Blood Sport By James
Disclaimer
This is a fictional story which deals with sexual/romantic situations between consenting teenaged boys. This story may also at times deal with situations concerning rape, child abuse, Ableism, Racism, Anti-LGBT Bigotry, violence and suicide. If you're not of the legal age to read such material, or if you can't handle this kind of story then please back out now.
Please remember to donate to Nifty, as it's your donations that keep this and other stories on the site free to the public.
Thanks once again to my editor K. I always appreciate your help, suggestions and corrections for this story. Without you, this story wouldn't be what it is. Thank you!
Finally, if you like this story and haven't done this already, offer to get a Christmas tree for my E-mail address, jamesheady1985@gmail.com. When it accepts, bring it by, but only after you've got it set up and decorated, let them know that it's soaked with the ingredients from Poison Ivy.
Blood Sport
Chapter Ten
The Sleep Over
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I waited to see what she would say, and a silence began inserting itself as I waited to see what, if anything, she would do or say. Reaching out, my mom hugged me, and I hugged back as I fell apart. Part of it was relief that I finally said it. The rest of it was everything that I had been holding in over the last few years. Through it all, my mom was telling me that it would be alright. She assured me that she wasn't going anywhere.
"I just don't want you to hate me, and I didn't want you to have to deal with this as another thing to have to worry about!" I struggled to get it out as I cried. "I'm sorry!"
Finally, after a few minutes, my tears were slowing, then were done. Drying my eyes, I struggled to get myself under control. After throwing away the tissues on which I dried my eyes, I sat back down across from our mom.
"I want to let you know first, that I don't hate you Danny," she said. "I never could, and never will. Sometimes I wondered over the last couple of years if you might be Gay, or possibly Bi. I'm accepting of which ever one it would be. The important thing though, is that I love you, and whether or not you're Gay, Bi, straight or some other orientation, the point above all is that you are who you were meant to be. I love you no matter which one of those you are, and none of those identities could ever make me hate you. I just want you to be happy, as well as be a good person. That above all is what I've always wanted for both you and for Martha."
We hugged again, then I told her about what I heard her say that one day. I also told her about what Kelven told me about what happened after I closed my bedroom door cutting off the rest of what she said.
"I guess at that time I didn't actually think you'd hate me, but I thought you might be upset with it being one more thing to have to deal with," I finished.
"I really am sorry that you had been carrying that around with you for all this time," she said hugging me again. "At the time, I had been worried about how I could have helped you or Martha if either of you were to have come out to me as being of any different sexual or gender orientation. When I said that I wasn't sure if I could have dealt with you being gay, I was speaking about the fear of anything happening to you such as you being bullied because of it. There are parents who will say that to their LGBT kids, but it's usually them saying it and telling the kid that they have to watch themselves. That's usually something as in they need to be careful and not be too out about being gay otherwise a bully might hurt them. If not that, then they tell them that if they tell the wrong person then they could end up like Matthew Shepard. They say that it's for what bullies might do to them that make them worry about said kid being gay or any other orientation. At the time, I really was worried about what could happen, but I didn't want to put that on you to have to deal with. It's my responsibility to deal with whatever fears I have about any Anti-LGBT bullying you might face, and it's not something you should have to deal with in order to not make me feel better.
Such talk is unfair, because it puts it on the kid to have to do things to keep bullies from hurting them rather than the LGBT kid's parents doing the work to protect them from Anti-LGBT bullies and bigots. Mostly though, it's basically an excuse for them to express their own Anti-LGBT bigotry either because they're not of the mindset of using the Bible to justify their bigotry or whatever the case might be. I just know that even with my worries back then, if you had come to me back then, then I would have done everything I could have to been accepting. I'm still of that way of thinking now, and if you do get bullied because of it by anyone, I want you to come to me. I won't allow it to continue. If it's a school situation, then I'll make sure the administration does something about it. If it's a relative, I'll make sure that I let them know how it is. Also, I'm not going to tell you not to tell certain family members about your being gay. It's up to you who you tell. It's about if you feel like telling any of them, and if it would be good or if it would cause problems. I'll support whatever decision you want to make. The bottom line though, is that you're not under any pressure from me to come out to anyone in our family you don't want to.
To be honest though, I do think that if you were to have any issues with family, it would probably be on Brad's side of the family. Unless you were considering telling any of them, I don't think it would be an issue though. I only say that, because we're not in contact with any of them. As for my side of the family, I don't see very many of them being non-accepting."
"Thanks for saying all that," I said. "It really does mean a lot. I don't know who on your side of the family I would tell yet, but I don't think I'd have problems telling them either. I know that when LGBT issues came up in the last couple of years at family dinners with them, most of them were accepting when talking about the LGBT Community. I know that Grandpa and Grandma are. Most of all though, I just wanted to tell you though, at least for now anyway."
I then told her about the conversations Kelven and I had about it, and she smiled.
"I'm glad you had him to lean on when you were starting to figure it out," she said. "Clearly, he's been really helpful, and I also want to let you know that I don't have any issues with you having told him before me. I do completely understand that people who do come out might not always come out to their parents or other family members first. I know a couple of co-workers who came out to friends before telling their parents or other people in their families. One of them actually told me before telling other friends much less their family, so I definitely understand about that."
"Thanks Mom," I responded.
"You're welcome," she said as we hugged once more.
We talked about anyone in whom I might be interested, and I said that I wasn't into anyone yet which was true. We then talked about me possibly needing protection just in case. I told her that I was open to keeping protection around in case, but that I didn't think I would need it in the immediate future since I still believed in saving myself for the right one. She was glad to hear that, and let me know that if I needed condoms at some point, then I had her permission to have them. I told her that I would probably feel more comfortable buying those with Kelven.
"I definitely understand that," she said smiling. "Who ever you do end up with, I just want you to be happy, but I also want you to be safe."
"That means a lot, it really does," I said.
"Good," she replied. "Now I think we have some pizza to eat."
