Salamander

HOLA PEEPS!!

Hope you enjoy this one. I had a lot of fun...and exhaustion writing it lol Ant feedback or if you just wanna chat...I'm always here. liciousryan@gmail.com

Stay safe, Ryan

SALAMANDER

"GOAAAAAAAAAL!!!!"

"What a wonderful team effort from the Durbanville Ravens as they go 2-1 up with five minutes to go! And it's that kid again, Kyle "Salamander" Leigh who has done it! And all from a wonderful pass from the equally talented Freddy Moss! Those two almost have a telepathic understanding going on that pitch... And LOOK at that crowd! Folks, if you aren't here at the semi finals of the under seventeen high school soccer championships you are seriously missing out!"

** ELEVEN YEARS AGO **

"Everybody, we have a brand new little boy joining us for class today! And guess what, his name is Kyle! Now you guys know how nervous you all were on your first day here in Kindergarten, so come over and say hi, okay? Kyle, this is everyone! You're gonna make lots of new friends here, I just know it! Why don't you sit here with Angelica and Freddy for today, yeah? And look... they are drawing...what is that exactly, Angelica?"

"It's a spider, Miss Holly. My older brother keeps one at home, but my daddy said he has to get rid of it," bragged six year old Angelica as she beamed to the new boy who was visually very impressed with her drawing.

"Oh my... that might be the best thing to do, yes... and Freddy! What...is THAT?"

Freddy smiled... his two front teeth that was missing clearly showing that he had a recent visit from the tooth fairy, and of course so he thought. He also had a shining new R20 note which the infamous tooth fairy had left in inside one of his slippers this morning when he had woken up, with the very clear instructions that he had to use it for his lunch money and nothing else. This... was 2010 after all and things were much cheaper then. The new boy sat down next to Freddy as the latter proudly held up his drawing to Miss Holly.

"It's a willy!"

Both Angelica and the new boy were shocked as anything...even the notion that a forbidden word had been used, here...the new kid wanted to laugh so bad but somehow, even inside his six year old little mind, he knew that now wasn't exactly the right time for that.

Miss Holly had the look on her face of someone who had just been shown a corpse of a rotting animal, before she cleared her throat and quickly stormed out of the classroom, whilst chunks of her perfectly permed hairstyle falling and slipping out of the concoction as she did so.

"You got Miss Holly angry!" Angelica said with all the meanness that a little six year old kindergarten girl could possibly produce triggered towards Freddy.

"It's her fault. She said we should draw anything that we have seen over the weekend! And I saw a willy!" Freddy said convincingly but having seen his teacher in such distress and probably on her way to phone his parents, there was just a smidgeon of worry on his kiddie boy face.

Both Angelica and Freddy made a surprising noise as the new boy suddenly grabbed the paper on which the very... long... willy had been drawn on and he quickly grabbed a grey and then, a green coloured crayon. Freddy got a little upset as he saw the new boy make a few adjustments to his pride and joy drawing before said new kid held it up for both Angelica and Freddy himself to see.

"What did you do?" Freddy asked in a voice that very much resembled a six year old on the verge of crying.

The new boy cracked a smile. Even at six years of age, he was already a beautiful human being.

"Now it's not a willy anymore. Now it's a Salamander."

Before Angelica nor Freddy could reply, the boy, still smiling mischievously, wrote his name on top of the page.

"Kile".

** PRESENT DAY **

Kyle high fived Freddy and placed his arm around his lifelong best friend as they entered the school showers after the game.

Coach Nathan clapped his hands several times in sheer applause, as he entered said bathroom with almost all of his team in some or other state of nakedness, but really, after so many years still here, coaching the under seventeen soccer team at Durbanville High, nothing was new to him anymore.

"You only bloody gone and done it! Semi finals, done and won! Boys, we literally only have ONE more game remaining and that's gonna be an little over two months time. So we gotta be fitter, sharper and stronger than we were today. Yeah, Salamander bailed us out there, let's be fair. Speaking of which...Kyle? Get your scrawny ass over here!"

Kyle smiled and he was patted on the back at every step he took to the middle of the bathroom where he could be seen by every member of the team. Freddy placed some much needed deodorant underneath his both arms and he playfully threw the little bottle at his best friend, hitting Kyle against the side of his head, eliciting laughs and cheers from all corners of the bathroom.

