Que Sera Sera. (Whatever Will Be Will Be.)
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CHAPTER 4: Que Sera Sera.
The weekend seems to pass too quickly for Steve and John. Over tea that night, John gave the invitation to mum and dad for the next weekend and they accepted. On the Saturday night they had to cover each others mouths from time to time in order to keep quiet enough so as not to disturb Steve's parents and after they had gone to sleep, Steve woke up a couple of time as John kept hogging the duvet, yet again.
On the Sunday, Linda takes Steve and John for a drive and picnic in the countryside. As usual she didn't keep to straight roads as she had said she would, she told us she enjoyed seeing the obvious reaction bumpy roads produced in us. After the picnic, she decided to be nicer to us and stuck to smooth straight roads on the way home, declaring that she didn't want us to shake my parent's house down as John and I had almost done last night. John and I blushed at that. God, Linda can be a huge tease at times, but I love her all the same. When we get back to my place, John says that he should be getting home and Linda offers to drive him. John runs off and gets his bag and we all pile back into Linda's corvette and she drives off. When we get to John's place, he gives me a passionate kiss and tells me that he will stop by my place tomorrow morning and that we can go to school together. He then thanks Linda for a fun time today and heads inside. When Linda and I get home, we go up to my room and we catch up on the gossip of the past couple of days.
The next morning, I'm still eating breakfast when there is a knock at the door.
"I'll get it." I say to mum, "It's probably just Johnny."
Mum just smiles at me as I go and answer the door. I open it to find John standing there with his bicycle, "Hello gorgeous." he says to me with a grin, "Told you I'd be here."
"You sure did handsome." I reply, "Come on in, I'm still in the middle of my breakfast." and as he enters I give him a quick kiss.
When we get to the kitchen we sit at the table and John pinches one of my slices of bacon and says, "Sleepy head, I was up, gone for a run and had breakfast by seven." he finishes off the slice of bacon and pinches another.
"Hey, that's my breakfast, you're pinching." Steve protests.
"Don't worry, lunch is on me today. That is, if you can stand the gloop that the canteen serves up." John replies with a grin.
"Well, I guess I can." Steve tells him with a grin and teases John by saying, "It's probably better than your cooking."
Sarah Carter then comes into the kitchen, gives both of them a kiss on the cheek, much to John's surprise and she says, "I'm off to work now Steve. Don't forget to lock up after yourself. See you later John." she then leaves.
After Sarah has gone, John turns to Steve and remarks, "I don't believe what just happened. Your mum treated me as if I was just like you."
"Welcome to the family Johnny." Steve tells him, "If mum did that, it must mean she is glad to see that we are finally happy with ourselves. Oh, I hope we don't catch much stick from Alcock about my speech last Friday."
"Don't worry Steve, I noticed that dad had a little chat with him that day and if he wants that new extension to the school gymnasium done, he won't cause any trouble." John reassures him.
"Phew, I'm glad of that." Steve says, pretending relief as John filches a mouthful of his coffee thinking its tea.
John makes a face as he swallows the mouthful of coffee and says, "Yuck, how can you stand to drink this stuff?"
"Oh, its not too bad, once you get used to it." Steve laughs as he sees the look on John's face, "It's pretty good at waking sleepy heads, like me."
"Well, hurry up and finish your breakfast, so we can get going." John says, "I'll race you to school."
"Hey, that's not fair." Steve protests, "I saw your bike, you'll thrash me, being a 'hot' athlete and all."
"Ok, ok, we'll take it easy." John replies with a grin.
"Hmmm, well I've finished eating now, seeing as you nicked my bacon. I'll just wash these dishes and we can get going." Steve says, grinning back.
John helps Steve clean up and they head off to school. Once there they park their bikes and head into the school grounds, ignoring the occasional stares they get, where they find Kevin and Dave waiting for them near the main entrance.
"Hi boss, Steve." Kevin says in greeting, "Steve, I owe you an apology for the way I've treated you these past few years."
"Um… thanks Kev. I appreciate that." Steve replies.
"Yes…. well…. Um… if anyone gives you or Johnny any trouble about the two of you being queer, let me know and I'll sort them out. I told the boss here that Dave and I are the only ones allowed to poke fun at you two."
"Um… thanks again Kev, but I think we'll be ok." Steve says, surprised at the change in Kevin.
