The Phone Call

Five days after being released from the hospital Anthony and Alex join Rebecca and Jacob for lunch at Olive Garden. Anthony's parents leave shortly after eating leaving Anthony and Alex to finish alone with each other.

While eating, Anthony suggests they go to his apartment for a change. They walk there from Oliver Garden.

Shutting the door to the apartment, Alex turns to find Anthony standing directly in front of him, wearing the look of a predator.

Taking a step forward Anthony causes Alex to instinctively step back...right into the door.

Anthony takes one final step forward, planting his hands on either side of Alex's head, "I've got you now," he says gruffly leaning in for a kiss. Ten minutes later Alex and Anthony are both shirtless and making out, sprawled on the couch... when Anthony's phone rings. The answering machine picks up.

"This is Officer Rodriguez; I'm with the Reno Highway Patrol. I'm calling for Anthony Day. There is a matter I would like to discuss with you. My number is 775-328-7448. I'll be waiting to hear from you. Thank you."

Hearing the Officer's message, Anthony vaults off the couch and grabs the phone. He calls the Highway Patrol Officer back and listens as he is told that the car registered to his parents was in an accident. Hanging up, he calls his parents. Getting no answer tears start to fall from his face."Tell me what happened babe," Alex says softly, as he wraps his arms around Anthony's waist.

Pulling himself together, Anthony replies, "The officer said that my parents' car was in an accident. He wants me to fly out to Nevada. I called my parents...they didn't answer." pausing Anthony adds, "I think they died in that accident."

"We'll go to Nevada together and find out," Alex says firmly.

Remembering the poem he had written the night before, Anthony walks over to his desk and picks up the paper. Handing it to Alex he says, "I wrote this for you."

Void

To Alex

From Anthony

 

My heart was a void

Just a black pit in my chest

I'd always felt incomplete

So all alone

Then one day

I bumped into you

Starting then the void began to fill

The pit begin to close

The loneliness in my life came to an end

The day you walked in

 

Reading the poem, Alex looks up at Anthony with tears in his eyes, "I...I don't know what to say. I love it."

Overcome with emotion Anthony starts to cry, he walks over to his couch. Sitting down he puts his head in his hands. Alex walks over and sits next to him. He pulls Anthony into is arms. Alex just holds Anthony, letting him cry.

After Anthony falls asleep, Alex calls Officer Rodriguez to give him the day and time of their arrival.

Waking up from a grief induced slumber, Anthony hears the shower turn on. Picturing Alex standing, naked, under the shower spray, he quickly decides to join him.

Water pounding his skin, Alex raises his face into the spray, his eyes closed. He hears the shower door open and smiles as Anthony joins him. Wrapping his arms around Alex, Anthony slides his hands downward...

Three hours later on the plane headed to Reno, Nevada, Alex asks Anthony to tell him about his parents.

"My parents are...well were amazing. For example...I always knew I was different. I didn't know how at first. Then when I was thirteen I started to notice this one boy in my reading class, and I mean really notice. I noticed how his eyes sparkled when he opened a new book and how he pushed his hair out of his eyes. I don't know how to explain it; I just noticed things...little things. That's also when I started hearing rumors that he was gay. So I asked my parents, well mainly my dad. He told me that some people find that they are not attracted to the opposite gender. Instead it’s the same gender that attracts them."

"I also asked how these people know that they are ‘gay’. He replied that some people just know, and that some find out when they start noticing an attraction to other people of the same gender. That’s when I think I started figuring it out. My mom, she had been listening in the other room, came in and sat down. She asked me who I heard that word from. I told her about Scott, the boy in my reading class. My mom took a deep breath and said ‘No matter who you date or what gender they are, we will always love you’"

Taking Anthony’s hand, Alex gently squeezes it, "I’m here if you need me."

"I do need you; I always will," Anthony says softly. Louder he says "I've noticed you haven't talked mush about your parents."

"I guess I haven't... there isn't much to tell,” Alex says sadly.

"Good! I don't want to live in the house with a f*g!"

"John! He's your son!"

"I don't care Anne Marie!"

"At least he can admit his feelings!"

"Oh? Well so can I! I don't want a gay son!"

"That's not what this is about, and you know it!"

"I'm leaving Anne Marie, and I'm not coming back!"

"Good! Leave! I don't want you living here any way!"

With the sound of the slamming door Alex snaps back to reality.

"Alex, babe, are you okay?" Anthony asks shaking Alex's shoulder.

"Yeah. Sorry, I had a flash back," Alex replies, shaking his head as if to shake away the memory.

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

"My mom and dad were arguing. The week before I had come out, telling them that I was gay. I'm not sure what started the fight, but it turned into one about me. My dad didn't want to live in the house with a f*g, as he put it. My mom argued with him, telling him that I was his son. He didn't care. He told my mom he was leaving and that he wasn't coming back...he never did. I was 14 when they filed for divorce and 15 when it was final."

"I really don't know what to say, Anthony finally admits, “I don't know how I would have dealt with that."

"I didn't deal with it well; at least I don't think I did. My dad tried to pretend that my being gay didn't bother him. He'd call once a week. I got sick of the one sided conversations and finally told him off. I had just turned 17, he called on my birth day, and like always he talked about him and his girlfriend of the week. I finally said, "John, I really don't give a crap about your s**t of the week," and I remember exactly what he said. "Boy don't you talk to me that way! You are nothing nor will you ever be something so long as you go on believing that you're gay." I haven't spoken to him since, and that was six years ago," Alex adds

"Wow. That had to be rough," Anthony says sympathetically

"It was rough, but not as rough as knowing that you're the reason your parents got divorced."

"Don't say that!" admonishes Anthony, "Your dad should have loved you no matter what!"

"Yeah, I guess you're right..."Alex replies not convinced.

Officer Rodriguez meets them at the arrival gate, "I'm Officer Rodriguez," he says, shaking hands with both Anthony and Alex. "Do you want to settle in your rooms first?"

Taking Alex's hand, Anthony replies, "Just tell me why we’re here."

"Well like I said your parents' car was in an accident, a fatal one. We need you to identify the remains of who we think are your parents."

On the drive to the morgue little is said.

The morgue, in Alex's opinion, is a cold and dank place. The scent of industrial strength bleach hangs in the air. Anthony doesn't even register the change in surroundings.

"Are you ready?" asks Officer Rodriguez.

Snapping back to his surroundings, Anthony grips Alex's hand tighter and nods. He fights back tears as he recognizes his mother’s Music=Life tattoo. "That's my mom." Taking another look at the man believed to be his father, Anthony sees the Skull and Cross Bones tattoo his father got just before he met Anthony's mother. "And that's my dad" he says, finally breaking down in tears.

"It's gonna be okay," Alex says, wrapping his arms around Anthony and holding him.