This is a fictional story that might involve sexual acts between two or more men.

If this offends you, then please do not read any further. If you are under the legal age to read sexually explicit material then do not read any further. This story in no way represents any person living or dead. Any resemblance to any real person is purely coincidental. This story is the property of the author and no copying or posting to any other website is permitted without the author's written consent.

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Brent's Struggle Chapter 19

He awoke with his head throbbing, his mouth felt like something had crawled into it and he was covered in sweat. He could see grey light coming in around the window blinds. He was not sure where he was. He sat up and felt the room begin to spin. He hoped he was not going to vomit as he did not know where the bathroom was. He rested his head in his hands. Leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, he tried to will his stomach and the room to stop spinning. He tried to remember what had happened last night.

The room stopped spinning and he took a few breaths. He remembered going to the bar. He remembered drinking. "Shit," he thought. "I need to get out of here"

He started looking for his clothes. He was only wearing his briefs. He reached for the lamp to get more light in the dim room. His eye hand coordination was not working and he hit the lamp sending it to the floor with a loud crash. "Fuck!" he said under his breath. He moved to see how bad the damage was. He was going to owe someone a new lamp. He started to pick up the pieces.

You alright Alex," a voice said from behind him.

Turning Alex finds an attractive kid standing there in his basketball shorts and nothing else. Alex's gaze quickly takes in the athletic physique, the warm green eyes, and the curly brown hair. "Yeah, I'm sorry about the lamp."

"No problem," the guy said. "Just leave it."

Alex moves back to the sofa and sits down. "I, um, am a little foggy on what happened last night." Alex glancing nervously at the attractive guy and then at his bare feet. For Alex this was not the fierst time he ended up not remembering what had happened the night before. Over the past several months, his drinking had increased and the times he found himself not knowing what had transpired the night before had become to often.

"Well, you did have quite a bit to drink," the guy said. Moving to the sofa he sits down next to Alex. "My name's Pete," he said. "You probably don't remember."

"Um, I, um don't," Alex admits. "Sorry."

"No problem," Pete said waving away Alex's apology. "You were a little out of it by the time we started dancing.

"Um, did, um, we do more than dance?" Alex asked feeling his face blush at his embarrassment. He could not believe he did not remember anything about this guy.

"I was tempted to take advantage of you," Pete said flashing Alex an impish smile, "but I'm not that kind of boy. I like my guys to be able to remember the amazing time they had in my bed."

"Thanks for that," Alex said looking at the guys youthful face and the sexy dimples that popped out when the boy smiled.

"So, does this happen to you much?" Pete asked leaning back against the sofa.

"Um, no," Alex said. It did not use to happen to him much. Only since Brent disappeared. So far, he had not been able to find Brent. He had finally given up on finding him on his own and hired a private investigator. He was still waiting for the guys report.

"So, trying to forget a breakup?" Pete asked.

"It isn't really a breakup," Alex said. "It is more the whole his folks can't handle him being gay and are keeping us apart."

"Oh," Pete said understanding, "the whole Romeo and Juliet story."

"I guess something like that," Alex said.

"Sorry buddy," Pete said patting Alex's bare back.

"Thanks for everything last night," Alex said. "I appreciate you bringing me to your place."

"I wasn't going to let you drive," Pete said. "You should be more careful though. Last night you were an easy mark for anyone to rip you off."

"I probably was," Alex said. "thanks again. Um, do you know where my clothes are?"

"In the washer," Pete said. "They smelled foul dude. Like piss and beer."

"Shit," Alex said. "Sorry."

"They will be done in a bit," Pete said. "You can go take a shower while they are washing."

"Thanks," Alex said. "I feel really grungy."

#

"What were you thinking," Alex asked himself. He had just finished taking a shower and he did feel better. He also knew how lucky he had been to have a guy like Pete. He really could have ended up in a bad place.

Wrapping a towel around his waist, Alex headed out to find Pete and to see if his clothes were done.

"You feel better?" Pete asked when Alex returned to the living room.

"Yeah," he said. "Um, thanks again."

"No big deal," Pete said. "Your clothes are in the dryer. They should be done soon."

"Um, thanks." Alex took a seat next to Pete on the couch. "I do appreciate everything."

