Boxes Sequel Part 4
Jun. 5th, 2004 08:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
turpsOkay, we have part 4. This is a lot of dialogue which isn't my strong point at all, so yeah, if it reads off just shout out. That goes for anything funky, you all know this is rough.
Previous parts behind the cut.
Part 1 is here.
Part 2 is here
Part 3
“Do you want a drink? Or something to eat? You must be hungry. I think there’s some pizza left. Or did we eat it all? I’ll make you noodles, I’ve got those, I stocked up yesterday.” Joey’s words are desperate, rapid and brittle, filling the awkward silence that fills the room now that the hugs are over and the explanations have yet to begin. He goes into his small kitchen then appears in the doorway again within seconds where he stands still, expression sombre, as he stares at Chris and JC. “I missed you.”
“We missed you too, we had no magazines to read,” Chris jokes, but he smiles as he says it and hopes that Joey understands what he can’t say, that he missed him desperately. “Come and sit down, we’re not hungry, and anyway, I want to know why these two are here and all about your job.”
Chris shifts to give Joey room, pressing even closer to Justin who’s sitting next to him, body so close there’s not a millimetre between them. A spring digs into his leg and the couch rocks alarmingly as Joey settles but soon all three are jammed together. JC and Lance sit on the floor and they all look at one another, seemingly unsure what to say. So much has happened since they left and Chris knows he’ll never be able to share it all. He doesn’t even know if he wants to, some moments are too private to share, even with his best friends. Then there’s Joey, who looks exhausted, though Chris suspects only he and JC would see that and the two kids, who weren’t supposed to come back -- ever.
“Did you have a good vacation?” Lance asks at last, and Chris has to smile. Only Lance could ask the question as if they’ve been away two weeks not months. Justin tries to turn sideways and his knee presses hard against Chris’ leg, as the couch protests again at the movement. He looks like he’s going to talk, then shuts his mouth, shaking his head slightly before looking away, staring into the distance.
“It was good, we travelled all along the coast and saw so much. We would have taken photos, but you know, no camera,” JC laughs and pats his bag that lies on the floor next to him. “I did some pictures, well more than some, it was just. I wish you could have seen it.” JC looks at Chris, and for a moment it seems like they’re the only people in the room as they remember deserted sandy coves and hot dusty streets. The moment’s broken when Justin coughs, and JC turns back to Lance. “We’ll tell you about it later, I need to know what you’re all up to. How come you’re here? And Joey, what’s new with you?”
“They live in the city now,” Joey replies, and he looks from Lance to Justin with a small smile. “I’m good, the job’s going okay. This place is great; it beats the hell out of sleeping outside, nothing more to tell really.”
Joey sounds fine, but Chris can tell he’s hiding something and looks at him with concern. He sees JC looking too, and can tell he’s picked up the same thing. It’s something they’ve both learned from long experience, seeing through Joey’s outer shell of smiles and laughter to see the truth. They look at one another, having a whole conversation without words. They know there’s a problem, now all they need is time and privacy to talk things through, which isn’t going to be tonight. First there’s other worries to be dealt with.
“You’ve moved here? Your parents know right?” Chris asks. He tenses for the answer, unsure if he can cope if they say no.
“They know, we haven’t ran away again, I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.” Justin’s reply is shockingly loud, and he flushes when everyone looks at him. “I mean, we wouldn’t do that again. My mom moved here and Lance’s family set him up with his own apartment.”
“You’re living together then?” JC asks, and he turns to Lance, elbowing him gently in the side with a grin.
“No, not really. Justin stays with his mom on school nights and with me other times, I guess we semi live together.”
“It’s good though?”
“Yeah,” Lance replies, and Chris is positive he blushes slightly as he looks at Justin. “It’s great. I go to work and Justin’s at school, but at night we’re like any other couple. We cook, or try to and watch tv, and you know, other stuff. It’s good, real good.”
“I’m glad,” JC says and he leans over, capturing Lance in a one armed hug. “It’s good about school and your job too, but hey, what do you do?”
It’s something Chris wants to know too, and he looks expectantly at Lance, who sighs deeply as if composing himself.
“It was the only thing I could get, having no official qualifications sort of limited my choices, but the pay’s okay and the hours don’t totally suck.” Stopping, he glares at Joey and Justin who both softly snigger. “I work on an ice-cream cart in the mall.”
He stops talking when both Justin and Joey break into loud laughter. “Tell them what kind of cart,” Joey says and Lance smiles, obviously used to the teasing.
