Love on Trial
Chapter 18
I woke up the next morning in a strange mood. I know it doesn’t sound right, but I felt good about
things. So much had happened over the past two weeks, that it didn’t feel right to be happy- but I was.
Jason and I were back together and our friendship seemed even stronger than it had ever been.
When he was having nightmares the night before, I was the one person who was able to comfort him.
It made the past twelve years seem like they had all come together for that one night. He needed me,
and I was there for him when he was experiencing one of the worst days of his life.
When I was lying by his side holding him, I had a brief dream. I dreamt that we were both old men and
we had been best friends for what seemed like seventy years. It was strange seeing us with gray hair
and wrinkled bodies. Both of us were alone in life and he was suffering from some old person’s
ailment- like rheumatism. When he cried out in pain, I crawled into bed and comforted him.
When I awoke, it was like some revelation. Jason and I would always be together throughout our
lives. Even though we would travel different paths, we would still be there for one another when we
were needed the most.
I read somewhere that a person can count their true friends with the fingers on one hand. I could
count mine with just my index finger. No matter who I shared my life with, whether it be Chris or other
men who might later come into my life, I know that Jason will always be there for me. When I whispered
in his ear the night before that I loved him, I know that I will never mean it to anyone more than I did
him last night.
Love suddenly had a different meaning to me- pure and innocent. I didn’t have to kiss him
passionately or satisfy him sexually to show I loved him. I had reserved a special place in my heart for
him, and I know he had done the same for me. I know that no matter how many times our love is be put
on trial, it will always endure and be stronger as a result.
I visited him at the hospital early in the afternoon where he had been placed in a private room. He was
propped up on a pillow watching television with his mother when I entered. I expected to see him with
tubes still running into his body, but he appeared to be looking much better. His face seemed pale,
but other than that, it wasn’t immediately apparent that he had been involved in a brutal assault the day
before.
“Hey, Asswipe,” he said with a grin when I entered. His mother gave him a dirty look, but she didn’t say
anything. I guess she couldn’t chastise him after feeling she had almost lost him the night before.
“Up..” I looked over at her and stopped. “I see you’re sitting up,” I said instead. He smiled and patted
the side of his bed for me to sit down.
“Please talk to me,” he pleaded. “Have you ever watched hospital television? It sucks. If I see one
more video about heart disease, I’m going to scream.”
“Well,” his mother said, “now maybe you’ll eat healthier and never smoke.”
“Watching that made me hungry and want a cigarette,” he joked.
“Suit yourself,” his mother replied. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you when you’re old and have clogged
arteries and emphysema.” She then looked over at me. “Taylor, do you plan to be here for awhile?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Good,” she said. “Will you keep Mr. Bundle of Joy occupied while I go home for a little while?”
“Sure, Mrs. Miller.” I said. “I’ll be happy to.” She kissed him goodbye and left the room.
“How are you feeling?” I asked after she left. “You’re looking pretty good.”
“Yeah, well,” he started stroking the side of his face. “Of course I look good.”
“Shut up.” I giggled. “Seriously, how do you feel.”
“Pretty good,” he said. “I don’t know what drugs they have me on, but I’m not feeling much pain.”
He unbuttoned his pajama top and pulled it aside; he then lifted the bandage up, exposing the stab
wound.
“Look at this,” he said excitedly. I looked at the wound that appeared to have about 12 stitches. I felt
my stomach begin to turn, realizing what he had been through. “The doc says it’s going to take a few
weeks to really heal. I guess I won’t be shooting any hoops for a few weeks.”
“I’m just glad you’re alright,” I said. “You had me really worried yesterday.”
“I guess I had everyone worried,” he responded. “I really don’t remember too much after this
happened.” He taped the bandage back and then sat quietly. I started to become uncomfortable when
Jason kept staring at me without saying anything.
“What?” I finally said out of frustration.
“What, what?” He asked.
“Why are you staring at me?” I questioned.
“I’m remembering something, but I don’t know if I dreamt it or it really happened,” he confessed.
