The Tide Began to Rise
Chapter 28
[Brent’s POV]
I lay awake in my bed. Too many things were going through my head. The most important however was Tyler. I was trying to come up with ways to make things up to him. Saying I’m sorry is not going to cut it. Promising to never hurt him is not going to cut it. This has to be really good. The only thing is, I can’t think of anything. Cooking is not a good idea, I’m a terrible cook. Maybe if I take him out to a nice restaurant, like being on a proper date. With that thought, I fell asleep.
I woke up to the alarm on my phone going off. I rolled out of bed, grabbed some clean clothes and headed to the bathroom. Tyler must have already taken his shower, because the shower was wet and so was the floor. I got in and cleaned my body.
After I was clean, dried, and dressed; I headed down to the kitchen. Tyler and my mom were eating breakfast. I grabbed some and sat at the table with them. We talked a little bit. At 8:30 Tyler and I left for school.
I parked my car and turned if off. I looked over at Tyler. He was just staring out the window.
“Ty, are you ok?”
“I’m scared I guess.”
“I know, but you don’t need to be. I will be right there by your side, all day. I won’t let anything or anyone hurt you.”
“You better not buddy. If someone hurts me, then I’m going to have to hurt you.” He said then started laughing.
“There you go. Just keep that smile on your face and all will be fine. We are going to take everything that they throw at us and laugh about it.”
“Yeah”
With that, Tyler and I got out of the car. I walked over to his said of the car. I grabbed his hand and we started walking to the front doors of the school. When we walked in, people were staring. I turned towards Tyler and said;
“Do you want to give them a reason to star at us?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“This,” I pulled him in closer and gave him a big kiss. Tyler took it a step further. He grabbed the back of my head and wrapped one of his legs around me.
When we broke the kiss, we both looked back at everyone else. Many had grossed out and disgusted looks on their faces. Some had smiles, but not many.
[Tyler’s POV]
Brent was right, everything was fine. The first few classes of the day were hard for me to concentrate. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. I kept thinking that I was hearing people talk about me and Brent. But when I looked around, everyone was working on whatever work we had. Maybe I was looking for bad thing.
I’m not sure on the reason, but I was really looking forward to math class. Maybe because it is the one class during the day that I get to sit next to Brent. All the other classes he sits either on the other side of the room. But during math I get to sit right next to him. Hopefully Mr. Snodgrass doesn’t move one of us to keep us apart. If he does, then I might have to kill him.
Brent and I sat down at our desks. The bell rang and Mr. Snodgrass came in the room.
“Hi everyone. How’s everyone doing today?
He Paused and looked around the class. I did the same. I noticed that he stopped at a few people. I followed his gaze. Those people that he stopped on were staring at Brent and me and whispering to other people.
“Ok class, I didn’t say anything yesterday, but today I am. This is probably not for me to say, but I’m going to do it anyway. I heard about what happened over the weekend. I heard most of what people were saying yesterday. To tell you the truth, what I heard you guys and gals say, made me sick to my stomach. Looking around the room today, I saw a few people that where glaring at two other students in the class.
“I’m going to tell you all this right now, I will not tolerate it. If I see anyone doing or saying anything, you will be sent to the principal. I will make sure you get punished for it. Not just a slap on the wrist either.
“If you don’t like someone, then let them be. You can’t go around making fun of someone because of who they are. I’m sure everyone knows what I’m talking about, so I am not going say names. Does anyone have any questions about what I said?”
He paused for a while. Nobody raised their hand or said a word.
“Ok; well since nobody has any questions, let’s…….”
“Mr. Snodgrass, can I go to the office?” Chris asked, another student in the class.
“Are you feeling ill?”
“No.”
“Then why do you need to go the office?”
“I want to switch classes. I can’t be in the same room with these two fucking queers.”
I wasn’t going to sit there and take that.
“Grow up you fucking prick. News flash, you have been in the same room with me all year. Not sure what in the Sam hell you’re afraid of. Maybe…”
“Tyler that enough.” Mr. Snodgrass said.
