Together for Christmas

Hey friends! Merry Christmas!!!

Just a little Christmas story for all you guys here. Its a very special time in our lives, to celebrate the festive season with our loved ones. Since I haven't seen my family in almost 5 years since my dad kicked me out for being gay, I have found a new family in my Nifty friends and readers. I love you all.

The first chapter generated mixed feedback, some claiming it was too sad, and depressing, while others claimed it to have a good plot and storyline. Nevertheless, here is the second and final chapter.

If u wanna chat to me, talk to me about the story or shit like that, feel free to mail me on ryanstories@yahoo.com. I'm proud to say that I always reply to all my emails!

Or you can follow me on Twitter under my name RyanMpenduloi

Luv, Ryan

Together for Christmas

Part 2

Looking back to that time now, I don't know what must have gone through my head. Gareth's death was really shaking me hard, and it started to get so fucking bad that I would walk down to the shops and I could have sworn I saw him watching me from behind a tree. Ofcourse it was my furtile imagination, but when you love someone that deep, you can't forget them that easily. Like mentioned in the previous chapter, I started to become rather a handful for my parents. I refused to go back to Grey Kollege, and I started to rebel. I would party all night long, smoking weed until my head was spinning, drinking almost all night and wake up with a fucking major hangover. That was almost my day to day basis of living. My entire 2009 just went by in a flash, because there are very few times of that year that I was actually fully aware what was going on around me. My once proud 4 pack had wasted away, instead all you saw when I took my shirt off, was skin and ribs. I was dangerously underweight because I would go days and day without eating. I would live for my next binge drinking spree.

Christmas of 2009, a full year after Gareth's death, I took my first hit of cocaine. On the 27th of December, the day it happened a year back, I was rushed into hospital as the drugs was too much for me. After the doctors had finished with me, naturally they called my parents, and told them that I was brought in, and that I had very nearly overdosed on drugs.

Three days after I had been brought in, I was discharged, and my father carried my frail body in his strong arms up to my room, as I could not walk properly and for a little moment at least, I could have sworn that I was 7 years old again, when I had fallen asleep playing TV games all night long, and fell asleep with the remotes still in my hand.

The next morning, my dad woke me up gently. The police were there and wanted to know where I had gotten hold of the cocaine. I had no other choice, it was either tell them, or be sent to juvenile prison. A lot of my friends was arrested that day, but thanks to my dad being a lawyer, he worked out that bargain for me, and because I identified the drug dealers, all was forgotten on my part.

I still refused to eat, just a banana or a random fruit here and there, and when things got worse, I forced water down my throat. Gareth's smiling face looked at me the whole time when I was asleep, and when I was awake, he was all that I could think of. It was like he was still with me.

In January of 2010, I met a girl called Lorraine who moved in across the street. She was damn sexy, even me as a gay dude could know that. She had moved to Bloemfontein from the West Coast and clearly wasn't used to how things were done here. I warned her to stick clear of the crowd that I used to hang in. I had decided to give school another shot. After what happened in December, something inside my brain told me to get my fucking act together!

I attended a normal highschool this time, I had to ofcourse endure the humilation of having to repeat Grade 9. Lorraine was just awesome, and we became good friends. We went to movies together, checked out the hot guys...yeah she knew I was gay the moment we met, don't ask me how...and generally did everything that me and Gareth used to do. The night that I faced up to reality and told her what had happened to him was a turning point in my life. Until that particular time, I had not told a single soul what the true relationship between me and Gareth was. To finally get it off my chest, felt soooo good, like a weight that I had carried for years had been ripped off my shoulders. We embraced eachother and that's when I knew...I wasn't alone anymore.

I was doing my homework on a Thursday afternoon when my mobile rang. I picked it up and saw that it was Lorraine.

"Hey Bitch, what's up?"

"Hey faggot, my cousin is coming this evening to stay with us for a couple of weeks. I know we had plans tonight, but my mom just told me, and I love him to death, and he doesn't know anyone here, so im gonna have to keep him busy, is that gonna be ok?"

That was spoken in a matter of seconds. Lorraine could babble on and on if she wanted to. We were going to see The Proposal with the sexy Ryan Reynolds that evening, but I guess there was numerous times which we could do that.

"Nah Lorraine, no worries. You two go on and have fun. Just dont make him lose his virginity the first night he gets here."

"Ha ha ha very funny, Jim Carrey. Gotta go, see you!"