“It’s one of those carts with a bike on the front, I cycle around the mall, and before these two morons bring it up, I have to wear a pink stripy hat and apron.” Lance starts to laugh himself then. “What can I say? It’s a job”
Chris imagines Lance in the uniform and can’t help laughing too. Not that Lance seems to care; all he does is relax against JC, as he waits patiently until they settle down to more questions.
“What I don’t get is last time I saw you you were headed back home, why come back?” Chris has to ask. He can’t understand why they’re living in the city at all. They were going home, to their families. They weren’t ever supposed to come back, things don’t work that way.
“I had to come back, nothing had changed at home,” Lance says, and he looks from JC to Chris. “Not my family, they were great and it was so good to be home, I think I slept for a day straight when I got back, then spent the next week either eating, showering or visiting Justin. We talked, and I told them why I ran, and they were so mad. At my friends that called, and sort of at you all for a while.” Lance stops talking, and bites at his thumbnail as JC hugs him closer. “I told them you saved us, we both did and they came round in the end. The thing was no one else did. I only went out a few times, but everyone was looking at me and the one time I met Justin at the local diner the owner wasn’t going to serve us, he said he didn’t want our sort there.”
“Bastard,” Chris can’t help himself and Lance laughs bitterly.
“Yeah, that’s what my mom said when she met us there. I’ve never heard her cuss in public like that. She threatened to sue his fat homophobic ass if he didn’t serve us there and then. Then sat there calmly eating lunch as he fumed behind the counter. I knew I couldn’t stay in that town, so we all met up, Justin and his mom too and made plans to move here. I didn’t want to leave, but I didn’t want to feel like a freak either, and that’s how it would always be. They arranged an apartment for me on condition I got a job, and I did, even if it sucks.”
As he listens, Chris becomes more and more furious at the people who’d treated his friends so badly, but also at himself, for thinking things would have changed when they went back.
Joey feels the way his body tenses, and rests his hand on Chris’ leg, stroking patterns with his thumb. “Don’t,” he says softly and Chris tries his best to relax as Justin takes up the story.
“My mom agreed to move here after talking to Mrs Bass. She had no ties to the place so moving on wasn’t an issue, and here was as good as anywhere. The only condition was I had to stay in school.” Justin shifts sideways to look at Chris, and the couch rocks until he sits still. “It’s good. Mom’s place is small, room for me and her, but my bed’s there and a fridge full of food, and hot water. Same at Lance’s. He’s got this huge bed and it’s always warm and we decorated together. JC and your room is blue and I picked the warmest comforter I could because I know he gets cold.”
It takes a few seconds for the words to sink in. “What did you say?” Chris blurts out, and he looks at Justin, trying to convince himself he heard wrong.
“I said about the comforter, for you two, it’s a thick one.” Justin looks puzzled, and looks at them all in turn. “I asked my mom what the warmest one was, and me and Lance bought it, and a blue cover too to match the room. I haven’t put it on yet though; I’ve been waiting for you to come back so it’s fresh.”
Stunned, Chris looks from Justin to JC. “You want us to live with Lance and you?”
“Yeah, it’ll be good. You’ll have your own room, and Lance is a good cook and…” Justin stares at Chris, excitement making way for confusion. “You don’t want to live with us?”
“No. I’m sorry Justin, but I can’t,” Chris tries to think how to explain, but he can’t find the words. He’s exhausted and his thoughts feel like they’re wrapped in cotton. He has to try though because Justin’s looking at him like he’s insane. “I can’t speak for JC, but I haven’t lived inside for years. I’m happy as I am.”
“Happy! How can you be happy?” Justin says angrily, and he turns to JC. “Do you think the same?”
“I’m sorry.” JC looks sympathetic, and he half smiles at Lance who’s pulled out of the hug. “I agree with Chris.”
“How? How can you agree with him? Why would you want to stay on the streets when there’s room for you inside.” Justin yells this time, and he jumps to his feet, making the couch lurch again. “We got you a bed. You don’t have to live outside, you can eat and shower and be warm.
Justin’s shaking but when Chris reaches for him he pulls away, breathing deeply as he tries to get himself under control. “Don’t you want to be warm? Or know what it’s like to feel full? Or how good clean clothes feel when you pull them on? I don’t understand. You can’t go back out there, you can’t. It’s not safe.” Justin stands near the window, hands over his face. They’re all frozen, watching as he unravels in front of their eyes. Lance starts to stand, but Justin suddenly drops his hands, waving him back. “It’s not safe. You could get sick or mugged.”
