I know everyone wants me to finish "Learning to Live With It" but this one, quite literally, just popped up and I had to write it. It will be shorter than my original...and who knows which one will be better. Probably LTLWI....but still. This one will actually have a bit of drama! ::gasp!::

Also, to all you homophobes out there...this is where I tell you to hit the back button and continue on with your dull close-minded existence. Have a nice day.

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Run But Never Hide

Marco snuggled closer to Dylan on the couch and tipped his head back slightly to look at the older boy's ghostly profile next to him yet again. Marco loved the way Dylan looked bathed in the cerulean glow of the TV. The soft smile on his face and the bright white stars in his eyes from the TV's glare. It made him seem ethereal, godlike even.

And in many ways, perhaps he was.

Marco had first met this boy quite a while ago, in his tenth year at Degrassi High on a beach trip with some friends. At that time Marco recieved his first male crush. Which, in the life of a tormented, closeted teenager, was quite the major emotional upheaval.

His parents were homophobes, you see. His dad millions more so than his mother. The idea of actually dating a boy were pretty much permanently listed under the "when pigs fly" category.

But a crush....now that seemed relatively safe. And thus, the crush began, raging hormones, girly flights of fantasy, and all.

Then the safe, dark, little closet he'd taken refuge in was suddenly and ruthlessly torn down from around him, the day his friend Spinner found out. He had been on a "date" with a girl from school and after a reminder from a dear friend, he fled, no longer wishing to keep up the ridiculous charade. And Spinner followed, and questioned, didn't relent. And in a split second outburst...Marco let his secret slip.

The feeling he had that day, Marco thought, was probably exactly what drowning felt like.

There had been a silence of cold stone after his forced confession. Spinner's eyes had turned dark and the white waters crashed over head. The next day the words "MARCO IS GAY" were found over a urinal in the bathrooms, in Spinner's handwriting. And Marco couldn't breathe. He was suffocating in the roaring waters. Trying to cling to things that weren't really there.

A short time later, Dylan was to have a hockey match. Marco readily accepted the invitation, scrabbling valiantly for the light source up above, promising life giving oxygen.

That night, Marco lived through a nightmare.

He was the subject of a gay bashing in a park. Beaten until he finally sank to the murky bottom, where no light could any longer be seen. And there he stayed for quite a while with only the thoughts of his parent's rejection to keep him company.

He nearly died from this suffocation.

Then, one day....someone saved him.

The person was the grade twelve from what seemed so long ago. Dylan rescued him, asked him out. And while the date could not have been worse if Marco had tried, this wonderful boy stayed with him. Cared for him. Protected him from the dark waters that still lurked below.

And Marco thanked God for this gift everyday. Even now, sitting with Dylan watching movies, he was sending silent thanks to whatever diety that would listen. They had been through so much together. The good, the bad, and the down right horrible, and yet they were still together, clinging for dear life. It was the summer before Marco's twelvth year, and still his parents were in the dark about his persuasion. The greater percent of his and Dylan's fights revolved around that.

And Marco always ran from it.

He still feared drowning.

Marco and Dylan jumped when they heard Marco's cell phone ring. It was never exactly enjoyable to have loud noises go off during a cuddling/movie session. Marco rolled his eyes and cast an apologetic look over at Dylan as he dragged his mobile out of his jacket's pocket, from where he had thrown the garment on the coffee table earlier.

Casting a quick glance at the small lit up screen and seeing the familiar number of his father's cell phone, he answered. "Hello."

"Marco, where are you?"

Marco looked at his companion out of the corner of his eyes. Ever since Dylan began college he hadn't seen much of him. A sad but true fact. And Marco could tell from his father's voice he would try to get him to come home.

So...he lied.

"I'm at Spinner's working on that project."

There was a pregnant pause then his father finally spoke. "Your sister's going into labor. When can you get there?"

Marco's eyes got huge and round at that statement. She was having the baby now!? Him and his whole family had been thoroughly overjoyed at the news of the upcoming addition. And now, it was finally happening.

"Oh my god! I'll be there in ten minutes!" He turned to Dylan still in shock. "Ten minutes! Bye!" and hung up.

"Dylan! The baby...it's...it's coming...right now...oh god! I gotta go!"

Marco leapt to his feet grabbing his jacket and slinging it on. Grabbing his car keys out of his pocket he turned to Dylan and flung his arms around him and kissed him rather soundly, even though he had to end it faster than normal because he couldn't keep from smiling.

"I love you! Oh my god! I'll call you later to tell you! Bye!" He stopped half way to the door and ran back and really kissed him, long and hard. With a quick peck on the cheek Marco stuttered an apology for leaving so soon. Dylan smiled hugely and ruffled his hair. "You're about to be an uncle! You have an excuse! Now go! Run!"

Dylan yelled an "I love you" at his retreating back and turned back to his movie, unable to concentrate any longer.

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Um, I have no idea how many, the gender, or even if Marco has any siblings. I'm just creating one as of right now. And also, I know they're acting really close...because they are. They've been dating for about ::counts:: two or three-ish years now. Yep. That's it.

Oh, except of course, R&R. I give cookies!