Warning: This story doesn't contain any sex. It's the story of gay teens. None of the characters are based on real people nor are they meant to resemble any living or dead people. Let me know what you think of the story by emailing me at Hnstskr4@aol.com I want to thank everyone who has emailed. I also want to thank those who have read the story. It means a lot hearing from you. Please continue reading! There is a lot more to come. I own all rights to this story. Chuck B.
Chapter 9 -- The Beginning of The Curse
Pete and I spent a few hours talking about my feelings, our friendship, and his feelings. He was open and honest, two of the traits that I love about him. He told me how our friendship means the world to him, and how he would do whatever it takes to keep our friendship strong. Secretly, I was crushed, but at the same time I was elated that, we were still friends. A part of me is still troubled by the phone call Pete received. Was it someone trying to ruin our friendship? When I dropped Pete off, my heart took a plunge and something deep down just didn't feel right to me. It felt evil and cold and I couldn't put my finger on it. Something just didn't feel right and I don't believe that it has anything to do with Pete. The person who called Pete had tried to influence our friendship. Now, I can't help but if wonder, if they called anyone else. If more calls were made how do I deal with it? I'll have to find a way to make everything as smooth as possible. I have to solve this problem. Running away from my fear is not an option. I just don't know, what to expect. Should I ready myself for isolation and abuse? By whose hands and mouth is the pain coming? Can I deal with this trouble head on? Wish I had a magic mirror to show me what my future holds. What awaits me at home? Is there bad news awaiting me? I envisioned trouble starting at school. Checking my messages there were two that bothered me. One was from Jeff asking if I was okay and the second call was from the caller who had called the other day, this time; he said that he had spread the word and that my life would be hell. I listened again to the message, and then I heard "Talk to mom and dad!" a soft voice broke the silence. I went downstairs only to find them watching PBS. Mom saw me first and for a split second she seemed ashen white. "We need to talk, don't we?" dad said as he looked up at me. Mom didn't say a thing. She pushed the button on the answering machine and started to play the messages. After flipping through about six messages, she stopped at message seven. The same caller who had called me twice now called my parents "Your son is a fag, and he's going to suffer." I think their hearts sank. Mom was clearly shaken and dad was upset too. Seeing their emotions brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't hold back and they spilled out. I cried till the tears stopped flowing. "Mom, dad, I'll be okay, but I'm still afraid." Mom smiled at me. Dad gave me a hug. "Alex, we love no matter what, and if it helps, we are scared too." Dad said as he had me in his embrace. I forced myself to turn and head off to sleep.
Chapter 10 - Hell
I entered my school with my built up dread stirring in my gut. For the first time, I felt every eye looking into me as if I'm some vile beast. I wanted to hide myself, where no one could see me. I made it to my locker without feeling any more misery. There upon my locker door, another note has been placed. My hand pulled the note away from my locker. I couldn't get myself to read it, so I placed it with my books. I hurried to my first hour class. I felt invisible amongst my peers. My skin felt each stare. For the most part my day was awkward but at least there wasn't any hint of hell. I made it through each class till 4th which is just before lunch. I have gym
class along with half my football team. No one spoke to me and no one teased me after class, I found another note secured to my gym locker. As I removed it, Coach called me into his office. "Alex is it true, are you gay?" he asked. I felt as if he was placing judgment on me despite my fear, I'm not going to lie. "Coach Brown, I am but it has no affect on my ability to play the game. I'm not after any of the guys on the team." I left it at that. He opened a drawer on his desk and pulled out a note. Each word had been cut from some other source. Coach read what it had to say "Coach Brown, Alex is a faggot! He needs to quit the team or we will quit." It was left on his desk. He looked at me for a reply. "Coach, I haven't done anything wrong so my answer is no, I'm not quitting the team." I rested my mouth. He smiled and patted my back, and then sent me to lunch. As I entered the lunch room, I became quite tense. With my lunch in hand, I sat by myself. I heard someone nearby said "Queer" out loud. From another corner of the room, three spit wads landed on my neck. I took out the first note and opened it up "Welcome to Hell". I unfolded the second note and started to read it. "Your friend is going to pay the price, fag!" My heart sank as I closed it back up. I didn't see Jeff or Pete but Principal Young saw me. I watched as she approached me and nervously watched as she sat next to me. She smiled and spoke "Someone is really upset with you." Her voice was filled with compassion. "I know!" I replied as I pulled out the notes. She took them from me and opened each note. I watched her eyes grow wide as she read the second note. "Alex did you know that every single openly, gay student received a threatening note today. Frankly Alex, I'm worried! I've got one young man in the nurse's office and one student missing. As she spoke that last sentence, my stomach did a flip flop. I don't know how I knew it, but something inside me told me, that Jeff was in the nurse's office and that Pete was missing.
