Westpoint Tales

by Kiwi

Lindsay & Tony Bloody Southon - Pt 12

"Umm. . Hello?"

"Hey Lindsay, this is Tony Southon."

"Yeah. Mum said. What do you want, Tony?"

"Want? Why would I want anything? I just want to talk to you."

"But why? We don't talk, we never talk, unless it's to exchange insults."

"Yeah, I know and I'm sick of it too."

"Really?"

"Yes really. Lindsay, why can't we be friends?"

"Friends? Us? Umm - well I don't know."

"I don't know either, but I'd like to. Be friends that is. I really would, Lindsay."

"Be friends? Yeah, me too."

"Yeah. Let's do that. Thanks Lindsay."

"Thank you, Tony. Is that what you wanted to talk about?"

"No. Well, that was part of it. There's lots more that I want to say, but not on the phone. What are you doing tomorrow? Can we meet somewhere?"

"Yeah, sure. I'm not doing anything. Are you still in town?"

"No, I'm at home. Look, I've got wheels, you've got wheels, why don't we meet halfway?"

"Yeah, okay. Where's halfway?"

"The Blackwater Bridge?"

"Right, near enough. I'll meet you there then."

"Cool. Say about ten o'clock?"

"Okay then. It's a date. I'll meet you at the Blackwater Bridge at ten tomorrow morning."

"Great. Bring a picnic, we'll have lunch."

"Yeah. Let's do lunch. See you then Tony."

"You will. Thanks Lindsay."

"No, thank you.’Bye then."

"Yeah. Byes Lindsay."

He hung up the phone and slapped himself on the head. "It's a date? Idiot! What did you say that for? In your dreams maybe."

Back in his room, he lay on his bed to think that over. That was . . . well, that was weird. Weird but good. He'd really like to be friends with Tony Southon. Did Tony really want that too? He said he did, but did he? This wasn't some sort of trick was it? Was it? No, it wouldn't be. Surely not.

He wasn't planning on throwing him off the Blackwater Bridge was he? It was pretty high. No, of course he wasn't. He wouldn't do that.

'Don't be stupid, Reilly'

There was only one way that he was going to find out what was going on. He'd bike out there and see what happened. What was the worst that could happen? Maybe he wouldn't show up? That was okay, Lindsay biked that far, and further, every day. He was going anyway. If it wasn't a trick - well, that would be good. Really good.

Next morning he couldn't sleep and he was awake far too early. He showered, dressed, and packed a huge picnic lunch, enough for three or four people. Tony hadn't said that he was bringing anything. He just said to bring a lunch. Didn't he?

What did he want to talk about anyway? There was only one way to find out.

Alvin didn't mind him using his bike again, not at all. He never rode it anyway, he had better things to do.

Lindsay was on the road and out of town far too early, of course. The day was overcast and a bit chilly, but at least it wasn't raining - yet. He took his time and tried not to hurry, but he was still there far too early.

It was barely 9.30am., when he rounded the corner and saw the Blackwater Bridge. Tony was already there, standing near the centre of the bridge, looking down at the water. Where was his bike? Oh yeah, over there at the far end of the bridge, leaning against the railings.

Tony looked around as he braked beside him and a huge smile lit up his face.

"Hey Tony."

Hey Lindsay. You're early."

"Not as early as you."

"Right. I've just been here for a few minutes. I was a bit worried, wasn't sure if you'd show up."

"I said I would. I wasn't sure that you'd come either."

"Of course I did. I really wanted to see you."

"And now you can. I still don't know why we're doing this, Tony. We've never been friends before."

"No, we haven't have we? But I've always wished that we could be."

"You have? Really? So have I."

"No way."

"Yes way."

Lindsay grinned and Tony grinned back at him. Suddenly it was like an iron curtain lifting and all the barriers between them just melted away. Lindsay REALLY liked this kid.

They stood quietly, leaning on the railing and looking at the small river flowing busily past far below them. The water wasn't black at all, it was brown, dark-brown. Lindsay still couldn't believe that they were here, together. Tony Southon liked him and wanted to be his friend?

"We've got a lot of history," Tony said.

"Yeah, we have, a LOT of history. But today's a new beginning, a clean slate. Thanks Tony. You've got a lot of balls."

