Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 22:51:00 -0500
From: eddie thebum <eddie_the_bum@hotmail.com>
Subject: Meeting Taylon 6

    I sat down and wondered what they were talking about. I must have looked
nervous because I saw John nudge Taylon and look towards me. He walked over
and sat beside me and asked what was wrong. I burst out crying and they all
suddenly looked at me. I just started blurting shit out. How they just
brought me up here to beat me up and that I knew Taylon didn't really love
me and wasn't really gay that he just said that to get me here and out me to
the whole school as the "queer who went camping with us". Taylon stood
suddenly and started walking to the tent. He entered and I started getting
even more nervous when he didn't come right out. I looked at Zach and John
and they were looking back at me with smiles like cats ready to pounce on a
mouse. They both stood and walked over to Taylons' tent and stooped down. I
heard them whisper and mumble something between them. I decided that it
might be best if I just got up and left. I grabbed my shirt and headed for
the beach. They didn't even notice me leave. I turned to look back once and
they had all gotten in the tent at that point so I walked off.

   I don't know how long I walked before I finally found the beach; I found
a piece of driftwood and sat down on it. I cried like I'd never cried
before. How stupid could I have been to think anyone like Taylon could be
gay, I mean he's so popular and all the girls flock around him. He's good at
sports and has so many cool friends. I knew before this weekend was over
they'd find me and then I'd go home a bloody, humiliated mess. I had to stay
away for as long as I could. May-be I could hitch a ride back to town with
one of the other campers. I wasn't sure what to do but I knew I had to try
to get away from this I couldn't live with being the "gay" kid all through
high school. I got up and started walking down the beach towards the woods.
I could probably find somewhere to hide and wait till morning. My stomach
felt like it was going to knot into a ball. I stopped a couple of times and
threw up, so much for the food I'd eaten. What else could happen? You know
that feeling you get right before something bad happens? Well careful what
you wish for I guess. I felt my left leg catch in a log and down I went. I
hadn't realized and with the darkness I didn't see a log laying in my way. I
fell down a ravine and bumped my head.  That's the last thing I remembered.

  I woke up and it felt like someone had bashed me over the head with a
club. I looked around and didn't know where I was or what had happened.
Suddenly it all came rushing back to me, the camping trip the hushed
whispers and my fears. I looked around and it dawned on me I wasn't in the
woods but in a cabin or other building and that I wasn't on the ground but
in a bed.  I tried to lift my head but as soon as I did the pain almost made
me faint. I noticed a pain in my ankle and realized it had been wrapped with
an ace bandage. I must have twisted it when I fell. I heard voices outside
the door and could only overhear someone saying, "He's fine just a twisted
ankle and minor concussion. He'll be fine. Just make sure he rests". I saw
the door open and began crying again. There in the doorway stood Taylon,
Zach and John, all three of them looked like they'd been crying.  Taylons
eyes were all red and his cheeks flushed. They entered and the voice told
them only a few minutes and then they'd have to leave. Taylon stood back as
John and Zach approached me. It was a rush of emotions as they both knelt
down and started saying how sorry they were for my accident and why did I
run off, both obviously faking for my benefit. I feigned a response about
just taking a walk and that I got lost. This seemed to satisfy them and they
got up to leave each giving me a hug and kiss on the cheek as they went.
They left the room and Taylon slowly inched towards the bed. He sat on the
edge and began to cry. He told me how they searched for hours looking for me
and that it wasn't until early in the morning that I'd been found by one of
the groundskeepers while checking animal traps. I tried to see deceit in his
eyes, any sign that he wasn't telling the truth, I couldn't see either. I
looked up at him and asked point blank why he brought me here, why did he
ask me to go with them if all they were going to do was beat me up and
humiliate me. He sat quiet for a moment thinking about what I said. And then
he spoke, he told me he brought me here to be with me because in all his
life he'd never felt like he'd belonged until he met Zach and John but they
were a couple and while they were supportive he was still alone. He went on
to say had I stuck around for a few moments longer I would have found out
what they had been whispering about.