Chapter 11 - Hell's Aftermath
"Mrs. Young is Jeff Thomas in the nurse's office" I asked already knowing the answer. She replied. "Yes!" I left the cafeteria as fast as I could, and headed for the office area. Pete was there and he didn't look happy, but my business was with Jeff. He had a badly swollen black eye, a broken lip, and what might have been a head wound. He didn't respond to my presence at all, but I still felt as if I needed to be there next to him. Then I felt eyes on my back, I turned around to find Pete looking over my shoulder. "Why are you here?" Pete asked as if I wasn't welcome here. "I came here to see him!" now I wondered why Pete was here. "Do you know anything about what happened?" I asked as I stared at his eyes. "Yeah, it was Parker and James. I stopped them from beating on Jeff." Out of the vice principal's office came two officers along with Parker and James. All of this pain and suffering caused because they thought I was hitting on Pete. Pete's face spoke of betrayal and anger. He stared at our team-mates as they were put into the squad cars. Even I could feel his anger. As I was getting ready to leave a kid walked in who caught my eye. He is tall around 5'9". His eyes are green and his hair is brown. He is very easy on the eyes. I hear him speak and I'm instantly taken. He's not quite a jock and not quite a prep. I overhear that he is new and that his name is Doug. I don't need him as a friend but I want him as a friend. Our gaze meets for a second. He doesn't break it and I felt a ping in my soul. "Hi" I broke the ice. "Hey!" my hopefully new friend said back. "My name is Alex." Hoping for something a little bit more. "Doug here, see you around." I hope he's right. I caught a glimpse of Pete and Jeff. I was pulled back in by my heart. Pete was quick to acknowledge me. "Have you seen your car?" "No, did I need to worry about my car?" "You might want to check it out." I quickly made my way to my car. From what I could see the car was fine. I just wish the same were true for Jeff. Seeing him injured really got me upset. They couldn't get to me so my ex team-mates used Jeff's battered body as a message to me. Pete smiled at me and looked behind me. "I think the new guy enjoys the view." I turned my head and sure enough, Doug was catching a glimpse. He came in and saw Jeff. His face went from friendly to disgust. "What happened to him?" I turned my head to Jeff and then back to Doug and said "Homophobia.".
Chapter 12 - Because of Hate
Today had lead me down a strange path. A path with two forks, on the left, hate has lead two immature punks to attack one of my friends and harass me, and on the right, there is Doug. I've felt the cold of hate and the warmth of something that isn't quite love or friendship. I think, it's deeper than friendship or least it feels a tad bit deeper. Weird though, it is only skin deep. Then there is this hate that I walked through today. It's a shock to see the effects of homophobia. Any number of kids could have been the targets of Parker and James' attack. Those goons knew Jeff would catch my attention. They knew by attacking him that it would torment me. What other vile, dark acts did they intend to commit? I cannot really say because I can't get inside the mind of haters and bigots. Jeff went home and from there was taken to the hospital. I hold myself responsible for his pain. I'd do anything to take it on myself. On the flipside of this, there is Doug. Doug's presence charged the office with energy. The ping that made me stir earlier told me Doug was gay and now, I just have to wait. Out or not, I don't care as long as he's with me. I'd be happy if he were my friend, but even happier if he agreed to be boyfriend. Maybe hoping that what Doug will want me as boyfriend is too much. Can I balance having a boyfriend with having friends? What will Jeff think? I can't help but wonder what Jeff is thinking? I'm sure he's still suffering and you know the doctors may not be finished looking at him yet. The big question is, is he blaming me for this attack? There is a good chance that if I had given up associating with Pete that maybe the attackers would have backed off and not attacked Jeff. Mom must have heard me thinking out loud, because she is now in my room. "Alex, Pete called and he said that Jeff's mom called him and said that Jeff's fine expect for some bruising. You need to quit blaming yourself. What happened to Jeff happened because those two, crazy boys decided to hurt him. They're the ones with the problems not you. Promise me, you'll stop hurting yourself?" I thought for a second and mom is right. Why blame myself for what happened to Jeff? "Okay mom, I'll stop beating myself up!" How could I make such a promise? A friend is in the hospital and, he's there because of me. Can't she understand that I'm the reason that my pal is up in the hospital. Mom turned and left the room. As I watched my mom leave, my phone rang "Hello!" "Hey Alex, Doug here!"