Warning: The usual disclaimers apply here. If you don't like any of the following, leave now: gay sex, vulgar or harsh language or are underage wherever you are reading this.
This is pure fiction. No one in this story is a real person, living or deceased, and any resemblance to anyone is completely conincidental.
This work is copyright by the author and commercial use is prohibited without permission.
So, I managed to wait over a year to edit this chapter and I'm sorry. editing has never been one of my favorite things. I hope you all enjoy this one as much as the last and thank you for everyone who commented on the last chapter, and those who tirelessly followed-up with me on this story. People like you are what help drive me to come back when I wander away. I also always enjoy reading any comments someone has to give. If you want to take the time to email me please feel free to at Shataikaj@yahoo.com. I hope you all enjoy the next chapter in the story.
Drew Aluran
Chapter 5: This Party Is Going To Be A Disaster
The next few days passed boringly along. I spent the first night rapidly checking my phone praying for a text message but receiving none. The next day I spent doing the same thing, and while decently friendly in class, Camille had played it cool, as if I hadn't given her any other way to reach out and say hello. It seemed like my plan was falling apart. Nevermind, that it had gotten more complicated with me agreeing to set Jason up with her.
'How the hell am I going to do that when I can't even hang out with her outside this day care center they call school?' I thought to myself.
Needless to say that as school wrapped up this Friday I was less than enthusiastic, and dreading the game tomorrow. All week coach had been on us at practice about the missing mascot, and all week I had lied to the team, while offering supportive words to my teammates. Hopefully I don't make myself seem like an idiot to Logan and actually lose the game. 'Why did I even have to make that deal anyways. Ohh that's right, I need to convince him I'm not the jackass I pretended to be. Why did his eyes have to effect me that hard. Why couldn't I just let them stay sad. Why did he have to be so damn cute when he got pissed. Stupid hormones! One day I will stop listening to you.'
I sat there in my last class of the day, letting the lecture flow over me. Lost in my own head my thoughts raced. I tried again and again to figure out a way to make this plan work, but all I came up with were loose ends. Before I knew it the bell was ringing, signaling the beginning of the weekend. Bending over I put my books away and zipped up my backpack. Getting up I saw Carlos and Jason running up to me, ready to start out traditional before the game hang out.
Since our hockey games were usually Saturdays, We had a tradition of all three of us staying at one of our houses the night before relaxing and goofing off so we didn't stress over the game. This game we were all going to Carlos's place.
"Ken! You ready for tonight's movie marathon!" Carlos exclaimed, his words loud enough that I'm pretty sure the people the next class over heard what we were doing tonight.
"Hell Yeah!" I responded, hoping to cover up my bad mood. I knew if they knew what was going on they would spend the entire night trying to comfort me and cheer me up. Which while might have been nice, would have made me feel like a bother to them. Not to mention I still hadn't told Carlos I was gay yet and that was not the conversation I needed to have before a game. So I sucked up my problems and put a smile on, preparing myself for a night of horrible horror movies.
"So I didn't really have time to pack this morning, So I gotta head to my house to pack up my hockey gear for tomorrow. Meet you at your house in say 20 minutes?" I asked Carlos knowing it would be no problem.
"Sure, I'll start the corndogs while your gone" he excited replied.
"Ughh, do you really have to make us eat those things?" Jason exclaimed,
"Hey, you know you like them, it's not my fault you feel guilty when you eat them. You know your prefect body won't wither from just one." Carlos fired back, defending his favorite food.
"That would be fine if you kept it at just one, I don't know how you can keep eating all those and not want to vomit." Jason retorted.
"Guys, guys!" I interjected knowing they would get no where with this argument. "You've fought about this before and do you remember what the ruling was?" I asked, knowing this would end the dispute.
"That we're both right, but just for each other and trying to force our opinion on the other is unfair." They sighed out in unison, repeating the verdict the team had given them when they had first started this argument.
"Good now I'm heading out can I trust you two not to kill each other over food preferences while I'm gone?"
"Yeah" they responded together.
"Alright see you in twenty minutes then." I finished walking out of the classroom so as to rush home.
