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Chapter 36
Two weeks have passed. Nothing had come up. It was true what Jericho said. The boss is gone; he won't come back for a while. Mark and Bill tried everything to find those who work for him. Mark keeps telling himself it will be okay but deep down; he is not sure.
John is looking across the river. He sees Dwayne walking up to him.
"Hey John…"
"Hey…" says John as he keeps looking at the river. Dwayne grabs his hand and makes him look at him.
"John…I know you are hurting" said Dwayne "But I can help you"
"How…?"
"It's been two weeks since you guys divorce. I want to help you"
"Dwayne…"
Dwayne cups his face and kisses John. The younger man didn't kiss back; he kept really still. The rock leans back looking into John's face. He is confused and hurt at the same time. Dwayne kisses him again.
This time John kisses back. John closes his eyes as he goes more into the kiss. Dwayne smiles as he keeps kissing him with passion.
John then gasps; as his eyes are closed he sees Mark. He sees him; he is kissing Mark in his mind."Mark…" whispers John
John leans back with shock. Dwayne eyes widen.
"Did you call me Mark?" ask Dwayne getting angry
"No…I didn't mean to…I'm sorry"
"John…stop…I don't blame you" said Dwayne "Well…I got to go"
Dwayne starts leaving. John runs up to him and stops him.
"Wait…let's go to dinner…"
"Sure…" said Dwayne "At seven…"
Mark is sitting on the bench watching John. Steve is sitting next to him; trying to enjoy the view. He looks at his best friend. Mark notice the Dwayne is holding John's face. He closes his eyes tight as he sees John kiss his true boyfriend, Dwayne. He tries to keep the tears in. Even when they were just married; he loves him.
"Mark…"
"No…John is in love with Dwayne…that's his true love"
"No…Mark…you are"
"No…I'm not…I'm just the idea of true love"
"Don't say that. You love him too"
"Of course I do…but we were just married"
"Doesn't matter Mark…looks at you…you are still hurting"
"Why…haven't you talked to him?"
"Because…I needed to recover better" said Steve "And also he doesn't want to hear anything about you"
"Please…keep trying…" said Mark "I'm starting to lose hope"
"Don't…it will be okay"
Steve hugs Mark tight. He sighs as he gets up to walk. His head down. He looks back to see John whipping his eyes. He wants to hug him; he wants to tell him not to cry. Mark shakes those thoughts and keeps walking. Steve watches his friend go. Steve can tell that Mark is miserable. Steve decides to talk to John.
Dwayne comes in with a smile. He sees a man standing there with a smile.
"Nathan…" he says with a wide smile.
"Dwayne…been a while"
"I know…two weeks right" said Dwayne "What have you been up to?"
"Oh not much…I added some new rims to the truck"
"Sounds good…"
"Yup…I really enjoy the truck. It has great power"
"Yup…it sure does"
"What about you?"
"Oh…I'm going on a date…with John"
Nathan smiles; he knows John is Mark's lover; now he isn't anymore because he is going out with Dwayne.
"Good to hear"
"Yup…at seven I think…" said Dwayne "I don't remember"
"Well…whatever time it is…I bet it will be fun"
"I know it will" said Dwayne "Even though he is still hurting…I can help his heart"
"Well…tell me all about it…when dinner is done"
"I will…"
Nathan starts leaving "See you tomorrow"
Dwayne waves to him. Nathan laughs as he heads to his truck. He looks around town; wondering what to do next. He starts driving off with full speed.
John hears a knock on the door. He goes to answer it. He opens it to see Steve standing on the front door with his crutches.
"Steve…what are you doing here?"
"Hey John…I came to see if you have time to talk" said Steve
"Of course…come in"
He steps aside to let Steve in. Austin takes a few steps until he is standing in front of the couch.
"Please…sit…" said John as he sits across from him.
Steve sits down and takes a deep breath. He doesn't know how to say it. He can't tell him everything; but he wants to tell him to trust Mark.
"Steve…" John gives a questioning look.
"John…I came to talk to you about Mark"
John looks down with hurt. He sighs not wanting to hear his name. He is still fighting through the break up.
"Steve…I don't want to hear anything about him"
"He is hurt…"
John stops as he looks at him with worry.
