Shadow of My Father

Sophomore Year 15

Written by: J.P.G.

{"The Shadow of My Father" is pure fiction. As I am writing this story, I am above the age of 21. If you want a story with lots of sex, look elsewhere. This is a love story. Seeing, as it is a love story, sex is in there, but it is in realistic balance in the characters' lives.

Any similarity to any real events, names, or life events is purely accidental. If you are underage, (according to your state laws, a minor), if this literature is offensive to you or to anyone around your viewing area, or it is illegal for you to view such content where you are reading it, stop reading the story.

This story cannot be distributed in any way, shape or form without authors' express written consent.}

Story Written by: J.P.G.

Love Scenes Written By: Trevor

Edited By: Ed

Edited By: Trevor

I have a home page for you to see what the characters look like or what the places look like. If you want to walk in their shoes, please go to: http://jacobmillertex.com/

Chapter 15

"Honey, I think this story and pictures that you are looking at are wrong and I want to get a hold of the people that took them and strangle them. They had no right to take them and on top of that sell them to a tabloid or any kind of news agency so I understand how mad you are right now about all this, but we need to sit down and take a deep breath. Let's not let our anger make decisions for us."

Daniel Sr. was red hot. If it was possible, smoke would be coming out of his ears and his face would be red as hell. He thought that he had an understanding with the entire press corps, but now he sees how wrong he was. Because if he had the understanding that he thought he had, this trash would have never been printed.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't do what Barbara is recommending him to do. He is just too angry and wants to lash out at every member of the press corps. Barbara could see that her husband was not settling down at all. Just as she was about to try and say something that might do the trick, he grabbed the tabloid from the table and headed to the front door. She went after him and tried to stop him, but he had his mind set on what he was going to do.

Once he was out the door, she knew it was too late. Quickly she adjusted herself in the hallway mirror before running after the governor. The security detail jumped to attention the minute they saw the governor walking out. When they saw he wasn't heading to the limousine, but to the gate instead, they quickly surrounded him.

Barbara tried to talk Daniel Sr. out of doing something that he might regret, but he was not listening anymore. His mind was set and nothing was going to stop him. So halfway down the road, she stopped trying to talk him out of what she knew he was about to do. Instead, she decided to stand by her husband and back him up on everything he does.

A quarter of the way from the main gate to the property, several members of the press saw the governor walking towards them. They alerted the others, and by the time the governor reached the front gates, all the press corp. was out of their building. Before the governor could say a word, they started asking him about the tabloid that he has there.

Some of them held the tabloid up and pointed to the pictures on the front page as they asked him what he thought about it. Others held up their copy turned to the story and asked him his thoughts. Then there were a few that didn't have a tabloid in their hands nor were throwing out questions. They were just there ready to take notes and report on whatever the governor is willing to answer.

Daniel stood there and waited for the press to stop throwing out questions. As he waited, Rich and Johnny arrived asking Benedict and Barbara what was going on. Neither of them was able to answer them, so they were in the dark as much as the press was. Finally when the press settled down, the governor spoke.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, from the day I threw my hat in the ring, I made this absolutely clear that my kids were off limits. I kept them here so you the press couldn't get to them. Where you wouldn't say they are fair game since they are seen around Austin in my office, or the capitol building.

I am the one that ran for this office, not my wife, my kids or anyone else in my family for that matter. You say and do what ever you want with me since I am the one in the political arena, but again you don't approach my kids. This is wrong and the tabloid that printed knows they overstepped the line."

The governor held up the tabloid with pictures of Cesar on the cover bleeding out the day he was stabbed and rushed to the hospital. Benedict looked at Rich, stunned at what he was seeing. He thought that they pushed the press completely away from the ER that they could not get pictures like that, but now he sees that somehow they got them.

He walked over to the table where there were several of the tabloids in question and picked one up. He got sick to his stomach seeing the pictures of Cesar on the cover in the back of the SUV being worked on. Then when he turned to the story and saw more horrible pictures, he wanted to throw up. This tabloid actually got pictures of Cesar being shocked, opened up, and taken into the hospital on the stretcher and everything in between all that. In addition, they weren't fuzzy pictures, they were clear as day.

"This is trash reporting and those that asked me about this trash are just as trashy as the tabloid itself. That is the reason these tabloids do these things because you, the actual press, make what they do into a real story. You did here by asking me questions about the tabloid and nothing else. You were wrong and now a non-story is going to be a major story that is going to destroy a sixteen-year-old boy's life.

I know many of you are parents and as parents, you have to know this was wrong. You have to denounce it and not give it the time of day. By doing so, you are telling these guys its okay for them to take pictures of your children on their worse day and then print it out for the entire world to see it. If this were your kid, you would be right here where I am right now denouncing this kind of journalism.

Since none of you guys were willing to do that, I have to do what I think is best to protect my kids and family from this happening again. From this point on, there is a blackout to each and every one of you. The press room I built here for you guys is closed and you all are no longer welcome to be here on my property." The press started to object to what the governor was doing, but he kept going.

"When it comes to Austin, you will be allowed in the places that I have no say on. However, the places that I do have a say on, you won't be allowed. Until I am confidant that you all understand that my kids are off limits, you will lose all access to me and my staff." The governor looked around at all the blank faces before him. "Thank you ladies and gentlemen for letting me speak and I hope you have a safe ride home."

Governor Lopez turned and started to walk away. The press started shouting out questions, but the governor ignored them. Instead, he spoke to Benedict and told him to carry out his wishes. He wanted the press removed off his property and as far back as he legally can push them within the hour.

Benedict had no other choice but to do as he was asked. He walked back to the pressroom with several security agents. When they walked in, the press corp. stood up from their seats. They were not gathering their stuff, which confused Benedict. He knew they were at the same briefing, so they heard what the governor said.

"Ladies and Gentlemen the governor meant what he said and he sent me to make sure it is carried out. So please gather your stuff and exit the building. If you have news vans, trucks or your personal cars parked out there, you must get in them and move them. You are no longer allowed on this private property and don't ask me how long it is going to last, because I don't know."

"Come on Benedict, the governor has to know that he is taking this a little too far." The correspondent from the local NBC studios spoke up first. "Yes, this tabloid broke the agreed upon rule that the governor's kids were off limits, but we all shouldn't have to pay the price for that. Just remove those from that tabloid that did the wrong."

"First, I can't override the decision of the governor and you know that. Secondly, you all were wrong when you asked about the tabloid. The minute you made this news, was the minute you lost your right on being here. You people know the governor as well as I do. He will protect his family at the cost of his job."

The reporters that didn't ask any questions right away raised objections to them being thrown out. Benedict heard them out and then looked at the video as the governor approached the press corp. He saw that they were right. They stood back and just watched as the others started to throw out questions about the pictures and story.

Seeing that, he walked over to the phone and called up to the house. A minute later, he was talking to the governor, explaining to him on what he saw. Everyone in the pressroom hung onto every word Benedict was saying, but didn't get much since he was just saying yes and no after he explained why he called.

He hung up the phone and looked over at those that stayed away from the story. "The governor just finished looking at the footage that I just looked at. He is a fair man and since you guys..." Benedict pointed to those standing in a small group. "Didn't do what the others did, you and your company that you are reporting for will be allowed to stay here and in the others places in Austin that the others will not be."

The other reporters right away started to object. The objections led to when they threw out questions, that they weren't questions about the tabloid. Benedict didn't buy any of it. He made them all gather their stuff and escorted them off the property. Just as the last one left, Josh and Cesar's motorcade drove up.

