Canyon Lake Blues, Part 6

"We're glad you called, man," said Zane Morrison. "We were beginning to think that Kelly had brainwashed you or something."

He put down his beer, and looked from Adam to Wyatt. They were both rabidly curious as to why Wyatt had taken up with Kelly Fiore. This was completely out of character for him.

Wyatt, for one, was stunned that they even agreed to speak to him. Adam had seemed especially curt with him, but Zane at least was willing to hear what he had to say. He had to take this chance to redeem himself in front of his friends.

"Look, guys, I have to be honest here," he began, deciding to be straight-forward with them. "I'm bored as hell and I've had every girl in this damn town! I've done them all! I've been with the girls that every guy wants, and I've been with the girls that most guys won't even look at."

"So, do them again," Adam muttered. Zane sent him a sharp look that clearly told him to keep his mouth shut. Zane was the more level-headed of the two and was known for his laid-back, easy-going attitude. Adam, on the other hand, was a hot-head who was always the first to fly off the handle about every little thing. 

Wyatt continued. "I fucked Kelly because I wanted something new and different, Adam. If you're content to stick to the same-old thing, fine, but I'm not you and I know there's a world outside Canyon Lake. Kelly may be what he is but at least he realizes that. Go ahead and leave your head stuck in the fucking sand. Until I can get the hell out of this town, I'm going to do whatever and whomever I please, whether anyone else likes it or not!"

Adam simply stared back, his eyes hard like small black pieces of coal. Zane was impressed; Wyatt had spoken his mind, the plain truth and he made no apologies for it. You had to admire that in a guy; he had balls! That was what made Wyatt so popular; the way he carried himself with a "world be damned" attitude. 

"Well, I can't speak for Adam, but I think I know how you feel. We are stuck here and we should be allowed to enjoy ourselves any way we can until the day we can get the hell out of here! If you don't want this publicized, I won't say a fucking word - we won't say a fucking word, right, Adam?"

Zane forced Adam to meet his steely gaze and judging by the hard tone in Zane's voice, the other boy decided not to argue. "Yeah, whatever. We'll keep your secret and shit," mumbled Adam before taking a hearty swig of beer.

Wyatt looked at his friends, silenty claiming this one as a victory. With a forced bravado, he found himself saying, "Thanks, but the more I think about it, I really don't care if anyone knows. One day, I'll have gotten the fuck out of Canyon Lake and this place will be history!"

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Kelly sat alone in the living room, watching a movie on TV, but not really paying attention to it. Instead, his eyes kept flicking towards the note that Wyatt had left, which Kelly kept tightly clutched in his hand as though it were life support. The more he read and re-read the note, the more irritated he became. Who did Wyatt think he was?! Did he think Kelly had nothing better to do than wait around for him?

Yet, there Kelly sat, waiting and reading...reading and waiting, numbly eating pizza on an already full stomach. Just then the phone rang, breaking up the monotony of his routine. He didn't even bother checking the caller ID, subconciously hoping it was Wyatt to say that he was on his way.

"Yeah, hello?"

"Hey, Kel! Whatcha up to, babe?", a cheerful, female voice asked him.

Kelly couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. "Nothing really, Dina. Just watching TV and eating pizza. Speaking of...I could use some help finishing off that other pizza. Want to come over and give me a hand or are you and Brent busy tonight?"

Dina Morrison was Zane's sister and Kelly's best friend. The two had been close since fifth grade when Dina, an energetic and outgoing girl, had started kicking the back of his chair to get his attention. Her excuse was that Kelly was too quiet and she wanted to get a reaction out of him. Eventually, it worked and Kelly yelled at her, but Dina had been determined. She went back to kicking his chair, and the next time he whirled around to face her, instead of yelling, they both burst into laughter. Kelly and Dina had been two peas in a pod ever since and had been through a lot of rough times together. They were there for each other when Dina's mother commited suicide, when Kelly found out that he'd been adopted, as well as when he came out. 

"Nah, I think I'm done with Brent. He's too whiny. Hate guys that whine more than I do...well, you're the exception, of course!"

"Aw, thanks, sweetie. You always know what to say don't you?" Kelly quipped. "If you're not busy then get your ass on down here! I'm bored!"

"Oh yeah? Where did your houseguest go?" Dina questioned slyly.

Kelly gulped. How did she know about that?! He had planned on telling her, but somehow she'd found out before he could say anything! 

"Uh...what- um, how did you know about that?" he managed to squeak.

"Zane told me - well, actually he asked me. He and Adam came by and they both looked like they'd lost their favorite stuffed animals. Zane told me what happened at your place and wanted to know what I knew."

"And you told him you knew Jack Dookie Squat, right?"

"Yeah, of course, though I have to admit I'm a little pissed that I wasn't the first to know!"

"Hell, Dina, I didn't even know! He started ogling me at school today in the cafeteria and then he said he wanted to talk." Quickly, Kelly filled her in on what had transpired that day. 

When he finished, Dina let out a long, low whistle. "Wow! Of all the days I choose to skip! I always miss the good stuff!"

"I should have skipped with you, but you know how that would go over with the parental units." Kelly's parents were normally very easy-going, but when it came to his education, they were known to crack down with an iron fist.

"Yeah, yeah I know. Listen, I'll be over in a few, ok? You sure it's all right for me to come by?"

"It's cool. I'm alone. Elvis has left the building."

Dina giggled wickedly. "Did he at least thank you? Or stop to smoke a cigarette?"

"Bitch! Just get the hell over here, will you?"

"Ok, babe, I'm just joshing you," Dina said, still giggling. "I'll be right there. Quit stuffing your craw and save me some. I'm fucking starving!"

Kelly laughed as they both hung up. He looked at the note once more, hesitated for a moment, and then crumpled it up. He tossed it into a nearby wastebasket, seriously doubting that his paramour would come back. Zane and Adam would convince Wyatt that he was the devil incarnate and had worked him over with some gay Jedi-mind tricks. Wyatt may never even come back around for a little nookie every now and then.

Kelly chose to ignore the empty feeling in the bottom of his stomach and pretended not to notice the slight ache that began to throb in his heart. It wasn't like he even liked Wyatt, after all. He was just another self-absorbed, bone-headed jock - a jerk just like the rest of them. Why should he care what Wyatt did or didn't do? 

But as he went to let his best friend in, he knew it wasn't true, and Dina, who knew Kelly as well as she knew herself, immediately sensed that all was not as kosher as it should have been.