Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:14:45 EDT
From: HnstSkr4@aol.com
Subject: The Mirror and nothing more - 41 - 44

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.

Copyright 2009


The Mirror and Nothing More

Chapter 11

Section 41 - Visit With The Guidance Counselor

Grant's P.O.V.

	The next day at school, I arranged for everyone to meet with the
guidance counselor to discuss this whole rumor mess.  During third hour a
student showed up in my class with a pass to the guidance office.  As I
walked to the guidance office, I thought of all the trouble that I had in
Utah.  Indiana was supposed to be my fresh start, but I guess that was just
hopeful thinking.  I should have known that the peace wouldn't last.  The
counselor has to listen to us, because I don't know what else to do.  I got
to the office before anyone else and handed Ms. Ables the pass to see the
counselor.  She had me sit and wait till everyone showed up.

	Once everyone arrived she picked up the phone with a smile on her
face and said, "Mr. Stone, you have some customers."

	There was a slight pause and then she said, "Gentlemen, you can go
on in now."

	We sat down around Mr. Stone's desk and the first thing I saw was
my file.  It appeared to be pretty thick.  It has to be records from Utah.
I bet somewhere on the front page it says, "This student is a homosexual."
He pulled out some papers from my folder and then looked us over.
Mr. Stone is a big man.  He appears to be around 6 foot 5 and he's massive.
The guy could miss his true calling as a gym teacher or as some big time
wrestler.

	"So what can I do you for you today?" he asked me, but I felt as if
he already knew what I wanted.

	"Someone is spreading a rumor about me..."

	He interrupted me and I even heard him sigh a bit.  He looked at me
a little suspiciously and asked me a question.

	"What is the rumor?'

	"Well, someone is spreading a rumor that I have AIDS."

	He looked at me very seriously and then asked me a question that
shocked me.

	"Well do you?"

	"I'm not even sexually active, so how in the world could I have
AIDS?"

	I was totally floored by his question.  How could he ask such a
stupid question?  Does this guy even have a clue?  He either didn't seem to
believe me, or he didn't want to believe me.

	"Well, who do you think is spreading the rumor?

	"I think it's Pete Butler."

	He went from looking serious to looking angry.

	"Do you have proof?"

	"I have none, but he's threatened Jeff and Alex with problems."

	He didn't bother asking them any questions about it.  Instead he
picked up his phone and entered a number.

	"Mrs. Young, can you come to my office?"

A few minutes later Mrs. Young entered the office and she looked ready to
kill.

	"What seems to be the problem?" she asked, looking at Mr. Stone and
then looking at us.

	"This young man came to see me about a rumor being spread about
him. According to him, the rumor is that he has AIDS.  I thought you might
find it interesting.  He claims that he doesn't have AIDS and isn't
sexually active.  Oh, he's also accusing one of star our athletes of
spreading the rumor, Pete Butler."


Section 42 - Visit With The Guidance Counselor Part 2

Grant's P.O.V.

	After hearing what Mr. Stone had to say, she quickly sent us to her
office.  She didn't come back to the office for at least 10 minutes.

	"Guys, I really wish that we never went to the guidance office."  I
didn't say anything else and just put my head down and sat there.  I felt
Jeff's hand on my back.  No one spoke a word until Mrs. Young showed up.
She stood there in the doorway with a look of utter disbelief on her face.

	"Grant, right?"

	"Yes!"

	"Grant, this isn't the first time that I've heard about you and the
rumor.  I want to hear it from you.  How positive are you that Pete is
behind the rumor?"

	"Mrs. Young," Jeff interrupted, "I'd like to show you something.
It's a piece of notebook paper that Pete gave me when we were friends."
Jeff handed her a piece of paper.  Her eyes looked over the document and
then she handed it back to Jeff.

	"It's strange how he always seems to come back to Jeff.  I'm
convinced that there is something to this.  I am going to call him into my
office and discuss it with him. But why do you think he's targeting Grant?"

	Jeff couldn't sit there and not add to our case.  "I think because
he was going out with me before his failed suicide.  He's jealous of
Grant."

	She had carried over my files from Mr. Stone's office and was busy
looking them over.  She stopped on one page in my file and then looked at
me.

	"Grant, are you out at home?"

	"No, I'm not; my parents would kick me out of the house if they
ever found out."

	Her only response to my reply was, "Hmm!"

	Looking down at my feet, I felt sick.  A part of me just wants to
cry.  I don't really have a good feeling about this.  I'm worried about
Pete.  He's sure to piece two and two together.  It will force him to
strike back at Jeff, Doug, Alex, or me.  Literally, I am shaking right now.
Right now, home sounds so good.


Section 43 - Pete's Mom Comes To Call

Paige Butler POV

	"Emily, Paige here.  Can I come over?  I found something in Pete's
room that I think you should see."

