Nanowrimo 2008

ANS: Another One.


Darren looked down. “I know you are used as a sex toy.”

Kyle gulped. “I do not know what you mean.”

“I saw the whole scene in the bathroom.”

“It was my idea.”

Darren did not look convinced. “At first, I thought you were enjoying it. That changed pretty quickly. Then, tonight, outside of the school, you said and I quote “my brother forced me to be with you”. Did you not?”

Kyle was at a loss of words.

Darren sighed. “Please answer me. I want to help.”

“There is nothing you can do.”

Darren looked down at the table. “How long has it been going on?”

Kyle knew there was no point in lying to Darren, or playing dumb for that matter. “Two years”.

“You have been with both Aaron and Eric for that long?”

Kyle looked confused for a moment, and then realized what Darren probably thought. After all, he had only seen the bathroom scene. “You have it wrong. It has only been my brother. He made me have sex with Aaron today because he knew it would make me miserable.”

“Why don’t you stand up to him?”

“It is NOT that easy. If I even thought about standing up to him, I would most likely end up in the hospital.”

“Then go to the police.”

“It’s his word against mine.”

“You also have my word.”

“It would not work. I know what his argument would be. He would say we are in two different social circles and the two of us are jealous. We are just trying to get back at him. I know how Eric thinks.”

“Maybe the police would believe us without proof—“ He was interrupted.

“Which I do not have”.

“Fine! You do not have proof. But you can’t stay in that house. This curfew you have is set by your brother is it not?”

“Yes. I have four or five misdemeanors I was going to be punished for tonight. That is why I am stalling.”

“How violent do you think he is going to get.”

“I know his usual level for only one misdemeanor, and that is pretty bad. I shudder at the thought of what I am going to get eventually.”

“Then don’t go home tonight.”

Darren said this so earnestly, that Kyle could not help it. He let out a short laugh. “It’s not that easy. First of all, where the hell do you think I am going to go? Second of all, if I don’t go home tonight, but I go home tomorrow night, I will be punished and it will be worst. I do not have a choice.”

“Then don’t ever go home.”

“Darren, you are making it sound like it is so simple.”

“It is. Either you go home and continuously be hurt sexually, physically, and emotionally, or you never go back and you can be safe.”

“You are forgetting. I am a minor. Without parent consent or money for that matter, I can’t live on my own.”

“Tell your mom the truth.”

“No.”

Darren slammed his fist on the table. “You are making this harder than it has to be.”

“And you are making it far too simple.”

“You seem to be finding a whole bunch of excuses why you have to stay in that shit hole. I think you actually enjoy the pain.”

Kyle stood up abruptly. “Do not dare to say that ever again. Do you think I have enjoyed being beaten every single night for the past two years? Do you think I enjoy having to hide the bruises and scars from these continuous beatings? If I have a bruise visible, do you think I like having to make excuses?”

“Why do you not get out then?”

Kyle sat back down. “No one seems to care … that is why. If they cared, they would have figured out something is out of the ordinary. When you hear about child abuse cases involving parents, teachers or faculty always notice something wrong. No one seems to notice anything about me though. I am not important enough … I guess.” The last sentence was said in almost a whisper.

Darren did not like where this conversation was going. The way Kyle talked, it sounded like self-destructive talk, the kind of talk that would lead to suicide. “What about me?”

Kyle shook his head. “You didn’t figure something was wrong on your own.
You saw it with your very own eyes. And YOU thought I was enjoying it.”
Darren looked at his lap in shame. “I’m sorry. I should have noticed something was wrong.”

“You were too busy hating me to even care.”

Darren’s head shot up. “That is not true.” He said defensively.

“You sure fooled me.” Kyle said sarcastically.

Darren felt guilt all over again, that is if it had not gone away. “I am so sorry Kyle. I never hated you.”

“Then why did you treat me like a fungus you were afraid of catching?”

“I was mad at myself, and I took it out at you.”

“Why were you mad?”

“That is none of your business.”

“But—“

“No.”

“Can’t you—“

“No.”

“Tell me—“

“No.”

“Why?”

“No.” This last ‘no’ was said firmly, leaving no room for argument. “It is my business and I have a right to some privacy, do I not?”

“I guess.”

“Darren glanced at his brother who was watching them. “How about you ask my brother if you could stay with him? Tell him the truth about your brother.”

“You are forgetting one thing. He hates me and it is all because of you. That day when you had the tape recorder, you kept pushing my buttons until I said what you wanted, what you knew Alex would be hurt by. You wanted Alex to hate me.”

Darren sighed. “That was true to begin with. I did not want you two to get too close.”

