[ another lonely day ]

[BECKiEE :)]

It was late morning, and clouds had cast themselves over the sky and a light rain was just
starting to fall. And no one was inside the park, apart from the few animals that were
taking advantage of the lack of human activity. A few minutes later a boy came walking
slowly along the path through the park, his emerald green eyes cast at the floor. He was
wearing a long sleeved tight black t-shirt and a charcoal grey and smoky black scarf was
wrapped around his neck, in an attempt to keep out what cold it could. A pair of cropped
loose black pants with a pink and black checked belt, along some black and pink striped
socks that had their tops hidden just above where the cropped pants finished. On his feet
he wore some black vans, scuffed and old. He came to a tall tree and sat at its roots,
drawing his legs up to his slim chest and hugging the close, resting his head upon his
knees. Scott shivered in a cold breeze and cast his dazzling eyes to the ground again; a
pained and lonely look in them. He gave a quiet sigh closed his eyes and listened to the
falling rain around him,why did people have to be so cruel? Why couldn’t the just
accept him for who he was, without throwing comments and insults at him all of the
time? Was there even a person out there who understood him and his feelings, he doubted
it. All these thoughts were getting to him, and a tear formed and ran down his cheek.
Scott opened his eyes, the same lonely look clear in their green gaze.

[mustang5jk2]

A pair of Vans strolled down the sidewalk of the local park. The Vans, of course, were on a person who was studying the falling leaves. The colors were so beautiful, all the reds and golds and fading greens. A black hood protected his head from the slight rain and covered a thin torso. Hands were warm inside the pockets of black pants that were tight, but not supertight. Coffee brown eyes turned to the ground as he kicked a stone along the sidewalk, once in a while glancing up to see if anyone was there.
He'd done a lot of thinking lately. About life, about love. The usually cheerful guy was doubting now that he'd ever find it. No one in this town was like him, and hardly anybody understood him. He'd moved here to get away from all the mocking voices, but had moved away from the one he'd always wanted but would never get. So here he was, away from all the snide remarks and taunts from the past, but alone.
Matt kicked the stone off the path and looked around. Hopefully, the clouds would leave soon and bring out the sun. The temperatures were dropping, and it's warmth would be welcome. His eye's wandering caught upon a lone figure sitting at the base of a tree. Matt advanced a bit, slowly, cautiously. Upon further inspection, the stranger seemed to be upset about something. Deciding to be friendly, Matt made his way over to the tree, standing a few feet in front of the guy.Are-you okay? came the soft, quiet voice.

[BECKiEE :)]

Scott had been so deep in thought that he hadn’t noticed the boy approaching him, and
jumped as he heard a voice and looked up at him from where he sat.'' Y-yes ..''
he said quietly and ran a long sleeved hand over his eyes to try and hide the fresh tears
that had been there. He didn’t want this guy to think he was a cry baby. Lifting his head
his green eyes rested upon him, his usually quiet and child-like voice used when he spoke
''Just... people problems..'' he said with a weak smile. Would he even understand
what Scott meant? So many people he had met had always shunned him because he was
different, not like 'them', not perfect.

[mustang5jk2]

From what Matt could see, this guy was far from okay.You sure? You seem pretty upset. He sat down in front of the stranger, bringing his knees to his chest. The guy didn't seem to want to speak all that much, but when he finally said something else, it was in a soft voice, a voice you'd almost expect a child to have. People problems, he said. Boy, did he know a lot about people problems. Maybe this one was like him...or maybe it was just the usual high school stuff. Either way, he could get what he was saying.Trust me, been there done that. People can be so cruel. Just because you don't dress or act like them, or have a different view on life than them, you get outcasted. A small sigh escaped his lips.That's why I moved here. So I could get away from people.

[BECKiEE :)]

Scott wiped the remainder of the tears from his eyes and nodded then looked at the boy,
he didn’t seem like he was going to taunt him, so he felt he didn’t need to fear him. As it
turned out, the other boy sounded like he was much like himself, and had done the same
thing in moving away.''Y-yeah, I moved here for the same reason''. So there were
understanding people in this world, and not just the ones he had left behind when he
moved here. Pushing his black fringe from his jade eyes he spoke again, in the same soft
voice ''I'm Scott by the way..'' He had felt it right to introduce himself.