“Everything about yesterday is a blur.”
“What is it you think you remember?” I asked.
“Did you kiss me and tell me you loved me?” He was staring intently into my face searching for an
answer.
“Yeah, I did.” I said unashamed. “You’re my best friend and I love you.”
“Good,” he smiled. “I thought it was a dream.” We sat watching the hospital channel. There was an
exciting program on prostate cancer. Jason and I laughed when the moderator started talking about a
doctor doing an anal probe to see if a man’s prostate was enlarged.
“Why would a doctor spend so many years going to med school,” he laughed, “just to stick his finger
into some fat, hairy guy’s ass.” I almost fell out of my chair because I was laughing so hard. After a
minute, we sat quietly watching television again.
“I do too,” he looked over at me and smiled.
“You do too, what?” I asked. His statement had nothing to do with the program on television.
“You’re my best friend and I love you, too.” I felt tears well up in my eyes when he said this. His eyes
became misty as well.
“Well, I’m not going to change your diapers when you’re eighty years old,” I joked. I was trying to make
light of the situation because I felt both of us were getting ready to cry.
“What are you talking about?” He asked. I then told him about the dream I had when I was holding him
the night before.
“I’d do it for you,” he laughed. “When you’re too old to wipe your own ass, I’ll do it for you, Asswipe.”
We both broke out in laughter. I walked over and gave him a hug. It surprised me when he held me
tightly. It was as if he didn’t want to let me go.
“Ok.“ He gently pushed me away.
“A little too gay?” I grinned, as I let him go and returned to my seat.
“No,” he replied. “I’m going to cry if we keep this shit up.”
We spent the next half hour just talking about old times. I was surprised how much he remembered
about all the times we’d spent together. He even remembered things I had forgotten; like the time I
gave him the last piece of my birthday cake when I turned eight. I really wanted it, but he had pleaded
with me until I relented and let him eat it. He said only a real friend would have done something like
that.
Around four o’clock Chris and Cynthia arrived. Chris shyly gave me a kiss on the lips.
“Awwww!” said Jason and Cynthia in unison. “Isn’t young love sweet?” Jason then made kissy noises
at us.
“So how are you feeling?” Cynthia walked over and took Jason’s hand and held it. Chris and I looked
at each other and nodded.
“Awww!” we laughed. “Isn’t young love sweet?” I started making kissy noises. Cynthia and Jason
began to blush. I did notice, though, that she continued to hold his hand.
“Everyone was wanting to know how you’re doing,” she told Jason. “You really have a lot of good
friends.”
“But only one best friend.” Jason looked at me and winked. I smiled and nodded.
“Yeah,” said Chris. “The teachers couldn’t teach because everyone was talking about what
happened. Mrs. Cox came over the intercom this morning and gave a big speech about the school not
tolerating any forms of violence.”
“There were police stationed around the building today,” said Cynthia, “and media people were
swarming around. We were warned not to talk to them.”
“And you’re the school hero.” Chris stepped over and held my hand. “Guess what happened this
afternoon?”
“You mean there’s more?” I was astonished. It seemed there had already been enough happen in one
day. I also couldn’t figure out why he was calling me a hero.
“Mrs. Shays and Stephanie came to school and met with Mrs. Cox,” said Cynthia excitedly. “She
expelled her and her brothers from school. We won’t be seeing them again.” She became quiet after
looking over at Jason.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized. We were excited because none of us had ever liked Stephanie or her
brothers; but we weren’t considering the fact that she had been Jason’s girlfriend for two years.
“It’s alright, really,” he replied. “I was wanting to drop her last year, but she threatened to turn her
brothers on me if I did. I can’t say I’m sorry to see her go.”
“Everyone thinks you’re responsible for finally bringing them down,” Chris said to me.
“They brought themselves down,” I said quickly. “I had nothing to do with it. You can’t do the shit they
did to people and not have it come back on you. Besides, Leon, Jamie and Charles have to take some
of the credit.”
I quickly placed my hand over my mouth. I realized that I had just told them who had beaten up the
Shays brothers.
