Another little piece for your pleasure. Don't read if you're not supposed to and all that.
If you like, check out my other story, "A Little Bit About Me, Alex" in the college section.
Thanks,
Adelhardt
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Always Joey
It was because I was late. If I hadn't been late none of it would have happened, I don't think. I came running into class, but it was all over.
"Nice to see you, Joey," Mr. Gold said sarcastically. "We're just forming two man groups for this class. You'll study the texts and present your findings next week."
I scanned the crowd hoping to see one of my friends -- or even someone halfway decent -- I could pair up with, but they'd already found someone else. Even the ditsy girls were taken.
"Anyone left for Joey?" Mr. Gold asked. "Come on, people! We're an even number in this class..."
"Um, I don't have a partner.." Jimmy Reitinger raised his hand and looked slightly embarrassed.
I looked around, desperately hoping for a miracle of some sort. I couldn't be paired up with Jimmy. The thought was unbearable.
"Excellent," Mr. Gold said. "You're together. Jimmy has the texts. Now get going!"
Oh well, it was only for one class. Everybody had seen how it happened. No one could say I'd picked him on purpose.
Of course I'd be late that morning and get stuck with the one kid no one wanted to be friends with. Cursed be my old stupid alarm clock!
There were plenty of rumors about Jimmy Reitinger. No one knew anything for sure, but in high school who needs to? A rumor might as well be fact for all the damage it can do. According to rumor, Jimmy was gay. Several people claimed to have noticed him checking them out, and on the table tennis team they said he'd been peeking in the showers. He stopped playing table tennis shortly after that.
There was something about him. He just seemed... gay, somehow. I couldn't tell if it was because I knew he was -- or thought I knew -- or if it was because he acted or looked gay. But one thing was sure: For the sake of reputation, everybody had to stay away from Jimmy.
And here I was, stuck with him. Great. Just my luck. Not that I blamed any of the others for not picking him as their partner before I came. I wouldn't have either. In fact, he was always left until last. I suppose in some way I felt bad for him, but it always disappeared when he sneered at me or said something mean, which he always did. I mean, God, what does he think? Being sarcastic will make him popular?
"Hi Joey," he said when I sat down next to him. We were in the big drama class room and there was plenty of room, which meant we were far away from anyone else. Thank God for that at least. I didn't want anyone to overhear, in case he said something queer.
"Hi," I replied. He handed me the texts. Ours were excerpts from a Shakespeare play or something, and we were supposed to figure out why the characters did what they did or something. I signed up for drama because I thought it'd be funny, and easy, to put on old clothes and goof off a little on stage. I never expected work like this and I didn't like it.
"How do we do this?" I asked, hoping to get it over with. Maybe if we were quick I could get back to my friends before the end of class.
"I don't know," he said, not looking at me.
Sometimes he'd be subdued rather than sarcastic. I realized today was such a day. Great. Now I'd have to do all the work.
"This is stupid," I mumbled, disgusted with the whole situation. I threw down the papers.
His eyes settled on me. They were dark blue. I felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny.
"Let's just read it and get on with it." I picked up the pages and shuffled them a little.
"We were supposed to read them at home for today," he pointed out. "They're in the book."
"Whatever," I grumbled. "You do it then."
He didn't reply. While I read the pages -- it took most of the class -- he made little neat notes on his paper, notes of all the clever things he'd thought of and didn't share with me. I knew I'd have to do the same at home to be ready for the next class when we'd present it.
"Alright, listen up!" Mr. Gold yelled at the end of class. "I want you to write a paper on this. Yes, I know, but we have to write some papers this year and we might as well get started. You'll analyze the texts I gave you and write no less than five pages about them for next week. No, Shirley, that's no excuse, you can write at the library. Dan? No, you can't change texts..." Mr. Gold shook his head and looked exhausted. Then he noticed me. "Yes, Joey?"
"Would it be possible to write individually?" I asked, ignoring Jimmy's eyes on me.
Mr. Gold looked at me for a little while. I couldn't quite read his expression. Finally he sighed and replied, "No, Joey, you do it in pairs. You have to learn to work together. Drama's about that too."
"Guess this is just your lucky day," Jimmy mumbled at me while packing his bag. "How do you want to do this?"
"I don't," I hissed.
"Well neither do I, asshole!" He frowned. "My place or the library?"
"The libr.." I hesitated. I didn't want to go to his house with all his fairy stuff, but the library was very public. Did I really want to be seen with him there? "Your house, I guess," I sighed.
"Two o'clock tomorrow." He pushed past me. "Read the stuff first."
"Just great," I mumbled to myself. I wanted to kick the door when I left the room.
The smirks on my friends' faces when I emerged killed any hope I'd had that they wouldn't make a big deal out of it.
"The two of you going steady yet?" Dusty grinned.
I'd actually been to his house once before, maybe 10 years earlier. We knew each other from kindergarten, he'd had his birthday and I'd been invited. I remembered clearly for some reason. Must have been a good party.
The house looked the same. Same lawn, same brick walls, same trees. Even his mother looked the same when she opened the door, or so it seemed to me.
The words she greeted me with were the same too.
"Hi, honey! Come on in!" She smiled wide.
"Thank you," I mumbled.
"I'll just get Jimmy for you. Jimmy! Your friend is here!"
I wanted to say, I'm not his friend, but I didn't.
Jimmy appeared at the top of the stairs. He looked down at me expressionless.
"Come on up," he finally said softly.
In his house he seemed to be the only thing that had changed. After the garden, the house, his mother and everything else I'd half expected to see a small black haired kid with big blue eyes grinning at me from the top of the stairs, saying "come and play with me."
Shaking my head I took off my shoes and ascended the stairs. I didn't remember where his room was but I looked through the only open door, and there is was.
It was nice, actually. No pink fur handcuffs or anything, just books and stuff, and it was cleaner than my room.
"I'll bring you some soda!" his mother yelled from downstairs.
"She's ecstatic," he said apologetically. "I don't have many friends over..." He stopped. I think he regretted saying it.
"Let's get this over with," I sighed. "I don't get it. I read it but it's so boring."
"You're smart, Joey. If you don't get it it's because you don't want to," he said very sensibly. He sounded like my father. It ticked me off.
I sat down in a chair and pulled out my notes. They were few. I knew he'd have many more.
His mother knocked on the door and brought us a tray with cokes and sandwiches. "In case you get hungry, honey," she smiled at me.
I mustered up a smile in return.
Jimmy turned on his computer. "I'll type. I'll be doing the work anyway. You can tell me what you have as we go along."
I shrugged. Fine by me.
We'd been working for maybe an hour when his mother knocked again. "You alright, dears? Anything you want?"
"No, we're fine!" Jimmy closed his eyes. "Just leave us alone."
"But honey, I just thought that you and your friend..."
"He's not my friend!" Jimmy yelled. Then he controlled himself. "I told you. He's just here because he has to. Now go and leave us alone."
She blinked and looked down. Then she closed the door carefully.
Jimmy stared at the screen. He wouldn't look at me.
I suddenly felt bad, really bad. I felt like the biggest jerk in the world.
Then Jimmy started typing again. "What're you looking at?" He glared at me.
