Destiny - 3. Chapter 3

Slowly, his eyes opened. A light overhead was blinding him. Nate lifted
his arms to block the light. He was unable to hear anything or remember
where he was. Confused, he didn't understand what was going on.

Now able to adjust his eyes, he sat up, using his elbows for support.
Nate looked around, trying to get his bearings; he was in a small white
room. There was a tray next to him with some medical instruments.. He
noticed he was lying on a medical bed. Nate sat up fully, turned his
body to the side and stood up. The right side of his body was aching.
It felt like an elephant ran into him. Seeing a mirror by the window,
Nate took a few steps slowly, feeling the aching muscles. He looked out
the window to see where he was. Nate never left the school.

Looking in the mirror, he gasped. He saw his injuries, a black and blue
eye... his left eye. He tries to remember what happened, but can't.
Nate raised his left hand and touched his eye.

"OHH!" Nate whimpers, feeling the pain spike into his face.

The door opened and a lady walks in. Nate turns around to take a look
at her. He has never seen her before, but she was wearing a flowered
vest over her white blouse and a name tag saying "School Nurse."

"I see you're awake now, please take a seat."

Nate stepped away from the mirror to sit on the bed. He looked at her,
hoping she could answer some questions. "What happen to me?" he asked.

"Mr. Blair is it?" she asked, as she moved the tray in front of her.

"No, that's my dad, I'm Nate Blair," he answered. He wasn't trying to be rude, he just hated being called `Mr. Blair'.

"Well, at least that boy didn't knock out your sense of humour," the Nurse looked up with a smile.

"Umm, what happen to me?" Nate asked.

"Well, I don't know the details about what happened. I just know you
were attacked by another boy. You were knocked out cold," the nurse
answered.

Knowing how he got his black eye, he looked at her, "Why don't I remember anything?"

"It will come back, just give yourself some time." She smiled to Nate, trying to give him comfort.

"I'm going to patch you up and send you on your way," the nurse said as she grabbed a small hand-held device.

Nate was a little nervous and asked her, "What's that?"

"This will repair your blood vessels and reduce the swelling and
discolouration," she replied, while placing the device near Nate's
face.

With a buzzing sound, Nate felt a rush of cold air touching his left
cheek. The nurse was moving the instrument up and down, as if she was
doing a masterpiece. She was humming to herself. Nate smiled and tried
to hum with her. She looked at him and returned the smile. "All done!"

Nate reached up and lightly touched his face. He felt nothing but his
fingers. Nate pushed little harder, the pain was gone. He smiled at
her, "Thanks."

"You're welcome," she said, moving her tray back to the side of the table.

"Is there anything else?" she asked.

"My right side is sore, must be when I'll fell to the floor." Nate informed her.

"Take this pill and your soreness will be gone in an hour."

Nate nodded, took the pill and swallowed it without water.

"Good, I just needed to do a quick scan to make sure you're still alive," she grinned.

Nate sat still as she waved the medical scanner near his head. A loud
beeping came from the device. The nurse looked at it, push a few
buttons, looked at Nate. "Nate, you need to see a doctor."

"What wrong?" Nate didn't like the sound of that. The look on her face
was concern, but not horror, so he let out his breath and relaxed
again.

"Your ID chip is not working correctly. You need to get it replaced,"
she said, looking him in the eyes and smiling. "It's nothing bad. Also,
your brain is a little swollen, but that will pass." The nurse walked
over to the computer display on the wall.

"I've made you an appointment with your doctor for Monday morning at
8:30am." Nate looked at her and saw she was done at the computer.

"You're all set now. Go to the Headmaster's office, they're expecting you."

Nate thanked her for patching him up and headed out the door. As he
walked into a hallway he saw the exits and headed in that direction. As
Nate walked past an open door and stopped to look in. Hank looked up to
see who was at the door. Nate was surprise to see Hank had two black
eyes and a bloody nose. Nate didn't care and he left the nurses'
station, opened the door and walked into the Central Lobby.

