Hello again, everyone! I guess we're all relieved to discover that Paul is recovering from his injuries nicely. Now he faces the task of revealing his secret crush.
This story deals with adult themes, primarily same-gender sexual relations. Such relations have their basis in love and commitment, rather than sex for the sake of sex alone. In some cases they will use protection; at other times they will not. You and I should always use protection because we do not live in the world of fiction.
If you are offended the idea of homosexuality or if you are under the age of consent or if you reside in an area where such things are considered illegal or immoral, then you should seek entertainment elsewhere.
Comments may be directed to the author at thornado5@netscape.net
This story is copyright 2004 by Mike Williams. All rights reserved. Thou shalt not steal.
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A Thousand Rainbows by Mike Williams
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At exactly three o'clock on Thursday afternoon there was a soft knock at Paul's door. He looked up from his history textbook to see Jason and Josh ushering Tyler Garrison into the room. He didn't know how they had done it, but they had kept their promise. Despite the wires that held his jaw shut, he greeted them with his winning smile.
"Paul Miller," Jason announced. "You've got visitors."
"Hey, guys," He said. Then he noticed Tyler Garrison, the object of many of his fantasies. "Tyler, thanks for coming."
Tyler Garrison stood just a shade over 5-foot-9 with a slender build. His dark brown eyes and dark eyebrows were a stark contrast to his short blond hair. He had loosened his necktie and unbuttoned the top button of his dress shirt, revealing a lightweight gold chain around his throat.
"No problem, quarterback." He noticed the book in Paul lap. "What's this? They give you a few days off, and you just bury your nose in a book? That's not where I'd be."
"Well, history's not my best subject," Paul replied. "My mom seems to think this place is some kind of luxury resort, and she's not letting me fall behind in my studies. Jack brings me my homework assignments every day. That, and I got tired of the soap operas and talkshows real fast. Why don't you guys all take a seat?"
Jason and Josh took the chairs at the foot of the bed, leaving the chair at Paul's bedside for Tyler. But Tyler remained on his feet, leaning over the back of the chair.
"So what's it all about?" Tyler asked, with a cheeky grin. "You'd rather have someone else bring your homework to you? Maybe we could get some of the cheerleaders to do that."
Paul returned the grin. "Well, if they can cheer me on to recovery like they cheer the football team, that just might work. I'd be outta here in no time." He turned to the twins. "Jason, Josh, take a memo. Talk to the coach of the cheerleaders about that."
The twins saluted in unison. "Aye, aye, sir."
Tyler was captivated. "Where did you find these two, Miller?"
"Pizza delivery last Friday night."
"And now you're stuck with them."
"Yeah, but these two jokers will make you laugh."
Jason and Josh just smiled innocently.
"I'll just bet they will," Tyler said.
Paul turned serious. "I need your help with a couple things, Tyler."
Finally Tyler took the seat. "Okay, quarterback, what's on your mind?"
Paul was quiet for a moment, collecting his thoughts before going on. "You used to live in Franklin, right?"
"Yeah," Tyler nodded. "We moved to Bridgewater just before I started high school. Left Franklin and never looked back."
"I need to find someone in Franklin," Paul said. "All I know is her name is Brenda, and she goes to Franklin High."
Tyler looked off into space and sighed. "Oh, yeah. That would be Brenda Maxwell."
Paul was surprised that Tyler had come up with the information so quickly. "You're sure?"
Tyler gave Paul another cheeky grin. "Absolutely. We were in the same class at Franklin Junior High. Most popular girl in school. She had the biggest set of ..." He glanced at the twins who sat quietly looking very innocent.
"Hooters?" Jason offered.
"Knockers?" Josh suggested.
"Ba-zooms?" they said in unison.
Tyler's face broke into a wide grin. He too was being captivated by the two freshmen. "Something like that." He turned back to Paul. "So why do you need to find her? The shape you're in right now, she could tear you apart and not bat an eye. You won't be going on any heavy dates for a while."
"I need to give her a message," Paul said. "I think she was Alan Bradley's girlfriend."
Tyler's expression became very somber. "I had heard that, but I was never sure. Like I said, I didn't have much contact with anyone in Franklin after we moved. Yeah, I think I know right where to find her. You want her to come here?"
"Or she can call me. Here's my room number." He handed Tyler a slip of paper.
"Consider it done." Tyler took the paper and put it in his shirt pocket. "So how did you know that she's Alan's girlfriend? Did he tell you?"
Paul looked down and his lap. "He never regained consciousness after they carried him off the field, so I'm not sure how I know. If I told you how I think I know, you wouldn't believe me."
Tyler dug deeper. "What was it? Some mind connection? I'm up for a good science fiction."
Paul looked up at the swimmer. "That could be what it was. But there's more ... a message for you."
Tyler looked incredulous.
"Tyler, I think maybe Alan and I did share some kind of mind connection. He wanted me to tell you good-bye for him."
Tyler looked down, his voice barely a whisper. "That son-of-a-bitch."
He began shaking. "That mother-fucker!!" he screamed. Tyler jumped up from his chair and began pacing up and down the length of Paul's bed.
"Guys," Paul said to the twins, "would you get us some water please?"
Josh took the pitcher to the bathroom to fill it with fresh water. Jason followed his brother to fetch some clean paper cups. When they returned to the hospital room, Tyler had resumed his chair and was bent over holding his head in his hands, mumbling. "All this time ... that bastard ..."
