Wild Child

Chapter 14

"What do you mean he won't see me?" Gus screamed.

"Gus, calm down," Mrs. Hadley said trying to keep her voice soft but firm.

"I won't calm down. I need to see Justin."

"He doesn't want to get involved," Mrs. Hadley explained.

"Fuck that! I want you to take me to Pittsburgh," Gus demanded. "I'm going to see Justin."

"I can't do that, Gus."

"Yes, you can!"

"No, I can't. I told Mr. Taylor that I would explain this to you. He doesn't want to see you or your father right now."

"You're lying! What did he really say? Did Dad find out and tell you to lie to me? Is Greg paying you off?" Gus' chest heaved with anger and unshed tears. Involuntarily his fist came up in a threatening gesture.

Mrs. Hadley took a step back feeling the counter press into her back. Gus frightened her at that moment. He seemed so out of control. "Gus, how can you think that?" Mrs. Hadley stammered. She had known this would be difficult but she hadn't expected this outpouring of venom. "Do you think that little of me?"

"I … I think you're like all the rest. Nobody cares what I want or need. You're all selfish fucking assholes!"

Gus ran out of the room and Mrs. Hadley gripped the counter in the kitchen. Her knees were shaking so badly that she was afraid if she let go she would collapse on the floor. There was no way she could go after Gus. All she could hope was that he would run around and take out his anger and frustration before he came back. If he came back at all, she thought as her heart began to slow down a bit.

She had not seen this angry and apparently dangerous Gus before. He had always been very pleasant and polite with her. Now he thought she had betrayed him and he had turned on her. She had no idea how she was going to explain this to Mr. Kinney. If he found out the whole story, she had no idea what he would do. Her job was certainly in jeopardy to say nothing of Gus' well being. Why had she ever gotten involved in this in the first place?

Slowly she released her grip on the counter and made her way into her bedroom where she could lie down for a few minutes.

Gus ran out of the house and down the driveway. He ran along the road heading in the direction of Pittsburgh. He'd get to see Justin one way or another. He hated all the people in that mansion. He had tried so hard to be good. He had changed everything about himself trying to meet the expectations of his father. He had done his very best. He wanted a new life here. And now it was all ruined. It was all Greg Fernley's fault. If he had a gun, he'd shoot that son of a bitch.

Gus took a gasping breath and stopped running. He took a couple of gulps of air leaning his hands on his knees. As his breathing began to slow down Gus started walking along the road. Each car that approached was a potential ride into Pittsburgh. Gus stuck out his thumb and watched car after car whiz by. Not even the fucking motorists would give him a break.

He had no idea how long he had been walking and trying to hitch a ride. It seemed like forever and no one would stop. He heard another car approaching from behind and stuck out his thumb without turning around to face the car. What was the point? Nobody ever stopped anyway.

Gus heard the engine sound slow down and he turned thinking that someone had finally decided to take pity on him and give him a ride. He recognized the black Mercedes as soon as he looked at it. He felt his heart sag as his father pushed open the door and brusquely said, "Get in." Knowing there wasn't much point in doing anything else, he quietly got into the car sitting next to his father.

At least Greg Fernley wasn't there. That would have been the ultimate insult. Why he would ever think Greg would help his father find him was laughable. Gus knew Greg was probably back at the mansion planning how to convert Gus' room into a video arcade or some kind of sex playground. Gus shivered.

Brian turned the car around but he only drove a little way until he found a place where he could safely pull off the road. He cut the engine and looked over at his son. "Explain," was all he said. Gus looked at his father and folded his arms over his chest, his chin stuck out in defiance. "Gus, you almost made Mrs. Hadley have a heart attack."

"Is she all right?" Gus asked suddenly worried.

"She'll be all right, but you gave her quite a shock."

"I … I didn't mean to hurt her," Gus said slowly.

"I didn't think you did, but she said you called her some names. Why did you do that, Gus? I thought you liked Mrs. Hadley."

"I do … I did."

"Then what happened?"

"I wanted her to do something. It was very important and she refused."

"She's the adult, Gus, and she's not your slave. I'm sure she did what she thought was best."

"What about what I think is best?" Gus demanded.

Brian ignored that question. Instead he decided to find out more about what Gus was doing hitchhiking. "What did you want her to do for you?"

"What did she tell you?"

"Just that you wanted her to take you to Pittsburgh. What's so important in Pittsburgh? You could have asked me."

"No, I couldn't!"

"Why not? What did you want to do there?"

"I want to see Justin," Gus said deciding that he might as well tell his father everything.

