Tyler - 11. Chapter 11

Tyler - Chapter 11

Robert picked up Connor at his house the next afternoon at three thirty. Connor had a wrapped package, which he put in his lap, once he was seated in the car.

“What’s that?” Robert asked, grinning a bit as he pointed at it.

Connor smiled over at him as he buckled his seat belt. “It’s baked goods from my mom.”

Robert smiled, having heard how great Connor’s mom was.

“You know like a care package.”

“I know,” he nodded, as he backed out of the driveway. “Don’t get all defensive, I ain’t gonna pick on her.”

Connor chuckled and smacked him on the thigh. “Guess you heard the news then huh?”

“Its okay man, I think it’s a great thing.” He put the car in drive and drove east out to Crestwood.

“So have you heard anything from him?” Connor asked, growing more nervous as they got closer.

“Nothing. God I hope he’s not too pissed. I can’t blame him if he is, I just don’t want him to be mad at me.”

“He’s not dumb Robert. I’m sure you know that. If he’s had time to think about it, he’s gonna know you couldn’t have done anything.”

“That’s what I’m hoping, but if I show up there and he starts screaming at me again, I don’t think I could take it.”

“Yeah right. From what I hear you are a mountain of strength. Nothing ever gets you down.”

Robert glanced over at him and shook his head. “That’s just from my one and only fan.”

Connor grinned at him. “And it’s a very reliable source. God he’s gonna be mad at me too you know,” he shook his head as he looked out the window. “How could I have been so dumb to think what I did? He’s gonna think I don’t trust him at all.”

“I told you man. What you thought, was what anyone would have thought, seeing what you saw. Don’t worry about it. Knowing him, he feels bad because he did something to make you think that. Let’s just not sit here and stew. Let’s wait ‘til we see him before we freak out too bad.”

“Well it’s a little late for that. I freaked out all night long last night.”

“Yeah me too.” Robert said with half hearted laugh. He pulled into the parking lot of Crestwood and took a deep breath as he looked over the tall, ominous looking brick building, complete with bars on its windows. “God I hate to think of him in here.” he leaned forward to see the top of the building below the roof of the car. “Least it’s here though and not one of those state run jobbies. I wonder how Karen got him into it.”

“Is she really a good social worker?”

Robert shrugged. “I don’t know, she seems to really care for Tyler but she keeps putting him in such bad homes. I imagine that’s not really her fault. Like as if she knows they are gonna be mean to him. I just wish they could find some place decent for him.”

“He’s gonna have to go someplace else now isn’t he? They are gonna move him to another town.”

Robert nodded. “More then likely Connor. But it won’t mean you have to stop seeing him. You’ve got a car. You guys can still get together all the time.”

“I know, I just feel bad he’s gotta keep moving. Not that I want him to stay with the Henderson’s, I guess like you I just wish he had a good place.”

Linda picked up the phone on her desk as it rang, “Dr. Lincoln.”

“Dr. There’s a Robert here to see Tyler Adams.”

“I’ll be right there.” she hung up the phone, her heart pounding in her chest as she’d been waiting on pins and needles to meet this kid since her talk with Amy the day before. She left her office and took the elevator down to the first floor. She saw two boys; she knew one had to be Robert the minute she got off the elevator. Both were incredibly attractive, which didn’t surprise her much as Tyler was absolutely stunning to look at.

She walked up to them and introduced herself, they introduced themselves as each shook her hand. “I was only told to allow Robert in,” she said looking from one to the other.

Connor’s face fell, while Robert immediately opened his mouth. “You have to let Connor in ma’am. The three of us, we got stuff to resolve.”

Linda looked back at Connor. “Are you his boyfriend?”

“I’m Tyler’s boyfriend.” he said, not sure whom she was referring to.

She took a deep breath. “I don’t know,”

Robert glared at her. “Look lady, the only reason you didn’t get clearance for him is ‘cause he wasn’t there at the time. You call Karen, she’ll tell you. He’s got to see him too.”

