With Love We Can be Human By James
Disclaimer
This is a story which deals with sexual/romantic situations between teenaged males. Should you not be of the legal age to read such material, or if you're offended, then please find something else to read. I can be reached at jamesheady1985@gmail.com for those who would like to discuss anything related to the story. Finally, please remember to donate to Nifty, as it keeps these stories and related materials free to the public.
With Love We Can be Human
Chapter 17
Ethan
I awoke out of my coma towards the end of July. I felt really weak, and like I was just barely awake at all. I was checked over for a long time that day, and throughout the next few days. Michael and Josh, as well as some of their other brothers came to visit, then in the second week of me being awake, I was starting therapy sessions, ones that dealt specifically with what happened with Jordan.
Michael and I started out slow, with me working on mindfulness exercises, things like thinking of places I could go to in my mind where I felt safe which he said might help with anxiety, fear and any other negative feelings I might experience going forward, or when we began talking about what had happened. It was going well, but I was definitely experiencing nightmares, some of which were bad enough that I had to be given a few injections over the course of the night to help me stay calm. I also had flashbacks which were horrible and Michael would talk me through them and hold me as they would happen. I was getting through it, or beginning to at least. I sometimes don't know how I had the strength to do it though.
Physically though, I was going to have a rather long recovery too. I was using one of those bags that would hold everything until my rectum healed. They told me that Jordan had really messed things up and that it would take a while for everything to get back to normal, at least in the beginning. I had also lost a huge amount of weight. I had always been small and thin, but when I looked in the mirror on that second week, I had to look away. I didn't like the look and I hoped that I could start putting some weight back on soon. I was also eating things like broth, jello and things like that. I didn't feel hungry enough for anything more than that, but I knew that I was used to eating more substantial food than this shit. I somehow got through it, and one thing that helped me with feeling a little better was when Michael told me that Brandon, Torey and the rest of their friends had been visiting me while I was in a coma. This really made me feel good and really touched me. I hoped I could see them again soon, this time with me being a wake.
0000
Brandon
The day had come for us to see Ethan after a few days of him being awake. I walked in to his room with Torey, then Todor and Misho would come next, then Ryan and Austin, then Dana would come in once she got here. She was running a little late, but would be here soon.
I sat down next to Ethan's bed and turned to face him. He held out his arms for a hug and I stood and took him gently in to my arms. It was like hugging a bundle of twigs, or at least that's what it felt like to me. I couldn't believe how much weight he had lost.
"I'm really glad you're back with us," I said softly as I held him.
"Me too," he said just above a whisper.
We talked for a while, then everyone else visited with him and he and Ryan seemed to be getting along well. Ryan made a picture for him of a nature scene and Ethan loved it. Dana also talked with him once she arrived and then it was time for us to leave. There would be time for us to talk later about everything that had happened.
0000
Stoyan
After my eye appointment, my parents went off to hang with a few friends they have and I went to the mall to get something to eat. It was a dark and rainy day at the close of July and school would be starting up in a few weeks.
"Another year, another load of friendless Bullshit," I thought in my mind as I went up to order.
0000
Brandon
I sat in the food court with everyone, even Ethan was with us. He had been cleared to have regular foods again though he had started out slow with this, but today, a Friday, he was celebrating. I didn't ever know him to like spicy foods, so it surprised me to see him order two orders of wings, one of which was hot garlic; the other a frightening red colored mound that some genius had named "Lake of Fire".
"Oh, I can't watch this," I said laughing.
"I also have Potato Skins coming in a moment," Ethan said.
He was also relieved of his bag as well and he was happy when they cleared him of that, and so were we all.
"I'm sure it feels good to eat real food again," Torey said to him.
"Damn right," Ethan said smiling.
Everyone else sat down at the long table we had found, then I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look, it was off to my left. A couple of bigger boys were standing in front of a boy who was tall, but thinner than them. He took a step, tripped over one of their out-stretched legs, spilling his food and drink.
"Watch where you're walking loser," the one with the out-stretched leg said as they both laughed. "Oh wait, you're blind so of course you can't."
"Okay, I'm stopping this shit right now," I said getting up.
I went over and saw that it was two of the seniors from our school.
"What the fuck did you just do!" I said getting up in the first boy's face, the one who tripped the boy. "You did that on purpose didn't you!"
"Fuck off fag," he said leaning close to me.
I grabbed him by his shirt and leaned in close.
