Chapter Two
"Fed-rick Please"
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Once the whole group was together, they walked a few rows deeper into the rows and rows of apartments. About four rows in, they came to a yellow apartment with a young Chinese maple planted in the front yard. A little concrete walk led up to it, ending with one raised step up to the door. Beside the step was a happy looking shrub. The group walked up the steps, heavy metal rock music slowly becoming louder as they approached the door. Maeko knocked on the door twice, his girlfriend locking her arm with his and laying her head on his shoulder. Matt rubbed his fingers together in irritation and muttered under his breath until he saw the front door be pulled open and the laughing face of the ever familiar Jon. �MAEKO MY MAN!� Jon shouted, holding in his hand a large plastic cup of beer. Maeko leaned over as far as he could without unlocking his arm from Valerie�s and tweaked Jon�s ear. �Jon� you know that shit aint no good for you.� Maeko pulled Valerie, wrapping his arms around her protectively when the other boys pushed by. Matt walked in slowly, almost gracefully. It was the way he moved, even when he was in pain he has a certain seamless walk almost always with his hands at his sides. �Yeah sure fine whatever Mick.� Jon was in such a drunken state that he dropped the cup of beer to the floor to flick Maeko�s ear back. �You little ass�� He continued, before shaking his head a couple times to regain his balance. Upon seeing Jon, Matt gulped. Where Jon was� so was Kent. Kent Reierson� who was probably one of the cruelest of Maeko�s friends. He was just the type of person who was a complete ass to anyone but Maeko. Maeko wasn�t much higher than Kent, but at least he didn�t beat up on anyone that hadn�t wronged him. Kent was also an example of how fiercely respected Maeko was at their high school� nobody who was anybody would dare beat up on Maeko. If his clothes weren�t enough to keep people away, his aura surely was. �So is that your new girlfriend?� Jon went on, pointing at Valerie. Slowly she ran a finger up one of Maeko�s spiked hairs, smiling as if she were in her own little world. �Chick� why don�t you run your finger up something that matters like the damn thing in his pants?� Laughed Jon, interrupting Maeko before he�d even put his words together. Maeko laughed softly and turned his eyes to look down into Valerie�s little brown ones. They were almost always sparkling, and could be very seductive or pouty when she desired them to be. She was fairly tall, but looked of average stature standing next to Maeko. Her hair was a shoulder length reddish dark-brown. She wore no jewelry and wore a simple black sweatshirt with blue jeans� safety pins stuck in rows down the sides of both articles. �Yes, this is my girlfriend.� Maeko pressed the tip of his nose to Valerie�s, sliding a hand up her side and under her sweatshirt. His smile grew to a grin and he kissed the tip of her nose. She closed her eyes, softly laughing. �Great catch Maeko� but if you want to do more please get yourself a damn room� right down the hall.� Jon lost interest and walked into living room of the home, where loud music was playing. Maeko shook his head laughing and followed Jon, slapping Valerie�s ass as he walked by. She playfully glared as she saw his back disappear into the room as she too began to follow. Matt had curled up in the corner, the shivers from seeing Maeko touching Valerie had become too intense to keep standing near them. He sat with his forehead in his hands, elbows propped on knees, staring at the ground. He didn�t know quite what he was feeling. He wanted more than anything to be the one in Maeko�s arms. But while he wanted it more than anything, he always noticed how little respect Maeko showed his brother Kuat. Every time Kuat walked by with his boyfriends, Maeko would turn his head smiling at Matt and roll his eyes or say some kind of insult. He knew how unfavorably Maeko talked Kuat always thought nothing of it, for he knew how he felt and no matter what people thought of him he didn�t care. Kuat�s idea of humanity was that people are always going to have a thought, so only listen to the thoughts that mattered. Matt raised his head and examined his surroundings, he hadn�t really paid attention to them upon coming in. A stereo sat in the middle of the span of wall and the doorway, on the opposite wall of the one he leaned against. People in the corner by it were sitting smoking things they shouldn�t be and Maeko had his arm hung over Valerie�s shoulder as he watched Jon and Kent demonstrating their freak dancing. All of them were laughing, except for Matt. He released an annoyed sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. In the corner where the people had been smoking, a few guys had begun to fight. Nervously Matt looked in the direction of where Maeko had been sitting, but had disappeared. With Valerie. He probably had taken up Jon on the bedroom offer. A fit