Pretend You're Someone Else (Chp.14) 2/3

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ID: 1727540   (Rated: 18+) Pretend You're Someone Else  A man hides a secret from his family and has no clue that his son has the same secret. by KAT26/Adrian--Published!

Chapter Fourteen is divided into three parts. This is part two.

Part Two

Chapter Fourteen

May-1992

Avoy, Georgia

Part 2/3

         "Dear Frankie, I love the way your breath always taste like coffee. Your skin smells like burnt cinnamon..."

         "Burnt cinnamon?" Robert giggled.

         Peter handed the note he was reading to Robert.

         "I think you've moved onto a lemony smell."

         The two of them lay on Peter's bed. Erich and Paul were at school--their last day! After Senior exams they would come home to a surprise party thrown by Peter and Robert. Around noon he needed to head over to the local grocery store to buy the ingredients, but until then he passed the time curled-up in bed with Robert reading their old high school love letters out loud. His personal cell phone lay on the bedside table, in case Dr. Graham should call.

         Earlier that morning, after their shower, Peter pulled Robert into his closet. Digging around for some clothes to let him borrow, Robert came across the locked drawer.

         "Ooh, what's in here?" His eyes seemed to twinkle.

         Peter tossed a light forest green sweater in his boyfriend's direction.

         "Nothing kinky, sweetie. If you wish to see for yourself the key is taped underneath the table."

         Robert caught the sweater, slipped into it and unlocked the drawer.

         Peter changed into a pair of khakis and a linen shirt. Un-clipping wool pants from the hanger, he walked over to Robert, who stood there in nothing but a pair of boxers and the sweater.

         "Here," he handed them over.

         Robert turned around clutching his old love letters.

         "You actually kept them," he whispered.

         Peter shrugged one shoulder. "I told you I did." Bitting his bottom lip, he watched Robert lay the letters on top of the table, then slipped into his clothes.

         Peter gathered up the papers and turned to pull the others from the drawer.

         "Come, let's read them."

         They plopped down on the bed and took turns reading their own letters aloud.

         "...your eyes are two gorgeous pools of..."

         "Meet me in the basement under the elem. school cafeteria. I thought..."

         "...I love you more than you will ever comprehend."-Frankie

         "Your dark, auburn hair feels so soft against my skin."

         The hours slipped by and before they knew it the clock struck noon.

          "Dear, we need to buy food for the party." Peter refolded the note he had just read aloud.

         Robert scooped up his letters into a neat pile.

         "I can't believe you kept them all these years, after I literally threw them back at you."

         Taking his boyfriend's letters, he added them to his own pile.

         "Of course I did."

         Turning back to Robert he caught him staring back.

         "Sorry, I acted like a jerk."

         "I probably deserved it," Peter placed a kiss on Robert's nose, then pulled back. "Hell, I know I deserved it. I had no right treating you that way in May's Diner."

         Robert smiled. "Don't worry about it, we were both stupid, rich, arrogant children who were pissed that society wasn't ready to accept our relationship, so we took it out on everyone whom we felt to be an easy target."

         Peter sat up in bed. "So," he trailed his fingers along the quilt. "You forgive me?"

         "I'm lying in bed with you right now, that should be proof enough."

         "Hmm," Peter sighed, "I wish I could apologize to Stacey."

         Out of the corner of his eye he could see Robert pull back.

         "Why?"

         "Because we were so violent to her that day. Robert, she deserves an apology."

         "Of course she does, but I honestly believe she forgave us years ago."

         "I've tried tracking her down."

         Robert's head snapped around. Peter could see a stunned look in his boyfriend's eyes.

         "There are approximately ten Stacey Sherry's in America, none of which live in Georgia," he continued.

         Robert closed his eyes and exhaled. "Perhaps she married?"

         "Perhaps. Probably. I dunno." Peter grabbed his letters and headed towards the closet. Turning back around he saw Robert drop his head in his hands, then quickly ran his fingers through his hair, brushing it neatly back in place.

         There was something in that moment. Shaking his head in confusion, he went to lock-up the letters.

*****

         Peter slowly pushed the shopping cart through the produce section of Wakefield's Country Store. Robert led the way, eventually stopping at a bin of strawberries.

         Every now and then he caught a glimpse of a curious onlooker. Robert must have noticed as well because he turned around to smile. Peter had a feeling as to why everyone kept staring, the two of them hadn't been out in public together since their high school days.

         "Do you think we've been found out?" Robert whispered into Peter's ear, causing him to shiver with excitement.

         "I don't think so. I'm sure they assume we're just making dinner for the boys graduation party."

         Peter turned to grab a box of flour off the shelf.

         "Pity, they don't sell organic," he frowned, laying it in the buggy.

         Robert chuckled. "This is Avoy, nobody has ever heard of organic, plus we don't have time for the forty-five minute drive to Athens."