Immediately I was in my depressed mood yet again. I could remember once I was making a snide remark to Gareth and he just said: "Jeez, you're a real Jim Carrey sometimes." Maybe the fact that there was nothing left from the wreck in which his mom and he died, was what was making this so hard. There wasn't a tombstome on top of a grave in the graveyard that I could go to everytime that I missed him. Just the thought of his strong arms, his young, muscled chest and those blond spikes which I ran my hands through hundreds of times...all blown up and burned beyond recognition...I slowly made my way to the local Midmar (a shop in South Africa that sells alcohol). One of my friends, Geo, which with I had hung out before, was 21 and he worked there. When he saw me, his eyes lifted up to the heaven's and he sarcastically blinked his eyes numerous times.

"Oh fuck, looky here! Could my eyes be decieving me or is it little Parker! The one that got away from Juvie! How's it going, dude?"

"Shut the fuck up, Geo. Look, I need something, anything. I know you take a stash of vodka for yourself after every shift, and if you don't score me a bottle right fucking now, I'll go to the store manager and tell him to search your bag. What is it gonna be?"

Geo looked flustered as I threatned him, as he stood up after a moment. He came back with his back pack and shoved it into my arms.

"If I wasn't so fucking needy for this job, I'd kick your ass right now," he hissed at me. I opened it up and looked inside. A single bottle of vodka laid there and smiled right back up at me.

"Thanks Geo. I owe you."

I left the store and went home, walked up to my room, closed the door and locked it. I sat down on my bed, placed the bottle of vodka on my dressing table. I kneeled down, reaching underneath my bed and taking out a shoe box that I stashed away there. With my shaking hands I opened it and found some photos of me and Gareth was were taken two years ago when we were roomies at Grey Kollege. The tears started to roll down my face as I unscrewed the bottle of vodka and started to gulp it down. I didn't care anymore. I stared at one photo where we had out arms around eachother and I imagined that I could actually feel him still. I took another gulp of vodka from the bottle. I wanted to drink to take the pain away. The pain of losing the boy I loved. It started to get a bit more better with each slosh of the cold, strong liquid that went down my throat.

I don't quite now how or when it happened, but the next thing I knew, I was waking up in a hospital bed. Too tired to open my eyes, I closed them again, until I heard someone say my name.

"Parker?"

I opened my eyes to some difficulty, and looked into a face that I didn't know. It looked somewhat familiar, but I couldn't quite place my finger on it. I saw movement coming in from the door, and I saw it was Lorraine and my father.

"Parker, thank God! How are you feeling, son?" my dad asked.

"My head hurts," I mumbled, but I was facinated about the georgeous hunk of a dude that I saw when I woke up. I turned my head towards him.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice still horse.

"Oh Parker, sorry there wasn't time yet to introduce him. This is my cousin, Gary LueCallen. Gary, this is one of my best friends, Parker Cartwright."

I wanted to reach my hand out and touch his, but it was simply too much effort. Instead I turned towards my father.

"What happened? Why am I in the hospital again?"

"Uhm...Lorraine, Gary, could you give me a few minutes with Parker, please?" Lorraine winked at me as they left, but I knew when my father uses this tone of voice, that there was trouble.

"Son, you were admitted with alcohol poisoning. This is it, I have had enough! You mom and I cant watch you twenty-four hours of the day, for heaven's sake! I have made arrangements for you to go to a special institution for people like you who also struggle with addictions. I have..."

"You did what? Dad, are you fucking crazy? To what am I addicted to?"

"Parker, you are throwing your life away! Barely three months ago you were brought here after you nearly died of cocaine. Now I have to see you here again, this time because you downed an entire bottle of Vodka! If not for Lorraine and Gary, you would not have been here right now! This has got to stop, Parker!"

"Dad, you don't know shit about what I am going through! You never have and never will!"

"I think I am starting to get a pretty good idea, Parker. Ever since that Gareth died two years ago, you have been this way. At first I thought it was because you lost your best friend. But here we are, two years later, and still you have boxes of photo's of him underneath your bed! Parker, Im gonna ask you straight out. Were you and this Gareth in love or something? Tell me, Parker!"

"Yes! Fuck yes! I fucking loved him and guess what? He fucking died! There, now you know!"

"You will never, ever speak to me like that again! And you are going to that institution, its called The Believers. If you dont, I'll personally tell the police that your friend gave you alcohol, and as you are underage, both of you will be in massive trouble. You get me?"

