Chapter 55

Mikey woke up to fell Ally rolling over slightly in his arms. He grinned and twisted his arm around to look at his watch. They had about half an hour before they ought be headed back he reckoned. He therefore had two options, he could wake Ally up, and spare himself the wrath of �Why didn�t you wake me earlier?� or he could just lie there and watch Ally sleep.

Luckily, the decision was made for him, as Ally�s eyelids fluttered open, gazing around himself as he tried to work out where he was. �Hey,� he muttered, grinning at Mikey, �And good morning I believe.�

Mikey laughed, �It�s about five ish,� he said, pre-empting Ally�s question, �We ought to get going in about half an hour.�

Ally nodded sitting up, �Any beer left?� he asked.

�At five in the morning?� Mikey sniggered, �And yes there is, but you�re not drinking it.�

�Not for now,� Ally remarked with a sigh, �I was thinking about for later, some other time. I just wandered really.� He glanced across at Mikey, who was still laying on his back, smiling as he gazed up at his boyfriend, hands tucked lazily behind his head. �You are so gay,� Ally laughed, �Poof.�

Mikey raised his eyebrows and reached forward, grabbing Ally around the waist with one arm, pulling him on top of him, and kissing him roughly, �And you�re not?� he laughed.

Ally shook his head, tracing a finger up Mikey�s torso, �Nope, not me, straight as a board I am.� He nodded.

Mikey started shaking with laughter beneath him, �A very bent board.�

Ally shook his head, �I�m almost straight,�

�Other than, the whole, you know,� Mike grinned, �Fancying blokes?�

Ally shrugged slightly, snuggling into Mikey�s chest, �It�s a small matter you know, I still think like a straight bloke,� he paused, grabbing Mikey�s arms, and wrapping them tighter around him, �cuddle me more,� he said, with a slight pout.

Mikey grinned and shook his head, �Very straight Allybear, very straight.�

Marcus raised his eyebrows as Andi tossed the letter on his desk, he�d seen the other kids get letters every Sunday, but he never got letters. He opened, and as soon as he saw the distinctive crest at the top of the page, his face broke out in a smile.

Darling Marcus,

Ciao bella! How�s life in Marcus land? How�s the sex? Good? Damn, the sex with you is always good isn�t it? Ah, I miss seeing your pretty face every day. Anyway, there is a point with this letter�exciting news none the less! I�m coming to visit you next week, well, I say coming to visit, Father has decided your school sounds nice, and I should come and look around to see if I want to go there, ok? Anyway, so next week I�m due to come and visit, Father did tell the school I knew you and could you show me round and blah blah blah, you know I never listen to him about these things. Oh yeah, and sis wants to come with me in the car so she can see you when they drop me off, fun? Yeah, I bet your more excited about seeing her than you are seeing me�wanker. Mind you, she�s learnt some nice new little tricks that she�d be delighted to practise on you, God, she gets sexier by the minute. Talking of sisters I think yours is coming to visit soon, on her way to see you for half term, correct? If I like your school I might come and visit then too, and learn more about this Irishman of yours. Must go though, mummy�s making an awful racket about something, and Father�s out, so guess who has to sort it?

Always yours

Seth Messian

Marcus smirked and sat back in his chair, re-reading the letter. So his best friend was coming to see him, fantastic.

�I dare�� J paused to think for a second, �Ally.�

�Ok,� Ally nodded slowly as if he was talking to a very stupid person, he was talking to J, so he was talking to a very stupid person, �What�s the dare then.�

She thought about it for a second, brow furrowed, and then grinned, �You have to kiss Mikey.�

�WHAT?� Ally exploded, �I can�t do that, I mean,� he glanced across at Mikey, �Kissing your best friend, that could screw up a guys head.�

�You have to do it,� Toni said with a smirk, �Besides, Aimee said you two have done way more.�

�That�s different,� Ally muttered, �That�s not, that�s�� he trailed off miserably, not being able to say, �That was when I thought I was straight�.

