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Jeff leaned his head against the window as the family farm, the only real home he had ever known slowly passed by. After things went so well with Damon when he came out to his family Jeff hoped his coming out would go as well. But the vision of his parents telling him how proud they were of his courage was replaced by harsh reality. His parents were from a different world than Damon's and Jeff knew it and had already known and accepted what his fate would be before it happened. Damon sat in the back seat directly behind Jeff and leaned with his arm over his lover's left shoulder. He really didn't know what to say and hoped that his touch was comforting. Jeff appreciated the gesture and placed his right hand over Damon's and lightly squeezed. Not long after turning onto the main highway Jeff asked Phillip to turn off onto a gravel road leading into the woods that ran next to the road. They traveled about a quarter of a mile and came to a stop at a rusty steel farm gate with several bullet ridden 'no trespassing' signs. Phillip grabbed Jeff's arm when he opened the passenger side door and was about to slide out. "What are we doing here?" "Just something I need to do before I leave town for good." "Is this private property?" "Yeah it is, and I have the key." Jeff had fished his key ring from his pocket. "Don't worry we won't get into any trouble as long as I'm here with you." Phillip was about to question whether this was a good idea or not after what happened with Jeff's family but Jeff seemed determined and confident. "Here, let me Jeff, you're still not getting around too well." Jeff almost protested not wanting to be treated like an invalid. But he knew Damon's concerns were genuine and it would be quicker for his partner so he handed over the key. "Watch the chain, it's heavy and may be a little rusty. Just set it aside and close the gate, we can relock it when we leave." As they slowly made their way up the lane the gravel thinned out to where it was practically a dirt road. Phillip guided his truck to avoid the wheels going into the water filled ruts. They came to a point where the road had been washed away and water from the morning rain was steadily streaming over the path. Phillip stopped and at first refused to continue but Jeff persuaded him saying he had crossed that same spot many times. What seemed like miles later they reached an area where the road widened and Jeff asked Phillip to stop. Jeff climbed out and motioned Damon to follow but asked Phillip if he could give them some time alone. Phillip started to protest thinking they were probably going off into the woods for some illicit homosexual act but then remembered who was signing the check and how important Damon's father was to his Uncle. He decided to use the downtime to catch up on phone calls. "Where are we going?" Damon was apprehensive about being this close to nature. "You'll see, come on." Damon was impressed as to how well Jeff navigated the barely visible trail on his crutches. We was concerned the terrain may be too rugged and cause problems but Jeff managed like a pro giving Damon time to watch his ass as he followed. The lack of what would consider normal city noise was almost frightening. They only thing he heard was the buzzing of insects and flowing water in the distance. "Are you allergic to poison ivy?" Jeff inquired. "Don't know, I don't think I've ever had it though." "Don't touch that then." Jeff balanced on his good leg and used a crutch to point at the vine growing up the tree right next to the trail. "It's all over the place here." Damon looked around and saw the same vine with three-leaf configuration growing up nearly every tree. He made sure he stepped aside to avoid the noxious plant but jumped when he heard something moving underfoot. "That's probably just a chipmunk," Jeff assured. "Keep an eye out for snakes though." "Um Jeff, did you say snakes?" "Yeah, there are copperheads and cottonmouths in these woods." "You're kidding I hope?" The look he received indicated Jeff wasn't. "Nothing else is harmful though unless you're allergic to dirt dauber stings." "Just keep an eye out for me." Damon slapped a mosquito biting his arm. Jeff suddenly stopped and pointed to a large silky web connected to trees on either side of the trail blocking their way. "Oh, and spiders." "I don't do spiders," Damon stopped and looked wide-eyed while Jeff carefully used the crutch to pick the large black and yellow spider. "That's okay," Jeff turned holding the crutch out level swinging it towards his frightened boyfriend. "Jeff don't, please..." As Jeff lunged Damon screamed and he fell backwards into the undergrowth yelling obscenities and causing