Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 23:19:33 EDT
From: William Watts <bwstories44@hotmail.com>
Subject: You Pass This Way But Once - chapter 16

Legal Notice:
The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts.
The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.

Don't read this story if:
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**If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live,
**Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex.

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		*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

You Pass This Way But Once - by BW
            Copyright 2000 by bwstories44
Chapter 16 - Into the fires of hell.
                          March 2000

As soon as his room light came on, I could see that Seth's face was swollen
and discolored.  It would still be a while before it was fully black and
blue but you could tell that Seth had been on the receiving end of several
fists.  I had to fight back my rage and my tears as I asked him what had
happened.

"I was walking back from the library when something was thrown over my head
and a bunch of hands grabbed me.  I tried to fight back but there were just
too many of them and I didn't stand a chance.  Some of them held my arms
and legs while others punched and kicked me.  When they were done
assaulting me they had another surprise planned."  I looked at him confused
when he lifted up his shirt for me to see his chest.  Besides being all
bruised, the word 'fag' was painted on his chest.

"And that's not all they did," Seth added as he unbuttoned his jeans and
lowered them and his underwear for me to see his naked groin.  "They did
this as well."  His attackers had painted his genital area the same pick
color as the writing on his chest.  It was also the same color that our
football helmets and pads had been painted before.

"Here's the ratty old towel they threw over my head so I couldn't identify
them," he said as he tossed the towel to me.  "After they finished their
little amusement, they hit me and kicked me some more before the ran away
and left me exposed in front of the library.  I couldn't tell my parents
what happened without having to explain that I'm gay.  I still can't do
that and I don't know what to do."

"I'll just tell your dad that you got beat up by some guys that we've had
problems with at practice.  If he asks what it's about I'll just tell him
that it's because they're afraid we'll get the starting spots instead of
their friends.  I'll tell him that you're going to spend the night with me
and we can get you cleaned up at my place.  I know that my dad has some
paint remover and we can use that in the shower to get rid of the paint.
You get your things together and I will talk to your dad."

I went out and explained our cover story to Seth's dad.  He didn't want
Seth to leave but my dad helped me convince him that Seth would be better
off with me to comfort him.  Reluctantly, Mr. Eldred agreed and Seth loaded
his things into our car.  When we got to my house we took my dad to my room
and we explained the real story to him.  He got us the things we would need
and he explained that paint thinner would be more appropriate to use and it
wouldn't irritate the skin as severely.  We thanked him and I went with
Seth to the bathroom to assist him in any way I could.

Seth removed the paint from his body but at a price.  His skin was all red,
raw and irritated when he finished and it looked very sore.  Seth wouldn't
admit it but I felt he was in a great deal of pain, not only from the
beating but from the cleaning as well.  After he was finished, we went back
to my room to talk.

"Do you know who was there tonight?" I asked him.

"Not for sure but with the same paint and with what happened, I can only
guess that it was Randy and his friends.  They're not going to stop, Logan.
It's only going to get worse.  We'll have to do something soon before it
will happens again."

"Seth, you've got to tell your father.  It's only a matter of time now
before he learns about it some other way.  What if you had been harmed so
badly that you would have had to go to the emergency room?  The doctor
would have told him what was done to you and what was written on your body.
You've got to get this out in the open so he can help you.  We could
transfer schools and that would end this for a while."

"For a while but for how long before it starts there too.  Guys in our
school know guys in the other high schools.  Word would get out and we'd be
right back where we started and I'd have to deal with my parents as well.
I've got enough to deal with without having to worry about how I'd be
treated at home."

"What if they ended up supporting you?  Then you'd have help in dealing
with these problems.  You'd have someone else to turn to and discuss things
with when the situation turns bad."

"I'm telling you, Logan.  My dad isn't going to accept this.  He's going to
be another problem for me, not a solution.  I'm telling you that it's
better if he doesn't find out about us.
  I can't explain how I know but I do.  My dad just isn't the accepting
type."

I believed that Seth knew his father better than I did so I accepted his
version of reality.  I felt sorry for him.  I couldn't imagine not being
able to go to my dad about things like this and I couldn't imagine what it
was like for Seth to not have the same sort of support system at home.  I
wanted to cuddle with Seth and make him feel better but I knew that this
wouldn't be possible with his bruising and the sensitive skin from removing
the paint.  As much as I wanted to hold him and make him forget his
problems, I knew that I could only console him verbally and by my presence
beside him.

The next morning we got a call from Seth's father and he asked us to wait
for him until he got to my house.  When he arrived we could see that he was
upset and we wondered what had happened.

"Seth, I got a phone call earlier this morning.  Some guy told me that I
should do something to convert my faggot son and get him away from his
butt-fucking friend.  Can you explain to me what that was all about?  Is it
true?  Are you a fag?"

Seth just sat there, his mouth open but no words were coming out.  I could
see the pained look on his face and I could tell from his father's words
that Seth's assessment of his dad's reaction to the news was correct.
Mr. Eldred looked at me and I had a good idea of what was coming next.
"How about you, Logan?  Can you shed any light on this topic?  Are you the
butt-fucking friend the guy referred to?"