   He slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Lifting the
lid he turned it to show me a necklace. It was silver and had a small
pendant on it. Then he reached into his shirt and pulled an identical chain
out. It had the same pendant on it. A small half heart the read "always"
with the word "even" and "we're" under it. He pulled the other chain out of
the box and the pendant on it read, "together" with "when" and "apart" on
it. When he held the two pieces together they read, "Always together even
when we're apart". I almost screamed. How could I have been so stupid? The
things I thought the things I said. I felt worse than ever and my head was
pounding again. I burst into tears and Taylon laid the chain on my chest. He
said that if I didn't want it he would understand but that his feelings for
me were real and that he wanted us to be together for as long as we could.
But if I didn't feel the same he'd make sure at least that I wouldn't be
alone and we'd always be friends. He stood and to turn and leave and I
grabbed his pants leg. He looked at me and tears were running down his face
in waves. I couldn't stand this...once again I'd hurt him and made him fell
horrible. I tried to pull him towards me but didn't have the strength. He
felt this and sat back down on the bed. I did my best to sit up; he saw my
struggle and gently lifted my shoulders as I tried to sit. He propped a
pillow behind me and I spoke to him. I cried that I was sorry for doubting
him and that I know I must be the worst boyfriend in the world. I begged for
his forgiveness, but told him I'd understand if he didn't want to be with me
any more. He let me rant for a few moments and then put one finger to my
lips to quiet me. He spoke not another word; he merely leaned down and
kissed me. My lips parted allowing his tongue to enter my mouth, suddenly I
forgot the pain I forgot the accident and all the fear. I knew now beyond
all doubt that he was real. His love wasn't staged or rehearsed nor was it a
ruse to get me alone to do malicious things. He truly and honestly cared and
wanted to be with me. During that one kiss, I realized it wasn't him that I
was doubting it was me. I was the one who was hurting myself. I lived in
fear and wondered how I had missed the obvious clues. The little looks the
times he pushed me into the bathroom at school the locker room strip and
having me help him dress. He was real my god he was. I felt him wrap around
me and move onto the bed. His arms gently around me and rubbing my back, we
were one we were together. I reached down and picked up the chain, I wrapped
it around my wrist and hugged him back. I hurt, my body felt like it had run
a marathon. My emotions were in turmoil and I wasn't sure what to tell my
parents, but I knew I had found true happiness, true friendship, and a group
of people I could finally trust in my life. He broke our kiss and put both
hands on the sides of my face, he looked deeply into me, past my eyes, past
the scrapes and bruises. He looked into my soul, my heart, my being. I felt
a sudden rush come over me as he took the pendant and chain and gently put
it over my head. Once he had it on me he picked up his own pendant and put
them together again. "Always together even when we're apart". He said this
is the way it's meant to be and the way we'll stay. Even if we're not
boyfriends or lovers we'll always be friends. No matter what happens.


   It's been 24 years now. I still remember it though. The thrill, the
moment how in one week I sought out and won the best person in the world. I
still see his face now and then even though we parted as friends long ago.
He went to college on one coast I on another, we've kept in touch with
postcards and letters and now with the Internet we can talk once in awhile.
He's a doctor and doing quite nicely for himself. I became a writer and have
moved onto short stories and have one screenplay in the works about a boy
who overcomes his fears and finds true love. As I finish this story, I open
my desk and pull out a small wooden box. It has some keepsakes in it from my
youth, and on top is a small jewelry box, I lift it out and open in I pull
out a chain:  "together" with "when" and "apart". Yes my friend...Always
together.



The End.



  I know this ended unlike I anticipated. I truly didn't see it coming as
I'm sure most of you didn't. I hope I didn't disappoint you. Thanks to a
couple of people: Mr.Axl, without you none of this would have come to be.
You are now and will always be my best friend I love ya man. Ted
Louis...you're comments and support have been so nice. I am glad we met and
that you have enjoyed my story. Thank you both for everything.