CONNED
Part 3
Nick parked up on the edge of the woods in a secluded area, he would be ok here for the night. He could drop the passenger seat down and stretch out. The weather was still warm so he would sleep in a set of sweats. He telephoned Eddie and told him the score.
"I'm ok Lover, I'll see you in College and explain what I'm doing.
He dug out some college work and used his computer for a couple of hours. `Must remember to plug this in at college so I have a full battery every night,' was his thought as he wrapped it all up.
Nick realised he was hungry after that but decided to go without until breakfast, then he would pig out in the college cafeteria, cheaper than eating outside. He would have to do that for all meals, but he now also needed to think about a job and somewhere to live.
All of that came tumbling out when Nick told Eddie the next day.
"I have about $400 to my name Eddie and before that goes I need a job, and then I can think about accommodation."
Eddie was already working on that one but he needed to talk to Darren first. That talk took place after lectures finished. Nick was a little disappointed that his Lover took off so quickly without a word but was surprised and happy when he looked up from his studies in the college library to see a grinning Eddie in front of him.
"Accommodation problem solved."
Nick looked surprised, "How, where?"
Eddie giggled, "You can only take it if you promise to be monogamous with me."
"Ha, ha, you know I will be if you want. Seriously Eddie, we've never talked about that, and quite frankly it doesn't worry me either way. Whatever you want, I love you and that isn't going to change whether you go to bed with other guys or not. As long as you aren't devious about it."
"Good, I won't be and as long as you tell me that Darren or Kennie, or both have reamed out your butt I won't mind either."
Nick looked bemused. "Why would I be having sex with either of those again?"
"Because Darren and Kennie have a large unused store room above the garage. There is a shower and toilet up there as well. If you want to clear it up and furnish it you can have it, all you have to do is give them something for electricity, and keep a low profile because they aren't legally allowed to use it for accommodation. They will let you keep your car in the garage when they aren't working but after dark no lights must show from your room, so blackout curtains."
Nick pulled his lover into an incredible thank you kiss.
"We can start cleaning it up after lectures tomorrow and I have sleeping bag you can use tomorrow night and until we can get you some furniture."
Nick couldn't believe how much effort three black boys put in to house him. Furniture was quite old, but serviceable and he even had a small gas stove and enough utensils to cook basic meals. All that in under 48 hours. He had tears in his eyes when they proudly showed him round on the day that it was ready
"I don't know what to say guys. I can't believe you've gone to all this trouble for a little white boy."
Darren grinned, "Oh I don't know, not so small if I remember it correctly."
A few seconds for the innuendo to sink in and all of them burst out laughing.
The good things just kept coming. Within a few days the boys found out that Nick was majoring in finance, so they got him to do their books.
"It's only a couple of hours a week, Nick, but we pay a book keeper 25 bucks an hour to do ours. You can take over if you like and we'll pay you, or more precisely not charge you for electricity and water."
"Thanks guys. I don't know why you are being so good to me but I promise one day I'll pay you back."
The final piece of good luck was a small business in town that couldn't afford a full time employee, but wanted someone competent for data entry about ten hours a week and the hours were flexible. Nick applied, showed he was fast and accurate and got the job. A white collar job at a good hourly rate and he was set. Within weeks he had bought more stuff for his little apartment, including some nice scatter rugs for the floor that changed the whole look of the place. A refrigerator upgrade so that he had room for food and drink. Then he had the pleasure of inviting Darren and Kennie to join him for a drink after work one day.
"I don't even know where to begin thanking you guys. I never thought that getting my butt reamed out a few weeks ago would lead to me finding a lover and a new home, and more happiness than I thought possible."
"We go back a long way with Eddie." Darren stated, "He was always the clever one, and guided us when we left school. He helped us set up this place and by making us go on courses brought our technical ability up so that we can do first class work. You look after him and we'll see you alright, but if you play with his emotions we'll hurt you."
Nick was pleased Eddie had such good friends and couldn't help tearing up again as he replied.
"You have no idea how much I love him, I'll never hurt him. You don't think I walked out of a luxurious home and life style on a whim do you? I don't care how tough it gets I'm never going home unless my parents accept Eddie as another son."
The boys looked at each other and then pounced on Nick, burying him in kisses and Kennie saying, "I suppose that means there's no chance of a quick fuck then?"
The tears then were with laughter.
Nick got serious when they were all settled down again.
"Eddie and I talked about that some days ago. I'm flexible, and I thought what you guys did to me was fantastic. If you want my tale again you have to sort it out with Eddie, threesomes, full blown orgies, I don't mind, but only with Eddie's approval and preferably presence."
The boys looked at each other and grinned again.
"We'll work on it Nick, you have a very sexy body, I could handle playing with it again."
Nick didn't think any more about that conversation, he was happy in his new world. He had a man that he loved, he was studying for his dream and he had a bunch of black friends that he never expected as well as his white friends, many of whom he had been with since kindergarten. Of course they all thought it was a bit weird that he was living in a room above a garage and he was increasingly seen with black friends. The truth came out by someone making an anonymous `phone call.