"I definitely think we do," I replied as I got up and got it out of the oven.
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Returning to the present, I went past that post, then exited the app. I hadn't expected to remember all that, and thinking back on it all left me feeling happy, but also a little sad. Happy, because of how I got the acceptance from everyone in my immediate family when coming out to them, and sad because of the stress, anxiety and fear with which I had been dealing for the last few years. I even felt some anger. Not intense, but enough so that I could feel it there. It was anger at Brad for being the abusive, hateful and neglectful Bastard that he had been while living with us. I had no doubt that him acting as he did and not hiding his shitty Anti-LGBT views contributed significantly to the fears I had about coming out. The counselor I would go on to see really did help me with seeing that, as well as helping me to further accept myself. Talking to him truly helped, and I was deeply grateful for his help, advice and willingness to be there for me. I still am grateful to him!
Standing up from my desk, I went in and got my shower. It was almost 6:00 P.M., and usually on Sundays we had left-overs of that day's meal. Mom, Jason and Martha had some of them a little while ago. I could hear them in the kitchen. I figured I'd get some after my shower.
After finishing up my share of the left-overs, I went back in my room and checked my phone. There was a message from Josh. I smiled widely, and opened it. There was an attachment, but I decided to read the message he wrote before opening it.
Josh Gibson: "Hi Danny Evans! I heard this song, and wanted to show it to you. I hope you've been having a good day. I'd love to talk with you sometime tonight before going to bed. I really do miss you."
I smiled, then tapped on the attached file. It started up, and it was the song Stop Time Tonight by the Pop Latino singer Ricky Martin. I listened closely to the lyrics, and they absolutely spoke to me. I really identified with them, especially when the song got to the part where he sang about staying in this moment forever. In all the times Josh and I had been around each other in person, I wanted that time to never end. I wanted to stay there holding him for always! I too wanted to stop time, so we could be there with each other for the rest of our lives!
Soon the song ended, and I put a Red-Heart reaction on the message then wrote back.
Daniel Evans: "Hi Josh, thanks for that! I really loved that song! I really appreciate you showing it to me! It has really nice lyrics, and I can totally relate to what's being said there! I'd love to talk with you here soon. I miss you too!"
Tapping on send, I went to FaceTime, then tapped on call then on Josh's name. Selecting Video Call, I waited for the call to go through.
He picked up after a couple of rings, and I could see his beautiful face!
"Hi Danny Evans!" he said smiling widely, and I felt myself experiencing more joy than ever!
"Hi Josh!" I replied smiling just as widely! "I'm really glad to be here with you right now!"
"Me too!" he answered. "How have you been doing today?"
"I've been doing good, and you?" I asked.
"I've had a good day as well," he said. "We hung out at the house, and we watched TV in the living room, then Connor and I listened to music here in my room for a bit. We also had dinner a little while ago. It was fried chicken. We also had mashed potatoes with it along with corn."
"That sounds really good," I said.
I told him what we had, as well as what we did today. I also told him about Jason bringing Ethan Simmons home, and how they met. He laughed when I got to the part about Jason and Ethan running into each other and Ethan's cone smashing all over Jason's shirt.
"I'll bet that was a cold surprise for Jason," Josh said laughing, and I smiled as his hands were flapping like they did when he got excited. I loved it when he did that!
"It definitely was," I answered. "He was able to change his shirt when he got back here to the house, and he'll be buying Ethan another ice cream cone when they get together this up-coming Wednesday. Ethan stayed for dinner, and despite the Great Ice Cream Attack of 2023, they're looking like they'll become good friends."
"That would be really nice if they do," Josh said. "It would also be really nice if you and I can become not only really good friends, but totally best friends! I mean, you really are my best friend, Danny Evans! You've been so nice to me, and when we're not around each other, I think about you a lot. Do you know when we can get together again?"
I told him that I had some time on which we could get together this up-coming Tuesday. He smiled, then went to ask his mom about it. After getting permission from my own mom, Josh returned saying that his mom said it was alright. We agreed to meet at his house, and I'd be over there by 4:00 P.M. I did let him know that it might be 4:30 P.M. though if I had any homework. I would hope of course that I wouldn't.
We talked for a few more minutes, then Josh had to get off so he could get his shower, as well as his meds. I wished him a good night, then I went out and visited with Mom and Martha for a bit before getting to bed for the evening myself.
It was now Tuesday afternoon, and all of our teachers must have gotten a good fuck from their lovers or partners either the night before, or that morning before showing up at school. I say that, because not one of them gave us any homework. It was amazing, and I was feeling really happy about that. Once at my locker, I gathered up my bag, books and after making sure they were all in the bag, I closed then locked the locker. I then turned to leave and I exited the building. Jason had left a few minutes before. He was going to be getting together with our mom to get a haircut, and they both wanted to get their early. That left me on my own.
After walking out of the school, I texted Josh letting him know that I was free, and that there was no homework at all. He texted back a Smiling Face with Hugging Hands emoji, and I responded back with a Smiling Face with Hearts sign. I continued walking, then got home a few minutes later. After spending a little time visiting with Martha, it was time for me to go over to Josh's house.
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Josh
Josh had come home about 20 minutes ago, and he was glad to see the text from Kate when he arrived home. The text let him know that she and Connor would be out for a bit. They would be getting coffee, as well as doing some shopping. Josh was able to be home alone, and the rules of what he was allowed and not allowed to do helped with him not getting into anything. He wasn't left alone too long, and that's why Kate and Connor felt comfortable enough to allow him to stay at home by himself from time to time.
Once back in his room, he was even more glad to see Danny Evans's response to his message. At this point in them knowing each other, Josh was at the point where he knew that he was deeply in love with Danny. He hoped that Danny felt the same for him. He also knew that he wanted Danny sexually. He started thinking of him in that way a few days before as he finished with his shower.
