Max and Josh - 14. No more secrets

Disclaimer: This story includes sexual and romantic situations between consenting individuals. Any allusion to illicit or illegal activity, sexual or otherwise, is used only for enhancement of the story line and not promotion thereof. Remember AIDS, HIV and other STDs are a very real threat, please always practice safe sex.

I can prove copyright on this story so please don't copy or remove this story for personal use without my permission.
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Max and Josh 14: No more secrets

The crowed of people leaving the gym with class so close to starting hadn't worried Max until he saw that Josh wasn't among them. Unreasoning fear gripped him and he set off at a run, pushing through people with Kylie close at his heels.

They burst through the gym door and his eyes went immediately to the only two people in the large room, Josh laying back on the floor with Tom standing over him.

Max elbowed Tom hard in his side as he ran and knelt next to Josh. He was scared until Josh opened his eyes with a confused then relieved look crossing his face.

Before he could say anything Josh's face looked petrified again as he nearly shouted at him to look out. Still on his knees Max half turned and caught Tom with a hard jab to his stomach.

Quick as a flash he was on his feet and had Tom pinned to the wall, one hand pressed painfully hard against his chest just below his throat.

"You worthless piece of shit. You EVER lay a hand on him or anyone one else in this school again and I swear they will never find your body. I know the woods around this town better than God himself, I can make it happen." Max's voice was thick with rage and full of promise and whether out of fear or shock Tom was making no effort to move or break free of Max's grip.

"I could do it right now," Max's voice went down so low and leaned in to where only Tom could hear him, "One long, hard squeeze around your throat and you'd be dead in minutes." As fear showed plain in Tom's eyes Max became aware that his body was shaking out of more then just fear or anger.

He could feel the cold sweat on his forehead and every inch of exposed skin. Then felt a gentle touch on his shoulder and Josh's hushed voice rang in his ears.

"Come on Max, he's not worth it."

"You're a pathetic waste of skin. Do the world a favor and jump in a lake with some cinder blocks tied to your feet," Max said and released his grip and watched Tom slide down the wall to the floor, " I'm not going to dirty my hands on you anymore." He looked then to Josh and Kylie afraid that their faces would show fear at his actions.

Kylie's face was a mask of loathing and disgust as she looked at Tom on the floor and Josh's face showed only relief and Max couldn't help but smile as Josh took his hand.

The three of them walked out into the corridor that was packed with other students but strangely no teachers in sight.

Max just walked along letting Josh and Kylie lead him wherever they wanted him to go, all the while doing his best to fight the crash he knew was coming. He was shaking harder now, his legs felt like lead, he knew his face must have shown pale.

"Where are we going?" Came Kylie’s voice from his left.

"I'm taking Max to the hospital, He's about to crash." Josh's voice was at his right, he saw the glass doors of one of the schools main exits in front of him, the warm sunshine coming through them did nothing to warm him up.

"Crash, what do you mean? What’s wrong with him?" Kylie asked as they pushed through the doors and Max leaned back against one of the brick columns and let them talk. He took deep breaths trying to steady himself, he knew he wouldn’t black out this time, he was in much better shape now, he didn't need to go to the hospital.

"I don't...don't need to go I'm fine babe just give me a minute." He said and stood up straight.

"Max I either take you now or I take you back inside and the nurse calls an ambulance and they take you. Which do you prefer?" Josh asked and Max knew he was fighting a loosing battle.

Max's knees were shaking badly again so he slumped back against the column and let Josh have his way.

"Kylie stay with him while I go get his truck." Josh said and Max watched as he knelt next to Max's fallen backpack and dug out his truck keys.

"He's over reacting, I'm fine." Max said as he watched Josh walk away.

"You don't look fine Max, what wrong with you?" Kylie’s voice was the tone of one befitting a deathbed visit.

"Nothing for you to sound like I'm dying." Max said a little too harshly.

"I'm sorry Kylie, I'll explain this all later, when everyone who needs to hear it is here. But I'm going to be fine." Max said and reached out to hug her.

Once Josh was there with the truck she helped max in and closed the door.

"Kylie will you call this number and tell the Doctor that answers that I'm coming, then give it to the Principal." Max said as he shakily pulled a card from his wallet and gave it to her.