"Nothing," I mumbled.
Maybe he was the only thing in the house that had changed, but he'd changed a lot. I couldn't see the grinning kid no matter how hard I looked. It was a little depressing.
When the thing was done a few hours later, and the old printer was spitting out paper slowly, he looked at me. "Why don't you like me?" he asked.
I looked down. I didn't know what to say.
"Don't answer," he mumbled. "I know. You all think I'm gay."
"Well aren't you?" I asked.
His head whipped around. His dark blue eyes were angry. "None of your business!"
"Sorry," I muttered. I packed my bag and left him, not looking back.
I nodded to his mother when I passed the kitchen where she was cooking dinner. She smiled at me, but it wasn't the same kind of smile as before. I almost ran out the door.
"Jeeesus!" I gasped when I was on my bike. "I NEVER want to go back there again!"
I thought that was it, that I'd finally made it through my ordeal, but I hadn't reckoned with Mr. Gold. He was so pleased with the reports that he asked us to write a new one, this time on the background of the play. For Jimmy and I that meant researching Shakespeare.
"Miss him too much?" my friends grinned when I bitched about it.
I went to the library and read what I could. I found books and I surfed the net to get stuff about the boring old guy. I'd insisted that we do separate research even though it meant more work for me. It would be bad enough to have to write the paper with him, going back to that house.
His mother was a little less cheerful this time, but the smile was there. "Hi honey, come in. I'll just get Jimmy for you."
He'd already started the computer when I walked in.
"Aren't you afraid I'll infect you with gayness?" he asked dryly when I sat down.
"Shut up. Let's get it over with."
He eyed me. "You know, that asshole routine gets old really quick."
"Whatever."
"Whatever."
He found his notes and typed the first sentences, but I could sense he was preoccupied. Finally he turned to me.
"What are you afraid of?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
He shrugged. His eyes were unyielding.
There was a silence.
"Are you afraid I'll jump you? Or are you just afraid people will think I've jumped you?"
I rolled my eyes. "Can we just write this?"
He hesitated. "No!" he said. "I want to know."
"I just don't like you, OK? I mean, you can't like everybody." I sighed.
He frowned and turned back to the computer. "Fine."
For a few minutes he typed away while we condensed our knowledge of Shakespeare. Then he stopped again.
"You don't have to worry," he mumbled. "She not coming with sandwiches today. I told her not to."
"Oh. OK." I was a little confused. Why was he telling me this?
"It's just that I could tell you were a little embarrassed the last time," he continued.
"OK. Fine."
"And I told her we're not friends."
"Good." I was staring at my notes.
"I didn't tell her you hate me." He looked away from the screen and out the window. It was raining. "She doesn't know that they all hate me. She just thinks I'm shy."
OK, this was awkward. I didn't want to hear this.
"I think she was planning on ambushing you or something to try to get you to come back. I made sure she won't."
I said nothing. God, get me out of here!
He cleared his throat. "I dreamt about you, Joey."
"Huh?" Now this I really didn't want to hear!
"You were naked. You were beautiful." He turned to look at me. "I think you're very attractive."
I didn't even much think about the fact that he was admitting he was gay. I just felt utter panic. I was trapped here with him, and I wanted to get away.
He must have seen it in my eyes.
"Sorry," he whispered. "I shouldn't have said."
I opened my mouth, but nothing would come out. In the end I managed to croak, "I don't know what to say."
He was looking at the screen again. "In the dream you weren't an asshole. You--you kissed me." He blushed.
I felt violated somehow. "Jimmy, it was a dream. I'm not like that. I don't want to hear about it. Can we just write the paper?"
He nodded. His lip quivered. Slowly his fingers typed a few words. "Will you tell anyone?" he asked.
"No," I said. Like I wanted anyone to know! "But you shouldn't be telling people. The next guy might just spread it all around."
He turned his head, and his eyes caught mine. They looked haunted. I wanted to scream.
"Why?" he whispered. "What does it matter? It's all too late now anyway."
"Too late? What do you mean?" I had no idea what he was saying.
"I think you're sexy. I think a lot of guys are sexy. I can't help it. I can't change it. And I don't know why it's so terrible."
"Well..." I began, but I realized I had nothing to say.
"Well, I'm glad you didn't say I'm sick or something," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He picked up his notes, trying to get back into the writing.
It didn't work. He was too worked up, and so was I.
"Listen, I know you don't want to be here. I know you don't want to look at me. Why don't you go home? I'll write the paper and say we did it together."
I hesitated. It was extremely tempting.
"I'll make sure it's not a queer paper," he assured me, scornfully.
I frowned. I wanted to leave, but I knew my conscience wouldn't let me. I had to do my own work.
"Can we just do this, for God's sake?" I sighed.
He lifted his eyebrows. His eyes were a little shiny, but thankfully he wasn't crying.
We did manage to get some more work done, but it wasn't very good. He was far away, but I didn't want to go into it again.
When we were about half way he sniffed and looked at me sideways. "You shouldn't have worn that t-shirt, Joey," he said.
"Why?" I asked, bewildered. It was a plain green t-shirt.
"It's very... tight. You look good in it. I might get excited."
"Jesus!" I gasped.
"Your arms are sexy too."
"Why can't you shut up? Do you WANT me to freak out?" I yelled.
"Maybe I do!" he yelled back. Tears now spilled over and ran down his cheeks. I didn't understand him at all.
"Why?" I asked.
"Maybe I'm just fine with your disgust!" We'd both jumped out of our chairs. He pushed me a little.
"I don't understand," I complained, and I truly didn't.
"I hate you!" he yelled. "I fucking hate you!" He pushed me again.
Then he seemed to collapse totally. He fell back into his chair, hiding his face in his hands.
"Jimmy, man, what can I.. do you want me to get your mom?"
"Leave me alone."
"What?"
He stood up, tears streaming his face. "Leave me the fuck alone!!" he screamed. "Get out!"
"Alright," I said, suddenly frightened.
"GET OUT!" He grabbed a book about Shakespeare and threw it at me.
I ran out the door. I didn't see his mother, but I could tell she was around because some pots were boiling on the stove. I was sure she'd heard his yells.
I didn't tell anyone about Jimmy's breakdown. I tried not to think about it. Whenever I had drama and there was a risk I'd be asked to do anything with him I wore a loose shirt.
He avoided me. He never looked at me or spoke to me. I think he was ashamed.
"Joey," Mr. Gold said to me one day in class when we were looking at possible plays to stage. "I'm surprised that your last report was so bad. I mean the first you wrote was so good, but this is just.. rubbish." He held up the paper.
I hadn't even read it. Well, I'd read half of it when we wrote it. The rest I'd left to Jimmy. There was no way I'd go back to his house to finish it after what happened.
"I--I guess you're right," I replied, trying to sound like I was being honest. "It wasn't the best we've done."
"But why?"
I hesitated. "Uh... I guess we don't work too well together or something."
Mr. Gold sighed and took me by the arm. "Come with me, Joey." He pulled into a corner where we could talk in private. We sat down. "Listen, I know Jimmy isn't the easiest person to work with. I know that. He seems so... miserable somehow. But I was relieved that you ended up with him."
I frowned.