Mikey shrugged, a wry smile on his face, �Go on then,� he said with a sigh.

Nervously, Ally glanced around hoping he wouldn�t look too much like he was enjoying it, before giving Mikey a soft kiss on the lips.

�Awww,� Aimee smiled, �That was so cute. Your turn!�

Ally glanced around the circle, �Toni,� he said with a smirk, �I dare you to take your top off.� In reality, he had no interest in seeing Toni without her top on, but it looked mighty straight if he pretended he did.

Toni sighed and slipped the t-shirt over her head, revealing her bra.

�Ooh!� J said, glancing across at her, �I like your bra, where�s it from?�

Ally, Mikey and Charlie all glanced at each other, girls were so weird.

�Ok,� Toni said, after telling J, �Mikey, I dare you to snog Ally,�

�What?� Ally muttered, �What is with you guys and getting me and Mike together?�

Toni shrugged, �It�s hot,� she said simply, �Now get to it,�

Ally glanced nervously at Mikey, trying to look disgusted, but when his back was turned so only Mike could see him, he let himself grin like he wanted to, delighted at their dare.

�Hey Ally,� Mikey grinned, �Wanna know something?� he beckoned Ally closer.

Ally, confused, shuffled closer.

Grinning, Mikey put his lips to Ally�s ear, shielding his words from view with his hand, before whispering softly, �I love you.�

Ally leant away from him, looking at his boyfriend, his eyes sparkling, �Really?� he question, eyebrows raised.

Mikey nodded fast, �Oh yeah, one hundred percent true,� he said, making it sound like he�d just told Ally a rumour.

�Well then,� Ally leant closer to Mikey, before whispering in his ear, �I love you too.� He leant away, and grinned at his boyfriend.

�You two have a dare to do if I remember correctly.� J said sullenly.

Mike sighed, �Come here,� he said, slipping a hand around the back of Ally�s head, and pulling him close before their lips met, slipping a tongue into the other boys mouth.

Ally relaxed slightly, but remembered where he was, and tried not to look like he was enjoying it, he pulled away eventually, but not without giving Mikey a soft kiss, with a smile.

�You guys are such a cute couple,� Toni laughed.

�What the fuck is wrong with you guys?� Ally exploded with rage, standing up, �Why the hell are you obsessed with me and Mike, he�s my best mate for fucks sake.� He stormed out of the room, slamming the door after him.

Mikey stood up, shaking his head, �Ally really really hates anything gay,� he said in explanation, �He hates the idea of anyone being gay, and anything associated with being gay. You guys ought to be nicer to him.� He said softly before heading towards the door.

�What about you?� Toni asked, �Do you?�

Mikey shrugged, �I used to be exactly like him, but some of those guys,� he gestured with his thumb towards other dorm, �Are actually nice people once you get to know them.� He grinned at them. �I�m gonna go check he�s ok.�

He slipped out of the door, closing it shut behind him with a gentle click before wandering along to the bathroom, where he knew Ally would be.

Ally grinned as Mikey walked in, locking the door behind him.

�Is it true?� Ally said softly, standing up from where he�d been sat on the edge of the bath.

�Is what true?� Mikey joked with a grin, �That we�re a cute couple, yeah it is.�

Ally laughed, shaking his head softly as he walked towards his boyfriend, slipping his arms around his neck, �No, I meant the other thing.� He muttered with a blush.

�That I love you?� Mikey grinned, nodding, �Yes, yes I do.�

Ally grinned up at him, placing a gentle kiss on his lips, �Love you too.�

�Shit shit shit,� Art muttered as they were about to go down to breakfast, �I�m meant to sort out people to show this boy around today.� He glanced cross at Marcus, �You�ve got to, because apparently you know him?�

Marcus nodded, grinning, he couldn�t wait to see Seth again.

