Troy's Point of View:
I woke up the next morning, my face still swollen from the previous night. I tried to sit up but the pain in my stomach was intense so I decided to lay back down. I heard a small knock on the door.
"Come in." My voice sounding feint and helpless.
My mom appeared before me as she removed my blanket and shirt. She had made an ice-pack in which she laid across my bruised stomach; the chill of ice made me twitch. She spoke.
"You're lucky your ribs aren't broken. Sometimes I never understand your father. He still loves you. You know that right?" My mom's voice was calm with worry embedded in the words.
"He has a funny way of showing it." I managed to say before I was cut off by a cough; the action sent pain towards my stomach. I groaned.
"Troy, he just needs some time to adjust. That's all. But for right now, I think it's best you go and stay with a friend. Do you have anybody in particular in mind?" Her voice sounding a bit more cheerful.
Ryan...
"Ryan." My voice was still weak.
"Oh, I don't think that's a good idea. I think he's the problem." My mom stated firmly.
I quickly got up, ignoring the pain in my stomach; my eyes filled with fury.
"He's not the problem. I think you and dad are the problem! You always blame it on someone else when really it's all your fault. Don't you guys ever consider my feelings? Didn't ever come across your minds that I'm still your son? The same son you raised and cared for since he was a baby?! I can't believe this!" I felt myself becoming weak as I yelled my heart out. I plopped back on the bed with my face buried in a pillow; small sobs were coming from my mother.
"Troy, you don't know how difficult this is. We just need time. All we ask of you is a little patience." I heard her walking towards the door. "But I guess even a simple request such as that is too much for you." She closed the door with a small shut as a wave of guilt fell upon me.
"Oh great." I said before I dug my face into my pillow and screamed as loud as I could; the sound being muffled by the closest thing I have to holding Ryan...
Ryan's Point of View:
I woke up the next morning feeling a bit more cheerful than when I usually wake up.
Probably because I dreamt of Troy.
I got up and shuffled along to do my morning routine: brushing my teeth, washing my face, call Troy. After a good cleansing, I walked out of the bathroom to check my cell phone. No missed calls. No new messages. I looked a bit frazzled but I shook it off. Troy must still be sleeping but just to be sure.
I dialed his number, it rang about six times before going to voicemail. Troy's familiar voice rang through the receiver.
"Hey, it's Troy. I'm sorry I can't come to the phone right now but leave a message and I'll be sure to call you back. Maybe." And then a small beep.
"Hey Troy, it's Ryan. I was just wondering what you were doing. And if you wanted to do anything later? My treat. I love you." I hung up and placed my phone back on the bedside table.
I hope he calls back soon...
Troy's Point of View:
I heard my phone ringing as I woke up but by the time I was able to get up and answer it, the phone stopped ringing. Instead, someone left me a voicemail message. I clicked open and listened. A voice I knew too well started playing.
"Hey Troy, it's Ryan. I was just wondering what you were doing. And if you wanted to do anything later? My treat. I love you."
I hung up and felt tears stinging my eyes.
Ryan. What I was going to tell him? I don't want him to be mad at me if I don't call him back. Man, this is so hard. I'll think of something.
I recalled my mom saying that I shouldn't stay with Ryan so I thought of the next best person.
Chad.
I dialed his number quickly as I got up and started to get dressed. I heard three rings and had gotten a fresh shirt on when someone picked up.
"Hello?" Chad sounded a bit tired but courteous.
"Hey Chad. Is it possible if I can stay with you for a few days?." I rushed as put on a new pair of jeans.
"Yeah, my parents don't mind. They're gone for a week or so. Some business seminar or something like that. What's the occasion?" I heard Chad yawn as I had gotten my socks on.
"It's a long story. But I'll explain when I get there okay?" I slipped into my shoes and swung my duffle bag full of clothes over my shoulder. My mom always packed way more than I really need.
"Alright. See you in a bit man." I hung up and rushed out of my room...
Chad's Point of View:
I got Troy exactly where I want him. It was a bit over the top on myself for coming out to him in a melodramatic way a few weeks ago but I got him. Everything is going according to plan. I'm too intelligent. Why do I even attend East High? Oh yeah, Troy.
I couldn't help but smile at myself for forming such a devious plan. As soon as I heard Troy hang up, the plan was officially back on.
"Now there's nothing that can stop Troy from what's about to happen. Now, I have to wait." I ran up to my room and started to dress up and prepare for Troy's arrival.
"All I have to do is play the sympathetic card until I get Troy in the sack. I love when things go my way." I snickered as I heard the sound of the doorbell ringing.
Perfect.
I headed back downstairs to answer the door, an unsuspecting Troy waiting on the other side..
