first line Prompt #266 - First Line

[comicfan]

“I don’t care! I still believe in you.”

[joann414]

No Matter What

 

"I don't care!  I still believe in you."  Landon reached for Dan as he said the words, putting all the sincerity he was feeling into them.  He knew Dan's job search for the last year had finally taken it's toll.

 

Dan turned to look at Landon, shaking off his boyfriend's hand.  "I feel like a kept woman, and I'm not doing it anymore.  You work two jobs to make sure that I can have my own transportation, in case my sorry ass does land a job.  But, I just got turned down as a landscaper's assistant, and I have a degree horticulture.  That's pretty lame, don't you think?  My dad was right.  A fag like me won't amount to anything, especially with a sissy degree like that.  Guess I should've stayed on the farm, and be happily driving a tractor, on the path to being straight.  He always said good manual labor would make any fag think twice about being a real man, instead of a faggot fairy."

 

Landon flinched at Dan's words, holding back tears.  As much as Dan's dad had hurt him, Dan still loved his dad unconditionally.  He'd raised Dan alone after his wife died three years after giving birth to their only child.  Dan's dad  hated fags, but loved his son in a twisted, sort of way that kept Dan going back for more of the verbal abuse, at least once a month, and now it had finally taken it's toll.  It looked as if his boyfriend of five years had shattered under the pressure of his father's words, and his state of unemployment.

 

Dan slammed out the front door, making one of the photos on the wall next to it fall to the floor. 

 

Landon bent down and picked up the frame that held the photo of them at their college graduation two years ago.  Landon had landed a job as a teacher, and was an assistant swimming coach at the local school.  Dan had opened his own nursery, but after nine months of struggling, and creeping more and more into debt, he'd given up, and shut down the plant nursery, and sold the building and land to pay off his debt.  Landon hadn't considered the assistant coaching job a second job until Dan started throwing it in his face.  Dan had no idea that Landon didn't have to work at all if he chose not to.  At twenty-one, he'd inherited his grandfather's estate, which consisted of over five million dollars, and the two story townhouse they lived in now.  He'd not kept this from Dan on purpose, but wanted to surprise him when he proposed to him on their sixth anniversary next month.  Now, he wondered if there would be an anniversary.  Landon's gut feeling told him that Dan was headed out to his father's farm, seeking employment.  If that were the case, there would probably be no more them.  Tears finally escaped, when he had that final thought.  Hanging the picture back on the wall, he walked over to the bar, and poured himself a drink, glad it was Friday, and he had a couple of days to try and sort out this mess.  He'd loved Dan Sikes as long as he could remember, but finally admitted it when they were seniors in high school, after his best friend Leah had told him that she was positive that Dan was gay.  Now, Landon was scared, but determined that the last six years were the beginning of a lifetime together for him and Dan.  He sat down on a bar stool, and sipped his drink, in deep thought.

 

***

 

Dan drove through the light snow that had started to fall.  He muttered to himself.  "What the hell else?"  He found a place to pull the Dodge Charger to the side of the road, and leaned back in the seat, running a hand over his face, not surprised at the wetness there.  His mind was going in circles, but in the middle was one beautiful face.  Landon.  Dan felt guilty for his outburst.  Landon didn't deserve any of it, because he'd been more supportive than most boyfriends would have thought about being.  Not once had Dan said anything negative about Landon not working.  Instead, he'd bragged about how clean and neat Dan kept the house, and lawn.  Every night after Landon had eaten whatever Dan prepared for dinner, he'd get up from his chair, and kiss Dan on the lips, thanking him for a great meal, and they would do the dishes together, talking about the antics of Landon's students that day.  Then they'd grab a drink, and go out onto the back patio, and enjoy each other's company for an hour or two.  Their television was never turned on, unless they wanted to watch a game together, or they rented a dvd to watch together.  Dan knew that Landon was happy with it being just the two of them.  When they did go to a friend's home for a party or dinner, Landon never left his side, and was ready to go whenever Dan got ready to leave.

 

Pulling back onto the road, Dan went to the next drive he came to, and turned around.  He needed to go home and make things right.  He could start the job hunting over on Monday.  He'd find something, if he had to wait tables.