         "Pity," Peter repeated his previous statement.

         Maneuvering their way through the aisles, they eventually made it to the back of the store for milk and cream.

         Making sure they were alone, Peter crept up behind Robert and whispered, "What do we say if someone asks if we're dating?"

         He watched his boyfriend grasp a carton of milk, fingers tightened around the cardboard.

         "I say we be like our children and hold nothing back."

         "Good answer, dear," Peter took the milk and reached up to kiss Robert. Pity, no one was looking.

*****

         Tim Harris welcomed them when they reached the check-out lane.

         "Good afternoon! Peter and Robert you shop together?"

         Peter felt a little shy as he always did around Tim. No matter how many times Erich invited him over, he always felt awkward and nervous standing in front of the kid he bullied in high school. Glancing over at Robert, Peter bit his lip, the look on his lover's face told him he felt the same.

         "Hello, Tim! How are you today?"

         Tim smiled, showing his crooked teeth. "Amazing! Oh, Peter! I heard about Georgina, I am so sorry. She is very nice to me."

         Peter felt tears puddle up in his eyes, Tim looked so distraught.

         Nodding his head, he somehow managed to squeak-out, "Thank-you, that means a lot to me."

         Robert stepped forward to take the paper bags from the cashier. "Tim come out to the car with us," he calmly asked, handing one to Peter.

         Tim eagerly followed the two of them outside. Once the bags were secured tightly in the backseat of the Camaro, Robert turned to Tim.

         "You know today is the last day of school for Paul and Erich."

         "Yeap! I know!" Tim giggled excitedly. "Do you remember when you and I graduated Robert? That was so much fun!"

         Peter turned his head to hide the tears that started trickling. Robert must have noticed because he felt his lover's hand on his shoulder.

         "I do remember that Tim."

         Even though Tim was a year older, he failed a grade resulting in having to take his Senior Year over again and graduating with Robert.

         "You know," Robert announced. "The three of us never had a proper graduation party. I think we should celebrate tonight with the boys, I'm sure they won't mind."

         "You mean I get to come over?" Tim's eyes seemed to sparkle.

         Peter composed himself so the tears wouldn't start up again.

         "Of course," he answered. "We would love for you to come to the party tonight, in fact I'll even pick you up in a few hours."

         "Yay!" He squealed, throwing his arms around them both. "My first real party!"

         Robert laughed as the sunlight hit his face. He seemed so beautiful and full of life.

         Unraveling his arms, Tim started to scamper back towards the store, halfway there he stopped and turned around.

         "Congratulations Peter and Robert," he yelled.

         Robert turned towards Peter, his mouth agape.

         "I think he figured us out!"

         Waving 'goodbye' to Tim, he unlocked the driver's side door and waited for Robert to join him.

         "I think he did."

         Turning to the side, he saw Robert shake his head with laughter.

         "Are we that obvious?"

*****

         The party was in full swing when Peter received the call on his Nokia. Making his way out of the kitchen, he snaked around Erich and Paul's friends, then climbed halfway up the deserted staircase. Pressing the 'talk' button he raised the phone to his ear.

         "Hello, this is Mr. Anderson, whom may I say is calling?"

         "Peter," Dr. Graham's heavy New York accent filled his ear. "Have I got news for you!"

         A tightness filled his stomach at possible bad news. Feeling dizzy, Peter reached out to grasp the banister, his fingers shaking. His breath in gasps.

         With an excited laugh, Dr. Graham gushed out, "I found a surgeon in Atlanta who will be in town tomorrow to examine your daughter!"

         "Are you serious?" Peter quickly walked up the remaining steps and into Erich's bedroom where he jumped around for a bit. "Who-Who-Who?" He finally managed to sputter.

         The sound of paper rustling could be heard in the background. "Ah, here we are! She is one of the best in the field of brain surgery. Graduated with honors from Emory in '86. Has performed numerous operations across the globe. In fact, she has been in Europe for the past month which is why I couldn't get in touch with her. Yesterday, she received an anonymous phone call about Georgina."

         "When can I meet her?" Peter interrupted.

         "Tomorrow around six, but I would like you to be in my office around five we need..."

         "Thank-you! I will be there!" Then in his excitement he pressed the 'stop' button on his Nokia before asking the doctor's name. It didn't really matter he would learn it tomorrow.

         Halfway back down the stairs, Peter glanced over the railing and caught Robert looking at him from the living room. Judging by the bright smile on his boyfriend's face he knew exactly what the phone call had been about.

*Next Segment*

ID: 1756102   (Rated: 18+) Pretend You're Someone Else (Chp.14) 3/3  (This chapter is divided into 3 segments.) "Peter, I'm sorry I lied to you." (1992) by KAT26/Adrian--Published!