Pain and Love Comes in Many Forms

Chapter Seven

Heather arrived mere minutes before Jack.

When she answered the door, she nearly smacked him.

I'm blessed to have had Heather by my side.

After I explained last night, she let him in and we all sat on two couches. I sat alone on a Love seat, and they sat on a large, stretched couch that matched.

"Okay, so-" the two said together, then splitting.

"Why do you hate your brother?"

"Who the fuck raped you?"

They paused, looked at each other and back at me.

"Well, you already connected the dots," I smiled sarcastically.

"Your own brother?" The two exclaimed.

"Yeah. I was ten at the time and he was eighteen, leaving for college the next day. I didn't like my brother already, having seen him always act strangely around younger kids, and I figured out why the same day I discovered I was gay."

"Jesus Christ. Why did you never tell anyone?"

"He scared me into silence for the longest time, threatening to tell my parents and everyone else I was gay, or I willingly slept with men, when that wasn't true. He hated me since I had a different dad."

"Yeah, your mom divorced the deadbeat she was with before."

"Yeah. I talked to my mom about it before though, two years back, and she's cut contact off with him."

"Jesus c-"

"So when I was dealing with shit, it wasn't just you jack, it was dealing with the fact my brother was returning, and I still had to see that fucker at the funeral." I shivered.

"He didn't do anything, did he?"

"Well," I sighed, scratching the back of my neck, "there was a short period of time when the two of us were alone, and he tried to do it again. Despite having a family, he was still fucked up. Mom got home early, and he stopped. He didn't get anything else, my mom and I leaving soon after. I lied that I was sick and we went home."

"Ethan, I wish I knew," the two said, and Heather hugged me. I noticed Jack was about to do the same, but he refrained, realizing he wasn't at that point anymore where he could. Our eyes met and I glanced away, Heather pulling away from the hug.

"That bastard needs to face justice."

"He was arrested last year for suspected child molestation and child and spousal abuse. Only the abuse was proven. He's still in jail."

"Least he got what he deserved, sick bastard," Heather muttered.

"I can't say that I'm happy or sad or angry at anything, it's just a weird point in my life. I just remember everything in blurs, and then getting a vivid image of running in the rain and towards Jack's house, not saying anything."

"I remember you knocking on the door too. My mom and I were so worried and we ran a bath and got you clothes and-"

"You were a sweetheart who kissed all the bruises on my face."

"I really should've noticed the change in behavior after that. God I feel shitty."

Heather looked at Jack, "it's not your fault. You're a dick, but you were ten when this incident happened. It wouldn't be an obvious thing to notice."

"Still, I was his best friend, I just-"

"Look, I'm fine now. My experiences have only made me stronger."

"You shouldn't have gone through any of that," Jack sputtered.

"No one should have to go through what I did. Why do you think I work the way I do? I give out free tickets to my concerts to people who can't afford them, invite them on set to see someone just like them survive. All that."

Heather looked at me, casting a sad look, "you always looked so happy. I've seen you cry twice in your life. Once after you woke up, and another time when you were drunk."

"I'm not someone who likes to talk about myself. I generally avoided getting attached, hence the reason Jack was my only friend for a long time."

"We really started being friends because our moms were friends."

"Small world."

Heather looked between us, eyes narrowed, "Why do I feel like I'm missing something?"

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

"Look, I've known you two since freshman year, not close until senior year, but I can tell when something's up. What happened last night when Jack came here to apologize?"

"Nothing important," I assured.

She rolled her eyes, "that's horseshit and you know it."

Jack scratched the back of his neck, "after you guys left, and I was left to deal with my thoughts, and the ever shifting people around me, I realized that I was just lying to myself."

"Lying to-" she put her head in her hands, "you liked him? When did you figure that out?"

"Well, I just had flashes of when we were together-"

"Hold up, what?"

I smiled awkwardly, "we were playing this game with two gay leads and Jack got curious which led to my first kiss and other things."

She groaned, "oh god. Jack, that makes you even more of a dick!"

"You think I didn't realize that afterwards. I just felt so guilty!" He fumed, "I couldn't get him out of my head and I just, stopped feeling anything with girls, remembering him."

I flushed, "Wait, you meant what you said seriously?"

"What did he say?" Heather pressed.

"That I was the best kisser, or I had the softest lips and I was the best in bed," I admitted.

"Man, losing faith in both of you here."

"I don't agree at first, when Jack saw I was uncomfortable, he backed off and apologized, but I gave in having a huge crush and going, 'why the fuck not?' So it's also partially my fault."

She got up and stretched, "I'm grabbing some whiskey."

"It's not even ten."

"I don't care. I met my deadlines, I'm good."

"We have that thing tonight you know?"

"Oh my god, we really have to go?"

"What are you two talking about?" Jack asked.

"Every year they hold a celebrity mingle that's broadcasted, and play the stupidest juvenile games. All you have to do is have some status, and you can go. If you're in the state, your obligated to go. So looks like you're going too."

Jack groaned, "damn it."

"What games did they decide this year?" Heather asked.

"Spin the bottle,"

"That's fun. Kissing rich strangers. Can't wait for the death threats," she muttered.

"Truth or dare,"

"Really?" Jack snorted.

"And I think they set up just some improv games since a lot of actors will be there," I confessed.

"Great, now I really want to drink alcohol just to forget today."

"You know I'm going to be the main target."

"That's because you're cute."

"Shut it jack." I muttered.

"He's right though."

"Shut up!"