There were just a few people walking around and cleaning. `It must be
after lunch,' he thought to himself. He walked over to the Headmaster's
office, next to the Central Lobby. Nate addressed the man who was
sitting behind the counter.

"I'm supposed to report here," he inform the man at the desk.

"Name?" he replied.

"Nate Blair."

"Yes, please come in and follow me." The man motioned Nate to come around the counter and open the half-door.

"Mr. Blair?" the Headmaster asked as he walked out of his office.

Nate turned around as he closed the counter half-door behind himself. "Yes."

He instinctively knew not to make his `dad joke'. The Headmaster
stepped out of his doorway and asked Nate to enter his office. Nate
walked past the Headmaster, feeling little nervous. He had never been
in the Headmaster's office before.

Nate took a seat in front of the Headmaster's desk. He looked around
the room and saw pictures, trophies, file cabinets; it was a normal
high school office. The Headmaster came in and closed the door behind
him. He took his seat behind his desk. He leaned back and looked at
Nate.. "You just got back from the nurse station?"

Nate nods, not knowing what to say. Most likely the Headmaster wanted
to talk about the fight that took place. But it wasn't a fight, not to
Nate, he just got punched in the head and got knocked out cold.

"Do you remember anything that transpired?"

"I know I got hit and was knocked out." Nate answered, doubting he
would get in trouble. He was guessing the Headmaster wanted his
version.

The Headmaster asked Nate what he did remember and listened closely to
the boy's reply. Nate couldn't say much because he still couldn't
remember what happened. The Headmaster leaned forward and started to
type on his computer. He activated the security camera footage.

"This is what happened, Nate," the Headmaster said and turned the display to Nate.

As the boy watched, it started to come back to him, still blurry. Nate
watched and saw himself kissing another boy. His jaw dropped, not
knowing what to think. It's all coming back to him... the kiss. `Oh
that wonderfully sweet first kiss,' he thought. What seemed minutes in
his mind, only lasted mere seconds on the video display.

Nate jumped as he saw himself being punched by another boy, only seeing
the arm. Nate watched himself crashing onto the floor, sliding and
hitting his head against the concrete wall. Jen and June were running
toward Nate, making sure he was okay.

The sounds from the video echoed into the Headmaster's office. Nate
heard Jen and June scream for help. Nate watched Timmy and Thomas
beating a body on the floor like mad men. The boy who kissed Nate was
pushed away; he was in tears. Watching the fight, as quickly as it
happened, it ended. A couple of security guards and instructors came
into the video. They were pulling Thomas and Timmy off the body that
was lying on the floor. Another security guard checked on Nate and
called out Code 3.

The video ended. Nate couldn't say anything; he didn't know what to
say. He looked at the Headmaster's desk. The screams from Jen and June
kept running through his mind... it was fear he felt from the girls
screams. The Headmaster looked at Nate. He knew to give Nate some time
to let it soak in.

"Nate?" The Headmaster spoke softly.

Nate looked up at the Headmaster eyes, not knowing how to answer to all this.

"I want to let you know, you and your friends are not in trouble."
Nate's eyes began to tear up. He wanted to jump up and hug the stuffing
out of him.

"THANK YOU, HEADMASTER!" Nate said with excitement.

"Well, we do have a policy to not show public displays of affection,
but since this is your last day of school here, we cannot punish you.
Thomas and Timmy will not be receiving punishment since they only
defended you. But Thomas, Timmy, Jen and June will be punished for the
mess in the English hallway wing." Nate knew they got caught for the
toilet paper soccer game, but at least not for the fight. Nate exhaled
and realised that he had been holding his breath. He started to relax,
knowing almost everything was working out fine.

"Sir?" Nate asked, hoping not push his limits but he had to know who
and why.. The Headmaster looked at Nate and nodded, waiting for Nate to
ask his question.

"Can I ask who did this to me? I mean us," knowing this guy hurt him, but he also hurt his friends and that boy.

"If you don't know, I can't tell you, sorry," the Headmaster said.

