Adam was surprised that Guy pushed him away, and didn't think much of it. Instead, he followed him outside.
"Guy, come inside, it's raining."
"Fuck you Adam. Fuck you. If it weren't for you Connie would still be here," Guy yelled.
Adam stopped. Since when did this turn into Guy against Adam?
"Guy," he said.
"Just, leave me alone Adam," Guy said, leaning against a tree, "And go back inside, you'll get sick."
Adam knew right then, that Guy just needed time to himself. He wouldn't of been looking for Adam if that weren't true.
So Adam nodded and walked back inside. Mrs. Moreau was ready with a towel.
"Is he coming back inside?" she asked, as she wrapped the towel around Adam's shoulder.
"He will, eventually," Adam smiled a 'thank you', and took a seat by a window.
He watched Guy break down into tears, and fall to his knees, in the cold April rain. He wanted to run out to him, and pull him into his arms, much like he did for himself when Adam broke down on the ice, years ago. But Adam knew Guy, and that he would calm down.
Julie ventured over to Adam, and placed a friendly hand on his shoulder, "Adam, he'll come around."
"I'm not worried about that," Adam said, never taking his gaze off of his boyfriend.
"Someone wants to apologize," Julie said softly.
Adam turned to look at Julie, and then just past her, and back at the window when he saw who wanted to say sorry, "I'm not talking to him."
"Charlie really wants to talk."
"No."
"Adam, please," Charlie stepped forward.
"Haven't you caused enough trouble? We're supposed to be remembering Connie here, not fighting over past lost battles," Adam sighed.
"I shouldn't have said what I said. I shouldn't have brought you into it."
"You shouldn't have said anything."
"I'm jealous Adam, can't you see that? I'm jealous that he has you, and I don't. And I hate myself for screwing up the only thing I ever truly had," Charlie whispered harshly.
Adam was quiet. Why was he listening to this?
"I was so angry with myself when you got hurt. Not because I felt responsible, but because I was a shitty friend and boyfriend. Because I believed that since you'd be out of play, that all the pressure to win would be on me, and that I couldn't handle that. And I wanted to be as far away from you as possible. I wasn't thinking when I broke it off with you, all I could think of was the pressure on me to be the best, and I was angry at you. I was angry that you got hurt and left me with that."
Adam continued staring outside, though, he was frowning now.
"I didn't realize it till it was to late, and I told Guy. I told him why I left you and what happened."
Adam turned to look at Charlie.
"I don't know what happened between you and Guy, but Adam, I love you. You're my best friend, and I can't," Charlie paused to regain his composure that he was quickly losing, "These past two years have been the worst of my life. I can't close my eyes without seeing what I saw when I walked in your dorm room two years ago."
"I can't change that," Adam whispered.
"I'm not asking you to do that. I'm asking for a change in the future."
"I'm not breaking up with Guy for you."
Charlie looked down at his feet. That was what he wanted, and with Adam right out saying no, he didn't know what else to say.
"Can you accept that I'm sorry?" he asked.
Adam looked outside at Guy, who hadn't moved from his crouching position in over twenty minutes.
"Apology accepted," Adam said, with a tone clearly indicating that Charlie was dismissed.
"Guy, are you going to come back inside?" Julie had come out with a cup of hot chocolate.
Guy looked up at Julie and looked at the cup she held in her hand.
"I don't drink coffee," was all he said.
"I know. Adam told me. It's hot chocolate," she held it out.
Guy took it, but didn't take a sip.
"What's wrong?" she kneeled in front of him.
"I just can't help but think that if I never helped Adam with hockey, if I never got involved with him, that things between me and Connie would've been different. I don't know if we'd of been together, but this, her," Guy looked at the ground, "She would still be here."
"You can't go back and change the past."
Guy looked up from his hot chocolate, that had turned warm in the cold rain, and took a good look at Julie. Her and Connie had been best friends throughout high school.
"Tell me Julie, did she talk about me senior year?"
"You don't want to know," Julie stood up, taking the cover of the umbrella with her.
"Dammit Julie," Guy stood as well.
Julie looked back at the house she spent so much time in during her high school years, and she saw Adam peering through a window.
"All the time," she said softly, before turning to look at Guy, "She adored you Guy, and every day she beat herself up over the fact that she pushed you away. She watched you, and every night she'd tell me if she noticed anything new. And she was always asking others about you. And piece by piece, she put it together."
Guy never knew any of this, he had been so consumed in Adam.
"She told me, but no one else. She was so smart, so attuned to you."
Guy wiped at his eyes, though he wasn't quite sure if it were tears or the rain.
"I wish I had known."
"Guy - you can't change the way you felt - you can't hold yourself responsible for what happehened. It's not your fault that you moved on after Connie, yet she never moved on after you. And you, you've found someone who is so good to you. Don't push him away. He loves you more than life, I can see it in his eyes," Julie looked back at Adam.
Guy followed her gaze, and bit his lip. He and Julie turned to look at each other, and he whispered, "I love him Jules."
"I know Guy. Don't ever feel likes it's wrong for loving him."
Guy smiled from ear to ear, "He's a great person."
"I believe you. It's cold, can we go inside?" Julie crossed her chest with her free arm and rubbed at her other arm.
"Want my jacket?" Guy offered, ever still the gentlemen.
"Umm, it's soaked, no thanks," Julie trotted ahead back to the front door.
Guy laughed when Julie stepped in a huge puddle and screeched. He stopped and looked up at the window where Adam was sitting, except he was now standing, fingertips touching the glass.
He grinned up at Adam and jogged for the door.
Adam was waiting at the door for Guy with open arms, and Guy flew right into them.
"I'm sorry Adam, I'm so sorry," Guy apologized.
"It's okay, really, I understand. Today's been a long day," Adam kissed his forehead.
"I just wanna take a hot shower and go to bed."
"We can leave if you want," Adam offered.
Guy nodded and took Adam's hand, and set off in search of Connie's parents.
"Ahh, Guy, Adam, everything alright?"
Adam nodded and Guy smiled.
"We're gonna get going though," Guy added.
"I understand. Listen boys, take it easy, and don't be strangers. Our door is always open," Mrs. Moreau gave a half-hearted smile, kissing both boys on the cheek.
"Thank you," Guy smiled.
"Yea, thank you Mr and Mrs. Moreau," Adam added, and the two set off to find Adam's parents. They had arrived with Adam's parents, and were asking to borrow the car to go home.
"Sure, son, we'll fetch a ride home with the Hall's."
"Thanks Dad," Adam took the keys and smiled.
Aside from the current situation, life was good. His parents, originally opposed to the thought of their youngest son being a homosexual, realized that no matter what, Adam was still Adam. Nothing changed except who he brought home for dinner. And they couldn't have asked for a better boyfriend for their son than Guy.
The ride home was short but quiet. Neither of the boys talked, they didn't know what to say. Adam could see that Guy was deep in thought, looking out the window, so Adam decided just to concentrate on driving through the rain.
When they arrived at Adam's, they both kicked off their wet shoes in the foyer, making a mental note to deal with them later.
"I'm so going to take a long hot shower," Guy said, heading towards the stairs.
"I think I'm gonna get something to eat," Adam headed towards the kitchen.
"No, you need to get dry and in dry clothes, you'll get sick," Guy pulled on his arm before he got out of reach, "That means you're coming with me," and he dragged him up the stairs behind his own water logged body.