Brittle as a Bird - 15. Chapter 15

“Get your ass out of bed.” Ticker pulled back the covers I had tucked tightly around my body. My leg got tangled, and I fell to the floor. He stood back and laughed.

 

“You think that’s funny?” I reached out and grabbed his leg, pulling him to the ground. I wasn’t prepared for the consequences. When he hit, the floor shook, and things started falling from his dresser. A picture on the wall crashed to the ground.

 

I stood up and looked down at him. I grabbed my sides and started laughing uproariously. He looked like a beached whale looking up at me. He extended his hand, and I attempted to pull him up.

 

“Damn, Ticker,” I groaned. “You’ve got to lose some weight.”

 

He finally stood, bent over and tried to catch his breath. “I’m going to join a gym and start working out,” he gasped. “Star is going to join me.”

 

I smiled and said, “You and her are really getting serious aren’t you?”

“I’m joining a gym, aren’t I?” I’d known Ticker for years, and he had never made an attempt to exercise. Only one thing could bring about this change.

“Don’t tell me you’re in love?” I laughed when his face reddened. “Damn, Ticker. You are.”

 

A serious look came over him. “Can you believe it, Joey? She likes my fat ass.”

 

“Has she seen it yet?” I walked around and looked down. “It is kind of, um, large.” He put my head around his arm and gave me a noogie.

 

“Stop that!” I screamed. “I’m going to tell your girlfriend you’re a sadist.”

 

I pulled away, and then reached in and gave him a hug. “I’m really happy for you. Star’s a lucky girl.” He squeezed me tightly, almost smothering me.

 

He stepped back and looked at me. “How about you and Allen?”

“I don’t know,” I replied. “We’re talking right now.”

 

“I hope it works out for you two.”

 

“So do I.”

 

                                                                                                              ********

 

I skipped lunch to go to the library. Since Allen had brought up the subject of sex, I wanted to find out all I could about AIDS. I wanted to know if we could have a sexually satisfying relationship. Not that it would ever happen.

 

All the articles I googled had the same warning- safe sex. It didn’t matter if the other person was infected or not. It made me stop and think that when you have sex with a person, you sleep with everyone that person has ever had sex with. I thought of all the countless men I had sucked over the years.

 

Avoid bodily fluids. My heart raced when I read that the virus could be transmitted orally. I had always thought that if I didn’t let a guy fuck me I would be safe. The more I read, the more depressed I became. I’d had sex with numerous men; most I didn’t even know their names. Then there was the orgy I had engaged in that afternoon I ran from school. I had unprotected sex the entire time. Again, I assumed since I hadn’t let any of them fuck me, then I was all right. I now knew that wasn’t the case.

 

I wanted to cry when I read that the symptoms of AIDS might not appear for years. I always thought that when you get infected, you would be sick right away. It appeared I was wrong again. There were cases where many people had been infected a decade ago and still never showed any signs of illness.

 

I was in a panic when I finished reading. I had originally started reading to protect myself from Allen. Now, I was worried I would have to protect him from me. One thing was for sure- I had to get tested. I wasn’t going to get any sleep until I did.

 

“What’s wrong with you?” Star had stopped by my locker after school to see if I wanted a ride home.

 

“I’m scared,” I said. She waited while I got my books from the locker. She wrapped her arm around mine as we headed to the parking lot.

 

Before exiting, she stopped. “What’s happened?”

“I think I could be infected.” Tears started to well up in my eyes.

 

“Did you and Allen have sex?”

 

“No,” I replied. “But what about all the other men I’ve been with.” A worried look appeared on her face.

 

“Damn, Joey,” she asked. “Didn’t you use protection?”

 

“No.” I hung my head while tears started to fall. “I didn’t even think about it.”

 

“We’ve got to get you tested,” she insisted. “You have to find out.”

“I know,” I replied sadly. “I’m only seventeen. What if I’m sick?”

 

She leaned in and hugged me. “We’ll worry about that when and if the time comes. First, we need to find out.” I nodded my head into her shoulder.

 

“There’s a free clinic down on Broad Street. I’ve seen posters on the bulletin board that says they do free screening. I’ll go with you after school on Monday.”

 

“I’m scared, Star.”

 

She took my hands and squeezed them. “I know you are Joey. Let’s wait until we get the results. Maybe you lucked out.”

 

I started laughing nervously. “Me, lucky? You’ve got to be kidding. We’re talking about Joey Carpenter here. I’ve never been lucky.”

 

“Well, let’s wait before we get too worried,” she responded.

 

“One other thing,” I pleaded. “Don’t say anything to Allen.”

“Why?”

 

“If I am infected, I would like to tell him myself.”

 

“Of course.” She put her arm around my back as we walked out to the parking lot.

