The Broken Road

It took me a while to update this story. I was so immersed in my other one, The Jigsaw (http://original.adult-fanfiction.org/story.php?no=600096300), that I had to put this one on hold for some time.
I'm back now and it feels refreshing :)

Huh, I didn't get any reviews lately...
Well, I hope this story is at least worth reading :)
I like it somehow, anyway.

Enjoy!

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Friends?

On Monday, as he passed over the school’s threshold, Ringo felt horrible stress. His hands were all sweaty, and making his heart and breathing calm and slow was impossible. He could only hope it wasn't obvious.

He went to the classroom like a prisoner to the scaffold, and when he got to the door he was barely able to fight the temptation to turn back and play hooky. He didn't, though, knowing that tomorrow he'd be back in the very same place, with the very same problem, and with an unexcused absence on his account.

When he didn't spot any sign of Kayden, he relaxed a bit. Now Kayden would be the one with the problem of approaching and, well... starting any interaction between them. Or not.

"Hey!" Mandy welcomed him with a wide smile on her round face. "How long did you stay on Friday?"

Ringo gave her a glare but answered, not without an effort, "Too long."

She took his answer at face value. "I see you hit it off with Kayden. That's kind of a surprise. Well, a good one, I mean." She chuckled.

"Yeah, kinda." Actually, after that night he wanted to see Kayden even less than before.

"He's a cool guy," Mandy stated with conviction.

"You think so?" Ringo thought Kayden really was a cool guy. Apart from what he had done, of course.

"Sure. And...well...." She stammered and blushed, having gone too far with her blubbering.

"You wanted to say he's hot?" Ringo smiled ironically.

"Um...." She couldn't bring herself to answer, but her face said it all.

Ringo shook his head, slightly amused by the coincidence. The sudden thought crossed his mind that he should tell Kayden about what she’d said, but of course, it was a stupid impulse.

That day, to Ringo's ultimate relief, Kayden didn't come to school. Nor the next day, either. Or the next. But by Wednesday it was no longer a relief for Ringo. The memory of the disturbing experience had faded a bit and merged with the general impression of a drinking party, and now he could state, with all firmness, that Kayden was a nice guy. When he didn't show up for three days and nobody knew what had happened to him, Ringo started to worry. Moreover, the burden of unfinished business and unexplained matters gnawed at him. He thought it wouldn't be so bad to face Kayden and settle things once and for all. He was of two minds for half a day, opening and closing his phone again and again. He even typed a text message: "hi, what's up? why not at school?" but hadn’t the courage to send it. Instead he just saved it in his outbox. Such simple words, and yet....

Ringo waded through lessons in a strange lethargy. Whether it was from confusion, concern, or anxiety, suffice it to say that Ringo's mind was full of Kayden. It was lucky he didn't know where Kayden lived. Otherwise he knew he would have gone there "by coincidence" and wandered around, impatient and a bit scared. Why? Oh, he would find a good excuse. Like—he just wanted to see Kayden's house, or to take a walk, and that seemed like the perfect place. Or something equally stupid.

Fortunately he didn't know where Kayden lived, so he went straight home. His amazement knew no bounds when he saw a familiar silhouette leaning against the wall around his yard. His insubordinate heart fluttered and a warm flush colored his cheeks, so he had to stop for a second to get himself under control before approaching Kayden.

The blond boy smiled widely and spit out a weed he’d been chewing. He was wearing a worn leather jacket, its history of motorcycle adventures written all over its surface, and equally tattered jeans. The picture was complemented by heavy Doc Martens, a model Ringo had always wanted but couldn't afford.

"Hi," Kayden welcomed his friend casually.

"Hi," Ringo tried to sound as careless. "Whatcha doin' here?"

"I wanted to go somewhere other than home. Your place seemed a good idea, although I'm not so sure now," Kayden admitted honestly. "Do you mind?"

