THE TROUBLE WITH DECEIT

Part 7 We make our own destiny

They sat in silence regarding each other, leaning forward Reece gently pushed a lock of Kip's hair back into place. "I never realized, never admitted it to myself", he murmured. "look I'm sorry Kip but I err, I love you, I'm sorry!" Kip gently placed his index finger across Reece's lips. "I love you too," he said, "I also knew that something has never been quite right, but I honestly didn't know. I'm scared, but at the same time, I'm glad. I don't know where I go from here, but at least I know I'm heading in the right direction now. Because I'm telling you, this was killing me." With tears in his eyes, Kip leaned forward and gently kissed Reece on the lips. "I'm only 17 he whispered, I'll be 18 in a months time, are you ok with that." Sighing Reece replied, "I have no intention of seducing you, we have plenty of time. I am 22, by the way, but really this is a bolt out of the blue for me too. I did, when I was a teenager, younger than you, mess around a little with a guy my own age. It ended badly as I had a girlfriend at the time, my parents never found out and I have, I now realize, always played it down in my own mind. I guess I've been hiding really, but now that you have literally crashed into my life. I can't let you go Kip, I hope that's alright with you." Suddenly Kip frowned, "I have to go back, someone will come looking, they mustn't see you!:" "What is it K? why mustn't anyone see me, I can pretend to be your cousin or something." Taking Reece's hand and pulling it tight to his heart Kip said, you will have to trust me on this, we must never be seen together and you must never talk about me or this hostel to anyone." Lifting an eyebrow Reece said, "hostel, not a college then?" Reluctantly Kip mumbled "no, it's not a college, but it's imperative that people believe that it is a college, so I'm begging you, please keep my secret. I will explain everything to you, and somehow we are going to work this out. "Will you trust me, sir? Chuckling softly Reece said "you like this sir thing, don't you. Ok, I trust you and all that I ask of you is that you will believe I will do anything for you and that when I make you a promise I will keep it, whatever happens, Whatever!" Kip leaned forward and kissed him brutally on the lips. "Meet me here at the same time the day after tomorrow sir!" He turned away and purposefully strode towards the big house. Reece watched him until he saw him enter the building and then slowly turned retraced his steps back over the railings and through the woods before emerging into a clearing on the edge of Harold Hill golf course. His head was full of ideas and images, he decided that a long walk home from here might be just what was needed to get his thoughts into some sort of order.

"Kip, where have you been, I've been worrying about you." Feeling a bit guilty he replied, "sorry Fey, I just needed some time alone to get my head around all of this." "And have you? got your head around it?" Frowning Reece said, "you sound a bit annoyed !" Pouting she answered, "We have been best friends forever Kip, we kissed not long ago, I thought it meant something, so I'm a bit confused that you didn't turn to me if you felt so upset, I'm feeling a bit hurt if I'm honest." Stricken with guilt he hugged her to him and promised that he was going to be totally honest with her. Suddenly Dev arrived and clapping Kip on the shoulder he said, sorry Fey but I need to borrow your boyfriend for just a few minutes." Without waiting for a reply he steered Kip away and led him over to the little canteen. "Sup Dev?" Kip asked, "don't you go giving me that crap! that's what I want to know. You have been behaving weirdly ever since the day you got injured, I thought we were supposed to be mates, and had a bit of trust going on here!" Kip's mood slipping from bad to worse he looked directly at Dev. "You can't say anything to anyone Dev, Even if you hate me from now on and if you do I ~ I will kill myself, I swear!" About to make a smart alec reply he suddenly registered the stricken look on his friends face. Gripping Kip's arms he said, "Mate, tell me, I could never hate you, two heads are better than one, we'll work it out together." Miserably lowering his head Kip muttered, I'm in love Dev." Puzzled he replied, "it's no big surprise mate, I think everyone's already guessed your secret." Turning a beetroot red and at the same time shedding fresh tears Kip said, "no it's not Fey, it's someone from here, a native of this time." Fiercely interrupting Dev said, "but you haven't met anyone from this time, we've barely even arrived here, it's not possible, who?" Glancing around Kip lowered his voice even further. "Please don't hate me! it's Reece, the guy from the shop!" Devs mouth comically dropped open. "Are you telling me that you are gay Kip?" "Look I'm not sure what I am, I just know that I love that guy more than I love me! If this gets out I'm dead Dev. I have broken all of the rules including the all-important BTP one. I don't know what to do, Fey thinks we are engaged or something, I'm so scared." Dev pulled his friend into a tight hug and held him there while feeling his friend's hot tears dripping onto the back of his neck. "Shh I don't hate you, you dolt, I love you. We are going to sort this out, right now we are going to say bugger the rest of them and we are going for a long stroll because I think best when I'm strolling and you need some space. Come on!!!" Allowing himself to be dragged outside they fell into step and headed off to stroll around the grounds and to talk and plan. Right now Kip was realizing how important true friends are.

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