1979
It is the summer between fifth and sixth grade for Carlton Lassiter. He dad has been holed up in the basement for over the past week. His mom has been busy, constantly in and out, so Carlton hasn't been at home. Old Senora hasn't opened its gates for the summer crowd yet, so he and his best friend Damien like to spend time by the river between their neighborhoods. Damien lives with his grandmother, but the woman doesn't trust easily.
There is an old shack by the river that once was a bait shop. The owners have since moved on and Carlton and Damien use it as their own secret base. They play Secret Agent and climb on a rope swing from a branch just above the shack. The boys are fearless best friends, and they would do anything for one another. Hank Mendel acts as Father Figure for both. Last month, they had created friendship lanyards with their codenames as Hank had given them. Carlton is Binky and Damien is Booger. The boys are shirtless, sitting in the grass behind the shack after a cool swim.
"Damien," Carlton places his hand attentively over his friend's. "I think, I, I think,"
"What happened to 'fearless'?" Damien laughs a little, knowing exactly what his best friend is trying to say.
Carlton blushes but Damien pushes him down a little, pressing their lips together. In an instant, Carlton has his hands around Damien's head and neck. Both boys battle with their tongues, relinquishing the love they had not-too-secretly shared for one another in a heated kiss. Suddenly, they hear a man clearing his throat as he tramples through the woods. Both realize there is only one man it could be, so they hurriedly climb up the side of the shack.
Carlton's dad shows up in record time, shouting at the boys. "Don't think I din't see that, you good-for-nothin' bitch! You ain't no son of mine; now git back 'ere a'fore yer mama gets back!"
"Never!" Carlton can't help but scream. "We're leaving an' never coming back!"
He pushes Damien out of the way, as his dad surprisingly quickly makes his way up. Damien holds out a hand, but Carlton refuses to take it, only wanting his best friend's safety. He instead pushes the swing, so his Damien can swing to safety. Unfortunately, Carlton's dad easily shoves him off the roof and into some thorny bushes. The drunken man easily cuts the rope. Damien falls with a yelp, two yards away from the target but misses the water entirely. The yell is cut short and Carlton is frantic to find his friend, but his dad advances too quickly and Carlton is knocked out cold.
2010
Carlton is starting to lose consciousness, but struggles to glare at his father. He has taken a break from beating on him, but is still staring at him as he smokes. He only has one bottle of Jack left, though Carlton is positive his father knows where his hidden liquor bottles are as well after all, that had been another classic move. Carlton's first taste of alcohol had been when he was four, when he first met Damien. It had been some old bourbon they found in the shack while playing Pirates.
1990
It is March 24th. Carlton is twenty-one. His dad has been missing for over a decade and his mom is pressuring him to marry some rich girl. She has a line of them for him, but he isn't interested. When his father knocked him out those years ago, he had woken up starving two days later, in the basement. His mom had been out-of-touch, not even realizing the difference. It took a lot out of him to escape. When he did, he stayed at the river for a while. He couldn't find Damien, so he adventured to his friend's house. It seems Damien had been missing also and his family had blamed Carlton.
He has had no place to go and had run away. He joined a gang at age fourteen, killed the leader at sixteen and left the gang at seventeen. He is at an excruciatingly low point of his life, turning to a newly opened establishment called the Tom Blair's Pub. He is currently nursing a pink squirrel. He doesn't want to get involved with his baby sister's life, either. Especially since his mother nearly worships her. His sister Lauren is only twelve, rebelling against the coddling and attention her brother never received. When Carlton leaves his post to use the restroom, he is confronted with a familiar face at the sinks.
"Damien?"
"Carlton, you're alive." The man answers with a ghost of a whisper. "Granmama told me you died that day at the river."
Carlton is so bewildered by his grown friend that he doesn't realize the other man has pulled him into a tight hug. When Damien starts to release him, Carlton suddenly comes to. He pulls the man back, grinning madly against his lips. Carlton is now a good foot over Damien and he uses it to his advantage. He easily and eagerly lifts Damien onto one of the sinks and starts undoing his belt as Damien enthusiastically does the same without once breaking the kiss.
Down the street at the local park, Shawn Spencer is feeding some birds at a bench. This is his thirteenth birthday and he knows Gus is ignoring him so he won't spill the beans on Shawn's surprise party. Shawn has stopped attempting to guess where the party is being held but isn't surprised to find one person Gus hadn't invited: Shawn's other closest friend Carlyle.