"Sir," he paused, he knew now he was pushing the limits, "Who was that boy who ummm... kissed me?"

The Headmaster smiled, "He is in the waiting room, why not ask him?"

The Headmaster pointed toward the door, letting him know they were done. Nate got up and shook the Headmaster's hand..

"I still want you to be here at the end of the day," said the Headmaster.

"I never wanted to leave in the first place," Nate replied.

Nate left the Headmaster's office and looked for the waiting room. It
was a few doors down. As Nate walked toward the waiting room, he looked
into the window. He smiled at the relief he felt. All of his friends
were sitting there, talking and enjoying each others' company. The boy
who gave Nate his first kiss was looking at the floor, not speaking.
June was sitting beside the boy with her arm draped over his shoulders.

Nate just stood there by the door, watching. The boy looked up and
their eyes met. Nate couldn't help but smile. He felt joy and fear at
the same time and wanted to know everything about him. The boy broke
into a smile and stared into Nate's brown eyes. June looked up to see
what the boy was looking at and saw Nate standing there at the doorway.

"NATE!" June shouted and jumped up from her chair. Everyone turned
around searching for Nate. Seeing him at the door, everyone got up and
ran to him. Jen and June were the first to hug Nate tightly. They
thought Nate could have died. Thomas walked up and pulled the girls off
and hugged Nate. Thomas had to fight the tears off while sitting in
fear in the waiting room. He didn't hear anything from the nurses'
office and fearing the worst. Once Code 3 is alerted, all medical staff
is on standby. Timmy looked at Nate, walked over and gave him the same
hug without tears.

Still sore on the side, Nate sat down beside the boy and gave him a
smile. Nate wanted to look at him, to burn his face into his memory. He
was hoping the boy would say something. There were so many questions to
ask but Nate couldn't figure out which to ask first.

"Are you feeling okay?" Jen ask, the first to speak up.

"Fine and dandy," Nate smirked, not removing his eyes from the boy sitting beside him.

"Do you remember anything?" Timmy asked, "I never saw anyone got hit that hard before," he continued.

"No, not a bit. The Headmaster had to show me the video from the security camera." Nate paused. "Who did it?"

"It was Hank," Thomas spoke. Saying the name boiled his blood. His fist
curled tightly and was ready for round two. He had watched Hank punch
his best friend, causing an onset rage that was still stirring in his
soul... still wanting to release it on Hank's face.

"Really?" Nate laughed. Everyone had shocked looks on their faces.
"He's not doing too well right now, two black eyes and a bloody nose.
It's a work of art, guys!"

"Well, Timmy and I pushed him down" Thomas stopped; his eyes were
filling with tears. "When I heard Jen and June scream," Thomas eyes
looked away, "I lost it, I don't know what hit me, I just wanted to
kill him!" Thomas was scared when he admitted what he did. Even more,
he was afraid of himself.

"He deserve it, Thomas!" June shouted.

"What did the Headmaster say?" Jen asked. She was dying to know what happen in the Headmaster's office.

"Well some good news... and bad news" Nate reply. He waited to see who would be the first person to speak up.

"Give us the good news. We need it now," June was the first to speak.
Nate looked over to his side to look at the boy; he can't keep his eyes
off him.

Nate looked at June and said, "As far as the fight goes, no one is
going to get in trouble since we didn't cause it." When Nate answered,
everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Smiles were on everyone's face
except one person.

"I caused it," a low voice exited the boy mouth sounding almost like a
moan. Only Nate heard. Nate looked back over to him, and smiled.

Nate whisper in his ear, "It was worth it." The boy's eyes opened wide and looked into Nate's eyes.

"Really, it was worth it!" Nate spoke up the second time so everyone could hear.

"Ummm. Shouldn't I know your name, since you kissed me?" Nate was dying to know.

"Derek." Finally a name to go with the face! Nate grinned, thought for
a second and decided that he wanted, no, he HAD to see him again.