"I know you, Joey," he continued. "You're a good kid. Sorry, young man. I was sure you'd be able to make things work. Everybody likes you after all. If you can't work with him, who can?"
"Maybe no one," I said bitterly, instantly regretting it.
"I know it's different when you're in high school," he said wearily. "Things just look different. But when I look at Jimmy I see an unhappy kid, and I feel sorry for him. You have plenty of friends, and things are easy for you. You're smart, you're good- looking... Do you think you might possibly try a little harder to get along with Jimmy, at least in my class? I'd really like him to do well here."
I didn't like what he was saying, but I liked the way he said it. He spoke to me like I was an intelligent human being, like I was, well, and adult. Not many teachers did that. Besides, I understood what he meant.
"I guess so," I reluctantly agreed.
"Thank you." He patted my shoulder.
"But I'm not sure he will want to," I hurriedly said, suddenly realizing there could be a way out of this.
"Oh, I think he will," Mr. Gold smiled. "I'm almost positive. And why don't you start by rewriting this piece of rubbish? I'll put this to good use at the bottom of my birdcage."
And so it happened that I was at his house for the third time. I just didn't seem to be able to get away. Fate I guess. I resented it.
"I'm sorry I didn't do better," Jimmy said. "I should have written a better report for us but I was just a little upset.."
"I know, forget it. Let's ace it this time. I'm fed up with Shakespeare!"
"I know!" he agreed. "Boring!"
"But promise you won't throw books at me," I joked.
He blushed. "Sorry," he mumbled almost inaudibly.
"Forget it. And no more about dreams, OK? Unless you want to hear mine in return, and they involve Anne Bingham's tits!" I continued, surprising myself.
"Eww!" he laughed. "No thanks!" The smile completely transformed his appearance. Suddenly I saw the grinning kid I'd played with in kindergarten all those years ago. And he was pretty.
"You sure? They're quite big and in the dream, when I squeezed them they-"
"EWW! Gross, man, stop!" He laughed again. I found myself liking the sound of his laughter.
"Alright. No more about Anne Bingham." I smiled at him. "Nora Breaux has the best ass, and I want to just-"
"DUDE! Joey!" he grinned. He knew I was trying to get him to laugh, and he let me. For a moment it felt almost as if we were friends. It was a strange feeling.
"What?" I asked innocently.
"How can I work when I'm like this?" he asked, covering his ears with is hands. "Want me to type with my tongue?"
I grinned. "Alright, point taken. I won't say stuff that'll gross you out. Now start typing."
He did, looking at me and grinning a little from time to time to see if I was still smiling. Must have been hard for him to believe, as it was for me.
"Hm," I said, pretending to think. "What can I tell the gay guy? Oh yeah! Dusty Williams has a horse dick!"
"Man!" Jimmy gasped, holding his mouth. His eyes opened wide, and they were laughing. He was actually quite beautiful when he was like this. "That's so... not what I'm interested in!"
"His ass then?" I grinned.
"No!" He grinned back. "You know... inner beauty."
"So you don't care what the guys in my PE class look like at all?"
"No!" He shook his head. Then he blushed. "Maybe a little."
"Who?"
He looked at me sideways, something that make him look very mischievous. "Scott Jenkins," he blurted, then giggled.
"Hmm," I said, wriggling my eyebrows. "Good choice. Let me think..." I tried to recall Scott as I saw him every week. I hadn't really noticed, but I did remember enough to give Jimmy a few details. "Well.. he's hairless except on his legs, and of course.. you know. He has a six-pack, quite nice. What else...?"
"He's so sexy," Jimmy mumbled, still blushing.
"Dream about him?"
"Oh yeah..." Jimmy turned his head my way and looked at me speculatively. "You're so weird."
"Weird?"
"Yeah. You're different today. So, I don't know, not assholey."
I sobered up a little. "Yeah, well..." I mumbled.
"Thanks." He smiled at me.
I smiled back.
Then we started writing. The whole thing had to be done from scratch.
The atmosphere was very different from two weeks earlier. There was no tension this time, and we could joke with each other. I guess I still felt like a charity worker, doing my good deed because I'd promised Mr. Gold. But I also found that he could actually be quite funny.
When we were nearing the end he looked at me and smiled. "Why don't you ask Anne Bingham out?" he asked. "I mean, if you like her so much."
"I didn't say I liked her so much, I just said her tits-"
"Yeah, I remember!" He held up his hands. "I'm sure she'd go out with you. She might even put out." He bit his lip. "I know I would."
"What?" I asked, not sure if I heard correctly.
He looked scared. "Oh no... did I ruin everything?"
"No... I mean, no..." I shook my head. "Did you say that you'd have sex with me?"
"Yeah." His voice was quite firm. "I'd love to. I mean, if you were gay."
"Well I'm not." I put down my notes -- useless anyway. "Why don't you find some nice guy?" I asked him, turning the table.
"Please," he snorted. "Me? Hardly. I'm--I'm not very good looking and no one would want me anyway." He looked down.
"But aren't there places... you know... where gays can meet and stuff?" I was sure I'd heard about that.
"Yeah, I guess. But I don't want some stranger touching me. Do you understand?" He looked me in the eyes.
It was strange to me how sometimes he seemed so much younger than me, and then at other times so much older, even though we were the same age. I had never thought about how having sex with a stranger might be unsatisfactory, but I realized I understood what he meant.
"Yeah," I nodded.
"But if I found someone I was in love with..." His eyes became dreamy, his smile wider. "I'd shag him silly."
I laughed.
"Oh Joey," he mumbled, smiling at me. "Why can't you be gay? I could fall for you so easily."
I felt a little uncomfortable to be confronted with that so openly, but for the first time I felt a little flattered too.
"You'll find someone," I said to him. "After all, it's a big school. Has to be other gays. Besides, you're pretty when you smile."
For some reason that made his smile a little strained.
Half an hour later the printer was churning out a much better paper, and I could go. For the first time I didn't feel like I never ever wanted to come back when I walked out the door.
It was some weeks before I spoke to Jimmy again. I'd almost forgotten about our new improved relations, but I didn't feel the old hostility when I ran into him at the library one day.
"Looking for books on Shakespeare?" I asked.
"Please!" he huffed. "Enough about that. I'm just happy Goldie accepted our second attempt." He then dared to smile a little at me, something he otherwise never did.
I smiled back. There was still an element of charity in it, but I just didn't really dislike him any more. Which was weird but good, I thought.
He looked round to check if anyone could hear him. Then he smiled a strange smile and said, "You look so good in that shirt."
I blushed. Panicked I looked around, but no one was close or even watching. "Man!" I hissed. "Don't do that!"
"It's true," he persisted. "It brings out your eyes. And..." His eyes glided down my body. "Man..." he almost whined.
I couldn't hold back my laughter. "You have to get laid, man!"
"I know, I'm so horny!" He smiled. It struck me again how pretty he was when he did that.
He was still smiling when he moved past me and out the door.
After that it became almost like a little game between us. He'd see me in school and whisper things to me to embarrass me, and I'd try hard not to blush. I became quite good at not blushing.
One day he'd tried three times and he couldn't get to me. I didn't blush no matter what he said, and it meant I was winning. But he refused to give in, and when I was in the cafeteria line with my tray and he came close to me and whispered in my ear when no one saw.
