Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 00:18:32 EDT
From: BugarTheWizard@aol.com
Subject: hero in love chapter 14

So there are story notes below. Please read them when you get to
them. Thanks. Also, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO WATCH HEROES!! IT IS SO COOL!!

Chapter 14

	Somewhere...

	"Damn him!!  It's like he's mocking us."

	"Calm down, Sir."

	"No, I will not.  He's doing everything wrong.  He's just giving
away his power!  Why not use it for something?  Something important; more
important than this love crap."

	"Well, he does look young after all.  Perhaps he has simply been
enamored with all his comic reading and movie watching."

	"Now, what did you need?"

	"Oh, I came to inform you of the progress.  We've managed to
recalibrate the sensors on the satellite."

	"Good.  I want to find out where this fly boy goes to roost."



	Jason walked through the hallway, listening to the gossip about the
super kid.  Almost everywhere he went; he could hear it going on.  He'd
even heard several teens coming out to there friends... with some different
results.

	"WHAM!!"  Jason jumped as someone was slammed into a locker right
by him.  Jason watched a really skinny boy (who was kinda cute) slide to
the ground, tears in his eyes.  His hair was brown, but had dyed blonde
tips, and his face was slightly freckled.  Cute freckles; not ugly ones.

	"Hey... you ok?" Jason asked, holding out a hand to pull him up.
Several students who were walking down the hallways stopped to watch.

	"What are you talking to that queer boy for?" a loud voice asked
him.  Kyle noticed a large muscular boy striding up to him.  Jason sized
him up.  Levi shorts, t-shirt.  Black of course, with dirty dark hair, down
to his neck.  And he was rather large too.

	The boy on the floor gasped.  "You were... my friend.  I just
thought... " he gasped, as tears came to his eyes.

	"Friend?  Why would I want to be friends with a perv?" he spat.
Jason was really pissed as he watched the boy struggle with his tears.
Jason would be crying too if it was him.

	"And why would he want to be friends with you, you asshole?" Jason
yelled.  Everybody was watching them now.  "Why would ANYBODY want to be
friends with someone who treated a friend like that?"  Jason pointed at the
boy on the ground.  "He's better off with out you, if you're going to do
this to him.  I'll be surprised if you EVER have another friend in this
school," Jason said, helping the boy up and pulling his arm over his head.
The larger boy looked shocked, as the other students looked at him.  The
situation wasn't going his way, and he knew it from the way several
students looked at him in disgust.

	"This isn't over," he said, and then left.

	"Jason?  What happened?" a confused Kyle asked as he saw Jason with
the gasping boy.

	"This boy..."

	"My name is Richard," he interrupted, wincing in pain.  "I told my
former best friend I was gay.  I wasn't going to hide it anymore; not after
what I saw last night.  He didn't' like that, and thought I was coming on
to him or something," Richard said, tears in his eyes.

	"Hey.  He's not who you thought he was if he couldn't' handle it,"
Jason said as the other students filtered away, now that there was no
fight.  Kyle just stood in silence, his arms hanging uselessly at his
sides.

	"I know that... but it hurts... my chest.  It's bad," he wheezed.
Jason and Kyle looked at each other in alarm.  Then Kyle grabbed his other
side and off they went to the nurse's office.

	"It's okay Kyle; I got it.  You go on to class.  Take some notes
for me," Jason said, not wanting his new boyfriend to miss anything.  He
was still new at school, so that would take some of the pressure off him.

	"Are you sure?" Kyle asked, looking at the injured boy with
concern.

	"Yeah.  I love you," Jason said, feeling kind of spontaneous.  He
looked back and forth quickly down the hallway to see that it was empty and
then rather quickly pecked Kyle on the cheek, and giggled at his reaction.

	"Thanks," Kyle said, and then took off.  The boy looked at Jason in
shock, and then smiled while grimacing at the same time.



	Kyle sat in his social studies class kicking himself.  He didn't
want that to happen.  How many more fights and injuries were going to
happen because he'd said what he'd said on TV?  Stupid kid.  Punching
someone just because of that.  He wasn't even that good looking.

	"Now class, it appears due to certain news events last night... we
have our subject today already planned.  So, does anyone have any
comments?"  Most of the class had their hands up.  This was going to be a
long day.

	"Ok... you, Susie," the teacher said, randomly picking one of the
girls.

	"I think this whole gay thing is pointless.  Who cares?  I
mean... he's still a super hero.  Why should the gay thing matter?"
Wait. That was a good point? Why DID it matter?

	Another boy, Trevor, replied before the teacher could call on him.
"Of course it matters!!"  he said.  Kyle hadn't ever pegged him for being
gay.  But then, it's not like he ever acted gay.  "He said he didn't want
teens feeling alone."

