The family secret

10 - Acceptance

JULIAN

Julian had the best time with his best friend Brent and Samuel. They were gone for five days now and he learned more about Samuel in just these days than he knew of most of his classmates. Sam lived with his mother and older brother in West-Lakers. He was born and raised there. He worked at his uncle's repair shop since he was thirteen years old. His brother was a mason and his mother worked at the local supermarket. His favorite color was blue and he didn't like fish in general.

Holding a breakfast burrito in one hand and a bottle of water in the other, they sat on deck watching the sun rise. They had been working out for over an hour, like every morning. They had their own little ritual. Working out before sunrise, eat breakfast, visit the town, lunch, swim, sail, barbecue on deck. Sometimes they didn't swim, but relaxed in an inflatable tire behind the boat, while the other sailed away. Julian is been teaching Sam how to sail a boat, he learned quick. Julian looked at his new friend. He had asked if he was gay. Was he though? He never liked his past girlfriends. Never went any further than kissing. He always thought Brent was good looking. Sam looked amazing with his darker skin tone and abbs. The thought to touch it came to his mind a few times. Did that make him gay?

Brent punched with his elbow in Julian's side. He let down a growl. ‘What is your problem?’

‘You were staring again.’ Brent whispered so Sam couldn't hear.

‘I was not.’

‘Yeah, you were. Any seconds longer and you were starting to drool. Just kiss the guy and see if you like it.’ Brent whispered again and waved to Sam when he looked back at them. ‘You know you want to.’

‘No, I don't know and besides, my father would never accept it.’

‘Screw your father. I will always love you for you.’

Julian shook his head. ‘I can't and I shouldn't. Thank you anyways. I will always love you too.’

‘Hey, what were you guys talking about?’ Sam asked.

Brent coughed and turned red all of the sudden. Sam probably had heard they said I love you to each other. ‘Nothing.’ Brent said, making Sam even more curious.

‘You two are cute together.’ Sam looked from one to the other, while grinning.

Julian laughed. ‘It's just a bro thing, Sam. Brent and I are more like brothers than friends. We have known each other for over ten years now.’ Good safe, Julian thought.

SHELLY

Darkness. It's everywhere. It consumes her. Laying on the dirty old matrass, she is her only company. Her body is weak and soar. Nothing feels right and the nightmares not only come at night, but hunts her when is awake too. She is been here before. The darkness had found her many times. If only she could end it all right now. She had nothing to live for. Her only friend didn't even know her real name. She had been lying to her best friend Tia ever since they met. Shelly didn't get to go to school until she was eight years old. The new bodyguard took pity of her and convinced her mother she had to go to school. He has been bringing her ever since that day. He wasn't the nicest person, but he gave her a reason to live. She liked, no loved going to school. She could leave her house, her family and be at the place where she could learn about the world she would never see with her own eyes. She needed to know there was more than just the four light blue walls she had been staring at for all those years. If Conner didn't have found out, she would still be there or here in the basement or even further down, like dead in the ground. Nine week of summer holiday were like nine weeks of hell to her.

Shelly slowly tried to roll on her side. A pain coursed through her chest, but she managed to roll over. She had to control her breathing before she would pass out again. With every breath she took, she felt herself calm down. Shelly closed her eyes. Even rolling on her side made her tired. This is my last summer, she thought. I will probably die before my sixteenth birthday. With the hope of this being the end soon she fell asleep.

JJ

He put on his best clothes. His girl was coming over tonight. There was a party and he asked her to come. She didn't really want to, but if you ask it a million time, you can't say no. He brushed his hair with a comb. JJ looked in the mirror. He looked good. With his hands he massaged a little hair gel into his hair. His little side lock was pushed back and all stray hairs were put in place. He had his white blouse picked up at the dry cleaners. With his black jeans and white Nikes, he was ready to party. Paul and Aaron were already finished with their looks, now they had to wait for Leo to come out of his room. Like always he was last to finish. There was a soft knock on the door. JJ hoped it was his girl.

‘I will open it.’ he said smiling. He unlocked the front door, but was not greeted by his girl, but by Liz.

‘Hi.’ she said. Liz looked a lot better than the last time JJ saw her. She had smokey eyes and lip-gloss on. But why was she here? ‘You didn't know I was coming?’ She sighed. ‘Leo didn't tell you? He asked to come to the party with you guys. I hope it's okay.’

JJ nodded and opened the door even further for her to enter the house. ‘You. Always.’ JJ said. He walked to the living room. ‘Liz is coming to the party with us.’ he said to his friends.

‘Yeah, Liz. Looking good girl.’ Aaron shouted.

‘Don't even think of doing anything dirty with my sister, Aaron.’ Leo said as he buttoned his shirt. ‘She is like family to you and you should never f**k with family.’

‘I know, I know.’ Aaron took a hold of Liz's wrist and pulled her on his lap. ‘But I can tickle her.’ Liz started to laugh and scream while Aaron was tickling her side.

JJ face was beet red. Listening to what Leo said, made him nervous. He knew he couldn’t hide his love for ever. But now he knew his friends would never accept it.

JULIAN

The evening was hot and the sun was slowly going down. They left Phoenix a few days ago, following the Gila River. There was going to be a party at the hidden lake. Brent had heard about it and really wanted to go there. Because of the weather they only wore short jeans and sneakers. Brent was looking forward to it and was bouncing with every step he took. Maybe he shouldn't have been drinking all those energy drinks, Julian thought. There was a small que, but they managed to walk by it when one of the bouncers saw Julian.

‘Julian Weekland as I live and breathe.’ The huge man with the big muscles welcomed them and let them in. Samuel gave Julian a side look. He still didn't know how powerful his family was.

‘How did you do that?’ Sam asked when they walked away from the bouncer.

‘What? You mean walk in without having to wait? That is the perks of being a Weekland.’ Julian told him. More people were looking at him as they walked over to the VIP area. With one look the security let them through.

‘Wait, do they know you? Have you been here before?’ Sam was really getting confused now.

Brent only laughed and sat down on a sofa. He ordered three beers when a girl asked him what he would like to order.

‘Sam, I told you my family was rich and famous. Have you ever heard of the show One day in a Weekland?’ Julian went to sit next to Brent.

‘I think I've heard of it, but I never watched it. Why? What does it have to do with you?’

‘Because it was a reality show of my family. I was in it for almost twelve years.’

‘You were?’

Julian laughed out loud. Sam's face let out a lot of confusion. Brent was having a good time too and almost fell of the sofa of laughter, until his eyes fell on a girl he liked. He ran up to her. Sam came to sit and drank his beer.

‘I love the way you were all confused, Sam. Most of the people just know me as the reality star, but you know me only as the boy who had trouble with his boat. I like that about you.’ Julian said.

Sam nodded and took a sip of his beer, only to drink almost all of it. He took a deep breath before turning his face to Julian. ‘You know, I don't think I ever heard of you before I met you. But you stole my mind and my heart in these five days I know you. Now it's your turn to be confused.’ Sam pushed himself closer to Julian and pressed his lips on his. Julian was frozen for a few seconds, but he liked the way Sam's lips felt on his and moved along with it. He never had a kiss like this. So soft and sweet. Julian couldn't help it and moaned when the kiss went on.

‘Finally.’ Brent screamed. Sam let Julian go. They both blushed. ‘Finally, I thought you two would never kiss. I'm so happy for you two.’ He jumped, making cheers and screams.

‘I, eh, would really like to do that again.’ Julian said to Sam. He couldn't hide his smile. He never felt this happy before. He didn't wait for Sam to answer and this time he was the one that kissed first.