Not wanting to argue with the person that knew Tyler better then anyone she gave in. “Alright, but I want to talk to you, Robert, for a few minutes before you see him. Connor you come up with us and I’ll lead you in his direction.”

Connor nodded, looking absolutely elated that he would be allowed in.

         

Tyler was sitting in a chair at a round table in the rec room, staring out the window. Crestwood was right on the ocean and he’d always found he’d been able to stare at the ocean for hours and just get lost in his thoughts. Though his thoughts today weren’t particularly good, he still sat there and stared.

Connor stepped into the door way of the rec room, his eyes immediately falling on Tyler’s back, who was at a table over by the window. He looked around the room as he took a deep breath. There were ping pong tables, pool tables, several couches and chairs surrounding a TV, and other tables and chairs around where Tyler was sitting. He saw a couple of guys curled up together on the couch who were looking back at him. At the ping pong table two more guys were heavy into a match, as well as at the pool table where two people were playing and two people were watching.

Tyler’s back was too them all and he immediately felt bad that he wasn’t playing or even talking to any of the others. Connor took another deep breath saying, ‘please don’t be too mad at me Tyler’ under his breath.

He was just about to where Tyler was sitting when Tyler turned around and looked at him. His eyes widened and Connor walked slower, not able to tell if the widening was of happiness or anger. He smiled brightly when Tyler smiled at him.

Tyler jumped up out of his chair, his heart soaring, he took the two steps to Connor and wrapped his arms around him. Tears filled his eyes which he had no idea as to why. Connor wrapped his arms, present and all, tightly around him. “God Tyler, I was so afraid you were gonna kick me out.”

Tyler whimpered in pleasure in his arms. “I thought you were the one who was mad at me,” he said into his ear.

“No way man, Robert straightened me out.” Connor opened his eyes and looked over Tyler’s shoulder, where the two guys on the couch were staring back at them intently.

Nathan squeezed Dean’s hand. “I told you man he’s gay.”

“They’re just hugging friends...” Dean stopped mid sentence as Tyler pulled his head back only long enough to redirect it, as he brought his head forward again and pressed his lips in the other boy’s.

Nathan wrenched his hand out of Dean’s and started clapping. Dean went red as an apple and pulled Nathan’s hands apart, but not before Tyler pulled away from Connor and gave him severing look.

Tyler took Connor by the hand and led him back to the table he’d been sitting at, while Connor looked back over his shoulder at the boys on the couch. “Whose that your fan club?” he asked, as he pulled a chair over beside Tyler and sat down close to him.

“Nah, one of them is just a real prick. Huge mouth and all.” he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and put his other hand on Connor’s thigh. “I guess your mom was right.”

“Well of course.” Connor grinned, “But what was she right about this time?”

Tyler smiled, feeling so happy he felt the smile was not enough. “About crying when you are happy. I thought she was a little off it when she said that. But look at me. I’m happy as hell and bawling my eyes out.”

Connor’s eyes sparkled as he let out a small laugh then leaned in and kissed Tyler some more. He didn’t care if they were being watched, he wasn’t get let anyone spoil him kissing Tyler.

“Is Robert real mad at me?”

“No silly. He’s scared you are mad at him. He’s here actually, but some lady wanted to talk to him.”

Tyler nodded, figuring that was Linda and wondering why in hell she was talking to him and what they were talking about. He pointed over to the wrapped box. “Is that for me or is that your new purse.”

Connor grinned widely and slid it over to Tyler on the table. “It’s from my mom.”

Tyler sighed happily as his head listed to one side. “She’s so sweet.”

Connor scooted in closer and wrapped his arms around Tyler, putting his chin on his shoulder. “They treating you okay in here?”

“Sure, I actually kinda like it. Cept I wish I were with you instead. But everyone seems real nice and I can’t be called the crazy one in here because everyone is.”

“Anyone calls you crazy out of here and you tell me, I’ll rip their nuts off.”

