Jay, sitting in his chair in his bedroom, journaled out his thoughts of the day’s events. Writing down his thoughts was one of the only ways that he felt he could fully express himself. He had felt empty ever since he had been dropped from the play. He could sense that his thoughts were betraying him yet again.
Kerass was his friend, he knew that to be a fact, but he couldn’t get the image of him running around shirtless on the track out of his head. Thinking back on when he was pushed down the stairs of Kerass’ house, he tried to get the thoughts out of his mind completely, but the more he tired to suppress it, the stronger, the crisper the images solidified in his mind.
Cursing under his breath he started to pace around the room. Blood started rushing through his body. His heart began to pound, his head throbbing, stronger and stronger. Nothing seemed to take away this strong desire, this need to see Kerass shirtless.
His thoughts began to spin, wondering if there was any way he could keep this image with him forever. The only thing that came to mind was to take a picture. Then it clicked. Everything came to place in his mind in a single instant. He would take a picture with his phone. It was simple enough. He just had to catch Kerass at a time that he would be shirtless, but he had no idea when that would be. Getting pissed that he couldn’t find a solution, he left his bedroom, neglecting to finish his morning journal entry.
“You’re down early,” his father said beaming. Jay bit his tongue from cursing at his father. He had no idea how his father would react if he found out what he had just been thinking. He assumed the worst. He and his father were never the closest. In an attempt to stop the bonding from even beginning, he simply nodded and headed towards the front door.
His father let him go without a word just like every single moment between the two of them. Running into his father unexpectedly that morning, his heart rate had come down. For some reason, he felt the urge to turn around and talk with his father. Deciding that urge would still be there the following day, he opted instead to just keep walking straight to the bus stop.
“You’re not home a lot during the afternoons anymore,” Kerass’ father inquired. He was very perceptive, Kerass acknowledged in his mind. He had to give him that at the very least. Kerass simply replied that it was due to extra curricular activities. His father replied that football was now over. “What else are you staying after school for?”
Kerass sighed realizing he had been caught in his white lie. “I’m staying after school to hang out with a girl Dad.” His father’s face instantly lit up beaming. He wanted to know all about her, where she was from, how long they had been dating, all this information that pissed Kerass off that he wanted to know.
“Why are you so interested in my life anyways?” Kerass continued saying that he had never paid attention to anything other than his football stats for years.
His father replied that things had changed considering his mother’s accident. “I realized I hadn’t been there for you. I want to be,” his father said. Kerass was skeptical knowing there was something else his father was trying to find out. “I’d love to meet her,” he said expressing his desire for them all to have dinner together.
Kerass responded that she wouldn’t go for it out of spite. His father asked him to just try. “I’ll see what she says,” Kerass said walking out the door saying that he would be late for the bus if he didn’t leave the house that instant.
Realizing the bus was just pulling up to the stop, he ran as fast as he could. He made it on just in time. To his surprise, Jay was on the late bus run. Jay smiled at him as he sat down next to him. “You’re later than usual,” Kerass said, a smirk on his face.
Jay asked him how he was doing that morning. Kerass answered saying there was tension with his father. “Believe me, I understand how that is,” Jay replied.
Kerass asked Jay if there were any problems with him and his father, but Jay replied that there were no more than usual. “I need to find another sport to get into,” Kerass said. “I can’t be at home anymore during the afternoons.”
Jay’s eyes instantly alit with a fiery passion that he only saw when Jay performed on the stage. “I think you should join swimming!” Jay exclaimed emphatically. Kerass replied that he needed to keep his voice down. Smiling back at Jay, he realized things were getting back to normal between the two of them. He had missed his best friend. He wouldn’t possibly attempt to ruin their friendship again.
“That’s not that bad of an idea, actually,” Kerass replied. He continued saying that tryouts were that afternoon. He hadn’t given a thought to it, but it was great for upper body strength and it would keep him in shape during the winter.
“Can I take a pic?” Jay asked almost jumping out of his seat. Kerass asked of what to which Jay replied of him after his try out.
“I don’t see why not, just use your cell phone, nothing professional,” he said.
Jay responded, “Oh don’t worry, there’s nothing professional about this.”
Kerass beamed. He was so stoked that Jay and him were able to talk the way they used to. Finally, things were the way they should be.