"Who is it?" She asked looking at the name on the card.

"It's my mother, she'll want to know." Max said and once she nodded her agreement Josh drove off and she turned to go back into the school.

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The trip to the hospital seemed to take hours, every red light seemed a day long, but his short time in the waiting room was beginning to feel like an eternity.

Josh had to exercise every ounce of control he had to keep from constantly pacing the floor. Max's mom had met them in the parking lot with a wheel chair. Josh had expected Max to refuse to sit in it but he didn't put up a fight.

Once they were in the hospital Max's mom had wheeled him straight back to the ER. He attempted to follow but a rather large and mean looking female nurse refused to let him go back unless he could prove that he was family.

He tried to calm his shaking hands but nothing helped. He tried asking the receptionist but she wouldn't tell him anything more than that he was being looked at.

Resting his head in his hands he tried not to worry. He was sure Max's mom would have been to talk to him if he was getting worse.

"Mr. Mathews?" A soft feminine voice broke through his thoughts.

Josh snapped to attention as the small blond nurse walked up to him.

"That's me. How is he, can I see him?" Josh asked quickly.

"Yes you can. Dr. Calvin asked me to show where his room is." She smiled and ushered him through the door.

Josh followed her through the set of double doors then down a side corridor away from the ER to patient rooms for non-critical cases.

She opened the door to room twenty two A and Josh followed her inside, the site before him brought tears to his eyes.

Max was lying in a hospital bed in a white and blue checkered hospital gown. He had an IV in his left arm and padded cuffs around his wrists kept him restrained to the bed.

"Is that really necessary?" He asked the nurse a little scared, but it was Max who answered.

"Yea it is. Mom knows if I get the chance I'll rip out the IV and try to leave." Max's voice and face alike were dead serious.

Josh couldn't think of anything to say, he hadn't been prepared to see Max like this. He walked numbly over to the side of the bed and looked down at Max.

His color was coming back quickly and he didn't seem to be shaking anymore; which was good because Josh was about to vibrate out of his skin.

"You better get down here and give me a hug." Max said to him and he tried to smile, but failed.

He knew Max wasn't in any danger but he was still careful as he leaned down and wrapped his arms around him. He felt Max trying to wrap his arms around him but the restraints would only allow him to touch his sides.

Josh stood up and Max squeezed his hand with his own and gave him a reassuring smile.

"Will you please let me out of these cuffs? I swear I won't try and escape." Max asked the nurse who stood looking dumb founded by the door.

"No. Not without Dr. Calvin's permission." She replied; her voice no longer soft but hard and snappish.

"Well then can you tell Dr. Calvin I want to see her? I'm her son so it shouldn't be too much of an issue getting her here." Max said catching the change in her voice.

She only nodded rather curtly then left. Once she was gone Josh turned his attention to Max.

"Are you mad at me for bringing you here?" He asked shyly.

Max couldn't help but feeling ashamed of himself at the fear in Josh's voice. He tried to reach up to touch him but the cuff restrained him from going even half way.

Max did his best not to let the annoyance of being restrained show in his voice.

"No baby boy I'm not mad at you. You did the right thing; I just hate hospitals, I always have. I'm glad that you brought me. Mom would have killed you if you hadn't; and I couldn't live without you." Max said and felt the sting of tears behind his eyes and the lump in his throat.

Josh was in the process of reaching down to hug Max again when the door behind him opened.

"Nurse Edelstein said you wanted out of the cuffs." Max's mom said as she crossed to his bedside.

"Yea, it’s kind of hard to comfort your scared soul mate when you’re chained to a hospital bed." Max said doing his best to keep his voice steady.

Josh felt the blood rush to his face as Dr. Calvin looked at him before addressing her son.

"I wouldn't have to chain you down if you didn't have a history of trying to escape." She said with her hands in the pockets of her lab coat and Josh got the distinct impression that she didn't plan on letting Max loose.

"I'm not going anywhere this time, I swear. Just please, please let me out of' em." Josh could hear the plea in Max's voice clear as day.

Debbie gave both her son and Josh a long and piercing look before, (to the surprise of both of them), undoing the belt like straps that kept the padded cuff in place, but she didn't detach them from the bed.