Paul was doing his best to comfort the star swimmer of Bridgewater Academy. "It's okay, dude; I'm here for you." He tried to reach out his hand to Tyler, despite the pain of his own injuries. Tyler took the offered hand and broke down into tears, hiding his face with his free hand. In a moment the twins were by his side, each with a hand on his shoulder. In spite of all the emotional pain he was feeling, Tyler felt comforted.
After a moment he pulled himself together and looked up. Jason was on one side offering a tissue, and Josh was on the other offering a cup of water. Tyler couldn't help but be just a little bit amused by the twins knowing where to be and what to do at just the right time. He took a deep breath and released Paul's hand, taking the tissue and the cup of water. "Thanks, guys."
"That's what we're here for, Tyler," Jason said.
Tyler only nodded and looked down. "Christ, this is so embarrassing."
"Happens to the best of us," Josh said.
"Yeah," Tyler whispered, wiping his eyes.
"Wanna talk about it?" Paul asked.
Tyler got up from his chair and walked around the bed to gaze out the window. "Um ... I don't know. This is kinda personal. I've never told anyone."
"Why don't I start?" Paul offered.
Tyler turned back to the quarterback. "What do you mean?"
"I mean there's more stuff I promised Alan I would tell you." Paul paused and looked down at his lap. "And it's kinda personal too."
Still speaking to Paul, Tyler looked at the twins. "What about these two jokers? Can we trust `em?"
Paul looked back up at Tyler, then to the twins. "I think we can. If they ever speak a word of this, I'll make sure there's never another anchovy on their pizza ever again."
The twins' eyes grew wide. "No anchovies?" Jason asked.
Josh finished the thought. "You wouldn't."
"I would," Paul shot back at them.
The boys were silent for a moment; then Jason spoke up. "It's just like what our dads were telling us a few nights ago, that what's private stays private."
"Our lips are sealed," Josh said.
They both held up their right hands with only the first two fingers extended and said in unison, "Twins honor."
"How did you know about the anchovies?" Jason asked.
"Quarterback sneak, if you ask me." Josh surprised them all with that bit of wit.
Paul smiled. "I have my sources," he said smugly. "Now, if we could all take our seats, please? Especially you, Tyler. I think you're gonna want to sit down for this."
Once they were all seated Paul took a sip of his water. "Tyler," he began, "I want you to know that I've always admired you, ever since the first time I saw you in the halls at Bridgewater Academy. In all the time we've been at the Academy, we've had a couple classes together. When I'm not practicing with the team or working, I always try to get to the swim-meets. I don't think you've noticed, but I've been up there in the stands, watching you. Our paths haven't crossed all that much, and we don't have too many mutual friends. I am in the photography club, and I really am interested in photography. When we did those photos last year, I guess I was using my love of photography to get a little closer to you. I was hoping that maybe ..." He paused, gathering up his courage. "... That maybe you felt ... um ... the same ... about me."
Tyler's hands were folded in front of him. He looked Paul straight in the eye. His voice was even. "Would you be surprised if I told you that I have noticed you in the stands at the swim- meets, that I do feel the same way, that I have wanted to get to know you better since we were freshmen?"
Paul's eyes lit up. "I think I'd be more happy than surprised."
"I just didn't know how to approach you." Tyler held out his hand, which the quarterback accepted, and they both breathed a sigh of relief. "Alan told you to tell me this?"
"Yes," Paul whispered. "In the short time we had together he told me that I should tell you how I felt as soon as I was able. And I promised him I would."
Tyler's expression had not changed. "If you really did talk to Alan, you know he had a funny outlook on life, about what we do with what's handed to us."
Paul only nodded.
"So riddle me this, quarterback: That's the way the ball bounces."
Paul wasted no time in answering, remembering the words he had exchanged with the dying Panther quarterback. "I think the correct phrase is that's the way the balls bounce.' And my reply is that's the way the jockstrap snaps.'"
"Oh, my god," Tyler whispered, looking into space. "It was Alan." He looked back at Paul, still holding the quarterback's hand. "When we were about nine or ten years old, we swore on a blood oath that we would get a message through, if anything happened to either one of us. That was the message." Tyler paused and looked out the window as tears filled his eyes again. "He still cared."
Paul gave him a moment to gather himself, softly stroking Tyler's hand with his thumb. "It's okay, Tyler."
Tyler wiped his eyes with his free hand and nodded. "Yeah. Thanks, Paul. I think we might have the start of something here, you and me. But what's gonna happen when this gets around school? We'll both be kicked off our teams, maybe even thrown out of school."
"We won't get kicked off our teams, and we won't get kicked out of school. We'll be okay," Paul assured him. "This is between you and me, not anyone else. We just gotta be careful."
"What about them?" Tyler asked, cocking his head toward the twins.
For the first time Paul noticed that Jason and Josh were sitting close together, holding hands. He smiled. "I don't think we have anything to worry about."
Tyler turned to the twins and smiled. Then he turned back to Paul. "I believe you." He paused and took deep breath. "Okay, I guess it's my turn now."
"You don't have to do this, Tyler," Paul said.
"Yes, I do ... for Alan." Tyler said. "It's important that you know the whole story."
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to be continued in Chapter 15