STICKS, MAYBE STONES TOO

Seize the day

A week after coming back, Brandon having been laid off from his part time job (I guess attempted to suicide to his boss translated into a letter of resignation) realizes he has a lot of free time in his hand decides on catching up with school.

Maybe it was time he finally got his Bachelor's degree. A good level of education usually meant a good job which equated to money and money is exactly what he needed.

Hiring private investigators was not cheap, the cost of justice had never been cheap and if he had to get justice then he should be ready to break bank.

Now, how to figure out what to tell George in order to let him go back to school.

He honestly did not want to make it seem like he had to ask for permission but he couldn't figure out his way back into town. George lived in the suburbs, no buses went by the area. Brandon didn't own a car, he had not seen his phone since he woke from hospital therefore could not order a cab.

This past week it would be a lie if Brandon said he had not developed any sort of feelings George. It was had to find a man who would treat you this good and expected nothing back. At least Tony had not many anyone like that in his past life.

This was a great thing and studying hard to be successful was the only way he could pay him back for everything.

Chin up head held high he went to face the lion, strategies already set in place. There was no room for error. No room for rejection.

“Why not take online classes? It's still a degree after all” who knew George was determined to keep him at home.

“I would like to interact with fellow students too you know. Research says its great for learners to be with fellow learners. It helps them grow and studying is easier that way” Brandon tries to reason only to get a low blow reply about how his agemates were all out of school working already.

He had already been self conscious about fitting in  with his age and social status but his lovely ‘fiance’ just had to rub it in. Talk about hitting where it hurts most.

Dejected he dragged his feet back to his room puppy eyed.

“Was I too harsh back there” George thought feeling guilty. He had not meant to hurt his feelings, he was just scared of loosing Brandon. He almost did once and he was not yet ready to go through that again. So he came up with the most unexpected idea ever!

“You can back to school..” Brandon had already jumped over and hugged him before he finished his statement, “do not get to excited yet, I have conditions.”

“What? What are the conditions? I agree to anything. Yes! Hell yes! I get to finish school” Brandon was too excited. If he was a puppy his tail would be wagging.

“Anything? Are you sure? If I ask for anything you will do it?” George questions looking at Brandon intently.

That look has Brandon rethinking his earlier impulsive declaration. Clearly he hadn't though everything. “Yes...yes I I agree. Anything. What do you want” he says being more cautious this time around.

“Let us register our marriage today.” George suddenly declares leaving no room for negotiation.

“What? Isn't it too soon to get married?" Brandon tries to reason. They still didn't know each other, them getting married now would be like marrying a stranger. Call him a little old fashioned but he wanted to fall in love first, to get married to the man he loved. This idea George had was simply outrageous! “This is not funny George, name your condition. I do not want to be late to register for the next semester." Brandon was starting to feel frustrated, he could not read George. He could not tell whether he was being serious or was pulling his leg.

“Who say I am trying to be funny? Let us register our marriage today. That is the only way you would go back to school.” George decided to take this gamble because he realised school was important to Brandon.

Brandon looked at George like he had lost his mind, he was starting to believe that this man wasn't exactly sane. First of all to save his step father's company he asked for his hand in marriage instead. A smart business man would have asked for company shares, taken something as collateral. Instead this man wanted him, there was nothing special at him. Brandon was not bring self depreciating, he was a very honest simple man and he new he wasn't worth all that money George poured into that dying business for him.

“How about this, we should get married for a year. Try out this thing you are dead set on. If it doesn't work out after a year we can get a mutual divorce." Brandon suggests righteously, he felt like this was doing George a favour. He was not from his social class and did not want to tie him to himself forever but after a long period of silence he started getting nervous, “I'll sign a pre-nuptial agreement!" he suddenly blurts out.

May George thought he was after his money that is why he suggested the pre-nup. This was his was to prove that he was not trying to cheat him off his money. Didn't all rich folks think that way?

“Fine," George says with a sigh “let us go register the marriage, I'll get my secretary to prepare the paper of the contract" dragging him out of the house while on the phone with his secretary. Brandon lost in thought does not catch any part of the conversation apart from when he said he would text the details.

This is it! Off to get married, where was the proposal? Where was the ring? Where was the grand ceremony? Every thing Tony has dreamed of, all he wanted that ended up getting him killed. Now all of that felt insignificant, he was indeed getting married, but for how long?

Time would tell