Tyler smiled as he reached out for the package. “Can I open in it?”

“Of course!” Connor did not let go of him, only turned his head so his cheek was on his shoulder, so he could look down at the box as well. Tyler peeled back the paper and leaned forward over the box pulling Connor with him. He picked out baggies of brownies, cookies, chocolates and muffins. “Oh my God this is so nice.”

“I helped make the cookies and brownies.” Connor stated happily.

Tyler grinned at him as he opened the baggie of brownies, he sniffed them and Connor chuckled. “Why you smelling them?”

“Making sure they aren’t pot brownies.”

Connor laughed and shook his head. “I don’t think my mom even knows what pot is.”

Tyler held the brownie out in front of Connor’s mouth, which he opened so Tyler could put it in. After feeding Connor one he shoved another into his own mouth. He wrapped his own arms around Connor and they pressed their cheeks together. “So there’s no doubt in your mind that I didn’t cheat on you?”

“No none,” Connor said, pressing his cheek more firmly into Tyler’s. “I’m so sorry about what I said. I just didn’t think it through when I saw you two, I just panicked. I’m sorry about Mr. Henderson. Robert told me what happened.”

“Are you mad I called him and not you?”

“No silly. Though you need to know you can call me Tyler. Anytime. I want to help too.”

Tyler moved his head and laid his cheek down on Connor’s shoulder, bringing his hands up, he wrapped them around his shoulders. “It’s just Robert’s seen me all crazy before. I’m not sure I want someone else seeing it.”

“You had every right to be upset Tyler. I would never, ever think you were crazy.” He moved one of his hands up to the side of Tyler’s face and moved his fingers gently up and down his hair line.

“I gotta tell you something.” They both lifted their heads and looked at each other while still remaining in each other’s arms.

“Yeah?” Connor asked, a little nervously.

Tyler smiled. “I love you.”

Connor smiled as well, his eyes misting over. “I love you too Tyler.” They kissed again, this one lasting quite some time.

Dean looked over at Nathan, who kept adjusting himself uncomfortably in his seat. “What’s your problem?”

“I’m getting a stiffie just watching them. They are both so hot.”

Dean snorted and smacked him on the shoulder. “You’re such a shit.”

“I know, I know I can’t help it.” They both turned to the door as another incredibly hot guy walked into the room and looked immediately over to Connor and Tyler. “My God, we are gonna see a three way.”

“Man Nathan you are so sick, I wonder why I like you sometimes.”

Robert, his heart pounding in his ears, walked over to Connor and Tyler, they were so deep in their kiss they did not hear him coming, so he cleared his throat, once he was standing over them. They both separated and looked up at him. His heart flooded with relief as Tyler smiled widely up at him. He jumped up out of his chair and threw his arms around Robert’s neck. “I’m so sorry Robert. I didn’t mean what I said yesterday.”

Robert buried his face in the top of Tyler’s head and squeezed him gently. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get you out of this Tyler. But please don’t ever think I’ve given up on you again, ‘cause that ain’t ever gonna happen.”

Tyler’s head bobbed up and down. “I know, I’m so sorry.”

Robert rubbed his back. “I just talked to your shrink, she seems like a real nice lady.”

Tyler nodded again. “She does.”

“So you gonna talk to her?”

Tyler pulled back and looked up at him, “She tell you to convince me to?”

Robert grinned and shook his head, “No, I just thought since she was so nice you might be apt to.”

“Ain’t gonna happen,” Tyler said, shaking his head.

“But what if it’s the only way you’ll get out of here?”

“Then I’ll make up some stuff. Just enough so she’s satisfied.”

Robert sighed, but was not gonna argue. “They treating you okay in here?”

“Yes, everyone’s real nice.” he looked over at Nathan again, who was still staring at him, “Well most of them.”

He looked over at the doorway where Linda was standing near the door. Seeing him looking, she stepped out of the doorway and half a second later Amy walked in with Paul. He backed away from Robert and pulled him down into a chair on his opposite side of Connor.