"No. No, that's okay." Ringo made an effort to smile. "Come in." He opened the gate and led his guest to the house.

"Will I meet your mother?" Kayden's voice sounded serious, saving him from being kicked out.

"Only if she is able to meet you," Ringo answered, shrugging, and he let Kayden through the door. "My room is upstairs." He gestured toward the stairs. "Do you want something to drink?"

"Yeah, thanks. Whatever'll be fine."

"I think I only have water. Well, and whisky. And some other shit like that." Ringo snorted sarcastically.

"Water it is." Kayden looked around curiously. "Is that your father?" He pointed at a small portrait hanging over the dresser.

"Yeah, some years ago." Ringo didn't even look at the photograph. He took a bottle of water and two glasses and started to his room. "Come on," he tossed over his shoulder.

"Why didn't you come to school?" he asked when the door closed behind them.

"I didn't feel like it." Kayden shrugged and casually threw himself onto Ringo's bed where he sprawled with his head leaning against the wall.

"Bullshit. You really want to repeat the year? Again?" Ringo poured the water into the glasses, not looking at his friend.

"Are you my father?" Kayden snorted. "Spare me, 'kay?"

Ringo gave him a long, serious look. "Yeah, sure...whatever you want, dickhead."

"What the hell?" Kayden knitted his brows and armed himself in a hostile attitude. "Is it any of your business? Asshole."

"No, not at all. But I’m still telling you it's stupid."

"You don’t know anything."

"Whatever you say, genius." Ringo shrugged and took a sip of water, leaning his bottom against the desk. "If you were looking for someone to agree with whatever you say, you came to the wrong address, mate."

Kayden didn't say anything, just lowered his head and covered it with his crossed arms. "I didn't come here to get offended, that's for sure."

"I’m not offending you. I’m saying what I think. I'm sorry you can't see the difference." Ringo's voice sounded indifferent.

"Man, I told you already. I'm not going to grant my father's wishes. I had a fight with him and I didn't want to see him. You get it?"

"I get it. But that was about your father; at home. What about school?"

"What about it?" Kayden shrugged, obviously avoiding giving him an answer.

"Don't fuck with me, mister smartass." Ringo knew that Kayden knew what he wanted to hear.

Kayden's narrowed eyes looked at him warningly from under knitted brows and Ringo was silent for a while, his lips pursed. "Who the fuck are you to speak to me like that? Who said I should confess to you?"

"Look." Ringo tried to sound reasonable, although he was getting impatient. "I know things aren’t going too well with your father. But who do you think you’re learning for? Your old man has his ambitions, whether they’re clever or not, but it's you who has your whole life to make it through on what you get out of school. You really don't get that?"

"Don't give me fucking sermon," Kayden bristled. "Even if I have to wreck myself completely to lead that dick a dog’s life, I'll do it, no matter what it takes."

"And he'll look at you one day and say, 'I told you so! If you’d listened to me, you wouldn't have ended up like this!' Is that what you want?" Ringo shook his head, angry that he couldn't find a way to get through to Kayden.

"You behave like a fucking mother, teacher, and priest all in one." Kayden stood up and moved to the door. "I guess I'll stick to the friends I already have."

"So why the fuck did you come here?" Ringo jumped forward and banged his palm against the door right next to Kayden's face. "Your friends? What fucking friends, huh?" he hissed. "The ones who watch you dickin' around and wastin' your life and are on cloud fuckin' nine that they can party with you? The ones who pat your arm at school and say, 'Oh, what a shame you're not in our class any more'? Maybe the chicks who blush and say 'God, he's hot!'? Huh? The friends who don't call you if you're not at school because it's so typical of you? Huh?" He was shouting now, his emotions out of control, his face only inches away from Kayden's ear. It had happened so suddenly that it amazed even him. He panted heavily, his eyes flared, and his heart pounded like a hammer.

The blond boy turned like a shot to face Ringo and snapped, "And did you?"