"Yeah, well… I… um… have a favour to ask. Could you talk to Jessica and see if she will have a chat with me. I really want to try and patch things up with her. I feel a right wanker after all the pain I've caused her." Kevin further surprises Steve by asking.
"Ok, but don't hold your breath waiting. She's still really pissed off with you. I can't promise anything." Steve replies.
"Thanks mate. I'll catch you in class John." and Kevin leaves with Dave trailing, but not before Dave gives them a big grin and a thumbs up.
"Wow, when you told me about the change in Kevin, I didn't really believe you Johnny." Steve tells him after Kevin has gone, "It's a bit of a shock, I tell ya."
"Pillock, you should of believed me, after all I've known Kev since secondary school." John replies with a grin.
"Well, I had better head off for class myself," Steve says, "Do I get a kiss to keep me going till lunch time?"
"Um… ok, sure hope Alcock is watching, it'll give him something else to have a litter of kittens over." and John gives Steve a quick kiss on the lips before they separate to go to their classes.
In class, Steve gets a few congratulations from other pupils on his speech and a couple of stares, but otherwise the lesson continues as normal. It's the same with his other morning class and towards the end of the lesson his mind starts to wander a bit, contemplating lunch with John. When the bell goes, he remembers to hand in his homework and he races off to the canteen to find John. He gets there first and finds a table for them to sit at.
After a few minutes John arrives and finds him, "Hi there." Steve says and John replies with a "Hi there." as well.
"Wait here and I'll go and get us something. Anything you fancy in particular?" John asks.
"Well, what I fancy is standing in front of me." Steve replies with a leer as John laughs, "But I'll have whatever you're having. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."
John grins at that comment, "Be back soon." and he goes off to join the queue.
While John is getting their lunch, Mark, Wendy and Jessica find him, "Mind if we join you?" Mark asks.
"Sure, pull up a pew, John should be back in a few moments." Steve tells them.
"I'm glad to see you're ok." Jessica tells him, "We were really worried about you when you collapsed on stage last week. Linda gave me a call on Friday night to let us know you were fine. And she told me that she had something nefarious planned for you and John over the weekend. What did she do?"
Steve tells them about the drive and the picnic that Linda took them on and as he is finishing the story, John arrives with his lunch.
While John and Steve are eating their lunch, Mark asks, "Why didn't you tell me that you are gay Steve? It would have made no difference to our friendship, after all we've known each other since we were six."
"Well I was afraid that it would, Mark." Steve tells him between mouthfuls, "That's, why I kept my mouth shut for such a long time."
"Twat, well you should have told me earlier." Mark replies and then mock punches Steve on the arm.
Talk then turns to what they are going to do for the school magazine next term and just as John and Steve are finishing their lunch, James Dominic who is the same age as Steve, the school's resident genius, comes over with another guy in tow.
"Hi Carter. Just came over to say congratulations on your speech last Friday. Heard about it afterwards and I'm sorry that Jeff and I weren't there or we would have joined you up on the stage when you asked for others to speak up." James tells him to the surprise of everyone, "I've been 'out' to my family for a couple of years now, but not at school until today. And Jeff and I here, have been seeing each other in secret for a bit over a year now." Jeff then waves hello to everyone at the table.
"Um… thanks James. And its Steve by the way." Steve tells him, although Steve only know James from being a sometimes lab partner with him in their science classes, he is glad that some others have decided to open about themselves as well.
Jeff then speaks up, in an accent that is unfamiliar to them all, "Steve, John, hope you don't mind me using your first names, I can't get used to this British thing of using someone's last name. Well, James and I are going to the movies this Friday night and then out for a coffee afterwards. Was wondering if the two of you would like to join us?"
Steve looks at John and cocks an eyebrow at him. John looks back and nods before answering, "Sure Jeff, we'd love to. How about we meet up at the cinema at six thirty?"
"Beauty, that'll be great. See ya then. Come on James, lets get a drink. I'm drier than a pair of dead dingoes dongers." Jeff then says to James.
As the two of get ready to go, Wendy asks, "Jeff, where are you from? I've never heard an accent like yours before."
"'Down Under', from a little city called Canberra." Jeff calls back as he leads James off, "I'll tell y'all about it later." and they then depart.
The group of them then speculate on possibly how many other pupils will follow Steve and John's example until its time to head off to class.