“We won’t,” Chris breaks in, and he stands, moving so he’s directly in front of Justin. “I can look after myself, so can JC. Your offer means a lot, but we have a home, we don’t need another.”
“You have a box. That’s not a home, that’s sheets of cardboard and plastic. We can give you a real home, a home inside where it’s safe. A place with locks, somewhere where you won’t get stabbed again.” Justin rubs at his eyes, then looks at Chris. “It’s not safe, and you have to be safe. You have to.”
Justin almost whispers the last words, and Chris has to strain to hear them, but he does and he knows he’ll never forget the despair they contain. He’s causing so much hurt, but he knows there’s no way that he could live inside, homes are for other people, not him. “I can’t.”
Justin doesn’t reply. He seems lost for words and opens and closes his mouth twice before running outside.
“Damn it, I’ll go get him,” Chris says, and he grabs Justin’s coat from the floor and walks outside. It’s cold and he shivers as he looks around, finally seeing Justin sitting on a wall, body language tight and closed off.
“Here,” He drapes the coat over Justin before jumping on the wall next to him. Neither speak, just sit side by side in total silence, looking down the dark street.
“You need this more than me,” Justin suddenly says, and he stands before passing over his coat. Chris starts to protest, but he’s cut off within seconds. “Just put it on.”
Deciding to give in this time, Chris slips his arms inside and watches as Justin kicks at a stone, before turning sharply. “I don’t understand. You could get off the streets and you won’t. How can you do that?
“It’s complicated; I promise I’ll tell you another time. It’s not due to you or Lance though, I can promise you that.” Sliding from the wall, Chris digs Justin in his side. “Come on, we’ve still got Joey’s day to celebrate.”
“You’re not going back to the shelters tonight?” Justin questions, and Chris shakes his head.
“Tomorrow, I’ve still got a million questions to ask. We’ll go home in the morning.” Chris doesn’t miss Justin’s wince at his words, but at least he’s going back inside. They’ll talk, and soon, but for now this is Joey’s night, even if it’s a bit late.
~*~*~*~
Previous parts behind the cut.
Part 1 is here.
Part 2 is here
Part 3
“Do you want a drink? Or something to eat? You must be hungry. I think there’s some pizza left. Or did we eat it all? I’ll make you noodles, I’ve got those, I stocked up yesterday.” Joey’s words are desperate, rapid and brittle, filling the awkward silence that fills the room now that the hugs are over and the explanations have yet to begin. He goes into his small kitchen then appears in the doorway again within seconds where he stands still, expression sombre, as he stares at Chris and JC. “I missed you.”
“We missed you too, we had no magazines to read,” Chris jokes, but he smiles as he says it and hopes that Joey understands what he can’t say, that he missed him desperately. “Come and sit down, we’re not hungry, and anyway, I want to know why these two are here and all about your job.”
Chris shifts to give Joey room, pressing even closer to Justin who’s sitting next to him, body so close there’s not a millimetre between them. A spring digs into his leg and the couch rocks alarmingly as Joey settles but soon all three are jammed together. JC and Lance sit on the floor and they all look at one another, seemingly unsure what to say. So much has happened since they left and Chris knows he’ll never be able to share it all. He doesn’t even know if he wants to, some moments are too private to share, even with his best friends. Then there’s Joey, who looks exhausted, though Chris suspects only he and JC would see that and the two kids, who weren’t supposed to come back -- ever.
“Did you have a good vacation?” Lance asks at last, and Chris has to smile. Only Lance could ask the question as if they’ve been away two weeks not months. Justin tries to turn sideways and his knee presses hard against Chris’ leg, as the couch protests again at the movement. He looks like he’s going to talk, then shuts his mouth, shaking his head slightly before looking away, staring into the distance.
“It was good, we travelled all along the coast and saw so much. We would have taken photos, but you know, no camera,” JC laughs and pats his bag that lies on the floor next to him. “I did some pictures, well more than some, it was just. I wish you could have seen it.” JC looks at Chris, and for a moment it seems like they’re the only people in the room as they remember deserted sandy coves and hot dusty streets. The moment’s broken when Justin coughs, and JC turns back to Lance. “We’ll tell you about it later, I need to know what you’re all up to. How come you’re here? And Joey, what’s new with you?”
