Halo II
Angels & Monsters

By: Micah Diablo
(© 2010-2011 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 7
If This Isn't Love
 

Author's Note:

BACK TO COY'S POINT OF VIEW

This episode again features Flashbacks which are noted by the italics….

Scene A

"Early this morning, police uncovered two bodies behind a local pizzeria…"

'God, just what I want to hear before I eat cereal,' I said to myself as my dear brother walked down the stairs.

"…They appear to be at least eighteen, and the bizarre thing was, they had homophobic remarks carved into their bodies," the report continued.

Ky grabbed the remote from the table and turned the television off.

"I was watching that," I said to him, and he shrugged his shoulder.

"I really don't think we should be getting depressed before school," he said taking a seat across from me.

I rolled my eyes and texted Anthony to let him know I'd be meeting him at my locker in fifteen minutes.

"How you feeling?" Ky asked, and I sighed, frustrated.

"Between Carmen, Anthony, Josh, and Nick asking me how I am doing, you guys are driving me crazy," I said, getting annoyed. "It's been two weeks and I went on that spiritual thingie during Winter Break. I'm fine. Tony's gone. My fear's gone. I want to think about other things."

"Well … how are Josh and Carmen?" he asked. "I've been skiing in Aspen for the past two weeks with some kids from my group."

That was partially true. He did spend part of Winter Break with his friends, but the other half of it, he spent with Nick in a hotel. But that was just their secret…

"As you know, I was cut off from television and limited internet privileges, so from the email … I'm guessing the same as we left them," I said taking my bowl to the sink and rinsing it out. "Broken up."

"That sucks major ass," Ky said, shaking his head. "They were cute together. Perfect, even."
 

I shook my head. "Cute … Yes. Perfect … no. Carmen and Josh, in my opinion, are a couple of convenience. Two people who base their relationship primarily on looks. Josh needs somebody like…"

"Like you," Ky offered with a sly grin. I flashed him a dark look. "I'm just saying … Josh and you've been friends for years, now. The whole time, Josh protected you when he got you in his crazy antics, and you always thought of ways to execute his plans and get him and yourself out of trouble. You're close friends."
 

"Me thinking of Josh is almost as Inbred as me thinking of you," I said. "Josh is, and always will be, just a friend. The only type of relationship we will have. Not to mention … he's STRAIGHT!"

"Well, how is your relationship, or lack thereof, going?" he asked, curiously.

I raised my brow in amusement. "This is where the interview ends, sir.  I love you, but I don't agree with some of the stuff you did and are doing now. We aren't the same as before, Ky. But you are my brother, and I will always love you."

Ky looked down at his bowl. "Coy, I am doing this for us," he said sadly. "Don't you sometimes wish you could be straight?"

I shook my head, and kissed my brother on the cheek. "Never … Vaginas scare the crap out of me," I said pinching his cheek. "I like being this way because … if you take away the gay part of me … you take away a part of what makes Coy … well, Coy."
 

Ky thought about it for awhile. "You're saying I should embrace it and just deal with it?"

"I'm saying that life is full of weirdoes and freaks and ignorant people. Look at Ryan and Tony. However, you let them do their worst, and you survive. I'm living proof of that, my dear brother. Ky … your sexuality doesn't define you; you define it."

Ky looked at me with a smile. I knew that smile. I think it was breaking away at my hard exterior.

"Now, come on; we're car-pooling," I said. "You're driving."

"Well, once we told Mom and Dad about your rape, they couldn't stop trying to make up for not being there, so you could've told them before the kidnapping … Now we got two free cars out of it," Ky said.

"I guess we can thank Tony for that," I said, sarcastically.  "Oh … and I do want to advise you of something."

"What?" he asked as we walked toward his car.

"Next time you have Nick over, and you're having mind-blowing sex … make sure you try to keep it down," I said with a sly grin. "I have to get my sleep to look this beautiful."

 

"You know?" Ky asked, incredulously. I laughed as we got inside.

"Well, I didn't know it was Nick till just now," I said, still laughing. "I was just reaching, and you jumped to give me the answer."

Ky sighed to himself. "Look … you can't tell anybody," he said to me. "Especially Anthony, because he would freak if he knew. I know you don't owe me this but … please … you can't tell anyone."

"Relax," I said to him with a small smile. "I'm sure Anthony will warm up to it eventually."

Ky shook his head and looked at me with a serious look. "Coy … I've realized I made a mistake with Reverend Taylor and the group…."