Isaac and Troy, the volunteer, snuck off to the back of the church to talk. They have been keeping in touch since they met each other during the summer, but they haven't seen each other since the governor and his family came back at the end of the summer. It wasn't that neither of the two wanted to, it was just Isaac couldn't get away.

Between being part of the governor's family and all the stuff that comes with that and his job, he has had no time for himself. Just like the governor, he works in the political world. He is not an elected official, but more like what Alfred Serna does for the governor. The only difference between him and Al is he works from home for several high up politicians in Washington, D.C.

Whenever there is a bill that needs to pass and some arm-twisting needs to happen, they call on him to do it. He has a very high success rate. That is why he is fought over by senators and congressmen. They all need their bills passed so they could go back home. Show those that put them in office they are doing what they promised to do. Moreover, the more they look like they can get things done, the more money they will have in their war chest when they come up for re-election.

Since his office was at home, it was easy for him to pick up his life when his younger brother needed him. Even though he is no longer in Washington, it doesn't mean he isn't still doing what he was doing before he moved in with his brother. All his work is done by phone, which surprises everyone that has hired him. No one knows what he looks like, since they have never seen him. All they know is how he sounds.

His nephews know a little bit of what he does, but nothing in detail, which he likes that way. Besides his brother, Barbara is the only one that knows exactly what he does for a living, at least until now. He wants to take the next step with Troy, so he took this chance to tell him what he does for a living. Keeping his fingers crossed that he doesn't scare off Troy like others in the past when they found out what he does for a living.

"Um, what party do you work for, the Republican party?" Troy asked in a whisper, making Isaac laugh. "Well the reason I say the Republican Party is because of your brother being a Republican. Normally party affiliation runs in a family, at least it does in mine. Everyone is a Democrat, except me, which makes it hard whenever we talk about politics. Normally when we get into that subject, we land up yelling at each other."

"I certainly understand that. Lucky for my family and me we don't argue about politics. We all are involved in it one way or another. In addition, no, I do not work for just one party. I work for both of them. There is some good in each party and I will only work on bills that I feel are right. If I do the research on a bill and it does harm, I walk away."

Isaac and Troy sat down next to each other and caught up. They both want to ask the other if they could take this to the next level, a date, both are afraid of the answer so they stay away from it and talk about how their days have gone and what they have been doing at work, general talk topics that will not get them in trouble.

Back at the Lopez house, Josh and Cesar were just sitting down to watch television when Chris and another guy walked in. Josh turned and saw the guy at Chris's side and knew he has seen him around school, but had no idea who he was. He also didn't know that he was gay, but then Josh thought he might be jumping the gun there about the kid being gay since he hasn't met him. Who knows, maybe Chris and him are just friends.

As Chris and his friend walked over to Josh and Cesar, Josh looked the kid over. He is not a bad looking kid Josh thought. He stands maybe around five six, maybe five eight at the most, dark blond hair, almost light brown that he keeps short on the sides and combs the top to a point, big brown eyes that melts right through you and it looks like he actually shaves, which surprised not only Josh, but Cesar as well.

Then he cracked a smile that just sent shivers through Josh and Cesar's body. He smiled like an angel. "Hey guys, I want you to meet Angel Campbell." Josh started to cough when he heard Angel's first name. He was just comparing his smile to an angel and here his first name is Angel. Cesar lightly patted Josh's back. Once he stopped coughing, Cesar made sure he was okay before Chris went on.

"I've wanted you guys to meet him for a couple days now, but he had to be cleared by your security Josh. Just this afternoon I was told that he was cleared and is now allowed to come around you and the family." Josh smiled but kept wondering who Angel was to Chris. So many questions went through his head; he didn't know where to start.

"I met Angel about a week ago and we clicked." Chris looked over at Angel, but what Josh noticed was their body language. They were not holding hands or that close together, which means that they are not really together, at least not yet. "He is like us, so I told him that he will be accepted in the group without a problem."

Josh stood up and extended his hand. "Of course you will be accepted in as one of us. Any friend of Chris's or anyone for that matter in the group is a friend of mine." Angel smiled that smile that sent shivers down Josh's spine again. "One thing you do have is an awesome smile. I am pretty sure you are tired of hearing that."

"Um, not really, I love hearing things like that. I don't hear it at home or any of my friends at school. I think the reason for that is that they don't know that I am gay." Josh couldn't believe that he hadn't told anyone yet that he was gay. "I don't think any of them would take the news too good, and that includes my family."

Cesar walked up and shook Angel's hand. "Well you'll never know until you at least try to tell one of them. If they take it the wrong way or spit in your face and walk away, you will have your answer. Until then, you will be living in a closet that will be eating you alive. Trust me no one deserves to hide who they are." Just as Cesar started to look at Chris, Angel smiled again. "Boy my boyfriend is right about that smile, it is a killer one. I wouldn't be surprised if you learn that you have a whole lot of admirers."

Angel not only kept his smile, but he turned red. Seeing that, Josh quickly changed the subject. "Hey, Cesar, why don't you and Angel stay here and talk a little while Chris and I go out to the pool so I can give him a couple of things that needs to be returned to the coach!" Cesar nodded his head as he turned his attention to Angel.

Josh and Chris walked out of the theatre room, but didn't speak a word to each other until they were at the pool. "Okay, spill the beans on this guy!" Josh turned and patted Chris on the shoulder. "You have been keeping him from us and I want to know why. He seems to be a great guy and man that smile, what is up with that smile."

Chris chuckled as he sat down on one of the chairs at the side of the pool. "Well I really don't know where to start with him. I was not hiding him from you guys, but he is afraid of whom he is and I really didn't want to push him into a group like ours. We are already getting comfortable with our sexuality and that might scare him off."

"I see where you are with that, but we would have seen that and dialed it down as far as trying to get him to open up. After all we are not flaming gays. No, we know who we are, but we still act like men." Josh could see there was something else with him, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "Come on Chris, there is something bothering you, tell me what it is."

"He is cute..." Chris chuckled. "Boy is he cute and like you guys said he has a smile that just, um, well you see it. It is hard to really explain that gorgeous smile." Josh shook his head with a smile on his face. "It's just I think we tried something too soon that I think he wasn't ready for." That peaked Josh's interest.

"Like I said, I met him a little over a week ago. He is in a couple of my classes, but I haven't really paid much attention him. Then he sent me a note that woke me up." Chris pulled out the note from his pocket and handed it to Josh. "We started to talk just through notes. At the same time, we would steal glances of each other. He wanted to see me and I wanted to see him as much as we could, but that was limited because of his friends and his parents. As he said, he is not out to anyone yet.

Anyways, after a couple of days of passing notes to each other, I took a very stupid step and asked him out. He told me he wanted to think about it, which I said cool. I thought that he needed the rest of the day, but when he didn't give me an answer when school ended, I got really nervous. I thought I went too far and wanted to take back the question.

The next day the very first thing that came out of my mouth when we met up was trying to take it back, but he would not let me. He asked me a couple of questions and then said yes, he would be my boyfriend. I could not believe how that made me feel. I hadn't felt that way since you and I started going out, which was not that long ago, I know.

Then he started acting a little weird. Not enough that anyone would notice except me. At first I thought I was reading too much into it, but the other day I found out that I wasn't reading too much at all. He confronted me about this off the wall thing that just threw me through a loop at first. I really didn't know how to answer it."