The tears was once more rolling down my face as I finally admitted it to someone. Now my dad knew, and before long, my mom. When my dad finally left, I knew that I had no choice. It was really time to sort my life out without alcohol or drugs, and I desperately needed to get over Gareth. If I carried on like this, I'd be joining him in heaven before long. Lorraine entered my room, this time without Gary, and that kinda depressed me somewhat. He was a sexy little motherfucker! Brown hair, blue eyes... yeah...a guy can dream.

"Hey faggot, how are you really holding up?" Lorraine asked, wiping my hair from my forehead.

"I guess I will have to go to that Believers place. Don't look so confused, Lorraine, I know you were eavesdropping. Maybe at The Believers or whatever its called will be able to cure this obsession I have with Gareth."

"You really scared me, Parker. I thought I would lose my best friend," Lorraine said, suddenly getting serious.

"One moment I was drinking the vodka, the next I woke up here...hey how did I get here anyhow?"

"Your mom came around, screaming and crying for help, because u werent responding and your door was locked and your dad wasn't home yet. Gary kicked the door open and he immediately carried you to his car and drove you here."

"Wow...I already like your cousin!" I joked, but the truth was that I really liked what I saw...

"Well...if I tell you something, you promise not to judge or say shit?" I nodded. "He is not my blood cousin. My aunt and uncle adopted him about two years ago. You see, they could never have children, and when this opportunity came along, they couldn't say no. They have been on that adoption list for years."

"Wow, Lorraine! He is really hot...seriously, I've only ever saw a guy that hot, and that was Gareth...Im sorry."

"Don't be. Look, I gotta go. So be good. I dont wanna see you in hospital again until you're 85 years old." And with that, Lorraine left the room. My parents were very dissapointed in me that I was gay. My mom told me that she could accept it, although she could not understand it. My dad wanted to call the priest to summon the devil out of me. It was not a good time at all. I was dischargted on April 17th, and The Believers called my father to say that he could bring me two days later. I wasn't allowed to leave the house at all, and only get visits twice a day. The night before I was supposed to go, the doorbell rang, and I went to open it. It was Gary.

"Hey dude, just wanted to come and see if you're feeling better since the last time I saw you. But from what I can see, you are!" he smiled as he spoke. That voice...it reminded me so much of someone I know, or knew...I just could not put my finger on it.

"Hey Gary, yeah I am, come on in. Where's Lorraine?"

"She's finishing her shift at Spur, and then she's coming over. So you're gonna get us drinks or what?"

Gary greeted my parents, although my father gave him a glare or two. Im sure he thought that I was into Gary or vice versa. Well...the first part was true. We sat down in the living room, and I put the TV on a random channel while we talked. Even though me and Gary had not really spoken at all, we had a lot in common. We both digged soccer and Rugby and was crazy about playing FIFA 09. We both liked Black Eyed Peas and Shakira, aswell as pizza and lemonade. Suddenly Gary got quiet and looked me straight in the eye.

"Tell me about Gareth."

I just sat there, I didn't, couldn't move an inch. Why, fuck why did he have to bring that up?

"Did Lorraine tell you about him?"

"All I said was that something must have made you terribly unhappy for you to have drank a whole bottle of vodka, and she said it was because you couldn't cope with Gareth's death. That's why I'm asking."

Well, if I was going to have to tell the specialists and shrinks at The Believers the entire story, I sure could to Gary.

"Okay, but if you would wanna leave after I tell you, I will understand. Gareth Westwood was my roommate at Grey Kollege. I fell in love with him the moment I saw him. Turns out he felt the same way. We did everything together, we were not only fucking in love, but we were also best friends. So Christmas arrived, and he was supposed to come visit for a week. And when they were travelling here, their car collided with a on coming truck and they were both killed in the explosion. That's it."

Gary was quiet for a moment, before saying: "Did they ever find his body?"

"Dude, there was a explosion! It was burned beyond recognition! Are you trying to fucking upset me?"

"No, Parker! Im not! Fuck, Im sorry! I didnt mean for it to sound like that."

My mobile vibrated and I saw I had a message from Lorraine.

"Sorry Faggot, Im not gonna be able to come tonight, Boss has me doing stocktaking. I'll come and say goodbye before school tomorrow. Love ya xxx"

"Its Lorraine, she has to work late," I said pendantically.

"I have to get home any way dude. Parker, I'm sorry that I upset you. Come on, walk a little with me."