Troy's Point of View:
I saw Chad's usual poofy head of hair stick out of the door as he opened it wide. I walked in and dropped my bag as I turned to face him.
"Thank you so much." I couldn't help but extend my arms out as I hugged Chad tightly. I could smell his cologne leaking from his clothing.
"You're welcome Troy. You seem a bit tired, why not get some rest?" I felt Chad pat my back comfortingly as I slowly pulled away from him.
"Yeah, I really am. I thought you wanted to hear what happened though." My voice filled with concern as I picked up my bag from the hardwood floor.
"No, it's alright. You need your rest. C'mon." He grabbed my wrist as he we went upstairs to his room. As we walked in, my eyes caught site of his bed as I dropped my bag and plopped my self on to it. Faint odors were flowing into my nostrils.
I heard the door close as Chad came over and sat next to my tired body. I was too tired to lift my head up.
"Are you sure you don't want to just go to bed? It's fine." Chad said kindly. He was so polite, when he wasn't such an ass like he is with the other members of the team.
"I kind of can't get to sleep. I have so much stuff running through my mind." I turned my head sideways so my words weren't so feint. "I don't understand Chad. These feelings, I'm gay I know but sometimes I feel like it could be just a phase. And then when I see Ryan, all those thoughts of doubting myself seem to disappear." I smiled. Chad was listening a bit intently.
"I swear, sometimes, when I'm with him, he makes me feel like I could fly. Whenever he talks to me, he talks to me and always made sure that I was okay. Whenever he kisses me, my heart starts to beat faster than even those drills we do during basketball season. And when he says 'I love you,' I knew that there was going to be nothing that's going to stop us." I looked at Chad. "As corny as it sounds, I can't help but admit it to myself. I love Ryan Evans."
I scratched my head a little as I saw Chad's expression change from concentrated to an emotion far from it. I've never seen him like this before. His eyes which were always a soft, brown color looked like they were now a dim shade of gray. Even his usually poofy hair seemed to be deflating slowly so that it was covering his ears. What killed me most was how I couldn't find anyway to comfort him.
"I'm sorry Chad. I shouldn't be bragging knowing that you're still single. But I'm sure that one day, you'll find that special boy for you. And just like you, I'll be there when that time comes. And I'll stick by your side no matter what. Just like you're doing for me now. Brothers to the end." I hoped I was able to help Chad find solace at these words of love and nurture. I saw a small smile forming on his lips.
"There's the Chad I've always known and loved." I said as I scooted closer to him and patted him lightly on his poofy hair. He cleared his throat before speaking.
"Thanks Troy. I never knew I meant so much to you. I just wasn't thinking straight." As he said this, we looked at each other for a few seconds and then burst out laughing.
"You said your first gay joke. Congratulations." I exclaimed. Our laughs continued for a few moments as we caught our breaths and got comfortable again, the silence making it's return. Chad reached over and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"You look pretty stressed. Want me to give you a massage?" I couldn't reject his offer. After coming out and dealing with my parents, I needed to relax.
"Sure, but go easy. I'm kind of sore." I didn't want to tell him just yet about the incident that happened the previous night.
"Alright, just lay still and relax." I started to relax my body as Chad climbed on top of me.
Chad's Point of View:
I climbed on Troy's back and started to work my hands through his shirt. I gently started applying pressure to his lower back.
"Is this okay?" I asked politely. Troy moaned a little.
I guess that meant continue.
As I slowly started to work Troy's back, I never realized how fit and strong Troy's physique really was. I could feel his back muscles slowly begin to relax as I continued to apply careful pressure.
"Oh Chad, thank you so much for this." I was up to his shoulder as I rubbed small circles around his shoulder blades. "Mmm, that feels so good."
I felt my erection start to grow through my basketball shorts at the sounds of pleasure that I was giving Troy. I readjusted myself so he wouldn't be able to feel it. I started to sweat profusely, the way I always did when I got too nervous.
God, I thought I had this situation under control but now...
"Chad?" Troy's voice caught me off guard as I continued to apply more pressure.
"Uh, yeah?" I said sounding calm, even though fear was definitely running through my mind.
"Are you..." Troy paused as he thought of something. "...excited?"
I had then realized that my erection was at full length and I couldn't hide it any more.
Troy must've felt it when I readjusted myself. Crap!
"Umm." My voice fell short.
"Chad?" I felt him start to squirm under me. I quickly got off and sat on the edge of the bed, thinking about what I had planned to do. Guilt started to run through me. Even though my back was towards him, I could sense that he was staring at me, waiting for a response.
"Troy..." I gulped loudly. "I love you."
I waited for a response. "I love you too Chad."