“They live in the city now,” Joey replies, and he looks from Lance to Justin with a small smile. “I’m good, the job’s going okay. This place is great; it beats the hell out of sleeping outside, nothing more to tell really.”
Joey sounds fine, but Chris can tell he’s hiding something and looks at him with concern. He sees JC looking too, and can tell he’s picked up the same thing. It’s something they’ve both learned from long experience, seeing through Joey’s outer shell of smiles and laughter to see the truth. They look at one another, having a whole conversation without words. They know there’s a problem, now all they need is time and privacy to talk things through, which isn’t going to be tonight. First there’s other worries to be dealt with.
“You’ve moved here? Your parents know right?” Chris asks. He tenses for the answer, unsure if he can cope if they say no.
“They know, we haven’t ran away again, I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.” Justin’s reply is shockingly loud, and he flushes when everyone looks at him. “I mean, we wouldn’t do that again. My mom moved here and Lance’s family set him up with his own apartment.”
“You’re living together then?” JC asks, and he turns to Lance, elbowing him gently in the side with a grin.
“No, not really. Justin stays with his mom on school nights and with me other times, I guess we semi live together.”
“It’s good though?”
“Yeah,” Lance replies, and Chris is positive he blushes slightly as he looks at Justin. “It’s great. I go to work and Justin’s at school, but at night we’re like any other couple. We cook, or try to and watch tv, and you know, other stuff. It’s good, real good.”
“I’m glad,” JC says and he leans over, capturing Lance in a one armed hug. “It’s good about school and your job too, but hey, what do you do?”
It’s something Chris wants to know too, and he looks expectantly at Lance, who sighs deeply as if composing himself.
“It was the only thing I could get, having no official qualifications sort of limited my choices, but the pay’s okay and the hours don’t totally suck.” Stopping, he glares at Joey and Justin who both softly snigger. “I work on an ice-cream cart in the mall.”
He stops talking when both Justin and Joey break into loud laughter. “Tell them what kind of cart,” Joey says and Lance smiles, obviously used to the teasing.
“It’s one of those carts with a bike on the front, I cycle around the mall, and before these two morons bring it up, I have to wear a pink stripy hat and apron.” Lance starts to laugh himself then. “What can I say? It’s a job”
Chris imagines Lance in the uniform and can’t help laughing too. Not that Lance seems to care; all he does is relax against JC, as he waits patiently until they settle down to more questions.
“What I don’t get is last time I saw you you were headed back home, why come back?” Chris has to ask. He can’t understand why they’re living in the city at all. They were going home, to their families. They weren’t ever supposed to come back, things don’t work that way.
“I had to come back, nothing had changed at home,” Lance says, and he looks from JC to Chris. “Not my family, they were great and it was so good to be home, I think I slept for a day straight when I got back, then spent the next week either eating, showering or visiting Justin. We talked, and I told them why I ran, and they were so mad. At my friends that called, and sort of at you all for a while.” Lance stops talking, and bites at his thumbnail as JC hugs him closer. “I told them you saved us, we both did and they came round in the end. The thing was no one else did. I only went out a few times, but everyone was looking at me and the one time I met Justin at the local diner the owner wasn’t going to serve us, he said he didn’t want our sort there.”
“Bastard,” Chris can’t help himself and Lance laughs bitterly.
“Yeah, that’s what my mom said when she met us there. I’ve never heard her cuss in public like that. She threatened to sue his fat homophobic ass if he didn’t serve us there and then. Then sat there calmly eating lunch as he fumed behind the counter. I knew I couldn’t stay in that town, so we all met up, Justin and his mom too and made plans to move here. I didn’t want to leave, but I didn’t want to feel like a freak either, and that’s how it would always be. They arranged an apartment for me on condition I got a job, and I did, even if it sucks.”
As he listens, Chris becomes more and more furious at the people who’d treated his friends so badly, but also at himself, for thinking things would have changed when they went back.
Joey feels the way his body tenses, and rests his hand on Chris’ leg, stroking patterns with his thumb. “Don’t,” he says softly and Chris tries his best to relax as Justin takes up the story.
“My mom agreed to move here after talking to Mrs Bass. She had no ties to the place so moving on wasn’t an issue, and here was as good as anywhere. The only condition was I had to stay in school.” Justin shifts sideways to look at Chris, and the couch rocks until he sits still. “It’s good. Mom’s place is small, room for me and her, but my bed’s there and a fridge full of food, and hot water. Same at Lance’s. He’s got this huge bed and it’s always warm and we decorated together. JC and your room is blue and I picked the warmest comforter I could because I know he gets cold.”