"Settle down, you muppets...Kyle, look, I did actually wanna tell you this in private but heck...after that game we just had, everyone in here, every one of you deserves to know. There was a recruiting scout at the game today. And he specifically asked me about you."

Silence droned on in that bathroom where it had been near carnage only minutes before.

Kyle swallowed and his eyes were huge. Freddy ever so slowly sat down on the bench and he too, was moved at what the coach had just divulged but for different reasons all together. None that except himself and Kyle knew about and probably never will.

"So...did he say anything?" Kyle managed to croak out.

Playing soccer professionally was his dream, his lifetime goal and hopefully one day, his biggest achievement. He was the happiest when he was on the soccer pitch and kicking a ball around. When people asked him what he wanted to do after he finished school, he always said he was gonna play for Manchester United some day and of course majority just smiled, rolling their eyes. Unrealistic as it seemed and sounded...there was just never another answer.

** SEVEN YEARS AGO **

"Happy birthday, dear Kyle. Happy birthday to youuuuu!"

Kyle leaned forward happily and blew all ten of his cake candles out as the smoke literally vapored around him and his army of friends that had come to attend his birthday party. By now everyone was having a good time and bombing each other into the pool whilst Kyle was opening his presents one by one as a typical ten year old boy, he literally couldn't wait any longer.

"Oh my gosh! This is ace! Thanks Angie!" he cried out in sheer disbelief as he unwrapped the latest installment of the popular FIFA video game that was currently on the market.

Angelica blushed furiously and immediately went about to stuffing her face with some much needed popcorn...she didn't know why these days whenever she was in her best friend's company...like literally ALL the time she would get a warm flutter in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't put a name exactly to whatever it was...all that she knew at the tender age of ten was...she enjoyed every moment that she was spending with Kyle.

With his shirt off and that big ole smile plastered across his face, Kyle aka Salamander, really had evolved from his kindergarten days. He was blossoming into the most handsome boy most people have ever seen in their entire lives. Even some of the older girls in school made funny comments such as that they couldn't wait to see what Salamander would look like when he was all grown up if this was the results at the mere age of ten.

And yes...ever since that day that Kyle had almost magically recreated the willy drawn by Freddy as a salamander, word got out on the playground and quite simply, it had stuck on him to this day.

Suddenly, there was only one present remaining on the table. Everyone had gotten Kyle such...really, really expensive gifts and Freddy knew that all too well. He really wanted to give Kyle his present when they were alone, on their own, away from others, simply because he was ashamed of it.

Every year around this time Freddy and his mother had a fierce argument when it came to buying Freddy's best buddy in the whole world, something nice for his birthday. Unfortunately Kyle was born on the 21st of March...and at that time of the month Freddy and his family were usually ass stone broke. This year though, Freddy had saved up all his allowance and without Kyle knowing, did extra jobs for people in their neighborhood, simply because he knew what Kyle really wanted and he knew that his parents hadn't already gotten him one.

Kyle aka Salamander looked at Freddy and he smiled his beautiful smile. That same...feeling...that same nagging spot in the pit of his stomach...very much the same as what Angelica felt when she was near him...that special warm feeling that ten year old boys still didn't quite understand...that same feeling was evident between them every time Kyle and Freddy were hanging out. Even more so now. Because Kyle knew Freddy and his family were struggling financially and even so...he still had gotten him a birthday present.

Kyle wrecked open the package that Freddy's mother had wrapped so neatly only that morning...and suddenly he stood back, with his hands over his mouth. It took a fair few seconds for Kyle to get back to life, before he pulled out the red Manchester United shirt...and held it before his eyes. He solemnly turned it around, and the name "ROONEY" and the number 10 was plastered at the back in crisp write letters.

Freddy had given him this...a shirt of his favorite soccer team, complete with the name of his most favorite player, ever on the back.

Tears wanted to stream from Kyle's face as he looked at Freddy. Suddenly there was a whole lot of things he wanted so say to his buddy...and do to him...he wanted to hug him towards him and never let go...but he couldn't of course in front of all these people. He didn't know why...or where the sudden need had came from...his heart was telling him he wanted to be close to his friend.

