Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:14:33 -0800 (PST)
From: Cailen Vature <cailenauthor@yahoo.com>
Subject: Raven Chapter 26

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Chapter 26: Pulling a Rope through a Needle

	I could barely sleep through the night and I was hardly surprised
as I groaned away from the stream of sunlight coming through my window. I
got up and headed downstairs and I wasn't totally surprised with the short
note from my parents sitting on the kitchen counter

	`Went out golfing, who knows when the first snow will fly, love
you'

	I sighed and went back upstairs and got dressed. I was on a
mission. I was going to Jay's house.

	I packed a few snacks and some water and I got into the garage and
dragged my bike from the clutter in the back and checking it over I was
glad to see the tires were still good and inflated. I got it outside and
hopped on.

	Six miles really isn't that far but when you haven't rode a bicycle
in ages it really can take the wind right out of you. It took me an hour or
so but I finally made it to Jay's house. While my house was right on a
lake, Jay's house was nestled deep in the woods on a secluded road away
from the center of town. It was larger than mine by a little bit, while
mine was designed like a lake house this house was built much more like a
New England colonial.

	I parked my bike by the front door and I went up to the front door
and noticed it was slightly ajar. I pushed it open and went inside.

	"Hello" I said softly not wanting to alarm anyone. I walked gently
across the foyer and walked through the living room and kitchen and found
nobody there. I was going to walk out but I heard muffled voices coming
from upstairs.

	I padded across the living room and headed up the stairs and as I
rose the voices got louder. All the doors were shut except the last room on
the left of the hallway where there was a light on. I walked over to the
door and peeked inside.

	"Yea baby that's it" I heard and I looked and saw Jay drilling some
guy on the bed. My heart instantly crumbled into a million pieces. I was
about to say something when suddenly I heard

	"Oh ...eh...den..." and I recognized the voice. I peeked further in
to see Colin lying on the bed being drilled by Jay.

	A million thoughts were running through my head. First I was kind
of shocked to see Colin out of the hospital so quickly and second I was
amazed how fast Jay got him into his bed. I thought back to all the kind
words Jay had told me about Ian and how he would always be with me and I
realized at that moment that all of his words were a crock of shit.

	When I saw them together at the hospital I could almost feel a
connection between them but sensing one is a little different that seeing
it in action...

	Their moans suddenly came to a stop after they had obviously
climaxed and were basking in the afterglow

	"That was amazing" Colin said "I've missed you"

	"Me too, but soon we can go back to being ourselves" Jay said and I
heard them kiss

	"I have to head back to my place, after the accident my parents
want to keep me close, when can I visit you again?" I heard Colin ask

	"He'll tell you himself I'm sure." Jay said cryptically

	"And what about Dustin, when is he going to be told" Colin asked

	"Well I need to talk to him today, I left abruptly last I saw him
and I need to apologize." Jay said and my blood was boiling. I was
absorbing every detail as it was replaying and burning in my mind over and
over...

	"Having you be with him has been the hardest thing" Colin said

	"I know, but soon we will be together again." Jay said "hang in
there a little longer."

	I felt tears beginning to fall down my face and I walked away from
the room. I tried being as quiet as I could and I felt my magic, the cold
chill spread around me making me silent as I walked quietly down the stairs
and when I got to the front door I opened it wide and slammed it shut. I
felt it reverberating in my ears as I hopped onto my bike and hurried off
down the driveway when I was at the road I saw Jay stick his head out the
window and yell

	"RAVEN!" but I was already gone.

	I took a back way home hoping to avoid Jay if he came after me and
either he didn't come after me or it worked because I arrived at my house
with no random appearances from Jay. I walked inside still in tears and ran
up to my room.

	I launched myself onto my bed and cried and cried until I fell
asleep. The last thing I remember before falling asleep is the cold chill
of my magic wrapping around me.


	I was Dreaming

	I was back; floating over the meadow I saw when Jackson and I had
made love. I floated to a halt and came down and my bare feet landed in the
long strands of wheat. The sun was bright overhead and the distant
mountains and forests were beautiful. I felt the grass and I was entranced
by the beauty of everything.

	"Lovely isn't it?" I heard a voice say

	I turned around to see Jay standing in front of me but he looked
different. I always thought he looked amazing but now he was really
stunning. His dark hair flowed down past his shoulders and his eyes seemed
to match the sky.

	"This is a special place, it's impossible to get to unless you have
been here before and since you have you can always find Me." he said

	"I hate you!" I screamed at him but he just smiled

	"I will always love you my Anam Cara" he said

	"NO!" I shouted "you're a liar, you asshole!"

	"Feelings never change, you can only get new ones" he replied

	He came and approached me and wrapped his arms around me and I
cried and I hung onto him.

	"Why, god... why!" I screamed holding him

	"I'm sorry I hurt you, I hope in time you might learn to forgive
me, I should have asked for your permission and what I have
done... unforgivable... but I love you... it's time to wake up... you need
to wake up Dustin...

	I noticed that the clouds were getting darker and a storm was
coming on the horizon over the mountains and the air suddenly became cold

	"What's happening?" I asked

	"WAKE UP!" Jay screamed and with his voice ringing in my ears I
opened my eyes.


	I bolted upright as if I was electrified and gasped as if I had
been running. My mind was reeling and I then noticed that Ian was sitting
on the bed next to me holding my arm.

	"What are you doing here?" I asked abruptly not really caring if I
sounded rude.

	"Your mom let me in, thought you might want to wake up before
dinner... said you've been sleeping all day" he smiled at me weakly

	"well yeah, I've had a rough day" I said with a sigh willing all my
negative thoughts away trying to maintain myself in my focused place which
was only helping marginally.

