Chapter 11: Forgiveness

Tai decided he had another stop to make tonight, and he knew it was going to be an emotional roller coaster.

He went back to the bus stop, got on the bus and rode it to the other end of town. He reached the house he was looking for. He saw there was no car in the drive way, so the person he was looking for would be alone.

He went and knocked on the door with grand anticipation. He heard footsteps... His heart pounded... and finally the door opened to show... TK.

'FUCK.' He thought. TK had a look on his face that could kill him.

"What the hell do you what?"

Tai lowered his head. "Can I please speak to Matt?"

"Why? Gonna rip his heart out again?"

Tai couldn't control himself anymore. He dropped on his knees crying.

"Please TK, Please get me your brother."

TK wasn't happy about it, but he did as he was asked, and he went and got Matt.

After he told him that, he got Davis, and left through the side door. He decided it would probably be best if they were alone.

Tai was so upset he didn't even realize when Matt came in front of him.

"Tai?" Matt asked. Tai jumped up in surprise, wiped his eyes of the tears, and just stared at him. He tried so hard to get the words but it wasn't working.

"Matt... I... Um..."

He kept trying, but nothing. He just kept staring to Matt's eyes. Finally, he was tired of trying to find the right thing to say.

"Screw it." He said, and then he ran to Matt, wrapped his arms around him, and kissed him passionately. Matt was stunned. He was sure he was dreaming. He had been pretty sure that that Tai was in denial, but he never thought that he would have feelings for him, the way he did.

Finally the kiss was broken, and Tai started crying again. "I'm so sorry Matt! I was a complete and total ass hole!"

Matt wiped his eyes, and said with a grin: "Yes you were."

Tai couldn't help but laugh a little, through the pain.

"Come on inside." Matt said. They stepped inside, taking their shoes off, then they went to Matt's room. It was a big room, he even had a small couch in front of his bed, and they sat on it.

"So... What happened that you suddenly changed your mind?"

Tai sighed. "Izzy."

"Izzy? What did he do?"

"Um... You're gonna hate me."

"I won't." Matt said. "I promise." He put his arm around him.

"Well... my father had it drilled into my head early that gay's were wrong."

"I figured that much."

Tai nodded. "Well, what you don't know is... his company came up with a way to... 'fix gays'."

"What?" Matt said shocked. "Like... they can make people straight?"

"We'll that's the theory, but it's never actually been done. Anyway, my dad started having me help there, some days after school so I could 'see how bad those homos are.' Well... there was one patient who I noticed right away, who was about my age. My dad said that his parents faked his suicide and even made him write a suicide letter to his best friend."

Matt sat there with his mouth on the floor. Finally he found words.

"As... amazingly heartbreaking as that is... what does that have to do with Izzy?"

Tai looked down. "It was Willis."

Matt's eyes went wide. "WHAT? What do you mean it was Willis? He's alive? Tai, you HAVE to get him out and get him to Izzy, you ha-..."

"I already did." Tai said.

"You... what?"

Tai nodded. "I know I just started a shit-storm on myself, but I went in, got Willis out, and then I took him to Izzy. They are reunited now."

Matt smiled. "I'm so proud of you. That took a lot of courage."

Tai shook his head. "That wasn't courage. Courage would have never been a homophobe, and telling you right away about that dream I had right then, and telling you how I felt, and-."

"Wait Tai, what dream?"

Tai smiled a little. "Remember back when we were 13 or so, and we had sleepovers all the time?"

Matt nodded.

"I had a dream once basicly that... you kissed me... and it felt amazing. It was like my destiny had been fulfilled."

Matt smiled. "That's funny because, about that time I had the same dream."

Tai smiled. "Maybe it really was meant to be then."

Matt nodded, then sighed. "Tai, I don't want to put any pressure on you at all, but I just want you to know... I do love you. I'm assuming you need time to process everything, but, I'll be here whenever you're ready, if you're ever ready."

Tai smiled, and put his hands on Matt's.

"All I need is to be with you. If you can forgive me. I need you by my side while I confront these feelings, and everything."

Matt kissed Tai. "I'll support you in any way I can."

Tai hung his head. "I don't deserve this."

Matt smiled. "I thought we were past this."

"Seriously Matt... I've done so much."

Matt kissed Tai again. "Yeah, you have. And it's true that you've hurt me pretty bad... and I can't speak for everyone else, but I understand the situation. You were scared."

"That just seems like a cop out to me though, for me to blame it on that. But I know now that it's okay, and that we need to open up people's eyes."

Matt blinked. "You want to join the club?"

Tai smiled. "If you think Izzy will let me."

"Izzy will be THRILLED." He said, as he hugged Tai.

Tai looked at Matt. "Can I stay with you tonight?"

He smiled. "Well yeah, of course you can! But what about your dad?"

Tai looked down. "I don't feel like dealing with any of that tonight. For now, I'm sure he doesn't know yet that I broke out Willis, and he had no idea you were gay, so I'm just going to call and say I'm staying the night here.

So that's what they did, along with making out.

TBC