Chapter Twenty Five
The teens arrived at the park and decided to go immediately to the water slides and wave pool. TJ had been there before so he took the lead in directing his older friend to the bath house where they would change into their swim wear and put their clothes in a locker. Neil's self-conscious nervousness returned as he pulled on his speedo and had to be reassured all over again that he did not look indecent or obscene. His anxiety persisted as he faced the prospect of walking out to the public pool -- `practically naked' as he put it. It was only his younger boyfriend's gentle urging that gave him the courage to leave the relative privacy of the locker room. As he splashed and played in the water with his boy friend, he forgot about the tight- fitting garment that scarcely covered his most private parts.
They paid scant attention to the other fun-seekers frolicking in the water and hardly noticed that several of them would glance admiringly at the two handsome boys or pause to stare at their fit physiques. No doubt many of the younger women and girls -- and probably a few males -- were mentally picturing what was hardly hidden from direct view. Still, the two teens were too occupied with being boys having fun to notice the admiring and possibly lustful looks they drew.
They were resting at poolside to regain their energy when they saw someone they both recognized: Cory! They did not know, however, the man who was with him. He was at least twice Cory's age, balding but with a thick, neatly trimmed beard, and quite thin.
"Who do you suppose that is with Cory?" TJ asked.
"I have no idea ... possibly his father, an uncle, a friend ... I just don't know."
Glancing around to be sure they could not be overheard, TJ said, "I would guess that he's a very GOOD friend, that he's gay, and that he likes teenagers."
"Oh, come on!" Neil protested. "Don't jump to conclusions that aren't justified."
"Are you kidding? Look at the way they're pawing each other. Watch their facial expressions, especially Cory's. He's uninhibited and frustrated and doesn't have the sense to conceal what he is. He's finally found somebody who will give him what he wants and he doesn't care that it's an old man."
"I'll admit it's possible. But it's pure speculation. Give the kid a break!"
The doubt would soon be dispelled. Cory and his friend got out of the pool and started walking toward the refreshment stand, a route that would take them directly past the two curious boys relaxing in lounge chairs.
As Cory approached, he caught sight of Neil. Panic washed across his face as they made eye contact. It was impossible not to greet his friend. Awkwardly, he stopped walking and said, "Hi, Dudes."
The boys returned the greeting, both wondering if they would be introduced to the stranger but withholding the question on their minds. However, as the man stood uneasily, he was unmistakably leering at the two teens who were laying back in their lounge chairs. The two boys had, of course, briefly checked out their friend's companion but had done so very discretely. The man, however, was less cautious and his eyes lingered far too long on the boy's trim bodies and amply full speedos.
"We're just on our way to get a hot dog and drink," Cory said, still nervous about being seen.
"Where's your manners? Aren't you going to introduce me to these studly hunks?"
Cory was visibly angered by the bald-faced attempt at flirting. It did, however, support TJ's previous presumption that the man was both gay and attracted to teenagers.
"This is Neil," Cory began reluctantly, "He lives down the hall in my dorm. "And this is TJ, Neil's friend. Guys, my friend is Larry."
"Delighted to meet you both," the man gushed and he leered at the two boys lasciviously. "Would you care to join us for a bite to eat? They've got foot-long hot dogs here ... warm, fat, and juicy." The description of the hot dogs might have been innocuous but, delivered as it was with a grin, carried a subtle meaning that was not lost on any of the three boys.
"Thanks but no," Neil said. "We're just about to go back to the water slide."
"Okay, then," the man said. "I hope to see more of you later."
Once again, the covert implications of an otherwise innocent comment (`see more of you') irritated Cory and reinforced TJ's suspicions.
When Cory and Larry had gone, TJ triumphantly said, "What did I tell you? He's gay. Not only that, but he was trolling, hoping to score with us. And, in front of his date! He's a predator!"
"It certainly seems so, TJ. I just hope Cory has the sense to realize it. I hope his hormones don't poison his thinking."
Less than twenty minutes later, Cory came back to the pool alone wearing a decidedly glum expression. Catching Neil's attention, he beckoned to him to come out of the pool.
Accompanied by TJ, Neil went to see what the imprudent teen wanted.
"I hate to ask, but would give me a ride to the King Street Metro station when you leave?"
"Where's Larry?"
"He's gone. He left me stranded!"
"Why?"
The miserable youth looked over at TJ before saying, "It's a long story."
"We're listening," Neil replied in an attempt to learn the nature of the problem.
The distraught teen glanced once more at TJ, which was evidence enough that the story involved sexual involvement with the older man.
"Don't worry, Cory, TJ knows you're gay and even guessed that Larry is also gay. Now, what's the story?"
"Well, all right. I have no alternative. I met the dude online two months ago. We chatted on Yahoo, wrote emails and exchanged pictures. Lately, things became more intimate. He suggested that he could drive down from Baltimore to spend the day and then go to a motel for overnight fun. He was always very nice. I thought I had found what I was looking for. However, when he met you, he started flirting. I told him I didn't appreciate his behavior. He apologized but I was still upset. Eventually, he told me that he would get sex wherever he wanted. I disagreed. Then the argument got ugly. He called me a whore-boy with no right to expect anything more than a good hard fucking. I lost my temper and called him a bastard. That's when he walked off and left me."
Unsurprised, Neil castigated, "How many times have I warned you that your unrestrained craving for cock will lead to problems! You came on to Brad without cause, you were beaten at the gay bar, and you didn't even have the common sense to know creeps like Larry infest the internet. You should have realized he was a pervert even though his emails were friendly. I have no sympathy. Your troubles are self-inflicted! You're a complete loser, thoughtlessly bouncing from one crisis to the next!"
"I've learned my lesson!"
"Bullshit! You've said it before but then you repeat the same mistake. The only way you're going to straighten out is to seek professional counseling. Yes, I'll give you a ride. However it's my last favor unless you get help!"
TJ was surprised that his normally calm and compassionate boy friend had been so deliberately harsh. However, he recognized that it was not to be cruel but to administer a dramatic dose of tough love. He hoped it would be more effective than previous direct but muted appeals to logic.
The three agreed to meet in one hour by the front entrance. Unfortunately, thoughts of an abandoned Cory suffering from his emotional wounds destroyed any chance that the two teens could continue to enjoy themselves so they dressed and left.
The ride to the King Street Metro station was awkwardly silent except for a heartfelt `thanks' from the poor sap, which was coldly acknowledged by the driver.
The two lovers discussed Cory's tragic weakness on the drive back to Arlington. They dreaded the trouble he would create for himself next but agreed that only professional help would resolve the root cause of his problem.
************ Thanks to Baruch for valuable suggestions on this chapter.