"I'm having a party tomorrow at my place. You are coming, no matter
what!" Derek couldn't understand why Nate was inviting him to his
party, but he was excited that he was going to see Nate again.

Derek thought about it and said, "Yes. I would like that."

"So what's the bad news?" Thomas asked.

Nate grinned, knowing they were all in trouble and it was all Thomas'
fault. "They know about the soccer match we had earlier."

Thomas waved his hand, he didn't care. He had kept his promise to Nate. The Best Day Ever!

Everyone started to talk with each other, filling Nate in with the
details of the fight and what happened after. Then the man from the
front counter asked June, Jen, Thomas and Timmy to follow him. As they
left the room, Thomas turned around with a grin, "You boys behave."
Nate tried so hard not to smile at the comment... but failed.

Nate looked at the floor, not knowing what to say, they were alone for
the first time. Nervousness had overcome them. They had a million
questions, but didn't know where to start. Nate looked at Derek from
the corner of his eyes. Just to look... and to burn his image into his
mind. The boy saw Nate taking peaks, and felt the blood rushing to his
cool face.

Derek gains the inner strength that he had once, just before the kiss. "H..Hi."

Nate turns to look him, and broke into a smile. "Hi."

Nothing was said for few seconds, the first words had been spoken.
Thinking of what to say next is sometime the more difficult thing to
do.

"That was my first kiss," Nate spoke softly.

"Really?" Derek was surprised. He thought Nate been involved with other boys.

Being brave, Nate leaned over to Derek, his lips met Derek's for the
second time. The blood rushed into their lips, the pulse of their heart
could be felt. The kiss felt longer. All time stopped for this moment.

Derek wanted more. He wanted to show Nate his feelings. Being bold,
Derek opened his mouth and let his tongue invade the lips he was
sharing. Their eyes closed, their moment had come. Their tongues
danced, unlike before. Nothing from their lives had prepared them for
this first and second kiss. Breaking the perfect kiss, they gasp for
air so they can live to share more.

They moved back, never breaking the lock they had with each others' eyes. Nate was the first to speak. "That was my second."

Derek smiles, knowing that was his second kiss also. Not saying a word,
they stared into each others' eyes. Words would only pollute this
moment.

Giggles broke their stare and they looked toward the door, seeing
Nate's friends standing there, looking at them. As true friends can be,
not wanting to break Nate's special moment, they entered the room and
took their seats, but didn't take their stares off Nate and Derek.

The man from the desk entered the waiting room. He asked Derek to
follow him. Derek stepped through the door and looked back at Nate.
Nate smiled at him, sending him a mental message that he will be here
waiting for him. Derek returned the smiles.

Thomas waited until Derek left and then sat beside Nate. He looked at
his best friend's eyes, wanting to know what happen while they were in
the Headmaster's office. Nate looked away, knowing that looking into
Thomas' eyes he will spill his heart and soul. Thomas sees Nate avoid
his eyes and got on his knees in front of him, trying to make their
eyes meet. Nate shifted his head to the left, Thomas followed. Nate
snapped his head to the right, Thomas grabbed Nate's head with both
hands and forced him to look into his eyes.

"ALL RIGHT!!!" Nate giggled with a smile, knowing that he just made out with another boy.

"TELL ME WHAT HAPPEN!" Thomas was smiling, eager to know what happen while they were away.

"We sat here... We talked... Played chess, that's what happened," Nate smiled, knowing Thomas will catch his lie.

"Bullshit" Thomas smirked, not letting go his eye-lock.

Nate smiled even wider. How could he lie, how could he not tell him? "Umm, we made out." Nate looked at the floor, blushing.

"YES!" Thomas yelled and jumped, scaring June and Jen. Timmy cracked a smile when he saw the girls hop in their seats.

"YES, YES, YES! NATE DID I TELL YOU WE GOING TO HAVE THE BEST DAY
EVER?" Thomas screamed, loud enough to alert the man at the front
counter to enter the room and told Thomas to quiet down.