The rest of the week seems to buzz along quickly and Steve and John try to spend as much time together as possible. Steve has a chat with Jessica telling her what Kevin asked him to do and she agrees to talk to Kevin as long as Steve is with her. When Steve, Jessica and Kevin meet up for the talk, Kevin gets down on his knees begging for forgiveness. Jessica decides to give him one more chance, but insists that Kevin start as if they were dating for the first time again. When the talk is over, Kevin thanks Steve profusely and tells him that if there is anything that he can ever do for him, to just ask. During one of the lunch breaks that week, Steve asks James and Jeff if Mark, Wendy, Jessica and Kevin come along as well and make it a group outing. They agree and the group plan on what movie to see and where to go afterwards.
During the morning class on Friday, Mr Alcock makes an announcement over the PA system that he would like to see Steve during the lunch break. For the rest of the mornings lessons, Steve can't concentrate, sure that there has been some sort of repercussions from his speech last week, and that they can't be good.
When the lunch break arrives, Steve goes to the principals office and finds John waiting there as well. They greet each other and John says, "I would like to go in with you Steve, in my capacity as 'Head Boy' of course. Just in case old Alcock tries anything he will be sorry for."
"Thanks Johnny, I'd appreciate that. That announcement this morning has got me as nervous as all hell." Steve replies.
Steve then knocks on Alcock's door and when they hear him say, "Come in." they both enter.
"Ah, Carter, there you are. Take a seat." Mr Alcock says and when he notices John entering as well he continues, "Dixon, I thought you might be along as well. Find a seat too, although this is nothing bad I assure you. Quite the opposite in fact."
When both John and Steve are seated, they look at Mr Alcock, who then says, "Well Carter, it seems news of your speech a week ago has reached some very high places in London. I had a call this morning from the office of the Prime Minister, saying that he would like to present this school with a special citation for fostering an environment where pupils are able to express themselves openly and freely." John and Steve both stare at him in surprise. Steve actually in a bit of shock as he never expected his speech to have this consequence and Mr Alcock continues. "The presentation will take place during the senior's graduation ceremony and the Prime Minister would like you, Steve to accept the citation on behalf of the school. I trust you have no objections to that?"
"Um… no sir, I would be honoured." Steve replies in a low shocked voice.
"Good, now there'll be a special notice given to all pupils this afternoon, inviting them and their parents to attend the graduation ceremony. Steve, you'll be up on stage with the dignitaries, so please don't be late." Mr Alcock says reminding Steve of last week. "Now, although legally, I can't condone what you did last week. Personally, I would like to thank you for what you did, as it has raised the reputation of this school higher than any other pupil has done in the past."
Steve just nods his thanks as he is completely lost for words.
Mr Alcock then continues, "I'm ordering a special reprint of the school magazine with that censored article to be included, and a copy will be given to every pupil. Please accept my apologies for censoring it in the first place and please pass them on to the rest of the magazine staff."
"I will sir, and thankyou." Steve says.
Mr Alcock then turns to John and says, "I hope you seniors won't mind having your graduation ceremony, hijacked for a short while."
"Um… no sir. I'm sure we won't mind at all, not with the PM being there." John replies still as surprised as Steve is.
"Good. Now Steve here is a letter to your parents explaining everything and the part you will be expected to take part in during the ceremony." Mr Alcock hands Steve an envelope with Mr and Mrs Carter written on the front. "That will be all now, go and enjoy your lunch."
Both Steve and John thank him and then leave his office. They walk in silence together until they reach the others who are sitting outside and they all clamour for the news of what Alcock said to them.
"Well… it seems that news of my little speech reached the House of Commons and the PM wants to present Belvedere High with a special citation for fostering an environment where pupils can express themselves openly and freely." Steve tells them with a slight grin on his face.
"WHAT!!" is the reaction from Mark, Wendy, Jessica, Kevin, Dave, James and Jeff. The lot of them having become a regular lunch time group along with John and Steve.
Both Steve and John laugh and Steve continues, "And it seems the PM wants me to accept the citation on behalf of the school."
"Bloody hell, you should be getting the citation Steve." Wendy blurts out, "Not bloody Alcock and the school. After all it was you who had the guts to make that speech."
"Its ok Wendy. By the way Alcock is reprinting the mag with the censored article included and he apologized for censoring it in the first place." Steve tells her.