�Uh, and Seiji, you come too,� Art grinned at his boyfriend, �Cause it means I get to spend more time with you,�

Marcus glanced down the driveway as the smart, black, expensive looking car drove towards them.

Seiji and Art were stood slightly apart from him, leaning against the wall of the boarding house and sheltering from the wind.

The car pulled to a halt in front of them, and Marcus grinned at the occupants through the tinted glass, not being able to see who it was, but knowing so well who would be there.

�Besides Luce,� came a male voice from inside the car, �You can say �hi� to him after I have.�

Seiji froze at the sound of the boy�s voice, that wasn�t�that couldn�t be�could it?

A tall, slight boy stepped out of the car, pale blonde hair falling into his watery blue eyes.

�Seth!� Marcus said with a grin, stepping forward and kissing the boy fondly on both cheeks, �Journey alright?� he asked.

Seth nodded, hugging Marcus tightly, �Good to see you, feel�s like it�s been a while.�

�Excuse me!� A short skinny girl had bounced out of the car, flipping her blonde ponytail over her shoulder as she pushed her brother out of the way, �Seth!� she squealed, �I wanna say hello to Marcus,�

�Hallo Lucy,� Marcus grinned and pulled her into his arms, kissing her as they both giggled.

But Seth didn�t notice, someone else had caught his eye. He froze, staring at Seiji. Slowly, almost timidly he begin to walk towards Seiji as if there was no-one in the world but the two of them. He lifted a gentle hand to Seiji�s scarred cheek, their gazes meeting in silence. �You look like a boy I used to know,� Seth said eventually, his words barely more than a whisper.

Seiji merely nodded, keeping eye-contact, his won green eyes brimming with tears.

�Seiji?� Seth questioned softly.

�I missed you.� Seiji said simply.

Seth smiled sadly, his fingertips grazing over the scars that littered Seiji�s face. �What have you done to yourself?� he said sadly.

�I had to do it.� Seiji protested quietly, �You know I had to do it.�

Seth nodded, �And you know I can never feel the same, after what you did.�

The two of them stood in silence, hands grazing over the familiar, but long forgotten faces.

�Who�s that?� Lucia asked indignantly.

�Shh,� Marcus, understanding the history between the two boys, put a finger to her lips to silence her, pulling her into an even tighter hug.

Eventually Seth spoke again. �I still love you.� He said softly.

Seiji smiled faintly, �I love you too.�

Art finally tore his gaze away from the pair, feeling his heart shatter into a thousand tiny pieces. He�d always wanted to hear Seiji say those words, now he supposed his wish had come true, but they hadn�t been said to him, and he expected that they probably never would.

Finally, Seth grinned, and, slipping an hand around the back of Seiji�s head, kissed him. At first passionately, desperately, after such a long time of being apart, but then softer, gentler, more loving.

�God I�ve missed you,� he muttered into Seiji�s mouth.

Seiji grinned, �Missed you too,� he said, simply gazing into Seth�s eyes.

�Lucy,� Seth said quickly, not tearing his eyes from Seiji�s face, �Get back in the car.�

�What!� Lucia stuttered, �That�s not fair!�

Marcus kissed her softly, to placate her, but already knew what Seth was going to do, so gently pushed her into the car, closing the door.

�Marcus, mate,� Seth said, again keeping his blue eyes staring into Seiji�s green. �Been lovely seeing you, sorry I can�t stay, would�ve been good, but things happen. Hey? I�ll see you at Easter.�

Marcus nodded knowing that his best friend just needed him to be understanding.

Seth reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind Seiji�s ear, �I love you,� he said, �But every time I see these,� his index finger traced the scar slashed across Seiji�s right eye, �I�ll just remember what you did,� Silently he kissed Seiji one last time, their lips softly brushing together, before he pulled away, silently getting back in the car.