"Justin? What are you talking about?"

"I want to go see Justin. Will you take me?"

"No, I won't and Justin's in Europe," Brian said with a frown.

"He got back last night. He's having a show in Pittsburgh. If you didn't spend so much time in bed with that man, you would know these things."

"Gus, as much as I love you, my sex life is none of your business."

"It is when the man you're … fucking hates me and is trying to drive me out of your life."

"Greg's not trying to do that," Brian said defensively.

"Of course he is, Dad. You just refuse to see it."

Brian frowned. He didn't want to believe what Gus was saying but he had seen how little Greg liked being around Gus. Maybe he had Greg Fernley all wrong, but he didn't want to think so. "So what does Justin have to do with this?"

"I want to talk to him."

"About what?"

"About you and that guy."

Brian let out a long sigh. "Gus, I'm sure Justin doesn't want to get involved in your problems. He likely won't even talk to you," Brian said.

"He called the house and Mrs. Hadley talked to him."

"Mrs. Hadley? Justin called? Why?" Brian felt his heart rate go up exponentially. "What are you talking about, Gus?"

"I contacted Mr. Bloom. He sort of remembered me. That's where Justin's having his show. I asked Mr. Bloom to get Justin to call me. Dad, if you two would get together…"

"Stop right there!" Brian ordered. "Justin has been out of our lives for a long time. That's the way he wants it. That's the way I want it too."

Gus did not hear any conviction in that statement, especially the last part. Maybe he was right after all. "I really want to see Justin. He can tell me that to my face if it's true."

"You are not going anywhere near Justin. He doesn't need you bothering him."

"But Dad…"

"We're going home and you're going to put all this nonsense out of your head."

Gus bit his lip to keep from saying something really awful to his father. Brian started the car and they headed back to the mansion. Once the car stopped, Gus bolted for the front door and ran up to his room. Brian was about to chase after him when Greg pulled him into the library and started kissing him. Maybe Gus needed a little time to calm down.

For the rest of the day there was no sign of Gus. He stayed holed up in his room hoping for some miracle that would transport him to Justin's side or strike him dead and put him out of his misery. Greg did his best to keep Brian occupied and away from Gus.

By dinner time Brian had had enough. He went to the door of Gus' room. "Gus, open this door. This has gone on long enough."

There was no answer. Brian was tempted to kick the fucking door in.

"Gus, you are not going to see Justin. That's all there is to it. We have to get on with our lives. Do you have your assignments done? We need to take them over to Bramley in the morning."

Brian waited afraid that he was going to have to use force to get into Gus' room. Just as he had decided to ram the door, he heard the lock click and slowly the door opened. Brian looked at a face so forlorn and lost that his heart nearly broke.

"I … I did the assignments," Gus said gulping out the words. "I wanted you to look at them." He held out the papers like a peace offering to his father.

Brian took the pages of work and felt his anger slip away. Gus was his son and he needed him. He grabbed Gus' hand and pulled the boy into a hug. "Gus, don't ever do anything like that again. We were all so scared that something terrible would happen to you."

"I'm fine. I … I can look after myself."

"I know you can."

Gus struggled out of his father's grasp. "Are we still going to the school tomorrow?" Gus asked wondering if his latest escapade now meant that he would be sent away for good.

"Of course, we are. Mrs. Hadley has some dinner almost ready, and then after I'll look over your assignments with you," Brian promised.

"Okay," Gus said softly.

"Go wash your face, and you might want to talk to Mrs. Hadley before we eat."

Gus looked sheepish and nodded. He went back into his room without locking the door this time. He went into the bathroom and washed his face and hands. Taking a deep breath, he headed down to the kitchen. His father and Greg were in the library. He could hear their voices as he came down the stairs.

He knew he needed to apologize to Mrs. Hadley, but he wasn't very good at admitting that he was wrong, especially when he didn't think he was wrong at all. However, he was sorry that he had frightened Mrs. Hadley who had been nothing but good to him. He owed her an apology for that.

"Mrs. Hadley," Gus said hesitantly as he entered the kitchen.

Mrs. Hadley was checking something in the oven. "Yes, Gus," she said without looking at him. "Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes."

"I … I want to say … that I'm really sorry about this morning. I shouldn't have acted like that."

"No, you shouldn't have," Mrs. Hadley agreed looking at him for the first time.

"I'm really sorry," Gus repeated.

"Sometimes sorry isn't good enough," she said unable to forgive him for the fear he had caused her.

"Can't … can't we be friends again?" he practically begged.