"As he bloody well should have." Wendy continues, "Typical of the fascist, go whichever way the wind blows."
"When is this presentation taking place?" Jessica asks Steve.
"At the seniors graduation ceremony." John breaks in, "There's a special notice being circulated this afternoon to everyone."
Talk then changes again to the movie that they are going to see tonight and continues until its time to head off to class.
After school, after John drops Steve home, telling him that he'll be by at six to pick him up, Steve gives him a kiss and goes inside to drop the bombshell on his parents. He gets in, drops off his Jacket and bag, gives his mum a kiss and sits down at the kitchen table. When Sarah puts his tea in front of him, he gives the letter to Graham who comments, what has Steve been up to now. Steve just lets his dad read the letter out loud to Sarah and when he finishes it, both of them are amazed.
"Well I thought that speech you made last week was a mistake at first Steve. But now, well I'm sorry I ever thought that." Graham comments.
"Oh Steve, I'm so proud of you." Sarah says giving Steve's hand a squeeze.
"So, you'll both be there at the ceremony?" Steve asks with a grin, delighted that he has been able to surprise his parents.
"Of course we will Steve. Your mother and I wouldn't miss this for the world. After all its not every day a parent gets to see their son meet the Prime Minister." Graham adds.
Talk continues to revolve around that topic during tea and when Steve finishes he goes and gets ready for tonight's outing with the gang.
He is just getting dressed when John arrives in his father's car. He sees John get out and a few minutes later is up in his room kissing him and ruffling his hair. He finishes getting ready and says bye to his parents who tell him not to be too late. John then takes them to the cinema where they meet up with the others and they decide to see 'Star Trek, Insurrection'. After the movie, they make their way to a café where they have to push two tables together to accommodate their group.
After they have ordered their coffees, tea for John of course, and some munchies, Wendy turns to Jeff and says, "Ok now its later, tell us a bit about yourself and where you came from."
"Ok, ok, I guess I should 'fess up." Jeff says with a grin for her, "I'm originally from Canberra, the capital city of Australia. I came over, just over a year ago, when my dad, who's a software engineer, was offered a job that was too good to pass up. Mum and dad decided to settle in Basingstoke when they found the prices in London too expensive. Basingstoke is a lot like Canberra really, roundabouts everywhere, even the parliament house there sits in the middle of a huge roundabout. Dad commutes to London every day for his work."
"So were you 'out' in Australia?" John asks him.
"Yeah, I was. There is a more relaxed attitude towards being gay in Oz than there is here." Jeff tells them, "When we moved over here, mum and dad gave me this huge lecture about how the laws were different here. Bloody nuisance it is I tell ya." and he grins at them to take the sting out of his words. "Mind you it doesn't get as cold there as it does here. I need anti-freeze in my veins to survive your winters here."
They have a laugh at that and Wendy then asks, "So how did you and James here hook up?"
James grins and answers, instead of Jeff, "He just came right out and asked me if I fancied going out on a date with him. I had no idea how he knew about me, but I said yes and we've going steady ever since."
"Hmmm, well I did think about chasing you for a while Steve, but James here caught my eye instead." Jeff says to Steve.
"How did you guess that I was gay? I thought I kept it well hidden." Steve asks him.
"Well, I've gotten pretty good at spotting who might be gay and you set off all the right signals." Jeff says to Steve with a wink.
"So how are you finding Basingstoke?" Jessica asks him.
"Its pretty good, as I said earlier Basingstoke is a lot like Canberra, so I don't feel as homesick. Although I'm a bit pissed off with the education system here. I should be in the same year as John here." Jeff says to their surprise, "But as some of the subjects I studied aren't recognised here, they put me back 2 years. It's been a right royal pain in the ass having to repeat a lot of stuff."
The discussion then turns to the movie they just saw, just as their drinks and food arrives. When they are finished they all go their separate ways and John takes Steve home. When they get back to the Carter house, Steve turns to John and asks him, "So, handsome, want to stay the night?"
"Of course, I was wondering if you were going to ask." John replies.
Steve grins at him and tells him, "This time I remembered to grab an extra duvet, in case you decide to hog it again."
John pretends to be outraged, "What! I never hog the duvet." and then grins at Steve as they go to his room, where they spend the night making love until they fall asleep exhausted.
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