My dad was already asleep and I looked over at my mom, who gave me a little wink and nodded her head. I walked out with Gary till across the street before we stopped.

"How long are you still here for?" I asked.

"You already wanna get rid of me?"

"No, genius. I just wanted to alert the hitmen I hired to kill you."

"Whatever dude, you're a real Jim Carrey. I don't know...my parents are way older than me and they dont have time for a teenager anymore. I wanted to convinced them to let me stay and go to school here. I appreciate them adopting me and everything, but I'm a burden on them. I can sense it. So, I guess I'll still be here when you get back. How long are you going for?"

"Three months. I wanna get my life back on track. If they can help me put Gareth behind me, it might be worth it."

For a minute I thought I saw sadness flash across his face, but I must have imagined it.

"Well, goodbye Parker. I hope The Believers can help you overcome drugs and alcohol. All the best of luck."

He held out his hand, but I jokingly slapped I away and pulled Gary into a hug. I gasped internally. The last time I held a boy in my arms, it was Gareth, when we said goodbye to eachother at the end of the semester two years ago. Once more I felt the tears of sadness rolls from my eyes. Gary must have senced that I was crying as he quickly pulled away.

"Parker, what's wrong?" he whispered quietly.

"The last time I held a boy it was..." I couldn't say his name.

"Its okay, Parker. I understand."

As i wanted to turn around and go back home, Gary pulled me back towards him. With a hand that was shaking, he raised it and caressed my cheek. I gasped again, emotions that I had not felt for over two years blasting through me. Then i saw his face coming closer, and I nervously closed my eyes. Gary's lips touched mine and I flung myself at him, and passionately returned it. My hands was running through his brown hair as two souls became one. Suddenly the image of Gareth once more entered my mind and I frantically pulled back.

"Did I hurt you," Gary asked concerned, and rubbed my shoulders. I broke away from him and ran back home. Something about Gary gave me cold shivers down my spine...because i didn't wanna admit that I enjoyed that kiss. For the first time in over two years I had forgotten about Gareth for those few moments that I was kissing Gary. And I knew, that tomorrow would bring a whole new adventure in my young life. The next morning, Lorraine was there early to say goodbye, which had both of us in tears yet again. She hugged me so tight, I was afraid I was gonna choke.

"Just don't forget about your friends back here, okay?" she pleaded jokingly.

"Never, Bitch. I love you."

And so me and my father drove off to the institution called The Believers. As we arrived, I got to meet Marion, the Matron, aswell as Gregg Devlin, the owner. I was given time to unpack and get settled in. This reminded me so fucking much of when I had met Gareth the first time, that wonderful afternoon two years ago. I had brought the album that held the photos of me and Gareth with me, and placed it on my dresser.

"I love you, Gareth. I love you so fucking much, and I always will. But you can't love me back, buddy. Not in the way that I need you to. I will never, never forget you, dude. But I have to move on somehow. I just don't know how!"

During my stay at The Believers, I can't say that I actually HATED every minute. I met some lovely people there during my stay. Such as Lexie, who was afraid of spiders. So fucking bad, that she started to feel the stuff inside her head. Hendrik, a brown skinned (coloured) guy who was obsessed with getting his ex-fiance back. Roy, who was addicted to painkillers and Milly, a sweet 21 year old girl who had Bipolar sindrome. The councillers talked me through each and every possible subject that was bothering me. I think the turning point came when, about a month into my therapy, Marie, one of the councilers, asked me:

"Parker, why did you start to take drugs and start binge drinking in the first place, my darling?" I knew immediately what my answer was.

"It was because I could not cope with Gareth's death. We had such plans for the future. We were only 14 years old, but it didn't feel like it. I think the major reason why I couldn't move on, was because there wasn't a body to bury. I never saw him dead. The last time I did, he was alive, and making jokes, and just being himself. And then suddenly he was gone."

Talking about Gareth, instead of botteling it up inside all the time, made the world of difference. Suddenly I felt myself wondering what we were gonna have for lunch and dinner, rather than dream about Gareth. This one time I was doing the laundry and it suddenly dawned on me that I had not thought about Gareth for about 4 to 5 hours! I quickly looked up to the heavens above and send a thank you prayer upwards to the Man upstairs. Speaking of which, I had started to get my belief back in my religion, thanks to daily Bible classes. It was the two month anniversary of my arrival at The Believers that I realised...this was all part of God's plan. I had to go through all this shit, to finally open my eyes and see the world through the eyes of a teenager, and not a boy. I closed my eyes and once more said a quick thank you.

