Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 17:26:21 -0400
From: Bill Porter <wep363@ameritech.net>
Subject: What Gets Around Comes Around Chapter 6

What Gets Around Comes Around Chapter 6

A special thanks to Ed for his editorial help.

People often do things that are very harmful.  But teenagers can be very
cruel.  This is the story of one such cruel boy who has to learn the hard
way 'what gets around comes around'.  Although this is a work of fiction
it's based in part on things that have really happened.  For those of you
who read my last story 'My Bodyguard', this one is quite different.  This
is a story about revenge, paybacks, and ultimately reconciliation.

Although this is not a porn story it does deal with sexual relationships
between teenage boys.  If that offends you don't read it.  Also if you are
not old enough or it's illegal where you live don't read it.

All comments are welcome to
wep363@ameritech.net

Check out my web page:
http://wpstories.tripod.com/

*******

Curt wasn't the only one who had some thinking to do.  Seeing Brian again
caused John great distress.  Brian is John's first and only love.  There
are many things that attract John to Brian, his smile, laugh, and shyness
just to name a few.  The thing that really troubled him the most was what
Brian had said about moving on and having another boyfriend.  After three
years of loving Brian there was no way he could just move on!  He resolved
that even though it was late he would never be able to sleep unless he
called Brian.

The phone rang twice before it was picked up. "Hello?" replied a deep voice
that John instantly recognized as Brian's dad.

"Hi, Mr. Travis, this is John."

"Great to hear your voice, John, even though it's late.  I'm guessing that
you want to talk to Brian.  He said you were here for a few minutes
yesterday?"

"That's right. I was working on a pet project of mine.  Even though it's
late, could I please talk to Brian?"

"Sure you can talk to him, he's still up but he went to his room a few
minutes ago.  Tell you the truth, I'm kind of worried about him.  He's been
really withdrawn lately; he misses you and your friendship.  It's like he's
just going through the motions.  Do you still plan on coming to visit for a
few months this summer, John?"

"I'm really not sure now.  He told me he has another boyfriend and that
he's moved on."

"If he has a boyfriend or any friend for that matter, we sure don't know
about it.  And he would tell us.  I think he was just trying to give you an
option, John.  Sounds like you better talk to him.  He's been even more
down since he saw you yesterday.  He'll be right here."

After a minute Brian picked up the phone, "Hello?"

"Hi, Brian, it's John."

"Hi, John, kind of late, isn't it?"

"I couldn't sleep, Brian.  I needed to talk with you.... Brian, do you love
me?"

"More than ever, not a waking moment goes by that I don't think of you."

"What does your boyfriend think of that?"

"I've only had one boyfriend in my life, John.  I told you I have another
boyfriend and had moved on because I didn't want you to worry about me.  I
wanted you to find happiness wherever you can find it.  I don't deserve
someone as good as you, John.  You need to forget about me and move on."

"That's one of the many things I love about you, Brian, - you care more
about others than you do yourself.  My dad was serious when he said that I
could spend the summer with you, and that he would allow me to move up
there and spend my senior year going to school with you if I still felt the
same about you.  I miss you so much, Brian.  My parents believed that it
was just a high school fling but I know it's more than that.  It's like we
are meant to be together.  Tell me that you don't love me, Brian, and I'll
understand but I'm not sure that I'll ever love anyone as much as I love
you."

"I can't tell you I don't love you, John, because I do.  There is no
boyfriend 'cept what we used to have."

"Just knowing that you love me, Brian, is enough for now.  But know that
I'm serious about us getting back together in a few months."

"Don't you want to graduate with your class and your friends, John?"

"I couldn't care less about this town, my school, and my so-called friends.
The only reason I'd regret leaving is leaving my parents.  However, living
in Dallas, I'd probably see my dad more than I do now as he's up there all
the time.  Can we plan on being together this summer, Brian?"

"I would like that very much.  And being together with you next year in
school would mean more than anything to me."

"Let me work on my parents then.  Dad said that if I move up there he'd buy
a house near you for me to live in.  He said he could write off most of the
cost of the house as a business expense.  Then he'd just have to pay the
insurance and taxes.  It would still be less than having to stay in a motel
every time he comes to town."

"That sounds wonderful, John.  It was great getting to see you again but
depressing at the same time.  And having Curt with you made it even worse.
You know I blame myself for what happened."

"Tell you the truth, Brian, I'm worried about him.  He really does hate
himself.  It's not like the occasional self-pitying thing you sometimes
get.  People like him often end up killing themselves.  It's late and I
better get going.  Don't be surprised if I make another trip there later
this week - leaving Curt behind this time!"

