Disclaimer:
This story is fiction about teenage boys do what teenage boys find enjoyable, including boy on boy sex. Read at your own peril. None of the characters in this story are based on anyone in real life. All rights of the story are reserved to the author.
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Enjoy..
Comic Books Part 3 by Mike Anderson
The good news was that Keith, the blonde ignoramus who had accosted him before school was not in any of his morning classes. The bad news was neither was Bart. Tanner felt a little lost without his summer friend, but he was at a new school on his first day, so that feeling was was probably par for the course.
Tanner brought his own lunch with him, so he didn't need to wade through the hot food line. From the looks of it, he was rather happy about that. The meal for the day looks like a cross between dog vomit and road kill. The lunch room had a couple dozen round tables scattered about seemingly at random. You could also go through one of two sets of double doors on the north side of the room and eat at one of a dozen more picnic tables scattered around a grass quad. Tanner proceeded through one set of doors and looks around until he saw Kevin.
As he approached, Kevin waved and then pointed to a seat on the other side. About the time Tanner got himself settled, Tim and Bart arrived and joined them. Tim set his stuff down next to Kevin, while Bart seated himself next to Tanner. Bart and Tim had both purchased the gourmet fare for the day.
"How can you eat that shit?" Kevin inquired with a mouthful of apple.
"You get used to it during captain's camp," Bart replied stoically.
"What's that?" Tanner asked.
"The week before practice officially begins, the team captains organize practice every morning from eight to twelve. Supposedly it's all run by us captains, but our ideas just happen to match what the coach wants. Keeps us legal, I guess. Anyway, the school provides lunch to the players when we are done. And trust me, even dog shit would look appetizing after four hours of football practice."
Tanner started giggling, nearly spraying out the juice he'd just ingested. "The mighty Bart, fearless champion of helpless women everywhere ..." he began to intone. After a dramatic pause, Tanner continued, "eats dog shit!"
Bart cuffed Tanner's head, a habit he'd gotten into whenever Tanner got one on him. Damn, it good to have him around, he thought. I didn't realize how much I missed him, and it had only been two weeks. But, Bart reminded himself, he figured he'd never see him again. The loss was so much like .... No, not that. Bart quashed those thoughts before they could form.
Tim and Kevin shared a look. This was not the way Bart behaved. Ever since six months ago, Bart had been a brooding man of darkness. He barely talked, never laughed, and certainly never had any gleam in his eyes. Something had changed in him over the summer, and Tanner was obviously the cause.
"What the hell are you talking about, new boy?" Tim inquired with a friendly air.
"What? Oh, that. When we met, I was reading through my dad's old comic books on the beach. We spent a lot of time reading through them over the summer. At one point we came up with our own superhero personae. Bart here, was the fastest man alive with beautiful women." Tanner couldn't help himself and fell into another laughing fit.
Bart, cuffed him again. "The fastest man alive SAVING women, numb nuts. I take my time with the ladies when it counts." This last was said with manly swagger in his voice. He continued, "But I would ask that you not say anything more about my alter ego ... that would endanger my cool points. Unless, of course, you want me to cuff again ... only harder."
And with that, the two began to banter back and forth, with Tim and Kevin joining in on occasion. It was abundantly clear, however to both Tim and Kevin, that if they had left that moment, neither of the other boys would have noticed.
Ten minutes into the lunch half-hour, the PA chimed three times pleasantly. It was time for the 10th grade announcements. They began with reminders of school rules, such as no gum chewing, the necessity of having a hall pass to be in the halls, stuff like that. Then there were locations for after school clubs and sports. Then came the final announcement.
"Due to the vacancy of the JV swim captain position, last year's members of the team are asked to meet at the pool at 3:00 to select a new captain."
Bart, who had been laughing riotously a moment before, stopped in mid guffaw as if he'd been hit in the stomach. His face became white as ghost. He stood up from his seat, simply said "I gotta go," and promptly disappeared through the school doors.
