A Friend In Need....

"Where are you going young boy?!" Jane roared from the living room.

Marcus rushed over to the kitchen carrying the dishes he had used for supper.

'To get away from you and your tedious blathering.'

"To do the dishes mother," Marcus replied sweetly as he hurriedly placed the dishes in the sink and started scrubbing them. Marcus only used the word 'mother' when he was trying to talk his mother into buying him something or talking his way out of trouble; the latter being involved here. Jane had brought up the subject of Marcus escaping with his father at the dinner table and Marcus, who was already tired from the day's events, wasn't prepared for yet another episode of his mother's lectures. All he wanted to do was just get upstairs and take a well-deserved night's rest and wake up ready for the summer holiday.

However, there was one obstacle to achieving his goal: an angry woman who was still not over her ex fourteen years later, and who was storming into the kitchen right now.

'God! Get her a boyfriend.'

"First of all, you accept that imbecile of a man here, you ran away with him and to top it all off you come back late after having some silly adventures with him to God-knows-where!" She cried out. Marcus turned off the water.

"I didn't come back late because of dad. I was with…" he searched for a suitable answer, "…Michelle."

That did the trick. Jane's expression suddenly went from I-am-mad-at-you-and-your-stupid-father to tell-me-all-the-details-about-you-and-your-hot-date. She leaned over the countertop and placed her head on her right palm.

"Ooooohhh. Michelle you say?" she toyed with him.

"No, it was Jeff. And would you stop looking at me like one of those moms at your silly mother meetings waiting for gossip about their cheating husbands?" He turned back to rinse the dishes.

"At least tell me what happened?" Jane begged.

"I won't tell you. Maybe we went for a movie, kissed, had sex and then came home pretending nothing had happened."

"On the sex part, did you use a condom?"

"Gross mom! I don't even know how she tastes, " Marcus told her off.

The bell rang, interrupting their conversation.

"I hope it's your father because I want to smack his face really hard." Jane took off for the door. Marcus followed her, half-hoping that his father hadn't stuck his big head in front of the door without proper defences.

"You silly bitch…." Jane had begun while opening the door but stopped abruptly on seeing a teary Jeff before her.

"Jefferson, what's the matter?" she asked him, genuinely worried. Jeff stood there for a moment, not sure what to say, and suddenly dropped into her arms, sobbing.

"Jeff?" Marcus was surprised. His best friend rarely cried. This definitely had to be something big if Jeff was pouring out. He approached the two and put his hand over Jeff shoulders, unsure of what to say to comfort him.

Jane released Jeff from her embrace and led him inside, shutting the door behind. She placed him on the couch and ordered Marcus to find a warm shawl for him, muttering into Jeff's ears that everything was okay. Marcus was soon back with the shawl and Jane placed it over Jeff, who was still weeping.

"Son, tell me. What happened?" Jane asked, concern written all over her face.

"It's my father," Jeff replied in sobs. "He kicked me out."

Jane hugged him. "How could he do that to you? You're his son!"

Jeff broke free from her embrace. "I…I kissed someone. A boy. And they were really mad." He held back more tears that tempted to drop from his eyes.

"It's okay. You don't have to cry."

Jeff couldn't fight back the tears. "I have nowhere else to go."

It was Marcus turn to console his friend. He joined the two on the couch.

"Don't say that Jeff. You have us, " he told him.

"Yeah, " Jane supported him. "You can stay here until we get the issue resolved."

"No. I'll be a burden, " Jeff tried to resist.

"You are never a burden to your friends Jeff, " Marcus spoke. "Now come on. I'll take you to the guest room and you will get some rest."

He held Jeff up and supported him as they made their way to the bedrooms. Jeff stopped and turned back to Marcus' mom who looked at him with sympathy.

"How can I ever repay you?"

Jane smiled at him.

"You don't repay. That's what friends are for."

***

There was not much to say about the guest room. It was a simple room made to conveniently offer hospitality to the guests. Two small beds occupied the room; each with its own heavy-duty mattress and a fluffy pillow. The wardrobe was custom made, with the thick mahogany ensuring it's durability. The walls had been covered with wallpapers of various landscapes to add the desired comfort to the room. Perhaps what seemed off about this room were the various sheets of paper left lying carelessly around the room. Marcus had converted it into his own personal space where he did most of his artwork and of course, get away from his mother whenever she was in bitch mode.

Marcus waited for Jeff to freshen up as straightened out the sheets and spread the blankets of both the beds. He was going to sleep with Jeff tonight, he felt obligated to. He had never realised the dangers of Jeff having a staunch Christian for a father. He silently cursed himself for giving Jeff the psych to go and confess his love for Luis. Lucky for him, his mother was not homophobic and her perverse mind was always taunting Marcus. He chuckled as he tried to imagine how his father and mother were back in the days. They were certainly mischievous, although Jane had matured with age. Stewart, on the other hand, had a stern face that said one thing and a character that said an entirely different thing.

Marcus' thoughts were interrupted when Jeff walked into the room. He was dressed in pyjamas Marcus had lent him. The poor boy was still in a state of shock. He looked miserable, even with the fresh scent of the shower gel coming from him. They stared at each other for a moment, and suddenly Jeff dropped into Marcus' arms, sobbing.

"It's okay buddy. You're safe now," Marcus tried to comfort him. Jeff just continued crying on his arms.

"I don't know why," Jeff cried out. "What did I ever do deserve this?"

Marcus broke Jeff from his embrace and looked into his eyes.

"You did nothing Jeff. It's not your fault your parents don't understand you. But you're  here with us now."

"How can I ever return the favour?" Jeff asked him, wiping his tears.

Marcus managed a smile.

"Exactly what my mom said. I'm your best friend; you don't need to repay me. That's what friends are for."

Jeff yawned. "I wish I had my diary here. Today is a date I don't want to forget."

Diary…

"Diary!" Marcus suddenly jumped, scaring the hell out of Jeff. He looked at him concerned.

"What about my diary?" Jeff inquired.

"No not yours dumbass, " Marcus corrected him. "Sheila's"

Jeff's face changed as realisation dawned on him.

"Oh my God! How come we didn't think of that?" he exclaimed. "Sheila must have had somewhere she wrote about her days."

"We must tell Michelle! Although I doubt she's awake. We'll tell her tomorrow first thing in the morning."

Jeff nodded in agreement to his friend and Marcus bid him goodnight. Marcus himself felt the rush of energy back within him. He lay in his bed as thoughts raced through his mind. At last, sleep finally took over and as he closed his eyes, he recalled the tiresome day they all had.

At least two good things came out from that eventful Pride Day.