Jason and Justin

Chapter 18 Rules of Gazing

                           Billy's POV

Justin was quiet as we walked to the social palor.  My guess he was probably replaying the conversation that he had with his father over and over again. I watched as he twitched several times probably hearing the words I'm disappointed in you echo in his mind.

I mused how he found his father's scolding more upsetting than the whipping he recieved from Jason. Which made sense. The whipping he deserved, the berating from their father he did not.

I just hope we don't find Jason in a similar state when we return.

I placed my hand on his back as we walked in and said "Everything is going to be okay."

He smiled slightly as he gave me a grateful look and then returned to his brooding.

The poor kid is not having a good first day I thought.

There were about twenty people in the social palor. Six couples sat on the lower level lost in each other's eyes. The staff member who was responsible for making sure they were all behaving themselves was more interested in his book than what was going around him. Not that he blamed him. Sitting six hours baby sitting a bunch of college students had to be mind numbingly boring.

Getting a root canal would be more enjoyable.

On the upper level several students were engrossed in a ping pong match between Oliver's room mate Mason and another student.

I then noticed that the student who had been playing Donkey Kong earlier was still seated at the machine.  What appeared to be about twenty dollars in quarters were stacked on the side of the game.

All I could think was how my father would paddle my backside if I wasted that much money on a silly game.

We got ourselves a couple cans of soda and bags of chips and then sat on the lower level a couple of tables away from one of starry eyed lovers.

"Wow they are really focused on each other aren't they." Justin said as he opened his soda.

"Yes they are." I replied. "Everyone of us could burt into flame and they wouldn't he even notice."

Justin let out a laugh."True." He then took a drink of his soda. "I'm confused."

"About what?" I asked as I pulled a chip from the bag and popped it in my mouth.

He placed the can on the table. "I thought boys and girls weren't allowed to stare into each other's eyes."

"What?" A amused grin spread across my face.

"I thought boys and girls got into trouble if they looked into each other's eyes for too long." Justin said.

"Where in the world did you hear that?" I said with a hard laugh. 
A look of chagrin crossed his face and I instantly felt guilty. "Sorry." I said with a cough.

"Did Jason tell you that?"

"No." He picked up his bag of chips and opened it. "My friend Charlie did." Justin replied. "He told me that guys and girls weren't allowed to look into each other's eyes for too long because they were afraid the girls would get pregnant."

I looked at him slackjawed as my mind tried to comprehend this utterly ridiculous rumor.  At first I thought he was joking but as I looked in his eyes I could tell that he was being serious. I shook my head in dismay that such a stupid rumor was out there and there were people who actually believed.

Another question then entered my mind. One that I was embarrassed to ask him but felt compelled to ask. "You do know that's not how that works?" I asked cautiously.

"Of course I do." He said defensively. "I'm not stupid."

Well you believed that rumor I thought but held my tongue not wanting to offend him more than I already did.

"Its not true." I said.

He nodded his head still embarrassed by reaction.

"Again I'm sorry that I upset you."

"Can we just drop it?" He said looking at the exit door.

"Sure." I then asked. "Do you want to go back to the dorm?"

"No." He said and then popped a couple of chips into his mouth. He chewed slowly as he once again looked at the door. He then swallowed and said "I hope Jason is okay."

"I'm sure he is." I said trying to be as assuring as possible.

Justin looked at me. "I wish I could be sure."  His brow creased with worry.

"I guess your parents are pretty strict?" I said. Silly question Billy of course they are. They would have never sent him and Jason here if they weren't.

"Not really."

"Really?" I said as a cloud of confusion overshadowed me.

"Well it depends on the situation actually." Justin said. "They are pretty lenient most of the time unless you do something that embarrasses them in front of their friends then there is hell to pay."

"Language Justin." I scolded.

"Sorry." He then shifted uncomfortably.

"Its okay." This time I thought. Next time it will be a write up and five demerits.

"Anyway." Justin said looking with a look of relief in his eyes, probably happy that he was not getting another butt whipping. "I think my sister Jane desctibex " Justin said. "Our parents only care about what we do if it personally affects them if it doesn't they are apathetic about what we do. Like for example a couple of months ago I went to a party got drunk and drove home under the influence but because my actions did not make them look bad in front of their friends they brushed it off as boys will be boys behavior."

"And how did Jason react?"

"Ten swats with his belt,  forty minutes in the corner, and a month grounding."

"How do your parents feel about him disciplining you?"

"Again if it does not make them look bad in front of their friends they don't care." Justin looked towards the dorm again. "But he made them look in bad in front of their friends so he is going to feel the full weight of their wrath for it and its not going to be pretty."

He took a drink of his soda. "I would rather be beaten with the belt again then go through what he is about to go through."

I found myself feeling sorry for Jason and hoping he was okay.