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Someday My Prince Will Come

Chapter 5

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Before Jack headed out into the frosty morning, he stood in front of his full length mirror and contemplated what to wear. His new jacket seemed inviting, and was begging to be worn. But somehow, it didn't fit with the rest of his clothes. This proved to be quite difficult.

'I'll make it work!' Jack thought determinedly and threw it on over a white shirt. He got into his shoes and gave the mirror a shiny smile.
'Won't work.' He tore it away and tossed it onto the bed. Giving a dejected sigh, Jack got into his normal coat and threw on a scarf. He looked back at the new jacket sadly. 'Maybe another day.'

As he neared the bottom of the stairs, he heard the angry voice of his mother. It was rare to see her very upset. Her parents were arguing again. He rolled his eyes and ambled into the kitchen, quickly reaching for a fruit and heading out the door.

"Jack... " Rang a feminine voice. He groaned and turned around, surprised to see the sad and remorseful eyes of his mother. "Have a good day, okay?"

"Okay." He responded, still astounded.

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As Jack approached the school, recalled the previous day. A heavy sense of dread settled over him like a fog. But he refused to break the semblance he had built. Steeling himself for the day ahead, Jack walked through the double doors of the building.

Almost instantly, a gust of sardonic remarks and giggles saluted him. He ground his teeth and walked on. The gay jokes did him no harm. He knew what he was. He was damned proud of what he was. It was just the accusatory utterances that bothered him.

"Morning queenie." blurted a boy as Jack passed him.

"Morning!" Jack replied cheerfully, giving a small wave. The boy made a derisive noise and continued conversing with the girls around him. Jack rounded a corner and paused in front of the bulletin board. Voices swam around him.

"Get away from him, he's got it."

"What do you mean?"

"He's one of them, remember?"

"Oh yea. We'd better stay away or we'll get it."

An anger began boiling inside Jack and he glowered at the students. Turning the other way, he headed to his first class. Once inside, he saw the stony face of James at the back of the class. 'Oh yea. I sit in front of him.' Jack despaired and trudged over to his seat.

"I heard you got that virus, faggot." Came the admonishing voice as soon as he took his seat.

"I don't." Jack gritted, not bothering to look at the self-certain mug of the senior. He couldn't believe that this closeted freak was using that word with him.

"Where do you get off infecting those who aren't queers?"

Jack stayed silent and opened his notebook.

"You do know that God is doing this to all of you, don't you?" Came the voice again. "He's getting rid of all the wrong-doing people, all the sinners and perverts like you."

Jack's eyes dulled in consideration and he said, "If God thought I was wrong, then he wouldn't have made me the way I am."

The teacher then came in, hushed the class and began instruction. When the hour came to a close, she reminded everyone of the afternoon auditions and sign-up for secondary roles and jobs in the production of the charity play.

"Don't forget!" She said as they exited the classroom. Jack promised himself he wouldn't miss it.

The day pressed on. Jack could only watch as the paranoia of the virus in the school mounted. He himself did not understand the disease or the means by which one becomes infected with it. 'I'll ask Frank or Noah, after the auditions.'

When gym class finally came around, Jack was numb with the austerity that the day gave him. The coach instructed they run a lap. But he could only walk. He completed the lap around the football field, and walked up to the volleyball nets.

"McFarland!" his coach hollered.

Jack rolled his eyes.

"What's so hard about running one lap around the field, ya goddamned sissy?!"

"I don't feel very well." Jack droned, aware that his instructor was not convinced with the lame excuse.

"One more around the field! And if you walk, I'll fail you!" He shouted. Jack growled and walked back down to the track, disregarding the chuckles of his classmates. He knew his teacher was justified, but he could not help but feel completely murderous.

As he jogged around, his mind was focused on a certain hope that had been lingering inside of him ever since he met Will. It was a sensation all too foreign to him. When he regarded love, he usually thought of it as something much too adult and much too serious. But now he was sensing the early signs of it... an attachment to someone.

He wanted to ask someone about what he was feeling, why he had the constant need to be by his friend's side; to guide him and smile at him, telling him it was all right. 'You'll make it Will. You'll learn that its okay to be what you are. You will love it and accept it. And you will be gorgeous.' Jack smiled to himself as he finished the lap.

Out of breath, he looked up at his coach who was still displeased with his lack of participation.

"All right class! We're going to be playing touch football!"

Jack grimaced and kept his distance.

All the boys rushed into the locker room, instantly bursting into sound. Before he went to his locker, Jack paused in front of the mirror, dismayed that the lap around the field had caused him to mess his hair. He ran a hand through it , fingering the locks and inspecting the tips.

'Football is not good for my hair.' He thought, eyes running over the dark strands. He was caught unaware by a smack to the back of his head.

"Ouch!" He griped and whirled around. "What'd you do that for?!"

"Because I felt like it." Said James simply and pushed Jack aside to see the mirror. His friends snickered briefly.

"Shut up." Jack muttered and began to head towards his clothes locker. At once, he was shoved roughly against the tiled wall of the locker room.

"What'd you say?" James sneered.

"I told them to shut up." Jack said defiantly, and sneered back.

"Oh really. Don't you think that was rude?"

"No."

"Come on James, forget the queer, the bell's gonna ring." One of his friends said. James glared Jack up and down.

"Okay let's forget about him..." he smirked. "... somewhere else."

"What?" Jack asked before he was ushered towards a door that lead to a flight of stairs in the back.

The three laughed and crooned as they dragged him down the maintenance staircase, towards the boiler room. All the while he thrashed under their hold, demanding to be let go. He looked up at James, venom in his glare. The senior was indifferent to the demands and the flogging of limbs coming from the dark-haired junior.

