Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:53:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: -Just Me- 'Donte' <yungin060@yahoo.com>
Subject: His Smile  -  Chapter 8

      Welcome back everyone.  I know its been a while, but that writing
high I get didn't come around until last night, and I wrote this whole
chapter that night.  The next one will be sooner thoughm don't worry.  And
I would recommend rereading the last chapter a little if you don't remember
what happened.  Here we go..


      Chapter 8: Hell pays a visit


      "I'm so happy we can be together", Henry says softly.
      "So am I.  I can't wait to spend forever with you", I reply looking
deeply into his eyes.  "I don't even remember what life was like before I
met you".
      "Lonely and uneventful.  You were probably never more than a friend,
a son and a brother.  Finally you get to just be you.  And with me; I don't
know how I survived without you", he says in one long breath.
      "Well that's an odd observation.  I never thought of it like that,
but you're right.  You've been like a guiding light to me".
      "I wish I didn't have to leave you".  I can pretty much see the tears
in his eyes when he says that, which in turn makes me sad also.
      "It's okay, I'll be fine.  No I won't, but I'll see you as often as
possible".
      "Yea at least you won't be living in hell when I'm not here, not
having to deal with my problems.  You'd like that wouldn't you?  You want
me to leave so that you can go back to your loving family and leeching
friends"!
      "What are you...Henry, I".
      "SHUT UP!  You just want to tease me with a little taste of paradise
and then take it all away!  Nobody loves me and you're no better"!
      "STOP, I DO love you!  I'd give you all I had if it meant you would
stay"!
      "SHUT UP DEREK!  NOW!  GET YOUR ASS UP"!  "GET OUT!  BOTH OF YOU, GET
OUT NOW"!
      Whoa am I confused...
      "Did you hear me?!  I said GET UP"!
      Oh my gosh it's my mother!  It was...a dream?  I regain consciousness
and all of my senses explode.  The bright light, a warm body next to me, a
loud woman screaming in my ears, and it hits me.  I'm butt naked in bed
with a boy who's supposed to be my friend sleeping on the floor.  We fell
asleep like this, together, and now it's morning.  It's morning and my
mother is staring flames at us, yelling at the top of her lungs...
      "GET UP"!
      ...until I have no choice but to listen.  She hasn't screamed like
this in years.  It's still sort of vague to me, but I know I'm in big
trouble.  Quickly I get up to put on some pants and throw some on top of
Henry, whom I think it pretending to be sleep.  After making myself decent,
I turn to face my mother, only to find that she's left the doorway.  I turn
back to Henry to get him out of bed.
      "Henry put your close on!  Hurry, I think we got caught"!  He jumps
out of bed and does as I say with a horrified expression on his face.  As
for me, my adrenaline is keeping me away from rational emotions.  Within a
few seconds, my mom stomps back into the room with a large pile of clothes
and whatnots in her arms and drops them in my doorway.
      "You will NOT live under this roof and disrespect me!  I won't have
my son sleeping with boys and doing things forbidden in this home when I'm
gone or asleep!  You and him, get your shit, and get the hell out of my
house!  And do NOT come back until you've learned some respect dammit"!
      "It's not even like that mom!  We just"-
      She shouts through her teeth, "I don't want to hear another word,
just leave", and I know it's best to just listen.  What else can I do?  She
is right, I pissed her off and I'm old enough to get kicked out so..I grab
whatever I can, put it in a backpack and walk out the door with Henry
staying very close behind me.  The sun has just risen and I don't know
where we're going, but I would actually rather be out here than inside
facing her.
      "I didn't think your mom would curse you out like that", Henry speaks
for the first time this morning.
      "She wouldn't.  I've always been the good child, the go-to guy.  I
guess I deserve it".
      "Don't say that.  You made a mistake.  It's half my fault too, I am
really really sorry Derek".
      "Don't be.  I did it, you're not the one to blame".
      "Yea, I'm the one who asked to come over.  I'm the one that couldn't
wait to take your clothes off.  I should've done something, like slept on
the floor...with clothes on I guess.  I'm sorry".
	"OK.  I just can't think about this right now.  Let's just go to
school.  It's early so we can get all the way dressed in the bathroom".
      "Are you sure?  You just got kicked out of your house, and you want
to go to school"!?
      "Where else are we going to go?  It's not like your family is all
that hospitable".
      "Right, okay it's your call".
      "It's really not all that bad, I just wish I could've told her rather
than her finding out.  At least now I'm out to everyone who matters.  Well,
except Drew that is".
      "Heh, look at the bright side, it can't get any worse than getting
cursed out by your mom".  I completely ignore that.  I don't know how that
was supposed to cheer me up.. Anyway time flies and we're at school a few
minutes before the busses arrive, so we take the time to wash in the
bathroom while they're empty.
      "I feel homeless", I say trying to ease the internal tension.
      "You are", Henry replies.
