A New Day Dawns

As he ran as fast as he could, the last thing Tanner Michaels heard was a bottle breaking on the wall and his foster mother yelling, "Get out of here you no good piece of trash." ' Great ,' he thought, ' she's drunk again. I need to get out of here and let her cool off.' As he started to walk to his best friend's house, he thought back on the circumstances that brought him here in the first place. Life had not been that bad. He used to have two great parents who loved him very much. They had money, they had a house, and they did all sorts of fun things together. However, that all ended a little over a year ago when his parents died in that crash. Tanner started to cry and yell at nobody in particular, "Why did you have to die! Why do I have to live with these drunks! Why couldn't I live with DJ! Why!"

As he continued walking, he started to think about the one person in this world who made him smile. David James McAllister, "DJ." They were both 13 years old, actually only 3 days apart in age. Tanner was born February 26, 1991 and DJ on March 1st. Their parents had been the best of friends, and he couldn't remember a single childhood memory that DJ wasn't a part of. Life had been so good. DJ had been there for him when his parents died, and he had been there for DJ when his mom disappeared and his dad started getting mean. They were each others strength. Now he was hoping that DJ would still be there for him when he dropped the bombshell on him that he was gay. He had known for a while now, but had always been afraid to tell anyone. He was especially afraid to tell DJ because he was the one that made him feel complete. He was that very special someone who showed him what love was. 

Tanner stood outside DJ's door for a while, silently sobbing, and wondering if he was doing the right thing. As he got ready to knock, the front door opened, and there stood his only love. For a quick moment he just stood in awe at his best friend. He was the most beautiful thing in the world to him. He was standing there in his white Tommy shorts with about an inch of his Joe Boxers hanging out and wearing a black wife beater. His hair was the color of sand on a tropical beach and his eyes looked like two emeralds.

Tanner was shaken out of his daydream when DJ said, "Bro, what's up? Why are you crying? Did that witch do something to you again?"

DJ reached out and pulled his best friend into a hug and said, "Man, don't you worry, we'll get through." With those words, Tanner just started bawling like a baby. "Come on bro, let's go inside and calm down." "You're scaring me," DJ said as tears started to well up in his eyes. "Please don't cry," he begged.

As DJ led Tanner to the couch he felt helpless. 'If there was only a way I could tell him that I love him without ruining our friendship,' he thought. DJ had long admired his best friend's ability to cope with things. He also secretly admired his good looks. Tanner was the same height as him, 5'3" but had a perpetual tan which made his strawberry blonde hair and steel gray eyes just pop out at you. Plus he thought the 8 inch long thin pony tail was so cool.

When they had both settled down, DJ asked Tanner if he wanted something to drink. After both had cokes in their hands Tanner said, "DJ, I have something I need to tell you." The look he gave as he said it told DJ he was serious.

"Ok," he said, "but I have to tell you something, too." Without a word, they both walked up the familiar stairway to DJ's bedroom. When they got in the room they took seats facing each other, and at the same time said, "You go first."

"No, you go first," they both said.

Finally, Tanner got up the courage and said, "After I tell you this, you are going to hate me and never want to talk to me again, but I can't keep this in anymore, it's killing me." By this time Tanner was back in tears and DJ said, "Nothing you can say will ever make me hate you."

"Yeah right," Tanner muttered to himself. 'Oh well,' he thought, 'might as well get this over with.' "DJ, I think I am gay; actually I know it, and I love you."

In the complete silence that followed, Tanner began to panic, next he began to cry. Finally he got up and started to run for the door. DJ was quick to jump up and grab him before he could leave. "Please don't hurt me," Tanner whimpered. "I'll just leave now and never come back."

"Like heck you will," DJ quipped back. "Not until I tell you that I love you, too. I'm not sure about all of these feelings and dreams I have been having, but one thing is for sure. I don't ever want to be without you. Please stay with me, please?"

Tanner wasn't sure what to say. It was as though all of his dreams were either coming true, or he was being played a fool. "Are you serious," he asked?

"Serious as a heart attack," DJ said. Tanner bent forward and kissed DJ on the end of the nose, and as he pulled away he saw a tear begin to form in DJ's eye.

"I'll stay forever if you let me." With those words spoken they leaned back into each other and began the kiss that would change their young lives forever. There was no animal lust, no heated passion, just plain and simple love. As they pulled away, both were blushing, not only about what they did, but also at the sight of the obvious tents each other was sporting.

"Wow, did you feel that," Tanner asked? "I don't know what I felt, but I have this feeling that everything is going to be good."

"I gotta tell you man, I'm scared. I mean, I'm glad that I told you but if my dad finds out, I'm in deep stuff."

Tanner looked at his friend as he considered his reply, then said, "After all that you two went through, if he can't accept you for who you are, or us, screw him!"

"I know what you mean man, but he has gotten so mean since my mom took off. I just don't want to piss him off."

Tanner took a long drink from his coke than said, "He doesn't have to know yet." Then he reached out and tickled DJ's armpit.

"Hey, stop that," he giggled. This of course is teenager language for "Bring It On!!" As they kept tickling each other things began to get more heated. Soon they were grinding in to each other and quickly reached the point of no return. Just before things got to far out of hand, DJ grabbed a hold of Tanner's crotch.

Tanner gasped and then said, "Go ahead, we've seen each other naked before." DJ slowly unzipped his fly, moved the boxers around and Tanners boyhood, all 4 inches in its glory came into full view. Slowly he started to stroke his friend and lover. Tanner was moaning lowly, but getting louder.