"AHHHHHH" the girl in the movie screamed as the zombies started to surround her, getting ready to eat her brains. 'I wonder why it's always brains they want? What about spleens, aren't they tasty? And livers, if humans eat livers of animals do zombies enjoy human livers?' I wondered to myself as the movie went on. I was laying on top of Carlos's bed, with him and Jason on the floor leaning against it, all of us facing the TV playing the first of the movies for tonight. The plot was predictable and had me drifting in an out of my own thoughts when I felt my phone buzz in my pocket.
Pulling it out, I checked the text, and saw a number I didn't have saved in my phone. "You know I don't know why I am doing this, but I'm having a small party/get together at my house tonight if you wanted to come." the simple message read. luring me in with the hope that this was from the person I had hoped to hear from.
Hitting the reply button I quickly typed back. "Camille? If so I always hang with Carlos and Jason before a game, you mind if I bring them along too?" I finished, hitting the send button and praying for a yes. 'She actually responded to me! There finally seems to be a sliver of hope for this plan again.' The response took only a minute or two until it came but each one of those seconds felt like an eternity as the movie was lost on me.
Finally my phone buzzed again, causing me to open the message as quick as possible. "Sure, Carlos seemed cool at the party. My address is 411 Willow Ave. I'll see you at 6 if your friends want to come with you."
"Hey guys," I started knowing this was going to go over interestingly. "I just got an invite from Camille for a small party at her place tonight, you want to go?" I asked watching Jason's eyes light up.
"I'm in" he called out leaving me to look at Carlos as he contemplated it.
"What time does it start?" Carlos asked, his usual excited demeanor now gone serious.
"Six, so we can still catch your mom's corndogs before we head out." I responded knowing what he was wary of missing.
"Fine then, it will at least get me away from my siblings for a while." Carlos gave in, deciding the night without his sibling interrupting us every five minutes was the better choice.
Going back to my phone I typed in my response, my friends going back to watching the rest of the movie. Tonight was going to be a better and worse night all in itself.
I don't think I was ever this nervous before a party before. Walking from the car to the door, I felt wholly under-dressed wearing my shirt and jeans. 'This is going to be a disaster I know it. Calm down it won't be that bad, just go in there and act like the guy you are, don't I repeat don't get competitive.' My mind raced as we approached the door, my heart beating in my throat as my nerves refused to calm.
Reaching the door I felt a hand on my shoulder, causing me to look over and see Jason there with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry buddy, we're invited this time, and if he doesn't like you here well he's gotta deal with it." Jason said, trying to reassure me. "After all you were personally invited this time."
Yet despite Jason's encouragement I could still feel that falling feeling in my stomach, warning me something was going to go wrong. I reached out my hand and rang the bell, each second feeling like forever while we waited for the door to open. Yet, soon enough the red painted wood was swinging open, with Camille waiting behind it.
"Hey, I'm glad you guys came, come on in." She offered, holding the door open wider so we could enter. Walking in I noticed the hardwood floor, their tan color contrasting against the light blue painted on the walls of the room. There was a set of stairs behind Camille who was standing to my right holding the door open for the other two. Above us there was a brass chandelier hanging from the vaulted two story ceiling; casting light down on the entire room, making it seem somewhat candlelit in the middle of the day.
"Hey Camille great to see you again" Carlos said as he entered, the two of them smiling between each other.
"Thanks for letting us come" Jason spoke while he stood aside so that Camille could close the door on us.
"It was no problem, after what Ken here did for Logan and the rest of the guys most of them sorta wanted to meet you anyways." Camille said with a smile on her face before turning to me. "You seem to be living up to your word when it comes to dealing with the rest of my friends" she said, her tone turning serious.
"What the hell did you do? Last I heard everyone here would have wanted you skinned alive Ken?" Carlos began interrogating me.
"Wait, you haven't heard?" Camille asked confused.
"The only one who knows is Jason." I said, knowing this was going to be messy. 'Great now I have to make Carlos keep this a secret.'
"And the only reason he knows is he was there when we found Logan walking out of the school.
"Why was Logan at our school? What's going on Ken?" Carlos wondered.
"Carlos I need you to keep this a secret, it will only be till tomorrow anyways. Okay?" I asked, knowing this was going to be a messy confession to occur right in Camille's house. He looked over at me and nodded, prepared for this.
"Well the missing mascot isn't really missing." I started. "Logan and his team sort of borrowed it, on the condition they bring it back after this game." I finished quickly, watching the shock register on his face.
