Julia awoke naked next to Jayson when her alarm went off. Jay's cell was buzzing on the floor in his pile of clothes. She silenced the alarm and woke Jay up. He woke, grumbling that he hadn't gone home again. He had a habit of doing that lately. He and Julia would lay in bed late at night, lost in conversation, then he got lost between her legs. They'd lacked the usual sex after her miscarriage and when he got the go ahead from her, he didn't delay. In fact he took advantage of it.
He rolled out of bed and went into the bathroom, complaining his body was sore and he wanted to go back to sleep. Julia mentioned his phone was buzzing again as she turned the light on beside her bed. When he looked at his phone, he sunk into the chair next to it and tossed her the phone. His grandmother had died in the middle of the night. They'd been calling him since she had gone to the hospital from the Oaks care center. Julia tossed the phone back to him, told him to call Sandy.
"I'm at Julia's. Ok. I know. I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm coming home now." Jay started to get dressed. Sandy had arrangements to make. A busy day, he'd have to stay with Tatia.
"Maybe Ellen could watch her while we're at school?" Julia suggested. "That's if you wanted to go. You don't have to obviously."
"I think I'm gonna go home and get high and watch the baby. Fuck school, Jules. I'll see you after work, right?"
"Yeah, babe." She answered. "I love you."
"I love you too."
The few arrangements that were made were for the family only. His grandmom didn't have much of a social life outside the house on Green Street and hadn't in years. The family was large and there would be a viewing and a service at the funeral home in Maverick. The matriarch of the family had died and whether or not there were many people that liked her or loved her, respects still had to be paid.
Jay told her they were coming. He warned her that the family was huge. Close members were staying at his house and others were staying at hotels. As they arrived to Maverick, extended family descended upon Sandy's house. Most not staying, but visiting and reconnecting nonetheless. His house was crawling with people Jay didn't know and would probably never see again.
Julia got a text on her phone, then the phone's unique ringtone she hadn't heard in months. Her booty call, her other half. She held the phone out to Jayson who answered it.
"What's up?" He asked. "Yeah, I know. Go ahead then." He was silent a minute. "Fine. Whatever." Jay handed her the phone back. "He's on his way here."
"And he called me? Jay, I-"
"He wanted you to tell me." Jay said, getting up from the table where they played a game with Alex.
"Where are you going?" Julia asked nervously. She didn't like the look on Jay's face.
"To meet my brother. Keep the kids down here."
"Jayson Keller, please-" Julia spoke, her voice cracking.
He walked away, up the steps. She kept Alex busy and she waited.
Jayson head outside, waiting on the porch steps with Chess. He shook slightly, anxious over what he was about to do. He shook the anger off him, or tried to, but the rage he felt came on him like it was the day he found out about them. Chess stood by the door and when the car pulled up to the curb, he watched Tavin and Callie get out and walk up to the house. He introduced Callie and let Chess take her inside. The door shut behind them. Jay didn't wait for a word to be spoken, he was on him and he beat him. He punched him down the steps, to the sidewalk, to the grass where they rolled and Jay wound up atop of him and he punched him till his face was bloody and Jay's knuckles were shredded. He didn't plan on stopping either. He went blank. Every ounce of anger he took out on him. He didn't stand a chance. Tavin did fight back, finally throwing him off of him. One punch and Jay was laid out on the ground in front of him.
"You done?" Tavin asked, wiping the blood from his face with his sleeve.
Jay jumped up, shaking off the punch and tackled him. It was then the flashing lights appeared, the sirens. A neighbor had called the police. The police officer had to pull Jay off of Tavin. It was Officer Ripkin. Jay's family started pouring out of the house when Officer Ripkin cuffed Jay and placed him in the rear of the patrol car.
Julia sat in the rec room with tears in her eyes as she heard the commotion going on upstairs. Chess and Jess came downstairs. "Do you wanna go up, Julia?" Jess asked.
"No, Jess. I can't." She answered. "He told me to stay here."
"But, Julia." She argued.