Ringo was dumbfounded. He opened his mouth only to close it again, angry both at Kayden for what he considered an unfair question and at himself for not having any good excuses. "What am I, your babysitter?" he tossed out finally. "We’ve known each other for what, a month?"

"Exactly. So what gives you the right to run me down? And people you don't know? Huh?" Kayden was just as charged up as Ringo. He knew Ringo was right, but he wasn't going to admit it. Not after he’d been deeply offended and his pride had been hurt. "Fuck you!" he hissed through his teeth. He shoved away Ringo's hand and shot out of the room.

Ringo heard his loud steps on the stairs and the bang of the front door slamming. "Fuck!" he whispered, and took a deep breath. His heart squeezing painfully, he sat down on his bed and hid his face in his hands. He had to chill out. What the hell happened to me? Why did I have to tell him all those things? He couldn't understand that strong yet inexplicable desire he’d had to stab Kayden, to make him feel bad, demeaned. Sure, he’d meant well; he’d wanted to open Kayden's eyes, to show him that he cared; but something had gone terribly wrong and instead he’d behaved like the ultimate asshole. He took a glass and gulped the water down so fast that he burped out loud.

The visit put Ringo in a bad mood. He couldn't concentrate on anything. He tried to study, to do his homework, to read a book, to listen to music...nothing worked, and everything was so annoying! Finally he gave up his attempts, hurled a notebook against the wall, swore coarsely—which happened rarely and only when he was alone—and hit the wall with his fist. Then he forcibly let the air out of his lungs, which was meant to help him pull himself together, and reached for his mobile.

"I'm sorry. I got carried away," he texted to Kayden.
When half an hour later the phone rang and Kayden's name showed on the display, Ringo's heart almost skipped out of his chest, he was so nervous.

"Hi." He tried to stop his voice from shaking.

"Hi. Let me in," a dry voice said.

"What?"

"I said, let me in!"

"What?!" Ringo jumped to his feet.

"Just open your fucking door, will you?" Kayden sounded irritated.

"God!" Ringo whispered, more to himself than to the phone, and rushed downstairs to the door. Outside, with a gloomy expression on his face, stood Kayden, his hands pushed deep into his pockets.

"Come in." Ringo invited him inside with a sincere gesture of his hand. "I—you surprised me. I didn't—"

"You didn't think I'd come back. I know. I do a lot of things people don't expect me to. Right?"

"Um...I guess so." Ringo blushed, suddenly remembering what he desperately needed to keep out of his mind when talking to Kayden. "I'm glad you came back. I'm sorry. My fault."

"Damn right, man. You got me good, ya know?" Kayden's face was still serious and wry, but he was doing his best to relax the situation.

Ringo smiled apologetically and led his—well, friend?—upstairs. "I texted you," he said out of the blue, immediately feeling stupid.

"I know." Kayden looked surprised. "I got it. That's why I called you."

"No, no. Not now." Ringo blushed again. "In the morning. I...didn't send it, though. Well, you have friends, after all, and...whatever. But I wrote it." He sat on the chair at the desk and lowered his eyes to avoid Kayden's look. The blond boy leaned his head back against the door, then he slowly slid down it to sit on the floor, his knees under his chin. He didn't say anything.

"I guess I was worried," Ringo continued. "I'm not used to you disappearing for a few days, yet. But I'll adapt," he assured the other boy.

"Don't," Kayden said quietly, searching for Ringo's eyes with his.

"Don't what?" Ringo shook his head, not understanding, and finally returned Kayden's gaze.

"Don't adapt." Kayden's voice was barely louder than a whisper. He bit his lower lip before he spoke again. "I think...it was true, what you said. That no one gives a shit." Ringo could tell it cost Kayden a lot to say that. "It's...I'm aware of it, you know?" Kayden forced himself to carry on. "I just don't like to make a big deal about it. I don't need that. I don't really care."