“Have you guys ever heard of someone who has different people living inside their head?”

Connor immediately nodded, “Multiple personalities?”

“So it’s a common thing?” Tyler asked surprised.

“Well not as common as gay.” he said with a small smile. “But there have been thousands of reported cases.”

“How do you know so much about it?”

“A boy that I went to school with had it. They took him out of school real quick though, I guess he was too out of it, so they put him in a mental hospital.”

Tyler looked over at Paul, who was now seated across from Amy at a table with a game of ‘Candy land’ between them. “Was his name Paul?”

Connor’s head snapped up, “Yeah, how did you know?”

Tyler discreetly pointed his finger over at Paul. Connor turned around and looked for a moment then turned back to Connor and sighed. “Yeah that’s him. He went to school with us in elementary school too. Then one day he just stopped coming.”

“Do you know what happened to him? I mean why he’s the way he is?”

“Parents beat the holy old hell out of him. I don’t know all the details. Only that supposedly after he stopped going to school in like third grade, his parents never let him leave the house. Kept him locked in a closet when they weren’t beating on him. When the police went in seven years later to take him out he was nearly dead. Was in the hospital for months.”

Tyler nodded sadly. “So he’s our age?” he asked, totally surprised by this as Paul acted like he was maybe five and didn’t look any older then thirteen with him being so small.

Connor nodded. “They said he was so small because he was never fed.”

“Geez,” Tyler made a very pained face as he shook his head. He turned to Robert who was smiling at him. “You want a goodie?”

Robert looked down at the box and nodded. Tyler picked up the box and held it out to him. “Connor helped make the brownies and cookies.”

Connor chuckled behind him and Tyler grinned back at him. “So are you guys gonna get to come visit any time you want?”

“Four times a week. For up to two hours each time.”

Tyler bounced his head from shoulder to shoulder. “Well that’s good then.”

“And you can call us every night. Ten minutes a call.”

Tyler’s eyes lit up. “Wonderful.”

“And I’ll write you a letter every day.”

“Oh me too,” Connor said, his mouth again full of brownie. “Big long love letters. I’ll even scent them with my cologne.”

Tyler chuckled and kissed Connor’s cheek. “I’ll write big long love letters back. And scent them with my soap or something.”

“Well my letters will just be scented with the sweat of my brow as I struggle for words over my blank piece of paper.” Connor and Tyler both looked at Robert and laughed. “And they won’t be big long love letters either.”

“Better not be.” Connor snickered, causing Tyler to wrap his arm across his shoulder pull him close and kiss him on the temple. Robert smiled warmly, loving to see his friend love someone so much someone who was totally deserving of that love and returned it.

         

They left after their two hours, and Tyler sat happily at his table staring out the window now with a big smile on his face. He turned his head back to the room a minute later hearing his name being called. It was a woman’s voice, so he looked directly at Amy who was waving him over.

He stood up from his table and walked over to her and Paul. “You wanna play with us?” She asked, smiling up at him.

He looked down at the game and grinned, then at Paul who looked happy as hell at the prospect. He pulled out a chair and sat down between them where they were, on each side of the table.

“I don’t know how to play.”

Amy looked at Paul. “You want to teach him.”

Paul nodded, looking more with it today then he had the day before. He put his hand over a deck of small cards and straightened them out. “You’s just pick a card and go wherever the card tells you.” he picked one up and held it out to Tyler. “See’s it’s red. So’s you move your man to the first red. But some they’s have two red squares that means you skips over one red and go to the next. And some’s they have pictures on them. If thatted happens, you just go to the picture.” He looked down at the board and pointed out a picture of a candy cane. “Like that there.”

Tyler nodded. “Okay I think I got it.”

“What’s color you want to be?” he asked, waving his hand over five different colored plastic ginger bread men.

“Ahh, yellow I guess.”

Paul nodded and put the yellow man at start he then looked over at Amy, “Blue?” he said with a small smile.

