As everyone cheers and applauds I smile at a crying Jasmine. As I look around I see everyone crying especially Tiffany who is looking around from her seat. I look at her neck to see the double hearts I gave her. I shake my head as the principal asks for the students to line up for their diplomas. As names are called I watch intently at my friends going up to get theirs. I watch as Selena walks up to get hers. She has tears although I don’t think she is crying that she is getting a diploma. After a few other names I see Chris has shades on as he steps up to accept his. Hmm I wonder how he got the shiner he is hiding. Next after several going up Tiffany walks up to get her diploma. She cries with red puffy eyes with a odd walk. Hmm wonder if she liked walking bone legged. As they all wait for it I stand and that is when I hear my cue. I step to the side door looking at my friends as my name is announced. Everyone looks for me as I back up to the side door. I catch Tiffany looking straight at me trying to see my eyes, but she can’t for my shades block them. I shake my head as I open the door and walk out. Making my way to the truck I had bought off a nice gentleman. I think of the drive I will be making. There is only one thing from my old home that was a home with Chris and his parents. Once I am at my truck I place the cd I bought from the local Hastings into my new cd player. It’s one of my favorite bands. As I listen backing up I leave this school 18 years old, 6‘3, 254 lbs, medium length red hair with what use to be bright blue eyes which now are just blue. As I make my way to California I listen to the song that plays.
Am I going insane?
My blood is boiling inside of my veins
An evil feeling attacks
My body’s shaking, there’s no turning back
Don’t take your eyes off the trigger
I’m not to blame if your world turns to black
As your eyes start to blister
There’s just no hope for our final embrace
So here we are…
I’m in your head…
I’m in your heart!
You were told to run away
Soak the place, and light the flame
Pay the price for your betrayal
Your betrayal, your betrayal
As I listen to the lyrics playing I can only feel my heart turn to ice as it breaks then forms a brick wall around. I grow bitter as I come up to a sign that shows promise as I head to San Francisco for one last time before I make my way east.
Mike’s POV: Day after Graduation
I am standing here with Ellie and our close friends who are family. We are waiting for our children. It’s around 5 p.m. when the plane finally lands. Since it’s the company plane we are where we can see them get off the plane. After the movable steps is in place and the door opens we wait to see who comes out first. As Ellie holds my hand we see Selena step out, but I feel something is off. Selena has tears as she walks down the stairs. I look at Kiko and Nate as they shrug. I then look back up to see Chris helping a crying Tiffany. She stumbles a few times with Chris helping to keep her up. Selena runs to her parents to be held and comforted. Chris helps Tiffany over as Verna and Ricky go to her. Chris has sad eyes as he gets to Ellie and I. We give him a hug, but then let go to look in his eyes.
“ Chris where is Heath your brother?” Ellie asks as Chris lowers his head
Ellie and I look at each other then at the other parents. We are confused as the girls keep crying.
“ Selena where my son? He was suppose to be with you all.” Kiko asks as her daughter looks in her eyes
“ Oh god, mother I can’t please don’t ask.” Selena says while Kiko looks at Nate with great concern
“ Tiffany where is Heath honey please tell us.” Verna asks as Tiffany shakes her head
I look at all three of them and decide it best to do this at home.
“ Ok everyone load up as we are taking this business home.” I say as the kids look at me worried
After getting their luggage and loaded into the cars we make our way to Ellie and My home. It’s a quiet drive as I look every so often in the back at Chris. His head stays lowered the whole time. Once we get home and parked every one gets out as the kids get their bags. Once we get to the door and start in Ellie is a blur as she gets to the phone.
“ Heath baby this is mom. Please talk to me baby.” I hear her say as I step over to her placing my ear to the receiver
“ Hey Mrs. Jarvison I want to thank you for all that you have done for me. Have a good life later.” He says as he hangs up
Ellie is stunned by his words as I take the phone from her to replace it on the hook. I see the answer machine light flicker off and on as I press the play button.
“ Hey its Heath I’m safe..don’t worry about me anymore I know im just a nuisance to everyone. Thanks for loving me for the short time you did. Im glad I had a family for a little bit” The recording says as all us parents look at the kids
I look to see Ellie turn to see the three sitting on the couch. She steps in front of the t.v. and with her anger speaks.
“ WHAT DID YOU ALL DO TO MY SON!” She yells as all three go wide eyed
“ Mom please don’t.” Chris tries to say but is cut off
“ No your going to answer me right now.” Ellie says as I stand by her as the rest of the family stands by us on either side
I look at each one as they each struggle with what to say.