Before he knew it, men sporting Speedos surrounded him. It seemed like a dream come true. He begged himself to not get excited. Kerass took off his shirt then. His heart pounded. He looked even better now than he had the last time he had been shirtless before him. “You’ve come!” he exclaimed running towards him. He explained how nervous he was. “I mean, I just want to be the best,” he whispered. “But I’m really uncomfortable being shirtless in front of people.”
Jay began to feel guilty, which he didn’t like feeling. “Can I still take a picture?” he asked hopeful that this wasn’t betraying their friendship. He knew he was lying to himself, but his desires screamed at him to ignore it.
“Only if you’re in it with me,” he said. Kerass, wearing nothing but a Speedo, put his arm around Jay. Jay’s head beaded with sweat. Jay handed the smart phone off. They both smiled as the picture was taken. “Make sure you text the photo to me,” Kerass said jumping into the water.
Jay smiled at him as he responded, “It’s already done.”
Cadence’s heart raced as she waited for the door to open. She was concerned that Kerass didn’t want to show her off to his father. He was a pastor after all. Maybe her strong push against religion would turn off any pastor, especially considering she was dating his son.
The door opened before she could collect any more thoughts. “Come on in!” his father said waving her inside the house. The house was a lot different than she had expected. It wasn’t completely upfront a religious house. There were no Bible verses hanging in picture frames, no pictures of Jesus, and no Bible set up on a stand. She felt a lot more comfortable than she ever thought she would.
“Take a seat, honey,” Kerass said pulling the chair out for her. Her heartbeat fell to a normal level as she sat down. She asked what was for dinner. Kerass’ father replied that they had made steak that evening.
“Um,” she paused not knowing how to say it. “I’m a vegan,” she said.
“Oh!” Kerass said. She could tell he attempted to avoid eye contact with her and his father.
“I guess you didn’t know as much about her as you thought, did you son?” his father inquired. He continued asking if that was not what he said was her favorite meal.
“I guess I never really asked,” Kerass responded his voice barely above a whisper.
Cadence replied that it was fine. She would just eat the salad and it would all be fine.
His father said that wouldn’t do, they would find something for her to eat a full meal. “What else do you not know about her, Kerass?”
Cadence tried to keep calm. She looked over at Kerass. He was pouting. His father was completely embarrassing both of them. He was derailing his own son with such glee and ease that it completely disgusted Cadence.
“I know she’s not religious. Is that what you’re after?” Kerass screamed back at him. He continued saying that he was only looking for ways that Cadence wasn’t good enough for him. “Just because I didn’t know she was a vegan doesn’t mean I’m oblivious to who she really is.”
“And who is that?” his father asked with a smirk on his face.
“She’s the girl I love,” Kerass replied.
Kerass’ father busted out laughing saying he had no true conception of what love really was. “Without Jesus in a person’s life, love doesn’t really exist.”
Kerass glared back at his father. This was the father he had grown up with. The father who was loving and forgiving was gone. That was only momentary kindness. This was who he really was. “Why don’t you start practicing what you actually preach? Maybe then you can start being a real father,” Kerass said acidly.
Cadence ran out the door. She didn’t want to stay before any more verbal abuse was uttered. She didn’t even want to think that physical abuse was used in that family. She tried to catch her breath standing outside the door. Kerass followed shortly behind telling her instantly how sorry he was that she had to see that.
“How did that escalate so quickly?” she asked exclaiming that it made no sense whatsoever.
Kerass replied that he was only looking for a way to find out why she wasn’t right for him. Cadence sighed saying that if their relationship was causing that much problems, then maybe they should break up before he got any more emotional abuse.
“No! I fought for you in there!” he shouted.
“I know and I love you for it,” she said. She continued saying she couldn’t stand seeing him get hurt anymore the way that he was in there. “No one should take advantage of you.”
He grabbed her face as tears started to fall down his own. “I am truly, madly, deeply in love with you,” he said.
Her emotions overwhelmed her. It almost felt like her heart nearly stopped. She then grabbed him and kissed him. It was the most passionate kiss she had ever experienced in her entire life. Their lips locked together in perfect harmony. Nothing could interrupt this moment. Nothing could tear their love apart.
Jay’s thoughts overwhelmed him. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of the picture on his phone. Kerass’ body was truly something to behold. He knew he was betraying his best friend, but he no longer cared. Nothing interrupted his thoughts, his needs. He decided he would give into his desires and stop fighting it. Taking the phone with him, he walked down the hallway closing the bathroom door behind him.
No comments:
Post a Comment