He had finished cleaning his cock, then soaped up his balls. As he did that, he felt himself hardening, and he also felt his balls tingle. He didn't jack off or anything like that. He wasn't that turned on, but he definitely would later that night. As he finished up showering, Josh then wondered if Danny Evans's penis got hard all the time, or just some of the time. He also wondered what it looked like. He did remember seeing it that day when they were on Danny's bed feeling each other's stomachs. He could see the outline of Danny's erection in his pants as Josh felt and caressed his stomach, but he couldn't see it as clear as he could have if Danny were naked. He went on to wonder if Danny jacked off or ever rubbed on his penis! Thinking about that on the times he did, Josh could feel his own dick waking up each time. He would jack off in bed later in the evening once he was alone for the night after having thought about that! He really did hope that him and Danny could be close like that as well as platonically.
Josh then turned his thoughts to the song he sent Danny the night before. He wondered if Danny thought what he was thinking when he had first heard the song before sending it to him. The song described exactly how Josh felt about his best friend, and he really did wish that they could be in each other's arms with time stopped for a long time. He also wished that Danny could be there holding him all through the night. Just then, he heard a knock at the door. Smiling widely, Josh went to answer it!
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Danny
After knocking that first time, I waited out on the steps of Josh's house. The sun was shining, but it was still cold. There wasn't any snow, but all the same, I couldn't wait to get inside. It seemed like no time went by at all though, and I saw the door opening after Josh checked to see if it was me.
"Hi Danny Evans, I'm really glad you made it!" Josh said after opening up the door. I just barely got through the door before Josh was putting one arm around me. I got the door closed and locked with one hand, then I took him in my arms. He held on to me tightly for a long moment, then loosened his grip a little.
When I wrapped my arms around him, it felt so right! I held him for what seemed like forever, and he rested his head on my chest as we stood there. I rubbed his back up and down gently, and he did the same with me as well. Soon though we separated, and I stepped back to look at him. He was dressed in a black t-shirt and jogging pants. Clearly, he was dressed for comfort and an evening in as well as relaxing in-doors.
"You look really comfortable," I said as he took my hand tugging gently in the direction of the hallway.
Walking with him, I saw his room come into view, and once in there, we hugged again.
"It's really nice to be back in my comfy clothes," he said as we separated then headed over to his bed.
Once I sat down, Josh moved over leaning down where my feet were flat on the floor.
"Do you want your shoes and socks off?" Josh asked. "I'd be happy to help you off with them."
I smiled, and agreed.
He got off my right shoe and sock, then the other one then began gently rubbing the tops and bottoms of both feet. It was relaxing, and he kept that up for another couple of minutes. After another moment, I told him that he did a good job, and could stop if he wanted. He did then sat down next to me so that he was against my side. I put my arm around him, and he melted into me, sighing contently.
"I'm really glad to be here with you again Josh," I said, putting my other arm around him and inhaling deeply, totally loving the smell of his hair.
"I'm so glad we're together again like this as well Danny Evans," he said softly as I continued holding him in my arms. "I really have missed you. I love our video chats, but this is even better. You make me feel really safe when you hold me like this, and I wish you could do that all the time."
"I wish I could do it all the time for you too," I answered. "I also love our video chats, but I agree. Being with you like this is so amazing! I really love it so much!"
"Me too!" he responded.
I did get up long enough to put on some music when Josh asked if I wanted to listen to anything. When I put on the playlist, Ricky Martin's song Stop Time Tonight was the first one to begin playing. We both smiled, then I went back to sit down and hold Josh once more.
"I'm glad to hear this song again," I said as Josh looked up at me as I continued holding him.
"Me too," he responded.
We sat there still with me holding him until the song ended, then he motioned for me to let him go as the next song came on. He let me know that he wanted to get something to drink. He offered me something, and we both decided on Cokes. He went to get them, and I sat there waiting for him to return. Once seated again, he handed me my Coke, then uncapped his own.
He watched me intently for a long moment as I took a couple of drinks, then he took my hand once I switched it from my right hand to my left hand. He was on my right all that time, and he then sat down his own bottle. He looked at me once more, and I turned to look back. Our eyes locked at that moment, and I could have looked into his eyes for the rest of that afternoon and evening!
After another moment, Josh looked away, then grabbed his Coke taking another drink. He set down the bottle again. Then he moved his face closer to look at me, and it seemed like he wanted to say something.
"What?" I asked. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," he answered, then he reached out after letting go of my hand.
He surprised me when he reached out gently touching my cheek and lightly running his fingertips down it, before taking my hand again.
"I'm really glad we have this time alone with each other Danny Evans," he said leaning in close so that I could slightly feel his breath on my face as he looked at me as if trying to peer deep into my soul. "Oh, and I hope you don't mind me asking this, but are you gay?"
"Shit!" I thought surprised, and wondering how to handle this!
I had been so focused on the hope that he might be gay, and that he might like me, that I hadn't stopped to consider the possibility that his open and excited demeanor around me was little more than part of who he was rather than it being any attraction to me. Hell, for all I knew he might not even like LGBT people. Sure, there were the Red Hearts he put on a couple of my posts when we first added each other on Facebook, but that was hardly a sign of our friendship possibly going anywhere romantic! I desperately fought to gather my thoughts, and I spoke.
"Uh, yeah, uh, I'm gay," I said hoping that this wasn't the end of us being friends and possibly more!
He smiled, then scooted so that he was against me, but making sure to move my arm so that it wouldn't be squeezed between us as he held the hand attached to it.
"I figured you might be," he said. "I saw a couple of your posts on Facebook when I first looked through your profile. You mentioned a couple of guys one that you put at the top of your list recently, then something about a boyfriend moving into a house in the woods that you'd like to build one day. It was on that one post where you took a picture of the wooded area you mentioned."
"Oh yeah, I did post all that," I answered, feeling slightly relieved.
At least he hadn't jumped up screaming for me to get the hell out of his house and never come back. I waited to see what else he would say.
"When did you realize you were gay?" he asked.
"Good," I thought. "At least he's not asking when I chose to be gay, or when I decided to be as such."