Freddy was so happy that Salamander loved the shirt...all that mowing of grass, going hungry at school every day because he was saving his lunch money...it had all been worth it, to see a smile as big as Kyle's on that gorgeous face that day.

** PRESENT DAY **

"Any idea what you're gonna do? It's fucking Kaizer Chiefs offering you a free stuff and a trial...dude, you can't just not go."

Kyle sat back down on the pavement before his house, where he and Freddy were busy hanging out after the soccer match later that same afternoon. The sun was out and the pool was cool...but neither seventeen year old boy felt they had the need to swim right now.

"I know it's fucking Kaizer Chiefs. I fucking know! Stop saying it!" Kyle snapped and rested his head on his knees and arms. He had no idea what to do.

Only the most supported and most famous of all the South African soccer teams had offered him a scholarship at their under eighteen reserve side for a year. He would be home schooled at their academy and have trials and matches with the reserve teams of the squad. If everything was successful, chances were looking good that they were signing Kyle on a permanent basis as a player.

A chance of a lifetime that didn't befall a teenager from Durbanville every day.

If he played his cards right and took every ounce of juice out of this opportunity, and if he of course worked his ass off, then maybe...maybe...he would eventually realize his dream of one day playing for the great Manchester United.

There was only one snag.

Durbanville was in Cape Town.

Kaizer Chiefs was located in Soweto...Johannesburg.

He'd had to leave everything and everyone here if he did decide to go. This was his big chance...a once in a damn lifetime opportunity. But...it had to be said...there were more important things and people in his life than soccer. That, he pretty much already knew.

One of which was sitting beside him.

He felt Freddy's hand touch his own and eventually the two life long best friends were holding hands. So tightly...they never wanted to let the other go.

"What am I gonna do without you, Salamander?" Freddy whispered, hoarsely, his voice breaking, before squeezing Kyle's hand softly.

** FIVE YEARS AGO **

Freddy was late.

And Freddy was never late.

Freddy was way too eager to go home at the end of every school day not to have been here already. Kyle sighed and kicked a pebble that was laying on the ground around as if it was a soccer ball whilst in thought.

Freddy usually had art class in their final period of the day and he had told Kyle to wait for him underneath the tree outside of the school gates. Kyle himself never couldn't understand art and all that paint malarkey and all that it seemed to stand for, however, neither did Freddy when it came to Woodwork, or Woodshop as they called it in the states.

The idea of physically carving something out of a simple piece of wood with your bare hands and watching the sculpture simply...getting it's life in front of you...for Kyle there was nothing better than witnessing that. Oh...and of course a kick about on the soccer field.

He looked at his watch. Damn...he was gonna end up late for his training session that afternoon and he STILL had to go home and change unto his soccer gear which he had of course, forgotten on his bed that morning. He has known Freddy ever since they were six years old...he knew Freddy wouldn't make him wait on purpose. Surely?

After another sigh, and a real need to get home as soon as possible, Kyle grabbed his backpack and quickly jogged back into the school grounds to find his friend.

He had a sort of idea where the art department was but since he never needed to be there he struggled to actually find the place. One of the girls who he ran into on his way, who was of course, clearly also infatuated with the sexy Salamander, told him exactly which way to go and she received a million dollar smile for her efforts.

She would later use that memory for something completely different in her room, when her parents were asleep.

I digress.

As Kyle neared the art department...he heard it.

Or them, so to speak.

"SHUT UP, YOU FAGGOT! TAKE IT LIKE A MAN!"

Knowing what Freddy had already gone through a couple of weeks ago and how he himself had almost risked getting detention in order to defend his pal, Kyle couldn't believe that those idiots were at it again! Why couldn't they just leave Freddy the fuck alone?

He ran around the corner to the department and it felt suddenly like a piece of his own soul was getting kicked and punched along with his buddy.

"LEAVE HIM! LET HIM GO!" Kyle screamed in sheer anger and frustration before he ran towards where Freddy was now limply laying on the floor, his white school shirt almost drenched in blood.

"What's it to you? You should be helping us! Everyone knows this scum is a fag!" the bully shouted, his face nearly as red as the blood seeping out of Freddy's nose.