looking man with a head of dark brown dreadlocks had grabbed a heavy guy with a big green mohawk and multiple piercings on his face and pushed him into the wall. His facial piercings included a ring through the center of his nose like what you would see on a bull. He struggled against the grip of the man, but was slowly gaining more control in the fight. Matt struggled up and tried to get out of the way when the guy with dreadlocks threw the heavier one his way, but missed and bumped head on into his side. Afraid that the guy with the mohawk was going to strike Matt, he covered his face and tried to curl as closely to his knees as possible. Rather than the mohawk crowned man getting angry, the man who�d pushed him got angry. His anger had moved toward Matthew, and in one swift push the burly guy knocked Matt out of the way of a hurling punch from the other guy. After they�d both moved out of the way, the raging man lost interest in them and walked back over to stand against the wall in his corner. Matthew sat up for a few moments, catching his breath after it had been startled out of him. His heart rate was very high and he felt as if his heart was a butterfly fluttering its wings at an abnormally fast rate. The man with the mohawk had already recovered by the time Matt came around. He�d scooted over to lean his back against the portion of wall near the door and sat staring at Maeko, a hand propped on a knee. �Wow. I thought you�d be under for a lot longer� bones I�m sorry.� He said, a smile brightening his round face. Matt blinked a couple of times, wondering if he was what the stranger was calling �bones.� He pushed himself up onto his knees and scooted a bit closer to the stranger, wondering if everything was a trick. �Are you talking to me?� Matt asked, placing a hand over his chest� not to look innocent but rather to try to help catch his breath. �Umm� you�re the only bony person around here�� The seemingly friendly stranger darted his eyes back and forth and focused the gentle hazel of his eyes on skinny little Matt. �By the way, the names Fedrick.� He said, looking down at the ground before looking at Matt and grinning. �Frederik?� Matt asked, not understanding what the stranger meant by Fedrick. �Fed Rick please�� He mumbled off, �Or just plain Fred. I go by those two. They both work. But please� my name is not Frederik.� Matt laughed a bit and scooted over to sit against the wall with the person who he decided certainly looked like a Fedrick. Only the very best name for the most interesting looking guy he�d met in a long time. Over a plain black t-shirt Fedrick wore a faded army-green jacket. On his legs were knee length fluffy black pants, or perhaps it was only because of his round legs that they fluffed out the way they did. His feet were housed in a pair of well-worn converse shoes and a pair of white socks. Saying that Fedrick was a little round would be a complete understatement. He looked a bit like a hockey puck, with a short stature and round body. �All right Fedrick�� Matt pulled his knees into his chest and tilted his head staring nervously at Fred, still afraid that the whole thing may be a play. After all, Matt had gotten into his way when he was in the middle of trying to get out of a fight. �Thank you!� Fedrick beamed. �You said my name right! Do you think I could have your name?� He widened his eyes, a plastered jubilant expression on his round face. Matt laughed quietly, realizing that Fedrick looked like a kick-ass Santa Claus. �Err� my name is Matt.� He hung his head, as he always did when he was talking to people he barely knew. �My name sucks.� Matt commented, while Fred stared at him. �You�re Matt? I heard about you from that asshole who I was fighting� Kent�� �THAT WAS KENT!?� Interjected Matt caught completely by surprise. He hadn�t seen Kent for three months and he�d grown like an unkempt lawn� and had dreadlocks for hair. Kent had to be nearly six feet tall, he looked about the same size as Kuat� only with more muscle and pale skin. �Uhh� yeah. But� continuing, he bragged about how he stalked some kid named Matt. Evidently the idiot thought that I took his stupid pot because he�s so fucked he doesn�t know where he is half the time and that�s why he beat up on me. The shithead lost his train of thought before he told me why he did such a thing to the kid named Matt.� Fred clapped a hand over his mouth to silence himself, and turned to look at Matt who had begun to shiver. �Uhh� Uhh� I guess I�m the Matt you heard about.� Matt recalled all the memories of when Kent had stalked him after school. All the nights Kent walked over to the window of his bedroom and shone a light through it to make Matt think that his uncle had come in. He shivered in fear, desperately trying to calm himself. �Kid calm down I�m not gonna do anything to you. I won�t let that bastard do anything to you either. Relax.� Fedrick sat on his knees and put his palms up in a native American fashion and stifled a laugh. �Ok�. Matt... look at me. Seriously, if that guy ever comes round you just call me over to get my fat ass in the way.