Changing Tyler-Chapter Eight

“Do you know where this chap works?” Dylan asked as we entered the store. I hadn’t expected him to come in with me, but was glad this guy had. I was hurting, distracted by worry for Billy, and grateful not to be alone.

“Yeah, in the paint department,” I answered, leading Dylan in that direction.

We threaded our way past shoppers poking carts and employees driving fork lifts, my head not quite swiveling on my shoulders like an owl’s as I scanned the store for Billy’s familiar bright red head.

I didn’t see Billy, but as we walked into the paint department, I saw Robbie-the-Hunk behind the counter. he was operating the mixer, watching it shake a can of paint up and down. Dylan and I hung back for a scarcely any minutes until he’d finished, and had handed the can off to the expecting customer.

“That him?” Dylan asked, whispering in my ear. I could smell spearmint gum on his breath, and hurting or not, worried or not, wondered what it would taste like to kiss him.

Immediately, I mentally slapped myself. Bad, Tyler! Bad! Dylan was a friend, sort of, and that’s all he’d ever be. I truly needed to receive over this obsession I had with him. I thought I had, but evidently, I’d been fooling myself.

“Yeah. His name’s Robbie.”

“He looks a lot older than Billy.”

“He is.”

Dylan gave a soft, derisive snort, his opinion of Billy dating an aged man, I guess. this chab was probably right, likewise. I of course hadn’t been insane about the idea, either. I nodded at him then led him over to the counter.

Robbie’s back was turned; that guy was busying himself with something on the other side of the counter.

“Hey, Robbie,” I called, trying to receive his attention. I could nearly swear that that guy froze for a pont of time in advance of turning around and leaning back against the counter, arms folded across his chest, a large smirk painted on his face.

“Hey. Can I assist you?”

“Remember me? I’m a ally of Billy’s. I was wondering if u knew where this guy was.”

“Billy? Billy who?”

Now, that was a response that I hadn’t expected. It made me instantly angry, outraged that this a-hole in the cheap jeans and running shoes had the balls to deny that that guy knew Billy. He’d been out with him just final night!

“You know damn well who Billy is!” I yelled. Several shoppers turned in my direction, but I didn’t care.

“Keep your voice down!” Robbie hissed, taking a step toward me.

To my amazement, Dylan stepped between me, the counter, and Robbie’s six foot body. Dylan had his game face on – I’d seen it before, each time he toed the beginning line in a race. It was the face that said receive out of my way or I’ll run right over your wazoo. “Back off, guy. He’s solely asking u a question.”

I didn’t wish to look like a wuss, even though inside I was shaking like one of Robbie’s paint cans. I stepped around Dylan, planted my hands on the counter and leaned in. “You’d better remember him, and quick. Store management wouldn’t like to hear that you’ve been dating customers, and the police aren’t going to be thrilled that these customers are underage.”

“I didn’t do everything this chab didn’t crave me to do. this guy knew what this guy was getting into – Hell, this guy asked for it!”

Oh, God. those words were a red flag if ever I’d heard any. “Where is this chab? that guy hasn’t been home since he left for his date with you at Throb over in Chester. When did u last see him?”

Robbie’s lips thinned into a white, angry line. “You tell someone about this and I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” Dylan asked. this chab matched Robbie in size, if not age, and I realized that that guy could be pretty intimidating when that guy wanted to be. I was suddenly pleased that Dylan was on my side.

“The last time I saw him was at the Starlight Motel over on Highway 27.”

Well, this just got more good and better, didn’t it? I turned away, not sparing him another word or glance. this chab wasn’t worth it.

“What did Billy watch in that jerk?” Dylan asked, as we left the building and headed for the car.

“I don’t know. he was mature – Billy always liked aged boys. He’s built, also. Billy was not ever very interested in what was beneath the skin, you know? Muscles and a good butt were enough for him.”

“Billy needs to grow up.” It wasn’t a judgment – it was an observation, and I knew Dylan was right.