“No, I’m not taking this shit. Maybe you’re afraid that I think your hot Chris. That I’m going to rape you. Will guess what, you’re not even remotely attractive. So you have nothing to worry about.”
“Tyler, I said that’s enough.”
“No, you said that you were going to do something about it. Now do it.”
“I planned on it, and now I have to send you to the office as well for you out burst.”
“Are you kidding me?” Brent shouted
“Not, another word and you’re going to.”
“I planned ongoing anyway. I’m going to support Tyler when he explains what happened. This school is bullshit. I have never once looked down on someone because of who they are what they look like, or what they do. If someone plays dungeons and dragons, I would never talk down about them. I am not into that, but they are. Just like I’m gay. Even though you may not be a homosexual yourself, doesn’t mean you should hate Tyler and me.”
I grabbed Brent’s hand and we walked down to the office. We explained what happened to the Dean of students. After he heard our side of the story he went and talked with Chris. He came back in after a little while and said that Chris had a completely different story.
“Chris told me that you two were holding hands, kissing and disrupting the class. If that is true, then I will have to suspend you. I’m going to have to speak with Mr. Snodgrass to find out what happened. Before I do, do you want to say anything else?”
“Yeah I do.” I said, “Chris is lying. Yes we did hold hand, but only when we left the room. We never kissed in class.”
“Ok, I’m going to call Mr. Snodgrass down.”
He walked out of the room. Brent and I sat in silence. After a few minutes; Mr. Snodgrass, Chris, and Mr. Blaydes, came back into the room. Chris was told to sit down in the chair next to Brent. He pulled the chair as far away, as he could, from him. Mr. Blaydes sat down at his desk and Mr. Snodgrass went and stood right next to him.
“So, I have heard all of you stories” Mr. Blaydes said, “And they really don’t match. Mr. Snodgrass was closer to Tyler’s and Brent’s but not spot on. Because of the severity of this, you are going to be suspended for a week. So that is the rest of this week; also Monday and Tuesday of next week.”
“Who’s suspended?” Brent asked
“Tyler and Chris are.”
“What the fuck?!? Why is Tyler suspended? He was standing up for himself. Chris is the one that should suspended!”
“He is being suspended because the way was talking to Mr. Snodgrass.”
“This is Bullshit.”
“Brent, clam down.” I said “its fine.”
“I would listen to him Brent. As of right now, you are not suspended, but continue with this out burst and you will be,”
“I don’t fucking care. You’re punishing Tyler for standing up for himself. Chris was putting both him and me down because of who we are. It’s not right.”
“I’m sorry Brent, It stands”
“You’re a fucking moron. I can’t believe this.”
“Brent!” I shouted
“That’s enough, you’re suspended as well. All of you go collect your things and head Home. None of you are allowed on campus until next Wednesday. Goodbye.”
Brent and I left the room. We walked back to our lockers to grab our things, and then headed out to the car. The moment the doors were shut, I let loose.
“What the fuck, Brent!?! Why didn’t you stop? Yes, I know that is bullshit that I got suspended. But you should have stopped.”
“But I love you; I’m going to stand up for you.”
“I know you love me, but you have to be smart about it. You just got yourself suspended because of me getting treated unfairly. That is going on file; the reason is going to go on file. I love you Brent, but that was stupid.”
“Ok I’m sorry; but think of it this way, now we get to stay at home together. Oh, and don’t make any plans for Saturday.”
“Why not?”
“Because I said so.”
“Then I’m going to make plans all day.”
“Do, and I will beat you.”
. . . . . .
The rest of the week was extremely boring. All we did was sit around the house and watch TV. I kept trying to get Brent to tell me what he had planned. He kept telling me that I had to wait until Saturday to find out.
