An Tús Don Stoirm (complete)

“I always said that my stay here is only a temporary one. I still would have left.” Shaun took a step closer to the retreating Santa Monican. “You always knew I would return to Greenleaf.”

“But not that soon.” Viggo felt his chest constricting his heart, a painful pressure making it impossible to breath. “That’s too soon.”

Orlando winced, hearing all the pain in his older brother’s voice. He was not used to him being weak. Confused and hurt himself, he passed Marton, who was holding a crying Craig, and wandered off. He walked through the stables, lost in thoughts, wondering why he was so affected by this surprising revelation. It was true, he hurt because of his brother’s pain and sorrow but even so there was something more to it. Searching his feelings, he realised that he felt betrayed for not having been told. For not knowing about Colin leaving. This was ridiculous, considering their short friendship. Still, Orlando couldn’t help feeling like this and he wondered why Colin was leaving and where he was going to. Maybe he just went on a short holiday before the school started. He’d just have to ask him.

Orlando left the stables behind and reached a large meadow. Sitting down on the grass, he inhaled the fresh air and settled to watch the horses on the meadows.

That was how Colin found him, sitting on the meadow, staring off into the distance. Colin stopped in his tracks and took the sight of Orlando in. He was heart achingly beautiful. The chocolate coloured curls shining in the sun, his golden skin, glowing warmly. The embodiment of perfection. As much as Colin longed for Orlando, he was realistic enough to know that this was something he could not have. This was way out of lea league. To complicate things further, the beauty was straight and had a girlfriend. A bitch of a girlfriend.

Deep in thoughts, Colin slowly approached the sitting figure of Orlando. The nearer he got to his destination, the more he wondered what could have been, if the two of them had had a better start. Maybe they’d have become friends, good friends, but then, maybe not. Standing now behind the other, Colin crouched down and cleared his throat. This got Orlando’s atton. on.

Orlando was roused from his thoughts by a noise behind him. Spinning around he looked right into Colin’s dark eyes. He flinched back use use of the unsuspected closeness but broke into a grin shortly after that. “Hi! Finished with the horses?”

Colin nodded and smiled. “Yep, the others told me you had left into this direction.” He sat down on the grass next to the beauty and turned to look at the horses too. “So, what happened while I was gone. Everybody is so gloomy and I thought Viggo and Marton were going to kill me when they saw me.”

“Where are you going, Colin?”

This question caught him unawares and he shifted uncomfortably. “To Ireland. I am going to attend school in Dublin.” He felt his heart ache and a nervous feeling settle is bes belly. “I am going to stay with my grandparents there.

Now it was Orlando’s turn to stare at him.” You are going to got to school in Ireland? But I …” The sudden pain spreading his chest cut Orlando’s words and he was left speechless. It just couldn’t be true. Not now, not like that.

Cold shivers ran down Colin’s spine and he wrapped his arms around his legs, pressing them against his chest. Somehow he wanted to stop talking about his departure to Ireland. This decision had been made, when there had been only animosity between them, or rather from Orlando’s side, and although there was the promising tendency towards friendship, Colin had decided to stick to his former decision. He just couldn’t stay and go to school here, unsure of how things might develop. What if Orli decided that Colin was not worth the trouble and his precious time? It was better to go to Ireland and start anew there. After all, it was not like he would miss Santa Monica, his memories being not the best he had.

Orlando realised, that he wanted to beg Colin no to leave, to stay here with him. With him? Well, yes, with him as a friend. A good friend. Orlando had hoped that he would be able to find out more about Colin during school. It would have been the perfect opportunity to befriend the dark eyed boy. Suddenly he stopped the trail his thoughts were taking and recalled what he had been thinking. Dark eyed? Beg him to stay? The hurt? Something was going on here. Something important.

“How long?”

“Sorry?” Colin was slightly confused, what exactly was the other referring to.

“How long will you be gone?”

“The whole year.” His voice was so soft, it was barely audible. “I leave in four days.” Colin was scared to look at Orlando. He was scared of the pain he heard in the voice and the hurt he might see in the face.

“Is it my fault?” Orlando had to ask. He simply had to know. “Are you leaving because of me? Because of what I did?” He dreaded Colin’s answer to the question.

Well, he could lie and say that this decision had been made a long time ago but then there had already been too many lies between them. Orlando had asked for it and he would get nothing less than the truth. “Yes, it is. I wanted to get away from Santa Monica. I felt rather unwelcome.”

Orlando flinched at the frank admission. “But, I … I am trying to make up for it. We can still be friends, can’t we?” his voice getting a desperate note.

Sadly Colin shook his head in negation. “I am afraid, we can’t. Orlando, it would be wrong of me, if I pretended to be ‘just’ your friend.” Colin gathered all of his courage before he continued, “I would lie, if I pretended and said I only care for you as a friend. The truth is I feel rather attracted to you. Always have, since the first time I saw you.”

Now, this was something Orlando had not expected. “Colin …. “

“It’s okay Orlando, I never expected you to return those feelings but I can’t help how I feel about you. I hope you’ll forgive me.” Colin got up and straightened his clothes, brushing away the grass sticking to his trousers.

Orlando watched the other, like in a trance. “Forgive you?” This was just so unreal.

“Yes, forgive me.” Colin stared at thealysalysed figure of Orlando, patiently waiting for the answer to hiquesquest.

“Um … “ Orlando fought to in hin his composure. After sorting his thoughts, Orlando looked up, straight into the dark chocolate depths of Colin’s eye. Calming warmth spread through his whole body, reaching his toes and finger tips, tingling there lightly. “Yes.”


Colin smiled relieved, holding out a hand to help the other up. “Thank you.”

Slowly Orlando reached up for the helping hand and got to his feet. Staring into deeply into the warm and caring eyes, he felt his heart ache bitter sweetly. How was he supposed to deal with the shocking news? All of it: Colin leaving and his feelings for Orlando. Never mentioning the confusing feelings Orli felt for the other. “No, thank you for telling me the truth.”

Another radiant smile for Orlando and Colin led them back to the stables and their waiting friends.