hot of the pre...umm... out of my head. Once again un beta, take it as a warning.

oh I almost forgot I recommend listening to youtube. com/watch?v (place equal sign) btFELvxhYUE while reading (remove spaces for link to work or better yet just check my profile for the link FP is being evil about it

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Ray was the first to spot them. He couldn’t believe Michael would go to the café were Gerald worked with a date. Michael scored low on Ray’s book, too low to be allowed to breathe the same air as Gerald.

It would have been the perfect opportunity to open Gerald’s eyes, to show him what good care Michael took of him. Ray couldn’t do it, he couldn’t allow Gerald’s smile to disappear. He took Gerald’s hand and crossed the street, placing his arm over Gerald’s shoulder in hope of blocking the café window.

“Ray? I thought we were going for coffee.”

“Nah, let’s go visit Sandy.”

Sandra was surprised to see them, but a smile spread across her face as she ushered them in. They went to her backyard were Jay was waiting for her. They were in the pool with some of her friends; everyone greeted them nicely and invited them into the pool.

They didn’t have swimsuits with them and Gerald blushed when Ray reminded him that it had never stopped him from taking a swim. It was true when it came to the sea, but it wasn’t the same in a swimming pool filled with people he didn’t really know.

About half an hour after arriving Sean joined them. Gerald had his feet soaking in the water with his back turned towards the house. Sean sat behind him, with out Gerald noticing until he felt hands circle around his waist and weight pushing him forward. They both splashed into the pool.

Gerald swam up to the surface managing to untangle himself from Sean, though he still didn’t know it was him. When he saw his friends smiling face he playfully smacked him on the shoulder.

“You scared the crap out of me,” Gerald said pushing his wet hair away from his eyes.

Sean laughed claiming Gerald looked just to tempting sitting there so peacefully. Gerald splashed at him and they were soon in a full on water war.

Ray watched them from a table set to the side of the pool.

“He sure does look happy, doesn’t he?” Sandra asked sitting next to her cousin with an ice tea in her hand.

“Yeah, he does,” Ray nodded not moving his eyes away from the boys in the pool. Sandra’s friends had joined the fun and the splashes were almost reaching were Ray was sitting.

“I didn’t think Michael would be good for him, I guess I was mistaken.” Sandra’s statement got Ray’s attention. He turned fully towards her with serious eyes. “Sean, told me,” she confessed. “I was complaining on how possessive Michael had become and how annoying I thought it was that he was stringing Gerald along.”

“Michael is a sick fucker, Sandy and he is anything but good for Gerald.” Ray looked down at his lap, he was unsure of how much he should say. He felt he had said too much with out ever saying enough.

“Look how happy he is,” Sandra said pointing to where Gerald was jumping onto Sean’s back.

“Yes, but do you see Michael around? Have you seen Gerald this care free around Michael?” before Sandra could answer Ray continued to talk. “If Michael were here, hell if Michael would be around Gerald wouldn’t be here. I don’t know what Michael’s game is Sandra, but it’s not good.” They sat quietly, both unsure of what to say next. Then Ray made up his mind. He stood up and asked Sandra to let Gerald know he’d be right back.

“Where are you going?” Sandra asked him, but Ray just shook his head.

Sean stayed with Gerald to wait for Ray after everyone else left, they could have left, but they were both curious to where he had gone. Their clothes had been thrown in the dryer while they showered and they now sat in nice warm clothes in Sandra’s bedroom with her boyfriend.

Jay was lying on the bed as though it was his own and Gerald and Sean were sitting on the floor. Sean had brought his guitar with him and was softly strumming the strings with out paying much attention.

“Play something,” Jay said.

Sean looked up from where his fingers were forming notes and shrugged. “You know, Gerald plays the guitar too?” He mentioned before playing “Sad Eyes” again for Gerald.

“Really?” Jay sat up, “You really are a jack of all trades aren’t you?” Gerald blushed looking down at his hands. Just then Sandra walked into the room complimenting Sean on his playing.

“What song is that?” she asked him.

“Sad Eyes,” both Gerald and Sean answered.

“Did you write it?” Jay asked and both Gerald and Sean laughed.

“I wish,” Sean said.

“It’s by Bruce Springsteen,” Gerald explained

“Now I feel stupid,” Jay said pulling Sandra close for a kiss.

“Every day here you come walking. I hold my tongue, I don't do much talking. You say you're happy and you're doin' fine. Well go ahead, baby, I got plenty of time. Sad eyes never lie, Sad eyes never lie…” Sean sang.