� Fedrick broke into laughter, even though he was quite serious about protecting Matt. �Why would you want to protect me� I got in the way�� Matt answered, looking up at Fred and turning his gaze back to the ground forcing himself not to smile. �Hey� we made it away from him didn�t we?� Fedrick slapped Matt�s back in play, causing Matt to have a short dizzy spell. �Yeah. We did.� He muttered, pressing his wrists against his forehead until the dizziness faded. �Matt� who are you here with?� Fedrick asked sounding a little more serious. �I came with Maeko� but I don�t know quite where he went.� �Oh.� Fred answered glumly. �Who is this Maeko?� Fred looked at Matt, and then followed the tilt of Matt�s head to try and find out what he was looking at. �You know� the kid at Portland Municipal with the dark black hair. He has the gay brother� he�s almost as tall as him.� Matt smiled with the image of the perfect figure of Maeko conjured up in his mind. Who in the world was a greater degree of perfection than Maeko? Matt pondered this thought to himself as Fred placed his chin on his hand and searched through all his acquaintances trying to put a finger on who exactly Maeko was. �I think I know who he is� I attend Portland Municipal too. I�m a sophomore. Is he that kid who�s always walking around with you and has that bitchy girlfriend?� Matt laughed out loud and nodded with Fedrick. He�d barely even spoke to Fred and they already had more than two things in common. �You think she�s a bitch as well?� Matt�s voice raised in inquiry. �Hell yes� I tried to smile at her and make small talk but she ignored me and told Maeko she�d go out with him. But thanks anyway� now I know that sexy bastard�s name.� Fred crossed his arms across his chest, a little grin on his lips. He looked as if he was cooking up a scheme. Matthew�s face brightened, he�d found yet another thing he and the mohawk boy had in common. They both thought Maeko was gorgeous� except Fred probably less so because he had an eye on Valerie. �Sexy bastard?� Matt asked, wanting to make sure he had heard Fred right. �Hell yes�he�s almost as good lookin as that babe of his. I�m desperate for loving�� Tears formed in the corners of his gentle eyes. He propped both hands on one knee and rested his chin on top of them. Due to his roundness, Fedrick was misunderstood by any females he approached. Most of them slapped him and looked away or looked at him and laughed. He couldn�t talk to most girls, but at least had a wide circle of male acquaintances. It was a pity, for Fred was such a friendly guy. �Wow�� Matt trailed off. Hearing that Maeko was sexy out of the mouth of Fred made him think about his feelings for Maeko and what tore up an area in the pit of his stomach. His emotions were flaring. For a few seconds he turned his back to Fred and let some tears fall down his face. He prayed none of the other people at the party were watching him. Matt didn�t even want Fred to see him cry, even though Fred seemed mellow and caring. What feeling was it that he truly felt for Maeko Matt pondered to himself. He knew now that it was so much more than friendship. When things got really bad all Matt saw was Maeko. All he cared for was Maeko. Sometimes� yes Maeko did even appear handsome to him. The feelings became even more intense by the second and Matt began to cry. At first Fred had taken the fact Matt had turned his back to him as a sign that Matt didn�t want to affiliate with him anymore, though that was quite the contrary. His thoughts of being rejected by yet another human being were put aside once he noticed that Matt�s back was shaking from the fact he had begun to sob again. �Yo bones� what�s wrong? By the way, can I call you bones... I know you�re name is Matt but you look like a bones to me.� Fred laughed, causing Matt�s sobbing to pause for a few seconds. He continued sobbing, wanting to tell, but keeping it all inside. That�s what Matt had been trained to do. If he had a problem with anything Phil did� he was threatened to say yes or feel the wrath of Phil upon his young, tender skin. Actually having someone there who was willing to lend an ear had been completely foreign to him until he had become more involved with the Trouillefous. Although not completely new anymore, Matt was still shy about talking to people about anything he felt. �I� I can�t really talk about it.� Fred couldn�t make out Matt�s words. Carefully he scooted closer to Matt�s curled up form. �Oh come on. My name is Fedrick. Can�t you trust a guy named Fedrick?� Fedrick laughed and playfully grabbed Matt�s shoulders, trying to loosen Matt up. �I don�t trust.� Blurted Matt. It was the first time he�d ever said it out loud. He didn�t know why he said it, but that�s what had come out. Fred fell off his knees and onto his rump as he processed Matt�s words. Matt didn�t trust. He�d been disappointed so many times he was near giving up on humans. Outwardly Fred did not look like the type to understand, but a mama�s boy at heart he gently stroked down Matt�s back with and outstretched hand. Someone touching him gently caused some of the crying to stop. He turned his reddened eyes up to Fred and stared into his eyes. �Do you promise not to tell anyone?