Amy nodded and smiled back, he put the blue man by the yellow one then picked up the green one and set it with the other two. “You’s go first.” he said pointing at Tyler.

They were about halfway through their game when Nathan plopped down opposite Tyler grinning from ear to ear. Tyler narrowed his eyes, wanting in no way to talk to the ass.

“I knew it man, how come you didn’t just admit yesterday?”

Tyler looked at him while he picked up another card. He looked down just long enough to move his man then looked back over at him. “I don’t talk to jerks. Gay or not.”

He looked at Amy expecting to be reprimanded for what he said but she was doing a good job of pretending to ignore them.

“I’m not a jerk man,”

“You sure do a good job of acting like one.” He looked around the room and did not see Dean anywhere. Dean, he had deducted was a nice guy and he wondered why he liked someone like Nathan in the first place.

“Play?” Paul asked, holding a ginger bread man up to Nathan.

Nathan looked at him and shook his head. “No I don’t wanna play man.”

“Play?” Paul said again pushing the man in his face.

Nathan rolled his eyes but took the man out of Paul’s hand. “Play,” he said, nodding though he looked annoyed he’d been roped into playing. Their current game wrapped up on Amy’s next turn as she passed the finish line and made it to the Candy castle.

Though Tyler wanted to get up and leave now that Nathan was gonna play, he didn’t want to hurt Paul’s feelings, so he stayed where he was.

“So was that your boyfriend?” Nathan asked, after making his first move.

“No, just some stranger you idiot.”

Nathan grinned. “Okay stupid question.”

Tyler glanced up at him again, a little surprised he’d not been insulted in return.

“Who was the other guy?”

“He’s straight, don’t get any ideas.”

Nathan chuckled. “I wasn’t asking ‘cause of that. Who is he?”

Tyler lowered his head and shook it, not liking the barrage of questions but not knowing how to shut him up without answering them. “He’s my friend.” He leaned over and took a card his face lit up seeing a fat purple guy and a picture of a piece of cake. He held it out to Paul who immediately started clapping then moved his man halfway up the board.

He then looked back up at Nathan, who was looking at Paul and noticed Nathan was not looking at him with any annoyance or disgust, more like curiosity as he watched Paul take his turn.

Before the next game started, Tyler raised up his hand to halt them before Amy who won again took her turn. “I say we spice this up a bit.” he said, picking up his box of goodies. He set a brownie down on the board by the gumdrop. A cookie where the candy canes were, a chocolate where the cake was and a muffin in the mud pit. “I’ll put the biggest thing there so you got something to do incase you get stuck.”

Amy was smiling widely at him and he grinned back at her. “And the winner.” he said pulling out a hand full of goods and setting them on the Candy castle. “Gets all this.”

Paul whooped in excitement and Nathan looked much more into the game, his eyes wide with delight, which actually made Tyler feel a little sorry for him as it looked like he’d never even seen a tasty home made morsel before.

When the game ended and everyone got some candy but Nathan, the pitiful look in his eyes nearly broke Tyler’s heart. So he reached into the box pulled out a couple cookies, a muffin and a brownie then handed them over to him. “Loser gets a prize too.” he said, not able to be too nice.

Nathan’s eyes lit up as he cupped both hands and held them out under Tyler’s goods, where Tyler dumped them into his hand. A bell sounded indicating the opening of the cafeteria for dinner.

Amy laughed over at Paul, whose face was covered in chocolate. “Now as if he’s gonna eat what he’s supposed to after gorging on chocolate.”

Tyler grinned from her to him, Paul oblivious to them in his chocolate delight as he sucked the chocolate off his fingers. Nathan wasn’t doing much better as his cheeks were puffed out, as he mowed on what was in his mouth while he had another piece waiting to be shoved in.

“Do you mind getting him into the cafeteria and helping him get his food? I have to talk to Linda before I go home.” It was just an excuse, what she really wanted was to see how Tyler handled the situation. Not that she was gonna stay and spy but there were plenty of spies all over the hospital she could check with the next day.