"No Troy. I meant I'm IN love with you." I turned around to face him. His soft, blue eyes staring back at me in worry broke my heart to see. My erection was long gone at this point as I fought my tears back. I continued.
"Ever since I could remember, I've had feelings for you. All my past relationships felt so empty and unreal. But whenever I'm around you, I feel this strange urge. The urge to just kiss you and hold you and keep you close." I scratched my head in frustration as I searched for the words inside my head. "I love you Troy. And earlier, when you were talking about Ryan being this guy who turns your whole world upside down, made me feel like I was worthless. You only started talking to him a few weeks ago. But you've known me all your life." I couldn't hold my tears back anymore. I felt them flow down my cheek as I sniffled. I didn't bother to wipe my face. Troy's eyes were still on me, fixed in an emotion between worry, sadness, and for some reason, love.
"I thought that one day, when I admitted these feelings for you, you'd show those emotions right back and we could be together. But instead, you betrayed me, and picked some boy. I don't know what to do anymore. Ever since that night, when I came over, I thought that would be the day when I confessed those feelings, but after spying on you and Ryan and realizing that you and him were for real, my heart shattered. " I looked at him dead on, my eyes feeling swollen from massive amounts of tears.
"It shattered Troy. Into a million, little pieces. I started to think to myself. 'If I can't have you as a lover, then I know I couldn't go on in this world, knowing that you'd be hand-in-hand with someone like Ryan Evans. That little prick who probably never held a basketball in his life."
I took a moment to breathe as I sat back down on the edge of the bed, the corner farthest from Troy. A deep silence could be felt between us. I broke it.
"Now I know, we could never be together. You found yours. I don't know if I'll ever find someone for me." My last words were filled with sadness. I continued to silently tear until I felt Troy get up and sit next to me. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders as he pulled me in closer.
"I'm sorry Chad. I didn't know you felt that way for me. If it wasn't for Ryan, then you know you'd be my first choice." He whispered into my ear. I wiped my tears once more.
"Really?" I managed to say.
"Really. And don't think that you'll be single for the rest of your life. Somewhere out there, there will be a boy, no, a man waiting for you. And all you need is patience. And in time, you'll find someone who will love you for just being you. I promise you that. So don't think that I'm not thinking about you because I am. I'll always love you Chad. And even if I'm not IN love with you, you're one of the very few people I hold close to my heart." Troy's words seem to fill a void inside me. I never realized how selfish I was to try and have sex with my best friend just to think that he might fall in love with me. I felt like the worst person in the world right now for even having someone like Troy in my life. I looked up at him and gave him a small smile.
"Thanks Troy." I felt him pull me in tighter as I looked into those deep, blue eyes. I couldn't help to ask but I went with my instincts.
"Troy? What it's like to kiss another boy?" I asked meekly.
"Well, I don't know. It feels right. Like you never want it to end." Troy replied, smiling as well.
"Can you show me?" I started to inch slowly towards him as I closed my eyes. Before I knew it, our lips were touching each other's. I felt his hand lift from my shoulder as Troy lifted my head up, deepening the kiss. A surge of happiness ran through my veins. After a few seconds of this most enjoyable moment, I felt him start to pull away as I slowly opened my eyes. I smiled.
"That was amazing." I put a small finger towards my lips as I realized what had happened. I looked at the expression on Troy's face. It was rather blank.
Oh my god, did I do something wrong? I hope he's not mad at me. God, I'm such an idiot!
I looked back at him and saw that he too was smiling. I giggled lightly.
"What's so funny? He asked.
"for a second, I thought you were going to be angry. But by the looks of it, you don't seem it." I started to fidget with my fingers.
"Just think of it as a favor." Troy said as he went back to lay down in the center of my bed. He pulled the covers over himself.
"What about Ryan?" I asked; hoping I didn't come off too bluntly.
"It's okay. It's really no big deal." Troy patted a spot next to him; signaling me to come over.
I got up from the edge of the bed as I crawled under to covers with Troy. He brought me in closer as I wrapped my arms around his stomach. I laid my face against his chest, I could hear the sound of his heartbeat, beating softly in smooth rhythms. I looked up at him as he stared back down at me. I whispered.
"Thank you Troy. For everything." He started to caress my head as he planted a small kiss on my forehead. I kissed him back on the cheek as I laid my head back down on his chest.
"Anytime Chad. I love you."
"I love you too. But this time, as a really close friend." We both giggled softly.
"Thanks for being there for me." I continued to listen to his heart beating softly as we both drifted off into a loving, caring slumber. A final thought drifting through my mind.
Brothers. Always & forever...
A/N: I cried as I was writing this chapter.
On a happier note...
This is by far the longest chapter. I want to thank all my readers as well as new fans for reviewing and adding this story to your favorites. I couldn't ask for more. :)
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