"Seriously! You let them just borrow it! How could you hurt Dustin like that, he's been going crazy looking for the costume this week and you two knew where it was and didn't tell anyone!" Carlos began.
"Wait, it's not what you think Carlos, we found them stealing it, we made sure they gave it back but we didn't want anyone getting into any sort of trouble over a prank" Jason came to my defense.
"We also made sure they only had it for one game Carlos, I made sure Dustin would get the costume back. And you know we can beat them this week without it. I swear Dustin will be on the sidelines dancing like normal next week, please don't freak out." I said worried about losing a friend over this stunt.
"Fine, so long as it's back for next game, but if it's not I swear I will tell Coach" Carlos finished, giving Jason and me an angry look, letting us know he would be yelling at us later. I slowly turned my attention from him to Camille standing behind him, her face looking worried over the fight she just saw.
"Okay, so guys, ready for the party now?" She inquired, trying to get us all to relax and move past the fight.
"Sure, where is everyone by the way?" Jason asked looking around, the first floor pretty much empty.
"We all hang downstairs, it's where my parents set up the entertainment center. I think the boys are in the middle of some sort of fighting game, Although I bet Jo and Stephanie are giving some of them a run for their money." She said as she lead us towards the right hall that opened up to the back of the house. Stopping halfway through she came to a door on her right, and pulled it open, revealing the steps to the basement. Stepping down the color of the walls changed. No longer light blue they were now white and sterile, the gray carpeting beneath us muffling our steps as we descended the bent staircase. The sounds of people cheering and yelling greeting us.
I turned the corner to see a large plasma TV with a bunch of people gathered around it, some seated on the two couches lined up near it other standing. Getting closer I saw the characters running on the screen and immediately recognized the game. Standing there I watched the match play out until finally one character was left, his controller obviously being the guy jumping up and down happy.
"Hey guys they're here" Camille called out. "Kendall, I want you to meet my friends, a good portion of which you probably know from the rink. Meet Jett, Jak, Wayne, Tod, Joe, and well you all know Logan." She said pointing to him sitting over in a corner scowling at us. "Now for the few you don't know this is Jo, Mercedes, and Carla." She wrapped up introducing the girls to us.
I was just about to say hi back when one of the guys put down his controller and walked over to us. "Hey I'm Jett, and I just wanted to thank you guys for not ratting us out this week. Usually it's Logan as captain who does these things, but since he's decided your still Satan spawn, despite how you helped us, I guess I'm the one to thank you guys for letting this go as the prank it was meant as."
"Don't worry dude, We'll still win and then all you've proven is you can't beat our moral with silly pranks." Jason came out with causing the rest of them to laugh.
"No, seriously, It's fine, a few prank won't kill anyone and Dustin could use a week off, I heard he's not feeling to good anyways." I said, watching Carlos stiffen and hoping he wouldn't get madder at all this.
"Cool, you seem like cool guys, what do you say to a few rounds of Super Smash Brothers?" Jett asked, causing Carlos to ease up.
"I'm in but only if your ready to get your ass whipped." He spat out going for a controller with a smile on his face. I went for one as well, smiling at how smoothly this seemed to be going. 'Now all I need to do is get Logan to stop thinking of me as Satan spawn. It shouldn't be that hard...I hope.' And with that thought I chose my character and began the brawl. All of us played games for a while, with everyone being about on equal footing. The only times I would lose in last place were the few games Logan played, where he mercilessly assaulted my character leaving the others alone until I was dead.
After a while of this Jett seem to notice Logan's strategy and soon I found myself with an ally, the two of us banding together to keep Logan from solely targeting and killing me. The banter between us was friendly and I could see Jett becoming just as good a friend as Carlos or Jason. Yet soon enough we decided to put the game down, and just relax, most of us coming down off our adrenaline highs.
Throwing myself back into a coach seat I took a deep breath, worried that without the videogame me and my friends would seem like outsiders to this group of seemingly close knit friends. "So Ken I have to say, you're a lot different than how you are on the ice. I mean after all the trash talking I expected a jerk, and yet you're completely different." Jett began, bringing up the tense past we had with each other.