It takes a few seconds for the words to sink in. “What did you say?” Chris blurts out, and he looks at Justin, trying to convince himself he heard wrong.
“I said about the comforter, for you two, it’s a thick one.” Justin looks puzzled, and looks at them all in turn. “I asked my mom what the warmest one was, and me and Lance bought it, and a blue cover too to match the room. I haven’t put it on yet though; I’ve been waiting for you to come back so it’s fresh.”
Stunned, Chris looks from Justin to JC. “You want us to live with Lance and you?”
“Yeah, it’ll be good. You’ll have your own room, and Lance is a good cook and…” Justin stares at Chris, excitement making way for confusion. “You don’t want to live with us?”
“No. I’m sorry Justin, but I can’t,” Chris tries to think how to explain, but he can’t find the words. He’s exhausted and his thoughts feel like they’re wrapped in cotton. He has to try though because Justin’s looking at him like he’s insane. “I can’t speak for JC, but I haven’t lived inside for years. I’m happy as I am.”
“Happy! How can you be happy?” Justin says angrily, and he turns to JC. “Do you think the same?”
“I’m sorry.” JC looks sympathetic, and he half smiles at Lance who’s pulled out of the hug. “I agree with Chris.”
“How? How can you agree with him? Why would you want to stay on the streets when there’s room for you inside.” Justin yells this time, and he jumps to his feet, making the couch lurch again. “We got you a bed. You don’t have to live outside, you can eat and shower and be warm.
Justin’s shaking but when Chris reaches for him he pulls away, breathing deeply as he tries to get himself under control. “Don’t you want to be warm? Or know what it’s like to feel full? Or how good clean clothes feel when you pull them on? I don’t understand. You can’t go back out there, you can’t. It’s not safe.” Justin stands near the window, hands over his face. They’re all frozen, watching as he unravels in front of their eyes. Lance starts to stand, but Justin suddenly drops his hands, waving him back. “It’s not safe. You could get sick or mugged.”
“We won’t,” Chris breaks in, and he stands, moving so he’s directly in front of Justin. “I can look after myself, so can JC. Your offer means a lot, but we have a home, we don’t need another.”
“You have a box. That’s not a home, that’s sheets of cardboard and plastic. We can give you a real home, a home inside where it’s safe. A place with locks, somewhere where you won’t get stabbed again.” Justin rubs at his eyes, then looks at Chris. “It’s not safe, and you have to be safe. You have to.”
Justin almost whispers the last words, and Chris has to strain to hear them, but he does and he knows he’ll never forget the despair they contain. He’s causing so much hurt, but he knows there’s no way that he could live inside, homes are for other people, not him. “I can’t.”
Justin doesn’t reply. He seems lost for words and opens and closes his mouth twice before running outside.
“Damn it, I’ll go get him,” Chris says, and he grabs Justin’s coat from the floor and walks outside. It’s cold and he shivers as he looks around, finally seeing Justin sitting on a wall, body language tight and closed off.
“Here,” He drapes the coat over Justin before jumping on the wall next to him. Neither speak, just sit side by side in total silence, looking down the dark street.
“You need this more than me,” Justin suddenly says, and he stands before passing over his coat. Chris starts to protest, but he’s cut off within seconds. “Just put it on.”
Deciding to give in this time, Chris slips his arms inside and watches as Justin kicks at a stone, before turning sharply. “I don’t understand. You could get off the streets and you won’t. How can you do that?
“It’s complicated; I promise I’ll tell you another time. It’s not due to you or Lance though, I can promise you that.” Sliding from the wall, Chris digs Justin in his side. “Come on, we’ve still got Joey’s day to celebrate.”
“You’re not going back to the shelters tonight?” Justin questions, and Chris shakes his head.
“Tomorrow, I’ve still got a million questions to ask. We’ll go home in the morning.” Chris doesn’t miss Justin’s wince at his words, but at least he’s going back inside. They’ll talk, and soon, but for now this is Joey’s night, even if it’s a bit late.
~*~*~*~
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-06-06 03:43 am (UTC)Justin is really young. He doesn't understand why all his plans are falling through. He's thinking in black and white and doesn't want to think about the shades of gray.
They'll be talking to Justin soon about why. I was worried about too much intensive dialogue all together so split the scenes. Hopefully that'll explain more.
I'm glad you liked Joey in this part. He often gets over looked, and he has as many problems as any of them.