Jeff to chuckle. "Is this poison ivy?" Damon was worried about where he landed but pleased to see Jeff laughing. Jeff cackled at how serious Damon sounded. "No city boy that's a blackberry bush watch out there's thorns." That caused Damon to jump with a few of the barbs snagging his shirt. Jeff reached to offer his boyfriend a hand. Damon could feel the sting from being jabbed as he stood. "Man, I just bought this shirt now look at it." He surveyed the rip and saw blood oozing from a few points where he had been pierced. Jeff looked him over smirking, "It's not that bad, you'll be fine but we'd better check you for ticks and chiggers when we get home." "What?" Damon looked terrified. "Don't worry babe, that part will be fun." "In the meantime just don't be throwing any more venomous creatures, what if it bit me?" "It was just a harmless wood spider; you know you have brown recluse and black widows in the city. Just think about it, in your own bedroom one could crawl into your shoe while you sleep just waiting to inject its venom when you stick your foot in." Damon stopped in his tracks. "I did not need to hear that, how do you expect me to sleep now?" Jeff resumed the hike leading the way up the trail. "But it was more than worth it for me to hear you, you know you scream like a woman don't you?" "I do not!" "We'll have to ask Phillip when we get back to the truck I'm sure he heard it. Damn, I bet Uncle Richard heard it all the way over at the farm." "Well I'm glad you had your fun at my expense. I can't believe I've fallen for such a masochistic redneck." "Yeah, well I can't believe I've fallen for such a preppy city boy." Jeff turned his head just enough to flash a million dollar smile. Seeing that was enough for Damon to forgive him for everything and be glad that Jeff was able to smile in light of the situation. The trail ended at a clearing just before a cliff. Jeff stopped, inhaled deeply and looked around while Damon walked to the edge of the chasm. "Whoa there Damon be careful that's a serious drop." "I see that, what is this place?" "We've always called it the stripper pits." Jeff answered. "Are you going to strip for me?" "Only if you strip for me." Jeff raised his brow when Damon did peel off his shirt then after admiring his partner's body for a moment he shed his own tossing it aside. "Comere stud." Damon went to Jeff's extended arm where they joined in an embrace. "You don't know how much it means to me that you're here. That back at the house was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do." "You handled yourself well Jeff." "I put on a good show." Sensing Jeff did not want a rehash Damon broke the hug and looked around, wanting to change the subject. "So what is this place really? I mean I'm guessing it's your family's property." "It was once part of the farm that was split up in my grandfather's will. Where we are now belongs to my Dad's brother Richard. And over there, see the cornfield past the tree line?" Jeff pointed across the chasm and Damon nodded. "That's my Cousin Gerald's farm." "But what is this?" Damon motioned to the pit. "This is the result of Peabody Coal strip mining in the forties." "A-ha, therefore the stripper pit." Damon shook his head in understanding. "Exactly. This is what was left behind when it was abandoned as it wasn't producing enough to be profitable. All the woods we drove through to get here were stripped but back then they didn't have to restore the land like they do now so it was unfit for farming. Great Granddad just let Mother Nature have it back. This is about the highest point; it's about a sixty foot drop to the water which is about thirty foot deep. Rainwater fills it up and the overflow dumps into that creek that separates my parent's house from that mini-mart. "It was in this pit where I learned to swim and fish. My buddies and me used to deer and squirrel hunt and before that ride our dirt bikes through these woods. And it's at this spot where I always come when I need to get away and think." "So it's your equivalent to me going to my grandmother's house." "I guess you could say that." Jeff agreed. He cleared away some vines to expose a concrete park bench then sat down. "Where did you misappropriate this from?" Damon asked as he joined his boyfriend. "My tax dollars at work. We used to have a phone booth that sat over there." "Where's it now?" "Under water." Jeff grinned. "I should have guessed." They both remained quiet as they enjoyed the scenery and soaked up the late summer sun. "Come here a lot?" "Off and on. I think you were the reason the last time I was here." "How's that?" "Remember when you brought Jennifer home and pissed me off?" "Oh yeah, how can I forget... I remember, you slammed the door then