Carlyle had been riding around on his bike when he noticed Shawn looking glum. His parents had been in another fight this morning and hadn't acknowledged Shawn or his birthday. They had been acting this way for a while now but he refuses to believe they will get a divorce. Carlyle had surprised him by not only stopping but also handing over a small bag and gift box from his basket.
"What's this?" Shawn asks, genuinely surprised.
"Open it." Carlyle speaks softly, as if unsure, before sitting next to him.
Shawn opens the bag first and smiles when he finds a plush pineapple wearing a silly face. He lets out a small laugh and shakes his head, noticing his friend looks a little nervous about the other gift.
"It won't bite me, will it?" Shawn tries to break the tension.
He is unsuccessful, as Carlyle watches him with interest and hesitation. When it looks like Carlyle is about to take the gift back, Shawn starts unwrapping. He ends up with a velvet box and gently opens to reveal an amazing piece of jewelry. It is a silver necklace with the Aries symbol embedded in bloodstone. Shawn carefully removes it from the box without a word, and Carlyle offers to place it on. Shawn readily agrees and Carlyle carefully does so. Shawn grasps the bloodstone, feeling its coolness against the raging fires in his body.
Carlyle moves to face him and timidly leans forward. His lips barely brush against Shawn's, but the birthday boy is hungry for more. He wraps his arms around the gift giver, meticulously kissing every inch of his lips, weaning for an opening. Neither have kissed a boy before and Carlyle has never kissed anyone. He trusts Shawn and allows him to take over.
Back in the bar, the passion is dawning to a close. Both men are out-of-sorts, lying on their backs against the cold bathroom tile. Damien's left shoe is in a toilet and Carlton's vest is hanging off a light fixture. A few patrons have come and gone in the time of their wild romp, but neither cares. They are out of breath and happy about the chance encounter, not daring to call it a regret.
"No offense, but your grandma's a bitch."
Damien laughs at his friend's bluntness. "Yeah, I know. I think it was some fucked up payback from some shit your dad did to her when she was his principal."
"Where the hell you living, Booger?"
"Still with her, Binky." He answers, rolling his eyes at the nickname. "And you?"
Carlton flinches slightly. "I ran off. Old Man left and Ma started drinking. I've been staying with Hank for a while, but I'm on my own for now."
"Damn, man. I wish I woulda known."
"S'fine. Meet at the old shack tomorrow?"
"Noon's cool?"
"Noon's perfect." Carlton answers, pulling Damien in for another kiss.
Out in town, Gus is riding around on his bicycle, searching for Shawn. It took most of the day, but he finally has a party set up at the pre-Grand-Opening of a new frozen yogurt caf . Most of the class is waiting, as well as relatives and the like. Turning thirteen is a big deal as he hears and he wants everything to be perfect for his best friend. As the boy enters the park, he stops dead in his tracks. He pulls up just behind the bench where the boys are lying down with Shawn hovering slightly on the side. They are making out and Gus is disorientated. He drops his bike, alerting the other two boys.
"Hey, Gus." Shawn smiles, sitting up but still holding Carlyle's hand.
"Hi, Gu" Carlyle diffidently adds but is cut off.
"What are you doing with him?" Gus shouts, tearing down the happiness. "You can't kiss other boys, Shawn! It's wrong!"
Carlyle is understandably upset by this. He can't control the tears that suddenly sting in his eyes as he wrenches his hand away from Shawn. In a flash, he is running to his bike. Shawn jumps up, calling after him.
"What's wrong with you, Shawn? This is why I didn't invite him! He's one of those people! You can't be friends with them!"
Carlyle pushes his bike from the mud and starts pedaling. Shawn is already on his trail, crying out of anger for his so-called best friend. He calls out for Carlyle. When he receives no response, he hatefully calls out toward Gus without turning around. He knows Gus is pedaling behind him, to stop him.
"It's wrong, Shawn!"
"It is not, Gus! He is my friend!"
"It's not right!" Gus refuses to lose this conversation.
"It is too!" Shawn screams. "I love him!"
- This explains some things possibly, does it not? I've also just uploaded another chapter of my Psych/Covert Affairs crossover: "Deserted Triangles". Please review and/or reread. -