 

                                                                                                                  ********

 

“I still don’t know why I have to go?” I was getting dressed to go to Billy Joe’s party. Ticker was excited because Star was going with him. It would be his first real date with a girl. He was as nervous as a fourteen-year-old boy attending his first school dance.

 

“I need you there, Joey,” he pleaded, “Just in case things go wrong.”

 

“I’m not going to be much help,” I laughed as I pointed to my chest. “Remember me, Joey, gay guy. I don’t think I’ll be able to help you much.”

 

“I still need you there,” he insisted. “Moral support.”

 

“That’s assuming I have any morals.” He reached over and slapped me on my head.

 

“How do I look?” He didn’t look bad, for Ticker that is. It was one of the first times I could remember not seeing him in just a tee shirt. He was wearing a dark blue dress shirt and a pair of gray pants. Star must have helped him shop for his clothing because there was no way he would have selected something like that. But he did, however, look good.

 

“You clean up nicely,” I joked.

 

“I’m really nervous,” he confessed. “What if I say something wrong?”

 

“Then smoke some weed and you’ll feel better,” I suggested.

 

“I don’t have any.” I gave him a questioning look. Ticker was going to a party, and he didn’t have weed. It was the main reason he was always invited.

 

Suddenly, his face reddened. “I’m not selling anymore.”

 

“Damn, Dude,” I laughed. “You are whipped.”

 

“It’s not like that,” he insisted. “She didn’t say anything about it. I just don’t feel like doing it anymore.”

I laughed again. “My Boy,” I said as I wrapped my arm around his back. “You have been bitten by the Love Bug.”

 

“Shut up.” He grabbed me and gave me a noogie.

 

“Stop!” I screamed. “Now I have to fix my hair again!”

 

We picked up Star at her home. I waited patiently in the car while he went inside. They came out several minutes later holding hands.

 

“Hey, Handsome,” she said as she got in the car. She laughed when I turned and looked around the backseat.

 

How do you describe one of Billy Joe’s parties? A mayhem of motley revelers would come close. You don’t really need an invitation. If you hear about the party, just show up and bring a case of beer.

 

He lives about five miles outside of town in a large farm house. When we pulled up, there were cars parked in every direction in a field. I could hear music blasting from the backyard.

 

As soon as we started walking toward the house, several people ran up to Ticker and whispered in his ear. He’d shake his head, and they would walk away dejectedly. Since he wasn’t selling weed, I was sure many people would be upset with him.

 

We walked around back, and there must have been thirty people milling about. Most were students from our school, but a few looked like they may have been a few years older. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Several couples were dancing on the patio, and I noticed a crowd congregated around a large keg of beer.

 

“Hey!” Billy Joe staggered over with Camille wrapped around him when he saw us. She immediately reached out and rubbed my chest. I stepped back and gave her an angry look.

 

“Loosen up, Cutie.” She leaned against Billy Joe for support. It was obvious they both had been drinking quite a bit before we arrived. “I’m glad you’re here. Now we can get this party hopping.” I jumped when she reached out and grabbed my cock. I pushed her hand away as I took a step back. Star looked at me and started giggling.

 

Billy Joe asked Ticker, “You bring the stash?”

 

“Naw, Man,” he answered apologetically. “I couldn’t score. Thing are pretty dry right now.” I knew he was lying, because in all the years I had known him, Ticker had never gone a day without weed.

 

“Fuck,” hissed Billy Joe. “Let me see if I can get hold of Sam. He may be holding.” He pulled out his cell phone and walked away.

 

“Don’t go too far.” Camille reached out and grabbed my arm. “We’ll get Billy Joe and go upstairs in a little while.” She turned and walked away as Ticker and Star looked astonished.

 

“Don’t worry,” I assured them. “It’s not going to happen.” They nodded and then walked away holding hands. I was left by myself.

 

I strolled around trying to look like I belonged, but I really wanted to leave. I could tell by the way people looked at me, they were wondering why I had been invited. It was the first time they had ever seen me outside of school. To say I was uncomfortable would be an understatement.

 

It got worse when I walked over to the keg and poured myself a beer. “Fag,” I heard someone mutter. I walked away and sat down in a lawn chair, away from everyone else. I’d been there about five minutes when I noticed Barry and Gene pull up and get out of Gene’s red Corvette.

 

Barry strutted into the backyard with Gene trailing behind him. Several girls screamed and ran up to them, rubbing their bodies against them. Barry seemed to enjoy the attention, but Gene would take a step back when a girl tried to wrap her arms around him.

 

Suddenly, Barry looked up and noticed me sitting by myself. His eyes narrowed in anger. I looked around to see if I spotted Ticker. I was going to ask him to take me home. The last thing I wanted was a confrontation with Barry away from school where no one would be able to stop him if he decided to fight me.

 

I got up and went inside the house where I found a group of guys watching a college football game on a big screen television. I took a seat in the corner and sat down. I figured if I made myself scarce, then perhaps I could avoid running into Gene and Barry.

