The Wounds Within My Heart By James
Disclaimer
This is a story which deals with sexual and romantic situations between teenaged boys. This story will at times deal with situations concerning rape, child abuse, Racism, Ableism, suicide and other dark subject matter. If you're not of the legal age to read such material, or if you're disturbed by this type of story, then please back out now. Also, please remember to donate to Nifty, as it's your donations that keep this and other stories on the site free to the public.
Finally, if you like this story and haven't done this already, invite my E-mail address jamesheady1985@gmail.com camping. Once you guys arrive at the camp site, only then let them know that the area is a tiger preserve.
Thanks to my editor K. for their invaluable editing work on my story. You really do an amazing job with helping this story be what it is. Thank you.
The Wounds Within My Heart
Chapter 22
Nohea
Once Aunt Beth and Aiden arrived to our house, I introduced him to Triston and Dad. After we all talked for a few minutes about how each other's days went, Dad let Beth know that he wanted to talk with her for a while in his office about Christmas plans. He then let Triston know he could go in his room and decompress. That was clearly my moment to take Aiden off to my room so we could talk.
Guiding Aiden into my room, I closed the door and went over to my desk. Pulling out the chair, I sat down and turned so that I was facing across from the foot of my bed. Aiden continued to stand for a moment, then he walked towards the bed.
"Do you mind if I sit down?" he asked.
His voice was quiet as well as hesitant. This was new. Gone was the loud and over-confident voice that mostly came off as arrogant. He also wasn't walking around as if he owned the place, nor did he flop down on my bed like back at the school for the blind. I could sense his trepidation, as well as his fear. Clearly he had been through a lot.
"You can sit down," I said.
"Thanks," he said then sat on the edge of the bed.
I expected him to lay back, or lay down full-length, but he continued to sit there, perched on the edge of my bed as if he would run at any moment. I thought about telling him he could make himself comfortable, but thought better of it. Instead, I waited to see if he would speak. Finally, after a few more moments of silence he did.
"I wanted to start by saying how sorry I am for how I treated you back at the school for the blind," he said.
His voice was full of sadness, and I waited to see if he would go on. He did.
"I know I was really mean to you, and I've had a lot of time to think about all that I did to you," he went on, his voice trembling now. "I was wrong to talk to you like I did, and to say the things I said, especially over the last few weeks you were at the school back in September. I really am sorry for that, and for all of it."
"You really were cold back then," I began. "You were hurtful towards me, and you didn't even need to act like that. You did have a good side to you, and you showed that a couple of rare times. I wished I could have seen that side of you much more than I did."
"I wished I would have shown it more than I did as well," he answered. "I know I hurt your feelings a lot, and that wasn't wright."
"So why did you act like you did?" I asked.
I was surprised to find that I wasn't as angry as I thought I'd be. I did have some anger, but it was at a low volume, and as we continued talking it was easing, and sadness was winning out.
"Looking back on it now," Aiden responded, "I always felt like there were two sides at war inside me while I was at the school. So many times I wanted to show my soft side, and be sensitive. I wanted to not be tough all the time. The other part of me found it easier to be tough and crass constantly. Add in the fact that crass and acidic attitudes were more-or-less the norm at that place, and I had even less reason to be more of the caring and kind person I sometimes was. I'm coming to understand now though, that it wasn't right for me to act like I did. I just didn't know how to be more caring and to keep that side visible to others more than usual."
"They really did teach a lot of shitty ideas there at that fucking school," I said after a moment of silence passed between the two of us. "Sometimes I could snap at other kids, and a part of me found that I liked it. So, I can see what you mean about finding it easier to be tough and loud more than sensitive and warm towards other people."
"I'm glad you can understand," he replied.
At that point, I stood then walked over to the bed. I sat down beside him, and he turned his head to look at me.
"That's the most important thing I wanted to say," he said as he continued looking at me.
"I accept your apology," I answered. "I think you really are a nice person Aiden, and I'd like us to hopefully be real friends going forward. I mean, if that's alright with you?"
"I really would like that too," he answered.
I scooted closer, and Aiden reached out putting his arms around me. I hugged back, and hadn't really expected him to be affectionate like that. We hadn't ever made contact like this in all the time I knew him, save for a handshake when first meeting. Holding him in that moment was new, and I was taken back at how small he actually was. He was also really thin. I wondered why that was.
After a moment, we separated then Aiden spoke again.
"I wanted to also apologize for the Anti-Gay shit I was saying to you towards the end of your time at the school as well," he said. "I feel really bad about that too."
"Thank you," I replied. "That was really hard to hear as well. I'm glad you see how wrong that was for you to act that way."
"Thanks," he answered. "I don't know if you're actually gay, but whether you are or not, I do accept you if that's who you are."
"I am actually gay," I responded. "Thanks, that really does mean a lot. I'm truly glad to have your support."
