Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 22:23:10 EDT
From: HnstSkr4@aol.com
Subject: The Mirror and Nothing More Chapters 25 - 28

Warning: This story doesn't contain any sex.  It's the story of gay teens.
None of the characters are based on real people nor are they meant to
resemble any living or dead people.

Let me know what you think of the story by emailing me at
_Hnstskr4@aol.com_

I want to thank everyone who has emailed.  I also want to thank those who
have read the story.  It means a lot hearing from you.  Please continue
reading!  There is a lot more to come.  I own all rights to this story.
Chuck B.

I've got such a great response to the story and would love to hear from
everyone who reads it.

Chapter  25 -- More Than Just A Note

Everyone close to Pete is really shaken up over his suicide attempt. It
came as quite a shock to everyone. Pete use to be public enemy number one,
but around the time that Alex came out, he became more a friend. After my
attack, he became one of my best friends. As Doug and Alex grew closer, he
seemed to revert back to his old ways. His rage secretly fixed on
Doug. Although, it didn't take a brain surgeon to see what was going
on. The last straw was the pool kiss. He dropped off the face of the planet
after that, withdrawing away from almost everyone expect me, but he rarely
smiled. I have to admit that I felt sick when I got the news from Pete's
mom.

Pete's mom was franticly trying to piece his world together. His note to
his mom mentioned me as his only friend and that I was to receive a journal
that he was keeping. It also put Alex and Doug in a bad light. Somehow, he
managed to blame Alex for not seeing his pain and for not stopping his
descent through hell. It was written by someone who wasn't thinking
right. I believe Pete secretly loves Alex, but couldn't tell him, because
deep down inside Pete didn't want to be gay and yet he couldn't deny his
love for his best friend. His jealously was tearing him apart inside.

In a search through the journal, I found poems some dark and others that
were full of life. There are literally pages of entries where he admits to
himself that he's either bi or gay. This journal is all the proof that
anyone needs to realize that Pete was on thin ice. There were also a few
pages where his hate for Doug was clearly evident. Some pages were filled
with fantasies that left nothing for the imagination to fill in, that were
meant for Alex and him to live out at some point. There were even drawings
of him and Alex together. Finally, I found a poem tucked into the pages of
his journal. It vividly spelled out his pain. He describes his gayness as
venom, that's responsible for being all new feelings to his life. He
describes Alex as "the one who gave birth to the corruption of my soul." He
goes on to say that he hold no anger towards Alex. Still he goes on to
describe the kiss between Alex and Doug as vile, that watching it was like
being struck by a bullet.


Chapter 26 -- Another's Kiss

After everything was explained to Pete's mom, she consented to let me visit
her son at the hospital. My mom drove me up just minutes after Pete's mom
cleared me with the hospital's front desk via the phone. I didn't want to
stay long, because I hate hospitals. They stink like the nursing mom that
my great grandmother Daniels was in after her stroke. Walking up to the
front desk, I imagined that the staff knew my visit was partially driven by
guilt. Pete's mom's words filled me with a twisted guilt. "I'm here to see
Pete Franklin." The older gentlemen behind the desk spoke as he looked into
my eyes "He's in room 420. Go to the 4th floor and head to the left." I
hate this sterile stench. I'm also getting a case of the butterflies. Room
420, I've arrived.

His is open so I just walk into the room. "Hey Pete!" I said as he hid his
hands under his covers. "Alex, where is Doug?" He seemed shocked, and yet
pleased that Doug wasn't with me. "He's not here! How are you doing?" He
was quiet for a few seconds before looking at me and replying "I've been
better. The food here really stinks but the view is pretty good from here?"
I thought he was talking about me, but his eyes lead straight out his
window. His room overlooks the river walk, and he's right the view is
great. I returned my vision to Pete. "So when are they going to release
you?" "Not for another day at least, the shrink wants to make sure that my
head is screwed on right. You know what; it's really good to see you. I'm
sorry for being an ass. I've had to admit to myself that I'm bi..." "I
think that is awesome!" No, I don't, not really. Not if he still wants to
be with me. "...and that I can't be jealous of what Doug and you
have. Since I can't be with you, would it be okay to have a kiss?" I should
tell him no. What if Doug found out? Doug is everything that I need and
want. I don't want this kiss to mean anything. I leaned in for the kiss and
Pete rose up to meet my lips.

Pete not only gave e me a kiss, but his kiss was charged with heat. Its
warmth seemed to flow through me. We never embraced each other but there
was a yearning for an embrace with me. For a brief moment, all I could feel
was the strength in the kiss. I selfishly want the kiss to last. It then
dawned on me that I needed to break off the kiss. Pete seemed happy with
himself. He had taken a part of me and I seemed to have taken a part of him
with me.

I felt something. There was no doubt that at some level I loved my
friend. No...no, I love Doug. This thought of loving Pete is wrong. Yes,
there is something running through me. I belong to someone else. My body,
my heart, and my mind all belong to Doug

Chapter 27 - A Night Out Or Maybe Not

After my visit with Pete, I decided to hang with Jeff. I needed to avoid
Doug. He is the last person that I need picking up on my confused
state. After everything that has happened I'm sure, that Doug would freak
out if he knew about the kiss. I need to talk the entire mess over with
someone. Any way, it's time to pick up Jeff.

