Post by ALBERT NEIL DEAN on Apr 22, 2012 3:35:31 GMT -5
So, because I always like throwing my early-morning-late-night writings around and at people, have what may eventually turn into a real story featuring Al and his self-confidence:
It'll prolly be up on my deviantart soon, as well. I may or may not continue this; for now, I'm going to sleep :D
Albert Neil Dean tried his damnedest to be normal. He was every stereotypical jock ever: he played football in the spring, baseball in the summer, and did boxing year round. He was tall and dark and handsome. He wasn’t the brightest of lightbulbs. He had serious issues speaking under pressure. He had some anger issues. He was sweet and chivalrous. He was great to talk to. He was the best secret keeper. He liked to party every now and then.
But he wasn’t as normal as he wanted to be.
He was wrong. He was a freak. He was made wrong. He felt it all the time. He tried to hide it. But it snuck out every now and then.
He was gay.
Thinking back, Al couldn’t ever put a finger on when “exactly” he knew. He had had crushes, of course. Celebrities. He certainly thought girls could be attractive, and he could see them as amazing people. He just never felt in love with one. Instead, he fell for his best friend.
Joseph Marshall Young was normal. No, wait, he wasn’t. He was perfect. He was on several sports teams as well- football and basketball and cross country and track. He was an honors student, and valedictorian of his graduation class. He was a year older than Al. He had eyes like an ocean. He was tall. He was funny. He was everything anyone could ever want. He was brash. He was insensitive. He wasn’t understanding. He partied a little bit too hard sometimes. Everyone has their flaws. He was still amazing.
One thing he was not: understanding.
Al doesn’t have very man regrets in his life. But he regretted every moment that he decided to tell Joey of his real feelings. He, like the coward he was, had waited until Joey’s graduation party. A few illegal beers into the night, Al pulled Joey aside. He fumbled through some kind of weird admission of what felt a whole lot like love.
After that night, it felt a whole lot like bruises and broken ribs and split knuckles and a perverse guilt. He didn’t even fight back.
After that night, Al buried his “true” self even further down. He continued to date girls well into his senior year. He lost his virginity, to a girl, in a messy night at a loud party. He buried himself in sports and school and never let himself think too much. He wasn’t very close with any of his teammates, not anymore. There was Ryder, co-captain next to Al, regular bully of three different kids. Miranda, captain of the cheerleaders, Al’s “girlfriend” (most of the time). Al didn’t even really acknowledge anyone. He was in a daze most days. Things just happened.
And then something else happened.
Michael Catalyst Hayes happened.
“Mickey” was certainly not normal. He was one of the few out kids at school. He was confident and sassy. He had perfectly spiked hair. He was beanpole skinny and the opposite of athletic. He was sarcastic and witty. He lived by himself. He saw right through Al.
He turned Al’s world upside-down.
It'll prolly be up on my deviantart soon, as well. I may or may not continue this; for now, I'm going to sleep :D