Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:11:59 -0500
From: Justin Luong <yellowcard_911@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Difference Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen: Strike One, Realization

10:30 p.m.

    "What's going on with me? Why do I feel like this is a bad idea?"

    Brian had been thinking about his plan to bring pain upon Ryan for the
entire day, but the more and more he thought of bringing pain to Ryan
something inside of him told him not to.

    Suddenly, Brian heard Ryan's voice, he was singing a song.

    "You're in my arms
And all the world is calm
The music playing on for only two
So close together
And when I'm with you
So close to feeling alive"

    "Is Ryan here?" thought Brian.

    Brian rushed out his room and bumped into his mom.

    "Brian, Brian what's wrong?" Brian's mom asked realizing that Brian had
this worried look on his face.

    "Who's here?"

    "What are you talking about Brian? It's just you and me."

    "But that voice, it's not anyone you know! Mom don't lie to me."

    "I'm not lying to you, Brian. It's a CD, it was in the mail for you. I
just wanted to know what it was. That person can really sing, who is it?"

    "A CD?"

    "Yes, dear. Oh and before I forget, there was this note for you."

    Brian's mom handed Brian the note.

    "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get to work. Bye!"

    "Bye mom!"

    Brian waited till his mom left. Once she left, he opened the letter,
read to himself, and it went like this:

    Dear Brian,

        Don't you think I'm pathetic for talking to you still after all
you've done to me. I just want to know what I did to do this to you. I
never flirted with you or nothing. Now that I think about it, all those
things you've done for me seemed a bit, I don't know, gay. Or maybe I'm
just saying this because I was mad at you. That's right, Brian. WAS.

     I can't hold grudges against people, so I guess that means you are
forgiven. As you already know, I have enclosed this letter with a CD,
enjoy. Oh um don't try to look for me at school because I won't be
there. I've decided that it's my time to move away from this place. I need
to find my own place, a place where I belong. So I guess this is goodbye.

Sincerely, Ryan Lee XD

    Once Brian read the final word, he dropped to the floor and began to
cry. He didn't know what was happening to him. It came out of nowhere and
he couldn't stop.

    RING

    RING

    Brian looked at his phone, it was Jace. Brian was reluctant at first to
answer his phone, but Jace kept calling him like crazy so he answered the
phone.

    "WHAT, JACE? CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU?"
Brian yelled.

    "Dude, sorry. What's wrong with you, I thought we were going to bash
that fag--"

    "I can't tonight."

    "Why not? Are you really going to back down after all he did to you?"

    "He didn't do anything to me, it was all me. I can't talk right now
okay? A distant cousin of mine just passed away. I have to go."

    Brian threw his phone at a nearby wall and watched as the screen
cracked. Brian got up and walked to over to the wall. He yanked his phone
from out of the wall and tried to turn it on, but nothing happened. He
threw his phone on the ground and headed for the kitchen and grabbed a
nearby knife.

    Brian clenched his fist and prepared to for the first strike of the
blade. Brian closed his eyes and took the first strike. Brian opened his
eyes and saw crimson red flowing away from his arm. Brian grabbed the knife
again and tossed it into the sink. He then grabbed a towel and wiped away
the blood from his arm. Brian walked to the bathroom, grabbed some gauze,
and wrapped it around his arm.

    Brian looked at he mirror and saw that he was different once again, but
this time he finally saw the animal that he became.

    As Brian was done looking at himself in the mirror he walked into his
room and said, "I love...Ryan."