"Forget it, babes. He won't do shit to him. He's always been Freddy here's guardian angel..." came a voice dripping of hate and sheer sarcasm...

...and that same voice always sliced time echoes through Kyle every single time he heard it. He couldn't believe how much she had changed over the past two years.

"Know what, Angelica? Shut the hell up! Get out of here before I do something that will get me fucking expelled!" Kyle screamed and the two bullies knew he meant it.

His popularity was a huge factor in their decision...no one would dare cross Salamander. That would be the definition of social suicide.

Angelica spat out the gum that she had been chewing, and signaled to her bully of a boyfriend that it was time to go.

"Whatever, Kyle. You always only cared about him anyway..." she said...and just for a vague minute, Kyle could see something...something vaguely resembling the old Angelica...the one who he had made friends with on his very first day of kindergarten...before that cold, hard exterior was back in full force.

Once they were gone, Kyle knelt at Freddy's side...and held his face in his hands.

"Hey...you're gonna be okay. You hear? No one is gonna touch you ever again. I promise. This ends here!" he hissed before he stood up and ran towards the soccer pitch out back as quick as possible, where he knew he would get some assistance to help his buddy.

** PRESENT DAY **

"Quick! Get in!" Kyle whispered as he opened his bedroom window. It was freezing cold outside after all the rays from that afternoon, and he stood aside to allow Freddy to sneak into his room.

"Geez Louise, its cold out there!" Freddy croaked as he rubbed his hands together for some much needed warmth.

Kyle immediately reached into his cupboard and pulled out a clean sweat shirt of his, and tossed it over to his friend. Freddy faintly smiled before he pulled it over his muscled body. It was ironic, really. One would have thought that Kyle would be all muscular and full of biceps and big bulging areas and sides...but he wasn't. He wasn't flabby by any means, but boy, oh boy, was he skinny. His taller and lanky physique made him perfect for playing a striker in any soccer team, as he did that afternoon when he so expertly headed in the cross that Freddy had provided to win the game.

In sheer contrast, it was the meek and mild Freddy...who had been bullied mercilessly over the years and who many might have referred to as the "feminine" one of the duo, who had all the muscle on him. His chest was ripped, his baby fat had all melted away and made for a flat stomach, rippled with a stunning six pack abs. His biceps were insane and his legs were like fucking tree trunks, strong and healthy from spending such many times in the gym.

Every time Freddy wanted to give up or he was simply too tired to carry on his training regime, he would think back to all those times he was so viciously attacked...and he would FIND the strength from inside, somehow, to complete his work out. Just by looks of him today, no kid in their right mind would wanna mess with him.

"You decided yet?" Freddy asked as he sat down on Kyle's bed.

The latter glumly placed his hands inside his pockets and shook his head.

"Coach Nathan's gonna need an answer like next week, bro..."

"...I KNOW! Okay? I know all of that and I still..."

Kyle slumped over towards Freddy and he sat on his buddy's lap, facing him. He then clasped his arms around Freddy's neck and looked deep into his eyes.

"I dunno if I can go and leave you here. We've never been apart since fucking Kindergarten," Kyle whispered.

Freddy leaned forward and kissed Kyle...his Kyle...his buddy, his bro...his best friend...his Salamander.

Both boys moaned softly as the kiss deepened between the two. Two sets of lips seemed to perform cartwheels round each other and hands seemed to caress every damn fibre of their being they could grab hold of. Kyle lightly, playfully bit Freddy's bottom lip as he came up for some much needed air.

"It sounds...pathetic dude...God...but I dunno if I can go and leave you here. If this was just a fling or even just two buds just messing around and getting each other off then it would be have fine. But it's more than that and both damn well know it."

Freddy's eyes danced across Kyle's face.

What was a cute little six year old...a stunningly handsome ten year old...and a sexy as hell twelve year old...and now at seventeen, turned into what had to be the most BEAUTIFUL young adult male that existed. How Kyle had gotten so lucky with looks like his, no one would ever know. But there you are. God seemingly made no mistakes in creating this incredible human being before him.

"You need to go."

"What? This is my room, you nut job!"

Freddy smiled...but only for a second.

