Love Prevails

They loved each other desperately. Both were sixteen, with birthdays two days apart. Brian and Michael had been dating for two years and had already devoted themselves entirely to one another. Michael had never met someone as wonderful a person as Brian. And Brian had never known a person as real as Michael. It was truly love at first sight. 1

After two years together, Brian wanted more from the relationship. He wanted he and Michael to be more than they already were. He wanted to connect with Michael in a way his boyfriend was not ready for. Brian wanted to have sex with Michael. But the tricky part would be getting Michael to comply. And now was the perfect time, as the boys were camping out in Brian's back yard. Brian took his chance while the boys were sitting together by the burning campfire.2

"Not yet, baby. I want to at least wait until we're engaged! And not to mention, we're not even eighteen yet!"
"I know you want to wait, and I respect that. But we're sixteen now, Mike! That's the age that the majority of people start to have sex!"
"Bri, please. I'm not ready for this. I'm sorry, baby. I love you, but I'm not ready! I want you to be my first, but not yet."
"Fine. I love you, Mikie. You know that right?"
"Of course I know that, baby."3

After a long time looking at one another, the boys threw sand on the flames and lay back onto the dewy grass. They had a tent, but it was much too hot and humid for that, as is usual for summer in the south. Michael was thinking how wonderful it would be to stay out there forever, just he and his love. But they could only stay for the three days that his parents would be out of town. They looked up at the stars and Brian pointed out the Big Dipper and the Great Bear. After a hug and a small kiss, the boys went to sleep, Brian's arm tight around Michael's smaller body.4

The next morning, Michael awoke to find the sun was already up. A glance at his watch told him that it was already ten o'clock in the morning, much later than he had anticipated. His boyfriend was nowhere in sight.5

"Bri? Where'd you go? Brian!"
"I'm in here! Made you breakfast!" Michael was elated at the answer coming from in the outdoor kitchen. He hadn't expected that.
"Wow. Really?"
"No. I'm lying."
"What?"
"Kidding!!!"
“Brian! I'm coming in a sec, okay?”
“No! I'll bring it out to you!”
“Okay. Hurry Bri!”6

Michael saw his boyfriend come back out of the house carrying two plates. From this distance, he couldn’t tell what he had made, but was so happy at the fact of the thoughtfulness of his lover.7

As Brian got close, Michael saw pancakes and bacon on the plate. He smiled, as Brian had remembered their first date. It was exactly two years before, when they hadn’t even been friends yet. The boys had been out with mutual friends all night at a party. So they all had decided to go out to breakfast. Everyone ordered different things, but somehow, both Brian and Michael had ordered the same meal. It had been since then that they had started hanging out more, and a month later, they were together. And it seemed Brian had remembered it as well as Michael had. Brian set the plates down on the ground beside where the fire had been the night before.8

“Here, baby. Made it for our…” Brian had been cut off by Michael’s lips on his own.9

The day progressed, similar to the previous one. They got the fire going again, and sat near it talking. Not about anything important. Just talking.10

They did this until noon, when the boys walked to McDonalds for a hamburger, as neither felt much like cooking. And then they went back to their personal campground and talked.11

It began to rain, ever so lightly. Brian didn't mind much, but Michael went to their tent to avoid the drops. Brian followed.12

They sat silent for a while, simply listening to the rain hitting their tent. After a few minutes, Brian moved over to his boyfriend and began kissing him. Michael was seemingly just as eager to join in the fit of passion as Brian was, but he was holding back with much less difficulty.13

Brian had Michael in a tight embrace as the kiss continued. Neither knew what to expect of the other. Until Michael pulled away. Brian looked at him, clearly not expecting this responce.14

"Brian. I... can't. Not yet."
"Mikie, I wasn't trying to... I know you don't want to... I love you, damn it! I know you want to wait! I would never..." Michael cut him off.
"I know. I know you wouldn't. Brian, I love you too. But I'm not ready. I could tell what you wanted. But I simply cannot do that yet! I'm sorry, I can't."
"Mikie." Brian hadn't been even thinking about sex for once. He had only wanted to kiss his boyfriend. He had believed Michael was going further, not that he wouldn't have enjoyed that. But he was not going to get Michael to do what he wasn't ready for. And he thought his love had known that. "Mikie, I get it! I love you enough to wait!"15

