Chicken

It's 2009 and the 10th school reunion. Tom Chase still struggles with his feelings and yet, in the presence of Jason, he feels the same daunting confusion at the age of 26 as he did when he was 16. No sooner are they reunited, does Tom's mind wander back to the final year of school before he left it all behind.

Tom's story is indicative of a teenager in the late-nineties fighting to understand his own feelings and sexuality in a world that neither embraces nor encourages anything but the social norm. Coupled with the fact Tom harbours a dark secret, one that throws his adolescent mind into even deeper turmoil, he returns back to a time of contained curiosity and realises the opportunities missed.

What begins as an unexpected friendship, soon develops into something Tom cannot yet accept and rather than face the truth, he fights his feelings and hides behind the shadow created by a homophobic dad and a predatory family friend.

By reliving his past, can Tom finally accept his true feelings or will he forever remain only part of the man he knows he is?

TW: Abuse, Self Harm

This is tentatively written under an alternative pseudonym E V Kingston so as not to blur current genre work as Tobey Alexander. This is very much a work in progress and a first foray into the genre so please be kind. Consider this a Beta plan with a LOT of work to do!