"I told you he wasn't as bad as he was on the ice." Camille came back with, causing me to shockingly turn towards her. 'Is she actually defending me, HOLY SHIT! There's no way my plan can be working so well, I mean I have the other team trying to be my friends, something is bound to happen.' My awe struck mind thought.
"Just ignore Ken on the ice; he tends to get a little over competitive at times." Jason came back with. "You should have seen him with Candyland as a kid. I have never seen someone get so downright offensive when playing that game. He's cooled down on most games since then but Hockey's always been his passion so he can't help but want to be the best, while unfortunatly being a jerk as well."
"So you're really into hockey then?" Jett asked me, his voice filled with actually interest.
"Yeah, I'm hoping to one day play for the actual Wilds. I doubt I ever will play pro, but it's sorta my dream to."
"I don't doubt that you could play for them. Hell, the only one who can even touch you on our team is Logan and he's our best. I bet if you kept playing through college the Wilds would be jumping to pick you up."
"Yeah right," Logan interjected. "Like the Wilds would want him playing for them."
"For Christ sake Logan, the kid saved you from getting a criminal record and got his friends to lie for us, and you can't even be the least bit grateful!" Jett shot back, the anger in his voice surprising me while he defended me.
"Easy for you to say, He's never said shit to you, all of you sit here talking with him as if he's done nothing! Yet, every game we've played against each other you're not the one's he's insulting, It's me who gets the comments. It's me who gets insulted. Meanwhile you just invite him over here and act like nothing's happened just because he did you all a favor. I have yet to hear an apology from him; I've yet to hear any remorse about how he acts. Instead you all just accept it, that's bull shit!" Logan ranted, causing the entire group to stare at him with shock, as if none of them had expected it. 'Well I knew this was way too easy.'
"If you want an apology I will happily give one to you Logan. I'm sorry I didn't but I was trying to let my actions speak for me instead of my words, so I could prove to you I wasn't the person you meet on the ice. But if it's the words you want then, I'm sorry for.." I began to say.
"No, Don't just say it cause I've asked for one, It's too late! Just leave me and my friends alone!" Logan interrupted before walking away, the door slamming behind him as he left.
"Well that could have gone better." Tod said, cutting the silence in the room.
"Agreed." Camille replied. "So I'm thirsty, anyone else want something to drink?" She said trying to distract everyone and sooth over the drama.
"Me!" Everyone in the room called out to her.
"Alright I'll grab you all some Mountain Dew. Do you mind that Jason and Carlos?"
"Sure" they answered.
"Alright, now if I'm grabbing drinks for all of you I'll need a hand, Ken mind helping me out?" she asked.
"Okay" I responded, getting myself up and following her. Heading upstairs we were pretty quiet. 'Well at least the rest of the team still likes you, it's only a matter of time till Logan comes around. I hope it's a shorter time damn it, if I have to wait all year for this I might just take Jason up on that blind date.'
Turning into the kitchen I followed Camille towards the fridge. "I just wanted to apologize to you Ken. I had no idea Logan would be such a dick." She said turning around and walking towards me, causing me to back up to keep her from running into me.
"No, it's fine really." I began starting to feel somewhat uncomfortable at the situation. Camille seemed to be acting differently now that we were alone, and all I could think of was she was trying make a move.
'This so, won't end well. Jason will be pissed, she'll find out your secret, and then you'll lose her as a friend and without her there is absolutely no way of getting anywhere near Logan.'
"I knew Logan would be somewhat of an issue, I mean after all I was a jerk to him on the ice. I don't expect him to completely like me just because I did him one favor. I mean, I was sort of hoping.." My nervous ramble being cut off mid-sentence as Camille leaned forward pushing her lips against mine. My body froze in shock for a second before I gently brought my hands up and pushed her away. I could see the hurt look on her face and knew no matter what I did this wasn't going to end well at all.
"I'm sorry Camille, but I just don't feel that way towards you." I began trying to let her down gently.
"What? Why? I mean all the signs pointed towards this, I mean why else would you pursue me like you did. I swore you liked me."
"I'm sorry I know how it looks but it's just.." I began feeling the words choke in my throat.
"What! What made you go after me like you did? What made you lead me on like that?"
"I'm... I'm..." I stuttered feeling my plan fall to pieces around me with Camille's rage. I knew she would be mad, I knew she would tell the rest of her friends, and from there it would leak all over the town, and from then on everyone would know, and my life as I knew it would be over.