"What do you mean?"

"Ringing me up like that. I could never have done that."

"Somebody had to. Connie said that I should."

"She did?" ('Thanks Connie.') "What did she say?"

"Not much really. She just said that it was about time I stopped talking about you and started talking to you."

"Connie's a good friend."

"She is, and that's all she is, isn't it? Connie's your best friend but she's not your girlfriend."

"No. Yes. Connie's not my girlfriend. You're pretty smart, Tony Southon."

"Sure I am. Nearly as smart as you, Lindsay Reilly. Did you send the card?"

"The card? What card?"

"The Get Well card. The anonymous one with the cyclist on it. I got half a dozen cards, but only one with no name on it. It was posted in Westpoint. Did you send it?"

"Yeah, I did actually. I just hoped it would cheer you up a bit."

"Well it worked. Thanks. I've thrown all the other ones away, but I kept that one. Why didn't you sign it?"

"I didn't think my name on it would cheer you up."

"It would have. It would have a lot. I've been to see Mr.Anderton. There's only one cycle repair shop in town and my bike was restored by a professional. Why did you get him to fix it?"

"Did I? Did he tell you that? Okay, I did. I got it fixed up."

"He didn't tell me at all actually, but you just did. That was really cool, really nice of you. Why did you do it?"

"Because. Well, because you were all smashed up and because I could. I felt sorry for you. I like you, Tony."

"I've given you no reason to, have I? I'm sorry about that, very sorry. I like you too, Lindsay. I really, really, do like you. Thanks for bringing my bike back from the dead. That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me. I'll pay you back."

"You will not. I did it because I wanted to. Just enjoy it. Enjoy your bike, I love my bike."

"I know you do, but that's not your bike is it? That's your brother's bike. Where is yours?"

"It's - Umm - It's under repair. I'll get it back soon." Lindsay was all hot in the face now. He just knew that he was blushing.

"That would be because it's waiting for a new front wheel, wouldn't it? Lindsay, you're something else, you really are. You're just great. Are you gay?"

"Am I what? What would you ask me that for?"

"Because I want to know. If you are, it means I can kiss you. I'm gay, Lindsay. I'm gay and I think I might be in love with you."

(Wow. Oh, WOW!') "But. . but. . ." Now he was really nervous. Cold sweats and butterflies. He looked all around them. Was this a set-up? Were Tony's mates hiding and waiting to jump out on him? But, no. they were alone and out in the open, in the middle of the wide bridge. And, - he could kiss him?

"Tony, I, but - you can't be gay. You're Tony Southon. You're the coolest kid in school, the greatest boy in the world, you can't be gay."

"Second best, maybe," Tony grinned. "And . . .I can be." and, his hands still on the railing, he leant across and kissed him!

Lindsay was shocked. He was dumbstruck and he stood like he'd been turned to stone.

'Wow! Oh, Wow!! Come on Reilly. Don't be an idiot. Don't - you CAN'T stuff this up.'

What did he do? What could he do? This was Tony Bloody Southon here. This was the boy he'd been in love with for, like, forever. This was the single most important moment of his life. What did he do? Could it be true? Could he? Did he?

He was so nervous now he was crying and silent tears rolled down his cheeks. He took a deep breath. He took two deep breaths. He reached out his shaking hands and took hold of Tony's head, holding it in both hands, cupping them around his face and feeling the soft, warm skin under his palms. He looked into his big blue eyes and there were tears there as well.

"Tony. Tony. . I. ." He kissed him.

Tony shuddered, flung his arms around him, and he kissed him back. The stupid tears were still flowing when they broke apart and grinned at each other.

"Tony, oh Tony! I love you so much," Lindsay sobbed.

Tony kissed his nose and whispered, "I love you, Lindsay Reilly. I've always loved you."

"Bloody funny way of showing it sometimes," Lindsay grinned.

"I was scared. Scared of my feelings and scared of you."

"Of me? Why would you be scared of me?"

"Because, well, you're pretty awesome and I thought you hated me."

"How could I hate you? I love you. You're the only person I've ever loved in my life."

"We're a right pair, aren't we? I've loved you from the day I first saw you, and I always will. Forever."

"Forever my Love. That's a song isn't it?"

"It is now. Forever my Love." He kissed him.