Background story for Jace, my OC for the CQ RP.

Ch.1 – Growing Pains

The needle shot through my ear and I let out a cry of pain. It stung badly and I could already feel blood dripping from the larger than average hole in my ear. I shook and my breathing became erratic. I couldn't stand blood.

"No, stop." I said shakily.

"But if we stop now you'll only have the right done, Jace!" Andrew said, trying to coerce me into the second blast of pain.

Already a drop of blood traced over the small ring that had been pierced into place. I reached up and rubbed against it, thinking. On the one hand I could just stop with the one. I didn't care. On the other hand, Andrew would care. He would stop at nothing to get his friend to go through with the second piercing. I glanced at Andrew's own ears and winced at the spreaders placed in them.

"What if I do it next week when we come to the mall?" I asked. "I'm shaking too much to do it now, it would probably end up going in through the wrong part of my ear." The man piercing my ears shrugged in agreement.

"Fine." Andrew said, "But you aren't getting out of the other ear. We will have it done next week!"

I smiled and got out of the chair. We immediately headed into the food court and walked around the half circle, collecting small samples on toothpicks from people working outside the restaraunts. After three circles we sat down at a table near the center, late afternoon sunshine warming us.

It was early fall, near the start of school, yet there were strands of Christmas lights hanging in the area already. On the far side of the food court was a bookstore, which seemed much too busy this day of the week.

"School's starting soon." Andrew mused, "I would give anything not to go."

"At least we get to choose our classes this year, instead of being forced into the standard ones!"

"True, true. You've won this argument."

It never failed to amaze me that even though we spoke little, our words said volumes. At least, between us they did.

After two more hours, we left and boarded the bus. Tonight would be a night filled with video games and snacks. At least, until my two older brothers went to bed, then we would go and visit Anup. I smiled at the thought of seeing Anup. It had been awhile since we'd been able to get out and see him.

The bus ended up carrying us out to the old farm house that had been left to the three brothers when my parents had died. It was slightly run down, but still kept up for the four living there.

Walking up, I opened the front door – a rickety old thing – and walked in, Andrew behind me. Both of us immediately stopped when we saw that Paul and Mark were in the room, standing and staring at us.

Both looked the same as the other. Scruffy blonde beards and hair, blue eyes, and tanned skin from farm work. The twins were impossible to tell apart, even to me, and their matching clothes didn't help the matter.

"So, our little brother returns with his fag friend."

"And look, he even got his own ear pierced as a little fag."

I hated whenever my brothers made fun of Andrew for his sexuality, but knew better than to call them out on it. It would only mean being beat to a pulp for the both of them. One time me and Andrew had been unable to walk for a few days. It was too bad we were unable to find another place to stay.

The twins wouldn't leave it alone though.

"A single ear piercing little brother? And the right ear, too. Tsk, tsk."

"So how many times have you two slept together?" My face flush. I didn't think of anyone that way, let alone Andrew. But, truth be told, he would probably be my first choice if I ever said I was into guys.

"Oh, look at that blush!"

"They must have done it a dozen times already!"

Andrew surged forward at this. "You bastards would know, wouldn't you? I mean you must have slept together at least a hundred times!"

The line had not only been crossed, It had been lifted and torn to a million little pieces scattered to the wind.

With a primal roar the twins rushed forward, one procuring a knife, the other a hammer. Andrew leapt back and I threw myself in front of him. They may not take me into consideration often, but I knew that they would hurt me less then Andrew.

The hammer swung out and caught me in the side of the head, knocking me to the ground with a large gash. The rest of the fight was broken by periods of black.

One instant I watched as Andrew dodged a knife swing and took the hammer to the gut, but still leapt back. He looked tired, as if at it for a while. Sweat drenched his brow and he seemed to be panting.

Black.

A warm puddle touched my ankle and a foul smell filled the air. Looking up slightly, I saw one of the twins on the floor in front of me, eyes unseeing and a shocked look on his face. Andrew leapt over the body and turned to knock the knife away with the hammer gripped tightly in his hands. I watched as the two traded blows, Andrew landing many with the blunt instrument.

Black.

A loud grunt filled the room, and I looked up to see Andrew with his back to me. A knife protruding from his back and my eyes widened as I saw the blood dripping down. The remaining twin stood with a smug look traced across his face. Andrew looked up and swung the hammer down. The twin's head collapsed under the blow, a look of malice and glee still on it.

Black.

When I came around again, I knew that I would not fade again. I could hear crickets outside and listened to the one other person breathing in the room besides me. Turning, I could feel Andrew next to me, his breaths shuddering. The blade was still sticking out of his chest, and now I could tell it was the one from the kitchen.

"Andrew..." I whispered, afraid of breaking the moment.

"I'm still here." he said in a breathy voice, deadened with agony. "I won't be long though. Already lost too much blood."

"You can't leave me alone!"

"Don't worry Jace. Have Anup keep my spirit or whatever he does." He joked. We had only made that stuff up.

"But it isn't the same."

"I have a secret to tell you, Jace. Are you going to listen?" His voice was serious and I immediately knew that he was telling the truth. The Andrew I knew was never so serious.

"Yes."

"I love you. More than a brother, more than all the money in the world, and more than life itself. I always wished that you were into guys so that we could be together as more than best friends."

"Andrew... I love you too."

I leaned against him, to comfort him as much as I could. He was weak and seemed barely awake, but his arm still wrapped itself around me.

"Will you kiss me? I've never kissed anyone in my life, and this is the last chance with the only person I ever wanted to."

I loved him more than I had loved my brothers. Ha! There was no comparison between them. I loved him as my closest friend and family. But I didn't know if I loved him like he loved me. But I would not let my uncertainty get in the way of him dying happy.

We leaned in to each other and our noses touched. I stared into his deep green eyes, as he stared into my deep blue. I shook with the apprehension and my stomach churned.

Then we were kissing. His lips were locked against mine and I could feel his breath in my mouth. He smelled and tasted of mint. I leaned in and returned the kiss he had started, reveling in the feelings that ignited in my stomach. Now I could say that I loved him as much as he loved me.

The kiss broke, and I could feel the chill air of the house press against my lips, where Andrew had just been.

"I do love you, Andrew." I said quietly, but my words only reached the dead.

Wow, this turned out longer and better than I thought it would!

What ya think? More chapters coming!