"You so much as stick your head outside this door kid and you go right back in these straps, with a nice pair of ankle cuffs to match." She said severely before relenting a bit and giving them both a warm smile before she left the room.

As soon as the door was shut Max lowered the rail on his bed and stood up so quickly that Josh grabbed him by his shoulders for fear that he might fall over.

Josh smiled as Max wrapped his arms around him and rested his head against his chest.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this before. I'm sorry you had to find out however you did. People treat me different after they find out, they treat me like I'm weak or fragile and I hate that." Max said quietly.

Josh stepped back a little and turned Max's face up so that he could see his eyes.

"I couldn't think of you as weak Max; you are the strongest person I know and not just here," Josh said squeezing Max's thick, round bicep, "But here and here too." He said moving his hand first to the side of his head then to his chest; just over his heart.

Max smiled and let the tears he had been holding back slip from the corners of his eyes and as Josh raised his hands to wipe them away Max reached out pulled him down till their lips met.

Distracted as they were they didn't hear the door open or see the two people who slipped inside, until they started clapping.

"Congratulations, you two have just won first place in the Amateur Hospital Porno Introduction Scene Contest. Tell them what they've won Frankie." Kylie’s sarcastic voice shocked them apart.

For the second time in far too limited a time frame Josh felt the blood rush to his face. It was one thing to kiss in front of your friends and another entirely to be caught in the act.

"What are you two doing here, school still has three hours?" Max asked his voice an octave or two higher as he glanced at the clock.

"Well Stomps did give us a little trouble about leaving so early but we promised to get all of our work made up and he let us out. By the way we have both your work as well, and Josh you need to call your folks." Frank said easily but his nerves were given away by the fact that he couldn't stop staring at Max's IV bag.

"Right, good idea. I'll go ask at the nurses’ station where I can make a call." Josh said and gave Max a quick peck on the cheek before leaving him with Kylie and Frank, both of whom looked on the verge of a break down.

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"Dude if you don't stop staring I'm going to give you one to match." Max said more than a little annoyed that Frank's eyes hadn't left his IV since he sat down.

"I'm sorry Max... I just never thought I would see you like this; you've always seemed so... I dunno...untouchable." Frank said finally focusing on Max.

"How long are they going to keep you here?" Kylie asked, her voice still a little too low for Max's liking it seemed the bravado she mustered when they first arrived had since melted away.

"He's going to be here for at least a day for observation." Max's mom said as she came in with Max's chart in her hands

"Come on mom, I don't need to be here for a day. I just had a little slip. Some IV fluids and I'll be fine." Max said but immediately regretted his words at the look on his mom's face

"You will stay here until I'm satisfied little boy and that is all there is to it. You were lucky this time to have Josh and the others around you. What happens when you have another 'little slip' and you’re all alone?" She replied looking mad enough to breathe fire.

The three of them were too scared to say anything as she checked Max's IV but once she had left the room Frank started in.

"So are you going to tell us what's wrong with you or not Max?" Frank asked and Max could hear a bit of the old resentment in his voice again.

Max had been planning to explain it all soon anyway and since both Josh and Kylie had witnessed his episode he decided that now would be the best time.

"I found out when I was fourteen..." Max started and over the next twenty minutes gave them a detailed break down of his illness. At first Kylie looked shocked but soon her expression melted into one of slight fear when he told them that his condition could one day evolve into full blown diabetes.

"But the doctors all told me that if I managed this right that there was only a very small chance of that and up until the past few weeks I had been doing really well" Max said and none of them needed to question why he had stopped being so careful.

"I understand why you told Josh, you guys are together now; but you still could have told me and Kylie. We wouldn't have told anyone." Frank said and Max could swear he heard hurt in his voice.

"Max didn't tell me, but I have known for weeks now." Josh said causing them all to jump, he had slipped unnoticed by the others back into the room and heard Max's story.

“How did you find out, I'd like to know?" Max asked and scooted over on the bed and beckoned Josh to sit next to him.

Josh sat down next to Max and rested his hand on one of Max's outstretched legs.

