Michael's Secret Love Chapter 9 July 20, 2000 ------------
Written by: Justin Case
Disclaimer: The following story is fiction. The words you are about to read contain sexually graphic material. These words will describe sex between high school boys. The author and the publisher do not accept any responsibility for damage done to the reader, either physical or mental. If there is any similarity between this story and your life, I am jealous.
Words from our author: Hey, boys and girls. How you all doing? Can you believe it, my third chapter in two days. I can't. I miss you all terribly and want to thank you for your many letters. I still answer them all. I don't know if you've noticed any changes in my work, the last two chapters were editor free. It's more work for me, but I am not perfect; so there may be some mistakes. If you've been following my stories, you know I have always had trouble with commas, semi colons, run on sentences and fragmented ones, too. I must confess, Sarah helped me with one of the chapters. Thank you Sarah.
To my many faithful readers, thanks for keeping in touch. Thank you KC for trusting me enough to ask your important question. I didn't laugh. Thank you Eddie, it's always a pleasure to hear from you. Hey, Geoff your alright, even if you are from down south. Romeo, I am so sorry I confused you with the other Romeo. The list of friends is too long to mention you all, but I love you all. One last thanks goes to Comi, it may have taken you a long time to answer my last letter, but I love hearing from the other authors. I know how busy you are.
James called his mom from my bedroom phone.
"Hello, Mom?" His tender voice said into the telephone. I watched, as he smiled in my direction.
"Mom, I need you to take Mike and I to Portland Hospital. Eugene is there, he needs some support. He tried to committ suicide." James stated.
After a short pause, I heard him say. "Gee, Mom, I don't know. We'll go to find out how he is, and wait all night if we have to. He needs friends, Mom." He said it without offering any alternatives.
He locked his blue eyes on mine, and hung the phone up. He sat on the bed with me, and reached for me. I felt him wrap his arms around me, as he gave me a hug. God, I needed a hug. I needed to be reminded that I wasn't alone. It was reassuring and comforting.
"Is she coming?" I asked my love.
"She's on her way, Babe." James said, and then gave me a quick kiss.
We got up off the bed and decided to wait for Mrs. Libby on the back porch. It was a few short minutes later when she pulled the car into my driveway. I saw her smiling at us as we walked towards the station wagon.
I asked James to ride in the back seat with me. I was nervous, I needed him near me.
"Sure, Babe." James said.
We both got into the back seat of the Sable. James got in behind his mom, and I sat on the passenger side. I noticed Mrs. Libby looking in the rear view mirror.
"You boys going to be alright?" She asked.
"Yeah, we just want to be there for Eugene." James responded, and he patted my left thigh.
"Why this sudden interest in Eugene? I thought you boys had a falling out of sorts, sometime ago." Mrs. Libby asked us.
"Yeah, we kind of did, but we're cool. He's our dawg." James said, knowing his mother would drop the subject if he went into his rapper bantor. She hated it when we used street talk.
"Mmm, I see." Mrs. Libby said, and that was the end of that.
The Portland Hospital was in front of us. We walked up the sidewalk to the huge glass doors. My heart began to pound, I think I began to tremble. I was so afraid to find out how Eugene was. We really didn't know anything, other than he was here and he tried to kill himself. I could picture him lying in a bed, wearing those white things they give you to wear. I wondered if he was concious. What if he wasn't? Well, I heard James tell his mother we would stay here as long as it took to talk to Eugene.
Mrs. Libby broke away from us, she walked up to the information desk. James and I stood in the lobby near the gift shop. I hate hospitals. They are not my first choice of places to be. I noticed all these little brass placques on the walls. They were every where, next to doors, under pictures, and even near some of the furniture placed for seating. I walked over to read one.
'Donated by Cecil Johnson, in memory of Jack.' is what the one said, that was hung under a window. I wondered, did Cecil donate the window or the court yard it over looked? I couldn't help wonder what Jack died from and did he die in the hospital. That made me think of how many people had died within these walls. I wondered if any ghosts still wandered the building. You have to admit, hospitals are kind of spooky.
"He's on the fifth floor." Mrs. Libby said, pulling me back from the spritual world.
"You ok? Michael?" James was asking me.
"Yeah, just a little nervous. Fifth floor? Let's go." I said, my head began to spin, as we walked towards the elevators.
"Bing" The sound from overhead came as the elevator doors opened in front of us. We, all three, stepped inside.
I watched the little lights light up as we went up to the fifth floor. I heard every sound the metal box made, as it was pulled up the shaft to the proper floor. The doors opened, "Bing".
The first sight was a nurses station, directly across from the elevator doors. We approached the desk, Mrs. Libby lead the way.
"Yes, we're here to see Eugene Bellevue." Mrs. Libby said, to the plump woman in white.