Chris stopped talking, prompting Josh to ask what. "What was it that he said that threw you through a loop as you put it? You and I have gone through a lot in the last year and a half. There is not much that should stun us."

"Yeah you are right; at least you would think you were right. Whenever I came back from you guys and met up with him, he was a little distant. It didn't take long for him to get back to his normal self, but I knew there was something there. Then the other day I saw him talking to Patrick. I wondered what in the world would he be talking to him about, but I didn't go up to find out.

Now I wish I did because when Angel walked over to me, he asked me if I was in love with Patrick. It was the weirdest questions I have ever heard, but I answered it, no. He didn't believe me. He kept saying over and over again that I should be happy and I should go and ask Patrick out. I tried to tell him that Patrick has a boyfriend, but he had it in his head that we were in love with each other and that I need to deal with it.

We got into a huge fight over it. We didn't say anything that we couldn't take back, and we walked away from each other. Then later that day, after school when I went to my locker I found a note in my locker from him. In the note, he broke up with me. He wanted me to go and be with Patrick."

"What kind of bullshit is that?" Josh stood up yelling. "It is obvious to a blind man that you two are not in love with each other. On top of that, Patrick has a boyfriend. Even if he didn't know, you told him that. What is wrong with the guy?" Josh took a breath before he went on. "Okay you two are here, that means things must have been fixed."

"Not really, nothing was fixed. When he put that letter in my locker and broke up with me just a week after we started to date, it blew me away. I was numb, I was heart broken, and I was just floating in the air. I didn't know what hit me, I really didn't. He didn't give me any real excuse on why, he just said it was over."

Chris turned around to get control of his emotions. Explaining how he felt the day Angel put the note in his locker was tearing him apart. He thought he was over that day, but it really wasn't that long ago, just a couple of days ago. Still it felt like it just happened because he thought he found his Cesar, his new Josh, but boy was he wrong.

"I tried to talk with him and find out, but he refused to tell me a thing. All I got was roundabout ways on why he broke up with me, but nothing that was really the truth. I couldn't sleep at all that night that I got the note. I mean all that was on my mind was Angel and why he did what he did. He threw a ball at me right out of left field.

Anyway, when I got up the next day, I dragged myself to school. I really didn't want to see him, but at the same time I needed to know why he broke up with me. Throughout the classes we had together, we were passing notes back and forth. I was trying to get a straight answer out of him, but I couldn't, I just couldn't. When he graduates from high school and college, the guy could be a great politician." That broke a mood. Both Josh and Chris started laughing.

"As I was saying I tried everything to get an answer from him, and nothing. So after lunch, our last period the conversation turned from why he did it to can we go out together again. Going back and forth on that for about thirty minutes, we were able to see eye to eye on getting back together right before the bell. I was the happiest guy in this world that he said yes, man was I happy. Then it came crashing down once again.

Less than fifteen minutes later, it was all over again. It felt worse than it felt the first time when he broke up with me..." Josh couldn't believe what he was hearing. He interrupted Chris and laid into him about Angel and how all this went down. Chris knew every word that Josh was saying, was true, but he loved Angel. He wanted Angel to be the one.

"I know Josh, I know I was stupid to even think he would go out with me, but I had to try. I had to see if I could get him back, which I did, for fifteen minutes. It's just when you think you meet Mr. Right, you would do anything to keep Mr. Right. That is how I felt about Angel when I met him. He was my Mr. Right."

"Okay let's just say you are right, he is your Mr. Right, but that doesn't give him the right to play with your emotions that way. No matter what he thought about you and Patrick, he had no right to get your hopes up all over again, to just crush them fifteen minutes later." Josh stopped pacing back and forth and stood in one place. "What was his reason this time that he broke up with, or did he give you a reason?"

"The same reason he broke up with me the first time at least that is what he told me. He thinks Patrick and me have a thing so he said we should talk it out and see if there is anything. If there is, he wants us to go out because it would make him happy. I kept telling him there was nothing between Patrick and me. I kept telling him that Patrick has a boyfriend but he didn't want to hear me out on any of it. No matter how I said it or how many times I said it, he believed that I loved Patrick."

"I don't understand what was going through that guys mind. Fuck that awesome smile, he can go to hell." Josh started to walk towards the door, but Chris stopped him. "What Chris, he broke my best friend's heart. Not once, but twice in less than a day. He has no right doing that. Moreover, he has no right being here all smiles as if he did not hurt you the way he did. No one does that to my friends and gets away with it."

"Please Josh don't say anything to him. Please let him stay since he was approved to be around you." Chris looked at Josh with his puppy dog eyes. "Maybe with him around all of you, he will see that there is nothing between me and Patrick. I really love him Josh and I want to be with him. My heart hurts so bad that I don't have him anymore."

Josh looked at Chris as if he was out of his mind. "I know it sounds weird, I can see it all over your face but believe me when I say this, I love him Josh, and I'm not willing to give up on him. If I see there is no chance, I will break it off with him and just move on. It's just I need to find out if there is a chance for us."

Josh wanted to go in there and break that flakes nose, but he won't. He doesn't trust him at all and will be watching him. Once he sees that he is hurting his first love, he is going to pounce on him as if there was no tomorrow, screw where they are. No one, he means no one comes in and plays around with someone's feelings like he has in his close-knit group of friends and gets away with it without any backlash for it.

"Because you're asking me, I will do it. However, if he makes one wrong move, I am going to kick his ass. Once I kick his ass, he is going to be thrown to the curb like the piece of trash that he is. I don't like him, I don't trust him, but I'm going to do what you are asking because I trust you and love you."

That put a smile on Chris's face. Josh helped Chris up from the seat, wiped his face and helped him straighten up his clothes. Once Chris was presentable, they grabbed the bag of swim gear that belonged to the swim team and walked back in. When they reached the theatre room, they found Cesar and Angel in a conversation.

Josh laid the bag at the door and walked over to Cesar. He pulled Cesar up from the seat next to Angel and moved him a couple over. He played it off so that he wanted to make room for Chris to sit there, but that wasn't the reason. He didn't want his boyfriend anywhere near the guy that he wanted to strangle with his bare hands.

Not only Cesar noticed the difference in Josh behavior when he and Chris returned from the pool, but Angel noticed it as well. They talked a little longer, but Josh made up a lame excuse to call it a night. He and Cesar walked Chris and Angel out, but when they got to the door, Josh was barely able to mutter the words goodbye and have a good night.

Once they were gone, Cesar demanded to know what was going on. At first, Josh wasn't saying a word. It was not that he promised or was asked not to say it, but he was too angry still to repeat what was said to him. Finally, when they were crawling into bed, Josh broke down and told Cesar everything. When he finished up, Cesar was as much dumb founded as Josh was when he first was told what Chris was going through.

"I guess the first question that comes to mind is why didn't Chris come to us and tell us what this guy did. We are his friends and we have told him no matter what it is, we are here to listen to him and help him if we can. He shouldn't have gone through all that alone. The poor guy had to be hurting and is probably still hurting."

"I agree and I really don't understand what he is doing. All I know is that this Angel guy not only hurt him once, but twice in twenty four hours." Josh turned to his side and looked Cesar in the eyes. Cesar could see the anger and hurt in his boyfriend's eyes. "I don't know what to do here Cesar. I really don't know what to do.

One part of me is saying let Chris do what he wants to do and see what he can make work with this guy. Another part of me wants to slap Chris awake to see this guy is no good and beat the shit out of him. He is my friend, and you know how I defend my friends Cesar. This Angel guy messed with the wrong guy, he really did."

