The Gay Way: Chapter 12

The Gay Way
Chapter 12
A/N: Boy/Boy.  FTM.  Don't like?  Leave.

As strange as it was having Alex hanging around, Devon was glad the boy was opening up.  Eddie was happy to have one of his old friends still by him, which made Devon happy.  Joy was still wary and made sure Alex knew she would beat him up if he tried anything.  Jaz was nervous around everyone still, so he reacted in jittery ways, making Alex constantly apologize.  Alex was just happy they didn't shun him right away.

A few days later, Devon realized he needed to talk to the counselor about what was going on with Eddie.  Eddie came to school with a giant cut surrounded by a purple bruise right on the side of his face.  He said he had fallen against the edge of the counter, but Devon just knew he had been pushed into it.  So he did what he had to.

"You think he's being abused?" the counselor asked, his eyebrows raising.

"I know he is.  He told me himself.  He also made me promise to not tell, but I am really worried for him!" Devon was extremely upset with himself for not having talked to someone sooner, and tried to stress the emergency of the situation.

"We'll talk to Eddie then.  We'll also check out his home situation with a social worker."  The counselor noticed Devon fidgeting in his chair and frowned leaning forward.  "How long have you known this, Devon?"

"Around 3 months...." Devon couldn't believe himself.  He had promised himself that the minute he got to school he would tell someone right after he found out, but things had been completely thrown off.  He knew that he was putting Eddie in danger every day he waited, but he was scared.  The information he held.... He knew that not doing anything with it could harm Eddie, physically.  However, he knew Eddie loved his dad.  His father may have been an ass but he was his father and he loved him.  Getting his father taken away could hurt him emotionally.  He knew Eddie still blamed himself for what his father did.  But he couldn't deal with seeing his boyfriend hurting.

"3 months, Devon?  That is a long time to hold this back," the counselor underlined Eddie's name on his list.  'Be careful with this one' was what that line stood for.

"He still loves his father, sir.  Even after all of this," Devon whispered.  The counselor inhaled and reached out, grabbing Devon's shoulder comfortingly.

"We'll get this fixed," the counselor replied, a small comforting smile on his lips.  Devon couldn't find it in himself to smile back.


Alex sat awkwardly at the lunch table, still not completely comfortable with the entire shift he had gone through.  It wasn't that he was utterly unpopular now that he was hanging out with the 'Freak Quartet,' he just wasn't on top anymore.  He didn't have the security he once had, but he had the friends he had always longed for.  And despite his initial fears, they were kind to him.  Even Joy.  Which made him nervous sometimes, well, most times.  He picked at his food, wondering where Devon was.  Devon was usually the one who made conversation with him.  Eddie had left for a study session with a teacher and Jaz was still doing half days.  Joy sat across from him, eating her food quickly and occasionally letting her eyes wander over to him.  Finally, she couldn't take it.

"Alex," she began.

"Oh, uh, yes?" He could feel his hands practically vibrating the table.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry." Joy looked directly into his eyes and Alex trembled, beginning to have trouble breathing.  It was like she knew everything that was going on in his head and it made him begin to get scared:  could other people tell too?  "Don't look so scared.  I don't think anyone noticed.  But Devon noticed that you weren't like Matt, at least, and it made me think.  I began watching you because I realized Devon was right.  You don't seem to actually care that Devon's gay or that Jaz is transgendered.  So I began to wonder why you went along with Matt.  You don't actually seem to care enough about popularity to have been doing it for that.  You wouldn't have become friends with us like this."  Alex could see where she was going with this and he was surprised by how he felt.  He didn't feel scared or nervous, he felt relieved that someone else knew.  Someone else understood.

"I.... I don't care.  No one in my family does, actually.  My aunt is transgendered and my dad, her brother, let her live with us until their parents came around," Alex quietly stated.  Joy raised an eyebrow and felt the corner of her mouth twitch in a smile.

"Well then I know you don't care about that.  But you acted like you did.  You acted like we were below disgusting.  Why?" Alex knew not to respond.  She already had the answer.  "You liked him, didn't you?" She whispered.  Alex nodded.

