This is a work of pure fiction, but based on the author's feelings, beliefs, and in some cases, experience. Come to think of it -- it might not be very pure either! There may be graphic sexual encounters at times between men, so if this offends you, you are invited to retreat. If you are too young or it is otherwise illegal for you to be reading this kind if story, shame on you for reading it - - please stop here. If not, - - ENJOY!
Cast of characters:
Ben Hastings -- That's me!
Bill "Bubba" Hastings -- My Dad
Veronica Hastings -- My Mom.
Reyna -- My Best Friend
Ranj Kumar-- Another friend
Jared -- A football whore.
Sargeant Shipley -- High School Friend
Rex Majors -- Ranj's roommate.
Everett Majors - Rex's younger brother
From Chapter 20:
Ranj drove us all to the bus station, where again, Everett cried as he checked in and waved at us from the bus window. Of course Rex and I both had tears in our eyes too. Ranj put his arms around both of us and shepherded us back to the car after we watched the bus pull out of the terminal.
"He'll be okay." Said Rex. "Daddy will be out on bail before graduation, but he won't dare touch any of the boys -- ever again."
"How can you be so sure?" Asked Ranj.
"Because I very lovingly told him that if he ever did, I would come back home and very slowly kill him." Said Rex calmly, his voice and face expressionless.
Chapter 21:
Rex's demeanor was almost scary. On one hand it looked unemotional, but on the other, as little as I really knew him, I felt he meant every word.
After Everett left, I couldn't see any reason for me to stay in Durham, North Carolina. I still felt more drawn to Ranj than I was comfortable with and as much as I loved the football watching lessons with them both, I decided to refuse their invitation to stay longer. I called immediately for plane reservations for home.
I couldn't afford last minute reservations, and the soonest I could get a decent rate was next Tuesday -- a full seven days away. I could get there in 3 days on the bus, but I decided that maybe one more week would not be bad. One more Monday night football lesson, at least.
Rex volunteered to let Ranj stay in his room, so I could have the extra room to myself. I thought I knew why, but I never heard anything going on in there. It was only Tuesday, and the guys went to classes as usual. I was left to myself. I took the bus all over the campus and the town.
I thought a lot about Everett. He was so cute -- very alluring in his little boy way. And -- of course -- I thought a lot about - - Ranj. He was being the perfect gentleman -- at least to me.
I went to the Duke library and did some research regarding my chances of going there. With my lack of excellent grades and lack of sports prowess, I didn't have much to offer them, as far as getting a scholarship. And -- paying for it was out of the question. I visited a local community college. My interest was so-so, not really knowing why I was doing it. In the back of my head was the fact that Everett already had a scholarship cinched in the science department, but I tried to push that out. Mostly I was just killing time until next Tuesday.
Friday was the last night to be able to cancel my reservations and get a full refund. Thursday night, I was almost asleep. I more felt the door to my room open than saw or heard it. A body gently lay down next to me, on top of the covers. I woke up more and heard measured breathing and felt his warmth radiating from his skin.
I was at a loss for what to say. This IS his bed. Do I tell him to go away? I got up with my pillow and started toward the door. "Don't go -- please?" He said quietly. I stopped, but didn't turn around. "Please, Ben. I just want to talk to you. Remember how we used to talk all night at my -- I mean my parents house?"
"Yeah?" I said, not really understanding the relevance.
"Sweet -- I mean -- Ben -- I mean -- Shit!" His voice broke and he stopped momentarily. I turned. All I could see in the dark room was his shadowy form not sitting up on the bed, with his head down to his knees.
"Ben, I really don't have any excuse for how I've have acted since being here. I thought I lost you and it was my first time away from home, out from under my parents thumbs, and I guess I went sorta wild. But out of all those guys -- and they were all guys -- none could carry on a conversation. They were just a way to satisfy my -- my -- craving and - " his voice broke again.
"Ben, I was really missing you! I have been hurt so many times playing sports, broken bones -- I even got burnt once at home playing with fire. Nothing hurt as much as the pain inside me -- when I thought I lost you. Then suddenly you were here. And now you're leaving again. I wish I knew what to say to change your mind."
