Chapter Five: But It's Better If You Do
Andrew
"What are we supposed to do for an hour?" Marco asked. How can he be so naïve?
"Make out. What else?" I answered.
"Um…sorry, but I don't do that with people I've just met…" he trailed off. He was so cute.
"So you are gay," Remy declared.
"Yeah..."
"Well, you would have yelled or made a face or something when you heard the phrase 'make out' referring to four guys…if you were straight, that is," I said.
"Single?" Rory asked him.
"Yep." He sighed. Poor Marco. He looked heartbroken.
"I'm sorry," I said.
"No, don't worry about it. I'm moving on. I'm here to meet new people!" he declared, suddenly ecstatic.
"Oh we all are, trust me," I told him somewhat truthfully.
Marco
When he said that, I saw the look of longing on Rory's face. Probably in love with his best friend. Poor guy. Within seconds, we arrived at an empty compartment.
"So…" I trailed off, not sure what to say. I'm not very good at this new people thing.
"Well, this is me and Andrew's compartment," Rory said, gesturing at the room.
"It's nice…" I said. Nice? Who says that? I saw that there were band posters all over the walls. The Killers, Fall Out Boy, Bayside, Panic! At The Disco, and Franz Ferdinand, to name a few. Who decorates their compartment that they're going to spend less than twenty four hours in?
"Yeah, thanks," Andrew said.
"Where's your roommate?" I asked Remy.
"Don't have one. People seem to avoid me. After our first year here anyway," he said, sitting down on the bottom bunk. Andrew sat next to him and Rory took the floor, sprawling across it. I suppressed a laugh as I sat in the only remaining seat…the chair in the corner.
"Why?" I asked.
I watched Rory, Remy, and Andrew exchange furtive glances.
"Well…" Remy said, avoiding an explanation.
"Basically, he created a big uproar amongst the entire school," Rory said.
"How'd he do that?" I asked. I was curious now.
"Let's just say that I experimented quite a bit that year," he said, still not wanting to explain further.
"Quite a bit being an understatement," Andrew interjected. "He jumped back and forth from guy to girl. Probably spent a night with about seventy-five percent of the gay community here, myself included." He paused, smiling, while I watched Rory glare from the floor.
"Whore," he coughed out at Andrew.
"And proud of it," Andrew replied before continuing. "Anyway, by the time he decided he was straight, all of the gay people hated him and most of the straight ones did too. They didn't like his little travels to the 'other side' as they called it. So, we're the only ones he has left. I mean, you can't blame him, with two gay brothers and all. But, it's not our fault either."
"You're all brothers?" I asked. Andrew didn't look a thing like them.
"We were adopted," Rory and Remy said at the same time.
"Oh. Well what I don't understand is why all of the gay guys would hate him. A lot of people need to experiment and, um, some sleep…around before the find the right person," I said.
"Not in Remy's case. He told them all he loved them," Rory said, smirking.
"What is wrong with you?" I asked him, partly joking, partly serious. I laughed a little so I didn't make him uncomfortable. "No one should say 'I love you' to anyone, gay or straight, unless they actually mean it. That's like the unspoken rule."
"But it's better if you do," he said, grinning. "If you say it, I mean."
"What's better?"
"The sex. What else?" he asked.
"You talk about it a little more openly than any straight guy would," I pointed out.
"Yeah, we're still confused about him," Andrew said, pretending to whisper. "And if we're confused, then he has to be."
"Shut up Andrew. I have a girlfriend."
"Like that proves anything," Rory said.
Jesse
Where is Marco? I've been looking for a half hour, without the help of my wonderful friends. Thomas and Rex went off for a few more cigarettes, and Nate just wandered off. I've been knocking on compartment doors (and bathroom ones) in search of him.
Why do I care so much? A better question would be: why do I care so much about a straight guy? I'm not even sure. I have a boyfriend who loves me. Yeah, right.
"Marco?" I yelled out to the eight hundredth door with no response. Okay, so I'm exaggerating. But I can't help it.
After another half hour of searching, I finally gave up and sat down in my seat. He had to turn up. It's not like he jumped off the train.
Rory
That Marco kid sure is hanging over Andrew a lot. I hate how much of a whore Andrew is. But I love him. He doesn't know that because he doesn't open his eyes and pay attention to what's going on around him. Not unless it has something to do with sex.
"Marco, do you wanna come sit with us?" I asked. Why did I just invite him? Okay, it's not his fault that Andrew is so charming. I shouldn't hold it against him. It just kills me that Andrew is showing interest in him.
"Sure," Marco answered. I sighed and led the way out of the compartment and over to the seating area.
Remy
Poor Rory. He's so hopelessly in love with Andrew, but Andrew doesn't see it. And now he's hanging all over Marco. Well, who could blame him? Marco's cute.
Okay, snap out of it! You're straight Remy!
I guess all my time spent with guys really makes me appreciate them more. And look at them more. But I definitely like sex with girls way better.
I snapped out of my thoughts when I realized Andrew was waving his hands in my face.
"They really need movies on this train," Marco said suddenly.
"Trust me, you wouldn't want to watch the crap they'd pick out," Andrew said, leaning closer to him.
I watched him slowly move his arm so that it was leaning against Marco's. Rory must have seen too. Because he stormed off to the bathroom.