I began talking, and before I knew it, I had told him all of my story. He listened, then after I finished speaking, he put both arms around me holding me tightly.
"I'm really sorry to hear about what Brad did to you guys, and all those things he said about you possibly turning out gay!" Josh said close to tears. "He shouldn't have treated you like that!"
In that moment, I was beginning to understand just how sensitive Josh was, and how deeply things truly affected him.
"Thank you, Josh," I said hugging him back. "That really does mean a lot, and I'm definitely not happy about how Brad treated us either. I'm far angrier about how he treated Martha, and our mom. I really do hate him for how he made Martha feel, but he definitely caused me to feel real badly about myself for a time. I've been working with a therapist to get through it, and it really has helped. I'm in a completely different place now, and doing much better than I had been earlier last year."
"I'm really glad to hear that," Josh answered still holding me, then he let go as I gently rested my hands on his shoulders.
There was a silence, then he spoke. He had a deeply sad look on his face, and he was close to crying again.
"I wish I could have known you a lot earlier in my life," he said as I took him in my arms. He kept his face focused on mine, and I waited for him to speak again. "I especially wish I could have known you back towards the end of last year."
He didn't talk about what happened last year yet, but told me a lot more about how things were with the two pieces of shit with whom he lived before coming to live with Kate and Connor. He then moved on to telling me about Jacob, and by the time he finished, I felt like I could have ripped Jacob Smith apart if only he had been standing right there!
"Did he actually get you into bed as he put it?" I asked.
Josh looked away, then started shaking. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
"I don't want you to think I'm just some dirty kid who asked for what he did," Josh said even closer to tears now.
I gently took him into my arms, and held him.
"I don't think that," I said, now realizing that that Bastard probably forced himself on Josh. "No one asks to be raped, and even if you wanted him to have sex with you at any point, you had the right not to do it. Whatever he did, that was all on him. None of it was on you."
At that point, he told me about everything else from Jacob raping him the several times he did, to manipulating Josh into selling drugs and the final insult of showing the tapes at the school dance. He then told me about his friend Keyla who tried to help him, but couldn't.
Josh was crying now as I continued holding him, and had started as he ended the story which he stopped with telling me about coming to stay at the center at which Kate would meet him in August.
"It's okay Josh," I said, close to tears myself now. "It's okay. I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm here, and you're safe. You don't have to go through this alone, and you won't be alone ever again now that I'm here."
"Thank you, Danny Evans," he said as he lifted his head and I got up getting tissues then wiping his eyes gently as his tears slowly stopped.
"You're welcome," I said softly as I gently wiped a way the last of his tears then continued holding him.
Looking up at me, he reached out, gently stroking my hair.
"I know there was the stuff I told you about Jacob, but without his part of the story, you might still be wondering if I actually am gay," Josh said.
"I wondered a few times when we were getting to know each other," I said. "I don't want you to worry though. I mean, if you're worried that I'm thinking that you became gay because of what Jacob did to you, I don't believe crap like that."
"Good, because that's definitely not how it happened," he answered.
We moved so that we were lying full-length on his bed. I held him as he looked up at me, then spoke.
"I realized I was gay back shortly after turning 13," he said. "I did get sexual feelings towards other boys eventually, but mostly I wanted to cuddle with a boy, or even kiss one. I also thought about how nice it would be to have one kiss or hug me back. I definitely didn't want boys doing to me what Jacob did."
"I'm sure you definitely didn't want that," I answered. "You absolutely didn't deserve what had happened to you. No one does. You deserve to have a boy who will love you, treat you right and who will respect you."
"Thanks Danny Evans," Josh answered resting his head on my chest. "You deserve a boy who will treat you good as well. So, you said that you've never dated another boy yet?"
"No, not yet," I answered. "I haven't even had sex before, so all of that would be a new experience for me. I definitely don't want to have sex with another boy unless I'm in a relationship, and it has to be a relationship in which we're both serious about being with each other. Also, when a boyfriend and I have sex for the first time, I want it to be special, loving and at the right time."
"That all sounds really good," Josh said. "I definitely don't want sex with a guy without us being in an actual relationship either. Also, I'm definitely not ready for sex anytime soon. I would have to really get to know a guy first before anything like that. Basically, we're both of like minds on that."
"I'm really glad to hear that," I responded as I lay there continuing to hold my best friend. "Also, I'm glad that you felt comfortable to tell me everything you did. I'm sure that couldn't have been easy."
"Not really," Josh said. "I'm glad you listened to me, and it really does mean a lot that you're being so supportive."
"I'm happy to be, always," I said.
Soon Josh relaxed against me, and he was asleep snoring slightly. I lay there holding him, and though my body was still, my mind was anything but. Rage flooded through my mind, and it was at war with sadness, as well as shock at how someone so lovely like Josh could have been treated like he had been first by his family, then by bullies at school and the ABA Therapists and finally by Jacob. Oh, and there was of course, the police, who with the help of the courts, railroaded him. It truly was sick what had been done to Josh, and as I continued thinking, I knew that Josh hadn't come out and said that he liked me.
I was starting to think he probably did, but even if that were the case, I knew now that as I suspected before, I would have to go slowly with Josh. I also understood that I absolutely couldn't rush him into anything, nor did I want to. If all that happened between us was a deep friendship, I would have to learn to be happy with that, and I was sure I could be. There was a small, but very vocal part of me that still desperately hoped though, that we could be boyfriends possibly even soul mates! Mostly though, I knew that Josh needed my friendship first, and so that's what I would give him.
About half-an-hour later, Josh awoke, and I stroked his hair. He smiled at me, then sat up.
"Did you have a nice nap?" I asked.
"It was good, and I loved lying in your arms like that," he answered. "Did you fall asleep too?"
"No, I just lay there holding you all the while you were sleeping," I replied.
"Oh, okay," he said. "I feel really safe in your arms. When you hold me, I feel like everything will be alright."
"I feel the same way when you have your arms around me as well," I responded. "I feel like everything is exactly as it should be when I hold you, and when you have your arms around me too."
