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

Chapter 58: "Unforsaken"

"I'm not sick
I'm not weird
I'm simply in love
You must try to understand you were sent from above
You say you hate me, well that's just fine
I will wait till the end of time."

- Home Improvement, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Upon entering the parking lot, Josh's stare skipped past Dan and Mark where they stood leaning against Dan's car, and went straight to the maroon GTO and Brandon lingering in the open driver door—eyes on Josh.

"Where's Uriah?" Grace looked around as they walked with Wiley over to his brother's car.

Uriah's Mustang was nowhere to be seen. "I don't know," Josh murmured, averting his eyes from Brandon when Grace squeezed his hand.

Dan overheard her question and answered. "Uriah called and asked if I could take you girls home, since I'm headed out there anyway."

"Headed out there?" Wiley looked surprised. "You're going out to their place?"

"Yes. And so are you. But not to goof off. They're trying to get things ready for the other families coming in tomorrow and I said we'd come help out." He drilled Wiley with a hard stare. "And you will get off your lazy ass and do some work."

Wiley scowled but didn't reply.

"I...I gotta go," Josh mumbled, glancing quickly Brandon's way. "He's waiting for me."

"So?" Grace said. "Let him wait."

"We're leaving now anyway," Dan told Josh. "Go on. Do what you got to do. We'll see you out at your place later."

Wiley started to make a remark, then shut up when Dan shot him a warning look.

Patty wasn't as easily controlled. "Yeah, Josh," she smirked. "Do what you gotta do."

"Let's go," Dan ordered with a sharp look at Patty. "Everyone get in the car."

"I'll...see you later." Josh started to back away.

Grace held onto his hand and pulled him up close again and planted an open-mouth kiss on him. Josh closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to see Brandon in his peripheral vision as he watched the spectacle. And that's how it felt to Josh—a spectacle.

Mark whooped and winked at Josh when Grace stepped back. "That's how you do it."

Grace glanced at him and smiled shyly. She squeezed Josh's hand before letting go. "Just a little reminder," she murmured, "of what's waiting for you at home...just in case that fag boy tries to warp your mind again."

"Nothing's going to happen," Josh spoke low, eyes darting toward Wiley and Patty, then to Dan who was ushering them into the car. "I'll see you later." He walked away before she could stop him again.

His steps slowed and nervousness ground his guts as he neared Brandon's car. He hadn't said a word to Brandon all day. Once they were alone, Brandon wouldn't let Josh ignore him anymore. And that's what scared Josh.

They were in the car and away from the school before Brandon said a word. "I need you to tell me what happened, Josh." His words were taut with emotion and he seemed to be barely holding it together. "And don't tell me nothing happened, because I know that's a lie." He blinked when his eyes started to dampen. "After everything that happened between us yesterday, everything we said..." he looked at Josh. "...the plans we made...you owe me the truth."

His tone wasn't accusatory or demanding, but pleading. Josh couldn't look at him if he hoped to remain steadfast. He stared out the side window. "Yesterday was an illusion," Josh whispered. His throat hurt and eyes burned, and he didn't trust himself to speak any louder. "We both knew we couldn't really be...that...to each other. It could never happen."