"You'll always have my support going forward," he said. "What was it like for you to realize you were gay?" he asked.
I told Aiden about how I came to realize I was gay, and about meeting Pietro. He listened as I talked, and when I finished, there was a couple of moments of silence before Aiden spoke again.
"I've started to think I might be gay," he said scooting closer to me. "I started questioning things around October, just a couple of months ago. I thought maybe I was bisexual, but as time continues to go by, I don't think that's really the case at this point. I think I'm still rather confused, but it's really more about trying to figure out how I'd be gay, knowing what my family's church believes about the issue."
"I can imagine how difficult that must be," I said putting an arm around him. "I'll be here for you if you need me."
"Thanks," he answered. "I really do appreciate your support."
"You're welcome," I replied. "You're my friend, and I always want us to be friends. Everything that happened in the past aside, I really do think you're a good person as I said before. I truly do mean that Aiden. I want you to be safe and happy."
"That really means everything to me," he said starting to cry. "Thank you, Nohea."
I held him, and at that point he told me through his tears about how he came to live with my Aunt Beth. I was horrified, and could hardly believe what he was telling me! He truly had gone through horrible shit, and most of all though, he sure as hell didn't deserve any of it!
After a few more minutes, his tears subsided, and after wiping his eyes, he motioned for me to let go. I did, and he sat there for a moment before speaking again.
"I don't believe that a God would actually hate or punish me for being gay, if that's who I am," he said. "I just don't think I could deal with a bunch of people hating me for being gay and listening to them blaming God as the reason for why they believe that."
"I understand what you mean," I replied. "You'll find though that my Aunt Beth won't hate you if you're gay. Mine and Triston's dad certainly won't hate you. Triston, my brother will be accepting towards you too."
"Thanks for telling me that," he said. That's really good to know."
I then told him about how I came to live with mine and Triston's dad. Aiden was amazed.
"That's horrible about how your mom and Ray treated you," he responded. "I saw them a couple of times when they'd bring you back to the school on Sundays. They did seem rather cold. It was really shitty how they treated you, and I'm glad that your dad was here to take you in when you needed him."
"I'm really glad about that as well," I said. "I really hope you like living with Aunt Beth, and I also hope that you and her end up getting along really well."
"Thanks," Aiden replied. "So do I. I do like her already, and she really is nice."
"That she definitely is," I said. "I'm really glad we talked, and cleared up everything."
"So am I," Aiden answered as we shared another warm and long hug.
"If you want, I can check with Dad and Aunt Beth about you guys joining us for dinner," I said. "What would you think about that?"
"That really would be nice," he answered.
I went and talked with them. We then checked with Triston, and soon it was settled. I was glad that Aiden and Aunt Beth would be having dinner with the three of us!
We ordered pizza for dinner that night. Dad ordered two pizzas. One was a supreme, and the second one was Meat Lovers. Aiden, Triston and I tore through the second one. I wished that Pietro could have been there with us, but he had homework that would most likely be keeping him busy for the rest of that evening. He texted me letting me know that right after school. Were it not for that, I knew he would have been there with us. That being said though, I was still having a really nice time with everyone all the same.
Once we finished dinner, I helped with cleaning up the kitchen, then Aiden, Triston and I went into my room to hang out for a while. I was glad to see that Triston and Aiden were getting along as well as they were. We had told Triston about everything that had gone on between us back at the school, and he took it all in. He then asked Aiden a couple of questions about if he really was going to be better towards me, and if he was serious about doing better. He seemed satisfied when Aiden promised to do better and to be a better friend to me. With that, Triston went over and they shared a hug.
Soon it was nearing 7:00 P.M., and Aunt Beth knocked on my bedroom door. She let Aiden know that it was about time to go.
"I'll be ready in a minute," he said.
"It was really nice having you over," I said as we hugged. "I'm also really glad we talked, and dealt with all that happened between us."
"Me too," Aiden answered.
"I can imagine that you're ready to get back home," I said. "You must be really tired after all that happened to you earlier this morning."
"I definitely am," he replied.
"I can imagine you are," I said.
"I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening," he said. "What will you be doing after I leave?"
"Well, right after you leave, we have to get Triston ready for his shower," I replied. "He loves to have us chase him several times before he actually gets in the restroom and into the shower. So with that, it usually takes a while for us to get his shower done."
"I'm sure that would be funny to see," Aiden responded.
"Yeah, it really is," I agreed.
Aiden and I were at the front door of the house at this point, and Dad was going up to get Triston as Aiden and I were talking about Triston's showering routine.
"Are you ready to get your shower Triston?" Dad called at the doorway of his room.
I moved to open the front door at that point, and I heard Triston laugh as he ran from his room, then to the restroom.
"Here we go," I said smiling as Aiden and I hugged once again.
