PART 3
I had to invent a story to explain Mark's suddenly disappearance. I told my parents something about him having trouble with his girlfriend and having to go in order to save the relationship, and they believed me. So, I had solved the most immediate problem, but I had to find out what had happened and where he was.
My best friend –if we don't consider Mark– is a girl whose name is Josephine. I almost always shorten it to Jo like everyone else. When i logged in to Windows Live Messenger that night, I hoped to find her on-line, but she wasn't. However, I found out that Mark was connected.
As soon as I logged in, he changed his status to “Away”... so he still doesn't want to talk to me, I thought. But the program gave me the information I was looking for: where he was.
I'm sort of a computer geek, so I notice those little details. Mark's avatar was usually a very nice photo of him wearing only tight-fitting boxers (I could get a boner only by looking at that photo). However, I had learned long ago that, in Windows Live, the photos are computer-dependent. So, I could tell that he was using his computer, and therefore I could tell too that he was at home, since his is a desktop computer.
I could not sleep that night. The following morning, I took the first bus to Bull's Crossing.
* * * * *
I arrived at the city of Bull's Crossing at about ten in the morning. It was sunny and warm; the day seemed perfect, but it certainly wasn't, at least for me.
I almost didn't dare knocking at Mark's door, but at last I did. Seconds after the door opened to reveal him, with nothing on but a white towel wrapped around his waist. However, the door closed as quickly as it had opened.
'Mark, let me in, please!' I pleaded. After a while, he opened the door, leaving it ajar, and I could see his face.
'Chad' he began. 'I appreciate that you came here. But please go home'
'Mark, we have to talk' I said. 'We have to talk about what happened between us'
'There's nothing to talk about, Chad' he replied. 'I made a huge mistake, and I have to pay for it. I can't even look at your face. I'm so ashamed of what I did... please, if you still like me, leave me alone'
'Listen' I told him. 'I won't lose you. You're my best friend. I've come here to talk to you, and I won't go home without doing so'
'I'm really sorry, but I simply can't' he said. 'Please go home and forget me'
And then he closed the door. I just dropped to my knees and then sat on the floor. I felt the tears coming to my eyes, and I began to cry right there and then. I had never, ever, felt so sad. Somehow I knew that he was my Prince Charming. I couldn't imagine what had happened, why he had changed so much in an instant.
Suddenly I felt someone holding my hand. It was him, and he was crying too.
'Come in, Chad' he said between sobs. 'Remember that... us boys... aren't supposed to cry'
I followed him in, and as soon as the door was closed, he took me in his arms and held me really tight against himself.
'Don't cry, my love, please' he tenderly said as he stroked my hair. 'But please understand that this can't continue'
'Why not?' I asked. 'Why can't we love each other?'
'Boys aren't supposed to love other boys in that way' he said. 'It's... wrong'
'And who says that?' I asked. 'Don't pay any attention to who says that'
'My father says that' he said, looking me in the eye for the first time.
Then I understood what happened.
* * * * *
'He'd kill both of us if he knew that we're fags' he said. 'He has repeatedly said that he'd prefer me to be a murderer rather than being gay'
We were alone, so we could chat in the living room. Mark's story was very sad; unlike mine, his parents, especially his father, were very homophobic. Although I hadn't told my parents about me being gay, I knew that they wouldn't make a big deal out of it. However, poor Mark knew well that someday he'd have to disappear from his father's reach.
'I really mean it' he continued. 'There are persistent rumors about my father and his friends beating a gay guy almost to death, years ago, when he was about our age. He'd literally kill us'
I looked at him for a while, thinking about what he had said. I had to find a solution for his problem; Mark had been my friend for years. I felt that it was my problem as much as his.
'Where are your parents now?' I asked.
'As you can see, not here' he answered, smiling for the first time. 'They're spending some days in St. Anne with my aunt Margaret. They won't come back until next week'
'So, they don't know about you coming back so early'
'No, they don't' he confirmed. 'That's why I could come back here. They'd have asked too many questions if they were here'
'Then, come back with me to Silver Park' I told him. 'Forget them for two weeks; then we'll find a solution to this. This is an obstacle between us, so it is my problem as much as yours'
'Chad, no...' he told me. 'I can't...'
'Yes, you can' I told him, and then I kissed him lightly on the lips. At first he seemed a bit reluctant, but then he passionately returned the kiss. 'Mark Greene, I love you'
I had hit the key. He smiled, and told me:
'I love you more, Chad Brown'
* * * * *
'I found the solution' I told him in the bus, as we were approaching Silver Park. 'We'll come out to my parents, and ask them for help'
'Are you crazy or what?' he asked. 'How can we come out to your parents? They'd kick both of us out!'
'Mark, my parents are not like yours' I calmly told him. 'They will understand. I'm totally sure of that'
'I don't know...' he said. 'I think it's too risky. Plus, what could your parents do for me?'
'My parents think of you as a second son. They love you as much as they love me. They will be cool with us being boyfriends...'
'You said... boyfriends?' he asked, very surprised. 'Would you want to be my boyfriend?'
'I'd love to be your boyfriend, Mark' I answered. 'It's my sweetest dream. But if you don't want it yet, I'll understand'
'I want it' he said. 'But I'm not sure if I can... I don't think I deserve you'
'Forget your problems for a second, and look at me' I told him 'I love you. You love me. That's all what matters'
His hand slowly moved next to mine, and then over it; we immediately intertwined our fingers with each other's, and I gave him my best smile. We held hands until the bus stopped.