"Okay Bitch listen up, Uncle Brandon's going to lecture for a moment," I growled in his face. "See I'm getting a little, no, a lot tired of little cock suckers like you and this sack of shit here beside you fucking with people who don't deserve it. Now you're going to leave here, find some place to get laid or whatever it is you do in your worthless excuse of a life and if you ever call me a fag again, I'll find a scalpel in my mom's med bag, break in to both your houses and use it to slice off both your cocks! No, I'll tie one of you up and make the other do it. Think I'm fucking playing?"
He looked scared. It must have been something in my eyes, face or tone of voice. I didn't actually believe I'd do that, but it was just the act I witnessed, me still trying to get passed the memories of what Jordan had done to Ryan, then what he had done to Ethan and it was all getting to me. These two punks weren't helping.
"Okay, now let go of me!" he hissed at me.
"You didn't say "Please"," I said gripping his shirt a little tighter.
I looked to the right and his friend was looking like he was ready to cry, I had him figured out right then and there, he was just a follower; nothing more nothing less.
"Okay, please!" he said his voice beginning to rise.
I let go and they ran off. I turned my attention to the boy who was trying to use napkins to clean up the mess on the floor. At no point did the people behind the counter do much to help, but I wasn't surprised. It was two kids both of whom looked like they were my age and the manager must have been in the back.
"I'll help with that," I said as I bent down and helped the boy up.
I tried to place him in my mind, but wasn't remembering him being around the school much.
He stood and he was trying to fight back tears.
"Fucking Bastards," he said as a sob escaped him and he tensed up his body to try to keep his tears back.
"It's okay," I said softly as I lead him over to our table. He resisted and I stopped.
"I was just going to walk you over to the table my friends and I are sitting at," I explained. "I'm Brandon by the way."
"I'm Stoyan," the boy said softly.
He held out his hand and we shook, then he quickly let go.
"You can sit if you want," I said leading him over to a chair. "I'll get the manager to help clean this up."
"It's fine," he said moving away from me. "I'll just get something at home."
That's when I noticed the guiding cane he had. He had it folded up, but got it out now. He started moving away, but I closed the distance, not that there was much to close.
"I really would like to help," I said as I stood there while he turned to face me. "I really do hope you'll join us, we really won't give you any trouble. Those guys I made leave are assholes anyway, fuck them. You'll be safe with us."
Something must have reached him, because he gave a hint of a smile and let me guide him to our table. The only seat left was one on Ethan's right and he motioned for Stoyan to come over.
"I'm totally blind," he said.
"Sorry," Ethan said. "It's across from you to your left, my right."
"Thanks," Stoyan replied, then went over and sat down.
"What did you originally have?" I asked.
"I had some wings and fries," he answered.
He told me the flavors and I went to order for him again.
0000
Ethan
I looked at the boy who sat down beside me and I felt like I wanted to get to know him a little more. He had soft eyes, friendly eyes and they immediately put me at ease. I could sit there looking in to them all day. I tried to form words, but they were locked in my throat for a moment.
"Hi," I'm Stoyan," he offered as he held out his hand.
"Uh, Uh, I'''I'''I'''I'm Ethan," I said and could hear my voice breaking badly.
The boys across from me smirked and Misho gave me a smart ass look.
"Keep it shut Misho," I said smiling.
"I wasn't going to say anything," he said. "But you really need to stop interfering with my freedom of speech. I mean, come on Ethan, we all have the right to have a free exchange of ideas."
He was trying to sound serious, but the laughter was in his voice.
"My telling you to back the fuck off isn't me trampling your little rights," I shot back smirking myself now. "So relax Sam Harris."
"What can I say," he said laughing. "I mean, it's sad about these post-modernists and their being easily offended about everything now."
Todor reached out to the side and cuffed Misho playfully on the shoulder.
"Ouw!" he said in a high wining voice.
"Did that hurt?" Todor's note read.
"Sort of," Misho replied smiling, but still trying to sound like his feelings were hurt.
"Good!" I said with the biggest smart ass smile I could come up with. "Anyway, Stony the one who thinks he's going to be the next Sam Harris or Ayn Rand is Misho, and his friend who gave him the slap he has had coming for a long time is Todor."
"It's actually "Stoyan"," he said smiling warmly at me. "Thanks for introducing them."
"You're welcome, and sorry for mixing up your name," I replied and took his hand to shake it, then he shook everyone else's hands as they all introduced themselves.