That afternoon, I was told that I had visitors, for the first time since I had come here. I waited patiently in the living area for whoever to show up. OH MY GOSH!!! It was my dad, mom, Lorraine and Gary! I ran up to them as fast as I could and hugged my parents fiercely. After a while of embracing eachother and crying our eyes out, I turned towards Lorraine and saw she was crying aswell. We embraced warmly, as I gently rubbed her back, as neither of us could speak. When I finally let go of her, Gary was watching me intently. Once more, I got this feeling that I knew that stare from somewhere, but I just could not figure out where. I walked straight into his arms, and the funniest thing happened...he whispered in my ear:

"You got fat...Jim Carrey,"

I pulled away and felt a bit lightheaded. Gregg Devlin, the owner appeared and wanted to talk to my parents, so I decided to show Lorraine and Gary around. We sat on the little bench near the river, outside of the institution and filled me on everything that was going on back home. Lorraine had found herself a boyfriend, called Mark and they were happy as can be. Gary once more freaked me out a little, as he told me that he had found someone special long ago, but that they couldn't be together yet. Lorraine didn't seem confused like I was, so I decided to let it drop. We talked a bit more about this and that, until it was time for them to go. In a months time I would be home. I was actually very sad and unwilling to leave behind all these new friends that I had made, all the conversations with the councillers who had become like family, to Geraldine, the cook who always made my stay more enjoyable with something sweet in the afternoons, for Marion, the matron who was always there if the miss for home got too much, for Lexie, and the others who still had to be here on a regular basis. If there was one thing I learned in my three months here, it was that I was never going to touch any alcohol or drugs for that matter ever again. I have seen what the result is of abusing those. As I had my final shower in my room, dressed and took a last look around that little room which had become so close to my heart, I smiled. I bent down and took the album out of my dresser. I sighed, having finally come to terms with Gareth's passing, even though it took me almost three years. All the patients and workers at The Believers gave me a fantastic send off, as I got into my parents's car and we drove home. Halfway there, I noticed that we were going a different way...well wherever we were headed to, it certainly wasn't home.

"Uhm...mom, dad? Where are we going?"

"You'll soon see, son" Dad said, but I noticed the looks that he and mom wee giving eachother.

"Dad, seriously, I just wanna go home, I haven't been home in three months! Wherever we're headed, can't we do it another time?"

"No son. You will soon see why."

I fell back into my seat and closed my eyes. Whatever could they be up to? I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, my mom was waking me up.

"Come on, Parker. We are here."

I got out and looked around and...THIS HAD TO BE A SICK FUCKING JOKE!!

"What the fuck are we doing here?" I shouted to my parents, not worrying one bit about my language.

"Son, there is someone waiting for you in your old room. Please go and see who it is."

"But Dad..."

"No buts, Parker Cartwright. Get your ass up there, now."

Slowly I turned around and looked up towards the sky, pleading for encouragement and strength. Even more so as I walked passed the entrance hall that read "Welcome to Grey Kollege". Who on Earth could have been waiting in me and Gareth's old room for me? I was instantly thankful for my time at The Believers, otherwise I would have fallen apart to be even near this building. As I reached our old bedroom, I sent up another quick prayer and then turned the doorknob.

"You! What are you doing here?" I asked, somewhat confused.

"I wanted to speak to you alone, Parker. And there is not a more perfect place than right here."

As just stood there inside the doorframe, Gary stood up from the bed and walked over to me. He closed the door behind me and took my hands in his. I looked up and I noticed that he was crying.

"Gary...why...what the fuck is going on here?" I demanded to know. Everything was just getting a little weird.

"Parker...I can't do this anymore...I can't keep this secret anymore. You see Parker...two years ago this was our room. Two years ago we fell in love here. Two years ago my name was Gareth Westwood."

I sank down to my knees as my legs simply gave way. This was a horrible dream and it took all the techniques that I had learned at The Believers to keep calm and not have a panic attack.

"Parker, are you ok? Answer me, buddy!"

I grabbed onto him, looking him straight in the eye.

"Gary, why are you doing this? What have I ever done to you?" I pleaded with him.

"Parker, just hear me out okay? Would Gary know that you cried when you told Gareth you loved him? Would Gary know that Gareth pleaded with you not to lose their friendship? Would Gary know or Lorraine for that matter know that I wanted to take you to our farm, and show you our lake and waterfalls?"

