shutyour_frettingmouth | You Can Never Have What You Want (Reply)

Billy was happy. Jacob was his boyfriend and they were going out to the park for some much needed fresh air after spending too much time indoors lately. For a young man, Billy enjoyed playing guitar and winding up his younger brother, Gilly. They were both in bands, Gilly with Ziggy's Spiders and Billy was lead guitarist for Viktor's band The Hell's Angels. It seemed life was going well without incident. That was until lunchtime when it all came crashing down.

****

Arriving at the park, which was just outside of where Billy lived, Jacob elbowed his boyfriend in the ribs and then yanked on his hand as they walked. There weren't many people around and this was good because Jacob didn't like lots of crowds looking at him. Being a gay man in the era they lived it was hard. Most insulted the couple as they walked or held hands. Society was a bitch, yet Billy was determined to try to hold onto Jacob, since they'd been dating for around three months or so now.

"Want an ice cream, mate?"

Billy nudged his lover to show him the ice cream cart over by the patch of trees. The park was vast and had a duck pond, wooded area and plenty of green space to sit down and picnic. Some kids were playing football over by the net and goal. Jacob grinned and nodded as he sat down on the grass. Always full of energy, the guitarist went over to buy two ice creams. Billy's being strawberry flavour and Jacob's vanilla. Walking back over, he passed Jacob his as he sat down and began eating it before it melted.

"Thanks. Looks tasty."

Jacob gave Billy a kiss on the cheek and then giggled softly. Lying back on his elbow, Billy began eating his when he noticed two rather large blokes watching the two eating their ice creams. They were on BMX racing bikes and were around their late teens. Big, burly guys who had ear piercings and tattoos on their knuckles. Billy knew the type and just ignored them. Jacob, however, seemed a little nervous as he turned his back on them and carried on eating his ice cream.

"A couple of morons are staring at us, mate."

Billy just nodded quietly at Jacob's words and tried to block them out but they were advancing now on their bikes, smirking and talking to each other. This didn't look good at all. Offering them a fake smile, Billy just wanted them to go away. Jacob turned to look at them but didn't react. Instead he just gave them a deadpan expression. The thugs laugh and prod each other in the ribs whilst riding their bikes right up to the couple. One was smoking a cigarette, as he threw the butt towards Jacob, sniggering. Billy clenched his teeth at the brute.

"What the hell do you lugs want? Can't you see me and my boyfriend here are trying to enjoy a nice day out at the park? Also, there's a bin over there for that. Oh, can't you read?"

The bitchyness all to clear in Billy's voice as he stood up to face the thugs on bikes. Jacob just moved away slowly standing next to his guitarist boyfriend. Bloody idiots! Billy wasn't having any of it. The larger of the thug got off his bike and cracked his neck. Jacob swallowed. Surely, they wouldn't cause a scene out in public in front of loads of people?

"A couple of queers, that's what you are. Pansies!"

The large thug grinned as he shoved Jacob backwards until he fell onto his back. Billy felt anger surge through his being as he aimed a punch at the larger guy, square in the jaw. Even though Billy was older then the teen, he wasn't larger and this guy was at least 6'2" or more. The smaller thug got off his bike and shoved Billy, which caused Jacob to frown and want to fight back. But he couldn't. The man just hated fighting and violence. Billy was the one to defend them from this sort of prejudice. Damn them! Things were getting bad. Billy wanting to kick the thugs in the guts but Jacob was running now, fast and away. He wanted to get away and wanted Billy to run too since they would get hurt. Beaten. It hurt too much.

"Jacob!---"

Billy swore as he turned and ran after his boyfriend, who was now ducking into the thick woods at the corner of the park. He called out again but was met with silence. Damn...where did he go? Glancing behind he noticed the thugs were laughing but not pursuing. Poor Jacob....Billy knew the guy hated violence and people that hated gay men. It was a normal thing that happened on a daily basis almost. Insults, violence and abuse at two boys out in public and in love.

"Jacob, where are you?"

Nearly out of breath, Billy eventually found Jacob sitting at the base of a large oak, panting and out of breath but not looking as nervous. He was pushing his long brown hair back away from his face and staring up at Billy. The guitarist slumped down next to him and put an arm around the younger man. Those morons...they caused this!

"Are you alright? Those morons, I could have taken them on. Stupid idiots. Don't worry about them, mate."

Jacob shook his head. He couldn't deal with this anymore. How many times had the couple been abused for holding hands or hugging in public? Had rubbish chucked at them and vile words thrown at them. It hurt. He sniffed and felt a tear come to his eye as he looked to Billy.

"I--I'm sorry. I can't take this anymore. It's just too much, mate. The abuse---you could have gotten hurt back there. Maybe it's best if we part ways."

He offered Billy a kiss on the lips before getting up and then offering one last look before running off towards the road then he was gone. That was it. Another lover gone. Billy smacked the ground with his hand in anger and felt drained. Empty. Social norms had won again. It wasn't fair! Wiping his face with his hands all he could do was walk home. Maybe a talk with Gilly might help. Even if his tarty brother was a loudmouth, anything was better than feeling alone.