“That’s beautiful,” Sandra said when Sean finished the song, “Didn’t Enrique Iglesias, do a cover of that song?”

Gerald laughed, “I have no clue and if he did I don’t think I’d want to hear it.”

They all laughed, except for Sean who looked sadly towards his guitar while still playing the notes to the song, slowly, so softly that it almost didn’t sound like the same song. Gerald noticed how sad Sean looked and wondered what he was thinking about. He remembered Sean’s confession from the morning and felt a pin prick in his heard.

Sandra noticed their need for privacy and asked Jay to help her get some drinks. They left the room and Sean dejectedly put the guitar down. Gerald leaned closer to Sean.

“Do you miss him,” he asked.

“More than I ever thought I would.” Sean answered, his eyes cast down.

“I’m so sorry Sean, you don’t deserve this. He doesn’t know what he is missing.”

“I just want him to be happy and safe, even if it isn’t by my side.” Sean locked his eyes with Gerald’s, “His happiness means more to me than my own. I’m happy if he is happy, I want to see him smile, even if it isn’t me he is smiling at. It’s just hard, because I… he is still so close.”

“You really must love him.” Sean nodded. “ Trent doesn’t deserve you.”

“I wsn’talking’bout’im” Sean mumbled.

“What was that?” Gerald asked, not quite catching what Sean had said.

Sean forced himself to smile, “So, why don’t you play the guitar anymore?”

“Life has gotten busy,” Gerald said, letting Sean off the hook.

“I thought you loved it?”

“Yeah, but you know… I think I liked it that much because it was something my mom had given to me… you know?” Sean nodded. “Now I sort of have her back…it’s hard to explain. I still love it but I just don’t need it that badly anymore.”

Nina was getting ready for a job interview she had in a few hours. She didn’t want to be late. She’d been late to the last interview she had and discovered that tardiness bundled up with her lack of work experience didn’t make a good first impression. She was determined not to be late to this interview.

The doorbell rang and she ran out of the bathroom, still applying her lipstick to open the door. She didn’t even ask or check who it was until it was too late and she had Albert standing in front of her.

She knew he had been at the hospital and had the huge suspicion he had been the one to pay for her hospital bills, but she still avoided seeing him. She had thanked his mom and asked her to relay the message.

She still looked beautiful to him, she had a few wrinkles, but was still beautiful. He took a deep breath and a step into the apartment all though she had not invited him in. Everything looked almost the same in there, except the walls were lined with the paintings/collages Gerald created.

“Take a seat,” Nina finally broke out of her surprise. Nina moved towards the couch were Albert sat; she made as if to sit but changed her mind. “Something to drink?” she walked towards the kitchen before he could answer.

“Nina,” he called after her. She froze on her tracks, but didn’t turn back. “I need to know.”

She wrung her hands together, “Know what?” She could hear his step falls as he came near her. She took a deep breath and turned towards him before he could reach her. “Did…did I ever thank you?” She asked taking him by surprise, “I told your mom to let you know, but I really should have done it in person. Thank you Albert.” She said, turning back towards the kitchen. Her hands were shaking badly and she wanted a drink so much, she could already taste it.

She opened the refrigerator door, hoping to find a cold beer inside, but was disappointed. She quietly scolded herself, she had to be strong. She pulled out a bottle of water, opened it and poured it out into two cups offering Albert one. He took it.

“You don’t have to thank me for anything.”

Nina shook her head, “Of course I do. Albert, you paid my hospital bills, you’ve deposit my son money once a month since he was three. You didn’t have to do all that, even less with how I treated you. I have to apologize and thank you… you know its part of the treatment.”

“Our son,” was all Albert said. Silence filled the space, silence spread around them and they both slowly chocked on it. The glass slipped from her hand and shattered against the floor taking with it the silence that was killing them. They didn’t move but Albert spoke. “He is our son, Nina. Don’t you think it’s time you admitted that? You named him Gerald after my grandfather.”

Nina grabbed some paper towels and bend down to dry the floor.

“I let you be for years, first because I believed when you said he wasn’t mine. Then because it was clear you didn’t want me around, but don’t you think I have the right to know? That he has the right to know?”

“To know you wanted me to kill him?” She moved towards the trash dumping the broken glass there.

“I was scared,” Albert defended himself.

“He is my son Albert, mine. You won’t take him from me. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us, but please leave us alone.” Tears welled in her eyes, “I don’t want to lose him to you.”

Albert pulled her into a hug, “You won’t, he is a good boy and he loves you, but you owe it to me and him to let us know each other. I’m sorry Nina, but if you won’t tell him I will.”