peeled out as you left." "That was it," Jeff smiled. "Just be glad I had this place to come to and cool down. I came real close to roughing you up." "What are we doing here now?" "I don't know, I guess saying goodbye since I'm not exactly welcome here anymore. Uncle Richard changes the lock about once a year and only select people get a key. I don't think I'm going to be on the distribution list next time." "Oh," Damon was beginning to understand the significance of Jeff's being outed. "What am I going to do Damon?" "What do you mean?" "This town is my life, my history. I'm somehow related to almost everyone within ten miles. You know, other than four years in the Marines and the last month at the apartment it's all I've ever known." Damon remained quiet he didn't know what to say to comfort his partner. "While I spent this last week just lying in the hospital I had time to think about my life and where it was headed. I guess I took for granted that I would end up back here in Spring Hill living in the farm house which eventually would have been mine. The coach from the high school called yesterday and wants me to seriously think about coaching. He wanted to get with me to discuss school and what I should take hinting that I could be his replacement. But I guess that's out now, no way will they have a fag for a coach around here." "You don't know that Jeff." "Yes I do, trust me you're in homophobe central here." "But your Dad said not to talk to anyone, maybe they won't find out." "Yes they will, it's only a matter of time before someone lets it slip." Both remained quiet letting their minds wander. "I have a question Jeff." "What's that?" "What about us?" "I don't know, what about us?" "I thought we had something going here you and me. What's going to happen next spring when I graduate?" Jeff picked up a stick and hurled it over the pit and waited until he heard it splash into the water below before continuing. "I don't know Damon. I guess I never really thought that far in advance. I mean no matter what you do, I'm only a freshman so I'm going to have three years to go. I know your life is already planned out but before I could really think about mine the rug was pulled right out from under my feet." "I guess the million dollar question Jeff, is..." Damon thought about his words before he continued. "Do we have something worth pursuing, something lasting? Or, is this temporary?" "That's not fair Damon. Aren't all relationships temporary until you get tired of each other?" "Not necessarily, my parents have been married for thirty four years and dated several years before that. How long have yours been together?" "That's not a fair comparison. I mean how many gay relationships have you known that have lasted that long?" "Well..." "See what I mean?" "But I do know of one couple back home that just celebrated fourteen years, so it can be done. And I'm sure there are a lot more." "Then there's your past." "We've gone over that Jeff; I'm over that part of my life. I want to be married to one man and make it well past Allen and Anthony's fourteen years. And I want that person to be you." "And I would like that too Damon, but do you think that's reasonable?" "I don't know why not." "I have no idea what I'm going to do now. An hour ago I had a home, a family and a possible future and now I'm broke, homeless with a questionable future." "You have Jennifer who seems to have accepted you, and the apartment so you do have a place to go home to." "That's just not the same." "You have me." "Yeah," Jeff smiled, "I guess I do." "Jeff I'm sure it will all work out fine. We have nine months of school to work things out, and our whole life to spend together someway." "But you're assuming I would want to be your kept man while you go off to work." "That's not for certain either. I may not graduate." "Yeah right, I know you're a straight A student." "But things could happen. Besides, I still need to decide if I'm going for an MBA and when to take the CPA exam and even then I'm not sure I want to work for my Dad." "What else would you do?" "You've never really set a major course of study so I thought I would see what you wanted to do." "You would do that for me?" "Sure would." "Wouldn't you be giving up a lot?" "Jeff it's only a job. I can find one of those anywhere." "Even in Spring Hill?" "You still need accountants here don't you." "I don't know about this, aren't accountants supposed to be nerdy?" "And I thought all jocks were supposed to be dumb and insensitive." "You've got me there I guess," Jeff put his arm around Damon and pulled him in for a hug. "Thanks for being here Damon, you can't imagine how good it makes me feel knowing you stuck with me." Damon was sure he heard a sniffle but