Tanner sat there stunned not sure what just happened. Just sudden change in Bart made him feel like he'd just had whiplash. Tim and Kevin shared another knowing look. With a nod to each other, Tim got up and walked after Bart; Kevin remained behind.
"So what's up with you and Bart?" Kevin asked.
"What?" Tanner was still trying to understand what just happened.
""You guys hook up over the summer? I never took Bart as one who swung that way, but the world's full of surprises."
"Huh, what?" Tanner swung his head from staring at the door that Bart when through, to Kevin as his question sunk in. "No way, it's not like that at all."
"Hey, I'm not judging here. Hell if you guys did and that's what's got him walking around on sunshine, than more power to ya I say. Bart's my bro, and I got his back no matter what team he plays on."
"I'm sorry, I'm not following any of this. Why are you asking ... what you're asking? Why would you think that? And what's that got to do with this?" Tanner waved at the empty seat. " What just happened?"
"You don't know, do you?" A look of wonder filled Kevin's face. "Sorry it's not my place to tell you. What I do know ... is that because you entered his life this summer, by best bud Bart is still here. Truth be told, I would not have been surprised to get a call sometime in July saying I had a funeral to go to. Half expected it." Kevin looked Tanner straight in the eyes and said slowly and pointedly, "You stopped that." He paused to let it sink in.
"I saved him?" Tanner asked quietly. H began to look troubled. After a moment, Tanner muttered, "but he saved me...." in a whisper that Kevin barely heard.
Kevin thought for a moment. "Tanner, you're good for Bart. If you guys are just really good friends, like you say. Fine and well." He paused for a moment. A look of embarrassment stole over him. Finally he continued, a little quieter than before. "Look I don't know you, but Bart has talked a lot about you. You were a light in the darkness of his life. That darkness was starting to return. And then you showed up out of nowhere, like some angel from heaven. I don't care what you are to each other. Just know this." Again he hesitated before rushing on. "If it is more, or you guys want it to be more ... Tim and I have got your backs." He paused, clearly uncomfortably with the subject. Kevin shook his head a bit and the said, "Whatever it is, he needs you right now. I've seen him like this before. He's about to spiral into darkness." Kevin stopped there and looked pleadingly into Tanner's eyes.... "Will you help him?"
There was only one response Tanner could give. Bart was hurting. Of course he would help. "Where is he?" was Tanner's answer as he stood up.
"I know where he's gone. He's sitting under a maple tree in the park across from the school. It's the only red leafed maple there. Go to him. Let me see your schedule." Tanner fished it out of his pocket and handed it over. After a moment's scanning, Kevin said, "You both have choir with Mr. Dundee next period. I'll tell him what's up. He'll understand and won't mark you absent."
Tanner left....
June ....
Bart put down the issue of The Flash that he'd just finished. "It's been awhile since I've looked at comics. I forgot how fun they are."
"Yup. You can get lost in a whole different world. I plan on spending this summer doing nothing more than reading through all my dad's old comics. He's got hundreds -- The Flash, Superman, Green Lantern, JLA, and quite a few others."
"That's all you're going to do?" You're at a beach, there's a boardwalk and pier, girls to ogle, waves to catch, rides to ride, food to eat..." Bart waved his hands dramatically around as he talked, as if he were some type of salesman. Tanner found himself chuckling at Bart's overboard expressiveness.
"What? You get some kinda commission?" Tanner asked.
"Nah... Well my aunt and uncle own The Bayside Resort back yonder," he pointed over his right shoulder with his thumb, stretching his arm up and exposing his armpit inches away from Tanner's face. Tanner found himself noticing the dark patch of hair growth in his armpit. For some reason, he suddenly felt a little flush, but it quickly passed. Bart continued, " I came out here to help them out for the summer. I'm like there lead handyman." Bart said the last with a bit of bravdo.