"I dreamt last night I had your dick up my ass as far as it would go. First wet dream I've had in years."
Then he moved on, as expressionless as always.
I choked, gasped, coughed and then lost my tray, spilling food and drink all over myself and the floor. I was drenched in it, and I couldn't stop laughing. I have to admit, he got me good.
People looked at me like I was insane, but I still couldn't stop laughing. Even when I had to wear my old tatty sports t-shirt for my last two classes I couldn't stop grinning.
I saw him at the bicycle shed after school. He was grinning at me, and I didn't even care who might see it.
"Got you!" he mumbled.
"Hm," I conceded.
"And it was true," he continued, looking into my eyes. "I was a mess."
"You're so weird," I smiled.
"But I won!" he grinned in triumph.
"Sure," I smiled, "but try to ever top that, babe!"
It took a moment to sink in. "Fuck!" he gasped.
"You'll never get me again," I laughed.
"Fuck!"
I guess I slowly realized he had something of a crush on me. I suppose you think I'm slow for realizing it so late, but it just didn't seem possible to me. I can't explain it, I just know it was probably a good think I didn't see it sooner, because I didn't know him then and might have freaked. Now I just shrugged it off. In a way I could understand how it might happen. As little as it was, what he had with me was probably the closest to a friendship he'd had in years.
I found myself liking him. I still didn't want anyone to know that, but I realized he wasn't a bad person. On the contrary.
When he inched closer to me Friday morning as I was parking my bike I could tell he was up to something. It moved me to see how he made sure no one saw him talking to me, for my sake.
"Hi," he mumbled. I could tell he was nervous.
"Hi," I replied, locking my bike.
"Um..."
"Yeah?" I smiled a little. We had to get going to make it before the bell rang.
"I was just..." He bit his lips.
"Spill it, Jimmy."
"Um... never mind. It's stupid, I just..."
"Jimmy! Ugh!" I shook my hands at the heaven in mock outrage. "I hate it when people do that."
He giggled nervously. "Well, OK. I just wanted to ask you if maybe you wanted to come over to my house tonight and watch a movie or something. I mean..." He stuttered to a standstill.
When I didn't answer he looked at his feet. "Of course not. Sorry," he said.
"I don't know..." I said. "Maybe."
He looked up sharply. "Really?"
I considered. I thought he wouldn't tell anyone. I could do it. After all, it might even be fun. "Sure," I nodded. "Why not."
"Great!" He smiled. "Great. Great."
"What time?"
"Um... 8? OK?"
"OK." I grinned. He was so excited. It was almost a little cute.
I approached his house without trepidation. I almost looked forward to his mother's kind smile and all the other things that used to scare me.
He opened the door. "Hi," he grinned, his eyes sparkling. "You made it."
"Of course." I stepped inside.
"I wasn't sure you'd come. My parents are out," he explained while I removed my shoes. "They're not coming home tonight, but they said it was OK that you came over." He grinned.
"Cool," I said. "What're we going to do?"
"Want to watch a movie? We don't have the new cool ones but we do have some good old ones. I made some pizza we can eat. I also have some snacks and stuff."
I followed him into their living room where the TV was.
"Man!" I gasped. "Are you having an army over?"
He laughed, a wonderful fresh laugh. "I went a little overboard maybe."
On the table was pizza, potato chips, fruit, candy, drinks... So much food he could have had 10 people over.
"Looks good though," I said. "Let's pick a movie and kick back. What's good?"
He picked a thriller which turned out to be pretty good, even though it was at least 10 years old. I'd have never picked it myself. He'd seen it before though, so he knew it was good.
"That was great, man," I whispered. It had become dark, and whispering seemed in order.
"Huh? Oh, yeah." He seemed a little taken aback. I wondered of he'd even seen the movie.
"Do we have time for another before I go home?" I asked, munching another piece of pizza.
"Yeah, why not? In fact, why don't you spend the night and we can watch a couple more?" He sounded plaintive.
"Spend the night?" I laughed. "Dude, I'm not putting my dick up your ass tonight. How was it? 'As far as it will go'?"
He grinned. "Too bad. But I meant, you can sleep in my brother's room. He's in the army. You'll be safe. I won't be there."
"This pizza is the best. You'll make a good wife some day," I teased.
He rolled his eyes.
"I have to call my mom first," I said, giving in.
He smiled wide.
We watched another movie and started to get a little tired, so before we pushed in the third one he ran upstairs to get blankets for us both, and we lay down on separate couches to watch the policemen try to catch the criminals.
He kicked a little under the blanket and then dropped his pants and socks on the floor.
"Doing a strip for me?" I asked.
"Would you like that?" he asked, seriously.
"No, man!" I grinned.
He laughed. "Do you want another coke?"
"No, I'm fine. Some water maybe?"
"Sure." He crawled out from under the blanket and ran to the kitchen. He had quite shapely legs. He was wearing blue briefs. Nice ass.
Why was I even noticing?
All the time I'd spent with him recently, had me thinking in those terms maybe.
He came back and handed me the water.
"Why don't you undress too?" he asked. "Much nicer."
"You just want to peek, pervert," I said.
"Yeah." He grinned. "But listen, I have some sweat pants you can borrow if you want. I'm your size, they'd fit. You could change in the bathroom, I wouldn't see anything."
"No, it's OK." I shrugged. "I'm fine."
"K." He crawled back under the blanket on the other side of the table and started the movie again. It was in the middle of gunfire.
I unbuckled my pants and pushed them off me, then did the same to my socks. Finally I took off me sweatshirt so I was left with my boxers and my t-shirt on. I knew he was watching, but he couldn't see anything. It all happened under the blanket.
It was mush more comfortable.
"Sure you don't want the pants?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"You sure are." He grinned. "I'm a little... excited from seeing you strip."
"Man," I sighed, rolling my eyes. "You can't possibly have seen anything..."
"So?" he challenged. "It can still be sexy to see you take 'em off."
"I guess," I said.
We watched the film in silence after that, but it was a companionable silence.
When he'd started rewinding it he looked at me and said, "Thanks, Joey. This is the most fun I've ever had."
"Whatever, dude," I grinned.
"No, I mean it."
I looked him in the eyes, those dark blue eyes. "I had fun too. You're cool."
He was beaming. Radiant. I never saw him more beautiful. He was stunning.
"Who says the night is over?" I asked, yawning. "We can watch another."
"Yeah," he nodded.
We grinned at each other. "Nah," we said in unison.
"I'm beat," I yawned. "Let's clear this up." I indicated the table with all the leftover food and glasses.
"Leave it." Jimmy waved his hand dismissively. "I'll do it tomorrow."
I gathered up my clothes and the blanket and stood up. I realized he'd see me in my boxers now, but what was he going to do? Rape me?
"I'll show you where Benny's room is. I'll get you a tooth brush too," he offered.
"Thanks, my teeth are kind of furry."
He laughed. It sounded good.
"After you," he said when we reached stairs.
"You just want to ogle my ass," I grumbled, but I did go first. I just didn't really see what the harm was anymore. I wasn't exactly naked or anything.
