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

Chapter 4: "Not Your Enemy"

Josh slowed as he crossed the school parking lot, headed toward Uriah's car. Mark and Dan were climbing into the backseat. Wiley stood outside next to Uriah and Elijah. When he spotted Josh, he trotted his way.

"Hey, come on." An ugly smirk twisted his lips. "We're going on fag patrol."

"What?" Josh frowned, uneasy.

"Rumor has it, some of the faggots are planning on having a weeny roast down by the swimming hole." He snickered. "I bet they are. Anyway, it's our hangout spot and we have to constantly monitor it to keep the queers away. Don't want them infecting the place with AIDS."

Josh glanced at his brothers. "I should get home," he mumbled. "I have homework and stuff."

"Blow it off."

"I better not," Josh said. "My dad don't like it if I slack off."

"Yeah, but we're going after fags. He would probably think that was more important, don't ya think?"

Josh shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know. I don't want to fall behind with my assignments, though."

"It's your first day," Wiley laughed. "How much homework do you even have? I don't have very much and we take most of the same classes."

Just leave, Josh pleaded silently.

"Wiley, come on!" Dan hollered, leaning out from the backseat. "If he don't want to go, he don't want to go. Get in."

"Okay." Wiley looked at Josh. "You sure you don't want to come along? It'll be fun."

Josh shook his head. Wiley shrugged and trotted over to the car, climbing into the back.

"You go straight home." Uriah pointed at Josh, his tone firm. "You hear me?"

"I will." Josh adjusted his book bag on his shoulder.

Elijah cast him a quick glance, smiled, winked, and slid into the passenger seat as Uriah walked around to the driver side. Josh stood motionless until they pulled out of the parking lot and sped away, then headed for the street.

Abraham Waylon had purchased a small secluded farm two miles outside of town. Josh didn't mind making the walk. He liked being outside...and alone. And the long walk delayed his arrival home. If he could, he would walk home every day.

When he passed the city limits sign, thunder rumbled overhead. Josh stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets and glanced up at the sky. Clouds that hadn't seemed so threatening when he'd left the school parking lot were now growing dark and releasing plump raindrops. Josh groaned and tugged his hood over his head and quickened his pace. He was barely out of town. Even if he started running, he would never make it home before he got drenched. Still, he would rather drown in a downpour than be with his brothers and Wiley.

He made it a few more yards, then the sky opened up, dumping buckets down on Josh. "Great." Josh broke into a sprint, slowing an instant later when he heard the hiss of car tires on wet pavement. He moved closer to the shoulder of the two-lane road. Most of the kids at school hated him and his family. If it was one of those kids, they might try to run him over. Josh didn't really think they would do that, but they might see how close they could get and shove him off road.

His eyes on the ground, Josh tensed, hoping the car would pass on by without grazing him and knocking him into the ditch. When it slowed instead, his stomach twisted into knots and he walked faster, his sneakers beginning slosh with water.

"Josh! Get in, I'll give you a ride. You're gonna drown out there."

Josh came to a dead halt and his head snapped up. He stared through the half-open passenger window of the red GTO at Brandon Nichols. His heart was suddenly thumping in the base of his throat, choking him.