CHAPTER 6
My parents were obviously surprised, but they took it really well. They were glad that it was Mark and not some random guy. That evening, my mother cooked a delicious meal for all of us, in order to celebrate. I was very happy, and Mark could forget his family for a while, so we had a great time. We even kissed when we thought my parents weren't looking, but we were caught in the act, what made us blush.
'I think I'll have to get used to that' my dad said. 'There's nothing wrong with it, you can kiss each other if that's your wish'
We were still embarrassed, but it wasn't that bad. It felt good to be able to show our feelings for each other in front of them.
At 10 PM Dad told us that Mom and he were going to bed. However, I stopped them.
'Wait, Dad. There's still something we have to talk about'
'Sure, son' Mom answered for him, and they both sat down again, looking at me. 'What do you want to talk about?'
I looked at Mark and I could feel that he was nervous again. I held his hands and gave him a reassuring look.
'We have a problem, and a big one' I began. 'Mark's parents are not as understanding as you are'
'Yeah, I could have guessed so' Dad said. 'Continue, son'
'I mean, they wouldn't be cool with his son being gay' I said. 'They would kick Mark out at the very least if they knew. His dad would probably hurt both of us. We need your help, please'
I looked at my dad's face and I could see that he knew where I was going. I waited for an answer, but Mark spoke before him.
'Mark, are you sure they would do that to you?' Dad asked him. 'I mean, I would never kick my own son out. It's hard for me to believe that something like that could happen'
'Mr. Brown' Mark began. 'I know what I'm talking about. I know well that once, my dad and his buddies beat a gay guy almost to death. I hear the nasty comments about gay people every day at home. He has told me that he'd prefer me to be a serial killer rather than being gay'
'I don't want my boy to live in Hell because of his love for me' I told Dad. 'I couldn't stand it. I don't want him to be unhappy. I...'
I was afraid to say it, but Mom completed the phrase for me
'...want him to move in with us' she said.
She was right, of course. That was exactly what I wanted. She knew me only too well.
'Well...' Dad said. 'If Mark wants it too, he can live here until you both go to college in a couple of months'
'You know, Mark, that you're like our second son' Mom told him. 'You can stay if you need that'
'Really?' Mark said, looking at my mother as if she was God Incarnate. 'Can I?'
'Really' Dad said. 'I can tell that neither of you is exaggerating. I have talked to your father enough times to know well that he is not very gay-friendly. You are my two sons and I don't want either of you to be unhappy'
It was done. Mark would move in with me. As soon as we were out of my parents' sight, we kissed passionately. A new chapter of our lives had begun.
* * * * *
Somewhere very far from Silver Park, Derek started telling Cole about what had happened to him.
'You know that my parents died when I was 11 years old' he began. 'Well, when they died, I was sent with my only living relative, my aunt Alice. Aunt Alice was a very kind woman who truly cared about me, but I could sense that there was something wrong in that house. Her husband Robert acted as if I wasn't there, simply ignoring me, but I could sense that things weren't precisely OK between him and my aunt. In fact, they were sleeping in different rooms. The house only had two bedrooms, therefore I had to sleep with my aunt. Then I loathed the idea but now I know that she was only making sure I was safe'
Cole held him tighter when he felt that his friend was remembering something that perturbed him.
'Robert didn't drink, nor do drugs, nor anything, but there was something really wrong with him. I didn't like him and I avoided him as much as possible. However, for a while. he didn't do anything to me. Things changed when my aunt drowned once when we went to the beach. That very same day, he, he...'
Derek began crying. Cole kissed his forehead and told him that everything was OK now, that he was with him, but it was useless against what he knew Derek was going to say.
'...he raped me' he finally said. 'He did this to me... more or less like he did last night. He was very rough, he did it until I bled... he's a sadist, you see. Before me, it was my aunt... now I am his toy'
He sobbed as he pressed his body to Cole's. He cried on his shoulder for at least fifteen minutes, while Cole unsuccessfully tried to comfort him. Then he continued.
'After that, he decided that he didn't want me near him. He is a wealthy man, so he rented this apartment and left me here. Once a month, he would come, do me again and leave some money for me to live.
I managed to continue going to school. The money he gave to me wasn't enough, but I managed to get a job at school, in the computing department as you know. With that I could live moderately well and make this apartment, which was in really bad shape then, look moderately good. When the school bought new computers, I bought one of the old ones for such a low price that it was nearly a gift. That computer'
He pointed to the old computer on the desk. I had used it once, and I knew it was very old but it was also very efficient. Derek had optimized it so much that it was actually quite fast.
'So I could at least survive. However, he kept a constant surveillance on me. He calls every night, at a random time, to make sure that I spend the night here. There's someone who keeps an eye on me at school but I am not sure who he or she is. I have a good idea though.
He often beat me up but very seldom times he was rough enough to leave me like this. Normally, he would only give me some cuts and bruises in places people couldn't see, and the occasional bleeding, but nothing that prevented me from going to school. However, those few times were really bad, like yesterday, or the other time when you saw me'
Derek cried some more, but Cole was thinking. When he finally stopped crying, Cole made him raise his head and look at him.
'Hey look at me man' he told him. 'I won't let that happen again. I'm taking you out of here'
'There's no way for me to get out' Derek said with a sad look on his face. 'I don't have any money, and he would find me'
'I have enough money for both of us, Derek' Cole replied. 'I have a plan. But we have to get started now'
* * * * *
Cole's plan was complex and it had to be carried out as soon as possible. For once, Derek was glad he was 18 years old, because that meant he could get the transfer documents from school without needing Robert. However, getting the transfer paperwork was the last step on Cole's plan, because it would be the step which will alert Robert, who would probably fly there as soon as his informant told him about the boys getting their documents. Money could pay speed, so Derek got his passport the following day, and both of them packed.
There was little Derek wanted to keep. Only clothes, some photos and letters and his computer's hard disk. The much wealthier Cole didn't take many things with him either, because he planned to buy everything new for both of them. His parents were stunned by the plan but they understood. They didn't want to know where they were headed because it would be safer for Derek that way. However, they made Cole promise that he'd stay in touch and that they'd find a solution to the problem of meeting.
The last step was easy, but it had to be done fast. They got the transfer documents very quickly, but htat meant that they had less than four hours. So, they went directly to the airport on Cole's dad's car, and boarded the plane as soon as possible.
Air Canada Flight 415 taxied to the runway and took off. Soon after, the airplane was flying at its cruise speed and altitude, each second closer to Montreal.
* * * * *
As Cole and Derek landed in Montreal and took a bus to Toronto, Mark and I were happy and relaxed after our lovemaking, spooning in bed. We wished that everyone was as happy as they were as we drifted to sleep.
* * * * *
From Toronto they flew to Mexico City, then to San Francisco. Then they hitch-hiked. A college student dropped them not far from Humboldt University's campus at Versailles, a small town north of San Francisco.
'So, here we are' Cole said. 'You're free, Derek'
For the first time in days, Derek smiled.