"I see where you are coming from and I agree with you, but I think you have to take a step back on this one. I know it's hard and I'm not saying it because of your past relationship with Chris. I'm saying it because I think you need to let Chris do what he wants to do in this matter. If he gets hurt again, we will be there for him on what ever he needs. We'll also seek out this guy and make him wish that he never laid eyes on Chris and played with his emotions. Until then, we keep a watchful eye over those two."

Josh said pretty much the same thing earlier and thought the same thing. He leaned over and kissed Cesar on the lips. "How did I get so lucky to get you in my life? When we got together I was a mess, but you stuck with me." Josh kissed Cesar on the lips a couple more times. "Boy I am the luckiest guy on earth to have you on my side."

"No Josh, I am the luckiest guy to have you at my side." That is all that was said. Cesar let his body language do all the talking for him. The boys stayed up for another hour cuddling with each other. Kissing all the bare skin they could, but eventually they fell asleep. Josh was wrapped in Cesar's arms and his head on Cesar shoulders sound asleep.

The next morning, Josh and Cesar did what they said they were going to do and that is keeping an eye on Angel. All through breakfast, Angel knew something was up with those two, but he never thought that they knew what he had done to Chris. By the time first period bell rang, he was looking over his shoulder for Josh and Cesar. He feared that they were going to sneak up behind him and beat him up.

Even though Josh wanted to do just that, he didn't. It took a little handling on Cesar's side to make that not happen, but Josh kept his cool. Most of the morning went by fast. Before Josh knew it, he was back in the cafeteria looking straight into Angel's eyes. Angel tried not look at Josh, but he couldn't stop. He felt Josh's eyes burning a hole through his head and had no other choice but to look at him.

Lucky for Angel, Josh could not hang out with the group in the stadium as they normally do. He had to go and practice with Los Tigres since the concert was tomorrow night and they still have to get all the dance moves right plus his duet with Sharon was still not there, so he wanted to have more practice time with her before the big night.

Since the entire Los Tigres showed up for practice, when the bell rang for fourth period, they ignored it. They kept doing what they were doing since they all had this class for fourth period. In the hour and half of practice, they got every thing down that they needed to. As they were wrapping up their practice, Mr. Franklin was happy with the result.

"Ladies and gentlemen I am so proud of each and every one of you. You guys have been giving me everything you have and it has paid off. You guys are ready for tomorrow." The class erupted in applause. "You are going to knock the socks off those that are going to come and see you tomorrow. Today I am a very proud teacher. Seeing all the hard work you guys have done and how it has turned out, I am happier than I ever have been in my life in my professional career.

Now tomorrow we are going to go over a few things during class, but not really sing since I want you all to rest your voices for later on." Everyone started to talk, loving the idea that they were going to basically have a free period. "Hold on now before you go all crazy and celebrate, there is a few things I need to cover with you.

Tomorrow you will arrive at the UTEP Center an hour before the concert so we can do a run through on the actual stage. I don't want any mishaps because we had no idea where everything is on the stage. If we get through with the run through in ten minutes, you all will be able to leave. If it takes the whole hour, well it takes it."

The students got quiet. "Either come dressed in the clothes we decided to use for the concert, or have them ready to change into." Several of the students spoke at the same time, but had the same question, will they have a chance to change. "Yes, I'd rather you guys come in jeans and a t-shirt and then change over there, but it's up to you."

With that, the bell rang and Mr. Franklin excused the class. As Josh stepped out into the hallway, he ran into Angel who was waiting for him. Angel walked up and started to ask Josh what was going on. No matter how many times he asked Josh or how he asked the question, he ignored him and kept walking to his fifth period.

Finally when he got to the door of the classroom, he had enough. "Look Angel I have nothing personally against you. Who knows, you might be an awesome person, but, and yes, there is a but here. The way you have been playing with Chris and his feelings is wrong and I think you know that. If you don't, well that would be a disappointment."

"I don't know what Chris has told to you, but maybe you should hear my side of the whole thing before making your decision about me." Josh just looked at Angel, waiting for him to continue. "Yes I screwed everything up with him, but I just don't know where I am at this moment. I am lost and I hated myself on how I made Chris feel, I really did. I never went out to do that to Chris.

That is why I am glad we are now friends. Maybe in the future things might be different and I will be able to do what my heart wants to do. For now, I have to stay away from those relationships since there is an internal battle going on inside my body."

"You know what Angel, that is a load of bull and you know that. Fine, you are lost, but that doesn't give you the excuse to play with someone the way you have with Chris and still keep doing it. If you know there is really no chance on anything happening between you two, you need to go up and tell him that. Because right now he thinks there is still a chance, which is not right having him, thinking that."

Josh started to walk into the classroom, but stopped and turned around. "The way things unfolded between you guys, I would have never allowed you to break my heart twice in two days. Not only you did the first break up through a fucking Dear John letter, but less than a day later you accept him back and then break up with him fifteen minutes later. That was wrong and you should be taken out back, tarred and feathered.

However all that is between you and Chris and I will obey his wishes. I will stand back and allow you two to work things out but let me tell you here and now, if you hurt him one more time, you will have me to deal with. Until then, you are welcome in our group and everything we do. Don't screw things up with him!"

Angel shook his head as they walked in just as the tardy bell rang. All through fifth period, Angel kept looking back and forth from Chris to Josh. He knew there was nothing there between those two anymore since he can see the love Josh has for Cesar, but he also knows that Josh will be a man of his word if he hurts Chris again.

When the period was over, Angel stayed back and let Josh and the others leave the class first. Josh noticed Angel hanging back, but he didn't care. He and Cesar talked as they made their way to sixth and final period for the day, which went by in the blink of an eye. They got what they needed for their homework and headed home.

Just like the last couple of nights, they met up with George Strait at one of the local stations in town. The only difference this time was Johnny Cash was there to give a helping hand. Sitting there in the three interviews they gave throughout the evening was George Strait, a man already making a name for himself, Johnny Cash, who already made his mark in the music industry and is on his final years and Joshua Lopez, the baby, the newest artist of the group trying to get into the industry. It was an even group and the interviews pointed all that out to their listeners.

By the time, they called it a night; they had done three, one-hour interviews on getting the word out about the concert. There were way too many tickets still available and they needed to do what ever they could to sell everyone of them. The only problem with that is the interviewers were more interested in Josh `debut CD that was just released that day.

At least in El Paso, the CD never made it to the shelves. The minute the stores open and tried to unpack the CD, there was a long line of people waiting to get one. Every store around town had to turn away customers because they ran out of CD'S. Little did the interviewers know this was happening everywhere the CD was being sold. Every one that was pressed sold out the moment the stores opened.

Josh himself didn't know that happened either. He thought the only reason they were selling out here in El Paso as they were was because of who his father was. The only problem with that is he was wrong. They were selling out because those that are buying it and wanted it heard him sing, loved how he sang and wanted to own his CD.

Finally, when they walked indoors, Josh and Cesar only had strength to eat and take a shower before going to bed, but Daniel Sr. had other plans. After they ate dinner, Daniel Sr. made sure they did their homework before heading up stairs. A couple of times the boys fell asleep at the table, but it was not at the same time so when the other noticed the other had fallen asleep he nudged them awake.