[mustang5jk2]

Perhaps this newcomer to town would be more like him than he realized.I'm Matt. he said softly, feeling confident in revealing his name. A moment's silence passed, in which he mentally battled himself. To ask or not to ask? If he asked, it might seem up front or rude or something of that sort. If he didn't ask, he might never know. Or perhaps he would yell at him and leave. On and on the battle raged, while Scott must be wondering why he wasn't saying anything. Finally, he gave in to one side, the side that held hope.Um, he began hesitantly,if you don't mind my asking... he trailed off, willing himself to find the courage to continue.Are you...g.ay?

[BECKiEE :)]

He smiled across at Matt, as he was told his name, and hugged his knees a little closer to
his thin chest as they both sat in silence. Scott left it that way though, even if he
wondered what the boy was planning to say. And he jumped when Matt spoke up, and
listened to his hesitant question.What a weird thing to ask, he had thought, was it
easy to tell his preferences? Unlike some g.ay people his voice hadn’t changed, instead it
had stayed soft and like a child’s, one of the reasons everyone thought he was so cute at
his old school.''Yeah... why do you ask?'' he said slowly, quizzically tilting his
head to one side as he spoke and looking out from under his fringe at Matt.

[mustang5jk2]

Thankfully, he didn't seem too put off by the awkward question. Now he had to give a reason.Well, he began, searching for the words.Your problems sounded like mine. I thought that maybe you were like me. He let this explanation hang in the air for a moment, trying to find something else to say.I'm g.ay too, you don't have to worry about me putting you down or anything like that. I know just how it is. Matt offered a friendly smile.Just so you know, I think we're the only two in this town who are. At least, I haven't met anybody else who is.

[BECKiEE :)]

Scott nodded as he spoke, he was kind of surprised that Matt was in the same boat as him.
The young boy took a moment to push his fringe back from his jade eyes again, and
thought over the last thing Matt said.''Well.. I'm glad I'm not alone then'' he said,
with a smile and his features brightening a little. To Scott this was good news, he wasn’t
the only g.ay guy in this town after all. So moving here hadn’t been a bad idea at all, or
so it seemed.

[mustang5jk2]

Matt smiled, seeing Scott had relaxed a bit. He'd only said one thing, but it made him think of the time he'd been in this town. He'd felt alone, whereas at least back in his old town he'd had friends like him. Moving here had been a relief, but a challenge as he was the only one here.Yeah, you don't want to know what it's like to be alone like that. Trust me, I've been going through that for about 8 months. And let me tell you, it isn't fun. he sighed and shut his eyes, as if trying to shut out all the emptiness he'd felt.

[BECKiEE :)]

''I cant imagine it is..'' he said, agreeing with the last thing Matt said. It cant have
been an easy ride for him, knowing he was the only guy like that in this town. But now
that Scott had appeared, his days might take a turn for the better. The boy shuffled his
feet, the old vans had gathered plenty of ‘street credit’ over the time he'd had them. He
studied the scuffed and worn vans before looking back across at Matt.''So, do you live
in this town then?'' his voice was not quivering any more, Matt had managed to
cheered him up.

[mustang5jk2]

Now that Scott had been cheered up, Matt allowed a grin to cross his lips.Yeah, I live over at Crystal Stables. A whole bunch of people live there and work there. It's pretty cool. The checkered Vans tapped a beat to a silent tune, and for a moment he lost himself in music nobody could hear.And I work with the cutest mare too, Hot Cocoa. he paused, and thought for a moment before speaking again.Where are you staying? he asked, head tilting to one side.

[BECKiEE :)]

''You work with horses? Your so lucky'' he said with a smile, Scott had worked at a
stable before when he was much younger and had just done the odd jobs around the yard.
Then he heard speaking, he listened then replied in his quiet child-like voice ''Me? Oh,
nowhere at the moment'' he said, and that came as a worrying thought to him, his
brow furrowed slightly as he considered this.''I might find a cozy doorway to sleep in
or something...'' he said thoughtfully and then allowed his expression to return to the normal state,
no longer immersed in his thoughts.

[mustang5jk2]

Matt nodded, agreeing with the first statement.I guess I am. He'd begun formulating an idea when Scott spoke again, this time of sleeping on doorsteps. Perfect.You should get somewhere to stay. Another pause, a hesitant voice.Maybe you could come to Crystal? You can work for board and food, and still get some money too. Hopeful eyes glanced up, trying not to be too hopeful in case the offer was turned down.

[BECKiEE :)]

He lifted his head, and his green eyes brightened at the thought.''You think they'd take
me on?'' he asked hopefully, a smile playing on his soft lips as he spoke. That meant
he wouldn’t have to work at a job he hated completely, it would be nice to get back to
work with horses. And the prospect of working with someone he knew, namely Matt, was
a great.