· Fan Fiction Main Menu

Average Reader Rating on this book /7 Ratings

Login or register to rate this story yourself

CHAPTER 4: Solace

"John and I are having some minor problems again. And I'm thinking about possibly cutting it off."

"What?" Jessica nearly screamed. "After all that fuss you put up about wanting him back and that after Justin left?"

"I know, but I just don't think that me and him are the same people we fell in love with."

"Well whatever you want to do Steve, I know I'll still be here in Basingstoke for you."

"Me too.."

"Yeah, and me three.."

"Well I.. " Steve started then it hit him what Mark had just said, and he couldn't help but to let one of his smiles come out. John used to tell him that his smiles were like a supernova compared to sol, completely making it look like just another star to earth. But now, he just wanted him there probably just for the sex and that was it. "Thanks guys. You have all been too good to me and I'm afraid I've been acting like a total sod back to you..."

"No Steve.."

"Yeah, I should have been more forthcoming and open about myself with you guys, I mean you all are four of my five pillars of strength."

"Five?" Jessica inquired. "What about Linda?"

"I was including her. I'm gonna let John know that me and him just can't go on anymore. Not so secretly now that he still can't even come to terms with reality and tell the world that he loves me, just like I was willing to tell all of central Basingstoke that I'm a damned poof."

"Well whatever. We're here for you but can't make your mind up for you." Wendy commented as they finally pulled up to Steven's house.

"Thanks again guys. And thanks for the great weekend. We'll have to go there again soon before we all go off to college." They all gave their farewells, and Steve trood up his front lawn and into the safe haven of his house. "Real, solid floors.. walls!" Steve mocked himself, ran to the nearest loo, "Porcelin!! Yes!"

"I take it you're in a good mood Steven?" Asked Graham from his chair in the sitting room.

"Yeah, well like you said.. us queers aren't the outdoorsie types.." Steve said with a bit of a grin across his face.

"I was wrong. Steve, sit down; there's something your mother and I would like to discuss with you."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. We just got a letter in from Oxford today. You've been accepted as a journalism major."

Johnny was up at Oxford, maybe they could make their relationship and love last a bit longer. Steve jumped up grinning from ear to ear. "That's great news, we should celebrate..."

"Not so fast there, sit back down."

"What?" Steven said, now suddenly alarmed at the still quite serious face of his father.

"You were excepted to Oxford yes, but not to the main campus."

"What?... I don't think I follow.."

Sarah Carter went back into the kitchen, wanting no parts of the brainwashing that was probably to take place by her husband over her son, just to keep him close. Yes, she wanted him to stay here in England, perhaps even Basingstoke; but as long as he was happy, then so was she.

"They have several international campuses that they employ as to keep their own student ratios where they are supposed to be or something like that, the letter didn't quite explain."

"Which one?"

"It's a college or univerity or something called John Hopkins. It's mainly a medical school but they have several branches and one of them recieved a copy of your "Millinem Generation" article from three years back, and the story about your 'award winning speech'."

"Where is it at?"

"It's in the United States. While you were away, I went online in your room and did some research on it. It's a really good school in a really nice area of the country. A decent bit like Basingstoke; it's just inside of Baltimore."

"Graham, why don't we let him think for a bit before deciding rather he wants to make a trans-atlantic move. And in the meantime, I'll put the tea on to start?" Sarah said in a last ditch effort to let Steven make up his own mind, before Graham could ensure that he stays here.

"Fine. Go ahead and think about it Steven for a while; 'course you know you always have a home right here, rent-free."

"Yeah...." Steven said his mind somewhere else, perhaps going over the possiblities, perhaps still just startled that he was accepted. But either way, he made his way with his backpack up to his room.
=====================================================
It was nearly dusk when John pulled into the family drive, and parked up close to the reassuringly familiar home. He gathered his belongings from the trunk of his convertible, and found that he had one of Steven's shirts by accident somehow. Stuffing it in his duffle bag with the rest of his clothes, John closed the trunk lid and was startled rather bad by his father standing at the front of the car.

"Oh.. dad.. you gave me fright..."

"Where have you been?"

"Camping with some friends just north of here a bit.."

"And you're mobile? Why is it turned off? You have it so that we can get in touch with you if we need to; what if one of us had gone to the hospital?"

"Dad, the battery went dead and I didnt' think to bring my car charger with me... calm down." John was rather upset that his dad was down on him nearly all the time when he came home to.."relax". He pushed his way past his father and up the stairs and in the front door.
"Mum.. I'm home.." He shouted, hoping that she was in hearing range before running up the grand staircase, two stairs at a time.
In his room, he started to separate the dirty clothes from the pair he had set to wear tomorrow whilst doing his laundry. Just then his mother walked in the room, in her gown all ready for bed.

"Goodnight John, I just wanted to say hi before I went to sleep."

"Oh. Ok.. nite mum."
John was quite proturbed still with the fact that one of Steven's shirts had made its' way into his bag. After his mother left his room, he raced to the door and securely locked the handle, then went right back to his bedside and picked the phone up. Dialing the familiar numbers one at a time, he heard Mrs. Carters' voice.

"Yes hi, is Steve in yet?"

"He just went up to bed John.."

"How do you know my voice?" John said, all the while resisting slamming down the reciever.

"Well you and Mark are the only guys that call here on the weekend. Which is almost a shame, my gay son only gets called by his fellow blokes on the weekends..." The sarcasm was so thick in her throat that John felt he could cut through it with a knive from his house through the telephone line.

"...Mrs. Carter I..."

"What... deffinately sure you're just his mate.. 'Johnny' is it?"

"Look, I don't know where you heard that from, but I can assure you that.."

"What? That my son calls his best mate Mark, yet calls you Johnny?"

"Look, I've got to go.."

"John wait. I'm not meaning to scare you off, but Graham and I have been wandering why you're so much older than he is and yet have been hanging around him so much..."

"Really, my mother just called me.."

"John... I don't care. I just want my son to be happy; and not get hurt. I won't tell his father anything, just don't let me catch you hurting him." And with that, Sarah Carter hung the phone up instead of allowing John to have the last word. That hasn't happened to John Carter in forever.. John Carter?! What the hell was he thinking? He needed a shower and a good night's sleep.