We shared a long hug, then Josh went to use the restroom while I got on my phone to check for messages. There weren't any, but when Josh returned, he checked his own phone. There was a text from Kate saying that she and Connor would be home in about half-an-hour, and if I wanted to eat with them that night, then I was more than welcome to do so. I accepted, then texted my mom. She was fine with it, and after thanking her I put my phone down on the bedside table.
Once Kate and Connor were back home, Josh and I greeted them, and Kate let us know that with the long day she had, she and Connor discussed ordering out. Josh asked about pizza, and I told them that that sounded good if that's what they wanted to have. We all settled on Meat Lovers, and Kate got a pizza with the works since Josh wouldn't eat that kind of pizza often, and Connor didn't eat deluxe pizzas at all. Once the food arrived, we all sat down and ate while discussing how one another's day went.
"Kate's day was really long and active at the hospital, and Connor had been busy studying for finals earlier in the day. After that, he had an assignment to complete for another of his classes. I told them that it was the usual classes at school for me. Josh said that they did their classes, and that he got to spend more time with Randal the Chinchilla after lunch.
"He and I had to go in the other room next to where his is though," Josh said. "Stephen, the dog kept walking by, so Randal kept barking and getting scared."
"Did you say he kept barking?" I asked smiling, and unsure if Josh was trying to make some sort of joke.
"Yeah, it's a sort of barking sound chinchillas make when they get worried or nervous," Josh explained. "Stephen is bigger than him, and they basically don't like being around dogs for the most part. Stephen is a Black Lab, so I'm sure you can imagine."
"Yeah, I'm sure he's a big dog," I answered.
"He definitely is," Josh said. "So, Randal and I went into the other room further down the hall where Stephen doesn't hardly go. I gave Randal a couple of treats, then he sat beside me eating them. He also stayed there after finishing them, and he let me pet him for a few minutes. After he walked towards the door, I got him back in his room and into his cage again. Then Snow, the rabbit was in that room as well. He usually is, so I petted him for a couple of minutes, but my break was almost over. He's really nice, but he's closer to Alek, one of the other students."
"I'm glad you got a chance to spend some time with Snow as well," I answered.
"Me too," Josh responded. "Tomorrow though, I'll spend some time with Stephen. He likes it when I do. I'll just have to make sure that him and Randal don't see each other. If Randal is still in his cage and Stephen comes in, then Randal starts barking like I said. Stephen will growl at him for a few seconds if someone doesn't get him out of there quickly."
"Yeah, we wouldn't want them getting into fights with each other," I answered.
After finishing up our food, I helped Kate gather up the pizza and put it on a couple of plates. She then put it in the fridge, and after saying that she could get the rest taken care of, Josh and I went back into his room. Connor joined us for a few minutes. As we sat there, Connor thanked me for coming over, and he went on to say that he was glad that Josh had a good time with me that day.
"I'm really happy about that as well," I responded.
Soon it was time for Josh to get his shower. He went in to do that, and Connor invited me into his room to show me a couple of Metal albums that he thought I'd be interested in checking out. Kate was on the phone with one of her coworkers, so it was just Connor and I in his room at that point.
"Thanks for showing me those two albums," I said after Connor pulled them up.
He went through several seconds of each song, then let a couple of them play all the way through when I said that I'd like to hear more. The albums he showed me were One Second and Obsidian, both of which were by the English group Paradise Lost, and have been around since the early 1990s.
"You're welcome," he answered.
A silence settled over us for a few seconds, then Connor caught me off guard with what he said next. Actually though, it was what he asked me, and I figured we would be here at this point sometime.
"I don't want to sound like I'm trying to start anything, but now that I know you a little more, I just have to ask," he said.
"What," I asked when he stopped talking.
"I know you like spending time with Josh, and he really cares about you a lot," Connor went on. "You'd be amazed about how much he talks about you sometimes, and he wishes he could be around you more than he is. He's really starting to look up to you, and the last person who he thought so highly of ended up hurting him. I'd have no problem killing the Mother Fucker if I ever see him!"
"You're talking about Jacob Smith?" I asked feeling sad, then angry.
"That's exactly who I'm talking about," Connor said voice low and hateful. "Do you know where he is?"
"No," I said surprised.
"I didn't think you did," Connor answered. "That was mainly a test question. Seriously though, I don't know where he is either. If I knew where he was, I don't know that I'd wait for Jacob to appear in front of me. I'd have no problem trying to find him.
That being said though, if he did appear in front of me, I would kill him. I promise you that. I would kill him in the most disgusting way I could think of, but not before I made him suffer. I'll spare you the details of what I would do for his torture then his death. Let's just say that he would have started begging for me to just kill him long before the torture finished. I'm sure I would enjoy every second of destroying him, every fucking second!
I also know that it's not good for me to feel this way. Josh wouldn't want me to, and I know that I would also be doing it for myself in the end. I don't mean just for the anger at what he did to Josh, but to in some way relieve the anger I've lived with because of what people in my family did to me a few years ago. None of that would be right, and I want to help Josh in ways that don't open the door for me to make what happened to him about me, and that's really what me getting revenge on Jacob Smith would really be about in the end. So, if you consider it carefully, it's a good thing that I don't know where Jacob Smith is. It's good that he's far away from me, but more importantly he's far away from our mom as well as Josh."
Listening to Connor talk this way, and say all that he had said was disturbing, and I was unnerved. Yet he wasn't saying anything I wasn't already feeling. We sat there for a long moment, then I spoke.
"You're not saying anything I'm not already thinking or feeling," I began. "That scumbag did things to Josh that I still can't believe! It's fucking disgusting, and like you, I'm glad I don't know where Jacob Smith is either."
"I'm glad you understand," Connor said anger leaving him, but a hard determination still present.
"Josh is really special to me," I said, trying to appear casual, but deeply caring without giving away my true feelings.
