Back to the Future

[solaris]

I'm glad you guys have received this chapter well! I know it's a difficult subject and I totally agree with the anti discrimination laws here in the UK, but I get really annoyed when in the name of 'political correctness' and 'anti-discrimination' the right to hold a different personal opinion is brought into question.

I am a firm believer in:-

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Quote credited to Voltaire.

[Red Ranger 1]

I have finally got around to reading all of this:The 20+ pages(when I first came across it)had me running scared for a while but I eventually bit the bullet and got stuck in.And it's brilliant!And you've achieved the impossible and actually had me liking Aden and Belle a few times, which is quite an achievement.

Looking forward to reading more.

[jenlee]

Great chapters. Not many writers can do what you did in that last chapter but you did a great job.

Looking foward to reading more

[solaris]

Ok, this chapter kind of finnishes the whole Geoff/Aden homosexuallity mini story line. I know it's a touchy subject for a lot of people but I do enjoy playing devils advocate on occasion, once again there is no offence intended to anyone on either side of hte fence. I hope you can see the point I'm trying to get at though, and this story line is important...as you will see in later chapters.

p.s. Jenlee, thankyou, your comment means a lot to me.

Warning - Several touchy subjects...mainly discrimination of one forn or another.

Chapter 35

Sat on the bluff, Geoff's thoughts were as turbulent as the sea below him. He drew his knees up to his chest and rested his chin on them, wrapping his arms around his legs. He had no idea how long he sat there, staring out toward the crashing waves yet seeing nothing. That was where Nicole found him, miles away...lost in his own thoughts, that afternoon. For a while she just watched him, wondering how she, the bay's bad girl, had ended up with the town's good guy. A wry smile touched her full lips, the bulk of the bad girl image had been just that...an image. She considered that small fact for some time and an errant thought bubbled to the surface, how much of Geoff's good boy image was real? She already knew that he kissed like a dark angel, could she...

“Oh boy!”

She muttered, jamming her fingers through the thick blonde waves falling carelessly around her face. What on earth was she thinking? She liked Geoff as he was, for the person he was...incomprehensible morals included! So why? Why was she even thinking about...about...well...corrupting him? She laughed softly, unable to think of a more suitable word and knowing that 'corrupting' was exactly how Geoff would view it. So what of her own past? Why was she having these thoughts? More perplexing was why they felt so natural, so right, when they were in the context of Geoff being the other participant in a private pas de deux. After the city, everything had been tarnished...she'd lost so much – especially in terms of trust and self esteem. All she could be sure of was that this was different, for now she'd have to content with that.

Moving quietly so as not to disturb him, Nicole moved to where Geoff was sat and adopted a pose that almost mirrored his. The only difference between them was that she wasn't staring into the horizon, instead her head tilted so that her cheek rested on her knees...she watch him in silence. Geoff slowly became aware that he was no longer alone; a light, crisp, slightly floral scent had melded with the sharp tang of the ocean breeze. There was only one person he knew who smelled like early blooming flowers in the first days of spring...

“Nic!”

“Hey!”

Geoff's head whipped around, he hadn't been aware that he'd spoken aloud. He lifted his chin from his knees, rolling shoulders gone stiff from being too long in one position.

“I didn't expect to see you out here.”

Nic smiled, Annie had been the one to tell her about Geoff's favourite hide-out. Not that Geoff would ever find out from either of them, not directly or intentionally anyhow.

“I did my homework.”

Geoff's look of mock surprise rankled just slightly; okay, so study wasn't her number one choice of things to do...it didn't mean she wasn't good at it. She pouted at him and he relented.

“I guess if it something you want to know...then you ferret it out, who told you?”

Nic chuckled.

“Like a journalist, I never reveal my sources. As well as discovering your location this morning, I also found out that you talked to Aden...that can't have been easy!”

Geoff winced a bit at the reminder, glancing down in surprise when Nics hand came to rest on his arm. The gesture was one of silent support.

“Are you going to tell me about it?”

The second wince was more noticeable, he mentally cringed away from reliving the events of breakfast time.

“I'd rather not.”

Nic waited, she was beginning to think that this was something important.

“Geoff, talk to me. Please?”

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“You've enough to deal with at the moment without my mess to it Nic, I need to try and figure this out myself. Preferably before I screw up irreparably.”

Nic rolled her eyes at what was probably an over-dramatisation, she was already well aware that Geoff could see mountains where barely a pin head existed.

“Then a second opinion might well be advisable!”

Her tone had taken a turn towards the no-nonsense... too much time around Belle perhaps? He didn't know, but he recognised the inevitable when it was in front of him – he gave in to it.

“I was thinking about some stuff that Aden said this morning.”

He gave her a detailed account of their discussion, including his response to it – watching her grimace in response.

“Oh boy! I really didn't need the visuals...either of them!”

The disclaimer added before he could query which visual she meant.

“There are some things which, quite frankly ought to remain in the realm of pure academics...details not required thanks.”

Her response coaxed a small smile out of him, he was glad it wasn't just him for whom the picture was...difficult.

“There one thing I don't get though...”