"No." Julia said firmly, looking away from them. She went back to the game and waited, but Jay never came. The hours passed, Julia got the kids ready for bed and spent her time avoiding Tavin and Callie. Julia was finally confronted by Tavin when she was smoking out back with Chess.
"Can you leave us alone, Chess?" Tavin asked.
"No." He answered.
"What do you think I'm gonna do?"
"I need to go home." Julia said, taking a hit on the joint. "Tell Jay to call me please when he gets home."
Julia went inside, followed by Tavin. She put on her jacket and gathered her back pack. "Julia, I didn't have him locked up." Tavin told her. "I wouldn't do that."
Julia looked at him, keeping her distance from him. He looked like hell, beat up. She wanted to go over to him, hug him, ask him how he was doing, meet his girlfriend and talk to her, do normal stuff. She placed her hand on her throat, squeezed a bit, remembered what Jay had told her. Her eyes plead with him to just shut up, go back to his girlfriend and leave her alone. She stood tall and firm, thinking she was strong enough to be in the same room with him. Despite the butterflies in her belly and the memories of him holding her, his strong arms around her. Then she thought of Jayson Keller, she reminded herself she loved Jayson. She loved her boyfriend, reminding herself of Jay's arms around her and holding her. 'He'd die for me.' She thought.
"He beat your ass." Julia observed, pointing to his face. "Should I apologize for him? What did you think was going to happen if you came here?"
"I was hoping for something different, Julia. I thought enough time had passed that-"
"You were wrong." She pointed out. "Why are you here, Tavin? Why'd you come and bring your girlfriend and walk into this?"
"She was my family, too."
"There was no love there, Tavin."
"Julia, it's the right thing to do. I'd like to sit down and talk with you." He stepped closer.
"Tavin, do you think what he told you was a joke? Because I take him seriously."
"Julia, Callie's here with me." He said, rolling his eyes, motioning toward the living room.
"So what."
"You're acting like a kid. I am into her. Not you."
"Bull shit, Tavin and fuck you, Tavin."
Tavin smiled. "I get it. You're not over me, you didn't deal with it." He accused. He stepped forward to pass her going into the other room with his girlfriend.
Julia said her goodbyes and left the house. Chess and Jess caught up with her out front, "Hey want some company?" Chess asked, falling in step beside her.
Julia was crying. Jayson and Tavin and the fight. She was worried about Jay. "I'm tired of the drama, Chess. I'm just so tired." Julia mumbled. Chess put his arm over her shoulder. She tried to pull away, but he prevented her from doing that. He hugged her, held her tight and listened as she cried. Julia let it out, crying on his chest. Jess rubbed her back while she cried. She was a bit confused about all the tears, but let it unfold anyway.
They walked her home and went inside with her. Andy hung out in the basement with them, listening to the latest ordeal as it had played out. Jess and Andy got an ear full of the whole entire Tavin-Julia affair. She left out the most vivid details and left out the truck information, but it was clear when everyone left the room that Tavin had been more than Jayson's brother and the fight was bound to happen sooner or later.
Morning came, Jayson lay on a hard cot without a pillow or a blanket. He started doing what convicts do, laughing to himself as he did crunches and push ups in his small colorless and lifeless cell. Officer Ripkin unlocked his cage in the morning shortly before his shift ended. He left Jay out and walked him to the patrol car, placing him in the front seat instead of in the back seat. He gave Jay a talk, stating he believed Jay had learned his lesson. If there was going to be a next time, he was letting him go in the system. Finger prints, the court system, and all that entailed.
"Thanks." Jay told him before getting out of the patrol car.
"I have brothers, Jay. And usually when brothers fight it stays in the family."
"Thanks." Jay repeated.
"And I know that when brothers fight, they get over it and they move on. That's what family does. Right?"
Jay nodded, opening the car door. He stepped out then leaned down looking into the squad car. "I mean it. Thanks."
Jay closed the door and watched the patrol car drive away. He went inside the house, people lay everywhere. He went upstairs to his room. The kids slept and a few cousins slept on the floor. Big Deb slept in his bed. He went in Chess room, found him behind Jess. Luckily she faced the wall, didn't know Jay was there. Chess waved him away.