Tyler nodded, not sure why she thought he was capable of such a responsibility, but wanting to do it he said nothing. She got up to leave, walked over to Paul’s side of the table and kissed him on the forehead. “See you tomorrow okay hon?”

He looked up at her, his sticky fingers splayed out rigidly on his upheld hands. “Tomorrow,” he repeated.

Tyler picked up the game and put it all back in the box while Nathan continued to shovel food in his mouth. “Come on Paul. We probably ought to clean you up first.” He stood up and took Paul by the hand, wincing a little in disgust as his wet spitty fingers pressed against his hand. Paul stood up with him and they walked out of the room Nathan ran up beside them.

“You sit with us Tyler?” he asked through his mouth full of muffin.

“I’m sitting with him.” He said, pointing at Paul. “And I don’t like you still.”

Nathan’s face fell, looking very hurt and Tyler immediately regretted what he said.

“But you gave me food.” he said in a child like voice.

Tyler studied him as they made their slow progression to the bathroom. He thought for the first time that Nathan was there for a reason too. That no one there was perfect, and perhaps Nathan couldn’t control when he got angry just like he couldn’t always control it. He slowly smiled and Nathan’s face perked up a bit. “As long as Paul can sit with you too.”

Nathan smiled. “So are you saying maybe you might like me?”

“I’m saying I’ll sit with you. Maybe if you can refrain from being an ass throughout the meal, I’ll like you.”

“Oh I can.” He nodded enthusiastically, before taking off down the hall and disappearing through the cafeteria door.

Tyler took a left through the bathroom door and pulled Paul along with him who was pointing in the direction Nathan had walked off in. “Eat!” he said pointing away.

“In a minute Paul. First you gotta get that chocolate off your face.”

His pointing finger moved to his face and rubbed against the chocolate smeared there. Tears came to his eyes, and Tyler, closing the door behind them looked at him sideways. “Well why are you crying?”

Paul moaned and shook his head, still though the tears came out of his eyes rolling through the chocolate and smearing it down his chin.

“Come on Paul. You can tell me.”

Suddenly an age appropriate voice came out of him. “I’m sixteen years old for god’s sake. Why can’t I eat without getting food all over me?” He held his hands palms up in desperation.

Tyler was momentarily at a loss for words, as he got the feeling this was the first time he was actually talking to Paul himself. This voice was definitely not one he’d heard before.

“Everyone gets food on their face sometimes Paul. You should see me when I eat spaghetti.”

Paul looked up at him, studying him deeply as he scratched his temple with a lone finger. “Who are you?”

“I’m Tyler. We met yesterday.”

“And you are nice?”

“I like to think so.” he said with a smile.

Paul half smiled back. “Where’s Amy?”

“She went home for the night.”

“I don’t need no babysitter.” he said angrily.

“And I’m not baby sitting you. We are just gonna sit together at supper. Like friends you know?”

“You are my friend?” He asked in total disbelief.

“Yeah,” Tyler said, trying not to sound hesitant though he was. Not about being friends with the guy just about what reaction it may bring from him. Paul’s eyes only deepened as he studied him.

“I ain’t never had no friends before. What’s your purpose?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, what do you want from me?”

“I want you to be my friend too.”

Paul turned and looked himself in the mirror, he jumped a little, like his own reflection scared him, then ripped some paper towels out of the dispenser and wet them. “You don’t want no friend with chocolate all over his face.”

Tyler grinned, liking the real Paul so much better then the other people he’d met in him.

“Where’d I get chocolate?”

“I got a care package from my friend. The chocolate came in it.”

“Did I steal it?”

“No you won it.”

“Won it how?”

“Candy land.”

Paul rolled his eyes. “I’m way too old for that game.”

“Well you sure play it well. Kicked my ass every time.” An endearing smile crossed Paul’s face. “You are too old too.”