I heard him panting a little. "You alright?" I grinned.
"Maaan," he moaned. "Your legs are so sexy and your ass... Man."
"Don't injure yourself back there," I chuckled. "Alright, show's over." We'd reached the end of the stairs. "Which way?"
"Follow me," he said and went left. He tried to hide it, but under his bunched up clothes he was hard and I saw it. It made me feel good in a way. A little weird, but good. Like... sexy. Like I was worth looking at.
The room was Spartan and clean. Evidently Jimmy's brother had packed most of his stuff. The bed was there though, and I longed for it. I was so tired by then I could hardly stand.
He found me a toothbrush and we brushed together. I could tell he liked it, but I knew it was the company more than anything he liked. He wasn't used to it.
I rinsed my mouth and stood up, stretching.
"I'm going to collapse, man. See you tomorrow?"
"Sure. I'll wake you at 11 if you're still sleeping, OK?"
"Thanks." I turned around to leave when he grabbed my wrist.
"Joey... thanks. Thanks so much, man."
"No, thank you. It's been fun tonight. We'll do it again."
He nodded. "I want to hug you, but don't worry, I won't. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"Shut up." I grinned in a tired way and opened my arms. I surprised myself with that, but it seemed appropriate. We were friends now after all. You can hug your friends if they want you to.
He wanted me to. He clung to me. I thought maybe he'd start crying, but he controlled it. But he was reluctant to let go.
He actually smelled kind of good. Shampoo, soap of course, and other things. It was pleasant somehow.
He'd placed his head on my shoulder, but finally he raised it and looked me in the eyes. We were the same height precisely. His blue eyes glistened with unshed tears.
"You have no idea how much I needed that," he whispered huskily.
I tightened my arms round his back. "I think I do," I whispered. My eyes were droopy and my voice hoarse. I was tired, but it was a good tired.
"You're so sexy when you're tired," he smiled. I could feel his breath on my face, he was so close.
"I'm always sexy," I joked.
"I know," he said matter-of-factly. His eyes were dark, dark and deep.
Suddenly I found myself unable to let go. There was something indescribably nice about having his body in my arms. I could feel his firm back, his warmth. He was so alive and so close. I also felt his thighs against mine, and in that region something else which was also very much alive. I grinned.
He blushed and looked down. Seeing him blush so close up was fun, and nice.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "I hoped you wouldn't notice."
"How could I not? You're gutting me with that thing!"
"I really really like you." He was very serious now. "I know you don't like me in the same way, and I can live with that. But if you..." He bit his lip. "If you decide you want to experiment, or... just get off or fool around or something, could I... I mean would you consider letting me.."
"It's a promise," I nodded. "If I ever want to experiment I'll do it with you. No one else."
He smiled.
"I don't see that happening though," I said with some regret.
He nodded, biting his lip. "Still, you promised."
"I did," I said. Then I leaned in a kissed him quickly on the lips. "Now it's sealed."
He whimpered a little. "Oh God. I'll cum."
I pulled back a little. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't tease you like that."
I realized we'd been in each other's arms for five minutes or more. That was definitely not normal! I started to break the embrace, and he didn't fight it.
He was hard, and he couldn't hide it. But why should he, really? He hung his arms at his sides and let me look. He did blush though.
"I'm gay. I get close to a sexy guy, it'll happen," he mumbled defiantly.
He looked quite impressive in the small briefs. I smiled.
"Of course it will. It's OK. Goodnight."
"Night."
We went to our rooms and he turned out the light in the hallway. It was almost 3 am and I barely had time to get to the bed before I was asleep.
The last thing on my mind was what I'd said to him. That if I wanted to fool around with a guy it'd be him. I'd also said I didn't think it would happen.
But I couldn't deny that my dick had swelled a little when I held him.
Sleep saved me from having to wonder why.
I was embarrassed when I woke up. I'd have never done or said those things if I hadn't been groggy with fatigue. I knew it.
I got out of bed and went into the hallway. I heard the TV, so I walked down the stairs and peeked round the corner. Jimmy was watching the news with his feet up and a bowl of cereal in his lap.
When he spotted me he grinned. "Hey sleepyhead. It's 10.30. There's cereal in the kitchen."
I zombied into the kitchen and got myself some, with extra milk. Then I zombied back into the living room. Sinking down I put up my feet and groaned, not even caring that he was looking at my legs.
"Not a morning person, are you, Joey?" he grinned.
"Hate morning persons."
"I'm offended. I always get out of bed and two seconds later I'm all awake." He smiled.
"How nice for you," I growled.
"Aw, Joey, come on. If it's any consolation you're sexy even like this."
"Oh. Yeah. We need to talk." I gulped down some food, knowing it would help me wake up. "I'm not sure, I may have been leading you on or something..."
"No, Joey, I understand completely," he interrupted. "I know it was a one time thing. You don't want to do it again, you just wanted to try it. It's cool."
I froze. What had happened? What was he talking about?
"When I came to your room I thought you wouldn't want to, but I'm glad you did. I've never felt so good!"
I blanched. Had he come to my room? I didn't even remember!
Then I saw the grin he was trying hard to suppress.
"You're joking!" I yelled. "You damned little asshole!"
He convulsed in giggles. "You should have seen your face!"
"Shit!" I gasped, unable to hold back a grin. "You're dead!"
"Haha!! You thought we'd... haha! I should be so lucky!"
He was cute when he was laughing. I didn't mind saying so, in my mind.
"Har har." I frowned, but I couldn't keep a straight face. He'd had me. I knew it.
He kept giggling at me. I didn't mind, he'd earned it. But in the end I poked his leg with my toe. "Stop it," I whined.
That only made him laugh more. I gave up.
Finally he'd laughed himself out. He was glowing. It was almost hard to look at something so beautiful.
"Oh God..." he sniffled. "I wish. I wish."
"Yeah, you wish," I huffed, poking him again. He poked back, and soon we were struggling with our feet, grinning at each other.
"I wish you didn't have to go home," he mumbled.
"Me too," I agreed. "Maybe we could do another film. I don't have to be home for some time yet. But first I really need a shower. I stink."
"God I'd like to see that," he grinned.
I rolled my eyes.
"Water on your body... soap... mmm..."
"Stop it, horny boy!" I threw the newspaper at him.
"Sorry. If you ask me you don't need a shower. I bet you smell great."
I held up my hands. "Stooop. I'll have to hose you down soon!"
He giggled and got up. "I'll find you a towel."
"Thanks." I noticed he'd cleaned everything up from the night before.
I got off the couch after finishing the cereal, then I went back up the stairs. Jimmy had a towel for me when I reached the bathroom, and I peeled off my t-shirt. He appreciated the opportunity and stared at my body in a slightly hungry way.
"You're such a tease!" he complained, but I grinned and closed the door before turning the water on.
It was weird to see him again next Monday. At school he was still someone I couldn't associate myself with too much. I had never spoken much to him -- unlike some people who sent snide comments his way -- and I still didn't. I just didn't think I could afford it. Yes, I admit I was afraid.
I could tell he was disappointed when I walked away from him without smiling at him. But how could I not? My friends were there.
