Charles contemplated the events that had led up to this point as he approached Michales house. he’d really only been trying to help, and yes, he had been hurt that Mandy rejected him. After all wasn’t he allowed to have feelings too? Now another task lay before him though, he needed to put Michael to good use. He just wasn’t sure how yet.
He knocked gently on the door and Michael soon answered “Oh, Charles, um.. hi… I wasn’t expecting you…” his voiced trailed off, a mixture of nervousness and mistrust.
Charles sighed, and responded ” I’m sorry, I probably should have called ahead, may I come in?”
Michael opened the door the rest of the way “Yea, sure, come on in I guess.”
Charles stepped inside and took a glance around, the last couple times he’d been here he hadn’t really had a chance to look at the place. It was nice enough, spacious, well decorated, a little on the messy side, but not bad, by College student standards. “I hope I haven’t come by too late, but I wanted to get this whole Ghoul domitor relationship started, and alleviate any fears or doubts you may be having. perhaps even put to rest any rumors you may have heard”
Michael raised a hand to stop him “If you’re going to tell me Mandy lied, you can stop now, I’m always going to believe her over you, and to be hones,t I’m not overly happy about how this all turned out OK? I’m told this is the way it has to be, so I’m going to do it, but that doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it”
Charles sat down and looked up at Michael “I can see this is going to be difficult, you’ve already decided a lot of things about me, I’ll have to work that much harder to earn your trust. I never meant to hurt anyone, I just wanted to help. I really meant the best. ” Then something Michael didn’t expect happened, and Charles started to cry, small single tears at first, tears of blood, but tears none-the-less. Michael in a bit of shock wasn’t really sure what to do, so he did what came naturally and put a hand on Charles shoulder to try and console him/
“oh… I mean… come on now, I didn’t mean to be that harsh honey. I’m sorry, This whole thing just ha my feathers all ruffled, so much has happened to Mandy lately and I get protective. There there now. come on stop crying, lets talk, I’ll try to be… a little more open minded ok?”
Charles straightened up and pulled out a Kleenex to clean his eyes, careful to Dab them clean instead of wiping so as to not smear and look like a horror show after he left.
“I’m sorry Michael” Charles said “I don’t usually get quite so emotional, this has all just been very stressful on me. I’m sorry”
Michael shook his head “nothing to be sorry about”
Charles nodded “alright, well, my original purpose in coming here was to ask your help. you see the outreach center deals with a lot of runaways. Sadly a good number of them run away from home because of parents that don’t understand their sexuality. Now, not jsut because your gay, but because as I understand it you always have been, and continue to be involved in the ‘Scene’ parties, you travel in circles I don’t and your job at nightborn as well, gives you a lot of close ties to the LGBT community. I was hoping you could be my Liaison of sorts. Helping those who need it, to get connected to the right services, counselors, support groups or whatever we can offer. Someone that can talk to them on their level, who can understand what their going through.”
Michael nodded thoughtfully as Charles continued
“Many of them come to us, afraid to ask for help. They don’t know who to trust, and they fear persecution and mockery. Many more don’t come to us at all. We want to reach out and let them know that my center is a safe place. Somewhere that they wont be judged, a place where they can get help, counseling, support, more than just a warm meal and a place to sleep”
Michael met Charles eyes and saw the honesty in them, and a bit of pain. He saw before him a man who was in pain, who hurt in a way that not many people understood. He saw it now, it all clicked, Charles complained of his clan being outcast, and that’s why he did it, all of it, He saw in the runaways, the homosexuals, the homeless and discard, he saw himself. Charles was trying to give the world world the one thing he couldn’t seem to get, a fair shake. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. He put on his bravest smile and worked up a bit of pep.