"Let me go!" Jack screeched as they hauled him further down the staircase and to the lower regions of the building. Once they reached the lowest level, they pried open the boiler room door and threw him inside. As soon as he hit the ground, the door slammed shut, locking from the outside.

He was up in an instant, pounding on the door, commanding them to release him. "Let me out! James! Let me out!"

Jack heard their laughter and he snarled. "Let me out of here! Open the door!" But soon their voices began to fade up the stairs until he could no longer hear them.

"James?" He called fearfully. "Hello?" Jack tugged at the door-handle, gnawing on his lip as the darkness began to get to him. All he could see was a faint red light coming from the boiler and other soft glows from the machinery in the room. There were no other doors or ways out, and the place was sweltering.

"Hello!" Jack hollered, still yanking the handle. "Hello! Anybody! Help me! Im stuck!" He whimpered in resignation and sank to the ground.

'Im gonna miss the auditions... ' He thought woefully and began ramming his fists into his thighs.

"This isn't fair! This isn't fair!" He kicked at nothing in particular, and began to panic beneath the boding claustrophobia. The boilers stirred for a while and then silenced, leaving him alone with his troubles.

'James... ' Jack thought and felt betrayed. He then scoffed. 'Why feel betrayed? He doesn't want to be... but he is. And this is how he wants to deal with it... by locking it away and hating it.' Jack felt compelled to weep but didn't and continued ramming his fists into his thighs.

"Someone! Hello!" He called again. "Someone!"

'Will. Will, help me.' Jack thought suddenly and brought his fist back down on his thigh. He began losing hope. The temperature was bothering him but he was slightly grateful that he was still in the lax feel of his gym clothes.

"Will... " Jack murmured quietly, and remembered last night. His mouth curled into a small smile. "He was so nice... so nice."

**flashback**

"You know, you can tell me anything Jack." Will said as they stood in front of the house.

"I guess I can." Jack said, holding the shopping bag close. "But Im fine. You don't have to worry."

"I guess not. You can take care of yourself." Will said, lacking conviction.

"I sure can." Jack said proudly.

"No one can deal with their problems alone, though." Will offered.

"Oh, I know. And if I had any problems I'd tell you."

"Uh-huh." the older man uttered skeptically. They were mute for a little while, still not sure when to separate. Will's eyes became restless.

"You know-" Jack began before he was crushed against Will in a tight embrace. Recovering from the shock, Jack relaxed in the arms that were wrapped around his shoulders.

"Don't forget. Im here for you, as much as you are for me." Will said, almost in a promise. Jack nodded quietly and gently broke away from the contact.

"Thanks Will." He said and opened the door to his house. "Good night."

"Good night, Jack." Will smiled warmly and turned to leave.

**end flashback**

The boilers began stirring again and Jack was startled. He wished there was more light so he could see the time on his watch. It felt like hours had passed. He ground his teeth and stood up, more determined.

"Hello!" Jack yelled as loud he could. He pounded on the door with an aching fist. "Hello! Im stuck in here! Someone open the door!"

After several minutes, Jack heard movement. "Hello? Im stuck in here! Could you open the door?"

The heavy door swung open, allowing the light to sting Jack's eyes. An aging janitor looked at him in disbelief.

"Oh thank god!" Jack gasped and acknowledged the janitor. He was up the stairs in a flash, racing up the countless steps towards the locker room. He burst in through the door and grabbed his bag from his locker, praying that he wasn't too late for the auditions.

The drama class and theater were on the other side of the school and he cursed. He raced through the halls, still in his gym uniform and past the now empty classrooms. His feet began to ache and so did his thighs; but he pressed on steadily. Finally he came before the theater, and opened the door.

"Sorry... auditions are over." The voice came from a desk below the stage. Jack recognized his teacher, who was leaning over a stack of papers.

"Ms. Coopman... " Jack managed, breathlessly and closed in on his teacher. She looked at him from behind her glasses.

"Jack. You are too late." She said curtly and sorted through a couple of papers.

"I know I am, but-"

"Im sorry Jack." said Ms. Coopman sternly and returned to her work.

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"Jack. These things are more complicated than you think." Frank said sadly.

"I know. Disease is complicated, but why is this happening? Why can't we control it?"

"Jack-"

"Don't try to explain it to him Frankie, its hopeless." Noah entered the room and collected his newspaper. All three of them sat together in the living room of the apartment.

"I wish I had an answer for you Jackie, I really do. But this is something that all of us are having trouble understanding. You shouldn't worry about it too much. You should be having fun or something, instead of thinking about this disease."

Jack was quiet for a moment and said, "How do you get it? I mean, I know its through sex, but how does sex cause you to get it?"

Frank and Noah exchanged glances. Neither was too inclined about answering Jack's questions.

"Exchanging bodily fluids." Noah said smoothly, opening up the paper.

"Really?" Jack squinted in disbelief.

"It includes blood." Noah continued, studying Jack from behind his newspaper. Frank gave up on the textbook in front of him and stood to leave.

"I need a drink. This topic has got me all depressed." The auburn haired boy said and left.

Jack watched him leave and felt just as depressed.

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'What a shitty day.' Jack thought miserably and opened the door to his house. He walked into the living room and around to the dining room, surprised to find his mother at the table, with a far off look on her face.

"Mom?"

Her eyes met his, and in an instant he knew. His father left. And Jack only had one thought.

'It figures.'

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I missed the auditions today. I hope I can talk to Ms. Coopman tomorrow so she could give me at least a stage crew job. After talking to Noah and Frank for a while I started to understand HIV and AIDS a little more. But they don't know as much about it either. I guess that's why it makes people so angry and afraid, because they don't know anything about it.

I hope I see Will this week. He isn't too busy. I mean he can't really do anything without me. And I can't do too much without him. I keep thinking about him. He's the only thing that makes me feel good, besides Madonna.

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