He tried to call me a few times during the week, but I didn't answer. I didn't know what I'd say to him. I was afraid he'd ask me over again and I would have to think about whether I wanted to.
Or perhaps, why I wanted to.
He called again on Thursday. The caller ID device told me it was him, but I picked it up.
"Joey? Are you there?"
"Uh, yeah."
"I thought you weren't talking to me." There was some bite in his voice.
"We're talking now, aren't we?"
"Yeah..." He hesitated. "Do you want to come over? My parents are going to the beach house again this weekend. Go on. Say no."
"Why would I say no? But what do your parents think about you having friends over when they're not there?"
"Are you kidding? They're thrilled."
I should have known. They were probably relieved he had a friend at all.
"What would we do?" I asked, already knowing I'd agree.
"I'd look at you and you'd look at a movie on the screen." He laughed. "No, seriously, my dad says I can rent some movies with his card. We'll get some you like. You can tell me which ones you like and I can pick them up, or we could go together. Or we could do something else if you want."
He was so eager I was practically laughing. "OK, Jimbo."
"Jimmy, not Jimbo. I hate that name!"
"Oooh!" I grinned. I had something on him now.
"Shit," he moaned. "You're going to call me that now..."
"Yep. Listen, I'll trust you to pick up something good for us to watch, OK? I'll come over tomorrow after supper." I didn't want to go with him to the video store because there was a good chance anyone working there Friday night would be from our school.
"No, can't you come and eat with me? I'll get some movies and we can eat. Please?"
"Alright. Sounds good to me. Six o'clock? That should give us time."
"OK, great. Great. See you tomorrow then."
His parents were just leaving when I arrived the next day.
"Hi honey, come on in," his mother smiled when she opened the door. "I'll just get Jimmy for you. Jimmy!"
He appeared from the kitchen, smiling.
"He's been in the kitchen cooking all afternoon," his mother said, teasing him mildly.
"Mom!" he protested, blushing. I grinned.
His dad was packing the car, but before they drove off he came inside and I met him briefly. That's the first time I ever saw him, but I liked him immediately. He was smiling and friendly, and he looked faintly like Jimmy.
When they left Jimmy grinned at me. "Free to do... anything you desire." He looked mock seductive, pursing his lips, and I had to laugh.
"Whatever, Jimbo. Get in that kitchen and make sure you don't burn my food."
He ran to the kitchen. Apparently he did have something in there that could burn.
He'd made us lasagna, green salad and some bread he made himself. It tasted really good. He could cook.
"Man, that pizza last week wasn't luck! You can cook!" I said.
He smiled and looked pleased.
When we'd eaten we put in the movie and relaxed on our couches. It was only the second time we'd done it, but it already felt like we had a ritual. I was on the same couch as the week before. I liked it.
He'd brought out snacks for the movie, but I'd eaten so much lasagna I almost didn't eat any.
"I noticed you didn't like it when I tried talking to you in school," he said when there was a quiet moment in the film.
This was a subject I'd hoped he wouldn't bring up. I wasn't comfortable with it. "Well..." I mumbled.
"No, it's alright," he quickly added. "I understand. I do."
I thought about my friends. I wondered if they'd be my friends if they knew I was here with him. We'd talked about going to see a movie or trying to get into a bar somewhere, but I'd told them I had to go visit family with my parents, just so I could spend the evening with Jimmy. I knew one thing: No one could ever know.
He'd said he understood. He probably did, all too well. I suddenly felt like a jerk.
My silence must have seemed odd to him.
"What I mean is," he continued, "if you want to be just weekend friends or something, well, I understand. I promise I won't talk to you in school."
I couldn't look at him. His words hurt me more than if he'd screamed recriminations at me, simply because they weren't meant to hurt.
"I don't want that," I managed to say. "I want to be real friends."
He smiled. He was so pretty when he did that. More than pretty, beautiful. Like the light was turned on inside him or something. Difficult to explain.
"But I'm afraid," I added. My voice sounded thick.
"I know," he whispered. His dark eyes looked into mine and I felt funny. I realized I really cared about him. I'd moved from deciding to be friends with him to being it. It was now a fact.
"I'm a coward I guess," I mumbled bitterly.
"I don't know," he protested. "Anyway, I won't embarrass you. We don't have to talk all the time. As long as I know you're my friend."
"I am." I turned to face him, still lying down. "I am."
"That makes me... feel really good. Really... funny."
"That's because you're a flaming queer and you have the hots for me," I grinned, trying to lighten the mood.
His eyes opened wide. "What?! Asshole!"
I laughed, I couldn't stop, and I could tell he had to fight to keep the grin off his own face.
"I guess maybe I do, a little," he mumbled. His eyes never left mine.
"What?"
"Have the hots for you."
"Oh." I felt myself blush. "That's weird."
I jumped when the silence from the TV was broken by an exploding car. I'd forgotten about the film altogether.
We watched for a few minutes, but what he'd said kept ringing in my head. He was in... he liked me?
"Do you think maybe it's because we're friends?" I asked, unable to let it go.
He knew what I meant right away. "You mean am I so desperate for a friend that I'm confusing friendship with love?"
"Hmm," I mumbled. "I guess that's what I meant."
"I'm not a fool, you know," he hissed. "And I have had friends, I do know how it is!"
"Sorry."
"It's just that... I do know what I feel! I'm sorry if you don't like it, but my feelings are mine, and don't try to tell me what they are!"
I stared at my can of coke. "Sorry," I mumbled again.
He sighed. "No, I'm sorry. I got all defensive there for a second. I guess it might conceivably have something to do with the fact that you're my first friend in three years, but it's not just that. Is it so hard to believe I actually like you?"
"Stranger things have happened," I joked, but he didn't laugh. "I guess not," I conceded.
"I'm stupid for telling you though," he mumbled, staring at his hands. "I don't seem to be able to stop myself from telling you things that'll push you away."
"Hey!" I sat up. "I like the fact that you're honest. Most of my friends aren't." The last past was directed mostly at myself.
"You want honesty?"
"Of course."
He smiled and bit his lip. "When I invited you over I thought... no, I hoped you might like me, and..." He stopped, blushing.
"And?"
"And you'd go to bed with me." He seemed unable to look at me. "How's that for honesty?"
I felt my eyes open wide. "This dinner was a seduction dinner?"
"Yeah." He looked at me. "I mean, I know you don't think of me that way," he hurriedly added, "but there's a part of me that won't stop hoping."
"Well," I began, "I appreciate your honesty. I won't, uh, go to bed with you, but if you'll settle for being my friend..."
"Oh yes, very much!"
"...that's fine by me. I want that too."
He breathed in deeply. "Whew," he smiled. "I surprised myself by telling you that. I'm so glad you're still here. I promise next time I cook you dinner there won't be an ulterior motive."
"Of course there will." I grinned, happy that the seriousness of the moment had passed.
"Yeah." He grinned a little nervously. "But no pressure."
"Anyway, next time?" I teased. "Who says there'll be a next time?"
His face fell, and I realized it was a bad joke, considering.
"I'm kidding!" I said. "Of course there'll be a next time."
He nodded, embarrassed.
"Anyway," I said, trying to change the subject. "Have you had any luck with Scott Jenkins?"