The next morning, the school was alive about the concert, it was worse than it was at the beginning of the week. Every student, teacher and employee of the school was talking about it. Josh didn't want to talk about the concert. All he wanted to do is forget about it because if he didn't, he wouldn't be able to get over his nerves.

Right after they finished eating breakfast, on their way out to the stadium. Patrick and Immanuel pulled Josh to the side. Cesar was not about to be closed off on what ever was going on, so he followed. They walked into the restroom and waited for everyone to leave before telling Josh and Cesar what was bothering him.

"What is up with this new kid, Angel?" Josh looked at Patrick and just shrugged his shoulders. "Come on Josh, I'm sure you know what's going on. He is wearing me out with all the questions he is asking." Patrick walked over to the door to make sure no one was listening to the conversation. "And let me tell you, the questions he is asking are off the wall questions. If I was another guy, I would have already taken offense to him."

"Look Patrick and Immanuel I know this new guy is a little weird, but we all were once when we were figuring ourselves out. Give him a couple of days and you'll see he'll settle down. All those weird questions and things he is doing will stop." Josh couldn't believe he was actually defending this guy. He was hard for him to swallow since he couldn't trust a word that came out of his mouth either.

"Josh I am telling you if he tells me one more time that I should ask Chris out, I am going to lose it. I think he is trying to put a wedge between Immanuel and me or worse, a wedge between all of us. The kid can't be trusted and I think you know that, but are not willing to say it, so I will. He can't be trusted and if we allow him to continue to be involved in our group, it will be ripped apart."

Everything that Patrick was saying was ringing true. He had the same thoughts and feelings, but had been ignoring them. Just like what Patrick just said, he feels the same way. Angel is like a hurricane and when he is done blowing through town, everything in his path will be destroyed.

"I'm asking you to do me this one favor, ignore him please. When ever he comes to talk to you, give him the time of day, but don't take anything he says to heart. Once he leaves, forget everything he spoke with you about. You are going out with Immanuel and you both are very happy. He will see that eventually and stop trying to pawn you off to Chris because of what he is unwilling to do himself."

Josh stopped short of blurting out what he knows. He knows it is not his place to tell anyone what is going on between Chris and Angel. There is no way he is going to become this little high schoolgirl who loves to gossip about everything she finds out. He has always kept himself above it, and this shouldn't be any different.

"Come on Josh, I need to know what you know. There has to be a reason or a story to all this and you're not willing to tell us. I promise..." Josh interrupted Patrick and as nicely as he could he told him to drop it and move on. Patrick didn't like it, but he did drop it, at least for now. One way or another, he wants to get to the bottom of everything.

The boys walked out of restroom and joined the group out in the stadium. Both Chris and Angel looked at the four of them and knew that they were talking about them. Chris walked over to Josh to see what was going on, but Josh waved him off. Josh had enough of the Angel drama for this week. All he wanted to do at this point is concentrate on the concert. Out of all the performers, he is going to be on the stage the longest.

When the bell rang for first period, the group headed in. Chris tried once more to talk with Josh, but was cut off once he said the name Angel. He started to wonder if Josh didn't like Angel, but then he thought that was not in his nature. He always gives people the benefit of the doubt no matter what he hears or sees.

During the morning announcements, the principle came on and informed the school that he has bad news. That grabbed all the students and staffs attention. "As of ten o'clock last night, our school concert was sold out." All up and down the hallways, you could hear roars of cheers, applauding and just straight out yelling. "That means if you were waiting for the last minute to get your ticket, you are out of luck. There is not one seat available!"

As the shock wore off, Josh started to celebrate with his fellow classmates. Everyone in the classroom was out of their seats patting Josh on the shoulder. He did not understand why they were doing that to just him since there are headliners on the ticket. No matter what he was told, he believed the reason the concert was sold out was because of George Strait and Johnny Cash.

It took a while for the teachers to get control of their classrooms, but once they did, they got on with their scheduled lecture, which wasn't much. Pretty much all morning long, the teachers gave their students a free day. They were all just as excited about the news that the principle delivered. On top of that, they also wanted the day to end so they could go home and get ready to see George Strait, Johnny Cash and yes even their own Los Tigres perform.

During lunch, everyone was talking about what they wanted to do at the concert, the Angel subject did not come up. Several times as he ate, Josh looked over at Angel and saw that he wasn't really getting into the conversation. At first, he didn't know why, but after a while it dawned on him. The guy probably doesn't have a ticket, and even if he does, he does not have the all access pass like all the rest of them do.

When they got up and headed outside, Josh asked Angel. "I asked my parents if I could go and they said yes, but then when I asked for the money for the ticket, they told me they didn't have it. So I never went to buy a ticket."

Josh actually felt bad for the guy. No matter what he thought about the games he is playing, he has to respect Chris's feelings about him right now. Chris thinks he has a chance on getting him back, even though in Josh's eyes there is no chance, he wants to do what he can to help. It might cause some friction among some in the group, but if things do somehow work out between him and Chris, the others would forget all this.

"Look, I am willing to put aside my thoughts and feelings about what you have done for Chris's sake. I have already told you my feelings on that, so we'll let it go. Clear it with you parents again and there will be an all access pass for you at the gate with the others. I am pretty sure it will make Chris a very happy guy to have you there tonight."

The look Angel gave Josh when he said the last part made him regret what he just did, but it was too late. The offer was out there already and there is no way he is going to be able to take it back. Angel did thank him and promised that he will make plans with Chris on when and where to go tonight. Josh took that a positive and pushed his other thoughts out of his head for now.

Mr. Franklin kept to his word when the Los Tigres came into class during fourth period. They went over the things they needed to know about the concert like when they were going on stage, how much time they had and who was following them and so on so on. What surprised the students was that Johnny Cash was following them. They thought it was going to be George Strait, but nope it was Johnny, the man in black.

"Okay we have the first twenty five minutes of the concert. Then it will be Johnny Cash for an hour, then you Josh will come out and perform for thirty minutes, and then George will come out for an hour. That gives those that bought a ticket for tonight's show two hours of performances from those on the ticket."

Everyone looked at each other and then at Mr. Franklin. They knew they couldn't question the line up, but they were all thinking the same thing that Josh should have got more time on stage, not just the thirty minutes he has. Mr. Franklin knew what they were thinking and was waiting for them to say something, but nothing ever came.

Before the students, teachers and staff knew it, school was out. The bell rang and every one rushed out in a celebration mood like it was the last day of school. Josh, Cesar and their brothers went straight home for a couple of hours. They didn't do much except prop their feet up and watched a couple of movies.

When it was time for Josh to head out, Cesar got dressed with him. They fooled around a little as they got dressed, but they stopped themselves when they knew they were going too far. Mainly they didn't want to get each other so hard that they couldn't bring it down, which didn't work at all. Neither of them said anything, but they both knew.

Not only Josh was concerned about Cesar, but the rest of the family was as well. They all thought it might be too soon for him to be in an environment like a concert. If anyone would push up against him the wrong way, it could open up his stitches. Before they headed down stairs, Josh once again asked Cesar if he was okay on going.

"Look Josh, I know you and our family are concerned about me. I know a lot of things can happen tonight, but a lot of things can happen any moment of any day. I am okay, seriously, I am okay. A little poke on the side is not going to make me miss my boyfriends coming out concert. Nothing is going to make me miss that. So stop asking me and let's go out there and have a night that neither of us will forget."

