Going Home

Ty

Things were going great, AJ and had finally quit playing games and told each other how we felt. God he was incredible, I thought that Will and I had a connection when we first met, but this was completely different. I couldn’t do anything without thinking about AJ and I couldn’t wait to see him to tell him everything that had happened during the day.

Mom had finished her current round of treatments and I took her to the doctor for a checkup. After her tests, the doctor came out and told us that everything looked good, she was done with treatments and would just need to have follow ups every six months just to make sure the cancer didn’t come back. Again, I could not to wait to tell AJ. I drove mom home, we were going to make a nice supper to celebrate so I sent a text to AJ to tell him mom’s good news and invite him over to eat with us.

AJ text back, “Glad to hear the news, but I won’t be able to come over.”

“No problem, if you can’t make supper just come over whenever you can make it.”

“Ok.”

“Can’t wait, see you later.”

AJ didn’t reply, I thought his other replies were a little shorter than usual, but I was in such a good mood about mom, I just helped mom make our supper. Ally had come home for the weekend with her new boyfriend, Joel, and we all ate and laughed for a first time since mom had received the news. After we cleaned up and mom had gone to bed, Ally, Joel and I were watching tv and talking. I suddenly felt that I wished AJ was here. I sent him a quick text.

“Hey, I missed you tonight, hope everything is all right.”

No reply.

Later I tried again. “Still up, you can get a hold of me anytime.”

Still no reply, I dozed off with a bad feeling, I tossed and turned all night.

The next morning, I told mom and Ally I was going to the greenhouse to work for a while. I needed to get my mind off not hearing from AJ. I shot him a quick good morning text, still getting no reply.

“Ty, what are you doing here this morning, it is my Saturday to work.” Frank said with a smile.

“I wanted to get that new planting table put together.”

“Ok, been pretty slow so far this morning, oh, how did your mom’s checkup go?”

“It went great, we don’t have to go back for six months.”

“That is great to hear.”

“Yes, we are very relieved, hey Frank, I need to run to hardware store to grab some screws, I will be back in a few minutes.”

“Ok, tell AJ hi for me.”

Yeah, if he is talking to me, I thought. I was disappointed to see Beth’s car parked by store instead of AJ’s truck.

“Hey Beth, how are you today?”

“Good Ty, what can I help with?”

“Just need a few screws.”

We found what I needed, and Beth said, “You want that on the greenhouse account?”

“Yes please.”

Beth gave me a concerned look, “hey Ty is everything ok?”

I forced a smile, “oh sure Beth, just a little preoccupied I guess.”

“No, I mean with you and AJ. He has been in a rotten mood the last couple of days.”

“Did he say what was bothering him?”

“No, both Heath and I have tried to talk to him, but he just says he has a lot of paperwork to do and goes into his office.”

“Well, I don’t know what is going on either, he won’t reply to any of my texts or answer when I try to call.” I walked toward the door to leave.

“Good luck Ty, he was really happy until yesterday.”

“Bye Beth, thanks.”

I finished assembling the table at about noon, told Frank goodbye and drove past AJ’s house, his truck was gone. I decided to try one more call, right to voicemail. I tried one more text.

“AJ, I don’t know what is going on, but I am starting to get worried. If I did something, please tell me so we can talk about it. I just want to know that you are ok.”

I drove home, Ally, Joel and mom were gone, I found a note saying they went out to visit Aunt Karen and Uncle Jack. Come on out when you get home if you don’t have else anything to do.

I flopped down on the couch trying to figure out what to do next. My phone dinged, it was AJ.

“I am fine.”

That’s it, what the hell is going on?

I replied, “can I come talk to you, please?”

I stared at my phone, a minute later it dinged.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea right now.”

Shit, what the hell did I do? Why was AJ so pissed at me? I text him back.

“AJ, what is going on? What did I do?”

He replied, “Check your email.”

I opened my email and clicked on the email forwarded to me by AJ. I felt like I was punched in the gut. Fuck, who the hell would send that to AJ. I suddenly became just as pissed as I was that night I walked out on Will, I just knew he was the one who sent the email to AJ. My mind raced as I tried to figure out what to do, I started to think back to when AJ and I talked about our previous sex experiences, shit I should have told him the real reason that I left Will. My mind quickly shifted back to rage as I started to thumb threw the contacts on my phone, I found Will’s name. I took a deep breath, unblocked his number and pushed the call button, trying to think of what I was going to say to him. “The number who have dialed is no longer in service.” Shit the asshole changed his number. I scrolled up and found Tara’s name, again I unblocked her and pressed the call button.

Tars answered, “Ty, is that you?”

“Yes Tara, it is I just….”