"I don't think so. We were never friends … or you wouldn't have treated me like you did this morning."

"I just wanted to see Justin," Gus said his voice cracking and the tears beginning to form.

"You called me a liar and ordered me around … and I thought you were going to hit me," Mrs. Hadley said with a shiver.

"I … I wouldn't hit you," Gus said in a strangled voice. He knew that wasn't true. He had almost hit her this morning, and there were other people that he had hit. But, he had controlled himself. That had to be a good thing.

"I wish I could be sure of that, Gus, but I don't think I can be."

"Please, please, I have no one who understands. I thought you did, but then you said you wouldn't take me…" Gus' voice refused to go further as great choking sobs escaped his body. He felt like he was losing his last friend, and that was probably the truth. He was.

Mrs. Hadley watched Gus' body shake as he was wracked with huge sobs. She could see how alone and abandoned he felt he was. Her motherly heart kicked in and she pulled him against her chest and let him cry it out.

After a few minutes, she felt the sobs lessen and Gus wiped at his eyes. She reached for the tissue box on the counter and held it out to him. He stepped away, grabbing a few tissues, and creating one honking big blow. He wiped his nose and then his eyes before looking up at her.

"Do you forgive me?" he asked in a very small voice.

Mrs. Hadley studied him for a moment. She wanted to forgive him, but that would be too easy. She wanted things to go back to the way they had been between them, but if that happened then the potential for another outburst like the one this morning would still be there. She did not want to have to deal with that again.

Taking a deep breath, she said slowly, "Yes, Gus, I forgive you up to a point, but I think you have some anger issues that need to be dealt with. Will you promise to get some counseling for your anger?"

Gus stared at her. He had heard his mothers talking about the same thing. He thought they were crazy. He could handle his anger, and it stood him in good stead when he wanted to frighten people. Sometimes that was a very good advantage to have, especially in his life back in Toronto. But he wasn't in Toronto anymore, and he wanted Mrs. Hadley as his friend. Maybe she and his moms knew something that he didn't.

"Yes," he finally said. He'd do anything to have Mrs. Hadley back on his side.

"Okay then," she said matter-of-factly. "Let's get some dinner."

"Um, before we do, could I ask you something?"

"I guess so. What is it, Gus?"

"Did Justin give you a way to contact him? Maybe I could call him since I can't go to Pittsburgh."

"Gus, I really think you need to give up the idea of contacting Justin. He doesn't want to get involved."

Gus felt his anger start to grow. He did his best to keep his mouth shut and keep from lashing out at Mrs. Hadley because she was once again thwarting his attempts to see Justin. "Okay," Gus said after a minute. "I just thought I'd ask." He wasn't done with this yet, but she obviously wasn't going to help him at all.

"Help me set the table?" she asked.

Gus nodded and started the nightly ritual that they had been following for the last few weeks. Gus' job in the kitchen was to help set the table and then clear it at the end. Mrs. Hadley always praised him for how well he did each. He liked praise. Gus got the plates out of the cupboard as Mrs. Hadley had another look in the oven. It was ready.

Dinner ensued with an uncomfortable silence among Gus, his father and Greg who looked mightily ticked off by everything that had happened that day.

Finally Brian decided to break the silence. "Gus, Greg and I bought a dining room suite yesterday. We can eat in the dining room when it arrives next week."

"Great," Gus replied. His lack of enthusiasm was apparent to all. He'd much rather eat in the kitchen, especially if Greg and his father ate in the dining room. Maybe he could arrange that.

Brian finished his main course. "How be we meet in the library after you finish your dessert and we'll go over your assignments?"

Gus smiled. "Yeah, I think you'll like them."

"Brian, I need a word with you," Greg said getting up and pushing back his chair. "In the library," he said as he went out the door.

"I'll be finished with Greg in a few minutes. Knock before you come in," he added just in case.

Gus made a face and muttered, "If only you would be finished with Greg."

"Gus, that's not helpful," Mrs. Hadley admonished. She was no longer prepared to get involved in the mess Brian was creating for himself.

"I know," Gus said as he cleared the table. "What's for dessert?"

"Chocolate cake," Mrs. Hadley said proudly producing one of her masterpieces from the counter next to the fridge.

"Yummy," Gus said enthusiastically. Mrs. Hadley smiled to herself. That was the child that Gus should be, enjoying his dessert, not trying to fix his father's disastrous love life. She dished out a good sized piece and cut a small one for herself. They sat down at the table that Gus had completely cleared.

"I think your father will like all your assignments," Mrs. Hadley said. "I know how hard you worked on them."