He at least had my attention. He stood up and walked the two steps between us. When he got close, I could see his eyes, shining with the wetness in them. "Ben, I love you -- more than I knew - - more than I imagined was possible. Does that count for anything?"
His hand gently touched my face. Something snapped inside me. I don't think it showed. I rolled my eyes up, in case he could read what I was feeling. "Let me at least give you this to say good bye, Ben." He said and with his hand touching one cheek, his lips brushed the other.
I turned my head and met his lips with my own. His familiar odor -- breath, body, hair, everything at once conspired to take me down. When my lips met his, he let out a high pitched tone and wrapped his arms around me. I responded in kind, and the only place my hands could find was his muscular butt.
We kissed long and deeply, both of us moaning. Our bodies were pressed close enough to feel what was happening to them.
Then he let me go, and stood back. I felt cold now without his touch. "Thanks. All I wanted was a goodbye hug. You -- as usual -- gave me more than I expected -- or deserve."
He turned and walked out the door. At last I found my own voice. "Ranj," I said softly, "don't go. This is your bed. I'll sleep on the couch."
"Naw. I'll sleep with Rex. I don't want to sleep alone -- not tonight."
We stood there for a prolonged moment. There was a little more light coming from the living room, and I could see the hurt in his eyes. "Then," I started, "then come to bed with me. Don't bother Rex any more." He didn't move a muscle. I stepped forward and took his hand in mine and pulled him to the bed, and then pushed him down. Then I closed the door and climbed under the covers with him.
It took every ounce of will power for me to stay on my side of the bed until I went to sleep -- 45 minutes later.
I woke up when the blanket we had put on the widow started to let in some light. Or maybe it was the warmth of the sun shining on it. I was spooning him -- way over on his side of the bed. I tried to extricate myself without waking him.
"I've been awake for at least an hour, trying not to move a muscle."
"Oh." I said.
"Thanks for last night. It meant more than all the others put together. No, that's not true. It meant everything. They mean nothing."
After a nights sleep, my defenses were back up. I was gonna say something to put a damper on his ardor, but he quickly said, "I'm gonna go fix us all some breakfast!" As he hopped out of bed and out the door.
I got up and went to the bathroom. As I stepped out of the shower, I smelled the familiar smell of curry.
The way to a man's heart is through his stomach - - when through his dick doesn't work!
My mouth was watering and I thought of last nights kiss. I thought about how sweet he was, not pressuring me on anything. I thought about his dark eyes and curly black hair. His grin was infectious. His body was chiseled and hard. His touch was magic. I wrapped my towel around me and ran to my bedroom and locked the door.
I keyed in my parents' number. I forgot it was 3 hours earlier there. My sleepy sounding dad answered the phone. "Hello?"
"It's Ben." I said.
"Ben!" Said Dad, instantly awake. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I just wanted to talk a bit."
"It's 4:30 in the morning, son. I hope you didn't wake up the kids."
"Oh! I'm sorry! I forgot about the time change!"
"Well, now that you have me -- what's up?" Said Dad.
"I just wanted to talk about - - wait! Did you say, kids? What kids?"
"Your friend's dad got out on bail and immediately took out his frustration on his two younger boys."
"What??!" I said. "But -- how come -- I mean -- which boys?"
"There are a set of twins."
"Yes?"
"We have them and two smaller boys here with us. Their mother called us. She said she can't handle the situation. And neither she nor her husband -- the boys' father -- are willing to involve other family members. Son -- it was on your recommendation that we took them. It's not even legal -- at least not yet. When is the other boy -- (Evan is it?) coming?"
"Dad we didn't know anything about what has happened. Apparently their mother also kept it a secret from Rex and Everett, too."
"Oh yeah, Everett."
"Anyway, he left for Texas on Tuesday. He would be there by now." I said.
"Well his dad is back in jail, but from what I could tell, he has powerful advocates in that town. He'll probably be out again in no time. If your friend is home, he should get out. This dad seems to be very volatile. Do you have a way to contact him?"
"Maybe. His brother is still here."
"Good. Let me know. We'll send him plane fare."
"Dad!"
"What?"
"You're amazing -- that's all."
"Oh -- heh -- um -- why was it you called, again?"
"Oh, I'm just having a struggle here."
"What with?"
"Oh, Ranj."