"Then let it go and get out of it," I said, looking down to see that I'd received a call from Matt. I hit ignore.

"It's not that easy," he said to me sadly. "I made a mistake because I was trying to help us. But I can't just up-and-leave the group. It'll have serious repercussions."

I looked up from my phone and at my brother with a serious look. "Ky … is there something you need to tell me?"
 

"Just remember … that whatever happens … I love you," he said, starting the car and pulling it out of the driveway. I looked at him trying to figure out what was wrong.

We may have been working on our differences, but something told me that things were far from being completely fixed.

"Are you in trouble, Ky?" I asked after a few moments.

When he didn't answer … I got my answer. Reverend Taylor and the new group he was hanging around, weren't all they seemed to be.

"Ky … what can I do?" I asked, trying to get answers from him. He didn't say anything. "Ky … answer me."

"Let it go, Coy," he said, not wanting to discuss the situation any further.

"Ky … what can I do?" I asked him again as we pulled into the school parking lot.

He looked over at me with a sad look in his eyes. "No matter what I might do in the future … no matter what is said about me," he said trying not to cry; "remember what you said in the kitchen. I'm your brother, and you'll always love me."

We parked and got out of the car, and he took off without me … didn't even say g'bye or see-ya later. I looked at my brother's retreating back. It was funny how a semi-decent morning took a drastic turn.

'What have you gotten yourself into, Ky?' I said, with a sad sigh. 

Scene B 

"MATT!" A voice yelled out. He was so busy thinking about his problems and losing the love of his life, he didn't even realize a baseball was coming straight toward him.

The ball hit him in his eye, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Fuck," he said, clutching his eye. "GODDAMN IT!"

"You didn't even swing," Nick said to him as he followed Matt to the fence.

"I wasn't paying attention," Matt said, grabbing his bag and heading to the baseball team's Manager's office.

"Dude, let me help you," Nick said, trying to take the bag from him, but Matt pushed him away. "What the fuck man? I'm trying to help."

"I don't want your help, Anthony," Matt said, annoyed. Realizing he called Nick the wrong name, he growled in frustration. "Look, just go away man."

"I know Coy and you broke up, and you are worried that Anthony is going to take him away, but that doesn't mean you should lash out at me," Nick said to him. "We're friends … at least I thought we were."

"It's just hard to differentiate, especially when you and he look alike," Matt said annoyed. "I'm sorry man. We're friends. He doesn't belong with Coy."

"I agree," Nick said, shocking Matt. "Look, you were Coy's first boyfriend. I've known him 'bout as  long as you have. I've seen him smile and laugh a lot while you dated. I think Anthony is … easy for him. I know this is probably treason, but I don't think Coy could ever look at him the way he sees and connects with you. Anthony doesn't get to Coy the way you do. I've seen you over the past few months. You two belong together, and I'll help you."
 

"Gee, what's with brothers turning on brothers in this school?" Matt joked, making Nick laugh.

"I'm a sucker for true love," Nick said, thinking of Ky. "Anthony wants Coy to be happy, and you make Coy happy. But you have to promise not to let him down."
 

"I promise," Matt said, realizing that with love, you have to go the distance and try harder.

"I'm going to hold you to that," Nick said as they walked into the nurse's office. 

Scene C 

"Do you see us being together for a long time?" I asked Matt as we cuddled  on his couch, watching a movie.

"A very long, long time," he replied, giving me an angel kiss.

"How long?" I asked him. It felt so right being in his arms. Smelling his manly scent … His strong arms protecting me from whatever dangers may come.

"Forever," he answered. "But it will feel like day one every day. Because I feel the same way as I did when I asked you out the first time. Content. Happy. Complete."

"I feel the same way," I said to him with a smile.

He completed me…

I love…

A sharp blow to my head snapped me out of my daydream. I looked to see Carmen staring at me with a sideways glance.

"What … what's wrong?" I asked, not sure exactly where I was at the present moment.

"Nothing's wrong," she said, pointing at the clock. "But the Lab hour is over. It's time for lunch."

 

I sighed to myself. I hadn't seen Matt all day, and I was wondering where he was, even though it had been two weeks since we last talked.

"You're thinking of him, aren't you?" she asked me as we made our way to the cafeteria.