A sudden realisation crept onto me...the whole entire time that I had known Gary, I knew that something of his looked familiar, and now finally I could see it. He strongly resembled my beloved Gareth. His hair was light brown, and he had a deep scar next to his left eye, but it was there. Also, I remembered the night before I left for The Believers, when we kissed, he did called me Jim Carrey, just like Gareth always did.

"Gareth...?" I whispered to him.

He answered me with a kiss so deep and loving that I nearly passed out. When he came up for air, he gently picked me up and carried me in his strong arms towards the bed. I didn't care who lived here now, but I had to know what Gary...Gareth had to tell me. Who ever he was, he looked me straight in the eye.

"Parker, what I'm about to tell you is the absolute truth. I will never lie to you on purpose. That day, two years ago, me and my mom were on our way over to you. On the way, mom felt that something wasn't wrong with the brakes, so she pulled in at a garage. After we had gotten some brake fluid, we saw a young boy begging for food nearby. Mom suggested that we help him, since it was Christmas. The boy was about a year younger than me, but taller. He begged us to take him home, as he had ran away about two weeks before, because he was getting bullied. Mom told him to get in, and she would take him home after dropping me off at yours."

I noticed that the tears were flowing freely from his eyes now as he spoke.

"Now, I dont remember what happened exactly, but me and this boy were talking...I think I was telling him of the week was gonna spend with you, when I heard mom scream. That was the last I could remember. When I came to, I was being picked up by the paramedics. I couldn't move an inch. The next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital. After a whole month there, I learned that I was going to be given up for adoption, since no one knew where I had come from, or responded to adverts of me. My face was so badly damaged from the accident, that I needed to have plastic surgery."

He took my hand and slowly brought my fingers up to the scar underneath his left eye.

"There was an old couple, who couldn't have children, Parker. I stayed with them for a while, since they were well off and respected people. Slowly, my memory returned, but my speech was still damaged, and the only thing I could muster when they asked me what my name was, was Gary, instead of Gareth. Last year, they officialy adopted me, and I became Gary LueCallen. From what I read in the papers, my mom and the boy was dead. I couldn't even cry over her, as it would raise suspicion. Parker, you remember I told you my parents are Catholic? There was no way that I could carry on being gay and in love with you while living with my dad. With my mom dead, I'd have to. So I faked my anmesia and went about my new life. Then, a couple of months later, i got the nerve to look you up on Twitter, and I've been following ever since. When I saw that my adopted cousin, Lorraine was friends with you, I immediately made plans to come back here and see you. I never stopped loving you, Parker. I hope you believe me, dude. I love you with all my heart!"

I did. Every single fibre of my being believed that my Gareth had returned. Suddenly I remembered the words of my dad that day..."they found the burned bodies of a women and a young boy..." I grabbed him and passionately kissed him, running my fingers through his hair, while he did the same. We could not get enough of eachother's bodies. Finally, I broke away, still with his face in my hands.

"Gareth...fuck dude! I missed you, my life nearly ended because I could not get over your death. And here you are, you sexy fucker. I never stopped loving you either."

Gareth stood up, pulling me up with him. Then he did something that would have totally erased any more doubt, if there was any. He placed his hand over my chest, where my heart was supposed to be, just like he did two years ago.

"Damn Gareth...it really is you!" I whispered.

"Yeah buddy, fuck I've missed you so much!" Gareth said before once more leaning in to kiss me. It was all in God's plan, and surely, he was smiling down upon us now. Because, even if it was gay love, I refused to believe that God would frown on love, because God IS love. The pain that I tried to still with drugs and alcohol was over at last.

Fast track a couple of months forward, until December 2010, and you will have found me busy making Christmas dinner for the family. I was busy getting the steaks and chops ready for the grill, when the doorbell rang. I went on to open it.

"Gareth! Why did you knock dude, you know you're always welcome!"

"Yeah Parker, but I wanted to show you something. Remember two years ago? This what it was supposed to be like. Me showing up on your doorstep to spend the week. Sorry I'm late..."

"You fucking sweetheart. No wonder I love you so much."

"Very funny, Jim Carrey. Nah, just kidding. I love you more. Finally, we are together for Christmas."

Thanks for reading the second chapter in this 2 part Christmas mini series. I really hope you guys like it. Please tell me what you think of the this chapter by sending a email to me at ryanstories@yahoo.com I will reply to every one I get. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Ryan White xxx