Nic's voice re-focussed his attention, he shuffled around so he could actually face her.

“...and that's why this has had you sat out here, brooding since God knows when, with little to show for it except stiff muscles!”

Exasperation coloured her words and Geoff pulled his knees in to his chest more tightly, adopting an unconsciously protective position. Nic waited, eventually Geoff started to speak.

“I guess...I guess he made me feel like a freak, a throwback to a different time.”

hat surprised her, it wasn't the response she'd been expecting. He features softened, moving to gentle curiosity.

“Go one.”

The encouragement lacked any rancour so he carried on, trying to explain what he was feeling and where those feeling came from.

“I was brought up on a farm, there were strict rules...boundaries you didn't try to cross. On a practical level, things like never leaving a gate open or not going into certain enclosures at certain times. You had to go with the ebb and flow of nature, but for your own safety and the well being of those around you there were set ways to accomplish each task. There was a set of rules for personal behaviour as well, firm guidance on how to conduct yourself. My grandfather was a God fearing man so we, Annie and myself, were brought up with the teachings of the Bible.”

Nic was listening intently, she was fascinated by the background that had shaped Geoff. She settled herself more comfortably whilst he continued.

“The principles we were taught come from the teaching of the Bible; no sex before marriage, abortion is wrong, homosexuality is wrong...I'm sure you can fill in the rest! It's true that some of the 'cause and effect' stuff that my grandfather used to go on about is a bit out dated, but I still believe that the basic principles are right.”

A rueful smile curled his mouth up.

“I'll be the first to admit that I haven't found it easy to adapt to life away from the farm, it was really tough at first and there was a lot I had to learn – there still is as the whole mess up with Aden proves...but I'm better than I was. I at least try and think things through...I just don't always reach sensible conclusions.”

He ran his hands through his hair and rubbed them over his face.

“You know, it's not a bad thing to have a solid grounding. At least you have something to fall back on, a foundation that, truth be told won't send you seriously off the rails. I didn't have that, in fact I had the opposite – not enough rules. The fall out from that we have been dealing with recently!”

Geoff considered that.

“If you're right, about the basic principles...about the foundation...why do I end up copping flak for having that background? I'm working on putting brain in gear before speaking, but even without that I'm treated like a freak by a significant number of people.”

Geoff started to realise the truth behind his 'brooding' session...it was frustration. He stood up and started to pace.

“Belle said this morning that everyone is entitled to an opinion, irrespective of whether or not you agree with that opinion.”

Nic murmured an agreement, but Geoff laughed bitterly.

“She was wrong Nic, in application if not in law. My opinion is that sex outside of marriage is wrong – for me at least – response to that? 'Oh you're so out of touch with the real world, your a prude' plus a few more less polite ones. When I'm asked my opinion on abortion, homosexuality, divorce...same result! I'm arrogant, judgemental, homophobic, hypocritical...delete as appropriate! It's fine to have an opinion so long as your opinion fits in with the majority...or at least isn't too far away from the mid point. Have an opinion outside the norm? Shock, horror...you can't say that...that's accepted now! I moved from an environment where there were strict rules to one where the the only moral guidance appears to be 'do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law'...or close enough to it. Is it any wonder I get confused?”

He sat down again, drained by his outburst.

“Sometimes I think I'd be better off finding some out of the way piece of land, live somewhere where my old fashioned values can't offend anyone. It's pretty obvious that in the modern age of anti-discrimination, the one thing it's fine to discriminate against is an old fashioned set of Christian values.”

He dropped his forehead to his knees, unaware that Nic's attention was still on him.

Nic, on the other hand, found herself in an uncomfortable place. Geoff was right about the intolerance for the values he'd been taught...so where did that leave him?

[LAURZY!]

WOW!!! that was unreal! seriously that was so well written

It really made me question alot of things

Loved Geoff's reaction and Nicole's too even though it wasn't as emotionally charged as his

Absolutely fantastic! really cant wait to read more

[xknomex]

how on earth do you write like that??! wow that was good!!!

Poor Geoff, no wonder he is a bit confused.

Brilliant!

Update soon

xxx

[Taniya_K]

Loved it once again . I like how you've gone to the one place that no-one else has seemed to go. Brilliant!

Geoff's rant was great. Everything he said was true, and I just felt so sorry for him.

Nic was great in this too - esp her encouragement and the thoughts about 'corrupting' Geoff at the beginning.

Cannot wait for more.

xoxo

[Red Ranger 1]

I really liked that, Geoff made some good points.Good stuff!

[jenlee]

Great chapter, you are doing such a great job

[wrongturntaken]

I want you to read this review slowly (even out loud if you so wish) to emphasise my feelings towards this chapter...

O.M.G. WO-OW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not only did you write that amazingly, the issues you addressed and what you said was so true! I love how you explore EVERY side of EVERY argument, it makes the writing so much more intelligent and inspirational!

I can't really put in to words how much i appreciated that chapter! To be honest i think you'd make a great politician! (One that actually has the ability to inspire peole in the right way i mean...) I just found that so revealing in a way i never would have thought possible from reading a fan fiction.

Please update soon! I love this fic!