"What's he done now?"
I explained to him all my most recent feelings. How I am wondering about if I should let him back into my life. I suppose just by asking my dad, I was hoping he would talk me into it.
"He sounds very repentant, Ben."
"He IS!"
"Hasn't he been repentant before?" Asked my wise dad.
"Um -- yeah." I hedged.
"How many times?"
"Okay, Dad, I get it."
"Yeah. You can't forget that other side of him."
"But -- you're the one who told me to come out here -- after him."
"I was hoping you'd learn something valuable."
"Obviously that was a mistaken idea!" I said, both chagrinned and heart sick.
"Not really. You're young, Son. It's okay if you still need someone to point some things out. You get it now -- don't you?"
"Yeah." I said half heartedly.
"Now all you have to do is convince your heart."
My dad was more perceptive than I realized. "Did you see Monday Night football last week?" I asked.
"Did you!!??" My dad said, sounding pleased and amazed.
"Yup!" I said, proudly.
"Whadga think?"
"I liked it!" I laughed.
"Great! Yeah, I watched it with Jared. You should see him. He has gained a lot of weight and looks healthy now."
"Really? Probably mom's cooking, huh?"
"Yeah, probably, and also some good decisions on his part -- regarding his life. I think he wants to live now."
"Well, tell him hi for me." I said.
"Okay. I'll see him again Monday night."
"He's not living with you any more?" I asked, surprised.
"No. It was time for him to go. I think he'll be okay now. He has a decent job -- at Burger King, but it's regular and he's okay with it while he goes to school."
"He's still at Cerritos?" I asked.
"Nope. Well, not after term's end. He made it in to UCLA. He's back with his parents. I don't really approve of them -- for a lot of reasons -- but he seems to be okay. And it's a place to stay. He can't afford to stay on campus.
"Why did he move from your place?"
"It was time. A man has to take responsibility for himself sometime. It was his time. He turned 22 last week."
"22!?? I had no idea he was that old!" I said. "I thought he was younger than I am."
"His sickly body made him seem younger, I guess. I assure you he looks older now. He got his hair cut and stays clean shaven. And - - I don't think he goes to that awful back parking lot any more, at Cerritos, at night."
"You -- you KNOW about that?" My mind was reeling. I wonder if Dad put together that I met Jared there!
"Yes. He told us about it. I think the college has plans to light it up and clean it up."
"That's good." I said, feeling a little sick.
"When is it you're coming home?"
"I leave Tuesday morning."
"Damn! I was hoping you could be here for Monday night Football with Jared and me."
"Actually I change planes in Dallas. I was thinking of taking some extra time and try to find Everett and get him to fly out there with me."
"That would be good. His little brothers (not the twins) would probably be comforted to see him. They talk about him and Rex all the time." Dad said. "The twins have each other. They don't seem to need anyone else. Did you know they're gay?"
"Yeah, Ev told me."
"That dad screwed up his whole family, didn't he.
I ignored the unintended implication that I was screwed up -- and wondered if Dad caught the further implication that he might be the one who screwed me up. I don't necessarily believe that in my case, but in the Majors family, I would have to agree that it's a very probable possibility.
"Probably." I said.
"Ben? Be careful around that pervert. I understand he's some kind of giant -- and monster besides."
"I will, Dad. See you next week some time."
"Okay, Bye, Son."
I got dressed and walked out to the kitchen, where the curry smell was much stronger. Ranj had fixed his version of Eggs Benedict, but with a lot of curry in the sauce. It was very good. We all had several eggs on English muffins with the sauce on top.
"Rex, I talked to my dad this morning."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I'm gonna stop over in Dallas and find your brother. How can I get in touch with him."
"I'll give you our phone number. But be careful. My daddy may be bailed out again before you get there, and if he has any idea you had any part in getting him in trouble -- well, just be careful."
"So you knew he attacked one of your little twin brothers as soon as he was out?"
"Yeah. He's a very sick person. I called the district attorney, a friend of the family. But he sides with dad. So I'm sure he'll be out before you get there." Rex said sadly. "I'm just glad that your parents have seen fit to help our family out. I don't think Daddy would go as far as California to get them." I couldn't help a shudder. "I'm sorry." Rex added.