"So I've seen," Connor said, looking at me so intently that it was as if he was trying to peer right into my soul. "So, by really special, maybe you'd like to explain that to me? Just what are your intentions towards my brother Daniel?"
"He's become my best friend," I said unsure of how to continue.
"Become your best friend?" Connor asked intently leaning a little closer. "Meaning what?"
"I miss him really badly when we're not together," I answered. "When we talk, or are spending time together in person, I feel like all is right with the world. I feel a lot of happiness that really is hard to put into words. When we share a hug, it feels like something missing is there, or has returned back to me. Josh makes me laugh, and he makes me feel safe too. Sometimes I really wish that he and I could be with each other and not ever have to leave one another."
Connor's facial expression and tone softened drastically, and that relieved me just as much.
"Do you think you're falling in love with Josh?" he asked.
"I'm pretty sure I am," I responded. "I'm not trying to give you some Bullshit answer. I've never had a boyfriend before, haven't had sex with anyone yet and definitely never had my first kiss yet. That includes girls, I've never done any of that with girls, but especially not with guys. I want to do sexual things with a guy with whom I'm in a committed relationship."
"So I take all that to mean that you're gay?" Connor asked.
"Yeah, I'm gay," I answered.
"Okay," he said. "I really do appreciate you being honest with me about how you feel about Josh. Our mom will probably ask you all this at some point, but if things happen between you and Josh, you at least have my support. I can't think of anyone else with whom I'd want Josh to share his life than with you Danny. I really do mean that."
"You're welcome," I responded. "And thanks, I'm really glad you said all that you did. It truly means a lot, and I'm glad we know where we stand with one another. I won't ever hurt Josh, and I definitely won't hurt him like what Jacob Smith did to him. You have my word on that."
"I'm glad to know that," Connor said as we both stood. He reached out, and we shared a warm hug. It felt really nice to have Connor's acceptance of both me, and any possible relationship Josh and I might begin with each other!
Once back in Josh's room, he and I hung out while he lay in bed. It was almost 9:00 P.M., and Kate agreed to drive me back after I asked Mom if it was alright. Josh was soon drifting off to sleep, and I held his hand as he slowly closed his eyes. I leaned close, then spoke.
"I've had a really nice time with you tonight," I said. "Sleep well, and I'll talk to you later my friend."
"Good night," he said drifting further into sleep. Standing up, I went out, gently closing the door after shutting off the light.
I said goodbye to Connor, then Kate and I were driving down the road headed back to my house. As we road along, I thanked her for the dinner, as well as letting me come over to spend time with Josh.
"You're welcome, and I'm glad you could come over," she said. "Josh really likes you a lot, and he's definitely come to look up to you. You seem to really care for him too."
I figured that it was now time for Kate and I to have our own conversation similar to what Connor and I had a little while before.
"You're right," I said. "I really like Josh a lot. He definitely seems to look up to me, and I can tell that he thinks I practically hung the moon."
"Do you know all of what happened to him?" she asked looking intently at me as we sat at a red light that seemed to go on forever.
"He told me everything tonight," I responded. "By everything, I mean that he told me about the two pieces of crap that he lived with before coming to the place he lived at before coming to you and Connor's house to live. He also told me about Jacob Smith, and what he did to him. It's absolutely disgusting, and I really am sickened by what Josh was put through by that scumbag. Also, Connor and I talked a little while ago, and he's just as enraged about it as well."
"I know he is," she said. "I've also seen you with Josh especially the last time you came over, and it was when you guys were outside at the bottom of the steps leading out to the back yard. You especially looked like you could have held him all night like that. I'm guessing that you're not as affectionate like that with your other friends?"
"Josh is one that I've definitely not been shy when it comes to giving him hugs or holding him," I said. "I really do like him, and I feel like I know what you're getting at. I really like him since he's my friend, but I've really come to like him as more than a friend."
I told her more or less what I told Connor, and she listened intently as the red light eventually turned green, and we began moving once more.
"Josh's happiness and his safety is very important to me," she said after a moment. "I do want him to be able to experience a relationship with another guy, and I also don't want him getting hurt like he had been by Jacob Smith. It's not that I believe that because he's Autistic that he can't be with someone like anyone who's non-autistic, but with him having the issues of sometimes being easily led like what happened with Jacob Smith, I think you can understand my worries."
"I can," I answered.
"Good," she said. "My concerns aside, as I get to know you more, I can see how kind you are. I can also see how loving and compassionate you are. In short, I want you and Josh to be together. That is, if there's a chance you guys can be together as boyfriends, I hope that can happen for the two of you."
"Thank you, Kate," I said. "I want that as well."
"Well, I should say that I hope it can work out provided you're single currently," she went on.
I told her about never having had a boyfriend before, not having had sex yet with either gender and that I wanted to experience sex with a guy with whom I could be in a committed relationship.
"I think that's very mature," she said.
I then went on to tell her the whole story about what it was like growing up as I did.
"I'm sorry to hear that it was that bad," she responded. "You definitely went through a lot, and I'm glad that your mom has stood by you along with your sister and Kelven. None of you deserved any of what Brad put you through. Also, I'm glad that you have gotten the help you needed and that things have been going a lot better for you. You are a really amazing young man, and as I said, if things can work out between you and Josh, then I fully support you guys being boyfriends if you decide on that."
"Thank you, Kate," I replied as we shared a hug.
By this time, we were sitting parked outside my house. We had just pulled into the driveway when we finished this line of conversation.
"You're welcome, Danny," she answered. "If you and Josh want to visit each other again soon, that would be really nice. He mentioned wanting to spend the weekend with you here soon. Maybe this up-coming weekend if you're not busy with anything."
"I'll talk to Mom, Martha and Kelven," I said. "I'll let you guys know."
After sharing another hug, I got out of the car, and went into the house. I visited with everyone, and told them that it was a really nice visit. After we finished talking, I asked Mom if Josh could come over for the weekend. I let her know that Kate mentioned it, and that it would be alright with her since they didn't have anything going on. She agreed, and I went to text Josh along with Kate. Once they replied back, it was set. Josh would be coming over for the weekend! I couldn't wait!