Brandon came back with Stoyan's food and they got it arranged, then Brandon came back to his food. I laughed as I saw Misho who was on Brandon's right reach out quickly and take one of his hot pepper bights.
"What was that?" Brandon asked acting more offended than he actually was.
"Nothing," Misho said smiling at him.
We all laughed, then Brandon took a fry from Misho's plate.
"We're even now Bitch," he said laughing when Misho tried to form a hurt look, but laughed and smiled instead.
0000
Stoyan
These guys seemed like they could be good friends, but I was especially focused on the one beside me who introduced himself as Ethan. His hand was small and I was surprised at how small it was when we shook. It was still soft though and I felt attracted to him at that moment, but I also wanted more than anything to start out by being his friend.
As the lunch progressed, we talked about everything, as well as me telling them some of my story, but minus my being gay; I didn't think that would come up for a while, but the door opened seemingly more quickly than I thought it would. It came when Torey spoke to Brandon, but for all of us to hear.
"So what did that one prick say to you that made you grip him a little harder?" he asked turning to Brandon who was on his left.
"Asshole called me a fag and told me to fuck off, but I fixed that. "It's okay though. If he secretly wanted me and that was why he called me that, then he's obviously going down the wrong track."
"Yeah, besides I'm not sharing you with someone like him, or anyone else," Torey said smiling.
"Same here Brandon said smiling back. To your question I can see you're trying not to ask, I'm gay."
He said that turning directly to face me.
They all told me as well, the rest of them save for Dana who said that she was straight, but one of our biggest supporters.
I smiled and Ethan told me he was gay as well.
I told them about myself, but had them promise they wouldn't say anything to anyone unless they had my approval. I told them a little about what had happened when my previous friends found out and they weren't happy to hear how they had treated me.
"I'm sorry to hear you had to go through that," Ethan said putting a hand on my arm.
They all agreed.
"Thanks," I said. "It's been a long year."
"I'm sure it has been," Torey said in agreement.
"You have us now," Misho said. "We'll always be here for you."
They all agreed again and we continued talking. I told them about what kind of music I liked, mainly Metal and a lot of other stuff.
"I don't like the Black Metal," Ethan said. "But I like stuff like Nightwish and Therion."
"Those two are definitely my favorites," I agreed. "So if you come to my house sometime, I'll keep my Black Metal Albums off the play list."
I smiled and he laughed and put his hand on my shoulder for a moment.
0000
Brandon
I watched the interactions between Ethan and Stoyan. It seemed like it was working out well so far and I was starting to think that Stoyan might be someone who Ethan could trust, who we could all trust. Things seemed like they were starting to even out for us all.
After we finished our food, we threw everything away, then sat back down. Stoyan told his parents where he would be and we agreed to wait so they could meet all of us. I sat with my arm around Torey and he was leaned against me softly. I listened as Ethan talked to Stoyan and I heard true happiness in his voice; I was over-joyed at this and smiled. I had a strong feeling that he was going to be alright in the end. Stoyan sounded just as happy when he would talk to Ethan and it seemed that they were becoming good friends.
As I looked up after several minutes went by, I saw two people who looked like Stoyan coming towards our table. I stood and approached them.
We introduced ourselves and then they said hi to all my other friends, then we got to work giving our numbers which Stoyan quickly put in his phone which had clear-sounding synthetic speech on it.
"We'll have to have you guys over for dinner or to sleep over sometime," his mom said.
"We'll definitely have to do that," his dad added.
"I'd enjoy that a lot!" Stoyan said excitedly.
"We all agreed, then as we all held out our hands, Stoyan actually took turns hugging us, then when he got to me, he held on for a moment.
"Thanks," he whispered. "What you did, it meant a lot."
"You're welcome," I said holding him for a moment.
He and Ethan hugged for a long moment, then I saw something deep and meaningful pass between them as they looked in to one another's eyes, even with Stoyan being totally blind, the look passed between the two of them. They smiled, then after we shook hands with his parents, they as well as Stoyan left to go back home. It had been a really nice day. After I called my parents, we headed back to my house where we would all be staying that weekend to hang out and visit with one another, even Ethan was coming along as well. Things were finally smoothing out for us all!
Author's Notes
Things are going along smoothly, so I think this is a good place to leave it for now. I hope everyone is having a good evening, and I'll see you guys in Chapter 18.