"What are you trying to do to me, John?  Now I'll probably be up all night
in more ways than one!"

"Me too.  I'll give you a call and let you know my plans, Brian.  I love
you!"

"I love you too."

John hung up and went up to his room.  He considered just how lucky he was.
Not only does he know what he wants but he also understands what he needs
and the importance of knowing the difference.  John's parents love and
support him, which he is grateful for.  They have taught him how to make
good decisions.  Although his parents are liberal they also have stressed
the importance of moderation.  John can be incredibly focused on what he is
doing and at the same time be able to quickly move on to something else.

It's this balance that is his greatest asset.  He then considers Brian.
Brian doesn't have a strong personality.  His lack of focus often gets him
in trouble.  Brian also has a habit of telling white lies.  John actually
knows Brian well enough to realize when Brian is doing that and sees right
through it.  This doesn't bother John in the least for most of the time
Brian uses his white lies as a defense mechanism.

Curt on the other hand is fooling himself, as he believes his own bullshit.
Curt also has an addictive personality.  Like the time John smoked pot with
Curt.  Curt wanted to do it all the time.  He trains the same way.  Curt
will run until he's hardly able to walk.  John sees Curt as being
self-destructive, a time bomb waiting to go off.  John understands that
Curt's main problem is his environment.  John sees no hope of Curt
changing, given his current situation.  For as much love and support as
John has from his parents, all Curt has is hate and rejection.

John lies down on his bed and starts dreaming about spending his senior
year with his boyfriend in Dallas.  Soon he falls asleep smiling.

John wakes up and feels refreshed.  He doesn't bother with a shower as he
remembers he has to mow the lawn.  He puts on a pair of shorts and a tee
shirt before he heads down to the kitchen.  He's surprised to see both his
parents in the kitchen drinking coffee.

"You look happy today, John," said his dad.  "I assume your trip to Dallas
went well."

"He loves me," John replied with a shit-eating grin.

"Looks like I'm going to have to do some house hunting in Dallas.  It's
good to see enduring love, John.  I figured you would have moved on by now.
I guess I underestimated your love for Brian."

"He's the one, Dad.  As much as I've tried I just can't see myself with
anyone else but him.  I've dated most of the girls in my class and am
friends with most of the guys.  They are just so selfish and superficial.
I'm tired of being something I'm not just to fit in socially.  I'm not
going to go marching in a gay pride parade but if anyone asks I plan on
just admitting that I'm gay."

"Are you sure that's wise, John?" responded his mom.  "You know what
happened to your cousin Mike and Brian."

"I'm not the type of person people can just walk all over.  It's like
chickens.  If one is different and has a few black feathers in a group that
has white feathers they will peck on the chicken that is different until
it's dead.  Most everyone at school doesn't see me as different but as
someone they would like to emulate.  If the kids at school find out that
someone like me is gay it would shatter their stereotypes of gay people.
Besides I think it would be good to switch schools in my senior year.  It
will help prepare me for college."

"Well, John, you have already been accepted at a number of major
universities.  We just want to see you happy.  I've got to admit that I'll
miss you around here," his mother replied.

"Yeah, you'll have to hire someone to mow the lawn for you," John said with
a cheeky grin on his face to let his mom know he was just kidding.  "I'll
probably go back up to Dallas to spend a couple of days later this week."

"Just let me know, John, and I'll make reservations for you.  I need to go
up there later this week too and perhaps we can do some house hunting while
we are there."

"That would be great, Dad, but I probably won't need reservations.  I'll
probably just sleep with Brian.  If we go someplace else I'll let you know.
I'm going to mow the lawn.  I'll get something to eat when I'm finished."

"Okay, John, we're both off to work.  Have a good day."

John went out to the garage and checked the oil and filled up the gas on
the riding mower.  Despite the almost desert condition of the area, his
family has a rather large and well-kept lawn.  They have an automatic
sprinkler system that waters the lawn every day from their own private
well.  All the heads need to be replaced each year with the hard water
deposits clogging them up beyond repair.

As John mowed the lawn he felt really good about his conversation with his
parents.  The more he considered his decision to have an open attitude with
his sexuality the more the idea appealed to him.  He also realized that no
one would believe he was actually gay unless they saw him doing something
gay like kissing a guy in front of his friends.  John knows that people
believe basically what they want to believe.

John went into the house when he finished the yard and ate some soup and
sandwiches for lunch.  He was just considering what he was going to do with
the rest of his afternoon when the phone rang.  Curt called, asking him if
he could come over to discuss the story Brian had written.  John got in his
truck and went over to Curt's house.  Curt was waiting at the door when
John arrived.