"I guess I'm staying up." Jay said to himself as he twisted the lock on the door before pulling it shut.
Julia met him at the funeral home. For a woman no one ever visited or liked, she had quite a crowd gathered around her urn of ashes. She had more flowers in death than she had friends in life. Julia tended to Tatia while everyone waited for the service to start. Tatia was getting rammy and there was only so much Julia could do to keep her calm and in line. Funerals were bad enough mentally, but having toddlers running around didn't help the situation, Julia believed. She finally decided to take Tatia out of the funeral home, but since Jay had gone missing with Tavin, Julia mentioned to Sandy that she was leaving. Once outside she started toward the bus stop. Jay and Alex joined her.
"Go back, Jay."
"We're done there." Jay shrugged. "It's all over."
"Where'd you guys go?" Julia asked.
"Me and my brother had a talk. Cleared the air. That's all." Jay replied, smiling. "And I'm ready to leave, just like you are. So let's leave." He took her hand and squeezed it. Julia looked at his knuckles, scabbed over.
"Was that necessary? Defending my honor or something?"
"Nope, babe, I was defending mine."
After the funeral they sat at the kitchen table, eating pizza and drinking soda. Julia's house had come to life with Tatia running around, Alex's video games on the iPad blaring. Chess and Jess had joined them. Andy had come home with a boy from school named Reynold and Reynold was notorious for being openly gay and proud of that. The group of friends at the table welcomed them, always room for more, but the fact that Andy was with Reynold indicated that Andy was as openly gay as his friend.
"You guys know Reynold." Andy said nervously.
"Uh, yes, we do. Hungry, boys?" Julia said, sliding them plates and pushing the pizza box toward them. Rey and Andy took off their coats and sat down next to each other.
"So are you guys together?" Jess asked, pouring soda into cups for them. She placed them in front of the boys. Jess's calling them out was amazing and funny at the same time. Andy hadn't even come out of any closet. Julia had no idea he was even gay. Andy evidently had a boyfriend.
"Well, Andy? Are you?" Julia asked. She noticed a hickey on Andy's neck, tucked the mental image of the two boys making out away in her mind. She was a bit baffled by the sudden outing of her step brother.
"It's not a secret." Rey answered for him.
"Andy, I'm just surprised is all. I didn't know you were- I mean I thought you were into -"
"I'm gay, Jules."
"Does your mother know this?" She gasped. Jay plucked her arm. "No, I'm just finding this out now. I was-well, does she?"
"Umm, we've talked about it, Julia."
"You didn't talk about it with me. Did you forget to tell me you were gay the last year I have known you?"
"I didn't think it mattered."
"It doesn't, but you could've told me." She paused. "We're friends. That's something you tell friends, Andy."
"Honey, he's telling you now." Rey interrupted.
"Honey, I realize that." Julia spat at Rey. Julia went to speak, but thought better of it. "We'll talk later ok. I'm fine with this. Really. Welcome to the family, Rey."
"You are the queen of the castle. Andy, I like her."
Julia laughed. "I am the queen, but I guess there's always room for another."
"OOoooh, I'm going to like you, sweetie."
Julia had never been around a gay person before. All the people she'd known were straight, so watching them interact was interesting. She tried not to stare, but it was nearly impossible. The way they were together was just like the way she and Jay acted together, but the only difference was they were guys. Julia had no idea that he didn't like girls. He'd dated girls before, but not really often. He hadn't mentioned once that he was the slightest interested in dating a boy. Julia thought he was just shy around girls. Then she felt bad because she lived under the same roof with Andy and never picked up on the fact he was gay. Ellen was aware and evidently her dad had been clued in, but Julia was in the dark. She didn't know whether she was just stupid or just oblivious to his tastes and interests. Then she started to worry about him, what he'd face at school and the possibility that he'd be the victim of some ass hole homophobe bullying a member of her family. There was so much information coursing through her brain, she found it difficult to focus on anything other than Andy's sexual orientation. Why wouldn't he tell me or feel comfortable enough to tell me something so personal? She wondered.