"Leave Logan out of this," Seth screamed out.  "You have no right to speak
to him like that.  He's my friend and the only person I can trust.  He has
stood by me through everything and you have no right to speak to him that
way.  Yes, I'm gay and there's nothing you can do to change that.  It's
just who I am.  I've had to accept that and you're going to have to accept
that too."

"Accept it?  Like hell I'm going to accept that.  You're going to have to
give up your little homo fling and bring yourself back to reality.  You're
going to start acting straight, start going to go out with girls and you're
going to stop hanging around with the queers.  If that includes Logan than
you're going to have to stop hanging out with him too."

"I just can't stop being gay.  I didn't choose to be that way so I can't
choose to give it up.  I've tried to be straight and to go out with girls
but they don't do anything for me.  I'm just not attracted to them I can't
just change who or what I am just because you say so."

"Don't speak to me like that.  You're my son and you're going to do as I
tell you.  As long as you're a minor and you're living under my roof you
will do what I tell you to do and you'll do it when I tell you to do it."

"I may be a minor and I may live under your roof but I can't perform
miracles.  I listen to you and I do what you say but there is no way that I
can ever be straight.  You can't make love to a girl if you can't get it up
and girls just don't make me hard.  I'm sorry dad.  I'm sorry that I'm not
the perfect son who's just exactly what you want.  I am who I am and I
can't become somebody else.  If you can't love me and accept me like that
then I'll just have to leave and you won't have to worry about me any
more."

"Enough of this bullshit.  You're not going anywhere and you're going to do
exactly what I tell you, starting now.  Get your things and get out to the
car.  We're going home and we're going to have a private discussion about
how things are going to be in the future."  Seth went to my room to get his
things.  You could see how he was dreading that conversation and how hard
this was on him.

"Logan," Mr. Eldred continued, "I expect you to stay away from Seth from
now on.  I don't want to see or hear of you two being around each other at
all.  Seth is going to be turning over a new leaf and you won't be included
in his new life."

I couldn't respond because I couldn't think of what to say to this kind of
logic.  All I could do is feel sorry for Seth and what he was about to go
through.  I hoped that maybe he could call me later or I could talk to him
in school.  I knew that I wouldn't be going to school today and I doubted
that Seth would be either.  I had to go to my room and evaluate everything
that had happened.  That was the longest, slowest moving day that I have
ever had to endure and I was no closer to any answers by late afternoon
than I was during the early morning.  I was hoping my parents might be able
to help me when they got home.

I was relieved when my parents' cars pulled into the driveway.  I explained
what happened to my parents at dinner, giving them all the sordid details
of Mr. Eldred's tirade against Seth.  I explained how worried I was about
Seth and I wanted to know if either of them thought there was anything we
could do to help.  My parents weren't optimistic about the situation.  Seth
was Mr. Eldred's son and we couldn't interfere unless he asked for our help
or he did something illegal or harmful to Seth.  This certainly didn't make
me feel any better.  I went to my room hoping Seth would call and about an
hour later I heard the doorbell ring.

"OK.  Where the hell is he?"  It was Mr. Eldred and he was obviously
looking for Seth.

"He's not here and we haven't seen him, if that's what you're asking," my
father replied.

"How about your son?  He must know where Seth is."

I didn't wait for my father to answer him.  I stepped into the room and
answered him myself.  "I haven't seen or heard from Seth since you dragged
him off this morning.  This is all your fault.  You treated him like dirt
this morning thinking you could just bark out orders and everything would
be fine.  Now, he's probably run away and who knows where he is or what
he's doing."

"Don't you dare speak to me like that you little faggot."

"And don't you dare to speak to my son like that you fucking asshole.
Logan is right.  You created your own problems with your intolerance and
your lack of understanding and compassion.  If your son has run away it's
because of how you treated him and not anything that my son did.  If you'd
like our help, fine.  You may ask for it and we'll see what we can do.  If
not, you can remove yourself from my premises.  It's up to you."  I've
never heard my father speak to anyone like that before.  My dad is usually
such a laid back, easy-going guy.  I've never seen him this riled up
before.

"You can all go to hell," Mr. Eldred snapped at us, "but don't you dare let
me find Seth here with you or I'll press charges against you with the
police and I'll sue you for everything you have."

"Get the fuck out of my house and take your lame threats with you.  The
next time you set foot on my property I'll have you arrested for
trespassing.  Now get lost, you sorry excuse for a human being."

Mr. Eldred left and my father continued to spit and sputter for another
couple of hours.  During that time I called Robbie to see if he had seen or
heard from Seth.  Robbie was the only other person I could think of that
Seth might try to contact.  Robbie told me that he hadn't had any contact
with Seth since we got back from camp but he promised to let me know if he
found out anything in the future.  I thanked him but now I was really
concerned about my best friend.  I tried to think of any place he might go
or any one he might turn to but I only drew blanks.  I said a special
prayer that night asking God to protect and look after Seth no matter where
he might be.