"No. You need to go to Joburg. It's Kaizer Chiefs, Salamander. Not just a pub team. Your dream is to play for Man U, right? This could only be the start!"

Kyle groaned...before he kissed Freddy one more time.

"Oh man...I wish...I wish we actually told someone about us. I know I always said we can't because of soccer and because I always dreamed of making pro...but now I really wish someone else knew. That way I would at least know here's someone who will have your back when I'm gone."

Freddy playfully punched Kyle's chest as he cackled softly.

"I pretty much think Angelica and her crew all know even though there's no evidence," he said.

"Man...what the fuck happened there?" Kyle murmured as he stood up and walked over to the window.

It had started to rain, and that pretty much meant that Freddy would have to sleep over.

"She changed so much. I still can't understand it."

He felt Freddy hug him from behind, with the latter's arms reaching around him and finally ended up resting tightly on his chest. He felt Freddy's head gently and warmly nuzzling at his neck and he shuddered with pure love and affection for his lifelong friend.

"I can be wrong, Salamander. I really think she had a crush on you. And then me and you...we didn't know what it meant at the time, but we were getting closer. We started to realize that we were in love, we weren't just best friends anymore. Remember what she said that day they attacked me? Anyhow... I'll never forget that afternoon that we kissed for the first time..."

** THREE YEARS AGO **

"Dude, it's the seventh grade farewell! You can't stay home!" Kyle sneered as he sorted through his numerous shirts that he had inside his dresser and cupboards.

He was nervous as hell...this was going to be his first ever date with a girl, even though they were going to be inside a packed middle school hall for the entire time. Once more he willed himself to look forward to what's probably gonna happen. All that his fellow boy friends were talking about...was having sex with their dates are the after party. It wasn't that he didn't wanna go...he really wanted to...only he didn't wanna go with Abby. He'd rather not even say who he really wanted to take to the dance.

Freddy dramatically threw up his arms and stared at his pal as if he was the most stupidest person alive.

"Uhm...hello? Poor and broke kid sitting right here! I can't afford to go and even if I could, which I don't, what would you suggest I wear? This?" Freddy cackled as he looked down at his sleeveless shirt along with baggy pants that his poor mother had gotten on a closing down sale at PEP.

Even though they were unfortunately worse off financially than Kyle's family, Freddy never made Kyle feel bad about it. Instead, he joked around, he made light it of it. Inside, however, he was shaking. Of course he wanted to go. But it was not to be. Their family simply couldn't afford the fees needed to pay, in order to attend. He had to understand that.

"Well, if I take you, as my date, then you wouldn't have to pay. My mom can pay for us both like she did for Abby," Kyle giggled as he searched for more clothes that he could wear to the do.

When he heard no reply from Freddy, he turned around...and Freddy's head hung down almost to his chest.

A pain like he never before felt, struck through Kyle's heart. He had never seen Freddy like THIS...even when he got beaten up loads of times...even when kids called him a faggot at school...and especially when Angelica, their former best friend...and her crew nasty ass crew painted his locker to look like a giant pink penis...he still didn't seem as deflated as he was now.

"Bud? Man...I'm sorry. Hey, I just made a joke...I'm really sorry, okay? Look, I know you're bummed out that you can't go..."

"...it's not that..." came the slight whisper.

"Then tell me," Kyle said, putting his arm around his best friend.

Freddy simply shook his head and then...perhaps the most telling contribution to their relationship this far...he turned his head and looked Kyle straight in the eye.

Two pairs of eyes were locked so tightly not even the Jaws of Life would have been able to separate them. The truth was finally...FINALLY reflected in each others eyes.

Somehow...some way...since that fateful day when Miss Holly introduced them in Kindergarten...something had changed between Freddy and his Salamander. Somehow the feelings of real true friendship and years of standing by each other through thick and thin and by virtue of their lifelong respect and bond...something truly magical had occurred.

Their lips collided and both were instantly afraid that the other might be angry or even worse, push them away and instantly reject them. They waited in vain...their lips mere inches from the other...there eyes sparkling and nervous...before Kyle slowly smiled that beautiful smile of his, and Freddy returned it in his own goofy way.