chose to say nothing as leaned into his muscular boyfriend. "Don't worry Jeff we'll get through this. Just promise me something." "What's that babe?" "If you want this to work, work with me. Wherever we end up being it Louisville or Bum Fuck don't be afraid to talk to me about your concerns. I don't want to lose you Jeff but we need to know what each other is thinking." "Deal," Jeff agreed. "I guess we should get out of town before they send the posse after me." "What's your hurry babe? If this is your happy place we can stay here a while longer. I'm sure Phillip won't go off and leave us." "Wanna know what would make me happy?" Without waiting for a response he grabbed Damon's crotch. "Now who's the slut?" Damon chuckled as he felt the blood running to his cock. "It's been a while and I need you." "But here?" "Why not, we're alone. Now stand up and let me have it." Damon wanted it as bad as Jeff and wasted no time standing, unzipping and letting his jeans drop to his ankles. When Jeff grabbed Damon's cock and began nibbling on the foreskin it didn't take long before he was fully erect. Damon straddled Jeff's bum leg and ran his hands through Jeff's golden hair, moaning heavily when his boyfriend took his cock in his mouth and swallowed. Damon went into sensation overload when he felt the finger enter his anus and almost lost his balance. Jeff's own cock was by then fully hard and straining against the sweatpants he was wearing. He used he other hand to stroke his large organ through the fabric while he continued to service his boyfriend. Damon enjoyed the attention he was receiving on both fronts, glad that Jeff knew and remembered what buttons to push. He could feel an orgasm building when they both heard the electronic chirping. "What's that?" Jeff asked removing his mouth, finger and nervously looking around. "This better be important," The mood ruined Damon fumbled for the ringing phone and scowled a little rougher than need be. "Hello... Sorry Phillip, we're fine, we'll be back in a minute." "I thought you hated cell phones," Jeff smirked as Damon disconnected and pulled up his jeans. "I do, but Dad gave it to me the other day when I was up home, insisted I take it." "I guess we'd better get going then. But... we're going to finish this properly tonight." "Promise?" "You bet you sexy stud." After a quick kiss Damon retrieved their shirts and they made their way through the trail back to Phillip's truck. "Sorry guys but I finally got hold of Blackburn and he's only going to be in his office another half hour." Phillip apologized as the boys slipped back into their seats. "That's good," Jeff said remembering the bank book, "I need to stop by the bank and it's across the square from his office." Damon put his fingers through the door of the kitty-carrier and Skittles rubbed against them purring while Jeff directed Phillip downtown. He chose an angled parking spot partway between the lawyer's office and the bank. Damon volunteered to wait in the truck but Jeff asked him to come along. "Hi Jess," Jeff remembered the teller from high school and from the look she gave him she obviously remembered him as well. Damon noticed the look and rolled his eyes. He wanted to place his hand on Jeff's shoulder to assert his relationship but knew better. "What happened to you Jeff?" He gave her the short version about the accident surprised she hadn't already heard. "The reason I'm here Jess is I found this up at the house and wanted to see if there was anything left in it." "I don't think we've used these in years!" Jess recognized the old style passbook as he handed it to her. "Let me see what we've got." She opened the book and wrote down some numbers on a pad then began entering information into her computer. She navigated through a few screens until she found what she was looking for and when she did she made a sound like a hiccup and her eyes opened wide. She took a drink from her bottled water then went through the motions to double check what she saw. Jeff and Damon looked at each other surprised by her actions then intrigued moved closer to the desk as she wrote a number on her pad. "Jeff, not only is this account still active and good there have been regular deposits for years. Here is the current balance." Jeff took the slip she handed him and gasped himself, "WHAT? Is this for real?" Damon's jaw dropped when he saw the figure looking over Jeff's shoulder. Jeff's outburst caught the attention of a nearby teller as well as Ed Simpkins who Jeff knew to be the general manager. Ed walked behind Jess and looked at her screen then to Jeff. "What is your name young man?" "I'm Jeff Schultz, Mr. Simpkins sir." "Do you have some ID?" "I know it's him sir, I went to school with him." Jess