Alex's Guardian Angel

Chapter 26

By and © Anthony Lane

"Ok Justin, I would like you to park the car in one of the spaces and then switch the engine off."

Justin pulled into one of the spaces, making sure he was within the white lines before he turned the keys to switch the engine off.

"Well Justin, if you will follow me into the test centre we can discuss how you did."

Justin followed the examiner into the test centre where he saw his father waiting.

"So how do you think you did?" asked Simon while they waited for the examiner to sort the paperwork out.

"I don't know, I don't think there were any real big mistakes but it looks like we will find out now." Justin saw the examiner coming towards Simon and himself.

"I would like to congratulate you Justin, you have passed. I have a couple of things I need you to do before you leave, so if you follow me into the other room."

Justin's face broke out into a massive smile and relief washed over him as the realisation that he had passed set in. He followed the examiner into the other room. As the door closed behind him Simon went outside to call Sarah and let her know all was good.

Justin walked out with the papers he needed to change his provisional licence to a full driver's licence with that same massive smile on his face.

"So we can go now then?"

"Yeah dad, I can't wait to get home and tell Alex."

"I've got to pick something up from Rick before we go home, it shouldn't take long."

"Ok."

As Justin headed for the passenger's seat Simon asked "Where are you going?"

"What do you mean?"

"The driver's seat is the other side of the car."

"I thought you would be driving home."

"Oh no mister, now you've got your licence you'll be running me and your mother around to make up for all the times we had to run you around." Simon said with a smile.

"Oh."

"Come on, the sooner we get to Rick's the sooner we can get home and tell your mom and Alex."

"Ok."

With that Justin got into the driver's seat and started up the car and pulled out of the test centre. He was surprised at how relaxed he was feeling now the test was out of the way and it felt good driving. He pulled up outside Rick's and switched the engine off but made no move to leave the car.

"Come on, you may as well come with me, I shouldn't be long but with Rick you never know."

"Ok dad."

Simon knocked on the door before opening it for himself. It might have seemed impolite to some, but they had known each other for so long formalities of waiting for someone to answer the door had long since been forgotten.

"Why don't you go and get yourself something to drink, while I go and find Rick."

"Sure." replied Justin.

As Justin walked into the kitchen he was met with a chorus of "Surprise" from everyone.

"Wow, how did you all know?" Justin asked as he noticed the congratulations banner hanging behind them.

"Your father phoned me as soon as he knew." answered Sarah.

"But you didn't have time to get all this sorted since then."

"Well we worked on the assumption that you would, we put everything up here just in case."

"Wow."

"Are you hungry? We have a few things for you to eat. Come on everyone tuck in." Sarah said as she pushed an empty plate into his hands.

Everyone started to fill their plates up. As Justin started to, he spotted the cake. He couldn't help laughing, the cake was in the shape of a car with the words 'Congratulations Justin' on it.

"So how bad was the test?" asked Alex.

"Well I thought I had fluffed it, the tone of the Examiner's voice when we got back to the test centre made me think he was going to fail me."

"So how many minor faults did you get?" asked Rick.

"Only three."

"Well done. I just managed to scrape through when I passed. If I had made one more minor, he would have had no choice but to flunk me. But to only get three minors is pretty good. Have you thought about learning to drive Alex?" Rick asked.

"I think it's something I'd like to do. Not sure how it will work out though."

"I'm sure it will sort itself out."

As the party went on it split into two groups; Alex, Justin and Rick in one with Sarah, Simon and Alan in the other.

"I know it might not be possible because Alex might not want to stay over, but would you mind having the boys overnight if they are happy to sleep in the same bed?" asked Simon.

"Yeah sure, is something up?" answered Alan.

"No, it's just that Sarah and I had a pair of tickets given us for a show in town and we were hoping to make a night of it."

"I tell you what, I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks. It wouldn't have been an issue if we hadn't taken Alex in, because Justin is always happy to spend time here. Not that I regret taking Alex in at all. I mean since Alex has shown up, Justin appears to have become a whole lot happier."

"I know what you mean. It's just complicated life a little, but in a good way," added Sarah.

"Exactly. Any idea if the boys would like to go bowling for the night?"

"Wouldn't have a clue, I know Justin hasn't been for ages. I doubt Alex has ever been. Why don't we ask them?" replied Sarah.

"Hey guys, I was just wondering if you would like to go bowling tonight as a sort of treat from Rick and me for Justin getting his driver's licence?"

"Sounds like fun to me." said Rick.

"Me too.You up for it Alex?"

"I've...." said Alex

"Never been?" Justin said trying to finish off Alex's sentence.

"Well actually what I was going to say is that I haven't been for a while but really enjoyed it the last time I went."

"So that's a yes all round then?"

"Yes." said Justin and Alex together.

"Don't you want to go dad?"

"Your mother and I have tickets for a show tonight."

"What show is it?" Alex asked.