 

***

 

Stirring his second drink with his index finger, Landon walked to the big kitchen window above the sink, and looked out at the snow that blanketed the patio.  The patio chairs and table were covered.  He grabbed a broom from the utility closet, and went outside, sweeping the snow from the two chairs, moving them closer to the house out of the snow.  The elements had never kept him and Dan inside.  When his thoughts hit him, he picked his drink up off the snow covered table, and went to sit in one of the chairs, crying unashamedly.  He could care less what anybody thought about how he worshipped Dan.  Dan was his world, and he'd do anything to keep him.  Crying silently, absently sipping his drink, Landon had no idea that there was a tear stained face watching him out the big kitchen window.

 

Walking quietly up behind Landon, Dan leaned forward and wrapped his boyfriend in his arms, rubbing his tear stained cheek against Landon's wet cheek.  "I'm sorry for leaving you and hurting you.  It was childish.  Feeling like a failure was my own doing.  You've never made me feel that way.  I love you Landon.  I'll begin job hunting again Monday, and will wait tables if I have to, but I'll never leave you again."

 

Landon sobbed in relief, uncaring of the childish noises.  He loved this man who held him more than anything in the world.  "We'll work something out, Dan.  Let's not worry about it for the rest of the weekend."  Landon brushed the snow from the chair next to him, and then got up to go fix Dan a drink.  He went into the den and grabbed a big fleece throw from the back of the couch.  He draped it over Dan, and then sat down in his chair, and pulled it over him.  Handing Dan his drink, he knew they were meant to be, no matter what.  Penniless, or jobless, they would make it.

 

Three months later...Christmas Eve

 

Dan put the last touches to the Italian Crème cake, and grabbed one of the candy trays, and took it to sit on one of the coffee tables in the den.  The fifteen or so people that had braved the weather seemed to be having a great time.  He rolled his eyes when he heard the Christmas Music filling the air.  Evidently, Landon had changed the music while he was in the kitchen, getting food ready.  Dan made sure the sandwich trays and cheese and veggie trays were plentiful before going in search of his boyfriend.

 

Landon stood in his and Dan's bedroom, holding an envelope in his hand.  He felt he should tell Dan about the inheritance before the proposal.  If there was going to be an explosion, he wanted time to diffuse it before the proposal.  He turned when the bedroom door opened, and Dan entered their bedroom.  "I have something I need to talk with you about, Dan.  Maybe, I should've said something sooner, but I had my reasons."

 

"I already know, Landon.  Why do you think I was determined to get a job?  You were independently wealthy, and I had nothing but my clothes, and the furniture that we'd bought when we first moved in together.  But, my internet business seems to be doing well, so maybe  your inheritance can stay right where it is until you choose to do otherwise.  Anyway, my father called yesterday, and he had a bit of news of his own.  Said he would be here tonight for the party.  Wait.  Don't look like that.  He promised he'd cause no trouble.  I've not visited him in the last three months, and he knows I don't need him, but that I love him. I think he just wants to see me."

 

Not wanting to ruin the night, Landon crossed the room to kiss Dan lightly and said, "No more doubts?"

Dan grinned shyly and said, "I've never doubted you, only me.  Now, I feel that we are an us, so no, no more doubts."

 

***

 

Landon watched Dan and his father talking, and both were smiling, so he headed into the kitchen to get more wine.  He was struggling with the corkscrew when Dan's arms circled him from behind.

 

"Here, let me help you with that."  Landon watched Dan easily pull the cork from the bottle.

 

"So, I've had quite a surprise.  Seems dad is moving to be closer to his only sister.  He will be eight hours away, but he says he wants the two of us to visit."

 

Landon was shocked.  "Are you kidding?  What brought this about?"

 

"He told me that when I didn't visit the last few months that he realized a lot of things, the most important being that I was his son, no matter what, and that he loved me.  He apologized for trying to change me with his harsh words.  He seemed shocked when I hugged him, and forgave him, telling him that I loved him also, and that we'd love to visit.  Was I wrong?"

 

Landon saw the happiness in Matt's face and said, "You were exactly right.  Let's go enjoy our guests."

 

"Wait, that's not all, Landon.  We are now the proud owners of a thousand acre farm and house, and over six hundred head of cattle.  Also, my monetary inheritance, though not as much as yours, is pretty substantial.  Seems like I just inherited a job as a cattleman, and farmer.  What do you think of that?"  Dan looked at Landon uncertainly.

