Atlantic

Chapter Two

Janet—who was six-two (making her six inches taller than me)—had had both a head start in time and speed but when I got to the backyard, what I saw made my heart stop: Dmitri Brennan, a six-foot-eight, Russian, military-trained, with most likely steroid-based muscles, was hovering over Aaron, screaming and spitting. Four of his minions were trying to hold him back—four of his football friends and his dopey slut of a girlfriend, Audrey—but he was too big, too powerful. Aaron was shaking but Janet was screaming back, calling him names I'd never heard.

"HOW DARE YOU BAIL ON OUR PLANS, AARON BANKS!" was Dmitri's cry as he tried to lunge at him. "OR SHOULD I HAVE CALLED YOU ALYSON!" I could see from my hiding place around the corner that Aaron's face went pale. "YES, I FUCKING KNOW!"

"About what?" came Janet's surprised retort, trying to keep her terrifying front, but intrigued by the subject matter.

"ABOUT THE SKIRTS, THE MAKEUP, YOUR GODDAMN EARS ARE PIERCED! YOU DON'T THINK I KNOW YOU'RE A FAG? JESUS CHRIST, DO YOU THINK I'M BLIND, BANKS?"

Aaron released a helpless sob and fell to the ground but I could barely see because of the white-hot rage filling my senses.

"Where did you get the balls to accuse someone of such utter bullshit, Dmitri Brennan?" I screamed. I was almost surprised at my outburst, all heads turning to my wimpy ass. I crept forward, eyes blazing, blood pounding in my ears, the urge to break Dmitri's bones stronger than ever.

"Oh, look, it's the other fag." Dmitri's lips twisted into a dark smirk. "What are you going to do? Make me gay?"

His cronies gave him looks that screamed One step too far, bro. He looked around at his posse, whirling around. The cruel fire in his eyes died and was replaced with total confusion. "Wha-What?" His guard had slipped.

Aaron was still on his knees in front of him, sobbing. Janet was at his side, trying to help him to his feet and leading him to the back door.

I could hear Audrey saying, "Baby, you're either born gay or you're not. No one can make you gay. You know that."

The first wise words I'd ever heard her say.

I marched over to where Janet was helping a sobbing and bleeding Aaron into the Brennan's basement. She was speaking to him softly and I couldn't hear their one-sided conversation until I was within two feet.

"What did he mean?" she asked, no mockery only concern in her eyes. She nodded her head in my direction, acknowledging my presence.

Aaron unleashed another sob, attempting to muffle the sound with his hand. Janet rubbed his back in soothing circles.

"Hey," I said, softly.

Janet gave me a sad smile and Aaron didn't even try to look me in the eye. He just kept sobbing.

Janet continued to rub his back and lead him through the Brennan's wine cellar. Who the hell owned a wine cellar? People who owned way too much money and didn't know what to do with it, that's who.

"Let's go get your stuff, okay? You coming with Henry?" Janet gave him a look that screamed He needs support right now.

"I—um, yeah. I'll follow you guys in a bit okay?"

A nod and a choked-off sob. They walked off into the dimly lit den full of kids (I no longer doubted Aaron's theory that there were kids from New Jersey). They were laughing and drinking bottles of Pabst Blue Ribbon that someone must have brought with them, unaware of the big showdown that had happened only minutes ago.

I walked through, trying to go unnoticed, but my Doc Martens caught on the grate for the central air conditioning and I toppled to the floor, landing on top of another person.