I nodded my head. "Carmen, I don't want to, because he hurt me so much," I said. "Lies … cheating … he almost got me … raped … and killed…"

"You don't need that, Coy," she said wrapping her arms in my arm. "You've been going through hell for the past few years or so. More so now with your parents and Ky acting queer, and by 'queer', I mean weird. You deserve someone less complicated than Matt."

"Like Anthony?" I asked, as we noticed him standing by the cafeteria door talking to some people.

"I will admit that Matt has him beat in the looks and body department, but Anthony is still an 'eight' and his personality and loyalty makes him a 'ten'," she said. "He's been into you for a long time. Ever since the beginning of that first semester when Ocean burned and the two high schools merged;  and you did tell me you kissed him and that you loved it.  Ya tell me the same thing every time it happens."

"I did … but … that was hormones talking," I said to her. "With Matt … it was … like fireworks and seeing stars. He can kiss me like … with a lot of sexual energy AND love right at the same time."

"I say give Anthony a chance," she said, and I sighed as I thought about it. "I'm kinda glad that Josh broke up with me. I've thought about it for the past couple weeks. It was obvious he wasn't as into me as I originally thought, and he had no problems breaking up with me and being an ass. So, I guess I'm completely over him."
 

I noticed Josh standing and talking to Giselle. "So it doesn't bother you at all that he's talking to AC  number one bitch?"

Carmen gasped. "I can't believe he's talking to that slut," she said, angrily. "She is such … ooh … I can't stand that hussy, Giselle."
 

"I thought you were over him?" I asked, amused at her choice of the ancient word.

She looked at me with a crazy look. "Of course I'm over Josh," she said. "Doesn't mean I want his next girl to be HER."

She stormed off as Anthony made his way over toward me.

"Hey, Coy," he said, giving me a hug. "I see you're looking good as ever."

"Thanks, Ant," I said as we walked into the cafeteria. "I see you're looking good. Ooh, look we're both wearing Abercrombie. We're twins."

He laughed as we made our way to the lunch line. "So you get settled into your new classes pretty good?"

"Yeah, they're pretty decent," I replied. "Ky's in my first two lecture halls."
 

Anthony rolled his eyes. "That ass," he said, which kind of angered me.

"He IS my brother, you know," I said, defensively. "In case you forgot."

"And he hurt my brother," he countered. "In case you forgot that, also."
 

I sighed to myself. "Anthony, I don't want to fight with you. Especially not over Ky."

"Same here," he replied with a sheepish grin. "I'm sorry. I just … I can't believe Nick of all people just became such a sap."

"He's in love," I answered. "It happens to the best of us." I noticed Matt was watching us as we looked for a place to sit.

Anthony also noticed it and was worried there might be something going on. "So, Coy … We should talk," he said as we sat at a table.

"About what?" I asked, meeting Matt's eyes again. I smiled a small smile at him, which he returned.

"About when we kissed," he said, which snapped me out of my thoughts completely.

"Oh?" I asked, unsure of what to say.

"Look, you were with Matt for awhile, so I didn't want to make a move, and then I did, but we didn't have much time to talk about it, given the stuff that happened, but I would like to talk about it now," he said, and I looked over at Matt who had a hurt look on his face.

"Um … sure …" I said to him with a small smile. "What's on your mind?"
 

"You, Coy," he said, grabbing my hand. Given that we were both out, it was mostly okay seeing how the initial backlash died down. "I really like you."
 

"I like you, too," I said as I casually pulled my hand away from his. I knew Matt could see what was going on. Anthony had purposely chosen this particular table for us to use.

"I just … I want to … like … begin trying to take a step in the next direction," he said. "Taking our friendship to another level."
 

"Like … date?" I asked, nervously.

He nodded. "I mean … of course I want to date you, but I know you just broke up with Matt, so I want to take it slow and take you out tonight," he said with a hopeful look.

I glanced over to see Matt hugging some girl. It was an innocent hug but for some reason I got jealous.

"Sounds like a plan," I said with a grin. 

Scene D 

Nick zipped his pants up as Ky finished getting dressed. "I so love this new semester," Ky said, putting his shoes on. "I love having this free period for study hall or to go work-out. Trust me, we got a work-out, out here."

The two had snuck off behind the school to get some alone time to be together for the past hour.

"As much as I like being with you, I really am not a fan of a big branch sticking me," Nick said grabbing his jacket. Ky was about to say something but Nick cut him off. "Not that branch, perv."

Ky laughed with a childish laugh as the two made their way back to the campus. "It feels good to be back together."
 