I'm ready to step out the door when someone knocks. Opening the door, I
find Doug. He looks visibly shaken. "So where are you going, off to see
your boyfriend?" He knows but how. "I think we need to talk." I said trying
to come up with something half way intelligent to say. "About that,
ummm...I think we need to do more than talk." Doug's voice now had a
sarcastic tone to it which I've never heard before. Each of his words stung
like an angry wasp. "You haven't even asked me why I'm mad, but I think you
already know." Doug said as tears started to slide down my face. As I
pulled my cell phone out of its holder, Doug took my phone from my hand
saying "No, we need to talk" I looked at my phone and then looked at
Doug. I already had Jeff's number ready to send. I watched Doug click
send. I heard Jeff pick up and then Doug started talking "Hey Jeff! Yeah,
well me and Alex need to talk so I'll have him call you back." Doug clicked
the end button and then turned and headed up to my room with me following
right behind.

We entered my room and Doug wasted no time. "YOU...YOU KISSED HIM! How
could you?" I looked into his eyes and could see tears forming. I kept
looking trying to gaze into his soul. "Yeah, I kissed him, but in case you
haven't noticed, I love you." My words did nothing but bounce off his
heart. "Bull, if you loved...if you really loved me than you wouldn't have
asked for the kiss." Suddenly, I realized why Pete was so happy. He took
advantage of the kiss and used it to betray me. "You have it all wrong. He
asked me for the kiss. Yeah, I should have refused but he seemed to need
it." He shrugged his shoulders and walked out of my room, and then he
turned and said "I believe you, but it still hurts." I grabbed Doug and
gave him a kiss. Each bit of stray confusion melted away into the air.

"Okay, okay, I'm not mad! Just promise me, there won't be any more visits
with Pete without me, okay?" Doug said smiling. "Okay, I guess it's better
than facing him alone." Right now, I'm not even sure how I feel about
seeing Pete again. He certainly has broken my trust. He must have told Doug
about our kiss or maybe he told Jeff. Doesn't matter, he has seriously
ticked me off. Pete was looking for a way to get Doug mad at me. I just
can't believe, he would kiss me and then pull a stunt like this to me. I
kiss Doug again making sure, that he knew how much I loved him. We hugged
each other and then he made his way out the door. I wonder about me and
Doug sometimes. One thing is for sure, I'll never trust my best friend
again.

Chapter 28 -- Jeff and Pete

Three months have come and gone since Jeff was attacked. I didn't think to
o much about it, but Pete seemed drawn to Jeff after the attack. Was Pete
being nice or was it something else? After his little performance, I am
almost positive it was all an act. After all, Pete had bullied Jeff on
numerous occasions prior to all the hate crap taking place. At some level,
I have to admit that I still for him. Jeff on the other hand may very well
have a different feeling on this situation. I picked up my phone and made a
phone call:

"Hi Jeff, how are you?" "Hey Alex, I'm doing okay. What's up?" "I need some
answers..." "Oh?" "Yeah some answers about Pete! When did he become buddy,
buddy with you?" "After you came is out is when he started getting
friendlier. We didn't start hanging out till after I got beat up. It was
kind of weird at first." "What do you mean?" "Well, I kept waiting for him
to hit me or to call me a "faggot". He seemed to change overnight. A couple
times, he even spent the night at my house. At other times, he seemed on
edge and then there were other times when he acted like a boyfriend.
Sometimes, he was nice and other times he was just plain weird. He would
start asking me stuff about being gay, ask me questions about you, and
about sex..." Jeff paused for a few seconds. I knew something was wrong but
I didn't expect to hear what he said next.

"...and he would touch me. I was living my dream, Alex. I had a jock as a
boyfriend, but as you and Doug were getting closer, he seemed to
withdraw. Alex, he even hit me once because I wasn't willing to turn my
back on you. He didn't want me talking to you when that started I had to
stay to close him." "Why, I would have walked away the minute he hit me?"
"Because, I was afraid what he might do to you or Doug. Alex, he was never
my friend. I can't prove it but I think he knew about the hate notes and
even the beating." "Can you prove it?" "No, but I don't need to prove
it. Look at he did to you! I have proof that the suicide attempt was done
on purpose." Now, I was a little bit steamed at Jeff. How could he accuse
Pete of that? "Why would he do it? He could have died." "Simple, he wanted
you Alex. Pete knew, you would come running the minute you found out, and
then he could get you. He thought that, he could lead you away from Doug.
He figured that maybe he could trick the two of you into breaking up, so he
could be with you. You see I had to be there to keep an eye on him for
you." Jeff stayed in a bad situation for his friends. How many other people
would do that? Suddenly, I felt a little ill! "Thanks Jeff, I've heard
enough! I'll talk to you later"