"It's an amateur dramatics thing that a colleague of mine is involved in. Not exactly sure what they are doing but we've been given free tickets so I thought we may as well go and see."

"I think the bowling sounds more interesting, what do you think Alex?" asked Justin.

"Yeah, it does."

"So what time do you want them ready for Rick, Alan?" asked Sarah.

"I was going to ask you what time you wanted us to pick them up." said Alan.

"The show starts at eight, allow twenty minutes to chat and find our seats and another twenty minutes to get there. Simon's driving, so how about you pick them up around seven?"

"That works for me, what time is the show supposed to finish Simon?"

"Well actually, I am not sure, would it be cheeky if I asked if the boys could come around here afterwards and then I'll come and get them when we are out?"

"I'm sure we can keep them entertained." Rick answered with a big grin.

"If you guys are coming around again later, do you want to spend the night and we can make a night of it? Give Simon and Sarah some alone time?" asked Alan.

"It depends on Alex, if he's happy to then count me in."

"I think it's a great idea."

"You do remember Alex that you'd have to share a bed with Justin?"

"I think I can cope with that." Alex and Justin looked at each other and grinned.

"Ok, change of plans then, you boys go home, take care of anything you need to, like showers and what not, get a bag of clothes together for staying the night. I'll swing by around two, bring you back here and we can start early. Sound alright with you two?" said Alan.

"Yeah." Justin loved spending time with Rick and Alan.

"Are you sure you want us around all day and night?" asked Alex.

"Yeah, we'll have a good laugh I promise." answered Rick.

"Ok then."

With that Justin pulled Alex and Rick away from the others to talk about what they were going to do later.

"Thanks, I wasn't asking for you to take them for so long but I appreciate you doing it." said Simon.

"No problem, we always love having Justin round, and I think it might do Alex some good to be around another gay couple. He can see that we can be just as happy as a straight couple." Alan replied.

"I don't think we need to worry too much about that, you wouldn't believe the difference in Alex since the day I picked him up on that bench. Surprisingly that's not even been two weeks. I don't know whether it is his relationship with Justin or that he is now somewhere where he can stop fighting himself over who he is, but he is definitely a different person," said Sarah.

"I believe you, I mean I can see that there has been a change in him since I first saw him on Sunday afternoon. And that's what, four days ago?"

"Yeah. It's amazing how time flies when it's all going well. My only concern is his parents, they don't want anything to do with him and I don't think he has come to terms with that yet. And then there is school on Tuesday with his brother around, we don't know how he is going to react."

"If he crashes when it finally hits him then all you can do is be there for him and comfort him, but then what am I telling you for, you already know how to deal with that type of thing."

"Yeah, I wish I didn't have to, I wish people's orientation was never held against them and it's why I can't stand some so called Christians, I mean the Bible preaches to love and forgive each other, yet some people only remember the 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination' sermon and forget the bits like not eating shellfish or wearing clothes made from two different fibres."

"Tell me about it, I've had that one rammed down my throat for years but what I always come back with is this little gem I came across a few years ago, 'The Bible contains six admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn't mean that God doesn't love heterosexuals. It's just that they need more supervision.' and it usually shuts them up."

"I bet it does. I'll have to remember that one. I know I've already said this but thanks for taking them tonight."

"It's not a problem, I'm looking forward to getting to know Alex better."

"I'll leave that cake here then so you can all polish it off later."

"Ok, before you go is Alex allergic to anything? Just to be on the safe side and all."

"Nope, not that he is aware of. Simon, can you get the boys ready then and we'll make a move; and we'll see you in a little while Alan."

"Ok."

"What time do you want us to come around tomorrow and pick them up?"

"Don't worry about it, make sure Justin has his keys and we'll bring them back sometime tomorrow."

"So long as you are sure, but take this, I know you said you were going to treat the boys to bowling but have this twenty to get some food."

"There's no need Sarah, I was planning to do dinner before we go out."

"It's been a while since you were a teen then, they'll be looking for food again later, so take the twenty and then you can get pizza or Chinese on the way home."

"If you're sure."

"I am, thanks for letting us set this little party up here. I didn't want him to come home to it if he had failed."

"It's fine, it was great seeing his face when he walked in. So when does he get his own car?"

"Well I have a couple of ideas I want to talk over with Simon and the boys before we get him his own car."

"Oh, do tell."

"Since Alex is now one of the family and as he said earlier had considered learning to drive, what I thought we would do is buy a small car that would be both Alex's and Justin's, with certain understandings in place."

"Interesting. I'm sure I'll find out soon how that little gem plays out."

"Only time will tell. Right, I think we'll get out of your hair and I'll see you later."

"Sure thing."

Alan walked Sarah to the door and they found that Simon and the boys had already driven off.

"I'd forgotten we had both cars here, can you move yours so I can get mine out of the garage please."

"You know, I'd forgotten about the cars. Give me a sec, I'll go and get the keys and we'll have you on your way."

With a little rearranging of the cars, Sarah was on her way home.