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

Chapter 18: "Wish I Didn't Know" (Revised)

"Did he just...?" Dan looked at Uriah.

Josh remained silent, heart pumping erratically. Uriah sat still as a stone and just as rigid. No one prodded him, including Elijah who appeared tense himself. Over at the other table, Brandon and Marsha were looking their way, startled but clearly amused. James hopped down and began gathering the quarters, complaining that his show warranted some paper money.

Air rushed through Uriah's nostrils, his glare holding on James. "Disgusting display of their perversion," Uriah murmured stiffly. "Doesn't take them long to show their true colors."

Josh was confused; what had been so disgusting about James' antics? He'd just been goofing off, hadn't he? Josh chanced a quick look at Uriah; his brother remained tense—rigid, even—as he stared fiercely at James. Even more confusing was Uriah's response to the wink and James' silliness. They had witnessed much more blatant displays while picketing.

When the bell rang at the end of lunch hour, Wiley and Josh emptied their trays and entered the school.

"How come we didn't picket today?" Wiley asked.

"Our dad and Caroline make up the schedules," Josh said. "We don't picket every day."

"Oh." Wiley nodded, then snorted. "I can't believe James winked at Uriah and flashed him. Does he have a death wish?"

Josh shrugged, uncertain what it meant. James was probably just messing with him. It seemed odd, though, that it affected Uriah at all. It was common for gay guys to make lewd remarks to them while they were picketing, flirting and offering sexual invitations. It was all part of picketing and nothing new. Why would one little "wink" even faze Uriah in the least?

Nothing fazed Uriah.

†

Brandon was waiting for Josh in the parking lot after school. At the far end of the lot, the older Waylon brothers lingered around their car, casting Brandon unpleasant looks. Brandon silently sent blessings their way as he perched on the hood and kept an eye out for Josh.

Wiley exited the school with Josh a few minutes later. Josh never appeared relaxed with Wiley. When he spotted Brandon, he started to smile then pulled it back in a hurry with a quick glance at Wiley then his brothers.

The two boys were within earshot when they parted ways and Wiley tossed a snide remark at Josh about Brandon. It was the same old rhetoric that Wiley had been spitting out for the last two days and Brandon paid it no mind. To some degree, Josh seemed to be growing numb to it as well and for that Brandon was glad.

He stepped off the hood when Josh approached. "Ready to start the day?"

Josh frowned. "Start the day? It's like three-forty."

Brandon chuckled. "I know. But this is the part of the day I've been waiting for."

Adjusting his book bag on his shoulder, Josh shifted nervously, keeping his back to his brothers. Though the words didn't make it to his lips, the look in Josh's eyes said he'd been waiting for this, too.

Quiet excitement quivered through Brandon and he nodded at the car. "Hop in and let's get this show on the road." He opened the driver door as Josh walked around to the passenger side. Brandon looked in the direction of the other Waylon boys who were now speaking with Wiley; the three of them focused on Brandon and Josh.

Josh looked anxious to get out of there and Brandon wasn't one to deny him.

Inside the car, Josh transferred his book bag to the backseat.