      "You know what, why don't you just stop trying to make me feel
better.  I think that'll help a lot"!  That comes out a lot more harsh than
I thought it would.  All of a sudden I find myself angry at Henry.  I guess
I have to take it out on someone, but rather than being upset at him, I
walk out the door before he can reply.  Once I get to my locker to put all
my stuff inside, Hilda grabs me aside.
      "I came to pick you up this morning, where the hell were you"?
      "Sorry, you don't usually wait for me"..
      "Okay okay, forget that, how'd last night go"?
      "Huh"?  It's been a long morning, I can't exactly remember what
happened or what I told her yesterday.
      "You said you weren't coming to school if you didn't get laid.
WELL"???
      "Oh, right".  I pull her closer so that no one else can hear.  "The
good news is we did, um, do it.  Kind of anyway".
      "That's great!  But what do you mean kinda"?
      "We did IT, but we didn't DO IT".  She's still not following.
"Hhhhmph, we did blowjobs but no anal".
      "OOOHhhhh, YUK!  You didn't have to tell me all that shit".
      "Well you wouldn't take the hint!  But we got caught, and my mom
kicked me out this morning".  Hilda's face drops.  She knows my mom, and
couldn't imagine her kicking ME out.
      "Damn Derek, you got it bad now huh"?
      "Not really, I don't have to hide anymore I guess.  And I'm sure
she'll get over it by the time I get home from school".
      "Well if you need to crash then there's always my couch.  I gotta
warn you though, me and my new man been bangin the walls like crazy"!
      "Oh gosh Hilda, that's disgusting!  Your mother needs to be home more
often.  When am I gonna meet this new guy anyway"?
      "Hey, you haven't introduced me to your boyfriend yet either.  But
anyways, he's coming today I think".
      "You already know Henry though".
      "Not really...but meet me in the parking lot before class.  At the
entrance, maybe we can cut school or something.  It's the day before prom
so nobody really cares".
      "Yea, I think I could use a day off.  Okay, I'll see you before
history class".
      By the time I get to third class I'm too tired to do any work.  It
only just hits me that I barely slept last night, and woke up extra early.
I think Henry must be going through the same thing, and I start to miss
him.  Maybe I should apologize to him for yelling earlier in the bathroom.
Yea, I'll do that before I leave with Hilda.  Maybe ask him to come with
us.
      After what seems like forever, I get to history class in a rush,
trying to get there and leave before Ms. Verona comes and sees me.  But no
sign of Henry.  Only a few people are here this early, and Jared's one of
them.
      "Hey Jared, what's up"?
      "What's good ma dude", he replies?
      "Could you do me a favor?  If you see Henry, tell him I'm with Hilda
in the parking lot, and we're probably cutting school".
      "No problem, don't get caught".
      "Alright, thanks".  On my way out I bump into Drew, who I haven't
heard from in a while surprisingly.
      "Derek, just the person I need to see.  We have to talk", he states
sternly.
      "Okay, but not now".
      "YES now, sit down please".
      "Drew I really have to go, just call me okay".  I brush him aside and
quickly leave the hallway before the teacher can spot me.  Poor Drew, he
never has a clue as to what's going on.  And as the slightly more popular
one, I should be the one filling him in.  But I've got my hands full with
other things.. I go to get my clothes and stuff out of my locker, since I
suspect after me Hilda and her boyfriend leave I'll end up going home
anyway.  On my out I run into Henry who is waiting outside.
      "Henry!  What are you doing out here"?
      "Jared told me something about you leaving, I was hoping I could go
with you".
      "That was fast, but yea Hilda and I are cutting right now.  I don't
know where we're going but you're welcome to join us".
      "Is she your best friend, Hilda"?
      "Yea, her and Drew.  And you of course".  I expect a laugh, but he
turns his head to the ground.  For such a manly man he sure is sensitive
sometimes.  But I like that.
      "I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier Henry.  I tried not to be angry
but it just came out, and you...you know I love you right"?
      "Yes of course I do but, you don't think I'm bad luck or anything
right?  Your life was so peaceful before you met me".
      "Don't forget boring, uneventful, neglected, unloved and no sex
before I met you".
      "Hah, well when you put it like that".  He stands up to hug me and
sneaks a kiss on my forehead.  "Tell me why we have to leave each other
again"?
      "Because you're following your dream to become an artist or some crap
at a great school in Illinois and I already have my life planned out here
in New York".
      "Oh right".  He kisses me again on my cheek, but stops for a second.
      "Errr Henry, not that its not nice and everything, but you can take
your lips off my face now".
      I hear him whisper, "oh my God", and my heart jumps.
      "What is it?  What's going on"?  He's looking at something behind me,
and won't let me turn around.  "Get off so I can...oh my God".  It's fucking
Ricky, with Hilda!!!  They both spotted us cuddling up together!  I push
Henry off of me and turn around to confront them.