The real Paul disappeared the moment they entered the cafeteria and Tyler had to hold him in the food line so he got the food, as he kept pulling to get away. After getting their trays filled they walked over to the table where Nathan, Dean and two guys he’d not yet met were sitting.

“You still want us here?” He asked, still holding onto Paul while he held his tray in the other hand.

“Certainly,” Dean said smiling up at him.

Tyler smiled back at him then pulled out a chair for Paul who sat down cautiously then pulled out the next one over and sat down himself. Nathan finished chewing, his mouth full of chicken and pointed over at one of the guys Tyler didn’t know at the table who had dark brown hair, was pretty tall and had deep green eyes. “That’s Mark,” Mark smiled at Tyler his deep eyes twinkling.

“And that’s Jason.” Jason was shorter than Mark, at least from the waist up, but just as cute. His hair was dark as well, with deep eyes but his being blue. “Nice to meet you.” Jason smiled as he reached out and shook Tyler’s hand.

“I told them the news.” Nathan said, grinning like the Cheshire cat.

Tyler let out a heady laugh and shook his head. “It’s not like landing on the moon.”

“In here it is.” Nathan said grinning. “We are a major minority.”

“And that’s different from the real world how?”

“Don’t know,” Nathan said, shrugging looking like he was really trying to come up with an answer.

Tyler looked up as Chris walked by their table, eyeing him the whole time he walked by.

“Don’t worry about him man. He’s an ass.” Nathan said after Chris was out of earshot.

“He’s not an ass.” Tyler said, shaking his head. “He’s just confused. Who here isn’t confused.”

“I agree.” Dean said lifting his milk like he was toasting. “Nathan here has no heart.”

Nathan elbowed him in the chest. “I do too. He’s just so mean.”

“From what I saw yesterday you were the mean one.” Tyler interjected. “I’m not trying to be an ass but that was the way I saw it. Sure what he said was mean, but after hearing about his life I understand how he’d feel that way. And since you knew about his life already, you should have been more compassionate. How do you expect him not to hate gay people if you act like something he should hate?”

Dean looked ready to stand up and applaud Tyler’s little speech.

“How can you stick up for him?” Nathan’s voice had turned angry and cold. “Don’t you have any pride in your own kind?”

“I know it’s not our kind that really did anything to him. When he realizes that too he’ll change his opinions. He’s just scared, give him a break.” Tyler was not gonna back down as he felt very strongly on the subject.

“I don’t think I want to sit with you anymore.”

“Leave then.” Mark spoke up.

A look of total hurt crossed Nathan’s face, and Tyler thought sure he was gonna start crying right there. Instead he shoved his tray across the table, jumped up from his chair, and stormed out of the room.

Dean shot Mark a severing look, “Why did you have to go and do that?”

“Why should Tyler have to leave? He’s right.”

Dean sighed. “I know that but you can’t be mean to Nathan.”

“Maybe that’s what Nathan needs. Maybe that will make him stop being so rude to everyone.”

“You know he can’t help it.” Dean muttered. He looked over at Tyler. “Nathan really is a good guy. He just can’t control his mouth. If anyone of us said what was on our mind all the time we’d all have trouble getting along with people.”

Tyler nodded as he stirred his pasta. Having to agree with his last statement.

“You’re a fidgeter, huh?”

Tyler looked up at Mark who’d said it. “What do you mean?”

“You can’t just sit. You always have to be moving something. Like that.” He said, nodding to Tyler’s rapidly moving fork.

“Is that a text book diagnosis or a personal opinion?”

Jason chuckled, “And quick with the comebacks too.”

Tyler glanced at Paul who was rocking in his chair and talking amongst himselves. “How long have you guys been here?”

Mark spoke up first. “Three months.”

“Four.” Jason said next.

Dean rounded them off with an eight. Tyler looked at him, thinking his eyes must be spinning in their sockets. “Why you been here so long?”

“My parents won’t sign me out.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m gay.”

“So they sent you here to be cured.”