“No, Shit?” said Chris excitedly. “They‘re the ones who did that to them?”
“Nope,” I said sternly. “I didn’t say that.” I let a small smile form in the corner of my mouth, as they
began to laugh.
“Nope,” said Jason. “We didn’t hear it from you.” We continued to laugh. After a minute, Chris
grabbed my hand and started to lead me from the room.
“I want something to drink from the cafeteria,” he said.
“He wants to go to the restroom and make out,” shouted Jason as we left the room with red faces.
Jason was right. We walked down the hall and Chris pulled me into a restroom. He locked the door
and grabbed me around the waist, pulling me into him.
“Mmmm,” he moaned, as we kissed. “I’ve been dreaming of this all day. I’ve missed you.”
“Me too,” I replied as I reached down and started rubbing his cock. He was quickly becoming erect.
He started rubbing me as we continued to kiss.
Suddenly, someone started knocking on the door. “Anyone in there?” He shouted, as he continued to
pound on the door.
“We’ll have to wait until later,” I said, pulling my shirt out and covering my erect cock.
“Come home with me and we’ll try out my new bed.” He gave me a questioning look, and then
nodded. He hadn’t yet seen the redecorating job my parents had done.
We opened the door and faced a very angry elderly man. “What were you doing in there?” he
exclaimed as he rushed passed us.
“Kids.” He slammed the door as we headed back to Jason’s room. When we entered, Cynthia had
pulled a chair beside Jason’s bed and she was rubbing his hand. It appeared that Chris and I weren’t
the only ones who had missed each other. I stood beside the bed and looked down at them.
“What?” Jason exclaimed. He looked over at Cynthia and smiled. “I asked her out.”
“It’s about time,” I sighed.
“Well, it will be a few weeks,” he said, “but we’ve talked. How would you guys like to double date?”
I looked over at Chris and he had an excited look on his face. “I think that’s a yes,” I laughed.
“Good,” said Cynthia. “We’ll let Taylor pay.” They began to laugh at the surprised look on my face.
“That will take my allowance for the next two months,” I moaned.
“It will take your allowance for the next year,” responded Jason. I looked at him as his mouth began to
curl into a wide grin. “I’m going to ask Bernie if you can rent his limousine for the night.” I began to
moan louder as they laughed even harder.
I picked Chris up for school the next day. It seemed strange not to have Jason with us. His doctors
told him it would probably be about a week before he could return. Until then, I was going to pick up
his assignments and take them to him after school each day.
When I pulled up to Chris’s house, he came out on the porch and motioned for me to come in. He met
me at the door and gave me a brief kiss before entering. I was surprised to see his father standing
behind us. He extended his hand for me to shake.
“Good morning, Taylor,” he said cheerfully. “Come in and have some breakfast with us.” He put his
hand on my back and ushered me into the kitchen. Chris looked over at me and shrugged his
shoulders.
I couldn’t believe the change in his father. He seemed to really be enjoying his family. He pulled out
his wife’s chair when she sat down, and then kissed her on the cheek. He reached over and, much to
his displeasure, ruffled Chris’s hair.
“Dad,” moaned Chris. “Now I have to go comb it again.”
“Well, I don’t think Taylor will mind too much if your hair is out of place.” He looked at me and winked.
“Will you, Taylor?”
“No, Sir,” I said shyly. I looked at Chris and gave him a questioning look. He just smiled at me.
“What was that all about?” I asked Chris on the way to school. “Your dad has gone from Mr. Jekyll to
Dr. Hyde.”
“I know,” he said. “It’s really weird. A nice weird, but still weird.” He went on to explain how his father
had changed. He said he even took him to the country club where he plays golf and introduced him to
all his golf buddies. He wanted Chris to ask me if I would go with them next week.
“Sure,” I agreed. “If you think its alright.”
“It will be,” he assured me. “He told me last night he really likes you. He thinks we make a cute
couple.”
“We do.” I reached over and grabbed his hand and brought it to my mouth and kissed it. We held
hands the rest of the way to school.