interjected. "I do to, just a formality." "I, I don't have it with me. I'm not sure where it is since my accident." "And you are?" Simpkins looked at Damon suspiciously. "Damon Jung, sir." He extended his hand but it was ignored by the banker. "And what is your relationship to Mr. Schultz?" Jeff and Damon gave each other a questioning glance then as if reading his mind Jeff answered for him. "He's my best friend from school sir, he came to help me with some things." Damon nodded in agreement. "And do you have some ID Mr. Jung?" "Yes sir," Damon pulled his billfold from his back pocket and removed his Kentucky driver's license which he handed to the banker who seemed to over scrutinize it before handing it back. "I'm sorry to hear about your accident Jeff, I trust you're healing fine?" "Trying to, if this bum would quit running me all over the country through the woods and all." "Hey, that was your idea." Damon smirked. Simpkins smiled for the first time. "I suggest if you don't know what happened to your license you get a copy as soon as possible. Come on to my office Jeff we've got some things to go over. Oh, and Jessica I hope you remember the company policy on discretion." He took the passbook as he left the teller's window. At the office door Ed stood to the side to let Jeff pass but then blocked Damon's entry. "I'm going to have to ask you to have a seat over in the waiting area." "If it's alright I would like him in here." Jeff said. "We're going to be going over some confidential matters." "That's fine, anything you say to me Damon can hear." Jeff gave a pleading look, with a figure as large as he had seen he wanted someone else to know what was going on. "Very well then." Once they were both in Ed closed the door and took his seat behind the desk. First he tapped into his computer bringing up the information he needed then he opened a drawer in the file cabinet next to his desk and took out a large expandable folder that Jeff could see his name on. "So," he held up the passbook, "I guess your father finally gave this to you and told you about it?" "Not exactly sir," "How you came upon it isn't really any of my business, but going over this paperwork is and something I told Wayne we needed to do when you first came home from the Marines." "Okay, what's going on?" The suspense was killing Jeff who was more than curious about the money and the file. Damon knew his place and remained quiet. "Do you know anything about this?" Ed referred again to the passbook. "I've seen it before but not since I was a kid. I remember my grandfather once told me he started it as a college fund for me." "Very good, Everett Schultz, that's your grandfather of course started an account for every one of his grandchildren then was in here religiously the first of every month making sure a twenty dollar deposit had been made. He used to brag that his grandkids were going to be the first generation of Schultz children to go to college." Jeff beamed remembering how his grandfather used to say just that. "When he passed, the deposits stopped on all the accounts, that is except for yours. In fact your Dad took over the account for your sister and your aunts and uncles for your cousins. I'm afraid Everett didn't think to put the money into trust so all the other accounts have been closed out, most of them squandered except for this one." "Why?" "I don't think it's a secret you were his favorite Jeff, he bragged about you all the time. I'm sure he would be really proud of you now too bad he didn't live to see you win the state football championship." "I know he was with me in spirit, I was wearing one of his t-shirts under my jersey that night and could swear I heard his voice when I scored that touchdown in the third quarter." "It sure sounds like he was looking out for you from Heaven then. Anyway, in his will he left you this account as well as the parcel with half the rent to be deposited into the account and the other half to your grandmother as long as she lived." If Ed noticed Jeff's confused look he didn't comment. "You have been collecting all the rent since she passed." "Wait, what rent? What parcel are you talking about?" "You didn't know?" "I guess not." "Jeff, in his will your grandfather left you five acres of land along highway 12a." "What property?" "The property the Marathon station sits on and the woods just to the East." "No fucking way!" Jeff didn't know whether to be stunned or excited. Did you hear that Damon I own property!" Damon smiled but wanted Ed to continue. "But I always thought he sold the land, I didn't know he leased it." "Your parents didn't want to concern you," Ed chuckles. "Your mother was worried when you were younger that you would walk in anytime you wanted and