Saturday came around, and I asked again. He told me to get dressed. He took me to the Salon. We both got our hair done. I got my hair done so that I could put it in a faux-hawk. I got the tips of my hair colored blonde. Brent got his hair cut short, but left it just long enough so that he could style it a little. He didn’t get his colored at all.
After the salon, we went and grabbed a small lunch. I wanted to go eat at the Golden Corral, but Brent said no. He wouldn’t tell me why.
Once we were done with lunch, Brent took me clothes shopping. Not just regular clothes, nice clothes. It was kind of starting to freak me out. What is this boy up to? I asked him and again I must wait.
We went back home. Brent told me to take a shower and put on the dress clothes that he just bought me. Once I was ready, Brent made me put on a blind fold before he would pull out of the driveway. We drove for what seemed like forever. Maybe it just seemed like that because I couldn’t see anything. All I could hear was the music that Brent was playing. I’m normally not into any kind of music but hard rock, but this song was great. He must have had it on a CD because it just kept replaying.
oh my
oh my gosh
i did it again, so im gone let the beat drop
oh my gosh
baby let me..
baby let me..
baby let me..
baby let me love you down
theres so many ways to love ya
baby i can break you down
theres so many ways to love ya
i mean like, ooh my gosh im so in love
i found you finally, it make me want to say
oh, oh , oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
ohh my gosh
..
it make me want to say
..
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
i fell in love with shawty when i seen her on the dance floor
she was dancing sexy, pop, pop, popping, dropping, dropping low
never ever has a lady hit me on the first sight
this was something special ; this was just like dynamite
honey got a booty like pow, pow, pow
honey got some boobies like wow, oh wow
girl you know im loving your, loving your style
check, check, check, check, check, checking you out like,
ooh (oooh) she got it all
sexy from her head to the toes
& i want it all, it all, it all
baby let me love you down
theres so many ways to love ya
baby i can break you down
theres so many ways to love ya
got me like, ooh my gosh im so in love
i found you finally, it make me want to say
oh, oh , oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
ohh my gosh
..
you make me want to say
you make me want to say
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
feel so ? for honey out of all the girls up in this club
this one got me whipped, just off one look, yep i fell in love
girl you something special, you just like dynamite
youre, youre, youre, youre, youre, youre, youre out of sight
fell in love with honey like my, oh my
honey looking wonderful; fly, so fly
honey like a supermodel; my, oh my
baby how you do that, make a grown man cry?
ooh (ooh) baby, you got it all
sexy from her head to the toes
& i want it all, it all, it all
so, honey let me love you down
theres so many ways to love ya
baby i can break it down
theres so many ways to love ya
got me like, ooh my gosh im so in love i found you finally,
you make me want to say..
oh my gosh
oh my
oh, oh my gosh
oh my gosh
i did it again
so im gone let the beat drop
oh, oh, oh my
oh, oh, oh my, my, my, my, my, my
ooh my gosh
“Brent is this on a CD?”
“Yeah, Why do you not like it?”
“No, I like the song. I was just wondering why I have heard it 10 times already.”
“Oh yeah sorry, I really like the song. I can change it if you want me to.”
“No it’s fine.”
We both started singing the song. We were pretty much belting it out. It was another 5 plays of the song before Brent pulled into a parking lot and shot the car off.
“Ooo, I get to take my blind fold off now, right?” I said very happily.
“I would like you to keep it on until we get inside, but if you really want to take it off you can. But know if you do, you will break my heart.” When he was done saying that, he started whimpering. I’m sure he had a sad puppy day face as well, but I couldn’t see that.
“Ok fine, I will leave it on for a few more minutes. But if I don’t like the surprise, I’m going to break up with you. Making me wait for a week for something that isn’t spectacular.”
There was pause. I was waiting for a smart ass comment from Brent. There was nothing.
“Babe?”
“….” Still nothing.
“I was joking, you could dress me up, blindfold me, and take me to taco bell, and I wouldn’t care. You made the effort to do something nice for me. That’s all the matters.”