Wednesday and Thursday seemed to go by slowly. By slowly, I mean that it felt like they went as slow as possible! Waiting for Friday to arrive felt like it would take until the next century. Finally, the day arrived, and I was getting my books in my bag and locking my locker for the day. I had my homework done already since I was able to complete it all in Study Hall earlier before the final bell rang for the day! I was glad, since that meant that Josh and I wouldn't be distracted, and we could enjoy each other uninterrupted!
As I walked out of the school, I heard my phone sound with an in-coming text. It was Kate. She was letting me know that she would be by to pick me up to drive us both to Josh's school. We would pick him up, then she would drive us back to my house. She had his bag packed and in the car, so that was already done. I texted back that I would be here waiting. Soon she was pulling up, and I got in the car then thanked her for picking me up.
"You're welcome," she answered as we drove off.
0000
Josh
It was now the end of the day that Friday, and Josh could hardly contain his excitement at knowing that he'd be back with Danny Evans soon! As he waited, he was sitting in the room Randal was in, petting him. Stephen was in the other room getting brushed by one of the other teachers, and Josh's main teacher Mrs. Palmer was at the desk at the front of the room looking over papers while off and on keeping an eye on Josh.
"Hey Randal, I get to see my best friend Danny Evans again!" Josh said as the chinchilla walked onto the palm of his hand.
Josh lifted him up slowly, then gently stroked his side with his other hand. "I'm really excited, and I can't wait to see him again! We're going to spend the whole weekend together! I'm sure we're going to have a lot of fun!"
After another moment, he slowly sat Randal back on the desk where his cage was. As he continued talking, Randal sat there while Josh stroked his side a couple more times. Soon, his phone alerted him to an in-coming text. Josh checked it, and it was from Kate, then another one came in from Danny. They let him know they were there.
0000
Danny
Entering the school, we signed in at the front desk, and I showed them my ID. Kate did the same, and we followed the guard to the room in which Josh and another woman sat. I introduced myself to the woman who's name it turned out was Mrs. Palmer.
"It's nice to meet you Danny," she said shaking my hand. "Josh has told me and the others all about you. I'm glad that we finally get to put a face to your name."
I smiled.
"Thanks," I said. "It's really nice meeting you as well. I figured that Josh would be telling you guys about me."
"Definitely," she replied. "It's all been good things though."
Josh was coming towards us, and he and I greeted each other, then he motioned over to where he had been sitting a moment ago.
"I was hoping that you could meet Randal," he said.
"I'd like that," I answered.
Taking me by the hand, Josh walked with me over to where Randal sat watching the two of us. Josh showed me how to approach him, and I rested my hand on the desk palm up speaking softly to the little animal.
"It's nice to meet you Randal," I said softly. "Josh has told me all about you."
He sniffed at my hand, then climbed onto my open palm. I gently lifted him, then petted his side. He looked at me, then at Josh before focusing on my face once again.
"He really is soft!" I said truly amazed. "I didn't know an animal could feel like that!"
"He really is," Josh answered.
After another moment, I put Randal back down on the desk, and Mrs. Palmer guided him back into his cage. She let us know that once we left, she was locking up for the night. We left the room, and once we said goodbye to Mrs. Palmer, we got in Kate's car to go back to my house.
Once back at my house, we visited with everyone for a little while, and eventually went back to my room. Josh put his bag down by my bed beside the night stsnd, then we sat down beside each other on the bed, sharing a warm hug.
"Do you know where you wanted to sleep while you're here this weekend?" I asked.
"I could sleep out on the couch," Josh answered. "I mean, I figured that's probably where you'd want me to be rather than in here on the floor."
I definitely didn't like that idea even a little!
"My bed is big enough if you'd like to sleep in it beside me," I said hoping he'd agree. "If you do want to sleep out on the couch, then we can set that up for you. There's also one of the guest rooms you can use."
"You'd actually be fine with me sleeping in bed next to you?" Josh asked looking closely at me.
"I really would," I answered. "We could talk until we get tired, and it would just be really nice to have you here next to me."
"I would really like that a lot as well," he answered. "I'll sleep in here with you then. Will your mom be alright with it?"
"I let her know that I'd handle sleeping arrangements, so she'll be fine with what I decide," I responded.
With that settled, we decided to watch a couple of music videos, and as we did, I put my arm around Josh when he snuggled against me. It was really nice holding him again, and it was even more amazing to know that we had the whole weekend to be together like this for as many times as we wanted!
0000
Ethan
I sat in my room that Friday night reading a message from Jason. He was letting me know that Danny was having his friend over for the weekend. He went on to say that they had talked, and wanted him to ask if I wanted to come over the next day to hang out. I immediately agreed. I couldn't wait to meet Danny's friend, as well as see Danny once more. Best of all, I'd get to see Jason again!
I replied back that I'd love to come over, then I asked for and received permission from Aunt Lisa and Uncle Roman to go over the next day. I let Jason know, and I was excited for the up-coming visit! That got me thinking about when Jason and I got together a couple of days before on Wednesday like we had talked about on Sunday when we first met.
I had taken a cab over to Jason's house that day after I finished up with homework. No one else was there when I arrived since Danny was out with Kelven, and would be until he went to youth group. Martha and Jennifer were out shopping and would be getting dinner at one of the near-by restaurants. I was glad that it would be just Jason and I. As I thought more about him, I was finding that I couldn't keep my eyes off of Jason. His black hair was so adorable. His deep-green eyes were so beautiful, and his smooth face left me wishing I could lean in and kiss him! I knew I was becoming attracted to him. I also liked his personality. He could definitely joke around, as well as seeming care-free and like he always loved having a good time.
Once in the house, Jason showed me his room, then offered to get us something to drink. When he mentioned Cokes, I immediately agreed. He went out to get them, and I sat on his bed feeling really happy to be back with him once more. He returned about a minute later saying that he had to answer an in-coming text from Danny about something. Sitting down, he handed me my Coke, then opened his own.