"Thanks," Gus replied his mouth stuffed with chocolate cake.

"Gus, perhaps you could ask your father about that counseling that I mentioned earlier." She watched as Gus' eyes grew hard.

"Maybe."

"I would prefer if you mentioned it, but if you don't I will," she said firmly.

"Okay, I'll ask," Gus conceded. He didn't think he needed counseling and they wouldn't be able to help him anyway. He seemed to be beyond help. "That was good cake," Gus said as he cleaned his plate.

"Thank you, Gus. Let's load the dishwasher."

As Gus and Mrs. Hadley were cleaning up in the kitchen, Greg was broaching an important topic with Brian. "I'm out of vacation time as of tomorrow. I'll have to go back to work, but I don't want to leave you here all alone." Greg leaned against Brian as they sat on the sofa in the library.

"I have to work too," Brian said leaning back against his lover. "I have to take Gus to school tomorrow, but we can spend the rest of the day and the weekend together."

"I was thinking of something a little more permanent."

"More permanent? What do you mean?"

"What if I quit my job and moved in here permanently? Now that we've started furnishing the place, there will be a lot to do, and I could spend all my time on it."

"Quit your job? But, we all need jobs," Brian said bewildered. He hadn't expected this at all.

Greg frowned. This wasn't going the way he had hoped. He'd have to show Brian why he needed him there all the time. Greg grabbed Brian and pulled him into a long sizzling kiss. He could feel Brian yield to him, and his hand found Brian's hardening cock.

"Wouldn't it be nice to come home to that every night?" Greg panted rubbing himself against Brian.

"Yeah."

"Then tell me that I should quit."

"I … I don't know," Brian managed to get out before Greg grabbed him again.

"Think about it," Greg whispered as he leaned down into Brian's crotch and sucked at Brian's dick through his jeans.

Brian gasped and then pushed Greg away as Gus knocked on the library door. "Hold that thought for later," Brian muttered as he adjusted himself. "I need to see Gus alone."

"Of course, I'll be waiting for you upstairs." He smiled his best sexy smile as he sashayed towards the door. He relished hearing Brian's groan as he opened the door and glared at Gus before he left the room. He would work his magic on Brian later tonight. He knew what he wanted and he was going to get it.

Gus entered a little tentatively. His father was sitting on the couch with his head thrown back and his eyes closed. "Are you all right, Dad?"

"Yeah, yeah, your work is on the desk," he said. "Get it and we can get started." He needed a moment to compose himself. He wasn't at all sure how he felt about Greg quitting his job and being at the mansion full time. He looked at his son and knew Gus would hate it.

They spent the next couple of hours going over Gus' work. Most of it was very good. Brian made a few suggestions, especially about another section that could be added to the Math essay. Gus agreed and seemed pleased with Brian's reaction to what he had done.

"If you make those corrections and additions tonight, we can go to Bramley first thing tomorrow morning."

"Okay," Gus agreed.

"I'm really proud of how you've handled all this schoolwork during your summer vacation. You keep that effort up when you start school and I know you'll do well."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Dad. It felt good to show that I can do these assignments."

"You did well, grasshopper," Brian teased.

This was what Gus enjoyed about being with his father. If only it could be the two of them. "Thanks for the help. Dad, could I ask you something? Actually I want to ask two things," Gus said seriously.

"Shoot."

"Mrs. Hadley thinks I should get counseling about my anger," Gus said staring at the floor. "I … I don't like the idea that something's wrong with me. But my moms said the same thing. Do you think I have a problem?"

"Gus, I'm very proud of you for thinking so seriously about this. I think counseling would be a good idea. I've gone to experts when I needed help with something."

"You have?"

"Yeah, there have been a few hard times," Brian admitted. He was thinking about his talks with Andrew after the bashing. He probably should have done a lot more of that kind of thing. Maybe his life wouldn't have turned out the way it did. "I can check into counselors in the area. Okay?"

Gus nodded. He'd give it a try. "The other thing is about Greg." Brian groaned. "Is he ever going home?"

"You want him to leave?" Gus nodded. "I … I don't know what's going to happen with Greg. You don't like him, do you?"

"No, but I guess you are the one who has to make the decision," Gus said standing up. "I'll get these ready tonight so we can go to Bramley right after breakfast."

"Good boy," Brian said standing and giving Gus a kiss on the head. He watched Gus walk out of the room. He really was a good kid, and counseling could only help. Now all he had to do was figure out what the hell to do about Greg Fernley. Brian poured himself a stiff drink.