Cesar's response put a smile on Josh's face from ear to ear. "Okay let's go out and have fun and leave all of our problems here at home." Josh leaned in and kissed Cesar on lips, surprising him. "Have I told you how much I love you today?" Cesar smiled as he shook his head. "Well then let me correct that here and now. I love you and nothing will ever change that. You are my world no matter if I have success with this singing thing or not. You are my world and I will always live just for you."

That not only put a smile on Cesar's face, but it made him feel all gooey inside. As Josh was saying how much he loved him, the words lifted him off the ground. By the time Josh was done, he felt like he was floating in mid air. It took a few minutes to come down, and when he did, it was time for them to go. He didn't get a chance to tell Josh how he loved him, but that is something he will correct after the concert.

The freeway was jammed pack on the way to the UTEP Center. The closer they got to the exit, the slower they went. When they reached the exit, they were at a standstill, the traffic wasn't moving at all. Then through his review mirror, Jonathan saw lights flashing and the cruiser coming up fast on the medium. As the cruiser passed them, another one did and couple of limousines, and then after them were another couple cruisers.

Jonathan looked over at the agent that was driving. He didn't need to say a word. He knew what Jonathan was thinking. He picked up the radio and informed the front and rear vehicles what they were about to do and then pulled into the medium. The front car led the way as Josh's vehicle and the rear vehicle followed them.

As they approached the intersection, the El Paso Police stopped them. They didn't look happy at all with them, but that changed when they got to the first vehicle. Josh had no idea what they were told, but they stepped aside and stopped the traffic to let them go through. Not meaning to, Josh smiled. He thought it was cool that they were able to do that and the police couldn't do a thing about it.

A police cruiser picked them up on the other side of the intersection and led them the rest of the way. As soon as they stopped, Josh and Cesar got down and headed in. Mr. Franklin and the rest of Los Tigres were already there waiting for him.

When Mr. Franklin saw Josh, he called everyone onto the stage. Song by song, he walked his students through them. He wanted to know where they needed to be on the stage at a certain point of the song. There were a few mistakes, but after going over them a couple more times, the mistakes were fixed. After almost thirty minutes of practice, Mr. Franklin let the students go to change for their performance.

Josh was surprised that he had his own dressing room with his name on the door. He thought that he was going to have to share his dressing room with his fellow Los Tigres. Cesar on the other hand wasn't surprised and told Josh so. Being one of the names on the ticket, he should have his own private dressing room.

Before changing into his clothes for his first performance, Josh and Cesar dropped them off in the dressing room and went and checked on the other things Josh asked for. Once they saw that they got him everything he wanted, he and Cesar headed back to the dressing room, but before getting there, they were stopped by George and Johnny.

"Hey Josh and Cesar, do you guys have a few minutes to spare." The boys looked at each and then over at George and Johnny and nodded their heads. "Good come on into my dressing room for a few minutes. I know you have to get ready for your performance with Los Tigres, so I will be fast."

Josh and Cesar walked in side by side. They didn't say a word, but they were thinking the same thing as if they were sharing a brain. At first when they walked in, they stood there in the middle of George's dressing room, but relaxed after they were asked to take a seat and given something to drink.

"I am pretty sure Mr. Franklin has explained how the night is going to go." Josh was a little confused on what George was getting at. "You know who is going up first and then who follows?" Josh nodded his head. "Good, there is going to be a little change in that procedure. I'm not the one that is going to be closing the show, it will be you Josh."

"Wait a minute George! It should be either you or Johnny Cash, not me. I am barely starting out and those that are the head liners are the ones that close the show."

"First you are just as much a head liner as Johnny and I are. You have a CD out already and you have performed in several concerts by yourself. Now with that said, we needed to make the change because something is going to be presented to you at the end of the show and I am honored to be the one to be presenting it to you."

Peaking Josh's interest, he asked several times what it was, but George wouldn't say. Josh tried to get Johnny to give it up, but just like George, he was tight lipped about the whole thing. Both of them warned Josh and Cesar that they were the only ones that knew what it was, so not to try to get information from his teacher or anyone else here at the stadium, because they wouldn't know what he was talking about.

"Now get out of here and have fun out there." George got up and walked to the door. "I took a sneak peak at what you have planned for our sold out audience and let me tell you it is going to get them on their feet and keep them there the entire time while you are on stage. I am going to hate following your performance, just be careful."

Josh promised he would as he and Cesar walked out. Before completely leaving George's dressing room, he asked him once more, but got nowhere. All the way to his dressing room, Josh and Cesar talked about what George said, but their guessing on what it was, was nowhere near the truth. Still they had fun playing the guessing game.

Just as Josh finished changing into his first of many sets of clothing for the night, his father and family walked in. They all walked over to Josh and hugged him. They were so excited for Josh on his first actual concert with his name on the ticket. One by one they showed Josh their ticket and said they are going to keep it forever.

Once every one got a chance to greet Josh and Cesar, Daniel Sr. took his son to the side. "I don't even know what to say, there are no words that comes to mind." Daniel was barely holding it together. He was so proud of his son at this moment. "Before we know it, you are going to be the Lopez on everyone's tongue, not me." Josh shook his head. "Don't shake your head! You know I'm right, which doesn't bother me at all. I'm so proud of you and everything you have done in these last couple years.

Go out there and have fun. Take it all in because your first actual concert that has your name on the ticket only comes once. So leave everything on stage so you can't look back at tonight and regret one thing. And again, just have fun out there doing the thing you love and that is performing."

Josh, just like his father, was fighting his tears. Neither of them wanted to start crying. So they could keep control of their feelings, they hugged each other and rejoined the rest of the family. A few minutes later, several security agents came in and informed the governor that is was time for him to take his seat. Before leaving, he wished his son good luck.

Cesar was the last to leave Josh. They walked together to the staircase that leads up to the stage and said their goodbyes there. A couple of kisses later, Cesar joined his family and walked out to their seats. The lights went off and then the announcer broke the silence.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome one and all to what we hope to be the first of many winter concerts here at the UTEP Center." The crowd erupted into applause. "Will you please direct your attention to the front row seats on the field and help me welcome the Governor of Texas and his family."

A single spotlight was turned on to the governor. It slowly made its way down the row until the end, and then made its way back. "It is an honor to have you here tonight Governor Lopez, Mrs. Lopez and the entire Lopez family. We know one of the headliners here tonight is your son, congratulations." Once again the crowd broke into applause.

"The announcer then asked everyone to stand for the National Anthem. He then announced, "Without further ado, it is my great honor to begin this concert by introducing our first group, the chorus from El Paso High School, ladies and gentlemen Los Tigres!"

The stadium went dark, but the audience was up on their feet applauding. A few seconds later, a single spot light turned on to the middle of the stage. The music started to play as Josh walked out, getting the audience back on their feet. Josh started to sing "When You Say Nothing at All". Almost forty seconds into the song, Sharon walked out and began singing, getting the crowd all wild up, screaming.

It took Sharon about ten or fifteen seconds to settle own, but once she did, she was singing like an old pro on the stage. Both her and Josh were hitting all the notes just right, bringing almost everyone to tears. Those that came with a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife held on to them as tight as they could as the two young teenagers sang. It felt to them like they were singing the song directly to them.

When the song came to an end, the audience went wild, yelling and screaming. There was a few seconds of silence, but when the music started the entire Los Tigres were on the stage singing one of the first of Josh's songs. It was one of the songs he performed the night his father retired from the military, which got the audience on their feet dancing, "Livin the Vida Loca". They followed that song up with two more of Josh's songs, and ended their time on the stage with "Don't Stop Believing".