 

"I think I'd love to spend the weekends in the country with my sexy cowboy husband."  Landon smiled in happiness at the shocked look on Dan's face.

 

The two were oblivious to Dan's daddy standing in the kitchen door, beaming, because he knew that his son was happy, really happy, with this other man that held him tightly, while they both cried joyfully.

 

finis

Edited October 6, 2013 by joann414

[Slytherin]

Oh Jo Ann - this story is wonderful !! At first I thought they were gonna break up over the job situation but I am glad that they didn't  A happy, warm, sweet story - thank you for sharing

[Aditus]

When I read you did this prompt and you said you're a romantic sap I knew this story had to have a nice ending. Phew. I was right. Thank you for sharing, wouldn't mind to read more romantic sappiness every now and then...

[JamesSavik]

A Loss of Confidence

 

 

“I don’t care! I still believe in you”, stated Admiral Stewart.

 

Admiral Tanaka said, "This is the right fleet, in the right place to break the enemies back. If we pull out now we may not have another chance.

 

Bassett sighed. "We just took a beating at Kirland Roads. We lost four heavy cruisers and another sixteen ships damaged to varying degrees. I'm just not sure we still have the firepower."

 

Sam Stewart, one of Bassett's oldest friends laughed and said, "I seem to remember you saying that our orders are too broad, the mission too ambitious, our logistics impossible, our strategy improbable and our forces inadequate. However, so far in this campaign we have won every battle we have fought, gathered a great deal of actionable intelligence and managed to collect several hundred survivors that had long been written off."

 

Lt Commander Daniel Sokolsky, Bassett's staff science officer, said, "We have a situation where the clock is running. We know that the enemy are intelligent machines capable of learning. Every couple of months, they field something new. So far, we have been able to handle everything that they have developed but they are working from a higher tech base than the Alliance. Sooner or later they are going to field something that we can't handle."

 

There was silence in the conference room. They all knew the truth in Sokolsky's statement.

 

Bassett said, "Sam, do we still have the kind of strength we need to screen the carriers and the Marine Assault ships?"

 

Admiral Stewart replied, "The battleships and battle cruisers are untouched. We are only down in cruiser and destroyer strength but we expect to get at least a dozen of those repaired and combat ready within the week."

 

Tanaka said, "I can take up some of the slack by laying on more CAP and BAR-CAP missions from the carriers."

 

Captain Hutchins, Bassett's Chief of Staff said, "We are still doing well on expendables. We have missiles and ammunition for twelve weeks of continuous operations and we have a gas mining ship and refinery set up for fuel. We have the logistics that we need to continue the fight for months if necessary."

 

Bassett said, "We've got three more major objectives and several smaller ones. We aren't sure what the fleets based at Omicron Ceti are doing but if they are sticking with the plan, their raids and destruction of enemy listening posts has got to provoke some reaction."

 

"You're right. I guess that I was foolish thinking that we could get the job done without some losses. We didn't come this far to go home empty handed. I want an op plan to take down objective Tango-23. We need to finish what we have started." 

[Never Surrender]

WARNING - This story does contain drug use, although it isn't glorified, etc. Please don't read if you may find this subject triggering or upsetting.

 

Thanks to Kitt for reading through for me. Any mistakes, etc. left are entirely my own.

 

 

 

******************************************************************

 

“I don’t care! I still believe in you.”

 

That’s what she wished her best friend had said, instead of walking away and leaving her adrift. She knew that they had both made mistakes in this life, but she hadn’t even realised that she had caused a problem when she had made this one – the one which had the biggest impact she could imagine. It had all come down to a he-said-she-said situation, and a petty schoolgirl crush. This had led to accusations being thrown around, and she had been frozen out of one of her social groups for something which she hadn’t even done. The worst part? Her best friend hadn’t believed her either.

 

Shrugging off her internal musings, she continued to apply the mascara to her right eye, checking she had reached into the corners properly before snapping the compact mirror shut and throwing it back into her bag. If he came back, he came back, but if not, she knew what the best coping mechanism was. Her friends had invited her out tonight, and who was she to reject an invitation like that? That’s how she had found herself here, in the sitting room of a large student house, dirty pint in one hand and a few white tablets in the other.