"I loved him.  He was only cruel to you guys and it was confusing to me.  He had always been super nice to other people.  He loved animals and even opposed the war.  I never got his opposition to being...gay," Alex explained.  He was only partly aware he had used the past tense.

"His reasons are his own, but I am so sorry, Alex.  Unrequited love is very hard to deal with, but to have it added on that he was homophobic.... I am so sorry." Joy took his hand and suddenly Alex felt a million times better.  He felt like a huge boulder had been lifted off his shoulders.  As he tightened his grip on her hand, tears at the corner of his eyes, he smiled.  He knew things were never going to be easy, but he also knew that they were going to get better.

"You know, it's alright.  I loved him.  He's done too much for me to ever forgive and...." Alex smiled.  He felt carefree.  It was the first time in months he had felt this happy. "I'm glad I'm finally able to move on.  It's made me better understand myself and I'm friends with you guys now.  Things turned out much better than I ever thought they would."  Joy smiled, shaking her head.

"You're weird.  Welcome to the club."


Eddie stared at Devon.  He couldn't tell how he felt.  He felt angry that Devon had broken his promise and told.  He felt scared that nothing would be fixed and his dad would get angrier at him.  He felt happy that he would finally be free from beatings.  Eddie stared at Devon, trying to figure out which emotion he should focus on.  He didn't like the mixed feelings.

"I'm sorry, Eddie.  I know you are angry I told.  I know you probably don't want to talk to me right now, but I care for you and I can't take seeing you in pain anymore!  I.... I really love you and it hurts too much to see you going through this," Devon explained.  He took Eddie's hand, but released it as Eddie pulled away.

"Devon, you know this is hard for me.  I can't talk about it right now.  Just," Eddie held his head in his hands, shaking, "let me be right now."  Devon nodded and turned, walking away.  He paused and looked back at his boyfriend, wishing he would get through what he had to.  He opened his mouth, but promptly shut it, as well as the door.  Eddie heard the click of the door closing and tightened the grip he had on his hair.  He wished Devon had stayed.


Eddie watched his dad get taken away.  It was almost surreal.  The way his father looked being taken away.  He was like a kicked puppy.  A drunk kicked puppy, but a puppy nonetheless.  It took all of Eddie's self control to not throw open the window and yell.  He wasn't yelling at his father, Devon, or anyone else.  He just needed to yell.  To scream to the heavens.  They needed to hear his cries.  Instead, he grabbed his suitcase and got into the van that would take him away.  To foster home?  To some facility?  He didn't know.  They tried to tell him, but he refused to listen to anyone.  Everything was going too fast and he was tired of listening to people tell him what to do and tell him how sorry they were and tell him how brave he was.  How was he brave?  He took his father's punches like a sand bag.  What was brave about that?  That didn't make him a hero.  That didn't make him anything but a sand bag.  He wrapped his arms around his knees as he brought them up to his chest.  He didn't know where he was going.  He didn't know what his life would be like.  He didn't know how he felt about anyone.  It was the beginning of the year all over again.  And it killed him.


Alex gripped the warm hand he held, nervous.  He swallowed, trying to come to grips with himself.  After an internal speech, he opened the door.

"Mom, dad:  I need to tell you guys something."


Jaz was in the hospital again.  He lay in his bed, bruised and sickly, but he smiled wider than he had in ages.  He couldn't help looking down at his chest, over and over.  Finally, they were gone.  Finally, he was that much closer to being who he was meant to be.  Joy kissed his forehead, smiling softly.

"When you're healed, we are going to go swimming.  I need to show off my man," Joy teased.  Jaz grinned and chuckled.

"Of course.  As long as you wear that bikini I'm getting you for your birthday."  Jaz didn't mind being punched in the arm, especially for a joke.


Devon and Eddie held hands as they walked away from the school.  It was cold, winter coming around again.  It was also their senior year.  Through all that had been tossed at them, they made it.  They made it through.  Promise rings glistened on their fingers.  The two boys, interlaced their fingers as they walked.  It might not have been the best way to go through the years but it was their way and they wouldn't have changed it for the world.