The woman reached for a stainless steel chart container. I watched her as she opened it. She never lifted her eyes to us. I watched her face for some clues, she gave us none.
"Mr. Bellevue is in room 501. Unfortunately, he's not allowed any visitors just yet." The nurse said.
"Will he be allowed any visitors soon?" I heard James ask.
"I don't really know, the doctor is with his family now. You can wait in the chapel just down the hall. I'll let his mother know you're here. What are your names?" The nurse said in a real concerned voice.
"Michael Martin, tell her Mike is here with James Libby." I finally found my voice.
"Ok Mr. Martin, why don't you and Mr. Libby have a seat in the chapel. I think you'll find it comfortable. The pleasingly plump woman said, as she pointed to her left down the hall.
"James, do you want me to wait here? Or would you rather call me when you're ready to come home? I could go do some shopping, I have the cell phone." Mrs. Libby wondered aloud to James.
"Well, you could wait a little while, until Mrs. Bellevue talks to us. I mean, we have no idea how long it could be before we can see poor Eugene." James said to his mother, while looking to me to see what I wanted.
I looked to the floor with my green eyes. I looked back up into James's face. I saw his slight smile.
"No, on second thought go ahead. I'll call you when we know something." James said to her.
"Ok, my goodness, you two have grown ten inches in the last few hours; in my mind. I am so proud to know you both." Mrs. Libby said, she hugged James and left us just outside the chapel doors.
I opened the doors. They were wooden with stained glass windows. The chapel was quite charming, it was carpeted in red, and the four pews' cushions were done in the same red. The walls and wood work were painted white. There was a small alter with a beautiful cross on its center. The cross was gold with a large red jewel in its center. There was another stained glass window over the alter, it was done in yellows, greens and blues. It was a picture of a lily. As I said there were four pews, two on the right side of the room and two on the left. James and I sat in the second pew on the left.
"Are you ok, Babe?" James asked me, as he flashed me his smile.
"Yeah, as long as I have you with me." I said. I reached my right hand to his left leg. I felt his thigh in my hand.
"I hope he's all right. I hope he's going to do fine." James said, as he put his left hand over my right hand.
We sat there in silence. I continued thinking of the people that had been in the chapel before, and the ones that would come in the future. My mind wandered and wandered. I could feel my eyes getting heavy. I couldn't even imagine how long we had been there, when the doors opened.
"Oh, Michael, James, thank you so much for coming. It means a lot to Eugene." Mrs. Bellevue was saying as she entered the room.
"How's he doing?" James asked.
"Much better, we just spoke with the Doctor. His vital signs are all strong." Mrs. Bellevue said, as a tear dropped down her cheek. "Oh, by the way, Michael, congratulations on the chorus solo." She continued.
"Thank you. May I see him?" I asked, where all my strength was coming from was beyond me.
"Well, he's not conscious right now, but I suppose, one of you could go in and sit with him. I mean, if you want to." Mrs. Bellevue said to me.
"I would like that, I really would." I said. I meant it. I felt horrible. This poor boy, he was reaching out to me and I handled it all wrong. I should have just been honest and forthright.
"Let me take you down there." Mrs. Bellevue said, as she opened the wooden doors and led me out.
"I"ll be here Mike, take your time." James said, as we left the chapel and him behind.
We stood outside room 501. I could see into the room, it had little windows on the door. Mrs. Libby stopped just before she opened the door. She looked right into my eyes. I looked up into her face.
"Michael, I didn't want to say anything there in the chapel. You have to know that Eugene has wires and tubes attached to him, don't let that scare you." She said to me quietly, like her and I were the only two people on earth.
"No, I won't." I said to her.
"Michael, we need to talk later. Eugene left a note. I am the only one that has read it, he mentioned you in it." She said, with a rather quizzical look on her face.
"Yes, ma'am." I said, and felt the shame build in my mind.
"Well, you go ahead. I'll wait here, please don't be long." Mrs. Bellevue said to me.
I opened the door to the room and walked in. There in the corner of the room was the bed my friend was on. He was sleeping, rather peacefully. I could see a tube attached to his mouth, and wires attached to his chest. I began to weep. I sat in the chair next to the bed and reached for Eugene's hand.
"Gene, its me, Michael. I'm here for you, buddy. I am so sorry. I need to tell you; I love James and he loves me. I love you too, but in a different way. I will always love you as a friend. I hope you understand." I said, as tears flowed down my cheeks.
I watched his face. He was in a deep sleep. I knew he didn't hear me, but I had told him anyway. I would tell him again when he was awake. I sat at his bedside for a few more minutes holding and stroking his hand.
Well, that's it for now. I hope you all liked it. I know it's a tough ride. Hey so is real life at times. Remember though, He never puts more on your plate than you can handle. Write me if you want my address is still the same Justin69SK@aol.com