She knew one thing though, she liked Reynold and his company. He was articulate and funny, interesting. She understood why Andy would be interested in him. He was the kind of kid that could hold a conversation and had ideals, beliefs he stood up for. He could change the world one day, or at least he believed he could.
"Gotta go, kids. Mom's going to start lighting up this phone any minute." Rey announced. He put on his coat and Andy walked him to the door. Alex came into the kitchen, "Why are those boys kissing?" He asked them. "Boys do not kiss boys, Jay, right?"
"On that note, I'm going to get Tatia in bed. Jay, it's time for a talk."
The kids finally asleep, they moved to the living room. Jess and Chess had left to get her home on time. Jay fell asleep with his head on Julia's lap. Andy came downstairs and made some popcorn, then sat on the other side of Julia on the couch.
"So, you're gay." Julia said, munching popcorn, eyes trained on the television.
"I am. Does it bother you?"
"No, it doesn't. What bothers me is you didn't say anything. How long have we known each other?"
"Julia, I wasn't sure exactly how to tell anyone. I only recently told my mother. It's not something I went telling everyone but you."
"Ok, well, are you happy? Rey seems like a good guy."
"He is." Andy answered, holding her hand. "He's so strong about being himself and not making any excuses for it. That's what I love about him."
"Good, then, Andy. So you met at school?"
Rey had started a LGBTQ club at school to support and assist other students. Andy had heard about the club through the grapevine and went to one of the meetings after school. It was a bunch of kids sitting around an empty classroom talking about coming out and how to come out and their life experiences. The first meeting he stood outside the door looking in and then the second meeting he almost left until Rey had approached him and invited him inside. Rey was the first person he'd connected with. Andy needed that first connection because he knew no one else that was openly gay. He'd done some internet chat rooms he admitted, but they were full of pervs, the one's he'd found.
They went on a date. Rey and he went out, went to a movie and dinner. He'd met Rey's mom, his parents were separated. They'd been going out for a few weeks when Rey accused him of hiding their budding relationship and was offended being introduced as his friend instead of boyfriend. Rey had been the one who urged him to be truthful with himself before he was truthful with others. He chose not to live closeted. When Andy was ready to make that leap, Rey would be there to support him every step of the way. "He told me we'd have to be friends otherwise. I was so upset. To break up with me for that, but he was right Julia." Andy explained. "I made the choice to talk to my mom first, then told him what I'd done. He's so sensitive, he started crying and we celebrated with his mom that night. She took us to dinner."
"So, you're in love with him, Andy?" Julia asked seriously. "I mean it can't be easy walking around, like don't people bother you and say horrible things?"
"Not that much. I'm still uncomfortable with PDA, you know. I don't know how I'd react if anything were to happen. Rey's been through it. I'm not his first boyfriend."
"Oh, have you two done it yet?" Julia asked. She felt Jay stir, cringing. He had been awake, listening. Andy blushed. "Cause Jay tried sticking it my butt and it hurt."
"No, Julia." Jay groaned, trying not to laugh. Andy nearly choked on the popcorn in his mouth when that question came out.
"It's true though, Jayson" She argued.
"Just because it's true doesn't mean you should say it." Jay told her.
"Have you?" Julia asked. She and Jay looked at him.
"Not yet, no."
"Oh, ok, then." Julia shrugged. "So will he be coming around more often then? I like him."
"I think so, yeah. Things were good tonight."
"Like any other night." Julia added. "So has he met Ellen and dad yet?"
"I hoped they were home tonight when we got in, but they weren't here. You guys caught us by surprise." Andy answered. "How was the funeral? Everything over, everyone go home."
"Not everyone. They leave tomorrow."
"Why aren't you with your family then, Jay?"
"I am, Andy." Jay answered. "Ready for bed, Julia?"
"Yeah, I am. They get up early."
"Where are our parents, Julia?" Andy asked, covering with the blanket that Jay left on the couch.
"Don't know." She replied.
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