After talking with Dad, I felt much more comfortable with my decision to leave Ranj behind me. It still broke my heart, but it was right. Don't get me wrong. I think people can change. But I need something new, and if he does change, that'll be good for someone else.
The weekend went very fast. I didn't do anything with Ranj, and he didn't try anything, but it felt good to have him next to me in bed the next few nights. We even cuddled a little. After Monday night Football, which was again a fun time for all of us, and I learned a lot more about the game, Rex asked if we could all sleep in his room my last night there. It never dawned on me that he would feel so left out. Ranj and I slept on either side of Rex, and he wasn't shy about touching either of us. I could tell he was hurting a lot over his family breaking up and he was used to cuddling with his brothers. He was so huge, with rock hard muscles when he flexed them, but they were soft and at ease when he was relaxing. I couldn't imagine his dad, whom he said was much bigger than he is.
Both Ranj and Rex drove me to the Airport. I was nervous, excited, and a little sick, not knowing exactly what was gonna happen. Rex called and talked to Everett. I asked my dad again for some help with his airfare. Everett was able to meet me at the Dallas airport and fly home with me on my regularly scheduled flight.
I was curious to meet their mom and even their dad, but it was of course a very great relief not to have to deal with it. Everett said his dad didn't threaten him in any way. As a matter of fact, he completely ignored Everett, which hurt him badly. Everett thinks he somehow figured out that Everett had something to do with his predicament. I had to wonder if it ever occurred to Mr. Majors that he himself was the most responsible for his problems -- or that he had screwed up his whole family by his actions.
"Ben -- I'm sorry, but can we talk about something else?" Said Everett after we talked non-stop about it for over an hour.
"Oh, Ev! I'm so sorry. Of course!"
"We can talk later -- as a matter of fact, I'm supposed to."
"Supposed to?"
"Yes. The county appointed psychologist talked to all of us. I think that they are also partially paying for psychological counseling for my brothers at your parents house. He says I need to talk about it."
"Okay. What else shall we talk about?" I asked.
"We could talk about that!" He said, pointing outside the plane. The sun was going down and the whole sky was bright orange at one place and deep purple another with a perfectly formed arc of clouds separating them. He took hold of my hand. It was dark in the plane, except for a few reading lights. He kissed my hand. "I missed you so much!" He said. "I was so excited when Rex called and said you were coming to get me. I was thinking you didn't care about me after our last night in North Carolina. I love you, Ben!"
I felt a lump in my throat, as I considered how I could tell him that I didn't feel the same.
When we landed, and came down to the baggage area at LAX, my dad was waiting there for us. There were lots of people gathering to pick up their bags, but one young guy stuck out. He was smallish, but very striking in his appearance, with creamy white skin and coal black hair. He had on denim cargo pants, with a light blue ribbed tee, showing a not-too buff, but nicely shaped torso.
He seemed to smile for a moment when he saw me, but then he looked past me and kept staring at Everett. Then I noticed Everett staring back. He had one of those familiar looking faces. I was beginning to wonder if maybe he and Everett knew each other from somewhere, when my dad said, "Aren't you gonna introduce Everett to Jared?"
I did a double-take on him and then said, "No WAY! Is it really you, Jared?" Then he grinned full face, and I could see -- it IS Jared! "WOW! You look GREAT!" Jared beamed even more. "My mom's cooking must have agreed with you!"
He bobbed his head, and said, "That, and your dad." Jared looked lovingly up at my dad, who also looked very pleased. "Ben, I never had anyone who cared for me before." He hugged me and whispered, "Thank you for bringing me home. I didn't know what a family was really like." He pulled away, then turned to Everett. "And this must be the big brother I've heard so much about!"
Everett and Jared stood for a prolonged moment, ensnared in one another's gaze. They didn't say anything, but both their countenances said, "Wow!"
I was mesmerized for a moment by the show they were putting on. Finally I snapped out of it. "Oh! Yeah! Jared, this is my friend, Everett."
Jared didn't say anything, but Everett finally said, dreamily, "I know."
Notes: Lives are seldom simple, are they? Any comments are welcome to Steve at stevethomas535@hotmail.com. Thanks and love, Steve Thanks for your wonderful support!