Michael walked out into the rain, with Brian in close pursuit. Brian grabbed Michael's hand and wouldn't let it go.16

"Bri, I just need a second. Okay?"
"No, Michael. Not okay. What's going on? What's the matter with you? Mikie, I love you. And I know when something's wrong with you. And there is right now. What the hell is going on?"
"Brian. I'm fine. I just..." Michael broke off, turning from Brian. But not soon enough. His boyfriend had seen the tears coming into Michael's eyes. Something was clearly not right.
"Mikie. Baby, please. Talk to me! What. Is. Wrong? You were fine two seconds ago. Please. What's wrong? Was it because I kissed you? Because I'd never want to hurt you! I'd rather die than know I'd hurt you! Baby, please tell me!"17

Michael looked back at him. His eyes were reddened.18

"Bri. It's not your fault. It's got nothing to do with the kiss. I loved it. I love you. I just... don't want to talk about it. I can't talk about it. I just... can't. I'm sorry!"19

Brian looked at him. Just looked into his lover's eyes, terrified that he was the cause of this side of Michael who he had never seen before. He had never seen the boy cry, no matter anything that happened. Brian was the one who took things to heart, never Michael. Something was seriously wrong, and Michael wouldn't talk to him. Brian's eyes filled with tears at the obvious pain Michael was in.20

"Baby, don't cry. Please. It kills me! I hate seeing you like this! Please talk to me! I love you so much! Please." Michael looked up at the tears he heard in Brian's voice. His eyes stung.21

"It's just... the kiss... reminded me of something. Something I don't want to remember. But it's not your fault, Bri. Please hear that. It's not your fault."
"I'm here for you. Mikie, you know that, right? You know I love you, right?"
"I... I know. And I love you. It's just that... I've had really bad experiences with... with making out with... I mean... The last time I... I was... I was... I..." Michael broke off again, falling to his knees. He was trying to tell Brian, but didn't know how.
"Mikie. It's okay. You can tell me anything. It'll be okay. You'll be okay."22

Brian knelt down beside Michael and slipped his arm around his sobbing boyfriend. He had no idea what could be causing this much anguish to Michael. And he was terrified for him.23

"He... molested me. He molested me, Brian! That's why... I can't handle sex yet. I... every time I think of... I see his face every time. Whenever I close my eyes... I see his face. He... I can't help it, Bri. I can't... That's why I can't..."24

Brian put his finger to Michael's lips, cutting him off. He pulled Michael into a tight embrace. Michael was shaking and crying into Brian's shoulder. They were sitting in the rain in Brian's backyard. The fire twenty feet away was only a small smolder now, and they were soaking wet. Brian pulled away from Michael and stood up. He gently lifted the still shaking boy from the ground and carried him into the house to the couch. He grabbed a blanket from the closet and wrapped it around Michael's shoulders.25

"I'm sorry, Mikie. I'm sorry I tried to push you into..."26

But Michael was sleeping. He had stopped shivering as much. Brian lay beside his boyfriend's sleeping form. Sliding his arms around him, he swore to never let his boyfriend be afraid of him ever again.27

Michael woke to find himself on the sofa in Brian's house, a blanket wrapped around himself and Brian. He felt Brian's arms around him. And then the memories of how he got there came flooding back. He turned and looked at Brian, who was still awake.28

"Bri, I'm sorry. It wasn't your fault, I just..."
"Mikie. Hey, I'm not mad at you, baby. I'm mad at that bastard who hurt you."29

Brian started to sit up, and Michael followed suit. Michael wrapped his arm around his boyfriend. Brian looked up and barely caught Michael's whispered "Thank you."30

The embrace they shared was one of pure love. It was a kind of love which would never break, never falter. They were closer now than anyone could ever know. In the end, love conquers all.31

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