"I'm sorry to bug you, John, but I really need someone to talk to right
now."

"I just finished what I need to get done today so it's okay, Curt.  It is
worth it just to hear you actually sounding concerned about someone else
besides yourself."

"I just finished Brian's story, John, and I must say that you guys truly
had something special."

"The key word is have, not had, Curt.  We still love each other.  I think
Brian is the one for me.  Most people never find their true love.  We are
going to be together and I don't care what anyone else thinks."

"I can understand that, I just wish I had a friend like Brian."

"You did until you fucked it up.  Brian trusted you and is suffering to
this day because of it.  I've made a decision to be myself, Curt.  I think
you need to be yourself too.  First you need to decide who you are.  Then
you need to quit lying to yourself and stand up for what you believe in.
Your family and friends might not understand you but at least you can be
yourself.  Then just maybe you'll start learning to like yourself.  I can
tell you you'll never find happiness trying to be something you're not.
I'm not happy hanging out with every airhead in our school.  I am happy
when I hang out with Brian."

"What do I need to do to find happiness, John?"

"You are hard headed sometimes, Curt.  You have to change.  Change
everything, starting with your environment.  In Texas your parents have
every right in the world to throw you out and there's not a thing you can
do about it.  At 16 you have a choice, you can either become a ward of the
state or try to make it on your own.  I told you once before that my
parents are willing to take you in and help you become independent.  My mom
said she could give you a job washing cars at the car dealership she
manages.  She'd be willing to set you up with a car and take the payment
for it out of your check."

"In a little over a year, if you keep your grades up, you should be able to
get a full scholarship based on your track achievements."

"I've already had several scholarship offers.  It's nice what your parents
are offering but how would you feel having me around after all the pain
I've caused you, John?"

"See, there is some good in you.  That is a good point.  You are actually
considering how I feel.  Tell you the truth, Curt, I'm going to blow this
hick town and move to Dallas this summer.  Dad's going to buy a house in
Dallas so I can be close to Brian.  I'm not going to finish high school in
this town."

"That's great.  Can I go with you?"

"Not a chance in hell.  To be quite honest with you, Curt, you wouldn't be
happy and neither would I.  You also need more help than I'm capable of
giving you.  I'm not even sure that my parents are capable of giving you
all the help you need.  My parents leave me on my own most of the time
because they are very busy.  I'll discuss it with them but for the most
part you're going to have to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.  It's
time to fish or cut bait, Curt.  Your mom and dad will be back in a few
days and you need to decide what you are gong to tell them.  If you have
learned anything from me I hope you have at least learned to be truthful.
Now I have plans to go back up to Dallas and spend the rest of my spring
break with Brian.  Here is the number of Pastor Clark I mentioned before,"
John said while handing Curt a business card.  "He specializes in dealing
with troubled teens.  I suggest that you talk with him."

"Thanks, I'll give him a call.  I still have a few days to try to figure
out what I'm going to do."

"I also suggest that you meet with my parents and discuss with them your
plans.  That way you can trust that you have someplace to go.  My parents
have been considering having foster kids for sometime now.  They really
don't have time for little kids but they can deal with someone your age who
can take care of himself for the most part.  Talk to them and they'll
listen.  Well, I'm out of here, Curt."

"Thanks, John.  See you next week."

With that, John got in his truck and left, leaving an even more confused
Curt standing on his front porch.  Little did Curt realize that a part of
him was crumbling away, that part of him that was so hard, cold, and
uncaring.

* * *

To Be Continued...

I started this story over a year ago mainly to work on my writing style.
It's my first try at writing from a 3rd person perspective.  Then I
switched to a 1st person perspective for Brian and John's story.  My Idea
for the story line was a turnabout coming of age story.  I like writing
action adventure stories but I gave it a try.

The e-mails I got when I first worked on this story were mixed, with some
even getting nasty.  One guy said that the story sounded preachy and that
he felt a sixth grader had written it.  Needless to say I got discouraged
so I moved on to something else.

Even while I found a very good story line with 'Tossed Away Kid' I still
received mail asking me to finish this story.  I have a good idea where I'm
going with this story and it's going to take some twists and turns.  I need
to know if it's worth it???  I also plan on releasing 'Kid Cop' in a few
weeks.  Let me know what you think.

I try to respond to all mail; however sometimes I get mail from someone and
when I try to send a response I get an error.  I got a really nice e-mail
from someone in Belgium and when I tried many times to send a response, it
got rejected.  I just want to say thank you to everyone who has sent me
mail that might not have received a response for whatever reasons.

*   *   *