“Ty I am so glad to hear from, Adam and I tried calling you so many times I just…”

“Tara, stop this is not a social call, I need you to answer a question.”

Sensing my tone she said, “Sure Ty, what is it?”

“Do you know where Will is?”

“No, I don’t, Adam and I kicked him out right after you left. Why are looking for him?”

I gave her a quick run down of the events of the last couple days, and said, “I just know he is behind this.”

“Look Ty, I know Will was an ass, but I don’t think even he would stoop so low.”

“Well, I can’t think of anyone else who do this, unless it was you or Adam.”

“Ty, you don’t honestly think either one of us would do that to you?”

“Shit Tara, no I don’t think you would, but after that night I just felt I couldn’t trust anyone.”

“We never meant to hurt you Ty, but Adam and I thought you knew what Will was doing. At least that is what he told us when he showed us the other videos, so when he asked us to be in one of his videos, we assumed you were in on it. I mean you just walked in like Will said you would and well, we had no idea until you flipped out.”

“Well, I wasn’t in on it, I wasn’t in on any of the times he filmed us.”

“We figured that out after we watched the other videos after you left, and that is why we kicked Will out. He was acting like nothing even happened and was still bringing guys over to make more videos.”

“Damn it Tara, I was just getting my life together, and AJ and I were so happy, now this, I have to find out who sent that email.”

“I am sorry Ty, I don’t know where Will is, I still don’t think he is that cruel.”

“Thanks Tara.”

“Ty, Adam and I do love you, please know that we never wanted to hurt you. I hope you get things worked out with AJ. I am glad you called, please let me know if want to talk again.”

“Thanks again Tara, tell Adam hi for me.”

“I will Ty, goodbye.”

I ended the call as mom, Ally and Joel walked in the door. Mom walked in the living room seeing me on the couch, she took one look at me and knew I was upset.”

“Ty, what’s the matter?” She could read me like a book. I just broke down in tears as she sat beside with her arm around my shoulder. Ally sat on my other side and Joel was in the chair across from me. I told them the real reason that I left Will, gory details and all, I then filled them in on the email that AJ received.

I said, “I have to find out who sent that email and why.”

Mom and Ally were trying to comfort me, without knowing what to say, it didn’t matter, them just being there for me meant the world to me.

Joel asked, “Who’s name was on the sender line of that email Ty?”

“It just said anonymous, why?”

“Well, I might be able to find who sent it if I see the email.”

“I don’t know Joel, I would really rather you not see that.”

“Ty, I don’t need to open the video link, no offence but I really don’t want to see that, I can back the sender from the email.”

Ally added, “give him your phone Ty, he is a bit of a computer nerd.”

“Thanks Ally, but I won’t be able to use your phone, do have your laptop?”

“Yes, it’s in my room, I will be right back.”

A few seconds later I logged into my email and sat next to Joel as he went to work on the keyboard. He punched a bunch of keys and clicked with the mouse a few times, there it is, farmboy387.

Ally asked, “who is farmboy387?”

“I have no idea.”

Joel said, “no problem.” As he logged into Google and did another quick search.

“There he is Ty, do you know him?”

“Yes, I do, but I have no idea why he would send that email to AJ.”

The next morning, I called Frank at the greenhouse to tell him I wasn’t coming in. He said, “don’t worry about it, I can handle things today.”

I drove out to the farm to talk to Uncle Jack, he was changing the oil in his tractor as I pulled in.

“Hey Uncle Jack, can I give you a hand?”

“Sure Ty, good to see you, it has been a while.”

“Sorry Uncle Jack, I have been kind of busy.”

I had introduced him to AJ right after we got together, and they instantly became great friends. I filled him in on everything that had happened over the last three days.

He said, “I never trusted that little bastard Will, I wish you would have told me this when it happened, I would have kicked the shit out of him.”

“I know Uncle Jack, that is why I didn’t tell you, it is my fault too for being so naïve. That is behind me now, I just need to figure out how to handle this email thing and how I can get AJ to talk to me again.”

“You know you should have told AJ about the videos Ty.”

“Yes, I do, I have been kicking myself over and over for not telling him. I hope he will give me the chance to explain. Right now, I just want to deal with the email, Joel helped me find who he is.”

“What? Who the hell is it, let’s go have a little talk with the prick right now.”

“No Uncle Jack, I have to take care of this myself. I am going to go out to the pond and think about it for a while. I need to ask dad and grandpa what they would do.”

"I understand Ty, just let me know if you want me to talk with asshole that sent that emaik."

"Thanks Uncle Jack."

I drove to the pond, God I love this place, so peaceful, and I have had the best talks with my dad out here. I spread a blanket on the picnic table and laid back with my arms under my head and watched the clouds roll by.

About an hour later, I heard someone driving up the road.