"What's his problem?" Andrew asked, turning around to look in the direction Rory ran off in.
"Maybe he's sick," Marco said, shrugging.
Yeah, sick of seeing you two hang over each other.
"Yeah, maybe," I said, leaning back against my seat and closing my eyes.
Rex
"Oh man, I need another cigarette," I said to Thomas, rubbing my eyes.
"Tired much?" he asked, observing me.
"Just a little."
"What, did you stay out all night?" he asked.
"I'm sure Nate already told you," I replied, holding my hand out.
"That's your last one," he said, handing me my fifth cigarette. "And no, he didn't tell me."
"Forget about it," I said, lighting the cigarette and taking a long drag.
"Don't hurt him Rex," Thomas said seriously.
"Who?"
"Jesse."
An awkward silence followed. I quickly finished my cigarette and turned to leave.
"See ya at school later," I said before walking away.
I found Jesse sitting alone in a seat, staring out the window.
"Hey babe," I said, kissing him on the cheek. I put my hand on his but he just kept staring out the window.
"You're not supposed to be here right now," he said coldly.
"What's wrong with you? I just thought I'd spend some time with you before we got to school. I probably won't see you tonight," I said.
"Yeah. Sure."
"Look, do you want to go sneak into a compartment? I could probably pick a lock. No one would notice. We could have some time alone," I suggested, moving my hand down to his leg.
Jesse
"No thanks, I don't feel very good right now," I said. He thinks he can win me over with a little sweet talk? Yeah right.
"Please Donny," he said, using his other hand to turn my face towards him. He was pouting. I hate it when he pouts like that. A smile crept up on my face.
"Okay," I said, shrugging. Yeah, I give in way too easily. I love Rex.
"Let's go," he said, standing up and grabbing my hand. I followed him, as always.
I really wish I could find Marco though.
Lindsey
I woke up in the nurse's compartment, with my face hurting like hell. I sat up slowly, wincing. Somewhere during the fight, Thomas must have punched me in the ribs. I pulled my shirt up to see a nasty looking bruise.
"Damn, I'm good," I heard a familiar voice say from the doorway.
"Get out of here Thomas," I said through gritted teeth. He had some nerve coming here.
"Look, I came to say I'm sorry. I just don't take shit from anyone. Never lay a hand on me. It's my number one rule," he said, sitting in the chair by my bed.
"That didn't give you any right to beat the crap out of me. You could have given me a fair warning," I pointed out, slowly lying back down.
"I don't believe in warnings. I was never given one," he said. That confused me.
"What do you mean?" I asked, curious.
Instead of answering me, Thomas stood up and pulled his shirt up. I gasped. It was much worse than mine. Nearly his entire stomach and chest was black and blue. He turned around to reveal even more bruises on his back.
"Trust me; I know how it feels to have the crap beat out of you. That's why I don't take shit from anyone. At least not when I can do something about it," he said.
"Who did that to you?" I asked, shocked.
"Don't worry about it. And don't mention it to anyone either. Got it?" he asked.
"Yeah, sure. I won't tell anyone. Well, I've got to say that I've never gotten the crap beat out of me before. In a way, I respect you for it. Everyone else I've ever known has been too afraid of me to try," I said.
"I'm having a hard time picturing that," he said, grinning.
"Don't start again Thomas," I groaned, closing my eyes.
"Well, are we cool?" he asked, standing up.
"Yeah, we're cool," I agreed.
Nate
I sat in on the edge of the sink in the bathroom, wondering what to do next. I was craving them. I couldn't help it.
I reached in my pocket, pulling a bottle out.
I'll just take one this time. Then that's it for awhile.
I popped one in my mouth and swallowed. After waiting a few minutes, I decided that wasn't enough.
Two more. That's it.
I popped them in my mouth, swallowed, then left the bathroom to find my friends.
Marco
Andrew was going on and on about himself, so I just tuned him out a little. He really was so cute. I think I might like him already.
I started thinking about what Remy said earlier. 'But it's better if you do.'
I wonder if Dylan told me he loved me for that reason and that reason only. It makes sense.
Remy's right. When someone breathes out 'I love you' in the middle of hot, steamy sex, it makes the mood so much better. But that's because you think the person actually means it.
Why am I even thinking about Dylan right now? He's such an ass. I hate him.
I turned back to Andrew, soaking in everything he said, and forgetting all about the people I met earlier.
A/N: The title for the chapter comes from a song on the Panic! At The Disco CD...then I made it actually fit with what Remy was talking about. Hope you liked this chapter. It was really just to introduce Andrew, Remy, and Rory a little better and to show Thomas' little secret that Lindsey now knows (well, half-knows). Also keep in mind that Rex has a secret of his own…Let me know if there are any specific couples you'd like to see more of.
Azure: Thank you for your super long reviews! I love them! One question though...in your review for chapter 4, you said something about Marco instantly being attracted to Michael...but there is no Michael. Did you mean Andrew? I'm the writer here and you're confusing me lol. I'm glad you like my characters. :)
Qtpye: Thanks for once again being one of my loyal reviewers!
Gypsy Prince: Sorry if you don't like the POV thing changing all the time, but I won't be changing it. I'm on my 15th chapter in word and I'm not changing it now. Hopefully you'll still like the story though and keep reviewing. Thanks!