"Not to me it doesn't," Nick said with a sad look at his boyfriend. "I don't like having to sneak around. It feels like we're doing something wrong."
 

"What we did back there was anything BUT wrong," Ky said to him. "You're the only guy I would ever let top me. That shit hurts like hell. I don't know how you do it."
 

"It doesn't help when you have a well-endowed boyfriend," Nick said with a laugh. "But you get used to it. Trust me … We'll practice till you get it right, Mr. James."
 

"Oh, gee," Ky said with a laugh, but then noticed Darek was sitting on the steps outside one of the buildings. "Oh, shit."

Nick realized something was wrong as they walked toward Darek, who looked at him with pure hatred.

"Nick Pagan … What's up man?" Darek asked with a fake smile.

"The sky," Nick replied, sarcastically. "Can we help you with something?"
 

"We … no, you two can't," Darek said to Nick. "However … Kyle and I need to speak privately."

"You're going to have to wait till later because we are in the middle of something here," Nick said to Darek, getting annoyed by his presence.

"I think we all know what you two were up to out behind the school," Darek challenged, folding his arms. "I followed you and I gotta say, you two should make some porno movies. I'm sure you two could make a fortune with all that ungodly stuff you do."
 

Nick made a step forward, but Ky stopped him. "Look, Nick, I'll just catch you later," he said to his boyfriend.

Nick flashed Darek a dark look, and walked inside the school.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Darek asked as soon as Nick was gone. "You were fucking a dude."

"Look dude, I'm starting to feel like what WE are doing, isn't right," Ky explained. "I saw the news this morning. I know what you guys did to those gay guys. I saw pictures of them on the internet."

"We'll do the same thing to you and your brother and your precious little boyfriend," Darek said stepping directly in front of Ky. "You gave us your promise you were down for whatever. We're trying to establish a new order here in Atlantic City. I'm getting rid of those faggots. We're going to dispose of them. Now you have to make a choice. Your brother … or your boyfriend."

"You expect me to choose?" Ky asked, with a shocked look. Darek smiled at him.

"Of course not," he replied. "We already made the choice for you."

Ky realized that his hands were tied. He wanted out of the group but he had to stay in to protect Nick and me.

"Then I'm down with whatever you chose," he said with a determined look.

Darek patted him on the back and led him inside the Library Building. 

Scene E 

Carmen walked straight toward Josh, who was walking toward his last lecture of the day. "Joshua Jackson," she yelled at him.

"Yes, Carmen Gianni?" he asked with an angry look. He really meant it. He wanted nothing to do with Carmen.

"I understand that WE are over, and I guess I have to be okay with that," she said to him. "But my former best friend?"
 

"What are you talking about?" Josh asked her, confused.

"I saw Giselle throwing herself at you during lunch," she replied, folding her arms.

"Exactly. You saw HER throwing HERself at ME," Josh said with a scoff. "I am NOT into Giselle. It's like goin' from a fine Beyonce to a cute Rihanna."
 

"Really? You mean that?" Carmen asked, smiling and blushing at his comment.

"Look, Carmen … we're done, so don't take that the wrong way," he said firmly. "I mean it when I say this. I don't want to be a couple. We can try friends, because we have mutual friends, but I don't want to make things more awkward."

'We were done a long time before we broke up,' Carmen said sadly to herself. "Are you okay? Have you seen your father?"

Josh nodded. "I'm okay," he said with a sigh. "I'm staying with the twins for awhile until I figure out what I'm going to do. I see my father every morning as I go get the newspaper. I try to talk to him, but I don't think he wants to fix this."

"And the drugs?" she asked him. "You still using?"

"Yeah," Josh said with a blank face. "I'm sober now, but it's the only way to cope without going completely insane."

Carmen sighed and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. "Look, I know we aren't together. But you were my friend before you were my boyfriend. You will always be my friend, Josh. Just please be careful. Promise me?"

"I promise," he said with a small smile. She touched him lightly on the face. With one more kiss on the cheek, she left him standing there.

'There is just so much you don't know, Carmen,' he thought to himself. 

SCENE F 

I walked into the tutoring center. I had received a mysterious text message from an unknown number to meet a person there in the center.

"Hello, Coy," a guy said as he sat in the chair at the table. "I was hoping you would come."

"I take it you got my number from my school records?" I asked, and he nodded. "So can you tell me who you are and what you want exactly."

"Daniel Rodriguez," he said shaking my hand. "I need your help."

"Oh, for tutoring?" I asked, and he shook his head.