Tanner could help but respond. He'd always had a dry wit and propensity to sarcasm. "Handy BOY, maybe. I don't see much of a man anywhere."
The words were said with a smile that transformed Tanner's face and was contagious. Bart smiled back, ready for verbal battle. "You think these guns belong to any boy?" He flexed showing off biceps, which formed nicely as he bent his arm. "Feel these babies, I am Superman, the man of steel."
Without thinking, Tanner took Bart up on his offer and grabbed hold of Bart's right arm. Bart seemed to twitch at the touch, but Tanner gave it no thought. Bart definitely had firm muscles. Tanner continued to feel up Bart's muscle. It was if he couldn't stop. Then, like waking from a fog, a mischievous grin snapped onto his face and an idea formed in his brain.
"Yes," Tanner said slyly, "but are you impervious to ...." He dragged out his words, as he brought his left hand up quickly in which he had grabbed his cup of pop... "ice cold liquid?" And with that he doused Bart with the remains of his drink.
Years of instinct led Tanner to immediately drop Bart's arm, jump off the table and run towards the ocean. Why had he just done that?
From behind him, he beard Bart bellow, "Oh man, it's on. You are in for it now!" He gave chase at once.
Tanner was amazingly quick for a boy his size. He liked to eat, but he also liked to play. During pickup games back at his old town, he was known for stealing home ... and getting away with it. Tanner didn't try any fancy moves, he just ran. Bart followed, amazed that he couldn't quite catch the boy.
Unfortunately Tanner did not know the area all that well and managed to run right to a point where the pier and boardwalk jutted back into the sand for a way, blocking his progress. He slowed to determine which way to go. That was all the opening Bart needed. He jumped towards Tanner and tackled him to the sand.
Tanner landed on his back with Bart straddling him. Bart handed retribution in the form of tickling his helpless captive. He began with Tanner's pit and assaulted him unmercifully over all portions of his chest and sides.
"Uncle, Uncle..." Tanner cried out between shuddering laughs and deep breathes.
Bart continued....
Finally Tanner added, "Stop --- you're going to make me pee!"
Bart let a wicked smile sprung onto his face and he tickled Tanner even more furiously for a couple of seconds.... And then finally relented. He rolled off Tanner onto his back as well and breathed deeply ... and surprising to him ... very contentedly. He looked over at Tanner, who looked over at him. They both erupted in laughter for no apparent reason.
Bart found himself saying, "Thanks." He wasn't sure for what, other than just being there.
Tanner was quiet, just looking at Bart -- looking into Bart's dark eyes actually. He was content in a way that he hadn't been since before his parents ..... No, he wouldn't think of that, not when he was here with Bart. Tanner didn't say anything. He didn't have to at the moment.
Then the moment past, and true to form Tanner averted any awkwardness with a witty (at least in his mind) reply, "At least I know what to do with my pop once it goes flat.... Use it to deflate your manly sized ego."
Bart replied by grabbing a handful of sand and throwing it at Tanner, "Bastard," he called mockingly. And the game was on ... a full out sand war, which each lobbing handfuls at each other.
The boys were unaware that for the last half hour they were being watch. Bart's Aunt Mollie had come out to check on him. She smiled with tears in her eyes as she watched the two boys playing on the beach. You would have thought them middle schoolers for their antics. She recognized the young man who was playing with Bart. She searched her memory for his name ... Tanner ... it finally came to her. He was Laura's grandson. So sad she thought. Two peas in pod, going through similar troubles. See Bart play so innocently, she wondered if she could let go of some of her worry. Just maybe some of Bart's darkness had receded.
Aunt Mollie turned and headed back to the resort praying the darkest part of the night had past for her dear nephew. She thought she'd call her sister and let her know that Bart was doing better.
A year from now, Aunt Mollie would look back at this day and wonder ... Would things have gone differently if she hadn't made that call?
More to come....
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