips against his best friend's.

Jason's eyes closed as he slowly began to kiss the younger teen back,
when he heard the sound of the front door's lock snap. He quickly placed
his hand on Luke's chest and pushed him away.

"Hi honey." Jason's mom said as she walked into the house, a large brown
paper bag in her arms.

"H-hi." the blood rushed to Jason's cheeks as he stood up and took the
bag from his mother.

The completely embarrassed teen buried his head in his knees. "Why do you
hate me? What did I do to you this time?" He groaned, wanting to kill
whatever higher power he could get his hands on.

When Jason's mom noticed Luke she smiled and looked at her son. "Who's
your friend?" she asked as she began unpacking the bag.

"You remember Luke don't you?" he asked as he leaned up against the
counter.

"I don't think we've met."

The red head rose and leaned against the wall. "I think we met briefly at
the championship tennis match last year. Remember the kid sitting next to
you with a sketchpad. That was me. I don't wear glasses anymore though,
so I understand if you don't recognize me."

"Oh, I think I remember you now." she said with a smile as she opened the
refrigerator door.

"Hey mom, do you mind if Luke stays the night, I was supposed to take him
home but my car still hasn't got here."

She looked at her son for a few moments. "But Jase, it's a school night."
She said as she put her hands in her pockets.

"Please?" The blond asked as he helped her by putting away the rest of
the items in the bag.

"Fine then." She answered, knowing she had no hope in winning."

"Thank you for letting me stay here."

"No problem." Mrs. Reese said as she turned the faucet on.

"Come on." Jason said as he grabbed Luke by the wrist and pulled him into
his bed room.

Luke blinked and looked up at Jason. "You were in a hurry to get out of
there."

"I don't like it when she asks a bunch of questions like,  How are your
parents? Are they good people, stupid stuff like that." The blond said
sitting on his bed and turning his C.D. player on low.

"Thanks for getting me out of there. I wouldn't like to answer any of
those questions either." The red head flopped on the bed next to Jason.

"Well, it's getting late." Jason said looking at the clock on his bedside
dresser. "We should probably go to sleep."

"Yeah, don't want to oversleep and miss school."

"Do you want the bed or the couch?" he asked as he looked at the love
seat in the corner of his room. "Your choice, I don't care where I
sleep." he asked as he stood up and disappeared inside the walk in
closet.

"I'll take the couch. I'd hate to rob you of your bed." Luke said running
his hand through his red hair.

Jason walked out of the closet wearing his gym shorts and a black tank
top. "Are you sure? I don't mind giving up my bed, you're my guest after
all." he said as he sat down on the love seat.

"I'd still feel guilty."

"Don't worry about it."  Jason said with a smile.

"Oh...alright you win." Luke sighed defeated.

Jason smiled and laid down on the couch. "Get some rest alright?" Jason
said as he pulled a blanket from the floor over him and turned off the
light.



"Hmm..." Jason whispered as he sat up slightly on the love seat. "What
time is it?" he asked as he turned on the bedside lamp and rubbed his
eyes.

"Three in the morning."

"Hold on..." the older teen said faintly as he reached for the bedside
table again and taking out his glasses. "I don't have my contacts on."
He slid his glasses on and sat up in bed. "What's wrong? You can't
sleep?"

"Yeah." The red head said, drawing his knees to his chest. "My mind
won't stop thinking."

"About what?" Jason asked as he stood up and walked over to his bed. "You
can talk to me you know?" he asked as he brushed a strand of red hair
away from Luke's face.

"I'm so confused. My emotions don't make any sense. It frightens me."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jason asked as he wrapped his arms around
Luke and held him. "It might make you feel a little better if you have
everything out in the open."

"I-I don't know what to think about you. I don't understand this
feeling you create within me..." Luke murmured burring his head in the
blonde's shoulder.


"You don't have to worry about it alright? Just try to clear your mind
and go back to sleep, we have to be up in a few more hours." Jason said
as he ran his fingers gently through the younger teen's hair.

"I know...I just don't think I can."

"Well, I'm right here if you want to talk." The older teen said with a
smile. "You have my full attention."

"Jason..." Luke brushed his lips gently against the blonde's. "Help me
understand this feeling. I-I can't bear not knowing."

"What can I possibly do to help you Luke? If I could...If I can, I'll do
whatever I can to help you." The older teen said as he held Luke tighter.

The red head snuggled close to Jason. "Don't let me go..."

"I won't." Jason answered as he tucked his index finger under Luke's chin
and kissed him softly on the lips. "I'll never let'cha go." he whispered
as his arms wrapped tightly around the younger teen's waist.

"Thank you." Luke whispered, wrapping his arms around the blonde's neck.

"No problem." Jason answered as he held the younger teen closer to his
chest, his finger running loosely through the red hair.

TBC...
Feed back is highly appreciated.
The good stuff, the bad, stuff and flames.
I'm prepared for whatever comes.
Phantomphan95020@yahoo.com