“You wanted Alex all to yourself. You could not stand the idea that we
might have been able to become friends.”

Darren sighed once again, his eyes shining with unshed tears. “It had nothing to do with Alex and me, but I do not want to get into that. I tried to make it right tonight by telling Alex to drive you home which he was going to. I was hoping you two would talk in the car and make up with each other. Somehow, that did not happen.”

“This is why. Aaron said I liked it rough and kinky because that is what Eric told him to get him to go along with the sex. Alex wanted to know if it was true, and I could not say no for obvious reasons. Then he went off about the tape recorder and how I criticized him. That is pretty much when you walked out of the school.”

Darren stood with sudden determination. He grabbed Kyle by the arm and heaved him up as well. He dragged Kyle back to the table which Alex still occupied. “Alex, listen.”

“What’s up little brother?”

“It is about the tape recorder. I did not want to tell you the truth today because I was afraid you would hate me. Kyle may have said those things, but—“

“Stop Darren.”

“What’s wrong Kyle?”

Kyle pulled Darren to the side, out of earshot of Alex. “I do not want you to potentially ruin your relationship with your brother. Considering I lack a good relationship with Eric, I know how important one is and I do not want you to lose it.”

“Alex’s anger at you is not fair though. I caused it unfairly, and it is my duty to make it right again, even at the cost of my brother’s respect. I am doing what I think is right and you can’t stop me.”

Darren wrenched his arm out of Kyle’s grip and went back to Alex’s table. “Alex, as I was saying before I was interrupted, although Kyle said those words, I kind of talked him into it. I pushed his buttons so he would blurt them out without thinking. I wanted you to hate him and I am very sorry and I feel very ashamed. I will understand if you want nothing to do with me.”

Alex sighed. “Darren, sit down, you too Kyle.” Kyle and Darren sat next to each other on the opposite side of the table, facing Alex. Although I am upset and a little surprised you would do that Darren, I do not want you out of my life. You made a mistake and everyone makes mistakes. This was not your first mistake and it will not be your last, I assure you. You obviously seem to have learned your lesson because I know when you are lying, and you seem genuinely sorry. I am assuming you apologized to Kyle as well.”

“He did.” Kyle stood up for Darren.

Darren let out a small, nervous smile, afraid Alex would change his mind and suddenly turn on him.

“Then all is forgiven and forgotten. To tell you the truth, I was kind of surprised when I heard the tape recorder. I had trouble imagining Kyle saying those words.”

Kyle smiled slightly. “I really did not mean what I said. I meant what I said at the park that day when we first met. There is nothing wrong with it.”

Alex smiled. “I know.”

Darren cleared his throat. “Kyle, don’t have something to ask Alex?”

Alex raised his eyebrows, while Kyle turned a slight rosy hue.

“No.”

Darren looked angry. “Do not even pull that. My brother is not angry at you anymore. You do not have any more excuses. Stop making them.” When Kyle did not make a move to ask the burning question, Darren took it into his own hands. “Alex, can Kyle stay with you at least for the night, maybe a little longer?”

“DARREN!!” Kyle screamed.

“You were not taking the initiative to help yourself, so I am.”

Alex chose to cut in at this time. “Is there a problem at home?”

Darren answered for Kyle. “You can say that.”

Kyle looked frustrated.

Alex thought for a moment. “Kyle, does it have anything to do with your twin?”

Kyle had been looking at his hands, and his head shot up. “What did you say?”

“Do not pretend you did not hear me because you did. That night when I dropped you off, something seemed really weird.”

Darren looked happy which confused the hell out of Kyle and Alex. He shook Kyle and whispered excitedly. “You see, someone did realize, and he had not even known you for that long.”

Kyle now understood, but Alex was still confused. “What did you say?”

Darren was going to answer, but Kyle covered his mouth with his hand. “Let me take care of this. I thought no one cared about me because no one even noticed something was wrong Out of my mom, my older brother, my younger sister, and the whole school, no one picked up on anything out of the ordinary. I did not see the point of getting help if no one cared enough to see when there was a problem.” Kyle looked at his hands again.

Alex stood up, and silently motioned for Darren to switch seats with him, which Darren did without complaint. He took Kyle’s hands in his, which made Kyle look up. “Do not ever think no one cares about you. A lot of times, people get so wrapped up in their own lives that they fail to notice anything around them.” He tried to make the tone lighter. “Now, about you staying with me, you are more than welcome to. You do not have to tell me everything that has happened with your brother. You can when you feel ready and I will not force you. Deal?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go then. I will give you something to wear tonight. I will wash your clothes so you will have something for school.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”


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