	"Sure Paige!"

	My son and Alex never had any major problems until this year.  He's
fighting being gay so hard that he's lashing out at everyone.  He seemed to
be doing better since his accident.  I even heard him talking civil to
Alex.  Now it seems he's out to get some kid named Grant.

	A few minutes later, I knocked at the door of the Cook Family
residence.  Emily, Alex's mom, opened the door.  I handed her the spiral
notebook that Pete is using as a journal.  I put a book mark on the page
that she needed to see prior to arriving at the house.  In no time she was
scanning the page.

	"Paige, this is horrid!  Pete plans to not only spread that rumor
about Grant having AIDS, but he also plans on calling Grant's parents and
telling them that he's gay.

	I didn't get what was so bad about Grant's parents finding out
about his sexuality.  A simple test would clear him of any doubt involving
the AIDS rumor.  Emily could see that I was having a problem making the
connection between Grant's parent's and the problem.

	"Paige, if Grant's parents find out that he's gay, they'll kick him
out of the house and maybe even disown him.

	I knew that my son was up to something.  I just didn't know exactly
what it was.

	Emily immediately grabbed her cell phone.  First she called her
husband.

	"Honey, we might be having a long term house guest."

	She smiled signaling that he was fine with the house guest
arrangement.  I don't know Grant, but he's lucky to have this family in his
life.  Next, she called Alex.

	"Alex, when you get this you need to call me.  It's Grant.  I'm
here with Paige Butler and Pete plans on outing Grant to his parents."

	I hope that I did the right thing.  Maybe I'm worrying way too
much.  I keep hoping this is all a dream.  I'm having a hard time accepting
the fact that my son is capable of being so cruel.

	What on Earth could lead him to do this... this evil?  I know he
liked Alex and Jeff very much.  One just doesn't turn their backs on their
friends like he has.  I honestly think he needs to see a shrink.  He just
isn't well.  I don't know what to do with him.  He never comes home and
talks to me about school anymore.  I miss that about him.  Pete needed some
help somewhere along the way.

	"Paige, are you okay?"

	"I'm just deep in thought."

	We had a very light lunch as we talked about the boys.  Emily
somehow just knew that Pete had already made the call.  How could she say
that about my son?  I know he's done some horrible things, but he wouldn't
do this.  Maybe, I don't want to believe he would.


Section 44 - Too Late Part 1

Donna Smith POV

	I'm sitting in my living room reading a nonfiction book about the
wildlife encounters of C.B. Abraham, when the phone rings.  I wasn't going
to answer but somehow it felt right to me to answer the phone.

	"Hello!"

	"Is this Grant's Smith's mom?"

	First off, my cell phone number is unlisted and is only available
to family, friends, work, and the schools that our kids attend.  Second,
the voice on the phone sounds like a kid.  Cell phones aren't allowed at
school, so how is he calling?

	"Yes, how did you get this number?"

	"It's not important!  I'm a concerned student at Grant's school.  I
don't know if you're aware or not, but Grant is gay.  I have proof."

	I wanted to just end the call and hang up, but then the picture
showed up.

	There was no doubt that my son is a faggot.  My husband will have a
fit.  Should I call him?



	"Hello honey!"

	My sweet husband answered his phone.

	"Evan, Grant is gay!  I had an interesting phone call from some kid
at school.  He sent me a picture of Grant and that... that Jeff kid who's
been over every weekend.  He's had that faggot in our house.  I love Grant
but I won't have him corrupting the spirit in our house."

	I waited to hear what my husband had to say.

	"Well, if he won't turn away from being gay, then he's out of the
house."

	I love the fact that my husband stands behinds me and our church.
I might as well start packing his stuff up.

	I didn't hear my son enter the house.

	"Mom, why is my stuff in the living room?"

	As I looked at him, I was overcome with emotion.

	"I don't want that Jeff kid anywhere near our property.  You are to
go upstairs and finish packing your stuff."

	He looked at me and asked, "Where am I going?"

	"Simply put, you aren't going to be living here anymore."

	I couldn't take it anymore and I lashed out at him.

	"You disgust me, how on earth could you kiss a boy?  How could you?
Please tell me that you're not gay!"

	I waited for him to answer to answer me before I went any further.

	He stood there crying as he spoke.  "How...How...How did you find
out?"

	Well since he asked me, I'm going to answer him.  "A friend of
yours from school called and told me that you were gay, but I didn't
believe him, that is until I got this picture."

	I showed him the picture and then slapped his face.  He completely
disrespected us, but he disrespected the Lord too.  He turned away from me
in disbelief.

	"Do you want to see your sinful act?"

	"No Mom... I don't.  Now go away so I can pack!"

	I turned away from him and went to my bedroom and cried until his
father came home about an hour later.