"Well? What is it? Spit it out Knight I want to know!" She pushed making me even more nervous. My body pulling away from her best I could.
"He's gay" we suddenly heard from the hall to my right, causing us to look over and see Jason standing there. Camille just looked back and forth between the two of us her face twisted into a horrified look of shock and disbelief.
"This isn't funny you guys, If you weren't interested Knight you didn't have to get your friend to lie for you." She finally said, her voice filled with denial and pain.
"It's true" I sighed out knowing this wasn't going to end well. "I'm gay" I said watching her face fall from shock and denial to anger.
"What was this all some sort of joke then?" She screamed back! "Get the poor girl to fall for the gay guy and then what, break her heart? You two make me sick! Logan was right you guys are nothing more than a bunch of sick fucks!" She spat out at us. Slowly getting closer and closer to me causing me to curl into myself, my back pressed into to the counter behind me.
"That wasn't the plan at all" Jason calmly responded, making Camille focus her rage towards him.
"Well what was it then? Hmmm? Care to tell me why the gay guy would come on to me as strong as he was then?"
"Logan," I breathed out no louder than a whisper. "Logan was the plan."
"WHAT?" she surprisingly called back.
"He said Logan was the plan. Although the way he put it makes it sound like we were trying to dupe him, when really we aren't." Jason said to her.
"Well if you weren't trying to dupe him then what the fuck were you planning to do with him?" an eerie silence followed that sentence as neither one of us really knew how to respond.
"Well, you pick on him enough," She began, "So what would you want with Logan? Plan to really turn him into the police and ruin his future?" she accused.
"I would never do that!" I came back with.
"Well what then. Why would you pursue me despite being gay, just to get to..." and then with her silence I knew she had connected the dots and figured it out. "But you... and you... and..." she babbled out quickly glancing between me and Jason.
"Yeah," Jason laughed at her expression, "Ken apparently learned how to flirt on the elementary school playground."
"Just what the fuck!" she responded, completely surprised, the realization bringing with it a whole new confusion.
"Please. please don't tell him! I want to show him I'm a decent guy before he knows. I don't just want him to hate me forever" I pleaded with her, hoping she had enough grasp on the situation to not get carried away.
"So you really are..."she trailed off.
"Gay," Jason finished for her, "Yeah he is, doesn't act too much like it, but if you looked on his computer you would definitely know. At least that was how I found out." Jason's responded causing me to blush, embarrassed at him revealing one of my dirtier secrets. "I know it's a shock hell I even didn't believe it at first, but he is gay, and we both would appreciate it if you would keep this a secret." Jason asked her, his calm demenor seeming to soothe Camille .
"I just.. I just don't know, this is just a lot to take in. I mean I thought he was interested in me and now I find out he was just making a play for my friend." she uttered.
"But I was interested in you!" I shot back. "Maybe not the way you thought I was, but I was interested. You're a great girl Camille and I really did want to be friends."
"Then why couldn't you just have told me earlier! I mean I though you've been flirting with me in class all week! Hell you even walked me to my art room before you went to lunch!" She frustratedly shouted at me.
"He was trying to put in a good word for me." Jason confessed. "When he asked me to keep quiet about the mascot incident, I told him I would only if he tried to set me up with you. I knew Ken here had no interest and you are one of the most fascinating girls I have met."
"So, he flirted with me to try and put in a good word for you?" She asked bewildered.
"Yeah, although I think he failed at the putting in a good word for me part." Jason said with a wry smile coming across his face.
"This is just fucking crazy! I just don't know what to think."
"I understand it's a lot to take in all at once, all we ask is that you don't tell anyone please, if you still want to be friends after this I know I would like that, if not more. As for Ken I know he would enjoy hanging out with you again. So, I'll help you grab the drinks while Ken can just head downstairs and we can then just all hang for a bit before we head out. No pressure for you to talk with us at all. We'll be out of your hair soon and then you can think on what you want to do." Jason rationalized to her. Each word causing her to relax a little more as she thought over what he was saying.
"Alright" She agreed, nodding her head along with her answer. So I turned around and began to walk downstairs praying the rest of the night wouldn't be as much of a disaster.