	"So you wanna share something with us?" a boy said snidely.  Kyle
was going to have to have a word with him later.

	"Yes, I do.  I lost a cousin to suicide because of the gay issue,"
Trevor said quietly.  Kyle felt for him.  "I don't want see people suffer
because of that."  The jerk kid didn't reply.  Good for you Trevor, Kyle
thought.

	"So, to answer your question Susie, it does matter?" the teacher
asked.

	'But it shouldn't!!  People should be able to be what they are and
not worry," she argued back.  OH.  So that's what she meant.  Kyle could
see it better now.

	"Unfortunately, the world still does not see things that way," the
teacher replied.  Huh?  Kyle had just wanted teens to feel better about
themselves... and take off some of the pressure society puts on them.  That
was all.  He knew what it was like. He'd gone through some tough times
about a year ago; when he'd finally figured out he was gay.

	But, then, he'd met some online friends; Dragon and Paladin among a
few.  They were so supportive, and so caring.  Well, as much as you can be
online.

	"I still think it's gross," another boy said, with some of the
class muttering their agreement.

	"Well, you are, of course, entitled to your opinions.  But, as I've
said before, as long as beliefs do not infringe upon others, I feel that
nobody really has a right to do anything about them.  Consider for example
the supposed "war on terror."  Oh great; here we go again, Kyle thought.



	Jason waited with his new friend Richard.  They'd gotten to know
each other from Jason trying to distract him from the pain, while waiting
for the school nurse.  Apparently, due to the news, several problems had
risen.

	"Well, what seems to be the trouble?" she asked, looking at the two
boys.  "Not another fight because of sexuality?"  Richard nodded.

	"He can't talk very well.  It hurts too much.  Someone slugged him
rather hard in the chest, and he hit a locker," Jason explained.  "He said
it felt like there was a stabbing pain in his chest."  The elderly nurse
looked rather alarmed.

	"Could you remove his shirt?  I need to find my stethoscope," she
said, looking for her instruments.  Jason and Richard both blushed.

	"Oh, dear, it's not that bad.  I'm sure you've seen more of each
other than I have," she said off handedly.  What?  What was she talking
about?  Oh no.  She thought they were together?

	"Come on," Jason said, deciding to ignore her for the moment.  He
helped Richard get his shirt off, and couldn't help but notice the boy was
rather well built for his small size.  A small six pack was barely visible
under his pale skin.

	A large black and blue bruise was starting to become visible along
the boy's chest.  "That looks like it hurts," Jason remarked, and the boy
nodded.

	"If you could breathe for me..." the nurse said, finally turning
back to them.  "Ouch; that doesn't look too good," she added, looking at
the boy's chest.  She placed her stethoscope on his skin and had him
breathe.  Jason watched as Richard winced with each breath he took.  "That
sounds bad.  Could you take one deep breathe for me?" she asked.

	"It hurts," he replied.  Jason patted his arm, trying to comfort
him.

	"I know.  But one more?" she asked.  Richard shrugged, then took
the biggest breathe he could.

	"FUCK!!" he yelled, as a weak pop came from his chest.  "It hurts
really bad," he cried, tears welling up in his eyes.  This was not good.
Jason wished he could do something... but there was nothing he could do.

	"Oh gracious!!  Jason, call 911.  I can't tend this kind of thing
here.  He may have internal bleeding," she said, almost on cue as Richard
began to cough.  Every time he coughed, his body would spasm, and Jason
could tell it was causing more pain.

	Jason rushed to the phone and dialed, as the nurse rushed around
the office trying to find something to help calm the boy down.

	This was not going to be good at all.



	Kyle sat at lunch waiting for Josh and Steven to come eat.  He was
dying to ask them about their opinions on the whole "coming out" thing.
That way he'd have an idea how they would take it if he and Jason were to
tell them how they felt.

	But where was Jason?  He hadn't made it to first period, or 3rd
period either.  He'd been helping that Richard kid to the nurse.

	"Hey... faggot lover!!"  What?  Kyle looked around, wondering who
was causing another fight.  "Yeah, you!!  I'm talking to you!"  Huh?  Him?
Kyle spotted a large boy standing at the lunch room entrance.

	"Shut up Mark!!  Most of the school already knows what you did to
your `Best friend!'"  What was that about?  Kyle looked to see a rather
slender girl, in black Levi pants and a pink shirt.  She had long red hair
and a pretty face, for what it was worth.

	The boy, Mark, looked confused, then angry.  "And who cares about
some lesbian's opinion like yours?  You and your stupid cousin can burn in
hell!" he countered, sounding rather stupid.  Oh, it was that kid from this
morning; that punched the other dude.  Kyle was suddenly angry.