"I can taste your spit, Salamander..." Freddy whispered, teasingly...as if he didn't just kiss his best friend.

"Should I come back in there and get it?" Kyle replied, his eyes and voice full of mischief and excitement.

Freddy could only nod.

It was that night...as they fell asleep with Kyle's head lodged on Freddy's chest...his arm dashed across his buddy's abdomen...and in return Freddy's own arm was around that of his beloved Salamander...it was then, that both of them knew...they had found their soul mate.

** THE FOLLOWING DAY, PRESENT **

"I'm gonna do it."

"Do what?"

"I'm gonna go to Johannesburg. I'm gonna sign with Kaizer Chiefs."

Freddy jubilantly jumped on Kyle's back with his arms encircled around him. He was way more muscled than the latter so keeping upright for Kyle was a sheer mission. Both boys tumbled to the ground as they immediately started a typical boyish impromptu wrestling match. Both knew that Freddy would win in a heartbeat and since Kyle still needed his limbs in working order for the scholarship, he gave in after a few mere seconds.

Freddy happily rolled off his boyfriend and looked up at the clouds in the sky.

"You're so doing the right thing. You'll forever regret things if you don't at least try. And they are paying your school fees for the whole of next year. And if things don't work out...well, I'll be here. I'll always be here."

Kyle was the first one up and he helped Freddy up, which was another mission for the lanky teenager, because of the weight difference.

"This is why I wish we told somebody. I know I said we need to stay quiet but...I kinda regret it now. Look, we aren't gonna break up. Not on my watch. We need to promise each other. Okay? No matter what. That we'll return to each other. I'm serious, Freddy. Promise me!"

Freddy noticed a white BMW car tearing down the side of the street in what had to be going nearly twice as fast as the speed limit allowed but he soon returned his attention to his secret boyfriend.

"I promise. You just hurry up back here and make sure your skinny ass don't forget me, will ya?"

Kyle held Freddy's hand in his for a little while longer than what was supposedly safe to do in a public park. He squeezed it before saying...

"How can I ever forget you?"

**

"Isn't that your phone, bro?"

"Fuck...yeah it only vibrates these days instead of actually making noises. The damn thing is old and fucked. Pretty much like my dick."

Kyle cackled and jogged quickly across the busy intersection that they needed to cross in order to get back to Freddy's house.

They had taken the long way around as they wanted have some form of privacy, which they would never have gotten at his house, nor at Freddy's. Every time they were together he was worried that someone might see them being affectionate and he was damn well sick and tired of that shit. He knew it was still, unfortunately, very much frowned upon being gay in South African sport...he desperately wanted to come out but he couldn't help worrying what that would do to his scholarship. Oh well. It is what it is.

"Freddy! Hey, what's taking so long?" he shouted as he saw his buddy still slowly making his merry way across the street, and still typing away on his phone.

"Bro, my mother fucking forgot her pin number! She wants me to send it but the fucking sunlight is so bad I can't see a thing on this old phone screen!" Freddy shouted back.

"We're nearly at your house, come on, you can tell her there in person!" Kyle yelled before he saw the same white car from earlier, in a fucking onslaught oncoming in their way and it was heading straight for Freddy.

"She's already at the shops, I'll just send her a quick voice note!" Freddy yelled back and he turned his back towards the oncoming speeding car.

There was no time.

The car wasn't stopping.

Seriously...IT WASN'T FUCKING STOPPING!

"FREDDY!" Kyle shouted and on sheer morbid instinct, he ran into the road and PUSHED Freddy out of harm's way.

Only he didn't quite think about the consequences of doing that.

"KYLE! FUCK! KYLE!"

**

All that Freddy could do...his phone still lodged inside his hand...was to lie safely on the opposite pavement where he had landed from his buddy's almighty push...and all he could do...was to see Kyle's tall, skinny body being tossed into the air like it was a fucking ragdoll. The sound...the actual sound...which could be heard as Kyle's head made HARD contact with the tarred road...

"YOU BASTARD! COME BACK HERE, YOU FUCKING CUNT!" Freddy screamed after the white car and ran towards his buddy. Jesus...there was so much blood.

"SALAMANDER...WAKE UP!" Freddy yelled hysterically before coming to his full scenes, dialing the number of the local town ambulance from phone.