"DJ, dude, I'm gonna, I'm unggggggggghhhhhhhhh." As Tanner blasted off, DJ heard a noise and looked towards the door. When it opened, his heart almost popped out of his chest. There at the door stood the massive 6'2" 250 pound frame of his father Colin.

"What the hell do we have here?" he bellowed. "Answer me boy! What is this? I've got me a limp wristed fairy for a son. I should have known. And you," he pointed at Tanner, "I always thought you was queer." Tanner was hurrying to get dressed. "That's right queer boy, put that little pee shooter away and I'll show you two what a real man has."

"Dad, please don't," DJ cried.

"Shut up!" Colin fired back

"Please dad, just leave us alone." DJ screamed, "PLEASE!" Before DJ had a chance to utter another word, Colin hit him in the stomach so hard he immediately began to gag. Tanner started to run toward his friend and lover, but Colin jumped in the way and said, "Try it runt, your dad would have wanted me to beat your ass anyway." With that he shoved Tanner back onto the bed.

While DJ was busy trying to catch his breath Colin started undoing his belt and unzipping his fly. All DJ could do was moan and shake his head no violently.

As Colin came close to DJ he said, "Now, what you are going to do is suck this man size cock, and I better not feel teeth." As he put his steel rod up to DJ's mouth, DJ opened up wide and began throwing up all over his dad.

"You sick little fairy," his father yelled. In his anger he picked up DJ and threw him into the wall leaving a dent the size of his small frame. As DJ slumped down to the ground in agony and fear Tanner grabbed the closest thing he could find, which happened to be a baseball bat. Just as Colin turned around to him, still hoping to get some kind of action, he got hit in the side of the head with Tanner's first swing. Colin fell to the ground groaning and bleeding as Tanner got in one more shot. That shot put his lights out. At first Tanner thought he had killed him, but he saw Colin was still breathing.

Next, he turned his attention to DJ. DJ was mumbling that he was a dead man. Tanner went to him, and DJ fell into his arms crying uncontrollably. "Shhh, don't worry DJ, we're gonna get out of here. Everything is going to be ok, we've got each other." Tanner then looked around and said, "Go get cleaned up. Get some clothes in a duffle bag, find as much money as you can and we'll go. Don't worry about him," Tanner said as he pointed at Colin. "If he makes another move, I'll pop him again. Now go! I want to get you out of here."

DJ limped out of the room towards the bathroom. When he looked in the mirror he saw the same kid he saw earlier, only now his life had changed. Better or worse, who knows.

After he cleaned up, DJ packed his backpack with a couple days' clothes, his pocket knife, and $420 cash from the safe in his dad's bedroom. He took one look at Tanner and said, "let's go." As they walked out the front door DJ said, "I can never come back here again, and I don't want to either."

With that, the two boys made their way to Tanner's house. Tanner secretly hoped that the foster 'rents were gone so he could grab and go. When they got to Tanner's house, however, they saw that both of the fosters were there. They snuck in the back door, through the kitchen and to his bedroom.

Tanner's Foster Parents House:

Once there the boys began to talk about what they can do. Tanner first suggested they call the police. DJ said, "Bro, they would never believe me, I mean my dad has been on the force for like 18 years, and all cops stick together. Besides, if they believed me I'd be sent to a foster home and we'd be split up. I can't do that. No, no police."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Steve, Tanner's foster dad, yelling out, "Mary, where the hell is that damn kid at. That was the cops on the phone asking if we've seen him. Something about him assaulting another cop."

"He ran out of here earlier after we got in a fight, I ain't seen him since," Mary replied.

"Well the police are on their way to talk to us about him. Probably gonna get his butt landed in juvie. Then we don't get any more money," he came back with. "I'm going to go look for his sorry butt," Steve said. "I'll be back."

"Well that settles it," Tanner whispered. "They only want my parent's money, my inheritance. There is no way we can get help from them and I am NOT staying where I ain't wanted. Besides, this is a hell hole."

"So what are we going to do," DJ asked?

"We're taking off, that's what. We can find someplace else where we can go. Anyplace would be better, as long as it's not here, and we stay together."

With that Tanner kissed DJ, and then started to pack for their journey. Tanner packed some clothes, an envelope, and the ATM card that accessed his inheritance. They snuck out the window and took off.

They were no more than two blocks away when they saw a police cruiser slowly making its way around the neighborhood. The two boys, however, easily avoided it by heading for the creek.

"What's the plan Tanner?" DJ asked.

"I don't have one yet, except for this; We need to go to an ATM so I can get out as much cash as it will let me, then we need to hit the road."

DJ looked Tanner in the eyes and started to cry. The boys embraced and just let it all out.

After they regained their composure Tanner said, "I Love you DJ, I always have, and I always will. As long as we have each other, we'll be ok."

"I know, and I love you too. As long as I breathe, I will always love you."

With that Tanner handed DJ the envelope he packed earlier and said, "Here, I wrote this for you and it kind of fits now." DJ opened the envelope and inside was a piece of paper. He unfolded it and looked at the following words:

The wind fills my sails
To take me afar
To a place I've never been

But where we'll go
I do not know
Or as to why or when

But this I know
Deep down in my soul
A place that has no end

I will travel with you
Side by side
Always as your friend

This road will be long
With pits and hills
And fences that block green lawns

But we'll get past that
'Cause were friends wherever were at
And always A New Day Dawns

DJ was in tears again before he finished the poem. He took his lover in his arms, and kissed him deeply. Then they started to walk.

TO BE CONTINUED...