Challenge... Accepted!

Good-Bye Kiss?

Forth felt restless for the rest of the weekend, partly pissed because it had been an amazing Friday night and partly relieved that Beam left without a word. Nothing. He knew they agreed to a one night stand but that was no ordinary one night stand... 

He had vacillated between calling and throwing up his hands, and saying fuck it, he would run laps to avoid seeing Beam again or running out the door and begging for a chance to love him. 

Forth knew that, in Beam, he had found is true mate. His life partner who could be at peace with him as he was. The question was did Beam feel the same and why in the hell did he run away? Too many questions and he didn't have any answers, nor did he want them. It scared him to the bottom of his feet to think that Beam didn't feel the same way. Monday came too soon... 

Monday arrived and immediately Lam cornered him, asking him why he didn't answer his texts all weekend. Apparently he had forgot a school group assignment. Lam was now ready to kill him and so was Park, the third member in their group. Forth immediately apologized and said, "I will give you a complete explanation after lunch. I will also get us an extension from the teacher.  Please, let me take care of this."

Lam shook his head. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were dating!"

Forth blushed and ran for his life. Lam was to perceptive and he had a secret that's why he said after lunch...

On the other side of the University, Phana and Kit exchanged a worried glance, and Phana spoke softly to Beam. "Beam, eat your shrimp rice soup. It's getting cold."

"Yes, Dad." Beam replied absentmindedly, just continuing to stir the porridge. 

Pha slapped the table."Ok, Beam, that's it. Talk to us. Ever since you left us at the bar on Friday night, you've been weird and won't talk. Let it out now!"

Beam dropped his head on the table and said through his arms "I fucked someone I shouldn't have. I really liked it and I want to do it again." Beam looked at both of his long time friends and wanted to cry. "It's really messed up. I messed up."

Kit walked around the table and hugged Beam. "It can't be as bad as Pha, chasing away his first love by lying. Honestly, that's haunted him for 3 years now." Kit patted his back. "Pull yourself together, it might not be a mistake."

Pha, who was more perceptive, looked at him directly and said, "Look Beam, we don't care if you're gay. Are you worried about your mom?"

Kit gasped! "You slept with a boy???"

Beam banged his head on the table, slowly and repeatedly. Bang, bang, bang... and a familiar warm hand was slipped between his forehead and the table.

"Princess, I don't want to see a bruise. Stop that." Forth's deep voice carried through Beam's misery and he shut his eyes tight. Why now? The agreed time was noon, not breakfast. He wasn't prepared yet... 

"Now?" Beam asked, the cold shell being dragged back on. "I thought I said noon."

Forth continued to caress his forehead, while Phana, Kit and Lam looked on in confusion. Forth wasn't know for being a tender guy, this... this was something else. All five boys looked up at the squealing noises being made from a gaggle of girls.

Pym and his two assistant hazers walked into the medical courtyard. "Forth," he nodded politely, "Beam." and the three older students sat at the table next to boys, "Carry on."

Forth looked a bit sullen, but his eyes were sad as he looked at Beam. Leaning closer, he whispered into his ear, "Princess, are you sure that this is really what you want? I can think of so many different endings..." his voice trailed off as his hand was slapped off Beam's thigh.

Beam's eyes were blank and cold, slightly swollen from the crying he did all weekend. "Just do it, you fool!" he hissed between clenched teeth. 

Forth took a long look at Beam, and not being able to find his wild, abandoned princess, decided that indeed, Beam was letting him go. He stood up, pulled Beam up from the stool and not as agreed, kissed him fully on the lips.

Beam stood there like a statue. He did not respond, but Forth felt the tremors in the arms which he held. He did not know if it was from shock or anger but when he did not get the desired response, he dropped Beam to the stool and strode from the courtyard, hopped on the bike and rode like a demon from the university.

Pym gave a respectful waii to Beam. "We, the hazers, are sorry for bringing you into our faculty disciplinary needs." The other two seniors also bowed. "Should you require assistance, for your troubles, we would be happy to assist you."

Pym nodded to the other boys and gracefully left. The remaining boys looked at each other, when Lam said to Phana, "What the fuck just happened?"

Beam stood up and said, " Don't say another word. Ever again. Its over." and left.

Pha and Kit exchanged glances and said, "If you can get a story out of Forth, we'll try with Beam." and ran after him.

Lam shook his head and went to class. Forth disappeared for a week. No word, or text or even a sighting of him for a whole week. Then the following Monday, Forth was in class, slightly thinner and quieter, but there. 

Lam decided to leave him alone. People talked when they wanted too, not when nagged. Forth wouldn't eat lunch, instead he'd study. He was going drinking every night but only in Engineering bars now and everyone now knew to leave him alone. Bad things happened if you didn't. Forth had changed since the public kiss with Beam.

4 weeks to the day, Beam walked into the Engineering courtyard, saw Forth with his books scattered. His hair was very long and shaggy and his face looked like it was carved out of stone.

Beam threw a book at his head! It was a direct hit and Forth fell off the stool. He stood up, cursing. Beam threw his water bottle at him, and Forth caught it. Beam, stood there, anger radiating off him, like heat waves on a hot day.

"You asshole! Was that a good-bye kiss? And in public too?" Beam screeched. "If I knew you were going to abandon me, I would have kissed you too! Everything they say about you is true! You're an idiot!"

Beam threw one last article at Forth and stomped out of the courtyard, leaving Forth gasping like a drowning fish.