Stop A Bullet - Chapter Ten

Stop A Bullet1

Chapter Ten2

“Would you like a glass or orange juice Taint?” Mrs. Collison asked as she slid a plate before me, presenting “Mamma's Big breakfast.3

I nodded, letting the smell of sweet, succulent bacon fill my nostrils before I greedily picked up my knife and fork and began to rip away at the crispy, pig.4

At the end of the table, overlooking his morning newspaper; Mr Collinson started between Ashley and I taking a few sips of his coffee, while keeping his eyes glue to our actions.5

I had not had a lot of time to process Ashley's confession, but I had however spent a small amount of time working myself up for it. It had been a long time coming and while it had not gone as I had expected it was a surprise none the less and another thing to add to the long list of confusing thoughts that continued to course through my mind.6

“Please and thank you would be nice Taint,” Mr Collinson grumbled, his wife placing a larger plate in front of him with double the servings she had given Ashley and myself. 7

Where the hell did he put it? I asked myself taking my first forkful of bacon, shoving it in my mouth like I had never had a thing to eat for the past Three years. It was to die for, and I would too if Ashley proceeded to try and grab my attention by placing his foot between my inner thighs and the seat of the chair.8

“Yes please,” I replied, noting Mr. Collinsons request. I had lied to Ashley about being scared of his father. It was a lot easier to claim such things when you were not in a room with him, but now that I was I felt myself pushing myself in a corner and biting my tongue so as to not say anything stupid that might give Mr. Collinson more reason to despise me.9

Mrs. Collinson smiled topping up a glass full of freshly squeezed orange juice before she too took a seat besides Mr. Collinson and began to cut her bacon into small strips, popping them in her mouth like you would popcorn in a cinema. 10

“I'm taking the day of school today,” Ashley announced courageously. He had not yet touched his food which reassured me that maybe he had really eaten before I came, or maybe he was just to busy playing footsies with my crouch to enjoy a nice, home cooked, breakfast.11

Mr. Collinson frowned, his eyebrows hidden behind a thick, line of wrinkles. His hair aging, still slightly brown drooping over his eyes revealing more than his grim, morning attitude.12

“I don't think that would be such a wise idea Ashley, your grades are already slipping and you have been away from school for the past Three days. How do you ever expect to pass year Nine if you don't go to school?”13

Ashley shrugged, a not so wise move attempted and executed brilliantly without any word from Mr. Collinson.14

“The same way I have for the past Three years of my life. What do you think they make weekends for?”15

My eyes widened as I looked across at Mr. Collinson whose cheeks had turned a slight pinkish color, almost the color of the bacon that lay untouched on his plate.16

Ashley was testing the waters I could see it. His whole attitude had changed from fear to joy; the joy of being a smart-ass was washing of like a bad stench, but not before it headed in the direction of the restless Mr. Collinson.17

“Now don't you be smart with me young man,” Mr. Collinson growled raising tension between everyone who sat at the table, including me who had put down my knife and fork to afraid that I might choke while watching the actions of Ashley's sudden behavior change unfold.18

Ashley looked up, his mile not fading, but remaining the same as he took a large swig of his orange juice gulping it down before he wiped his mouth on his sleeve and laughed in his father reaction: pressing his toes into my crouch.19

“AHOY,” I shouted being jolted on the spot, his toes toying with my sensitivity and his parents patience.20

“What I mean to say is ahoy Mrs. Collinson what herbs did you mix with this Spinach Omelet, cause I think it has worn of onto the bacon.”21

Mrs. Collinson frowned wracking her fork through her omelet as if trying to pick out the spinch pieces in her response.22

Damage control... Taint damadge control... I said to myself watching as Mr. Collinson eyed me up in down, looking disgusted with my remarks to his wifes cooking.23

“Because ahoy Mrs. Collinson you can come around my place anytime and cook for me, because this is absolutely delicious, a dish to die for,” I replied, watching her as her frown quickly disappeared and was replaced with a happy grin.24

“Taint you are to kind,” Mrs Collinson laughed, giggling like a school girl. “I can give you the recipe if you like? And you can take it home with you. It isn't that hard to make, just tossing a few ingredients in that's all.”25

I nodded accepting her proposal my eyes fixated on Ashley who seemed amused with his actions, although I was not at all appreciative. He was acting like a fool and if he did not stop it he was most definitely going to get us into a lot of trouble.26

“Anyway, back to school,” Ashley said steering the topic back onto him, his voice as flamboyant as Carson from Queer eye, his smile wreaking of mischievous thoughts. 27

“The answer is no,” Mr. Collinson stated, propping his newspaper beside his juice, before picking his glass up and taking a few small sips. His Grey, tired, eyes never leaving Ashley's.28

Ashley pushed his plate away, turning his body so that he was in line with his father. His foot still resting against my chair: although he paid no attention to me whatsoever as he tried to bargain with his father.29

“I'll have you know I don't want to go today with good reason,” Ashley said stating his reasons without an ounce of back up to support his claim.30

I watched Mr. Collinson as he patiennly egan to cut through his own omelet, taking a forkful in his mouth: ignorning Ashley's statement.31

“I will have you I had hardly any sleep last night, so I don;t think it would do me or anyone any good if I went to school today because I certainly would not be able to focus.”32