	"Then we'll see you there for what you did to Rick." she yelled
back.  Kyle felt himself getting up to deal with this Mark before he knew
what was going on.  It was pretty obvious this was going to turn ugly.

	"Oh, so the little faggot wants to protect his friend," he sneered.
Kyle wanted to shake his head with disgust.

	"I don't even know her... but she doesn't deserve this.  And
neither did your supposed best friend," Kyle said.  This guy was really
getting on his nerves.  Kyle didn't want to make a scene, at least at
first.  But, now he just wanted to shut this guy up.

	"ANYBODY THAT IS GAY IS NO FRIEND OF MINE!!" the boy yelled, his
face red with anger.  He punched at Kyle, but Kyle had been ready for
something, (if not quite so soon), so he stepped back out of the way and
let the fist swing harmlessly in front of his face.

	The second one was not so easy; coming at Kyle's stomach, but he
sidestepped, letting it pass.

	"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM MARK?" the girl screamed, immediately sending
shivers running up Kyle's back.  Ouch.  She was not one to make angry.

	"What is going on here?"  It was the vice principal.  "Mr. Quaid,
If you are fighting again you will be kicked off the team."  He had a way
of sizing up a situation very quickly.  He was a middle aged man, slightly
balding, who seemed to have it out for all sports players.

	Mark nodded, even though he was angry.  "I know that." he huffed.
"I was just leaving."  He turned around and stomped off, with the vice
principal following behind him. "You aren't off the hook yet..." the
principal trailed off as they exited the lunch room.

	The girl looked at him, and then snorted.  "Thanks, but I could
have handled it."  Kyle cocked his eyebrow.  Maybe she could have.

	"So how does Mark know you?" she asked curiously, as she sat down
next to him.  Kyle offered her his apple, which she took hungrily.

	"That Rick ran into my friend Jason during the whole hallway
scene," Kyle explained, as the lunch room conversation returned to normal.

	"Oh.  Why was he yelling at you?"  She looked at him curiously.

	"Cuz My friend helped Rick up.  He couldn't breathe very well, so
Jason took him to the nurse," Kyle explained.

	"Took who to the nurse?" Steven asked, as he sat down with Josh
right behind him.

	"My cousin," the girl replied.  Kyle still didn't know her name,
did he?

	"I'm sorry, but I don't know your name.  I'm Kyle by the way, and
this is Steven, and Josh."

	"Hi."

	"Hey," the two boys said at the same time, causing them to laugh.

	"Oh, sorry; I was a little tense with that son of a bitch Mark,"
she cursed, laying her head on her arms.  "I'm Alex."

	"And I'm Jason," a familiar voice said, coming up from behind.

	"Where were you??" Kyle asked, trying not to sound worried or
desperate.

	"Well, I took Richard to the Nurse's office," Jason explained,
pulling out his sack lunch.

	"Thank you," Alex said from under her arms.

	"How do you know Richard?" Jason asked, biting into his peach.
Yeah.  Kyle wanted to know too.

	"He's my cousin.  So what happened?"  Kyle coughed on his peach,
trying not to cover everyone in juice.

	"Oh shit!  I didn't know.  It's bad.  They took him to the
hospital, and the nurse let me go with hum cuz she thought I was... well
she thought I was his boyfriend."  Now Kyle found himself spraying the
table with his milk.

	"What?" Steven and Josh said at the same time, while Kyle coughed.

	Alex whacked Kyle on the back as she spoke.  "Hospital?" Alex
asked, her eyes now wide.

	"Yeah," Jason replied, now looking down.  "That dude nailed him
right in the base of the rib cage.  They think he may have punctured a
lung," Jason said, trying to avoid their eyes.

	"I'm going to kill him!!" Alex said, looking ready to get up.

	"I don't think you could," Kyle said, pushing her back down.  "At
least wait until after school, please?"

	"I'm sorry to hear about your boyfriend," Josh said gently, patting
him on the back while, at the same time, Steven was trying to comfort Alex.
Josh?  Being nice about it?  Kyle wasn't sure whether to be happy about
Josh being ok, or angry that everyone thought Jason had a different
boyfriend.

	"He's not my boyfriend; he just ran into me in the hall, so I
helped him up when that dude came over and started shit," Jason explained.

	"Yeah," Kyle nodded.  "You really told him off too.  I think you
had him embarrassed," Kyle added.

	"You were awesome, from what I heard." Alex added, which had Jason
blushing.

	"So you're not gay then?" Josh asked.

	"Um well..." Kyle saw Jason looking at him searchingly.  Kyle
nodded.