"He's hot," Jimmy laughed. "But he'd kill me if I tried anything. I mean... shit. He'd kill me."
"Probably." I nodded.
"I don't even dream about him anymore," he added, smiling mischievously at me. "Someone else is starring every time now."
I refrained from asking who.
When he got us blankets from upstairs I began undressing without thinking. I mean, he's seen me in just my boxers the weekend before, so what was the big deal? But then I remembered what he'd said about how I was teasing him, and I thought maybe in a way I was.
"Would it be better if I didn't undress with you?" I asked, unsure. I'd taken off my pants and were peeling off my socks.
"No," he whispered, sounding a little out of breath.
I rolled my eyes. "Man! Put that thing away and think with your other head for a moment!"
"Huh? What?" He swallowed. "Oh. OK. What do you mean?"
I smiled. He was cute like that. "I mean, you said I was a tease, didn't you?"
"You are."
"But I mean, maybe I should try not to be?"
"Oh." I could see he finally understood. "No, not for my sake. I mean, maybe it's my other head talking..." He grinned. "But I like it. Sure, it's a little frustrating, but it makes for unbelievable jack off fantasies."
"Man!" I gasped. "That's so... weird! You mean you actually... you know..."
"Jack off thinking about you?" He grinned, enjoying seeing me squirm. "Yes, of course."
I shook my head and peeled off my other sock. "Will this do then?" I asked and pulled off my t-shirt.
His eyes opened wide. "Wow," he mumbled, licking his lips. "Yeah... man, you're so evil!"
I crawled under the blanket and pulled it up to my head. "Show's over, buddy."
"Too bad." He was frozen, still with his pants around his ankles. It was quite humorous.
I grinned.
He shook his head and came out of his daze. He extracted his legs from his pants and folded his clothes neatly, then crawled under his blue blanket. I could tell he was hard. A few weeks ago that would have freaked me out, but now it seemed normal. What was the big deal? It was natural after all.
"You have no idea how sexy you are," he smiled at me when he was fully under the cover.
"Whatever, man. Keep those hands on top of the blanket!"
He laughed, a wonderful happy laugh. "Aw, come on! Your fault I'm all geared up!"
I reached for a new coke. "It's my wit that makes me so irresistible," I said, fluttering my eyelashes.
He laughed again. "You're so dumb!"
He sometimes let his leg out from under the blanket to cool off, resting his foot on the floor. He had nice legs. I mentally compared them to mine. I was maybe a little more muscular, but his were just right in proportions.
"Can you spend the night?" he asked, yawning.
"Yeah," I said. I'd already checked with my mother.
"I don't suppose you want to sleep in my bed?" he asked.
"Tempting, but I have to say no, not unless you're somewhere else."
"Nice!" he huffed. "You can get the attic. Do rats scare you?"
"Yes."
"In that case there aren't any. Or hardly. OK?"
"Shut up." I grinned at him.
"Maybe we can do something tomorrow? My parents are working on the beach house. They won't be home until Sunday afternoon."
"Sure," I said. I'd have to cancel going to the swimming pool with Dusty and the others.
"Great!" He smiled.
"You look really good when you smile," I said.
"Blah." He rolled his eyes. "Liar."
"No, I mean it," I said forcefully, and I did.
"Well.. thanks. Doesn't matter though. No one ever wants me."
"It'll happen." It sounded trite even to me, but what could I say?
"Maybe." He looked doubtful. "I'm beat. I don't think I'm up for another movie."
"It's only midnight!" I protested. "Did I say something wrong? Are you mad at me?"
"No, of course not," he smiled. "I'm just tired. You can watch another if you want."
"It's no fun alone." I shook my head. "You got two more at the store, didn't you?"
"Tomorrow?"
I yawned spontaneously which made him laugh. "I guess tomorrow's fine," I grinned. "Sleep sounds pretty good."
I gathered my things, deciding that if he wanted to look at me he could. In fact, I had to stop thinking about it so much.
"You first," he grinned when we reached the stairs. "I've been looking forward to this."
I rolled my eyes and did as he asked. I looked back and saw him gawking at my backside.
Predictably, when we got to the bathroom he was hard in his briefs. Nothing could have hidden that, and he didn't try. I didn't mention it, but part of me thought it was kind of cool.
I'd brought my own tooth brush this time, so I didn't have to use one of their spare new ones. We brushed and washed up, and like the week before it had a very calming effect on me. There was something incredibly nice about standing there with him, feeling his warmth, seeing the smile in his eyes while he brushed. I'd never felt that way with my friends before. Maybe it was all he'd said about how he looked at me that made me more aware of him.
"This is where we hug," he grinned when he'd rinsed his mouth. "That was nice."
I laughed and held up my hands. "Some other day, Jimbo."
"I figured." He smiled a little regretfully.
I picked up my pile of clothes and left the bathroom while he turned off the light.
"I'm going to sleep so hard," I mumbled, feeling the long week weigh on me.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," he nodded. "I'm just going to do something first."
"What?" I asked.
"It's a secret." He winked at me. "I don't suppose you could put those clothes down and let me get a good look?"
"What do you mean.. OH!" I wanted to smack my forehead. "Horny, Jimbo?"
"Yes."
"Hm. Well alright." I grinned and dumped the clothes on the floor in front of me. Then I began striking silly bodybuilder poses.
He laughed his wonderful laugh and shook his head. "Asshole," he gasped, but his eyes were tender.
I grinned and picked up my clothes. "Anytime," I promised. "Goodnight."
"Night." He was still looking at me and smiling when I closed the door.
I was asleep seconds after hitting the pillow.
The next morning I stumbled groggily down the stairs, still not comfortable with the light. He was chipper.
"Good morning!" he grinned. "You look like you died."
"I feel like that too." I fell back on the couch.
"Even dead you look good," he continued, looking me over. I realized I still wasn't wearing a shirt, having just crawled out of bed, but I didn't care. I wasn't cold.
"In the morning the fewer words the better," I mumbled. "I hate people who're in a good mood when nature intended us to be grumpy."
He laughed. "I'll be quiet."
"Fat chance," I groaned.
"Well, your lips on mine would shut me up for sure," he suggested, wriggling his eyebrows.
I covered my eyes with my hand. "I thought you took care of that horniness last night!" I complained.
"I'm 17!" he grinned. "What do you expect?"
I groaned and got up to get myself some cereal.
"If you'd done it too last night maybe you wouldn't have a boner now," he grinned.
I looked down, embarrassed. I hadn't noticed I was hard.
I wasn't.
His laughter filled my ears. I'd been had again.
"Funny," I growled, feeling my mouth curling into an involuntary smile. "You're a regular comedian."
"When you do get a boner be sure to call me," he teased. I retreated to the kitchen.
"One hell of a phone bill I'd have," I mumbled to myself, chuckling.
When I'd had something to eat I was almost awake. Jimmy had opened the door to the back yard. It was fall but the summer was still lingering in between the falling leaves and cold nights. It was half past ten, and the sun was shining. I was drawn to the fresh air and the smell of the lawn and went to the door.
Outside Jimmy was kicking a ball around barefoot on the grass. He was only wearing his briefs and the t-shirt he'd slept in, but in the sun it was warm enough.