You do. I can tell you do. Just like me, Ringo thought. "'Kay." He nodded his head. "I won't."

After a long while of comfortable silence, Kayden asked hesitantly, "So what happened at school?"

"Nothing interesting." Ringo shrugged; his answer was an automatic reaction to the typically parental question.

"Really?" Kayden snorted. "So that's what this was all about?" He cocked his eyebrow mockingly.

"Okay, then." Ringo did his best to remember the last few days at school. "Math test, English writing—Collman was sick so we had a substitute. What else...we got some Physics homework. The usual staff. I can show you my notes if you want," Ringo suggested carefully, expecting a violent reaction.

But Kayden just nodded his head with a knowing smirk and said, "Sure, why not?"

They spent half the night poring over homework spread across the floor. Ringo had to give Kayden a blank notebook, as Kayden didn't have one, even at home. Despite the fact that Kayden had fallen incredibly behind in school, to Ringo's surprise he turned out to be a quick learner. He wasn't an easy apprentice, though—impatient and short-tempered, not able to focus on one problem for more than five minutes at a time.

"Phew," Ringo sighed when their ordeal ended. "Not bad," he added, giving Kayden an appreciative look.

"I might goof off, but I ain't stupid," the boy answered, smiling mischievously.

"Don't waste it, 'kay?" Ringo ruffled his dark mop with both hands. "God, I'm tired!" He yawned widely and leaned backward against the bed, his legs crossed.

"Tell me about it!" Kayden snorted, subconsciously admiring the nice shape of Ringo's turned-up chin. "I don't remember studying so hard since...well, ever, I suppose."

"Usually I don't study that intensely either." Ringo gave his 'student' a meaningful look.

"Thanks." Kayden patted the floor with his new notebook, lying on his belly and supporting his upper body with arms. "Thank you," he repeated.

"You're welcome." Ringo smiled. Yes, he was satisfied and proud. He’d done a good job. Now Kayden should be grateful to him, and impressed by his morals, iron determination, and merciful heart. In other words, he should be considered someone special to Kayden.
This reasoning was carried out completely unconsciously, in the back of his mind.

"God, it's so late!" Ringo exclaimed when his gaze fell on the clock ticking on his desk. It was nearly one o’clock in the morning. "Um...are you going home today?" he asked hesitantly. Somewhere deep in his heart he wanted Kayden to ask if he could stay until morning.

"Phew," Kayden sighed tiredly, "I probably should." He didn't look like he was enthusiastic about leaving, though.

That wasn't what Ringo wanted to hear either, but it was only reasonable. Thus he forced himself to agree. "Yeah, I think you should." He nodded, feeling a lump growing in his throat. "It's better to go back earlier than later. Every day of your absence just makes your dad angrier."

"Yeah." Kayden slowly rose from the floor, pulled his things together, and smoothed his shirt. "Well, I'll get going, then." He put on his jacket. He was visibly postponing the moment of departure, and it made Ringo a little happier. "Thanks again. And see you tomorrow." They shook hands and Ringo reluctantly walked Kayden to the front door. Before the boy left they stood for a second on the threshold, neither knowing what else should or could be said or done. The situation was awkward, but not unpleasant.

"Uhm..." Ringo started. "Will you...be okay? I mean, your father...." He looked at Kayden questioningly.

"Yeah, I'll be all right. It's not the first time, anyway. And he doesn't beat me usually. I'm too old, I guess. Besides, he has to keep up appearances." The boy smiled unhappily and waved his hand to dismiss the subject. "Well, bye, then," he said and slowly broke away from the door frame.

"Yeah, take care." Ringo stood at the door, his eyes lingering on the bright patch of Kayden's mop that grew fainter and fainter, until it finally disappeared into the darkness.

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I decided that from now on chapters will be shorter than they used to be. This way I can upload them more often :)

Share your thoughts on this fiction with me, if you have any ;)
Thank you :)