To break free from Thomas' questions and probes, Nate asked, "What was
the punishment?" Thomas looked at him, knowing Nate just wanted to
avoid his questions.

"Help the janitors for a week during lunch break...." Thomas paused, he had a spark in his eyes.

"It's was all worth it, Nate!"

"Right, well, it was your idea," Nate acted innocent.

"Yes and would I trade it? NOPE, not at all!" Thomas said proudly, sitting next to Nate.

Nate grinned, "To be honest, I wouldn't either," finding peace in his heart.

Thomas and Nate talked about what happen in the waiting room. Jen and
June smiled, hearing Nate received his second kiss without being
assaulted. Timmy he just sat shifting in his seat, not saying a word.
He wasn't homophobic, but preferred not hearing all the details.

Derek walks in. Nate looked up and saw Derek didn't look happy. He
looked lost in thought. Derek sat down beside Nate and looked at him.

"What is it?" Nate asked.

"I got detention for two days," Derek replied.

Not knowing how to make Derek happy, Nate took hold of his hand and
smiled him. Hearing Thomas say, "Aww," Nate gave Thomas the finger
without looking at him.

"Derek, at least you've got a boyfriend for a month," Thomas said, trying to pick Derek sprits up.

"A month?" Derek was shocked. He couldn't figure out what Thomas meant.

"Wait you don't know, do you?" Thomas quickly replied.

"Know what?" Derek's heart started to race, he just found someone and
now he's leaving? Thomas looked away. Nate looked down to the floor.
Derek was looking at everyone. It got morgue quiet in the room.

"Derek, I have to tell you something." Nate wasn't feeling well now.
Derek looked at Nate as if he had a deadly disease that can't be cured.

"Today is my last day here, we moving in a month," Nate mustered all the nerve he could.

"That's okay, I can visit you!" Derek thought, `That isn't so bad!'

Thomas spoke up, "Derek, he's going to Alpha." Thomas looked at Nate
and Derek, knowing what ever could happen between them, will end in a
month. Derek heart just dropped, everyone could feel it. No one spoke.

The Headmaster walked past the door. Nate spoke up when he saw him "Sir?" The Headmaster stopped, and walked into the room.

"Can I get Derek on my exempt list?" Nate wanted Derek to hang out with
them. The Headmaster looked at his com pad to see what time it was. He
looked up with a smile.

"Sorry Nate, day is almost over." Then he paused.

"I want everyone here to wait until I come back." He left the room.
Derek smiled, knowing that Nate wanted to him to be included in the
group.

Everyone's com pad beeped loudly. It was a school announcement.

Opening their pads, the Headmaster's image appeared.

"Attention all students. Last period is cancelled, processed to the
stadium." That was it, nothing else was said. The group stayed in the
room as instructed.

"I wonder what that's about," Timmy asked. Nate just shrugged his
shoulders. The Headmaster walked back into the room and motioned for
everyone to follow him. Everyone got up and started to form partners,
Nate and Derek holding hands, Thomas and Jen holding hands. Timmy and
June looked at it other and laughed. They did not want to hold hands.

The Headmaster walked out into the Central Lobby and headed towards the
main hallway. Nate, Derek and the rest followed, passing the students
as they flocked to the entrances in the Central Lobby. The Headmaster
stopped at an elevator door; he moved his com pad to the computer. The
door open and the Headmaster asked everyone to get in.

The elevator started to move sideways, then down. The elevator had been
in the building since it was built years ago and wasn't equipped with
anti-gravity. The students had never felt an elevator move before; they
looked like they were going to be sick. The Headmaster laughed and
said, "This is how they did it hundreds years ago." Nate looked as
though he was about to throw up on himself. The elevator slowed down,
and just in time, the doors opened. They entered a small room. It just
had some band equipment and a door. Headmaster turned to the group and
said, "Everyone come with me except Nate."

Everyone headed out the door and disappeared. Nate looked around,
touching the band equipment. He saw drums under the pile. He took the
drum sticks and tapped the drums. He never played the drums, but loved
the sounds they produced.