"Thanks," I said.
"You're welcome," he responded.
"It's been fun texting and talking on the phone the last couple of days, but I'm glad we're here with each other in person again," I said. "You're a lot of fun to hang out with."
"Thanks, and I feel the same way about you as well," Jason said surprising me when he put his hand on top of mine leaving it there for a long moment.
"You said you had to text with Danny for a moment, is he alright?" I asked.
"He's fine," Jason answered. "He was just wondering if I wanted to hang out with him and his friend sometime this up-coming weekend. I told him I'd like that."
"I'm sure that would be fun," I said. "I had asked him about his friend Sunday when we were talking, but he hadn't gotten a chance to tell me who he was. He was saying that his friend had gone through a lot of crap several months before."
"He did too," Jason responded. "It was really bad, and I still can't believe everything that had went on. Danny told me about it once he got home last night, and I can't believe how hateful some kids can be."
"Hopefully I can meet his friend sometime this weekend," I said.
"I'd like that," Jason replied.
"What's his name if you don't mind me asking," I said.
"It's," Jason started to say.
His phone sounded right at that moment with an in-coming text alert.
"Sorry, I have to get this," he said.
Pulling out his phone, he unlocked it, read the text then stood up.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"I just have to do something," he said. "You can keep sitting down. I'll just be a minute."
Walking out of the room, he closed the bedroom door, and I waited to see what was going to happen next. After almost a full minute went by, I heard Jason returning to the bedroom. Opening the door, he closed it then came back to sit down beside me. His phone sounded again, and he checked it.
"It's a text from Jennifer," he said. "She wants me to make sure that we have enough paper plates for the next couple of days."
He checked them, then was back within a few seconds announcing that there was enough.
"So, you're staying here with Danny and his family," I said. "When will you see your parents again?"
Jason's face hardened, and I could see that he was angry, but trying all the same not to show it.
"Sorry," I said putting a hand on his arm. "We can change the subject if you want."
"It's alright," he said surprising me again by taking my hand. He held it tightly then continued talking. "To put it bluntly, my parents are a couple of drunken neglectful pieces of shit! I've had to stay either with other people in my family when I was younger, then when I met Danny, his family started watching me when my parents were off on one of their many vacations. It's only gotten worse over the last year, and I'm about the fuck over it! I almost can't remember the last time it was I had a weekend at home with my parents."
"I really am sorry for what you're going through," I said putting my arm around him.
"Thanks," he said as we shared a long hug.
He let me go after another minute, then quickly took hold of my hand again.
"I really love being here with Danny and his family, but I just wish my parents would fucking get their shit together! They've never been the best parents, and it's far more because of what they didn't do rather than what they did to be bad parents. Still though, I keep hoping that they'll turn things around for themselves. I don't like feeling the way I feel about them."
"I can imagine you don't," I answered.
"What about you?" he asked turning to look at me. "You had mentioned Sunday that you don't currently live with your parents. You implied that you probably wouldn't be living with them again any time soon."
I tried to think of what to tell Jason. I didn't feel comfortable telling him everything at that moment. I was still getting to know him, and I was still trying to process everything myself.
"My parents have been neglectful to me as well," I said. "I had mentioned that on Sunday. They've also been physically abusive, and it was getting worse over the last couple of years. It was my dad who was the one to beat the shit out of me, and the Bitch he's married to was the one to both abuse me as well as enable him. She liked the verbal form of abuse, and I've heard the top-40 hits of Mother Fucker, Bastard, Slut, Whore and many more. Oh yeah, and if I called within three minutes or less, then I could get a free stream of even more bottom-of-the sewer expletives that aren't even in my vocabulary at all for no extra charge!
We both laughed, but I could tell that Jason was uncomfortable at the same time.
"It's okay Jason," I said. "You don't need to feel uncomfortable. This is partly how I deal with everything that went on. It's either biting humor, or me falling completely apart. I don't need that right now. I especially don't want that now since we're here together. I just want to enjoy our time hanging out with each other while we have it."
"I want that as well," he answered putting his arm around me. "I'm really sorry though that your parents have treated you like that. I'm here for you, and will continue to be for as along as you need me."
"That's really sweet, thanks," I responded.
"No problem at all," he answered.
"I'm just glad to be here with you since you understand in ways that others don't," I went on. "I really like being friends with you. I know we still have to get to know each other more, but I can already tell that we're going to be really good friends. I feel like you really do get me."
"I feel like you get me too Ethan," Jason responded, turning and pulling me into a hug.
I put my arms around him, and we just held each other not saying anything for the longest time.
While we sat there, I looked up, and Jason's eyes met mine. We gazed into one another's eyes for what felt like forever.
"Your eyes are the bluest I've ever seen on another boy," Jason said softly, leaning closer and peering into them even deeper. "Has anyone ever told you that before?"
"No," I said almost in a whisper feeling my face flush. "I can't believe how green your eyes are. I really like them."
"Thanks," he answered.
"You're welcome," I responded.
After another moment, Jason looked away, and we let go of each other, but I knew that something was definitely happening between us. I just hoped that when Jason knew who I really was, that we could still be friends. Another part of me especially hoped that we could go beyond that, and be soul mates and lovers. I didn't dare to think about that though. I would probably be lucky if he even let me be his friend at all.
Author's notes
Now Danny and Josh will be spending the weekend together. I can imagine you've all been waiting for that to happen for the both of them. They'll definitely be getting closer as they spend more time together for that Friday and Saturday.
As for Ethan, clearly he likes Jason, and yet Jason doesn't know everything about him. I'll continue on with their Wednesday evening visit in the next chapter, then get back to a couple days after that on Friday where we'll see Danny and Josh begin their weekend visit together. I hope you like how all of that turns out for all the boys.
As always, I hope you're all doing well, and having a good evening. I'll see everyone in Chapter 11.