“I love you so much. I thought you were being serious. Let’s go.”
“Ok”
We both got out of the car. Brent came over to me and grabbed my hand. He led me to the front door of wherever it is that he brought me.
“Hello gent……al……man….. Might I ask why he blindfolded?” The host said.
“Ok, ummm. This was a surprise for him and I didn’t want him to know where we were going until we got here. His is going to take it off when we get to the table.”
“Ok then, just the two of you, correct?”
“Yes sir.”
“Right this way.”
“Ok Tyler, hold on to me.”
Brent grabbed my hand and put them on his waist. He led me to where we were going to be sitting.
“Collin will be right with you.”
“Thank you…………..Ok babe, you can take off that thing now.”
I slid the cloth up and off my head carefully. I didn’t want to ruin my faux hawk. I looked around the restaurant. My jaw dropped.
“What is this place?”
“The restaurant is called Taste of Thailand.”
“Wow”
“The food is really good here.”
Just then two people walked up to our table.
“Hey guys, my name is Collin. I will be you server today. This is Tom, he is training me. Can I start you off with something to drink?”
“Can I get an ice tea.” I said
“I will take………… umm…………..umm……………..umm.”
“Babe, choose what you want.” I said
“Umm”
“Do you have root beer?”
“Yes we do.”
“He will take that.”
“Ok, I will be right back with those drinks and to take your order.”
“What was that about?” I asked Brent after Collin had walked away.
“Not sure. I couldn’t say anything.”
“Dork”
Collin was gone for a while. Maybe it just seemed like that. He came back with our drinks, but Tom was not with him when he did.
“Are you ready to order?”
“I think so, depends if he can speak now or not. I would like the Pad-wun-sen-kung. Just in case he loses his tongue again, I will order for him. He wants the Kung-pad-prik.”
Ummm, sorry which ones are those? I’m new. I’m still learning the menu.”
“Oh, no problem. Mine is the stir fried clear noodles with shrimp. And his is the Pepper chicken. Also can we get an order of the Thai spring rolls for an appetizer?”
“I will put that right in.”
Brent just smiled and handed him his menu. I noticed that Collin stopped and check on a few other tables on his way back to the back of the house. Brent watched him all the way.
Throughout the meal, Collin checked on us every few minutes. I noticed that his other tables were getting upset about it. Collin is about our age. Very good looking. And he has an Australian accent. I love that accent. Almost makes me melt.
We finished our meal, but decided to stay a short while and talk. A short while turned into a lone while. Eventually we got Collin in on some of the conversations. From what I could tell, he seemed like a great guy.
“Ready to get out of here?” I asked.
“Yeah”
“How much should we leave him?”
“I was going to leave him 25 bucks. He was great.”
“Yeah he was.”
Brent put the money down on the table for the tip and our meals. We started toward the door. Collin came running up to us. He handed Brent a piece of paper.
“What’s this?” Brent asked
“My number.” Collin said
“WHAT!?!” I said, pretty much screaming.
“No, no, no. So we can hang out sometime. You both seem like great guys. I just moved here and I don’t have any friends. I’m starting school next week. The new kid never has any friends.”
“Ok cool. Where are you going to school? In Omaha?”
“Nope, a small town across the river.”
“Really, what town?”
“Glenwood, I think is the name of it.”
“Wow, that’s where we go.”
“Sweet! So I will see you there on Monday?”
“Umm, no you won’t. We got suspended. So we will be back in school on Wednesday.”
“What did you do?”
“COLLIN, get back to work.” An angry looking man yelled.
“Sorry, I will talk to you guys later.”
We walked outside and got in the car. We didn’t say much on the ride back home. I was thinking. I was contemplating. I was thinking, should I do tonight what I’m thinking of doing. I’m sure Brent wouldn’t mind. I just have to decide if I’m ready for it. I have dreamed of it for so long. I imagined how it would feel. Now that the time is so close, I’m terrified. If I’m this scared, should I really go through with it?