	"Want to talk about it?" Ian asked

	"No!" I snapped

	"I should go..." Ian went to get up but I grabbed his hand
reflexively and pulled him back down.

	"He cheated" I said and Ian just gave me a confused look

	"Who cheated" he asked

	"Jay cheated" I said trying to make myself clearer

	"Jay cheated on what?" Ian asked still not understanding what I was
saying clearly and I was beginning to get frustrated

	"ON ME!" I all but shouted and I felt the tears beginning to form
and Ian's face suddenly changed as what I was saying was finally becoming
clear.

	"With whom?" he asked angrily

	"Colin" I all but whispered

	"That... that fuck..." Ian stammered "I'll kill him" Ian said

	"As much as I would love that right at this moment... please don't"
I sighed "I still want to hear his explanation."

	I then launched into the story of how I discovered them together
and how shocked I was that Colin had made it out of the hospital so quickly
that he'd be there in the house. Ian listened to me intently and comforted
me. I was feeling things I hadn't felt in a while coming to the surface.

	"Ian I... thanks... for listening" I said

	"Anytime" he smiled

	"You know it's only been a couple of months, but it's felt like the
longest time. This has to be one of the longest years ever" I said

	"A lot of stuff seems to be happening to you" he agreed

	"Colin, you, Jackson..." I mumbled "I never would of thought I
would have had this much experience before college" I said "the worst of it
is, right now I almost wish I had opted to take my diploma and walk away
from this."

	"Dust..." Ian said taking my arm as I felt the tears beginning to
form again

	"I gave him my everything Ian, now I wish I hadn't. I wish I had
taken that diploma and walked away and I never would of even of met him." I
said

	"You're here for a reason Dustin; I honestly truly believe that
with all of my heart. God saved you on the floor of that bathroom, he
didn't do that only to allow you to suffer, there is a greater purpose for
you. I know it might be insensitive but I for one am glad it happened
otherwise I would not be allowed the pleasure of talking to you right now."
Ian said and I looked up into his astonishing light blue eyes

	"You're so beautiful" I said gazing at him

	"Not as much as you" he said wiping the tears from my face

	"You said when I was ready you would be here for me, is that still
true?" Ian asked

	"Ian..." I asked

	"Will you be my boyfriend?" Ian asked and the question took me by
surprise

	"Ian I..."

	"I was so afraid before, but I understand now... Dustin I love you,
I think I've loved you from the first moment I saw you..." Ian started
babbling

	"Ian calm down!" I almost shouted grabbing him and pulling him into
a hug

	"You hurt me Ian" I said "I was literally just at my weakest and I
saw you with Amanda and you lied and played with my feelings, and I am not
totally over that, AND..." I continued "I just caught my current sleeping
with my best friend; I need some time to adjust."

	Ian looked close to tears

	"I'm not saying no, you fool!" I said trying to get him to smile
"just give me some time okay?"

	Ian did smile his smile for me and I felt better again

	"Good" I said "that's much better"

	"I love you" Ian said

	"And I you, you've been such a good friend to me, I've missed you"
I said holding onto him

	We separated and allowed a comfortable silence to overcome us. We
were broken from our reverie as my dad came in from work and was slightly
surprised to see I was with Ian and not Jay.

	"Hello Ian, welcome back" my dad said

	"Hi Mr. Farrell" Ian said "I was just about to head out" Ian got up
and looked at me fondly

	"I'll see you at school, cheer up" he said giving me that smile

	I smiled back

	"Thanks, I'll see you then" and I watched as Ian let himself out.

	"So Ian huh?" my dad asked as he took off his jacket and loosened
his uniform

	"What about him?" I asked

	"What happened to you and Jay?" my dad asked

	"There is no me and Jay" I said sadly "nor is there a me and Ian
either"

	"What happened?" he asked coming over to me

	"Jay Cheated" I said and my dad's face took an ugly red color

	"Anything else?" he asked

	"It was with my friend Colin from the swim team" I said and the
ugly red color got even darker

	"Anything else?" he asked again

	"Nope, Ian was just here consoling me" I said "I still haven't
gotten over his betrayal with Amanda" I said

	"All he did was kiss her right?" my dad asked and I gave him a
funny look

	"And how do you know all this?" I asked

	"I try to stay informed" he smiled at me

	"Then yes, your information is correct" I said

	"He was there at the hospital the whole time you were ill, and he
managed to fend off his father pretty good while doing it, he went through
a lot of grief explaining how he could be friends with you, I think you
gave him some hell too, didn't you?" he asked

	"I did" I sighed looking down a little ashamed

	"He has a kind heart, I'd give him a chance" my dad smiled "if it
were me, and I were gay too"

	"Thanks" I said giving him a smile

	"That's my boy" he ruffled my hair "get changed we're going out to
dinner"

____________________________________________

	I'd like to thank all my reviewers but i'd like a moment to thank
one.  He and i shared many emails and his thoughts and ideas are now
playing a role in the way i am developing my second story so i would like
thank Gene for all the amazingly kind words and I hope that you're okay.

	Some of you may have noticed that some chapter names are names of
songs. these chapters are meant to be played with those songs. In the final
chapter I will post handy links to these and other interesting factual
tidbits.

	Undoubtedly as some of you are aware Cailen although a real
name... is not my real name, it is a pen name. So please stop trying to
facebook stalk me. It really is not personal I'd just rather not mix
business with pleasure. So to answer the overwhelming questions you may
refer to me as either Cailen which I prefer, or Tim.

	Cailen Vature