A Thin Line Between Love & Hate (Love Conquers All series) ORIGINAL VERSION

Chapter 2: "Love & Hate"

Repeatedly throughout the first half of the day, Brandon Nichols found himself sharing a class with the new kid –whose name he had learned was Josh Waylon. On the down side, Josh was usually being escorted by Wiley Frampton who knew to steer the new boy clear of Brandon. Even so, it was more than once that Brandon caught Josh casting him quick, discreet glances –too fleeting to be detected by Wiley, but not fleeting enough to be missed by Brandon.

When lunch rolled around and Wiley had successfully blocked all of Brandon's would-be attempts to introduce himself to Josh, he decided to take the bold, direct approach. Subtlety was never really his thing, anyway. He had always been one to just walk up to strangers and initiate conversation. Pastor Mark had pointed out more than once that Brandon had the "gift of gab" –which was a godsend when it came to ministering to others. He didn't have a shy bone in his body and could talk to anyone –whether they exhibited hostility or friendliness. He wasn't easily intimidated by bigots –another asset to his mission of faith.

Wiley and Josh retrieved their food trays and took their lunch outside. Wiley chose the usual table he and those in his group always sat at, in the shade under the large fir tree. Four hours into the school day, and Josh Waylon retained the tension Brandon had detected in him at the start. Whether uncomfortable with Wiley, or the others who displayed blatant dislike for him and his brothers, Brandon couldn't be sure. Possibly both. Josh didn't look the type to hang with someone like Wiley Frampton. In fact, he didn't look the type to hang with his own brothers. There was something different in Josh than in Uriah and Elijah Waylon. And that "something" provided Brandon a tendril of hope that maybe Josh could think for himself, even if he wasn't brave enough to voice it.

Or maybe it's all just wishful thinking on your part. You kind of like this kid and you want to believe he can be redeemed. Brandon stood back discreetly while Josh and Wiley took a seat at the table in the shade. "Believing is seeing," he murmured with a quirk of a smile. He wasn't one to lie –even to himself –so yeah, he could accept that there was something about the new kid that drew more than just his usual 'let's be friends' interest. But that wasn't the issue nor the driving force behind his determination to introduce himself to Josh. He believed with all his heart that God placed him in this school to help bridge the gap between the LGBT community and the Christians who vehemently opposed homosexuality. It was a tough calling, and had made him enemies on both sides of that stark line, but it was also his passion. The burden of his heart. This rift had caused so much pain and hurt and anger, not just within his community –but the entire world. Healing had to start somewhere, even if it began in a little "nowhere" town.

My word will not return to me void.

Brandon took great comfort in that verse. If God's word was sent out, it would profit someone, somewhere, at some time. Maybe not the person it was given to, but someone. It was Brandon's place to plant the seed, only God could water it and make it grow.

Time to start planting, Brandon thought and headed across the grass in the direction of Josh and Wiley.

†

"So what's it like?" Wiley tugged open his miniature bag of chips. "Being out on the picket line? Do people ever freak out on you guys and start a fight?"

Josh rubbed his left eye with his index finger. He didn't want to talk about his family's "activities". But Wiley was intrigued and hadn't stopped asking questions since that morning. Josh had been thankful for his classes, because during class time, they weren't allowed to talk to each other and he could just shut his mind off.

"Uh...sometimes," he mumbled. His stomach remained a bundle of knots and the idea of eating made him feel queasy.

"Do you think I could come with you next time?" he asked, eyes eager. He popped open his soda. "Would your dad let me? I don't have any problem standing out there, telling fags they're gonna burn in hell." He snickered and Josh looked at him, wishing the guy would disappear. "I do that already, here in school." He grinned and took a drink of soda.