Cynthia was right. When I walked into the building, people were treating me differently. They weren’t
exactly walking up and slapping me on the back, but they would look at me and give me a smile. It was
sure a change from the way I had been greeted just a week earlier.
Chris was walking proudly beside me. I didn’t have to look over to know that he had a huge grin on his
face. I could just sense it. I don’t know if it had to do with me, or the fact that he didn’t have to hide
himself from others. He could now have friends without him worrying about how his father would
react. I think it was probably a little bit of both.
We went to Mrs. Mason’s room and got my books from the file cabinet. After chatting a minute with
her, I took my books back to my former locker. Cynthia was waiting for us when we arrived.
She opened it as I walked up and piled my books inside. I was surprised when Chris put his books in
as well. He looked over at me and smiled. I guess I would be sharing my locker with him from now on.
On the way to first period, Chris again pulled me into the restroom and gave me a kiss. As we were
getting ready to leave, the two boys we had encountered earlier, walked in. They smiled and, once
again, began to kiss. I looked at Chris, shrugged my shoulders, and leaned in and kissed him again.
As we were leaving, one of the boys extended his hand. “I’m Jerry. This is Tommy.”
“I’m Taylor,” I replied. “This is Chris.”
“We know who you are, Taylor,” he said admiringly. “Every gay boy in this school owes you. Ernest
used to torment us all the time. Thanks.” They again shook my hand and, after another brief kiss, left.
“See,” said Chris as he gave me a quick kiss. “You are a hero.”
“Yeah, right.” I laughed. I didn’t consider myself a hero at all. I was just a gay boy who had to learn to
cope. After going through hell and back, I considered myself a survivor, not a hero.
We were walking down the hall heading to class, when I saw Leon and Jamie approaching. They
walked up to me and stopped.
“Hey, Taylor.” Leon grinned and then he reached in and grabbed me, lifting me over his head.
“One.” I started squealing as he continued to lift me.
“Two.” Students gathered around and started laughing as they watched him lifting me as if I were a set
of barbells. Jamie stood aside and counted.
“Twenty-five.” He breathlessly put me down. Jamie took a ten dollar bill out of his pocket and handed
it to Leon. The hallway erupted into laughter and applause. After everyone dispersed and headed off,
I walked beside Leon to class. Before arriving, I reached out and grabbed his thick arm, stopping him.
“Thanks, Leon.” I said. He stood and looked down at me smiling. “When everyone turned their backs
on me, you were there. I’ll never forget what you did.”
“Don’t worry about it, Taylor.” He replied. “That’s what friends do. You helped me out when I was in
trouble, so I was there for you when you needed help.”
We turned and headed to class. He reached over and put his arm around my shoulder as we walked
down the hall. I took my arm and wrapped it around my friend’s massive back.
* * * * * * * * * *
“Seniors, Superintendent Maxwell, Principal Cox, staff, parents and guests. I am Taylor White,
Valedictorian of this year’s graduating class of Easton High School.”
I looked down and saw the beaming faces of Jason, Chris, Cynthia and Leon. I was nervously twirling
the silver ring on my finger.
I looked behind them into the audience and saw my mother and father wiping tears from their eyes.
Beside them sat Bernie, Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Brewster, Mrs. Mason and her husband. Bernie looked
at me and winked, giving me the courage to go on.
“As we leave here tonight, we will go out into a new world. It will be filled with many opportunities and
challenges. We will experience the joys of life’s greatest pleasures and tragedies filled with sorrow
and pain.”
I could feel tears welling up in my eyes as I spoke.
“But one thing will sustain us through these events- undying friendship and love. As we face the
trials and tribulations that life tosses our way, it is the unwavering love that we share with our friends
and family that will get us through the hardest of times. It will also be that same love that we will share
as we celebrate the crowning moments of our success.”
Through misty eyes I looked out and said, “I want to thank my parents and friends for helping me
through the darkest hours of my life. Because they stood beside me when I needed them the most, I
now stand before you tonight.”
The End