COMPASSION
Chapter 9
Final year, and a shock for the school at assembly on the first day. Principal Maynard told the whole school that there were now five students incarcerated for years for assault and rape of gay students.
"I want that to be the last. It is time for this school to make the jump into the 21st. Century. To help it on its way Mr. Holiday will be forming a LGBT club. That is, Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender Club. You won't have to be any of those things to be a member. The idea will be to promote awareness and understanding of these things. Colour and Religious Prejudice have no place in our society, by law. It is now time for us to accept different sexuality in the same way."
Jack and his friends were delighted with this development. They all intended to be founder members and queued outside Mr. Holiday's room to sign up during their first break. Jack was delighted to see Gary there as well and made a point of thanking him for helping to protect Darren in his way.
"I can tell you Jack, but I'm not telling anyone else. I'm gay as well and wanted to protect Darren. If it had gone much further I guess I would have outed myself to stop him being raped. I didn't think the blowjobs would be too devastating for him, but rape was a different matter. I'm sorry you took it for me."
Jack laughed, "Yeah, me too, Buster certainly sported a monster."
Gary laughed as well when he replied.
"Mmm, I've had wet dreams thinking about that monster in between my lips."
Both boys were giggling then like school girls, getting more outrageous with suggestions of what they would like to use Buster's cock for.
"As long as he was gentle, I'd let him do to me what he did to you."
Jack was surprised.
"You reckon you're a bottom do you Gary?"
"Yeah, I guess. Before Colin fucked me, Wayne and Jason had so I was well lubricated and it felt good."
"You slut."
"I think you might be right. I realised I love cock. I'm happy taking it in either end. I'd love to take you in my ass and Darren in my mouth. You are both so sexy."
"Whoa boy. Forget it, that's not going to happen. Darren and I are strictly monogamous."
"Yeah, I guessed Jack, but it doesn't stop me dreaming."
Tom and Brad were not sure this last year was going the way they expected. They now found themselves in a group where three of them were gay. In the event, it appeared to add to their popularity. Girls loved to be with the group because only Tom and Brad had to be held at arm's length, the other three could almost be treated like girlfriends.
"We can handle you guys, only having to beware of two of you is much easier for us."
That brought forth a huge guffaw from Jack.
"Hey, that's great, we'll be able to seduce all the girls before they know what's happening. Sorry Tom, Brad, I guess you heterosexual guys are going to lose out, you'll have to make love to each other."
The others all looked at Gary who blushed and then shrugged.
"Ok, yes, I'm gay as well. Jack and Darren know but I wasn't going to come out until college."
Tom just huffed, "As if we didn't know already!"
More laughter and Gary began to think the same as Darren. `Having three big macho men as best friends wasn't going to hurt at all.'
That didn't work. Gary was missing from school the next day, and for the next week, until Jack called at his home. Gary was in bed. He had been jumped on his way home by a bunch of boys/men wearing masks. They had beaten him up so badly he had two broken ribs, multiple bruises and contusions, several broken fingers where one of the attackers had trod on his hand, two black eyes that he still couldn't see out of.
"Why weren't the police called Gary?"
"Mum didn't want any more trouble."
The story came out then. Gary's mother was a single parent just keeping it all together with a growing son. She had doctored him herself because they couldn't afford medical bills. Jack was scandalised, this couldn't be happening to one of his friends. Straight home to talk to his dad.
"He looks half dead Dad, and there is no telling what other damage has been done if he hasn't had x-rays or a doctor's examination."
John knew how Gary had put himself on the line to protect Darren and warn Jack so he felt some responsibility for the boy.
"Ok Son, Let's go. We'll take the boy to hospital and I'll talk to his mother."
John didn't let the grass grow under his feet then. Gary was examined and x-rayed, luckily nothing more was found. The police were called and the whole investigation got underway. The only breakthrough likely was if Gary recognised any voices or clothes worn by the assault team. He went back to school as soon as he could see, still strapped round the chest and on his damaged hand. For the next few weeks he was transported to school by Jack and home again by him or Brad or Tom, both of whom had got transport now.
The breakthrough did come about two months after the assault. The boy who had trod on his hand came to school wearing the same pair of boots he had worn on that day. Gary recognised them and told the police. What transpired had the whole area aghast.
The boy caved in to questioning very quickly. He was a member of a secret society, like the KKK, only their target was faggots. Most of the members were adults, and in two cases senior and respected citizens of the community. The boy was given immunity from prosecution if he told all in front of a judge. The chairman of the school board, two senior police officers and a member of the town council were convicted and jailed for assault causing actual bodily harm. Several others were fined and given probation or suspended sentences. In time, all of the culprits lost their jobs and moved away from the town.