Aunt Beth and I hugged, then I held the door as they exited the house. Just before going up to help Triston, Dad and Aiden said goodbye with the promise for Aiden to come back to visit again soon.
The next day after school, I got together with Pietro. I had talked to him the night before once I showered and changed into my sleeping clothes. I told him everything about what had gone on with Aiden, as well as our conversation. Pietro said that he was glad that Aiden and I got that second chance, and he went on to say that he'd like to meet Aiden. I texted Aiden about it that morning. He replied back a little while later saying that he would be glad to meet Pietro, and I let him know that we all would set up something here soon.
After I sent that text just before my first class, I thought over how glad I was that Aiden and I exchanged numbers. We did that shortly before he left last night. I thought over all of it as I sat in the living room. I got home that Wednesday afternoon, and once I got my homework out of the way, I texted Pietro. I told him that I was ready if he wanted to come over.
I heard a knock at the front door, and it was almost 4:30 P.M. With it starting to get into the late afternoon, I figured that Pietro would probably be eating with us. Sometimes we worked it out like that. I went to get the door, and as I walked, I sent a quick text to my dad and Pietro's parents asking about him staying for dinner. They all texted back just as I opened the door.
I greeted the love of my life, and he checked his phone to see the text in which we all included him. He replied back that he'd love to stay for dinner. I told him that I was glad to hear that.
After closing then locking the door, I hugged Pietro. We then shared a couple of kisses then Dad came out of his home office. He greeted Pietro, then shortly after, Triston was coming down the stairs. He had been up in his room listening to music a few minutes before. Pietro and Triston hugged, then the three of us all went upstairs.
Triston returned to his room, and once I closed the door to my room Pietro, and I hugged again. I kissed him a couple of times, and he just as tenderly kissed back. We then just held each other for a long moment then separated. Walking over to the bed, I sat down, and Pietro did the same. He put an arm around me as I told him everything in detail about what had happened with Aiden, and how he came to live with my Aunt Beth.
"I feel really bad for him," Pietro said. "He didn't deserve any of that. I'm also really angry at that shit family of his. Of course, it wasn't right how he treated you when you guys were at the school for the blind. I'm glad he sees that now and is working to fix the issues that underlay his mean-spirited behavior towards you. That being said though, I can't help but think that he wouldn't have so easily turned to that kind of bad stuff had he not been in the environment in which he was forced to live."
"I agree," I said. "The adults in his life definitely failed him. He certainly deserved better. I just hope that with Aunt Beth's support, and hopefully our friendship, Aiden can start doing better going forward."
"I hope so too," Pietro answered.
We were laying down by this point. I lay in Pietro's arms, and it was really nice to be there with him like that. As I lay there, I thought about how nice it would be if he was attending the same school with me. I hoped that could happen for us someday. Unfortunately, with Pietro living close to the edge of Sangger, he had to attend the school closest to him. When he and his family went into town for groceries and other things, only then were they actually in the city of Sangger itself. Never-the-less though, I was just glad to have him living close to me once again!
After that thought passed, I lifted my head off of Pietro's chest to look at him. I had thought about Christmas a couple of times after we gotten a little shopping done for our loved ones a few days ago. Still though, I had yet to know specifically what Pietro wanted for the up-coming holiday.
"Oh, and by the way I just thought about Christmas," I said. "What would you like for Christmas? I haven't heard you say if there's anything special you'd like."
Pietro was silent for a moment, then he spoke. It didn't take long for him to type out his answer.
"I honestly can't think of anything," he said. "That's probably because I already have the best gift I ever could have received. Well, two gifts actually. The first one is you, and the second one is my family who took me in. I'm sure I'll think of something I'd like, but it's hard to come up with anything at the moment."
What he said really touched me. I leaned in and we shared a long and warm kiss. I looked into his eyes for a moment, then spoke.
"That really means a lot," I said. "I do feel the same way about you too. I'll probably think of something soon, but at the moment I have everything I want. I have you, my family and really good friends. Then there's also my friendship with Aiden that's beginning to form properly this time. I'm really glad about that."
"I'm happy for you," Pietro answered.
"Thanks," I said.
We kissed again, then soon Dad was calling us for dinner.
As we got up off the bed, I thought to myself about how I could surprise Pietro with something for Christmas. I began forming an idea about what I could get for him, and I would have to enlist the help of a few people. I smiled as the plan began to take form in my mind as we went down for dinner.
Author's Notes
I hope everyone enjoyed Nohea and Aiden working things out. I hope you all like how that turned out, and where things go with Aiden going through his new life. In the coming chapters, he'll come to terms with who he is where his LGBT identity is concerned. I hope everyone likes how that turns out.
All that being said, I hope you're all doing well. Everyone have a good evening, and I'll see you guys in Chapter 23.