"it's no problem," Pete said glancing at the attractive man. Pete had been attracted to Alex the moment he saw the guy at the club. If Alex had not been so intoxicated last night, Pete would have definitely not minded spending the night with the guy. "Just pay it forward," Pete said. There was a part of Pete that wanted to pull Alex's towel open and slide his fingers all over the guy's manhood. Pete could tell however, that the man was hurting and Pete did not want just a quick fuck. At least not with a guy like Alex.

"That I can do," Alex said.

"So, what are you going to do about the guy?" Pete asked. "I mean are you going to try and fight for him or what?"

"I'm going to do what I can," Alex said. "I got a P.I. trying to find him."

"A P.I.?" Pete said in surprise. "What did they do fly him out of the country?"

"I hope not," Alex said. He then proceeded to tell about Brent getting hurt and being in a coma and then his parents transferring him to some clinic."

"The guy at the hospital did not know where the place was," Alex said. "He just told me it was set up by this crazy doctor. She's supposed to be helping Brent with his mental disorder."

"You mean him being gay," Pete said.

"Exactly," Alex said. "Problem is with all the confidentiality around mental illness, I have not been able to find the place. I can't imagine it is too far away but I had no luck on my own."

"I hope you find him before they screw him up," Pete said.

"Me to," Alex agreed.

#

Alex felt better after leaving Pete's. The two exchanged numbers and were going to keep in touch. Alex liked the guy. Alex knew that if he had not already been involved with Brent, that Pete was the kind of guy he would have been pursuing.

Driving back towards his apartment, Alex knew it was time to stoptrying to drink his troubles away. The drinking had gotten worse over the past month and Pete had been right. Alex could have ended up in a really bad situation. He could have went home with anyone and ended up in serious trouble.

Before Alex realized it, he found himself driving through Brent's neighborhood. He stopped across the street from Brent's house. He looked at the front door for a long time before getting out of his car. He started up the sidewalk. He knew he was in violation of a restraining order. He wondered if it applied if Brent was not home. He rings the doorbell and waits.

Brent's mom opened the door. Her voice was warm at first as she said, "Hello."

"Mrs. Watson," Alex began. "I was hoping I could talk to you."

It took a few seconds for Linda Watson to recognize the young man standing at her door. "You should not be here. There is a restraining order."

"That is only for me to stay away from Brent," Alex said. "Is he here?" Alex was not sure it was true but he hoped she would believe him.

"You still should not be here," she said.

"Look Mrs. Watson," Alex said. "I have stayed away. I just want to know if he is alright."

"he's getting better," she said starting to step back inside the house.

Moving forward Alex stops her from closing the door. "I am not wanting to cause you any trouble," he said his voice calm and soft. "I would just like to talk for a few minutes. Talking can't hurt can it?"

"I'm not sure what we have to talk about," she said.

Since she was not slamming the door on him, Alex was a little hopeful. "I would like to explain to you what happened that night. I want you to understand that I care about brent. He has got such a good heart and caring personality. He's so sensitive and empathetic. I'm sure he gets those traits from you like his golden hair and amazing blue eyes."

"Flattery is not going to work on me," she said.

"It isn't just flattery," Alex said. "Brent is one of the kindest people I've met. He told me quite a bit about you and Mr. Watson. He loves you both a great deal. He never wanted to hurt you. If I could come in and talk just for a little while?" Alex needed to try and appeal to her love for her son. He knew it was there. He knew she just needed to understand a little more about Brent.

Linda could hear the sound of caring in Alex's voice. The boy did seem to having strong feelings for Brent. She had to remind herself that this boy was really a man. He was older than Brent but looking into his brown eyes she could see something that told her he was still also a boy. "Only for a few minutes,." Stepping back, she allowed him inside.

"Thank you," Alex said following her into the living room and taking a seat on the sofa. He could remember sitting in this very spot but dressed up in drag as Alexis.

They were silent for a few minutes. Alex was not sure where he should begin. Then he decided that starting at the beginning was the best place. "I met Brent at the movie theater. He looked so lost the first few times I noticed him. It took several visits before I could get him to open up to me. He only told me some of what had happened with him and the other boy."