It had been a rocky start for the young gay boys headed by Jack and Darren, but by the end of their final year they were able to look on the success of the LGBT group who now hosted several out gay boys and girls. They could go off to college and not worry about any of the other younger ones.
"I never expected my last two years school to be like this Jack, after I met you. I'm really pleased that we were outed, we've done so much good for others of our ilk."
"Yeah, I'm pleased as well, but I'm not looking forward to college. We've both got years apart now, you for medicine, me for veterinary studies. I'm going to miss you so much."
Darren nodded and tears came to his eyes.
"I don't know if I'm going to be able to handle that Jack. I know we have long holidays but it's not going to be the same as curling up with you almost every night."
Jack was very down in the mouth when he got home that day with Darren looking no better.
"Ok you guys what's wrong?"
"We were just thinking about the years we are going to be apart when we get to college. We are going to be miles away from each other."
"Well surely there is a medical school and veterinary school in the same college somewhere in this country."
"We haven't found one Dad and we've looked."
John thought that couldn't be true, so he got people on to it. The reason the boys hadn't found anything was because they hadn't looked high end. Baltimore had both schools, but of course Johns Hopkins was expensive. Too much so for Darren but the veterinary school was no problem for Jack.
"Paul, I need to talk with you, can we meet at your house tomorrow night, the boys are here and I don't want them to know about it yet."
"Yes, no problem John, something serious then?"
"Yes, I think so."
John told Sheila but fielded questions from the boys about why he was going into town at night, by himself.
"Paul, I told you I would never use my money to drive a wedge between you and Darren, but that I would spoil him on occasions. That is still true, but I want to do something now that Darren will have to know about, but still I don't think it will change his relationship with you. The boys are pretty cut up about the thought of years apart while they study. I can stop that happening, and I want to because I don't think they will either of them study as hard apart as they would together. It will mean them going to somewhere like Baltimore, and they will need to live off campus I think, which means Darren having a vehicle as well as Jack. I would like to buy Darren a Jeep like Jack's and pay the difference between the college they are planning on at the moment, and Johns Hopkins."
Paul was not happy, this was like a smack in the face for him. He wasn't able to support his son in the same way John could and it hurt.
"I'm sorry John, I'm not sure I can accept that. Darren knows we can't match you for wealth and accepts that he can't have the best of everything like Jack."
"Paul, if Darren goes to Johns Hopkins he will have a far better medical degree than at almost any other college. Talk to him, and if necessary accept my additional money as a loan until he starts earning big bucks as a qualified doctor and then he can pay me back."
Paul nodded, he knew how prestigious Johns Hopkins was, everybody in the world knew about this medical school. It was a huge temptation to say yes.
"I'll talk to Darren, John and give you an answer in the next couple of days."
John went home a worried man. He wanted the best for Darren now, thinking of him more as a son than just his own son's lover.
Paul made it clear to Darren that the next night he had to spend at the house alone, because he had a serious matter to discuss with him.
"Something funny is happening in my house Jack. I've been ordered home tonight, without you. Dad wouldn't say anymore. I'll call you as soon as it's over and let you know what the hell is happening."
Of course what happened was a father, son talk. Paul laid out for his son, John's suggestion. Darren sat and took it all in, and came to a decision almost immediately.
"Dad, I'd like to take up John's offer. I've always worked to make you and Mum proud of me. I always will, but to go to Johns Hopkins would be an amazing experience. Please let me say yes. I'll work out details with John so that it doesn't look as though I am taking advantage of my relationship with Jack. I love him so much, the thought of all the years we will be apart while we get our qualifications has made me sad, and I know that apart we are not as good as we are together."
Paul still didn't understand the love these two boys had for one another but he nodded his assent knowing that to refuse would drive a wedge, deeper than John could ever do, between him and his son. Darren burst into tears and threw himself into his father's arms.
"Thank you Dad, I love you and Mom so much, I will make you proud of me."
Paul stroked this boy that was his pride and joy and trying not to sound too emotional himself said, "I love you as well Son, and I know you'll make us proud of you, you always have."
The remainder of this saga was pure mechanics. Darren's stats were so good that Johns Hopkins accepted him no problem, and Jack had no problem either with his veterinary college. **************************************************************************** All grown up and qualified, the boys return home.