	"Actually guys...."Kyle said, taking a deep breath.



	Jason thought it had gone rather well.  Josh had been very
accepting, and even though Steven was freaked out... he wasn't mean or
violent about it.  And that Alex chick was really cool.  She'd thanked him
for taking care of her cousin, and had said she was sorry that Jason was
taken.  If not, she would have set Jason up.  Rick was cool; and very cute.
But Kyle was the only boy for him.

	The guys had taken it pretty well when Kyle and Jason had said they
were together.  Alex had cheered for them, saying that she was glad she had
some gay friends. Jason still wasn't sure he was gay, but he did know that
Kyle made him feel special; made him feel something that nobody else had
made him feel.

	The only downer in his day was Richard, or Rick as his nick name
was.  Rick had that nasty bruise on his chest, and the doctors had guessed
at internal bleeding.  Jason was pretty sure, since they'd caught it early,
that he'd be ok, but he was still worried.  And why was he so worried about
a boy he barely knew?

	Jason chewed on his pencil as the teacher spoke. That stupid
Mark. Punching his former best friend. That was the other thing bothering
him. How many scenes and situations were going on all over the country like
that? What if other kids got hurt?

	And poor Rick, lying in the bed like that.  Jason had done the best
he could, making sure he was comfortable; getting him changed into those
horrible dressing gowns, and getting him propped up.

	But they had a scare for a bit in the ambulance as he'd started
coughing up blood; a lot of blood.  Jason had been really worried.  He was
still worried in fact.  One of the nurses offered to take him back to
school when Rick had fallen asleep from the pain killers they'd given him,
and Jason had accepted.  So he didn't find out what the x-ray's had shown.
He was pretty sure there was lung damage; that much blood from coughing
wasn't normal.

	So, now he found himself waiting for school to get out so he could
ride to the hospital with Alex and her mother. He'd asked Kyle if he was
going to come, but hadn't gotten a yes or no. He supposed that he was just
more involved after helping Rick to the office, and riding with him in the
ambulance. Kyle would eventually come around; it would just take a little
time.

	It was strange how letting them think he was the boy's boyfriend
had gotten him a ride in the ambulance, and special treatment at the
hospital. Maybe that hero kid coming out was a good thing in some ways.
But the thought of poor Rick lying there in the hospital bed was horrible.

	"Hey Jason. You ok?" a high pitch voice asked. Oh no. it was
Michelle again.  Wait. Now that Kyle and he were out, he wouldn't have to
put up with her.

	"I'm fine. Just thinking about my new boyfriend," he replied,
standing up with his stuff.  He heard her sigh behind him.

	"I should have known." she said, sounding very depressed.  Now
Jason felt bad; he hadn't wanted her to feel bad... just back off.  "Either
the guy is gay, or doesn't want me."

	"Look.  To tell you the truth, your way of trying to make over guys
isn't exactly helping you either." he explained.

	"But..." she protested, brushing brown hair out of her eyes.

	"No buts; just let the guy be himself for starters," Jason said.
"And you should be yourself... just don't inflict your hair dressing thing
on anybody who says no, ok?" he said, patting her shoulder as she was
clinging to herself and crying.

	"I guess so," she sniffed.

	"Come on.  Do you know a Richard?" he asked, wondering if she knew
him.  If she did, maybe she'd come along to the hospital.

	"You mean the one who got hit in the chest?" she asked him
curiously.

	"Yeah.  I'm going to visit him with his cousin now.  You can come
if you want."  He was hoping Alex wouldn't mind.  Wait... why did he just
invite this girl to come along?

	"Um... ok."  Oh great.  Now she wanted to come along.  "So is
Richard your boyfriend?" she asked.  Oh fuck. That would make sense.  As
far as he knew, Kyle wasn't too bothered by people thinking that, but he
really needed to get that straightened out.  Nobody made Jason feel like
Kyle did.

	"No.  You know Kyle right?  He's my new boyfriend," Jason said, his
chest overflowing with emotion.  It felt so good to say that.

	"Kyle is gay?" she asked stupidly.  Jason had to fight not to sigh.
This was going to be a long hospital trip.

****************

Ok. I admit I'm not a doctor.  I really don't know what they would do for
the boy in this story.  Also I have to explain that the boy who robbed the
bank is at home with an electronic bracelet on his leg.  Basically it's
house arrest.; he can't leave until he goes to trial.  So he's not just
sitting at home for the hell of it.

Editor's note: Well, as a health care professional, I do know what they
would do.  They would put in a chest tube using a canula (a very large bore
needle), hook it to a tube and hook that to light suction.  They would
probably do it in the ambulance (EMTs are allowed).  This would expand the
lung so the patient can breathe properly.