"If it wasn't for that Devyn Roberts," Linda said interrupting Alex.

"Brent would still be gay," Alex said. "It isn't caused by anything someone did. It is just how he is. It is how I am. I'm gay. It wasn't caused by my parents not loving me or loving me too much. It wasn't caused by the first boy that I was attracted to. It is just how I am."

"It isn't right," she said.

"How can loving another person be wrong?" Alex said. "Brent was lost when I first met him. He was sick at having hurt you. He was sick at having hurt his best friend. His heart was breaking. I guess I wanted to help him too much. I ended up falling in love with him."

"I can see you care for him," she said seeing the vivid emotions playing across Alex's eyes.

"I do," Alex said. "I wanted to just hug him and try and make him feel better. I bet we have that in common. I bet you wanted to hug his hurt away."

Linda knew how unhappy Brent had been when they had moved. He had left behind all of his friends and had to start in a new school. She also knew how Brent and Devyn had seemed to bond right from the start. She had seen her son quickly recover from the move and become his happy self again while he and Devyn had been friends. She had also seen how miserable he was once Devyn was gone. He had been more sad than she had ever seen him. She had told herself that Brent was just going through a phase. She believe that the vacation had gotten him over that phase. Linda had believe her son was getting back to normal until Richard found Brent with that surfing instructor. Richard had been so mad. She had tried to calm Richard down and get him to understand that it was just a phase but Richard would hear none of it. She wanted their peaceful life back. She wanted her son to be happy again. Again she thought Brent was getting over every thing. He was seeming happy again. He had friends and he was dating two very nice girls.

"Did you think he was happy just before Christmas?" Alex asked softly.

Linda looked surprised at the question. She had just been thinking how much better Brent had seemed before Christmas. "he seemed nervous but also happy. I thought it was just juggling his girlfriends." She glanced at Alex worried for a second that she might have let something slip.

"I know about them," Alex said. "Brent wanted you and Mr. Watson to give him back some of his freedom. The only way he knew to make his father happy was to date girls. Brent liked her as friends but he did not have romantic feelings for her."

"How do you know that?" she asked. "How do you know what Brent was feeling?"

"Brent and I talked," Alex said. "He wanted to feel for Cassie what he felt for me. He wanted to feel that physical and emotional connection to her that he had with me. It isn't something you can force."

"But him and Alexis," Linda said, "they had feelings for each other. I did not exactly warm up to her but I could see something in Brent's eyes. For her." Linda paused then and studied Alex's face. Her eyes looking into his for a moment. "Oh my God!"

Alex could almost see the moment of recognition. He could see it written all over Linda Watson's face. He had not wanted her to fit the pieces together but maybe it was better that she knew. "I can see you figured it out."

"It can't be." Linda's voice was filled with her disbeliefe. What she was thinking could not be true but the face matched. If the hair was longer, if the boy had on make-up he might be. "It can't be," she repeated , her hand covering her mouth with her disbelief.

"yes Mrs. Watson." Alex tried to project confidence and calm in his voice. "I am sorry about the deception. Brent wanted to spend time with me so I created Alexis. At the time it seemed innocent enough. Brent got the approval he needed from his father and he and I got to spend time together."

"Oh, I do not believe this," she said. "this can't be happening."

Alex shifted his voice into Alexis, "Your son is very special to me."

Linda closed her eyes. Haring that voice, she could see the two were the same. It was crazy that her and richard never knew. They never suspected that Alexis was a boy.

"I don't think you should tell Mr. Watson," Alex said. "He might not have the same understanding you have."

I'm not sure I understand," she said crossing her legs. Part of her wanted to slap this boy. Part of her wanted to just tell him to leave but part of her wanted to understand. Part of her needed to try and understand her son.

"I hope you can try and understand," Alex said wishing he could explain it better.

"So, do you always dress up like women?" she asked in an accusing tone.

"No," Alex said. "I had never done it before. I only did it for Brent. I haven't done it since."

"You looked so real," she said still not fully believing it. "It must have been quite the job."

"It was," Alex said. "I have a new respect for what you ladies go through to look the way you do. All the makeup, shaving and clothes. It was a learning experience."