I slept very poorly that night, waking up with every little noise and I
spent much of the evening looking out my bedroom window hoping that Seth
might come by.  He never showed up and I only worried more about him as the
night progressed into dawn.  I couldn't imagine where he might be or how he
might be surviving out there by himself.

The next morning I was ready for school early and I waited outside the
school looking for Seth.  I was totally oblivious to everything else going
on around me, especially the poor attempts to make light of my sexuality,
and I could only think about Seth and wonder about how he was surviving on
his own.  I couldn't concentrate in my classes and I told the coach that I
wouldn't be at practice again.  I went home and sat by the phone waiting
for Seth to call.  I never moved more than ten feet from the phone until my
parents arrived home.  I asked them if they had heard anything about Seth
and they said that they hadn't.  That was not what I wanted to hear.

I was frantic now.  It had been nearly two days that Seth had been gone and
he hadn't contacted me.  Where was he?  What was he doing?  How was he
surviving?  I was beginning to get physically ill from worry.  My stomach
was in knots, my heart was aching and I couldn't focus mentally on any
task.  If I didn't hear something about him soon I thought that I'd
literally explode.  The phone rang and I pounced on it.

"Hello."

"Logan?  This is Timmy."

"Timmy?  Oh, I'm sorry.  I was hoping it was Seth.  He's been gone for
almost two days and I'm worried sick about him.  He had a big fight with
his father and he took off.  I'm scared Timmy and I'm worried that
something has happened to him."

"I know.  That's why I'm calling.  Seth's here with me and he wanted me to
let you know he all right.  Hold on and I'll let you talk to him."  My head
was spinning.  How did he get to Timmy's?  Timmy lives a couple of hours
away from here.

"Logan.  I'm sorry I couldn't tell you what I was up to before I left.  I
was afraid my father would find out where I was going and come after me.
What's happened since I left?"

"Your dad came over here the night you left and he was making all kinds of
threats and accusations.  My dad lost it and threw your father out of our
house.  My dad even swore at him.  I've never heard my dad use that kind of
language before.  It was really wicked and you'd have loved it.
  When are you coming back?"

"I don't know Logan.  I don't think I can come back there and face my
father.  Timmy's folks are being really good to me and they've been very
understanding.  Timmy had told them that he was gay before I even got here
so it wasn't a big shock for them to find out about me.  I told them about
everything that happened to us since camp.  I know I can't stay here
forever but I don't know what else I can do."

"I can get my dad to drive me there this weekend and then you can come back
here and stay with us."

"And go back to the same school with the same bigots and be near my dad?  I
don't know if I can handle that any more."

"Look, how long are Timmy's parents willing to let you stay for?"

"I'm not sure if I can tell you in terms of days or weeks or anything like
that.  They just told me that I could stay with them until things quieted
down or I until I could work things out at home, like that might actually
happen."

"Aren't your parents supposed to be going away for a week or something."

"Yes.  They leave a week from this Saturday.  It's got something to do with
my dad's job.  Some trip he won at work or something.  They'll be gone for
a week."

"Great.  If we pick you up this weekend you'll just have to lay low for a
week before you they leave.  Seth, I'm dying here without you.  I've been
so worried about you that I was really getting sick.  Just say yes and
we'll be there this weekend.  OK?"

"Yeah, I guess I shouldn't sponge off of Timmy's family for too long.  I
just don't want to see my dad right away."

"Don't worry.  My dad's not going to let him in here.  They were both
really hot and making threats that evening you left."

"I'm sorry that you and your family got dragged into my family problems."

"You're my family too.  Your problems are also my problems and my parents
feel the same way.  You're not alone in this.  We'll help you any way we
can.

"Thanks, Logan.  I know I can always count on you."

"Hey, let me talk to Timmy for a minute before we hang up."

"Yeah?"

"Timmy I know you can't say much so I'll try to ask questions you can
answer with a yes or no.  Is Seth really OK?  I'm mean emotionally as well
as physically."

"Yeah."

"Will your parents let him stay until this weekend?  I'll get my dad to
drive me there and pick him up on Saturday."

"Yeah, everything's fine."

"I know that I shouldn't ask this of you but Seth needs to relax and forget
about what's been happening in his life.  Do you think you can help him
with this and get his mind off of his problems?  You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I know and I planned on that already.  Don't worry, Logan.  We'll
take good care of Seth until he goes back home.  Remember, I love him too,
maybe not as much as you, but I'll take care of him and we'll return him in
good shape.  Maybe you could see if Robbie wants to come with you to pick
Seth up.  I'd kind of like to see him again."

"OK.  I'll call him tomorrow.  We'll see you Saturday.  Give Seth a kiss
and some loving from me too."

"I will.  Don't worry and we'll see you on Saturday.  Bye."

I felt better knowing that Seth was safe and that I'd see him soon.  I
explained my plan to my dad and he agreed to drive me to Timmy's to pick
him up.  I think my mom and dad were as relieved as I was to learn where
Seth was and that he was doing fine.  Now, we just have to plan out what
we're going to do after that."

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If you enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at
http://www.teenboyauthors.org/thewolf/, in the 'Other Stories' section.
E-mails may be sent to: bwstories44@hotmail.com.