      "Henry what the fuck is going on", he demands!
      "Hilda, please tell me this is not your boyfriend", I yell!
      "Who the hell are you to be disrespecting me"!
      "Enrique just chill for a minute, you know them", Hilda asks?
      "That's my brother Hilda!  My brother and that fag who be sucking his
dick"!
      "Shut up Ricky!  You can't talk about him like that", Henry yells
back.
      "Well tell me why the hell you always with this nigga then?  You
sucking his too?  I knew you was a fag, I knew it!  Ya don't change, you
was a fag four years ago and you a fag now"!  Without hesitation, Henry
punches Ricky square in the face.  I pull Henry back and expect Hilda to do
the same to Ricky so he won't retaliate, but she instead shoves the heck
out of Henry and almost knocks me down in the process.
      "Derek get your little boyfriend and tell him to back the fuck off,
he done crossed the line now", she yells.  She's never yelled at me
before...and why is she defending him and not me!?
      "Hilda this guy is crazy!  He's a complete lunatic and he's going to
get you in trouble, please leave him alone"!
      "You don't know that!  We been spending everyday together and I know
him WAY better than you do!  So just stay the fuck out of my business and
I'll do the same for you and your gay lover".  Ouch, that hurt more than
I'd be willing to admit.  She helps Ricky regain his balance and walks him
over to her car, I take Henry and turn around to see a small crowd just
witnessed the whole incident.  Then I hear whispers among the crowd, and
the only words that stand out is "Derek...Henry...are gay".
      "Derek, come on.  Let's get out of here before security shows up".
Henry takes me by the arm and nearly drags me out of the parking lot
because I'm a little stunned as to what just happened.  And as we're
leaving, a boy yells from the crowd, "yea that's right, take ya'll faggot
asses out of here"!  And the rest of the crowd laughs.  Now I can feel the
rage building up inside me, I lose rationality and feel the choice: I can
let go of my inhibitions and call out whoever said that and try to fight
him, or I can just walk away.  Fortunately, where my coherence fails me,
Henry pulls me in the other direction so that we can just leave.  Here we
are again, walking.
      "I could've taken that guy Henry!  Ricky too!  Why didn't we"..
      "It's not worth it Derek and you know that.  I've been hearing words
like that for years, and I've learned that you can either confront it or
walk away.  And walking away ALWAYS works best in this case".
      "But"...
      "No buts.  Let Hilda have Ricky, God knows I don't want to deal with
him anymore.  And who cares what those kids think.  Everyone you care about
knows already so they aren't important".
      "But this isn't fair, this is my last year of high school, the day
before prom!  Why does all this have to happen to ME, NOW"?
      "You're not gonna fall apart on me Derek.  I need you to be strong
for both of us.  It's not all bad, we're going to your house to talk to
your mother.  All of this will be settled before I le...before tomorrow".
      "Ohhhh myyy gosh and I didn't even count you LEAVING TOMORROW!  I
didn't even lose my virginity yet and we don't even have a freakin bed to
sleep in so I could have the chance to"!
      "Shut up Derek.  We still have each other for now so let's count at
least one of life's pleasures".
      Through all that we make it home in record time.  You walk fast when
you're angry.  I walk up to the front door and put my key in the hole when
I notice something's different.  "Umm, Henry, my key doesn't fit.
Something's wrong".
      He comes up to check it out for me.  "The keyhole's been polished, I
think someone changed the lock".
      "What, no, the lock was normal this morning!  Why would she change
the lock on the front door"!?  I look to him for answers, but just gives me
a knowing glance.  "Tori's gotta be in there, she'll let me in".  I bang on
the door and yell out Tori's name, hoping she's home.
      "Here, try her cell phone".  Henry gives me his phone so I can call
her.  I call the cell and house phone, but no one picks up either.
Figuring she must be at work, I call Tori's job.  "Hello, can I speak to
Tori please?  It's Derek and tell her its important".
      "Oh hi Derek", I'm sort of familiar with her boss, "didn't you hear?
Your mom called this morning to tell us Tori got locked up for something
and won't be coming to work for at least a week".  And then it hits me; she
wasn't home this morning, I haven't seen her since last night when my mom
took her to a twice missed court date.  I hang up the phone without another
word.
      "What is it?  What did they say"?
      "Tori is in jail.  My mom has locked me out permanently, so I have
nowhere to stay.  And your brother knows about us now, so we can't go to
your house at all.  I'm homeless...and outed, in every sense of the word.
What are we going to do"?  This time he doesn't have any answers.  He knows
as well as I do that we're both screwed.  "Hilda wouldn't even let us in
her house after what happened.  There's literally nowhere for us to
go...unless..."


      -And remember, I love feedback as much as any writer.  Especially if
I'm taking too long to write.  And what do you guys think of the chapter
titles? The next one is "unlikely Hero".
      Any thoughts???