Caught up in the moment, Nate started to hit the drums harder, trying
to play a classic song, Wipe Out. He was unable too, but enjoyed it.
Focusing on his beat, he didn't notice that the Headmaster walked in.
The Headmaster placed his hand on Nate right shoulder, scaring Nate to
death. He lost his grip on the drum sticks and the sticks went flying
through the air, hitting the wall and bouncing back to hit Nate in the
forehead. Nate rubbed his head, rubbing the pain that he affect
himself.

"Not bad Nate, you should be a drummer." The Headmaster grinned.

Nate couldn't respond; he felt like an idiot. The Headmaster asked Nate
to follow him. They left the room and went down the hallway. As they
walked, they started to hear crowd noise and it was getting louder. The
Headmaster and Nate walked up a ramp. Then Nate realised where he was;
he was under the stadium. Walking behind the Headmaster, he started to
see thousands of students sitting in the stands. The stadium can hold
40,000 people and it was under the school, in the ground, closed in so
it could be used in all type weather. It was dark inside, but enough
light shown to see people high above looking down. The main stage was
in the middle. Here they played everything from plays to soccer games
to band concerts to dances.. The Headmaster asked Nate to sit down with
the other instructors. The Headmaster walked over to center stage and
turned on his com pad.

"Thank you for coming here," the Headmaster spoke, echoing through the stadium.

"Today we are here to honour a student. We are honouring him because he
will be making a trip of a lifetime. His family and he will be going to
Planet Alpha within a month." The crowd jumped up and roared, flooding
the stage with their cheers, foot stamping and clapping.

`Why is everyone excited?' Nate asked himself. Nate saw his friends in
front row seats, screaming, clapping and cheering for him.

"Nathan Daniel Blair." The Headmaster waved to Nate to come over. Nate
slowly got up and walked over to where the Headmaster was standing. The
cheers, the roars came at him twice at loud. Seeing everyone on their
feet, he was taken aback by the people's reaction. He felt like he was
a rock star.

"This young man will being leaving earth shortly and beginning a
journey so many only wish for. Do you have anything to say Nate?" The
Headmaster looked at Nate.

`Oh crap,' he said to himself.

"I don't know what to say, to be honest. I'm really going to miss my
friends here at Jasper. I'm going to miss this school and team Titan."
The crowd roared when they heard their soccer team's name. The
Headmaster raised his hand and crowd started to quiet down.

"Nate, as you leave Earth, I want you to remember us and the school and
have a safe journey." The Headmaster rested his hand on Nate's shoulder
and gave him a wink.

"Nothing we can give you will make the trip easier... However, I'll
make sure everyone remembers you..." The Headmaster paused. He looked to
look at the crowd.

"All the students are dismissed for the day!" As the Headmaster said
that, the crowd went crazy! They were screaming, everyone stomping
their feet, knowing they had two hours left of the school day. Now they
could go home early because of Nate.

As the students started to pile into the exits like a massive mob,
Thomas, Derek, Jen, June and Timmy went up to the stage to met up with
Nate. They followed the Headmaster back into the music room and to the
elevator. After a quick trip back to the main hallway, they exited and
saw everyone was in a rush to leave the school. But no one noticed
Nate, they were more concerned about their weekend. The Headmaster
shook Nate's hand and said his goodbyes.

Nate thought to himself for a moment, knowing that Thomas wanted to
invite everyone to his place. "Hey, I'm pretty worn out from today,"
Nate said to everyone. He looked at Derek and smiled.

"We will meet at my place tomorrow, remember, noon time. Go to the top floor." Nate said to remind everyone.

"Derek, I live in Calgary, 43 Ave, NE, Obama Towers." Nate holds Derek hands. Then he gave Derek a peck on the cheek.

"I WILL BE THERE!" Derek declared. Nothing was going to stop him.

Nate left the group and headed out to the exits, full of smiles and
hope. Nate started his trip home and planned to tell his mom everything.