� Matt said in a squeaky whisper, wiping his arm across his nose that had finally begun to run. �Shit why would I want to?� Fred�s gaze softened for Matt. For the second time that night Matt took a deep breath to tell someone one of his closest guarded secrets. �Are you positively sure?� He asked again, making sure that Fred hadn�t been pulling his leg. �Yes I am. Bones� lay it on me. Lay on every collarpickin detail.� It was Matt�s turn to laugh. He loved the way Fred talked. It was so assured, so calming, just like the way Maeko talked. �I� I don�t know how to say this� it�s about Maeko.� Matt�s cheeks flushed a deep red and sharply he tore his eyes from Fred�s watch. �You have a thing for him don�t you? Don�t you?� Fred laughed, he thought what Matt was going to tell him was going to be a lot more dramatic. �Yes� I love him.� Matt whispered, his dry throat causing his voice to crack. He didn�t know why� it felt a little awkward to be admitting his feelings. Everything straight was always so glamorized, after all� that�s why it was called straight. The straight and narrow path, ironically and metaphorically the story of Matt�s life, no choices. He was a horse wearing the blinkers. Throughout all his years Matt had felt the same way, except until he�d finally let the words out everything had been so surreal. He couldn�t lie to himself anymore. Kuat�s brother wasn�t the only person who had feelings for guys too� it was him. Perhaps that�s the only way it ever had been. Even as Maeko got girlfriend after girlfriend Matt had never cared about getting himself one. Now he knew the reason. Having a girl who cared about him didn�t matter. Matt realized deep down he�d always wanted only Maeko� and maybe even a few other guys, to care about him in ways more than friendship. �Oh but you diss Kuat?� Fred widened his eyes matter-of-factly, not moving his eyes from Matt. �I DON�T KNOW.� Tears began streaming out of Matt�s eyes in currents, he looked at Fred with an almost hilariously distressed look on his face. Fred looked from side to side nervously for a few moments, but then found himself with his arms wrapped around Matt as they leaned against their little stretch of wall. �For the second blasted time tonight kid, calm yourself. It�ll be ok. I won�t ask questions�� Fred kept his arms around Matt looking off into the distance at a silk tree in the corner of the room. As the minutes passed Matt�s tears slowly began to dry. �There� now you�re calm. Let�s talk turkey.� Fred released Matt from the interior of his arms and scooted back to his seat. �Ok...� Matt said, trying to wipe the tear-trails off his face. �I�m ready I guess.� feeling for Maeko?� Fred asked. �Nothing� he�s the only thing I see. May this cursed world burn in the fiery pits of hell as long as he is here with me.� An angry expression fell over Matt�s face from the top of his brows until it ended on the corners of his mouth. �Oh. Have you done anything with him?� Fred couldn�t help his itching curiosity. Matt�s heart skipped a beat at the thought, and he turned his eyes back to Fred�s inquisitive stare. �N-no�. but I wish� I wish I could�� A quiet smile formed at the corners of Matt�s mouth. Fred raised an eyebrow, shaking a bit with laughter, before his happy smile turned into an understanding pout. �Why not? You seem like you see Mr. Maeko a lot.� Fred let his gaze wander around the room while he waited for Matt to respond. �Maeko� he�s not that kinda person. He�s� if anything he�s homophobic.� Matt looked glumly to the side, the faint smile fading. Fred slapped his thigh with his hand and widened his eyes in disappointment. �Shit I�m sorry bones. But you know� if he�s best friends with you he can�t be all that homophobic.� Fred crossed his arms across his across his chest and pressed his lips together. �He doesn�t know.� Matt responded, allowing his vision to blur as he looked toward a far off objects. �Just go ahead and tell hi...� �I can�t tell Maeko.� Matt leaned against the wall again and bent his neck over to where his ear was resting on his shoulder. Suddenly his eyelids quickly became increasingly heavier, and he closed his eyes. Fred scooted over to sit by him and closed his eyes also. In Matt�s sleep, he moved over toward Fred and rested his head on his shoulder. Fred merely grunted during his deep slumber and the two slept against the wall. Not much longer after they fell into sleep, most of the teenagers attending the party went home. Maeko fell asleep in the bedroom with Valerie, while Jon and Kent fell asleep in various places of the room. Although, Kent did not sleep long, he awoke when he heard a sharp rapping at the front door that no one else heard because they were all so beat from the party.