"Your mom told me that night I talked to her downstairs. She made me promise not to tell anyone, not even you." He said looking at Max's dumb founded expression.

"Well I guess we can't be mad at you for not telling us then." Frank said and actually sounded depressed at that.

Max was lying back on the bed listening to the three of them talk when a realization hit him. Now was the perfect time.

"I'm glad you three are here. I think its time we talked about something." Max said suddenly cutting off their conversation.

"What do you want to talk about Max?" Kylie asked confused.

"I think its time I told you three what happened in Chicago. I've been putting it off for way too long. It’s my last secret and I think its time I told it." Max said completely unaware where this surge of courage was coming from.

"You don't have to do that Max." Josh said quietly as he moved his hand up to take hold of Max's.

"Yea I do Josh. Kylie already knows. It’s the only way to make things even between us all. Plus I felt so...relieved... when Kylie found out; I think this is just the time to do it." Max said hoping to make it clear that he wouldn't be dissuaded.

Max looked at them each in turn before he started his story. Kylie only looked a bit anxious while Frank and Josh both sported looks of mingled apprehension and anticipation.

"My folks divorced when I was five years old. For awhile my mom had custody of both me and my brother Michael and my dad saw us on alternate weekends.

For awhile things were OK. My dad got the house in the divorce so we had to move into this shitty little apartment in a not so great neighborhood. When I was eight I had had enough of visiting my dad. My brother was always his favorite so I stopped going on our visits with him.

My dad was pissed over that, went on and on about how my mom had poisoned me against him. It got so bad that he took her back to court because of it.

One day my mom told me that the judge wanted to talk to me and my brother on our own. He asked me why I didn't want to see my dad anymore, and I told him the truth." Max paused for a second to sort out his feelings, it had been so long ago but it still hurt; but he knew once he got it all out it would be over, forever.

"I told him that I didn't have fun with my dad because he only paid attention to my brother. It was always about my brothers’ baseball games or football games or basketball games. Back then I wasn't into sports, and to this day all I really like is weight lifting.

My brother, the prideful little shit he was back then, piped up and told the judge that he got all the attention because he was the best cause he played sports like daddy did, I remember that made me cry.

The judge gave me a tissue and the Child Service's woman who had to be with us while he talked to us took us back to the hall where my parents were.

Michael and I sat down on a bench while she took them aside and told them what had happened. Then she came back and took us to this little room to play while my parents went back into the court room.

To this day I don't know how it happened or what my dad did but mom and he came back to the little room and dad picked up Michael and left the room, he didn't even look at me. On our way home mom told me that Michael wasn't going to be living with us anymore and she cried so much." Max had to stop again and wipe away the tears that were cascading from behind his glasses.

"Max you don't have to do this." Josh said but he knew Max wouldn't stop now.

"Things...things were bad for a long time after that. Mom was depressed because Michael was gone and didn't talk to us anymore. I was depressed because I was alone and friendless. It came to a head one night between us and after a lot of tears and apologies we both resolved to do better." Max left out the full details of what happened that night; he didn't think he could relive that part.

"When I was fourteen I told my mom I was gay. She was really great about it. There were some embarrassing parts; like the sexual responsibility speech but otherwise it made us closer. I told everyone that year, even my dad and brother who I only talked to a few times a year. I've maybe heard from them twice since then. My family took it OK, most of them at least. All my grown up cousins were fine with it and my Grandma got used to it too after awhile. But my Granddad took it really hard, and my Aunt and Uncle told mom I couldn't see my cousin Mark anymore, while was really painful. Mark was like a brother to me." Max stopped again and took a drink of water to sooth his dry mouth.

"When I was fifteen I met three guys who I thought I would be friends with forever. Tim Sanders and Marshal and Ray Edwards. Despite telling my family, I wasn't out in school, though from what I'm told a lot of people suspected I was gay. I told my three new friends about two months after we met that I was gay. I know that the only reason Marshal and Ray kept hanging around with me was because of Tim.

One day I was walking with him to his house, which was on the way to the bus stop which took me home. We were alone and as we walked he turned to me and told me that he was gay too and wanted to date me but that his dad couldn't find out. At the time it was like a dream come true because Tim was my best friend in the world and I thought who better to date than someone you are already close to.