“ Heath caught us having sex.” Tiffany says blurting out with tears
“ He what? You fucking cheated on Heath?” Verna asks stepping in front of her daughter
“ Yes, I had sex with Chris and Selena. He caught us the night before last.” Tiffany answers exclaiming to us
“ What the hell Selena?” Kiko asks with disgust to Selena
“ Chris is this true son?” I ask as he looks up at me
“ Yes, it is dad. He took his anger out on each of us. That is the reason my face looks like it does.” Chris answers me with sadness
“ He fucked Tiffany while she thought it was Chris. Then Heath beat up on Chris before he took me like a whore.” Selena says as that statement catches everyones attention
I watch as Ellie walks around to them scooting the coffee table back some.
“ YOU THREE FUCKING BETRAY HIM JUST TWO YEARS AFTER WHAT HIS FAMILY DID? DID YOU EVER THINK YOU THREE WERE KEEPING HIM HAPPY WHILE AWAY FROM US THE PARENTS THAT LOVE HIM?” Ellie asks getting their attention
“ We didn’t mean to as it just happened.” Tiffany says as Verna steps up and slaps her daughter
“ Tell me how that felt as I didn’t mean to but it happened. I am very disappointed with the three of you. I am glad he fucked you like bitches. You better hope he gets in touch with us one day or you won’t have places to call home.” Verna says as they all go wide eyed
“ IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY GOD SON I WILL NEVER FORGIVE ANY OF YOU.” Ellie says as Selena and Tiffany cry as Chris just looks at us all
“ He…he left a hard drive and his phone.” Chris says out of the blue
“ Where is the phone at?” Nate asks as we see Chris pull it out of the back of his jeans
Chris hands it to Nate who checks it out. He looks at the back as he turns it on. It’s just a few minutes as his eyes go wide. I watch as he hands it to me and Ellie. We read it as it says ‘ I just wanted a family, but now I am a orphan’. We read those words as Ellie throws the phone at Chris.
“ GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY SIGHT. GO TO YOUR ROOMS!” Ellie says as all three of them look at us all getting disappointed looks
We watch as they all three get up making their way toward the stairs and out of the room. I watch as Ellie goes to her knees as Verna and Kiko go to her.
“ I want my god son here. Why did they hurt him why?” She asks being held by her lovers
“ We don’t know honey, but they will know what hurt is.” Kiko says as I hear phone buttons being pushed
“ That son of a bitch he used a burn phone. He is too smart for his britches .” Nate says getting a chuckle from Ricky and I
I stand thinking of all that have gone on in the past hour and can only shake my head. I look at the wall by the kitchen looking at a picture of Greg and Heath when he was little. I close my eyes hearing my beautiful wife crying. I hope my old friend can hear me as I speak to him from my heart.
“ Greg please if you hear me bring our son back to us. Please keep him save on his path back to us for as long as it takes.”
Two weeks as gone by since I left not telling anyone why or where I was going. Making my way east was very interesting as I slept in the back of my truck after getting a shell for the back. I bought a air bed to put in the back and pillows. It wasn’t the Holiday Inn or a Super 8, but it was my makeshift home. I did this as to not leave a trail in case my ‘ Family’ tried to search for me. I used that word family loosely as of how my old way of thinking had changed to a new way. After all the promises had been broken, and the way those around me changed so did my heart. That first week my heart was surrounded by a wall made of pain mixed with hurt. I felt alone as I still do. First my Sister and Brother changed, then my mother distanced herself, but three people I thought that would never in 20 years betray me did. Every moment I drove away from the west coast the more I harden my heart. The more my blood toward them turned to ice. I sworn a vow to never go west again as it would only bring hurt. I hardly slept as nightmares haunted me. I would maybe get two to three hours of sleep at rest stops or parking lots that I parked in at night.
On my way I also ran into bikers on the road. Seeing different groups ride from all over. I guess since it was summer they were taking trips. In Tennessee that was when I noticed one gang or club whatever they were called. These bikers acted like family as I watched them intently while refueling my truck. The patches they wore was a eagle carrying a flag flying through the air. They were named the Souls of Freedom and what the bottom patch stated from Alabama. I thought of why they would be in Tennessee, then it hit me probably on a road trip. I shook my head as to not stare at the women that was amongst the men. I don’t know who the guy was, but he had a beautiful African American woman and a blonde woman with him. They all three looked to be in their 40’s. I watched as him and the ebony lady got on a trike as the blonde woman got on her own bike. I tried to see what was written on the trike. What I could see was two words wit the letter S on each. Once my truck was full I went in to pay. After I paid walking out I noticed the guy looking at me with shaded eyes. I ignore his facial expression going to my truck to get back on the road. Once in the driver seat starting my ranger I take another look at the patches to make sure I don’t run into them again.
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