take things saying you owned it." Jeff and Damon laughed. "I did spend a lot of my allowance money there." "Since you were a minor when your grandfather passed Wayne, your father was trustee and who the oil company has always dealt directly with. You were supposed to take over when you turned twenty-one but you were away in the Marines. Since you had signed a power of attorney when you enlisted your father has been calling the shots ever since." "Well I'll be damned." Jeff pondered the situation. "Here's the problem Jeff. And the reason I thought you needed to be involved now. The original twenty year lease the oil company signed with your grandfather expires later this year." "And that means?" "Honestly Jeff, you need to get a lawyer and I'm not talking about Larry Blackburn." "Phillip." Jeff and Damon said in unison. "Who?" "We just happen to have a lawyer with us and there he is." Damon said. Through the front window he could see the lawyer walking up the sidewalk who didn't appear to be too happy. "I tell you what, I'll go get him." While Damon was gone Jeff and Ed discussed the town and what had happened in the past few years. After Damon returned with Phillip and introductions were made Phillip was brought current before Ed continued. "As I was saying, the lease expires this year and I think your Father was on a path to, excuse my professional language, fuck things up." "How so?" Phillip asked for the group. "For twenty years Feldhaus Oil has been paying eight hundred dollars a month rent." "Is that good?" Jeff asked. "That's very good, for them." Ed was amused by Jeff's naivety. "Your father has been in negotiations wanting to triple that." "Cha-ching! And I would make that rent money?" "Yes you would. The problem is, Feldhaus doesn't want to pay it and stubborn Wayne Schultz will not listen to reason and refuses to budge which would cost you." "What is the problem Mr. Simpkins?" Phillip asked. "Ed please. New environmental rules have gone into effect in the last few years. The lease Wayne proposed did not take those into effect." "That's not good," Phillip agreed. "What gives?" "Well Jeff, Feldhaus has already said if they could not reach an agreement they were going to close the store meaning not only would you no longer be making the rent money but would also be responsible for environmental cleanup. That means removing all the tanks and lines then having the soil tested before it could be filled in. If they find any contamination which can happen with those older tanks it could easily cost more than what you have in your account right now. The EPA would require the cleanup before the land could be sold or used for anything else. Considering you have no insurance to cover it you would be bankrupt. This is what I've been trying to explain to Wayne but he refuses to listen." "Even I know that's no good," Jeff acknowledged. "What do you suggest?" "My suggestion," the banker continued, "was to only increase the rent 50% but include an environmental clause making Feldhaus responsible." "Has that been proposed?" Phillip asked. "Actually yes, I spoke with Howard over at Feldhaus last week and they can agree to that." "What do you think Phillip?" Jeff asked his lawyer. "I'm not really up on contract law but understand enough to know an environmental cleanup could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. I would tend to agree with Ed but suggest you hire a lawyer who's more specialized." "Any recommendations?" Damon inquired. "As a matter of fact yes, my cousin Andy. He's young but could handle this." "That would be Andy Jr. Andrew's son?" Damon remembered. "That's him. Maybe we could get the abstracts Ed and take them with us and I could run them by Andy's office when I get home tonight. How time sensitive is all this?" "Very, we need to get a contract signed by the end of next month while I'm still here." "Where are you going Ed?" Jeff couldn't imagine the bank without Ed Simpkins. "This bank and the one in Kaskaskia have been bought out by Fifth/Third and once the conversion is complete I'm retiring. Me and the Missus already have a condo in Punta Gorda, Florida just waiting for us to move in." The group offered their congratulations. "Since the way we as a little country bank have done things is different to the way this big city outfit coming in does things I wanted to make sure all loose ends were tied up and yours Jeff was last and probably the loosest." "Then I guess I'd better let Phillip get with his cousin and get it rolling before then." "There is one more thing Jeff." All eyes were on Ed. "This is the part of the deal I was least happy with. Your father and Blackburn were the ones who cooked it up, and unfortunately it is legitimate. Acting on your