Cars immediately stopped around them as traffic came to a screaming holt. Everyone was shocked and wanted help and assist in some form. Everyone in town knew Kyle Leigh, aka Salamander...and if they didn't know him personally, they knew OF him.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur for Freddy. All he could remember was that the paramedics told him that Kyle was still alive, but BARELY hanging on, as they took his boyfriend to hospital.

** TWO WEEKS LATER **

"Urrgh..."

Freddy was gast asleep with the fucking drool running out of the sidenof his loity agter spending hrt ANOTHER night at Kyle's side when he heard the croaked noises coming rrom that very same bed. He only realised what was actually happening after a gew seconds and immediately ran like lightening towards the room door, which he swung open like a mad man.

"It's Kyle! It's Kyle! Nurse, somebody...anybody! He's waking up!"

These last few weeks has been an utter nightmare. He felt like a giant, big black hole could simply devour him then he didn't even wanna know how Uncle Henry as well as Aunt Jemima was feeling about all of this...Kyle's parents.

They had to operate on his brain...that's what Freddy had been frightened of the most...that somehow something would go wrong and his best friend...boyfriend...would never wake up again. The accident and the injuries was so severe that they didn't think he WOULD pull through...but true to his nature...Salamander did. He was STILL here.

As soon as the nurses were rushing in, they were unfortunately rushing Freddy out as they had a job to do. The last thing that Freddy had managed to see, was Kyle opening his eyes...and fucking hell, after two solid weeks of staying by his bedside almost every day...bunking off school early several days to come and be with the boy he loved more than life itself...and now...thank god...he was finally awake.

**

"But Uncle Henry..."

"...for Christ's sake, Freddy, I said no! Kyle cannot have ANY visitors! He's only been out of the coma for two days now. Give him some time to get his bearings for crying out loud. I'll call you, when the time is right."

**

That...was over a week ago.

Something wasn't right. He has known Uncle Henry and Aunt Jemima ever since he was six years old. They couldn't lie to save their own damn lives. He knew they were keeping something from him. Even if they had kept it a damn guarded secret...Kyle was STILL his boyfriend and fucking hell, he had RIGHTS!

When the school bell rung early that morning, to indicate that recess was over and that the students should return to class...one particular student decided, fuck that.

He wanted to see his boyfriend.

**

"Nurse, please! Look, don't you remember me? I'm his best friend! I was here all the time when he was in that coma, so why can't I see him now? You gotta remember me!"

"I do remember you, son, but his parents gave us strict instructions that no one, and I mean, no one be allowed near him. Believe me, they have their reasons."

"Yeah? What reasons?" Freddy spat out.

"I can't tell you. We have patient confidentiality..."

"MAN, FUCK THIS SHIT!" Freddy yelled in sheer desperation and he ran towards the room he knew Salamander was in, before anyone could dare stop him.

What the hell was going on?

God...did they figure out Kyle was gay? Did they know they were dating or something and that's why they wanted to keep them apart? Jesus, he didn't even think of that...

Too late as he literally BURST into Kyle's room...and it was a very scared and nervous Kyle...complete with bandages all around his head, face and arms...but very much alert and awake...that stared at him with total confusion in his eyes. His mom, Aunt Jemima, quickly stood up and looked at Kyle, and then suddenly back at Freddy with horror drenched all over her beautiful features.

"How did you get in here...? Freddy, you can't be here, not yet..."

"Kyle! You're...awake! Man...I was so worried about you, dude..." Freddy smiled as he happily approached Kyle, not even bothering to hear what Aunt Jemima had to say...

...but she didn't need to say anything.

Kyle...Salamander's face said it all.

**

"Kyle...?" Freddy whispered.

Kyle was a mere shadow of himself. He flinched as Freddy approached...as if he was scared of him...

The terrified look in his eyes also didn't help matters.

Aunt Jemima placed her hand on Freddy's shoulder, very softly and gently.

"My god, Freddy...we told you so stay away. This...this is why we didn't want you to see him. Not yet, anyway. Freddy, why...?"

Kyle casted his eyes towards his mother, and then just as she did before...back to Freddy.

"Mom...who is this?"

**

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