Linda's lips curved up into a little smile. "Richard would just simply flip," she said. "You might be right, that I should not tell him."

Alex felt a little relief at the tone of her voice and the soft curve of her lips. Maybe she was going to be able to make the leap to understand her son. "I think it would be best for Brent."

"You must care for him a lot to go through all of that," she said.

"I do," Alex said. "I have never felt for anyone the way I feel for Brent. I'm worried about him."

"He is getting better," Linda assured Alex. "Dr. Wilson is working with him to regain his memory."

It was Alex's turn to not believe what he was hearing. "He doesn't remember?"

"Oh right," she said. "You would not know. He has a memory loss. He doesn't remember much of the past year. He remembers nothing about the accident."

"the last year?" Alex asked surprised. At Linda's nod he said, "nothing about me?"

"No," she said. "He doesn't remember you or the other boys. The doctor thinks that is for the best. It will make his recovery easier for him."

Alex felt like he was falling. How could Brent not remember. How could he forget. "Damn Darren," Alex muttered.

"Darren was protecting Brent," Linda said.

"Mrs. Watson," Alex said. "I love Brent. I was not hurting him. Darren walked in on us and went crazy. He broke my arm and almost killed Brent. He should be in jail. He is the one you need the restraining order against, not me."

Alex proceeded to give her details of what Darren had done. How he had beaten Brent and tried to kill Alex. Alex could see some of the color drain from Linda's face. He hoped he was not being too graphic for her. "I know that it is quite different than the story Darren gave. It is the truth. My mother and sister were there. They can tell you their version of the events."

The clock started to chime and Linda glanced at it. "Richard will be home soon," she said. "you had better go."

Alex knew better than to push his luck. "Thank you for listening to me," he said rising. "Would you mind if I came back so we could talk more?"

"I'm not sure that would be a good idea." Linda got to her feet to walk Alex to the door.

"I could bring my Mom," Alex said. "She might be able to tell you how she felt when I told her I was gay."

"I don't know," Linda said.

"Just think about it," Alex said. "You might need to talk to someone that has delt with these feelings."

"I'll think about it," she said walking him to the door.

"Thank you, Mrs. Watson," he said turning from her and walking towards his car. He felt a small strand of hope starting to take hold in his stomach for the first time. He was sure after talking to her that she loved Brent more than anything. He had seen that in her eyes. They were expressive like Brent's. Alex just hoped what he said was enough for her to accept Brent for the wonderful guy he is and to accept him being gay.

#

"You did what?" Grace said to her son after he told her about going to visit Linda Watson.

"I know Mom," Alex said seeing the spark of anger in her eyes. He knew it was more concern for him than true anger.

"You could have been arrested," Grace said. "She could have called the cops on you."

"But she didn't," Alex said. "Don't you see, she just needs someone to show her the way."

"Just because she didn't do it this time, doesn't mean she won't next time." Grace paced back and forth across her studio. She had been working on some new designs for her accessories line. She had some ideas for new phone cases that she thought would be popular. Of course, after Alex dropped his little bomb all she could think about is how much trouble he could be in. The only thoughts she had now were for her son.

"I had to," Alex said. "I have to try and get through to her." His eyes were pleading with his mother to understand. He needed her to help him get Brent's Mom to see Brent for the amazing person he was. He needed Grace to show Linda that love can bring her and Brent back together.

Grace could see the desperation in Alex's eyes. This boy had certainly made more of an impression on her son than anyone else he had been involved with. She took a deep breath. She knew better than to focus on what might have gone wrong. She needed to focus on the future and it seemed that Alex was not going to give up on Brent. "I know you love him." Her eyes were looking directly into Alex's.

"I, I do," Alex said. He met her gaze and then looked away so she would not see the tears that were threatening to come up again.

"oh Alex." Grace reached pulling Alex into her arms. "Of all the boys for you to fall for." She shook her head as she held Alex. "I'll talk to her but I do not know what good it will do."

"Thanks Mom," Alex said his voice thick. "I, I love you."

"I love you too." Grace was not sure what she would say to this woman that might help the situation. The one thing she did know was that she knew she would have to try for her son.

Copyright 2020 by Keith yates (keith.96@att.net) all rights reserved.