�No!� Seiji yelled as the car drove away, back down the drive. �Seth!� Then, as he cried, �I love you!� With a sob he fell to his knees, not feeling the pain as the gravel bit into his skin, but only feeling the pain, as the tears rolled down his cheeks, of his heart breaking.

Art knelt down beside his boyfriend, wrapping his arms around him, �Shh, Sei.� He whispered, �It�s ok, I�ve got you, I�m here,� he whispered comforting things into Seiji�s ear as he sobbed his heart away.

�If it�s any consolation� Marcus knelt beside them, �He really does care about you. He never shuts up about you.�

Seiji looked up at Marcus, unable to speak, his words lost, his eyes full of tears, but silently emanating thanks.

�Would the defendant please rise�

Seiji stood shakily to his feet, he already knew what the verdict would be, no jury on earth would let him walk.

�With a unanimous vote, the Jury have proclaimed the defendant guilty. Sentenced to eight years in juvenile prison.�

Seiji looked across at his attorney, nodding.

The attorney stood up uncertainly, he�d been told by Seiji to do this, but the boy had never given any reason as to why. �Um, your honour?� he said nervously.

The judge looked at him over her glasses, �Yes?�

�My client wishes to serve his time not in a juvenile prison, but in a prison for adults.�

Whispers ran around the courtroom, that was unheard of, they couldn�t do that could they.

The judge, who actually felt rather sorry for Seiji smiled at him, �Mr Furu-Yama, have a you a reason?�

Seiji nodded. �What I did was wrong,� he said, in the emotionless, dull voice he had acquired since the incident, �I deserve proper punishment.� As he said the words, he stared across the courtroom, straight at Seth.

The judge leant down to talk to an advisor, before straightening up again. �Your sentence has been revised to 4 years in prison.� She banged the gavel down.

Seth felt his head drop, four years, and Seth would probably never forgive him after her came out anyway. What did it matter to Seth, it was nothing to do with him, he hadn�t hurt him.

As the prison officers turned up to take him away, Seiji turned back to his boyfriend. �Seth!� he yelled, making the courtroom go silent, it was the first emotion they�d heard from the twelve year old since the start of the trial. �I�ll miss you.�

Seth said nothing, but turned to the boy next to him, burying his face in his best friends shoulder. The boy, standing there, with a mass of black curls covering his head, turned to stare at Seiji with the most piercing blue eyes Seiji had ever seen. Staring at him as if to say, �how could you do this to him. How could you do this to someone you supposedly love.�

�SETH!� Seiji yelled a final time, �I love you!�

Seiji woke from a fitful sleep with a start. The boy, the boy in the courtroom, with Seth, it had been Marcus. That was why he thought he�d recognised the boy from somewhere, that slimy git had been there, comforting his boyfriend as he�d been dragged away to prison.

He looked across to Marcus� bed, where the boy lay, in an equally fitful sleep, also being plagued by nightmares, memories of the past. Seiji fingered the knife under his pillow, he could walk across there right now and slit his throat. Of course everyone would know who did it, but then, when he was sent to prison for the second time, Seth would only be thinking about him.

He shook his head vigorously, he couldn�t do that, that would hurt Seth, one of the two people he cared about most in the world. And, as always after he thought about the trial, his thoughts turned to the only other person he truly cared about, Kameko. He wondered if she still hated him for what he�d done. He wished he�d had the chance to explain to her why he did it, because she�d never know. She didn�t know what they were about to do to her. She didn�t know he did it for her. But she never went to the trial, so he never had the chance to explain.

Again he�d glanced across at Marcus� bed. Marcus had a little sister too, Fergie had told him that. He wondered if Marcus would do what he�d done for his sister. He wondered if anyone would. As he lay there in the dark of the night, he wondered if he was sane. He dismissed the thought with another shake of his head, it didn�t matter anyway. How could it still matter? He�d never see his Seth again. Never fall in love again, that was a choice he�d made, love hurt too much. Nothing mattered anymore.