"John…something terrible happen"
"Is he okay…?" ask John "What was it…was it a car accident? What…?"
"I can't tell you…but something big happen and it is breaking him everyday"
"Well…you have to tell me something"
"John…Mark told me something"
"What did he tell you?"
"I can't tell you John. No matter how much he wants to tell you; neither me nor him can tell you"
"Why not…?"
"He is protecting you"
"What…?"
"He gave up his happiness to protect you. He is living miserable. When he told you that he wants to be with you he is telling the truth"
"Why did he divorce me then" John ask with tears swelling up.
"He didn't want to…"
"Why did he?"
"To protect you"
"From what…?" ask John
Steve stays quiet. He takes John's hand into his. "I can't tell you…but I can tell you one thing"
"What…?"
"He loves you…"
"He…"
"And to trust him"
John looks at the floor.
"He does love you…right now. He is asking if you can trust him"
John shakes his head. Steve holds his hand tighter as he looks at his eyes.
"John…trust him"
"How…?"
"Mark…is fighting everyday…he wants you to trust him; that everything will be okay"
"Steve…what happen?"
"I can't say John…"
John wants to know but when Steve said to trust Mark…he is getting a feeling that Steve is right. Steve gives a nod.
"John…do you trust him?"
"I don't know…"
"Please…have faith in him. He will make things right"
John looks to his side to see the stuff lion there.
"I want to be with you" whispers Mark "I'll never let you go"
"Okay…"
Steve smiles wide as he looks at John.
"Great…awesome…"
Steve gets up and hugs John.
"I'll tell him…" said Steve.
He then whispers "He loves you…don't forget that"
John nods his head in understanding. Steve gets up and starts heading to the door. John smiles a little feeling better now.
"Talk to him…" whispers Steve
John nods.
Steve heads to his car and starts driving. John looks at the time. It is now six-thirty. He goes up to his room to change. He sits down on the couch waiting for Dwayne.
Dwayne hadn't showed up yet. It is now seven-thirty. John is about to give up until he heard a honk. He goes to the window to see him driving up. He honks again. John rolls his eyes and runs to the truck.
"John…how are you?" ask Dwayne
"I'm good…"
Dwayne leans in to kiss his cheek but John leans away from him. Dwayne shrugs his shoulders. John stays quiet for a little while.
"He is asking you to trust him" said Steve
John looks at Dwayne is concentrating on the road. He looks back out the window.
"He loves you…John"
He blinks a few times. He looks at the sky.
"I want to be with you…" whispers Mark
John tries to shake those thoughts away but they keep coming back. Dwayne notices and grabs his hand.
"Is everything okay?" ask Dwayne
"Um…" John shakes his head "Oh no…nothing is wrong"
"You've been moving around nervously"
"I'm just…It's that…I don't think I'm ready to go on a date"
"But you invited me"
"I know…but I don't want to do this anymore"
"John…please…"
"Oh…okay"
John looks out the window again.
"He will make things right"
John looks straight towards the road.
"Have faith in him"
John decides to go with the flow today. He wants to talk to Mark now. Steve told him that something bad happen; maybe Mark can tell him.
Dwayne and John are already eating their dinner. John didn't say much; lots of things are going around his mind. Especially about what Steve said.
Steve is Marks' best friend; maybe he knows something. John should listen to Steve. John looks at the time. He then sighs.
Dwayne and John had a good time but John didn't put much effort. He gets distracted real easy. He tries to listen to Dwayne but he keeps getting his head in the clouds.
Dwayne drives around town. John keeps looking out the window. Dwayne tries to lock his fingers with John's but John pull's his hand back. It is getting dark. Dwayne parks in front of John's house.
John looks at Dwayne with a small smile.
"Thank you…" said John
"No…problem…" said Dwayne "Um…can we go out again?"
"Sure…I'll text you"
Dwayne nods "John…I love you"
John gives a simple nod. He doesn't say anything back. Dwayne says his goodbye and leaves. Cena looks at the truck drive away. He had a lot on his mind.
John stares at the moon. It is bright; a big beautiful full moon. He looks at the stars. The sky is dark; nothing but beautiful stars. The sky is beautiful no matter what.
"My sky" Mark whispers
John blinks a few times. He walks inside and goes to his room. He lays down and goes to deep sleep.
More to come ...
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