Little over a minute and a half into the song, Los Tigres and the audience got a surprise they were not suspecting. George Strait came out onto the stage and joined Los Tigres singing the song. He didn't take the main part, he sang with the others as back up. Then they got another shock when there was only a minute left in the song when Johnny Cash walked out and started singing.

When the song ended, the lights went off, allowing the Los Tigres to exit off the stage and Johnny Cash's band to take their spots. When the lights came back on, Johnny Cash opened up his show as he normally does. "Hello I'm Johnny Cash." The music for Folsom Prison blues started playing and the women in the audience went crazy. They quickly jumped to their feet and stayed there throughout Johnny Cash's hour performance. He went through all his hits and sang some that were not as popular.

When he finished, the lights went off and the stadium went quiet. This time the music didn't start as quickly as it did between Los Tigres exiting off the stage and Johnny Cash taking over. A majority of the audience looked down at their schedule to see who was next. They started to worry when there was no music after a couple minutes of silence.

Then their worries went away when several different voices started to talk. At first, they didn't understand what was going on, but they went on with the flow. They looked around, but all they saw was nothing but dark. No lights were turned on, just several voices echoed back and forth in the stadium holding a conversation.

(Yeah, breaker one-nine, this here's the Rubber Duck, _
you got a copy on me Pigpen? C'mon.)
(Ah yeah, ten-four Pigpen, for sure, for sure. 
By golly it's clean clear to Flagtown. C'mon.)
(Yeah, that's a big ten-four there Pigpen. Yeah, we definitely got the 
front door good buddy. Mercy sakes alive, looks like we got us a convoy)_

Then a guitar started to play and a heavy male voice started to sing. Still none of the lights in the stadium was turned on, but everyone who had heard Josh sing before knew it was he now singing. They looked around for him, but had no idea where he was.

_
It was the dark of the moon on the sixth of June
In a Kenworth pullin logs
Cab over Pete with a reefer on
And a Jimmy haulin hogs
We's headed for bear on eye-one-oh
About a mile outta Shakeytown
I says Pigpen, this here's the Rubber Duck
And I'm about to put the hammer down_

All of the sudden huge headlights turned on at the end of the football field. Everyone looked over as an 18-wheeler started to drive onto the field. They still knew it was Josh singing, but they still had no idea where he was until a spotlight was turned on. Josh was standing on top of the roof of the 18-wheeler that was making its way to the stage singing. The audience jumped to their feet and just went wild.

_
Coz we got a little convoy rockin' thru the night
Yeah we got a little convoy aint she a beautiful sight
Come on and join our convoy aint nothin' gonna get in our way
We gonna roll this truckin' convoy 'cross the USA
Convoy_

The same voices started to hold the conversation as the 18-wheeler came to a complete stop at the stage. Josh jumped from the top of the 18-wheelerer to the hood and then to the stage. Just as he made it to the middle of the stage, he started singing once again.

_
(Ah, breaker, 
Pigpen this here's the Duck and you wanna back off on them hogs?)
(Ah, ten-four, about five mile or so)
(Ten roger, them hogs is gettin' IN-tense up here)

By the time we got into Tulsa town we had 85 trucks in all
But they's a roadblock up on the cloverleaf
And them bears 's wall to wall
Yeah them smokeys 's thick as bugs on a bumper
They even had a bear in the air
I says Callin' all trucks, this here's the Duck
We about to go a-huntin' bear

Coz we got a great big convoy rockin' thru the night
Yeah we got a great big convoy aint she a beautiful sight
Come on and join our convoy aint nothin' gonna get in our way
We gonna roll this truckin' convoy across the USA
Convoy_

This time Josh joined in with several members from Los Tigres having fun with the CB part of the song. The audience got into it, which surprised Mr. Franklin. When he heard Josh was going to open with this song, he thought it was going to be a mistake, boy now he sees how wrong he was.

_
(Ah, you want to give me a ten-nine on that Pigpen?) 
(Ah, negatory Pigpen, you're still too close. 
Yeah them hogs is startin' to close up my sinuses. 
Mercy's sakes you better back off another ten)_

The women in the audience were just going crazy when Josh went to his low voice. They melted like ice, no matter what age they were.

_
Well we rolled up Interstate Forty-Four
Like a rocket sled on rails
We tore up all of our swindle sheets
And left 'em sittin' on the scales
By the time we hit that Shi town
Them bears was a-gettin' smart
They bought up some reinforcements
From the Illinois National Guard_

Several different vehicles came in where the 18-wheeler did. Every vehicle that drove onto the field and made its way to the stadium was one that was in the song. The audience was just eating all up. For the first time since they could remember, this country singer was not boring. He didn't stay in the middle of the stage and just sang. He was all over the place, giving the audience a show they would be speaking for days, months and even years from now.

_
There's armoured cars and tanks and jeeps
And rigs of every size
Yeah them chicken coops was full of bears
And choppers filled the skies
Well we shot the line
We went for broke
With a thousand screaming trucks
And eleven longhaired friends of Jesus
In a chartreuse microbus

(Ah, Rubber Duck, this is Sodbuster. C'mon here?)
(Yeah, ten-four Sodbuster. 
Listen, ya wanna put that microbus in behind that suicide jockey?)
(Yeah he's haulin' dynamite and he needs all the help he can get)

Well we laid a strip for the Jersey shore
Prepared to cross the line
I could see the bridge was lined with bears
But I didn't have a doggone dime
I says Pigpen this here's the Rubber Duck
We just aint gonna pay no toll
So we crashed the gate doin' ninety-eight
I says Let them truckers roll, ten-four_

By this point, there was not a butt on a seat. Even the governor and all of Josh's family and friends were on their feet enjoying the exciting show that he was giving.

_
Coz we got a mighty convoy rockin' thru the night
Yeah we got a mighty convoy aint she a beautiful sight
Come on and join our convoy aint nothin' gonna get in our way
We gonna roll this truckin' convoy across the USA
Convoy

(Ah, ten-four Pigpen. What's your twenty? OMAHA? 
Well they oughta know what to do with them hogs out there, for sure. 
Well mercy sakes good buddy, we gonna back on outta here, 
So keep your thumbs off your glass and the bears off your ......tail. 
We'll catch you on the flip-flop. 
This here's the Rubber Duck on the side. We gone. bye bye.)_

As the song came to an end, the audience started to applaud and scream. The lights went off, but this time it was only for a few seconds. When the lights went on, Josh was sitting in the middle of the stage with his guitar looking straight at Cesar. The music started to play, but Josh asked them to stop playing.

"I know you all have heard about what happened to my boyfriend and me two weeks ago. I thank the man up stairs every day that the love of my life was not taken from me that day. He means everything to me and I don't know what I would have done if he had be taken from me. When he came out of surgery, I sang him this song at his bedside. Every word in it rings true in our relationship. I love you Cesar with all my heart and I always will." The band started to play "Wind Beneath My Wings".

Every girl in the audience wished that Josh was singing that song to them. Even though they knew he was gay, they wanted to take him home to meet their parents. By the middle of the song, there was not a dry eye in the stadium. Women and men alike had tears rolling down their cheeks. Josh had a way with his singing that got everyone to feel what he was feeling at the moment he was singing a verse. With this song, they all felt the love he has for his boyfriend.

Josh walked off the stage when the song ended and hugged his boyfriend. The audience went wild. They jumped to their feet cheering and applauding. It was not long before they started to chant kiss over and over again. Josh or Cesar didn't want to disappoint the fans, so they gave them what they want, which was a long kiss.

