Brian just stood there, looking in the mirror. He fought hard to keep back the tears. He hated thinking of it. After that little incident, his parents decided it was better he move out and live somewhere else. To them, Brian being gay was a disappointment they could not bear. They sent him to live with his aunt and uncle. The further he was away from Jason, the easier it was for Brian to be set straight they thought. Brian hated them. He hated them for tearing him from the only person he ever loved. For sending him to his aunt and uncle's. He hated his aunt and uncle. The first day he arrived, his aunt told him that fags go to Hell and that he still has some time to be saved. His uncle told him that if Brian ever tried anything with a guy again, he would beat him straight. After a while, Brian had gotten used to his new home. His aunt and uncle usually left him alone as long as he did his chores and was ready for dinner. Brian had spent most of his loneliness and anger working out at the gym nearby. He had taken up running early in the morning as well.
Brian looked at the clock. "5:45 AM" it read. He better hurry and get out to run if he wanted to run the six miles before school. School that was something he wasn't looking forward to. A new school in a new town. He had made no new friends over summer. Brian quickly got dressed in his gym clothes and ran out the door.
After the run, he quickly took a shower and got dressed for school. He went back to his room and reached under his bed to pull out a lock box. He grabbed some money and shoved it in his pocket. Then he pulled out a crumpled letter. He unrolled it and read:
Dear Brian,
I wanted to write you this before you go. I am sorry for what your parents are doing to you. I wish they weren't such assholes. You deserve a lot better. Brian, I will never forget you. You are the one I love, and always will. No matter where they send you, I will try to find you. I promise you, I will be with you again. One day, you will be in my arms again and this time I won't ever let you go.
I Love You Baby,
Jason Thomas
Some promise Brian thought. It had been a whole summer since he last spoke to Jason. No emails, no calls, no anything. Brian knew it was because of his parents, but he missed Jason so much.
When he got downstairs, his uncle was drinking coffee and reading the morning paper.
"Morning Uncle Frank." Brian said, reaching for a box of cereal.
"Morning boy."
That was their typical conversation. His uncle never said much to him, but he was fine with it. As far as he was concerned, he was living on his own. He ate breakfast in silence. After putting away his bowl, he left the house without saying anything to his uncle. He hopped into his new silver BMW M5 convertible; a gift from his grandmother before she died. She was the only nice one in his family. The only one who accepted Brian for who he was.
The whole drive to school he kept thinking of that summer. It started off so well. He finally found someone that loved him. Then after his parents found out it was hell. They took away his cell phone and computer until they figured out what to do. He was barely able to leave the house for a full two weeks. Finally his parents let him go out with friends, but they were always suspicion. Five weeks after the Jason incident, Brian was on a plane from St. Charles, Missouri to Malibu, California.