behalf he signed the lease with General Tower, they're the ones who own tower on the property that in turn rents to cell phone and radio companies. Since that's recent he was able to get more rent out of it than comes in from the mini-mart which is why he wants more from them. But that money Jeff doesn't go into your account." "Where does it go?" "Your grandfather's will only specified the mini-mart rent, I guess he never thought anything else would go there so Blackburn used that as a loophole to have your name as landlord but rent money goes into an account in your Dad's name with Jennifer as a co-signer." "The asshole!" Jeff wasn't happy. "It's not all bad. That money has helped him and your mother out a couple times in the last couple years. And it is also how he pays Jennifer's college tuition as well as rent on that apartment you kids live in over in Indiana. If it was in your account he couldn't have touched it unless it specifically involved the mini-mart." "I see." Jeff scratched his chin while Phillip's mind went to work. Over the next hour Damon went out to make sure Skittles had water and wasn't getting too hot in the truck while Phillip called his cousin to run the situation past him and make sure he would handle the case. They also opened a new account to divert rent from the tower taking the account out of Wayne's reach with Jeff taking a signature card for Jennifer so sign. Ed was able to have a Fifth/Third account opened for Jeff and some cash wired that he would have access to until the local banks' computers interfaced with the new owners. And finally Ed produced paperwork revoking the power of attorney taking all control of his life away from his father. Hands were shaken and phone numbers exchanged before Jeff, Damon and Phillip were once again in the truck and on the road home. "Woo-hoo!" Jeff screamed once the doors were closed. "Two hundred and twenty thousand fucking dollars can you believe it? That's like almost a quarter million. And between the mini-mart and tower I have rent of over two thousand a month coming it I never thought I would be rich!" "Slow down Jeff," A concerned Damon cautioned. "That's not enough to live on; you need to think about leaving it where it is or better yet investing it. Don't forget my Dad is an investment advisor." "You're right babe, I've got to talk to him and to that Andy guy. Jennifer is going to be so surprised. But right now I am starved; let's stop by the Old Mill for a bite." "I think we should get going and stop on the highway after we leave town." "What gives?" Damon asked, he had a feeling from the tone of Phillip's voice there was something he hadn't told them. "Here's the deal guys. While you were in the woods I called and got hold of Blackburn." The guys nodded they knew that much. "Between then and the time I got to his office he had called your Dad Jeff and knows about your fall out, or should I say coming out." "Oh fuck!" "Oh yeah, he was just not as friendly as he could have been and didn't want to share any of his briefs. I think the homophobic jerk had already called the authorities in Indiana and was pushing the fact that you're gay is why you CAUSED the accident." "After I used a few legal terms on him he settled down and offered to SELL me the briefs." "How much?" Damon asked. "Don't worry about it; I consider it a donation to rid ourselves of that homophobic asshole. But he started making threats about us needing to leave town and to be watching over our shoulders for the sheriff." "That's possible Sheriff Wilkins is a friend of Dad's and much more of a redneck. Yeah, maybe it's a good idea to get some distance between us and this town." The trip back was made in relative silence with only one stop in Terre Haute for gas and a bite to eat. If the others engaged in conversation Jeff didn't hear, he was lost in his own little world thinking over his life so far. He knew it could be broke into two chapters: The first being the first eighteen years of his life and living in Spring Hill. The next four were the Marine Corps. But both chapters were history, with the political unrest in the Middle East he barely escaped being shipped over so wasn't going to chance reenlistment. He no longer had a family in Spring Hill and he knew there was no way he could go back. He had always been raised to never be scared, but he was. Despite his windfall he was honestly worried about what was going to happen next. And even though he knew he had a support group with Damon, Jennifer and even Brian he couldn't help but to feel alone. He drifted off just outside Vincennes and slept the rest of the way home… Or at least the small apartment that was now his home. The End
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