He was beautiful. The sun was in his black hair, and his movements were graceful. He looked like the kid I remembered, but he was more now.
He was breathtaking. Some guy would be lucky to get him some day.
He noticed me in the door and waved at me.
"Come play with me," he grinned. "Weather's nice."
I shrugged. Why not? Gingerly I stepped out on the terrace and then the lawn. It was a little cold, not the air but the ground.
We kicked the ball to each other for a while. It had very little air in it -- I think there was a hole in it -- which was perfect for our bare feet. It was fun. I enjoyed myself a lot.
We worked up quite a sweat, even though I was just in my boxers. We were reluctant to stop because we both knew this was probably the last time we'd be able to do something like that before summer finally gave up and winter took hold.
Eventually Jimmy picked up the ball and walked up to me, smiling wide.
"That was fun! You're beautiful."
"So are you." I smiled. "Even with green feet."
He put his arm round my shoulder. "Small price, Joey. I don't know how to say this.. you need a shower."
"So do you." I grinned. "A shower, a toothbrush and I might almost be human again."
"I like you like this," he said, leaning a little closer.
I smiled at him, opening the door while his arm was still around me.
"You like the smell of stale old sweat?" I joked.
"No, you idiot!" He poked me in the stomach. "Just a little sweaty but clean. Smells good." He leaned down and smelled my shoulder. The hand he'd poked me with somehow never left my stomach.
"Pervert," I grinned.
His eyes were only a few inches from mine. They were dark blue and beautiful. They seemed to hold so many thoughts and secrets. Now they were heavy with desire. He smiled.
I felt his hand stretch out across my stomach, covering as much as it could. It felt good. I didn't feel threatened or anything. I felt safe with him. I knew I could always stop him, that he'd never do anything if I asked him not to.
His hand slid up my chest. It touched my nipples lightly which sent a shock through my body. I never knew they were so sensitive. I have a little hair on my chest between my nipples, just a little. His fingers pushed through it, playing with it.
I could feel his erection on my hip and his breath on my ear. I closed my eyes.
"Oh God," he breathed. His other arm was still around my shoulders. I felt him move slightly against my hip.
His hand was on my stomach again. When he slowly slid lower I tensed. He must have sensed it, because he stopped and started playing with the hair on my chest again instead, then went back to my nipples. It felt great.
He was grinding himself against my hip openly now, but I didn't mind. I was OK with him doing this. He was a friend after all.
Then he moved his hand from my chest to my shoulders, pressing himself closer. He leaned his head in so his face was in my hair, and he breathed in.
"Mmmm..." he moaned, a deep throaty moan that I loved hearing. His grinding became harder, and his face never left my hair. I didn't know what to do with my arms, so I held one of the arms he had around me and leaned my head a little into his.
He was panting now, and I could tell he was close. I smiled.
One of his hands released my shoulder and buried itself in my hair just as he shuddered.
"Ahh!" he gasped. I could feel him bucking against me before he let go of me and all but slipped to the ground. I caught him and steadied him. There was a big wet splotch on his briefs and he was flushed, but his eyes shone.
"Fun?" I teased. I could feel a little wetness on my thigh, but it didn't matter at all.
"Oh God," he mumbled, embarrassed to look at me, but when he saw I was smiling he grinned. "I've never felt anything like it. Best ever."
"You were cute," I grinned.
He slugged my shoulder. "I'm not cute!" he protested. "Kittens are cute. I'm... handsome."
"You're shameless and horny, that's what you are," I said dryly. "Cutie," I added to rile him.
"Whatever." He shook his head. "I have to sit down."
"Something make you tired?" I shouted after him when he went to the sofa. He gave me the finger.
"I'm going to shower," I informed him when I passed him. "You can go after me when you're rested."
"K," he replied, still flushed.
I grinned to myself as a walked up the stairs. He was pushing my limits, but I kind of enjoyed it.
He was gone when I returned, I assumed to his room. I flicked on the TV and watched a little, but it was boring as always.
When he came down I could tell he was embarrassed, and he was a little subdued.
"You OK?" I asked.
"Um... yeah." He blushed. "God, Joey, I'm so sorry. I don't know what got into me."
"I don't mind. Like I said, you were cute."
"But I practically raped you!"
"Listen, dude, I didn't stop you. I could have." I looked him over. "Let's face it, you're scrawny. I could take you in a fight."
His eyes opened wide. "Scrawny! I am NOT scrawny!"
"Sure you're not." I nodded, grinning.
"I may not be as muscular as you," he conceded, "but still..."
I got up and went to him. "The point is, I would have stopped you if it made me uncomfortable. I don't know why it didn't, but it didn't. OK?"
"I guess. I just feel a little bad."
"Don't. I'm fully capable of stopping you when I want. I don't mind. I enjoyed it."
"You did?"
"It's not often I get to see cuteness so close up," I grinned.
He grinned back. He had that tender look in his eyes that I couldn't identify. "I enjoyed it too," he smiled.
"I realize that. I had the wet spot on my hip to prove it."
He blushed a deep red. "Shit, I'm sorry."
"Jimmy! Forget it! I'm joking with you!" I groaned.
"Oh. Right." He smiled. "Biggest orgasm of my life. I suppose some of it was bound to end up on you."
I smiled.
He sat down and unfolded the clean pair of socks he had in his hands, then pulled them on.
"Let's go somewhere. How about the woods?"
None of my friends would ever go to the woods on a Saturday. It was safe.
"Sure," I said.
It was nice there, and I loved walking with him. He was so alive, pointing out things for me to see, and we talked and had fun.
When we returned mid afternoon I was sorry to have to leave, but I'd told my mom I'd be home around then.
"Can't you come back?" he asked, his eyes begging. "I mean, there's too much lasagna left for me to eat."
"I don't know, Jimmy."
He nodded. "K."
"I suppose I could call and ask," I said slowly. I realized I wanted to spend the rest of the day with him if I possibly could. I'd never felt that way with my other friends. When I'd been with them a day I'd usually had more than enough.
"Great!" he smiled.
My mother was reluctant at first, but something in my voice must have convinced her because she finally agreed, but I had to come home first for a few hours, so they could see I was alive or something.
Jimmy was so happy I'd be coming back he didn't even mind that I had to leave. We set the time when I'd be returning and I jumped on my bike. I was in a good mood.
"Aren't you cheerful today," my mother remarked when I whistled past her, only stopping to kiss her cheek.
"Got some girl he's been seeing," my father guessed. He lowered his paper and winked at me.
"I don't think Jimmy'd like being called a girl," I laughed. "But I'll be sure to tell him."
"You'll sleep here tonight though, right?" my mother asked.
"I don't know," I replied, frowning slightly. "We may want to watch some movies."
"Bet you would," my father grinned. "Oh, let the boy. You're only in high school once."
"Alright," my mother sighed. She was always too protective of me.
"In less than a year he could get married," I heard my father say when I left the kitchen. I knew he wanted to tease my mother, and she knew it too.
"Don't even joke about that," she replied, banging his head with a spoon. I could hear him laughing when I closed the door to my room.
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Part 2 is coming in a few days. Meanwhile, let me know what you thought at
AdelhardtH@hotmail.com
Thanks.