Once they broke the kiss, Josh quickly made his way back on the stage and started to sing one if his songs, "Gone", getting the audience back into a celebrating mood. He didn't take another break between songs. One after another, he belted out his songs from his first CD like he performs them every night. When his time was up, the audience didn't want him to leave, but he had to. He had already gone over his allotted time by fifteen minutes.

George Strait took the stage and once he started singing his hits, the audience ate it up. They were having fun as if there was no tomorrow. None of them wanted the night to end, but slowly it was coming to an end. Those that have been to a George Strait concert before, they knew his closing song. When they heard it, they started to gather their stuff. Just as the song was ending, they started to walk out, but stopped when they heard George bring out Josh to close off the show. They quickly took their seats as Josh came

out and started to sing "Unchained Melody".

Oh my love, my darling_
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time,_

_
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much,
Are you still mine?
I need your love,
I need your love
God speed your love to me.

Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea,
To the open arms of the sea, yeah!
Lonely rivers sigh "wait for me, wait for me"
I'll be coming home,
Wait for me._

At this point the girls and women couldn't stay in their seats. They jumped up and ran to the stage and almost busted through. The security was able to hold them off. Instead of going back to their seats, they stayed in front of the stage singing along with Josh. Some of them threw napkins and panties at Josh with their phone number.

Oh my love, my darling_
I've hungered,
Hungered for your touch
A long lonely time,
Are you still mine?
I need your love, I...
I need your love
God speed your love to me_

George Strait walked back on the stage and couldn't believe the response Josh was getting from the females in the audience. It took a few minutes for them to settle down and retake their seats. While they were getting control of their emotions, the MC of the concert brought Josh's entire family and friends onto the stage. The members of Los Tigres, including Mr. Franklin and Johnny Cash as well made their way to the stage.

It took almost ten minutes for everyone to get on the stage. Once they settled into their spots, George started to speak. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for staying over, I know it is getting late, but there is one more thing we would like to do here tonight before we wrap up the show." He pulled Josh up next to him.

"When this young man started to sing, I knew he was going to be big in the music industry, but I didn't know he was going to sky rocket off as fast as he has. It shouldn't be a surprise to any of us that he has." George looked over to left entrance of the stage just as Ivan, Josh's manager and several other higher ups of the record label made their way to them with an item in their hands. No one could make it out since it was covered.

"It gives me the greatest honor to be the one to present to you Josh..."

TO BE CONTINUED...

WRITER'S CORNER:

{Welcome back everyone to another really filled chapter of "Shadow of My Father". This one was filled with so much, my head can't stop spinning. From the beginning to the end, there was nothing but action in this story. Not a dry moment in the story and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it.

Last Friday I got a lot of guesses about the cliffhanger, but not one of the guesses were right. I bet you that none of you saw this cliffhanger coming. If you did, hats off, but those that took a stab at it, were way off base. Who knew that there was someone there that took pictures of Cesar while he was fighting for his life? Shame on the tabloid for printing the trash and I hope the governor doesn't leave it where he left it.

We got to know a little more about Isaac and what he does for a living. This plot line came from one of my editors, Ed. So if you liked it, send him an email letting him know your thoughts. Anyways we are learning more and more about Isaac, Troy and many other characters in the story that seemed to have fallen to the way side.

Now there was a new character brought into this story, Angel. What do you guys think about him? Should Chris keep him around after what he has done or drop him like a hot potato. Josh doesn't seem to like him. Well no one from the group seems to like him, but they are hanging with him since Chris really likes him.

The days leading up to the concert, Josh was very busy. Between getting ready for the big night and promoting the concert, Josh also had his first CD launch. The guy had probably the busiest week in his life, but he took it in his stride. He didn't allow anyone or anything get to him at all. Hopefully, he can keep that attitude throughout his career, he will need it.

The concert what can I say about it that you all don't already know. Was it all what you expected? Johnny Cash got into town the day before and helped sell the concert, which worked out. The concert was sold out that night, making everyone happy. George Strait was in town for a couple of days doing the same thing along with Josh and Cesar. I think between the three of them was the reason for the sellout.

Between the duet between Josh and Sharon that kicked off the show, to Los Tigres, Johnny Cash, Josh and George Strait performances, the audience got more than their money's worth. Man o man would I love to have been at a concert like that. Although these two super stars, George and Johnny never toured together, it would have been a great show to see. In their own right, they are the greatest singers in country music.

The cliffhanger, what do you think that George is going to present to Josh. I know and my editors know, but what do you think. At least you guys don't have to wait an entire week for the answer to that. The next chapter will be posted in five short days. So tune in then and see what Josh is going to get.

Now before I leave you guys I would like to say a few words about a plot in this story. Although this story is pure fiction, a certain plot in this story happened recently in my life and I needed to vent it out somewhere. I am not writing "Jacob Finding His Way" right now, so I put it in this story. Most of the plot is true and happened exactly as it was written, except a few items.

Of course I am not in high school right now, so that was one of them. The other was that my friends were not there like Josh and the others were for Chris. Instead they took this guys side and called me a kid when I vented and asked them to not speak with him. They were willing to give up a long friendship for a friendship of only a couple weeks. I know I had no right asking that, but if they were true friends, they would have seen how badly I was hurting and they would have been there for me instead of running to him. Anyways let me get off my soapbox here. I just needed to vent and what other place to do that then my stories. Unbelievably, it helps getting over a heartbreak.

So much going on in this story and not enough paper to write it all! I know if I forgot anything in my writer's corner about this chapter, Trevor will take care of it in his corner. There are still a lot of open plots out there that I have not even touched on, and many more new plots are to come. I hope that you all did not forget about any of those plots, and if you did, well then it will be a lot of fun when they come back up again. So hold onto your hats ladies and gentleman, the ride is just beginning!

I could stay here all day long, with all the open plots already in this story, but I will not. I warn you though! Do not skip a chapter, or you will be lost. There is a so much to answer in the chapters to come. Keep reading the future chapters, and enjoy! Please email me and let me know how I am doing at jacob@jacobmillertex.com, Thanks!}

EDITOR'S CORNER:

Of course, I cried all through the concert even though I knew what was coming up. I would have given unlimited dollars to have been there. So Isaac has Troy, well I hope it works out right for them both. Meeting and falling love with the right person does not happen very often, maybe once or twice in a lifetime and you have to make the most of it.

I don't intend to comment at all on the problems between Chris and Angel because I am aware of the circumstances which prompted Jacob to write it and while I don't entirely agree with all of Jacob's comments, personally I think its best left well alone.

The concert was a great affair and the way my favorite author painted the picture in words brought it to life. Except he forgot to mention the fireworks, in all these types of shows they have fireworks.

Los Tigres must be one hell of a group and I'm sure they are going to win every competition this year.

Johnny Cash became a very dear friend of mine. We always spent time together on his frequent visits to Australia a country he and June loved. Sadly, because of certain events I missed his funeral and saying goodbye to him. George Strait is still at the top of the country music scene and the single from his latest CD is sitting at number 12 this week in the Australian country charts and climbing.

Now what is Josh going to receive on stage at the end of the show? I know, Ed knows, and Jacob knows, but we are not telling. So until next time let's have your ideas please. We all love hearing from you, because as Jacob keeps telling you it's the only payment we receive and we love it.

Hugs Trevor

trevor@jacobmillertex.com