Dean nodded, his lips in a straight line indicating that he was deeply hurt and mad at his parents. “They don’t know though how happy I am in here. Linda don’t care. She knows they are the crazy ones. She said she’d rather keep me around here than send me back to them anyways.”

“Cause you are so smart?” Tyler asked.

Dean squinted his eyes in confusion. “Huh?”

“Cause you are smart. I bet you help other kids that come here don’t you?”

“No I don’t think so,” He said with short laugh.

“Oh please.” Jason spoke up. “You totally helped me out man, I love talking to you and hearing your advice.” he looked at Tyler in amazement. “You must be like him, to be able to figure that out so fast.”

“I didn’t figure it out, I was just guessing.”

“So your boyfriends pretty hot.” Dean said in a blatant attempt to change the subject.

Tyler blushed as he looked back down at his tray. “Well I think so.”

“Well I think so too.”

“How long you two been going out?”

“Only for a month. But I tell you guys,” he said, shaking his head just dying to talk about Connor, “I never met anyone so great. I’m head over heals in love with him. I’ve never felt love like this before. And I know he feels the same way. He even told me today.”

“Like how?”

Tyler played with his fork with both hands and leaned further over the table. “He said he loved me. But it’s not just that,” he shook his head again then looked at Dean, “You know that other guy that came with him?”

Dean nodded, “He was a hottie too.”

Tyler grinned. “Well he’s not gay but he’s been my best friend for as long as I can remember. Something happened a couple days ago and I got upset.”

Dean interrupted him, “Did whatever happen have to do with the condition of your face?”

Tyler nodded. “Well after it happened I called Robert. That’s my friend.” he said, looking back at Dean. “Connor’s my boyfriend,” he clarified. “Anyway, Robert came and picked me up and we spent the night at a motel. Just as luck would have it, Connor drove by the next morning just as we were getting in the car. He pulled in and just started screaming and crying, he was so upset. And that’s how I know he loves me.” He said with a very satisfied smile.

Mark, Jason and Dean all smiled warmly at him. “You are totally in love.” Dean said, able to read it all over Tyler’s face.

“I know,” Tyler nodded, seeing or not even wanting to deny it.

“Where you from?” Jason asked.

“Right here.”

“What school do you go to?”

“Norton. But I probably won’t after I get out of here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Cause they are gonna place me with someone else. I’ll have to change schools.”

They all took a deep breath. “Foster kid?” Dean asked.

Tyler nodded, looking at all three of them. “I can’t be the only one.” He half asked, half said as they all looked so shocked. They all nodded slowly.

“You gotta be kidding?” Tyler asked in disbelief. He looked back at Paul. “He can’t live with his parents.”

“No but he’s a long termer,” Dean explained, “He won’t be out of here ‘til probably he’s over eighteen. He won’t go into foster care.”

“What about Chris? They don’t plan on sending him back to his father do they?”

“Lives with his mother. She broke it off with the man as soon as she found out what he’d been doing to Chris all those years.”

“Why are you here?” he asked Jason, the first one he laid eyes on.

Jason sat back looking a little stunned and a lot put on the spot. “Well.....”

“He was abused by classmates.” Mark piped up. “Every day it never failed, they even raped him.”

Jason’s mouth dropped open as he looked at Mark angrily. “Would you shut up?”

“What about you?” Tyler wanted to add big mouth but refrained himself.

“Same as Dean.” Mark rolled his eyes as he looked over at Dean who smiled back at him.

“So your parents really think you can be cured?”

They both nodded simultaneously. “It’s so sixties.” Mark said, lisping dramatically, as he flung out a limp wrist.

Tyler grinned then took his first bite of food.

After dinner they went into the rec room and watched a movie with most of the other patients, Tyler looked around him throughout the movie but did not see Chris in the room. He saw him when he returned to his room after the movie. Chris was sitting up in bed and eyed him fearfully from the moment he walked in the room.

Tyler smiled at him but got no smile in return. He saw a fresh pair of pajamas on his bed, scooped them up and walked into the bathroom where he took a long hot shower.