 

I sat quietly for an hour as the guys shouted and screamed at their team. It always amazes me how people can become so emotionally involved by watching a guy run down the field with a small ball tucked under his arm. However, at one point, even I got into the game when the team they were rooting for made a touchdown.

 

After the game ended, the room quickly emptied as everyone headed to the backyard for more beer. When I stepped outside, it was quite evident that most people were in the final stages of inebriation. It appeared that many couldn’t walk a straight line across the backyard without stumbling and falling.

 

I was glad that I had never attended parties in the past if this is what happened at them. Several girls were topless, and guys were running around trying to feel their tits. A guy was standing by a tree with his pants pulled down taking a piss while everyone laughed and encouraged him. By the barn, a girl was on her knees as a guy rammed his cock into her mouth.

 

I was disgusted by what I saw. They were nothing but a bunch of hypocrites. For years they had verbally assaulted me for my actions, but their behavior was even more abhorrent. They were unashamedly getting drunk and engaging in lewd sexual behavior. At least mine was done in private without an audience.

 

“Having fun?” Camille staggered up to me with a beer in her hand. She was topless. She grabbed a tit and asked, “Want some of this?” I gave her a disgusted look and walked away. I started looking for Ticker and Star.

 

I was angry at Ticker for bringing me. He could have warned me what went on at these parties. I was far from innocent, but I wasn’t prepared for the behavior I was witnessing.

 

I strolled around searching for them, and I finally walked into the kitchen. Ticker and Star were sitting at the table playing a game of Monopoly! They looked up and smiled when they saw me enter.

 

“Having fun?” Ticker asked. They Cokes in front of them, and it seemed they were enjoying themselves with the other couple at the table.

 

“Yeah,” I said. I gave them a slight smile and walked from the kitchen. I didn’t want to spoil the good time they were having. I wasn’t even sure they were aware of what other activities were going on outside.

 

I pulled my coat tight around me and decided to walk around the farm. There was almost a full moon out, so I could see where I was going. I found a narrow lane leading from the house and decided to follow it. As I walked away from the house, the noise began to subside as I entered into a small forest.

 

I heard some moaning, and I peered through the darkness and saw a couple engaged in sex. They had their pants pulled down, and she was lying over a large rock while he thrust himself into her. I turned and walked quickly away, deeper into the forest.

 

I began to think of Sullivan’s Lake. I wanted to be there. I had always enjoyed the silence I found by the lakeside. Experiencing the rowdy crowd tonight made me appreciate it even more. I found out one thing about myself. I enjoyed the solitude I found by being alone. For so many years I had wondered what it would be like to be popular and attend parties and other social events. Tonight, I realized that I had missed nothing.

 

I walked further into the forest and followed the narrow path. I must have walked for about fifteen minutes before I came to the end. I was surprised when I noticed that it had circled around, and I was now standing in front of the farm house.

 

I could hear the loud music and rowdy laughter thundering from the back. I figured I had probably been at the farm for about three hours, so it must have been well past midnight. I walked around and looked through the kitchen window. Ticker and Star were still playing Monopoly. They were laughing and appeared to be having a good time. I didn’t want to ruin it by asking them to take me home, so I pulled my coat tight around me and walked back to the front porch and sat on the steps.

 

I closed my eyes and had almost drifted off to sleep when I heard someone approaching from the side of the house. I opened my eyes to see Gene staggering my way. It was obvious he had been drinking very heavily.

 

I stood up to walk away, but he staggered over and fell against me. I pushed him back, but he grabbed me by my waist and pulled me into him.

 

“There you are, Joey.” His words were slurred, and he reeked of alcohol.

 

“Leave me alone, Gene.” I pushed him off me. He stumbled backwards, but he did not fall. Again, he approached me and grabbed me around the waist, pulling me closer to him.

 

“Don’t you like me?” His eyes were half shut as he looked at me.

 

“Get off me, Gene.” I pushed him back again. He teetered but stepped back up to me.

 

“Oh,” he muttered angrily. “You can fuck my brother, but I’m not good enough for you.” I tried to push him away, but he held on to my waist.

 

“I’m as good as he is,” he said. “I’ve wanted you for a long time. Let me show you.” He grabbed the back of my head and pulled it toward him. I pursed my lips as he forcefully pressed his to mine. I struggled to get away, but he leaned against me and refused to let me go.

 

“What the fuck is going on!” Gene staggered back and pulled away when Barry and a couple of other people approached.

 

Barry grabbed me and pushed me against the side of the house. I was too surprised to see his fist as he hit me on the left side of my face. I reeled back and fell against the wall.

 

He shouted in my face, “What were you doing with Gene?”

 

“I wasn’t doing anything!” I shouted back. I balled my fist and threw a punch, missing him completely. People were running towards us. I guess someone had spread the word that there was a fight.