Despite Tim always reminding me that we were dating we never spent much time together. His dad didn't know about our relationship yet but still wouldn't let him come over to our apartment and since neither of us could drive yet we could never go out without one of our parents with us.

I don't know how but during the second week of December that year Tim's dad found out about us. He beat him and threatened to throw him out. The first school day after it happened him and Marshal and Ray cornered me in the middle of the crowded school hallway. They started shoving me around and calling me a fag and every other dirty name they could; others joined in and pushed me around and taunted me. I don't know how or when it stopped I just remember people dispersing and leaving me on my knees in the middle of the hall.

I found out later that Tim was telling everyone the reason he was so bruised up was because I had tried to kiss him one day while we were at his dad's house and his dad caught us. He told them that I ran and left him there to get beat by his dad and that we had never been more then friends and if he had known I was a dirty fag that he would have beaten me up a long time ago." Max was forced to stop again. Reliving the old hurtful memories blocked his throat and flooded his eyes with tears. Josh wrapped his arms around him and told him again that he didn't need to tell them anymore; but he did. It was almost over.

"When summer break came around I thought I was finally free. Since the day in the hall I had been picked on and taunted and threatened everyday; people I thought were my friends wouldn't even look at me. I hoped that after the summer that things would be better, and they were, just not how I thought they would be.

It was the first week of the summer and I was taking some trash to the dumpster behind our building. After I had thrown in the bags I turned around and saw six guys in ski masks had snuck up behind me. The alley was open to streets at either end but I was right in the middle and the back door to the building was cut off, I was trapped.

I tried to run and when that didn't work I tried to fight them off, but there were too many. I was hit everywhere you could think of, across the jaw, the sides, back, chest, and stomach just beaten to a pulp.

I was just laying there on the ground praying it was over. They had stopped beating me and were talking above me then I felt the coldness of the blade as my shirt collar was cut then felt my shirt being ripped down the back," Max wiped his eyes and tried to clear his throat as he spoke, unwilling to stop with the end being so close," Then four of them knelt down on my arms and legs and held me to the ground and one of them leaned down and spoke into my ear; it was Tim; even being as afraid as I was right then I knew that voice. He said he was going to make sure I never forgot who he was or what I'd done to him. I felt the tip of the knife against my skin and I struggled and tried to break free but they just held me tighter. I passed out from the pain, from feeling my skin being sliced open.

I don't know how but I remember hearing gun shots then running. Then I felt something warm and rough being laid over me, I remember it hurt so much against my back. I started to struggle when I felt hands reaching into my pockets and my wallet being pulled out. It hurt so much to move and a heavy, out of breath voice sounded over loud in my ears. 'Don't move Max, I'm a cop, don't be scared. I've called for an ambulance, you'll be OK but you have to stop moving', I did and I must have passed out again because I only remember flashes from then on.

The medics talking over me, and the blare of the sirens, chatter of hospital workers as the cop who found me told them what had happened, I heard my mom scream, telling everyone I was her son to let her through." Max finally broke down and sobbed, partly out of anguish and partly out of relief, it was all over, he didn't have anymore secrets.

He let Josh pull him close and felt the others wrapping their arms around him. They all whispered words of love and condolence and unheard by anyone but Max's was Frank's promise.

"If I ever come across him it doesn't matter how long from today it is or how unlikely it is, if I ever catch him, he's a dead man Max. I swear it." Frank's voice was heavy with rage and full of promise.

After Max had calmed down and was able to speak again he finished his story and with them all sitting around him he told them the happy ending.

"As soon as I was able to travel Mom and I moved. A friend of hers got her a job here and within a week of getting my stitches out we were here. I spent the summer in seclusion but on my first day of school here I met the two people who would change my life." Max said and pulled Frank and Josh into one armed hugs and planted a kiss on the cheek of both of them.

Kylie laughed at the surprise on Franks face then once again joined in on a group hug.

TO BE CONTINUED....
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I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. As always I would love to hear what you think. Please feel free to PM me, leave a review, or email me at allenarcane88@yahoo.com. I answer or respond to everything, good or bad I want to hear about it.

Thanks to Rush for editing this chapter.