Mr. Collinson looked at Ashley, placing his fork and knife beside him before directing his attention towards Ashleys statements, crushing both he and I with the next few words that left his lips.33

“Did you ever think the reason why you did not get any sleep last night was because you were conversing at Four A.m with Mr. Faggot over there?” he said pointing his grubby finger in my direction: taking the first stab at my heart.34

I could feel the knife inching into my hard, not yet twisted but the pain beginning to fill me with anger, my blood boiling with the confrontation of his words.35

Ashley gasped. His moth hanging wide open with unexpectedness of his fathers reaction to the simple truth. This was irony at its best, if only Mr. Collinson knew I was sure he would be the last to start throwing accusations around like he had nothing better to do but insult me and blame me for everything that went wrong in regards to Ashley's flamboyancy and sexuality dilemma.36

I knew that this had shocked Mrs. Collinson as I heard with a brief certainty as she told her husband of for bring that kind of talk to the table. She was taken back for sure by his tone and his accusation, but she was like Tanya in many ways in regards to standing up for what she believed in and even though she would not admit it, I did not see homophobia to e in her nature.37

“I will have you know that I was awake long before Taint arrived and he is not a freaking faggot dad. Hell he is not even gay, he is probably the straightest person I know and it just goes to show that you have no respect for anyone if they don't match up to your standards. Hell look around you dad, you can accept some homeless, contain, addict into your home, but you can't accept my perfectly clean, respectable friend.”38

“Watch it Ashley you are cruising for a clip behind the ear,” Mr Collinson said raising his voice another octave. How grow dulling but becoming something far more aggressive. Ashley was sure testing him now.39

“I'm not going to school end of story, like it or lump it,” Ashley said standing his ground as he drained the last of his orange juice and stood up.40

“Sit down and grow up,” Mr Collinson snarled taking Ashleys arm, wrapping his fingers around his as he twisted him back into his seat.41

My stomach was beyond knotting and my heat had quickened way beyond its normal beat. I could feel the infernal thumping in my ears as I watched, seeing a side of Mr. Collinson I had never seen before, one that I was sure that neither Mrs. Collinson nor Ashley had seen before either.42

“Or else what dad?” Ashley asked nervously: fear screaming from his body although he was hushed into the silent room. “Your going to hit me are you? Just like Grandpa did to you? You want to be like him? The go ahead and hit me?” Ashley cried, “HIT ME.”43

Mr. Collinson let go of Ashley's wrist throwing his hands onto the table as he swiped his glass of the edge, causing it to crash and break right beside Ashley's foot.44

He turned his direction to me, his eyes menacing, gouging into my soul like the knife he had inched into my chest. Only now he was about to stab it deeper, right into the core of where all the pent up emotions lay hidden and buried to rest. 45

I could feel it, see it, hear it in his heavy breathing as his lips began to move, and silence filled the air. I could feel the blood rushing through my ears, pounding, trashing sounding like Tsunami waves hitting the sandy floor or the roads of a terrified city. 46

He led his finger towards me, his expression never changing as the words began to spew like his mouth like a noxious parasite ready to eat away at whatever emotions I still had in tack that were keeping me from jumping of a Ten, story-high building with no regrets.47

“This would of never happened if you hadn't come along and fucked him up,” he said his voice harsh and course. Like his throat has been slashed my a cat, he was struggling for the right words to say as his eyes started to water.”48

“You slithering, sodomizing, perverted, freak of nature, you get out of my house before I break your face against the wall. Do you hear me?” he barked.49

I sat silent, still, unmoving and petrified. My body reacting differently towards the messages that my brain was sending it.50

Get up and run Taint...get the fuck up and run...he is going to kill you...51

“I SAID DO YOU FUCKING HEAR ME,” he screamed, this time causing Mrs. Collinson to rise to her feet.52

I had no choice, I had to leave.53

I could not escape, not here not anywhere and home was a far safer place then in the surroundings of Mr.Collinson. At least I knew what was coming with Trey. I had no idea or Mr. Collinsons limits; for all I know he could damn well break my face against the wall and kill me in the process.54

I pushed back my chair, nodding as I quickly thanked Mrs. Collinson for the breakfast and marched as fast as I could out the kitchen door, through the lounge room and into the hallway where I took a second to breath, gathering my thoughts. Taking a short second to let the tears stream violently down my cheeks before I ran, running as fast and as hard as I could down the stairs.55

I could hear footsteps, not far behind me but I never looked back, neither did stop running until I reached the lobby, pushing the dirty, glass doors; stepping out into the cool, fresh, morning air.56

“Taint, wait up,” I heard Ashley cry as the doors behind me were pushed open and Two big arms were wrapped around me tightly, spinning me around into a grippingly, strong, embrace.57

“I'm sorry,” he cried as I fell apart in his arms, this time not stopping myself as my knees buckled, causing me to slide down his body, my own hunched as I knelt against his legs. Wrapping my arms around them for some kind of support; a support I both knew we needed, more than ever this time.58

Ashley fell to his knees, pulling my head toward his chest. His fingers stroking my hair heavily as he to began to cry into my shoulder. He too feeling the after shock of what had just happened, worse so than me.59

“I'm sorry,” he repeated, “I'm so sorry.”