 

“You fucking liar.” He swung again, hitting me in my stomach. I bent over in pain. I felt another blow to the left side of my face.

 

“Leave him alone!” Gene grabbed Barry around the waist and pulled him away from me.

 

He turned to Gene and shouted, “Are you protecting this fag?” He stared into Gene’s face. “You fucker!” He threw a violent punch into Gene’s temple. “Were you letting that faggot kiss you?” Gene fell to the ground, but got up and charged Barry. They both crashed to the ground. Barry rolled Gene on his back and began to pummel him with his fist. I rushed over and tried to pull him off, but Ticker ran up and grabbed me by my arm.

 

“Come on, Joey!” he shouted. “Let’s get out of here.” He grabbed Star by the arm, and we ran to his car. He started the engine, and we tore off down the country lane. I looked back, and there was still a large crowd gathered around the front of the house.

 

Star turned around and looked angrily at me. “What in the hell did you do?”

 

“Why do people always assume I did something?” I shouted back. “I was sitting on the porch waiting for you guys to finish your game when Gene came up and tried to kiss me.”

 

“What!” Ticker and Star shouted in unison.

 

“He was drunk, and I tried to push him off,” I explained. “But Barry came around the side of the house and saw us. He thought I had done something to Gene.”

 

“Then why was he fighting Gene?”

 

“I think he realized his best friend is gay.”

 

“Sweet Jesus.” Star turned around and plopped into her seat. It was several minutes before she spoke.

 

“Are you all right?” She turned, leaned over the seat and inspected my face. “You’re going to have a nice black eye.” I winced when she pressed her hand to my left eye.

 

I asked her, “Did you know Gene is gay?”

 

“He can’t be gay,” she insisted. “His father would kill him.”

 

“Then why did he try to kiss me if he’s not gay? He also told me he’s wanted me for a long time.”

 

“Damn.” It was the first time Ticker had said anything. “You really know how to get yourself into a mess, don’t you?”

 

“I didn’t do anything!” I shouted.

 

“I didn’t say you did,” he responded quickly. “I’m really sorry, Joey. I should have listened when you said you didn’t want to go tonight.”

 

“It’s not your fault, Ticker,” I insisted. “Trouble just always seems to follow me. That’s the story of my life.”

 

“Don’t do this, Joey,” Star stated in a motherly tone. “None of this was your fault.” She looked over at Ticker, “Or yours.”

 

“What’s going to happen now?” I asked worriedly. “Half the school knows about it by now.”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

I started to laugh. “At least they won’t call me anything they haven’t already called me for the past few years.”

 

Star asked worriedly, “But what about Gene?”

 

“What about him?” Ticker hissed. “The son of a bitch has been on Joey’s case for years. It’s about time he got some back.”

 

“I still don’t want to see him hurt,” I responded. It wasn’t because I felt anything for him. He was Allen’s brother, and for that reason I didn’t want to see him harmed.

 

“Me either,” replied Star. Our eyes met, and I knew she was thinking the same thing.

 

When we took Star home, I looked over at Gene’s house. Several lights were on, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The first thing I looked for was clothes lying out on the front lawn. Once his stepfather found out he was gay, he would probably throw him out of the house like he did Allen.

 

Ticker and Star disappeared around the back of the house. I thought it strange they didn’t enter the front, until I realized that Ticker probably wanted a chance to be alone to say goodnight.

 

I rested my head against the window and closed my eyes. My head was throbbing from the Barry’s punch. Suddenly, I heard the roar of an automobile engine. I looked over and saw Gene’s red convertible pull into the lane next door. The brake lights came on, and the car was thrown into reverse. His tires squealed as he backed up, drove over to Star’s driveway and pulled behind Ticker’s car.

 

I turned and watched as he fell out of the car. When he stood, his face was swollen, and his clothes were splattered with blood. I quickly locked the door as he walked up and tried to open it.

 

“This is all your fucking fault!” He started pounding on the door with his fists. I looked into his face, and his eyes were almost swollen shut. I don’t know how he managed to drive home.

 

“Get out of the car, you fucker!” He continued to pull the door open. “I’m going to kill you! You’ve ruined my life!”

 

Ticker and Star came running around from the back. The porch lights came on, and security lights lit up the front yard. A man who I assumed was Star’s father, stepped out to see what was happening.

 

“Get out!” Gene screamed. He hit the window several more times. Star ran up and pulled him away. He fell to the ground sobbing uncontrollably.

 

“Why?” he cried. He was clutching her tightly. “Why?”

 

An immense feeling of sorrow swept over me. I had suffered for years with the pain he was now feeling. Even though I should have hated him, I didn’t. His crumbled body desperately holding Star was a pitiful sight. I reached up and wiped away a tear that was falling down my cheek.