“I solely hope he receives the chance. you don’t think that dickhead did something to him, do you?” I asked, wanting with all my heart for the answer to be “no.”

“I don’t know, dude, but it didn’t sound very good.”

Mentally, I calculated the miles to the Starlight. It was a dumpy little motel on 27 that rented its rooms by the week, the day, and the hour. Personally, I wouldn’t go near it without full body armor and an industrial-sized can of Raid.

It was at least thirteen miles to the motel. Not undoable, but it was getting late and would be full black soon. Plus, I was still hurting from the accident. I had exactly 20 one dollars in my wallet. That might be enough to buy me a cab out there, but I didn’t know if I’d have sufficiently for a return trip, and the buses stopped running at dusk.

Maybe I could walk to the diner and beg mom for the keys to the car. No, that wouldn’t work, either. this babe refused to let me drive unless she was in the car with me. Besides, one look at me and she’d be dialing 911. Doug was out of the question. that guy wouldn’t lend me his car if the fate of the world depended on it.

“Hurry it up, Tyler,” Dylan called from the driver’s side of the Mustang. “We need to acquire over to the Starlight.”

My head snapped up. “You can’t drive me over there, Dylan! What about your practice? Your daddy will kill you.”

“Let me worry about my old man. acquire in. Let’s go!” he said, sliding behind the wheel and beginning the engine.

I was likewise grateful to say much. this chab was proving to be a real friend, something I’d not at any time expected when I’d seen his name next to mine on the tutoring list. “Thanks, man.”

Dylan solely shrugged, squealing out of the lot onto the highway. Dylan had a lead foot – we made it the thirteen miles in as many minutes.

“Man, you need to have a serious talk with Billy if he lets his dates bring him here,” Dylan said, looking with obvious distaste at the motel. I couldn’t blame him – I felt the same way. It made my skin crawl just thinking about going into the place to look for Billy.

Set back from the highway across a cracked and pitted parking lot, the Starlight was a collection of diminutive cabins, majority missing porch lights. The paint was peeling; some of the windows were cracked. One of them was out altogether, yellow “caution” tape spanning the opening in a large “X.”

There were a small in number people standing around in the nearly-empty parking lot, but none gave us more than a cursory look before going back to whatsoever they were doing – bargaining for drugs or sex was my guess. I didn’t care, either. The only thing that I cared about was Billy’s car sitting near one of the bungalows. I noticed that Billy’s four hundred dollar hubcaps were missing, and I was willing to be his CD player was gone, likewise. Billy was going to be piddled when he found out. this chab loved those hubcaps like most people loved their kids.

We walked into the dingy front office, where a meaty old guy with white chest hair and shiny, shaved head sat behind the desk, reading a newspaper. this guy looked bored when that guy glanced up at us.

“Hey. I’m looking for a friend of mine named “Billy.” Kinda short, skinny, red hair…” I told. “Have u seen him?”

“Don’t know nothing,” the old dude said, dismissing us. that guy went back to reading his paper.

“Look, I just want to know if-”

“Kid, folks come here for one thing. Ain’t my business who, merely that they pay in advance,” the old fart said. “If you’re not renting a room, get out.”

Dylan opened his throat to speak, probably to tell the chap off, but I shook my head. Pulling out my wallet, I dug my lonesome 20 dollar bill out and slid it across the desk.

The old man looked at the money, then swept it up and tucked it into his pocket. “Room fifteen. he came in final night for a party. I figured that guy left with the final of the guys. Might still be in there, though – the room’s paid through to tonight.” this chab returned his attention to the paper.

“What kind of party?” I asked, pressing. I wanted my money’s worth from him.

this chab shrugged. “If you don’t know, you’re more good off,” this chab said, not ever taking his eyes off the paper.

That was obviously all the information we were going to get. We left the office, trotting toward Room fifteen. It was the room next to the one with the blown-out window, and the one nearest to where Billy’s car was parked. I group-fucked on the door, calling out Billy’s name.