 "No … not for tutoring. I'm a pretty smart freshman. Top in my class actually. Might be in your year by the end of this year."

"Good for you," I said sarcastically. "Now can you tell me why I'm here?"

"It's about your brother, Ky," Daniel explained, and my ears peaked up at that little tidbit. "He is in some serious deep shit."
 

"What's going on?" I asked. Daniel opened his binder and showed me some pictures of dead boys who looked about our age … a bit younger, possibly. "What is this? I don't know what's going on."

"Your brother is involved in a religious zealot circle called the Christian Soldiers," Daniel explained. "They're like a gang minus the whole stigma toward gangs."

"Oh, my God," I said, covering my mouth as I looked through the clippings. "Hold on … Is this the story from this morning? About what happened to those two gay boys?"
 

"Yes," Daniel nodded. "I think they gave Ky the premise that they could cure his homosexuality, but in fact they're brainwashing him into being a soldier for them. They take advantage of young weak minds."

I looked at the biography of the group. "They've been around since the early 1900s? They have affiliations to racial hate groups and religious hate groups against Jews and other religions," I read aloud. "Since the 1980s they've been a main suspect into the hate crimes against homosexuals … Did Ky kill somebody? No, wait … he didn't. He was in the house last night."

"He hasn't been a member long enough for them to give him a task like that," Daniel answered me. "But his time to choose is coming soon, and they will use people he cares about who will be in danger … they'll use his closest friends and family as bait to rope him in."

"I gotta find him … gotta talk to him," I said, getting up from the table. He grabbed my arm.

"Coy … you want to help your brother?" he asked me and I nodded. "Then I need you to trust me and join my group, We are a group of pacifists trying to spread the word about the organization to the world in hopes they will disband."
 

"Fine," I said to him. "Please, help me save my brother."

Ky was in some serious shit from what I read, and I realized that no matter how much he had hurt me, I had to save him from impending dangers coming his way.

Daniel and I sat in the tutoring center talking about his organization called Rainbow Soldiers. They were about spreading peace and getting equality for young gay teens, and to help troubled teens struggling with their identities.

The news flickered on, and it was a strange broadcast color. It was a rainbow color. A picture of Matt and me flashed on the screen. The very first picture we ever took together as a couple. I saw the happiness in my smile.

"Please tell me Ky isn't behind this," I said as I saw Matt come onto the screen.

"You won't talk to me so I figured this is the only way I can get you to understand me," He said into the camera. "Coy … I know I screwed up royally and that you deserve somebody who would never let you down. I don't want to let you down anymore. I want to love you. Spend the rest of my life with you … I love you, and I don't care who knows. Because I'm tired of hiding. I love you, Coy James, and I'm asking you for a second chance…"

The broadcast was cut off in mid-sentence.  I looked over at Daniel with a confused look.

"I think you should go find him," he said to me as the buzzer buzzed annoyingly, signaling the end of the day.

"Text or call me tonight," I said to him as I rushed out of the center.

I walked out to see eyes on me just like before. But people weren't looking at me with hatred. It was almost like they were truly accepting me.

"Go get him, Coy," A girl yelled out, and people cheered, signaling their support. I smiled brightly until I saw Anthony standing at my locker.

It was the look in his eyes that told me. Told me there was no chance to start something with him because I hadn't finished my story with Matt.

"I'm sorry," I mouthed to him.  He smiled back at me and pointed behind me. I turned to see Matt standing there.

"Hey," he said nervously. "I hope I didn't embarrass you…"

I grabbed him and kissed him. Something I had been dying to do for so long, now. I didn't care anymore. It was a new beginning. Tony was finally gone and I realized now that Matt was finally the boyfriend I needed him to be.

I heard cheers going on, all around us as we kissed. Even teachers were cheering. I noticed Ky looked happy but there was a look of fear on his face as he stood with Darek and the rest of those people. I was going to have to figure out how to help him.

"I got something to say to your face," Matt said to me as we walked toward his car.

"Which is?"

"I love you," he said, and I realized that THAT was the first time he'd said it and actually meant it.

"I love you, too," I said with a smile.  

To be continued... 

Authors Note…

Halo : Angels & Monsters will be ending after only one more chapter. This episode was mainly kind of mushy because I'm in a mushy mood. However, we'll find out just how bad the Christian Soldiers are in the next chapter when Coy gets in a dangerous situation placing his life in grave danger.  So stay tuned for the next episode.