 

“Go on,” they heckled, “everyone else has had some. Are you really going to be the odd one out? You said you wanted to forget for a while, well here’s your answer. Take them!”

 

She didn’t want to dither anymore. It had taken her so much time to kick the bad habits that she had had previously, but at this point, she just didn’t give a fuck anymore. In a snap decision, she threw the tablets to the back of her throat and washed them down with a mouthful of someone else’s drink.

 

---------------------------------------------

 

Everyone was staring at her. She could feel their eyes drilling holes into the back of her head. The music was simultaneously too loud and too quiet and she was starting to shake. Her body temperature had ended up out of whack, and she couldn’t focus her eyes anymore. The clock on her phone lit up the dark corner of the club that she had taken to but the numbers danced around the screen mockingly in a way which meant that she couldn’t read them.

 

She regretted this. She should have known that they would lead her astray. She just wanted to get herself some chicken and go home. She pulled out her house keys and she realised that she had no clue where her house was.

 

She was frozen in that position until she felt an arm wrap around her waist and a soft bite to her neck. Tilting her head back, she came face to face with the one who had given her the tablets. What was his name again? Before she could remember he had taken her hand and started leading her through the crowd, out towards the door. Bodies pressed into her from all sides, and she felt so claustrophobic she thought she was going to faint.  

 

She felt his hand slipping away from hers, and realised that she was alone again. This time was different though. The bass was pounding and her heartbeat was doing a rapid crescendo. She bolted for the door in panic, and fell down the stairs, the world rotating and spinning before she finally came to a rest on her back on the damp pavement. Her legs were shaking and she felt her lungs getting tight. All she could think about was what a stupid idea those tablets were.

 

After a minute, she slowly turned onto her hands and knees, before staggering to her feet again. With drunken determination, she set off in the direction that she thought her house was in.

 

She couldn’t work out where the noise was coming from. It was a crashing rumble, like a speeding train rushing past the platform. Spinning around, she hit metal railings and got soaked by a rogue wave. The sea! With sheer joy, she climbed unsteadily over the railings and fell off the edge of the pavement and into the sand below. She knew that the cold sea would help her sober up. This night was meant to be about taking away her pain, but it hadn’t done anything of the sort. She couldn’t make her legs work anymore, so she crawled towards the source of the noise. The sea was so beautiful, a dark shape with light glittering and bouncing off the surface, so uncontrollable and powerful and strong.

Finally, she felt herself starting to get wet as the waves hit the shore. Knowing she was close, she looked up towards her goal. Crawling closer, the water level quickly reached her hands, then her elbows, then deeper. Her balance was off, and she was so confused. She couldn’t see anything, and felt herself falling face first into the depths that she had been convinced would help her. Instead, the salt stung her eyes and filled her nose. She wanted to cough and gasp for air but something inside her told her to keep her mouth closed and not to breathe in. She could hear crashing and splashing but she couldn’t see anything, she didn’t know which way was upwards, she didn’t know where she was. Her lungs were burning and getting tight, and her level of panic was growing. A sense of desperation filled her, and she started to scrabble around. She had reached the point where she knew that it would do no good. She had made her decision, now she would pay for it. A sense of serenity overcame her, and she felt herself go limp as she retreated inside her mind, to a different place and time.

 

----------------------------------------                 

 

She didn’t know how long she had been there when she felt firm hands gripping her shoulders and pulling her face out of the water. It could have been seconds, or it could have been hours. She looked up while coughing desperately to see who had come to save her from herself, and came face to face with her best friend. When her best friend uttered those words, she could hardly believe her ears.

 

“I don’t care. I still believe in you.”

Edited October 5, 2013 by Never Surrender

[LJH]

Walking quietly up behind Landon, Dan leaned forward and wrapped his boyfriend in his arms, rubbing his tear stained cheek against Landon's wet cheek.  "I'm sorry for leaving you and hurting you.  It was childish.  Feeling like a failure was my own doing.  You've never made me feel that way.  I love you Landon.  I'll begin job hunting again Monday, and will wait tables if I have to, but I'll never leave you again."

 

Well, that did it for me. Hauled the tissues out.

 

I loved this story.  As with hundreds of other uplifting stories, this one had it's moments of sadness.  This little story resonates.  So many emotions, sadness, joy, a little itsy feeling of happiness.  I love stories like this.  Thank you my Lady Friday.