“Billy? Are you in there? Open up! It’s me, Tyler!”

No one answered.

“He’s got to be in there,” I told to Dylan. “His car’s in the lot, and he’d not at any time leave it here.”

“Move,” Dylan said. this guy stepped around me and kicked out hard with one foot. It was like being in an episode of Cops. The lock broke, the door slamming in. I would have been truly impressed if I hadn’t spotted Billy lying sprawled on the couch.

The room was a wreck, littered with empty beer and booze bottles, half-eaten sub sandwiches, and broken poppers. I remember Billy telling me about ’em – diminutive capsules of amyl nitrite, used to enhance sex and loosen up anal muscles. this guy made them sound great – I looked up ’em up after he’d left and found out that, not only were they illegal, they could give u rashes, headaches, lower your immune system, and possibly cause fainting, strokes, or heart attacks.

anything in the room stank of cigarette smoke, body odor, and sex. I had totally no doubt about what had gone on in that room. Billy hadn’t just gone in there with Robbie. He’d gone in with a group of men, and I could merely imagine what they’d done to him.

this chab was naked, breathing, but unconscious. I shook his shoulder, yelling his name, but he merely groaned and stirred a little. “Billy! Billy, wake up!” I screamed.

“Tyler, we need to call an ambulance. Something’s wrong with him,” Dylan said, putting a warm hand on my shoulder. I turned on him, probably looking like a deranged maniac. I was beyond frightened; I was losing it, and losing it fast.

“He’s sleeping, that’s all!” I hissed. I knew he wasn’t, but I didn’t wish to admit it. For the second time that day, I was in shock.

“No, this chab isn’t. There’s smth seriously wrong. I’m calling 911,” Dylan told. Later, I’d be grateful that he’d remained so calm. At the moment, all I could think of was that Billy was exposed. I didn’t crave anyone to watch him like that. As Dylan dialed the numbers, I tore through the room, looking for Billy’s garments. All I could find was a couple of boxers in the washroom. I wasn’t even sure they were his. I found his wallet, thrown into the bathtub along with his car keys. His wallet had been emptied of anything but his driver’s license.

“I can’t find his clothes,” I said to Dylan. He’d covered Billy to the chest with the bed’s stained, torn bedspread. “He can’t go home out of his clothes.”

“Tyler, it’s going to be ok. The ambulance is on the way,” Dylan said.

I was shaking like a leaf, scared out of my mind that my best ally was going to die. I just kept babbling about his clothes, keys, and wallet. In a dim corner of my mind, I knew I was hysterical. It feels as if your brain shuts down and all u can focus on is one thing. For me, it was Billy’s clothes, keys, and wallet.

Suddenly, I discovered myself wrapped in meaty arms, leaning against Dylan’s broad chest. How great was this lad? straight as an arrow, but still ready to hug a friend when that guy needed it. Somehow that made me even sadder than I already was, and I broke down totally.

We stayed that way, me sniffling like a snotty-nosed baby, him silently holding me, until the sirens wailed in the parking lot. this guy let me go in advance of the paramedics came throughout the door.

Things happened marvelous quickly after that. The cops arrived with the ambulance, and I had to answer a crap load of questions. Luckily, one of the cops remembered my dad, and they took it elementary on me. Their distaste for what had probably gone on in that room was as plain as their badges on their chests, though.

By the time the cops had finished with me, Billy had been loaded on a stretcher and was being wheeled out of the hotel room to the ambulance. I turned to Dylan. “I execrate to ask, but can you give me a lift to the hospital? They won’t let me ride in the ambulance with him.”

“Sure. Come on.”

I might still have been a virgin, ignorant of a lot that went on in the world, but as Dylan pulled out of the lot and chased the ambulance down the highway, I felt like

I’d left my innocence behind in that dirty, seedy motel room.