The call was from Nick's Dad to one of Nick's old school friends.
"Nick Adams is gay and being fucked by the big black buck he runs with."
That was round the college in no time and all of Nick's friends were amazed, when confronted he had simply said it was true.
Eddie slept over most nights now but he started having problems because his parents were antagonistic towards him over his friendship with Nick. They would probably go ballistic if they found out the truth.
Another anonymous `phone call sealed the fate of the two lovers.
Eddie came up to the love nest in tears one evening, "Someone told my parents I'm gay and have a white boy for a lover. They've thrown me out Nick. What am I going to do? My job can't pay all my tuition fees and keep me. I'm going to have to drop out and get a proper job."
"No you aren't. You move in here and we will work something else. I'll get another job, we'll find a way for you to graduate."
"I love you so much, but I don't see how we can do it."
"I feel the same, but I'm not giving you up, and I'm not letting you drop out."
Another semester went by and it was obvious where Nick and Eddie were making savings. They both lost weight because food had to come last. Eddie's first bout of sickness because he was undernourished sealed the fate of Nick's car. He loved it, his Dad had bought it for him as a graduation present from high school, but he loved Eddie much more so the car went. He took it to the dealer who sold it to him and was surprised at how high the trade in value was.
Eddie's next load of tuition fees were paid and Nick made sure he ate loads of high protein food and then settled in to a balanced diet, but he was eating little realising they still had a ways to go so he wouldn't squander the money.
"You have to eat more Nick or you are going to be the next one to get ill."
"I'm ok, leave me alone."
Nick had snapped that out and Eddie realised he was seriously stressed at having to work so hard to keep this relationship on an even keel.
"I don't care what you say Nick, I'm dropping out at the end of this semester. I'll finish my degree at community college studying when I have time from my job."
Nick broke down.
"I love you so much, and none of this would have happened if you hadn't reciprocated. I can't let you drop out Eddie. This is the chance for you to have a good life. I'll never forgive myself if I ruin that for you."
Eddie wouldn't budge and Nick stressed out so much that he collapsed. The doctor at admissions insisted on calling Nick's parents so the first time Eddie saw Mr. Adams was across Nick's hospital bed.
"So I presume you're the reason for my Son's breakdown."
Eddie nodded. "My parents threw me out for loving your son and I need to drop out so that Nick can start eating again. He's killing himself trying to save money to pay my tuition fees."
"I wouldn't worry about that if I were you, enjoy the free ride, then you'll have your degree even if Nick is permanently damaged from starving himself and worrying about you."
Eddie couldn't believe this man was for real. He looked at him trying to fathom him out and then just shook his head.
"That is such a disgusting thing to say I can't believe I heard it from his own father. You don't deserve one percent of the love he has to give. I'll love him forever and do everything I can to see him well again."
Eddie stomped out of Nick's room before he hit his father.
When Nick woke he was surprised to see his father his bedside.
"Where's Eddie, you haven't sent him away have you?"
That was good enough for Adams Snr.
"No I haven't sent him away Son. Now you just rest, get all that nutritious food down you so that we can take you home and look after you."
"I'm not coming home with you Dad, I'm going to be with Eddie, we are going to work this out somehow, he has to have his degree. It's my fault his parents threw him out, they're as bigoted as you."
"Wouldn't it be easier to come home and let your mother and I look after you and see you through college?"
"Of course it would, but I won't do it without Eddie."
"You've grown strong Nickolas, I expected you to come running home within a few weeks and it has been more than six months yet you still won't give up this life and be normal."
Nick laughed. "What's not normal about my life? I'm studying for a degree, I'm in a stable relationship with someone that I love deeply. I would be happy if it weren't for interfering parents. Why did you and Mum have me if you weren't going to accept me for who I am as I grow up?"
Mr. Adams blanched at that because that was precisely what he and his wife had done. They couldn't see past the gayness to understand that they had a son to be proud of, honest and determined, clever and caring, loving and loyal. He sat down and took his son's hand.
"You're correct Son. Will you let me try to make it up to you?"
"How Dad, I don't know what to do any more. I love Eddie so much, I can't let him down now."
That confession was too much, he turned away from his father and burst into tears.
Adams Snr. left his son and went to look for this black boy that had stolen his heart. Eddie was pacing up and down in the waiting room when Nick's Dad touched his shoulder.
"Go and take care of your lover, he is breaking his heart because he can't think of a way to keep you in college. Tell him that your college fees will be paid to the end of your course. Nick's car will be at the garage where you live when he comes out of here. Tell him to load it with all your personal gear and come home. I will have his room converted to take the two of you."
With that he turned and left. Eddie was open mouthed with shock, had he just heard that right. He and Nick could go to Nick's home to live.
When Eddie told Nick, he almost totalled again the shock was too much.
"I don't understand Eddie, he was so anti when he threw me out, and I'm sure my mother's a racist."
"Let's not worry about it. We can wait and see if he is serious. There will be a note from admin telling me the state of my fees if there is a change."
Nick calmed down and then slept again with Eddie close by holding his hand. He had Eddie, everything would turn out right as long as that was true.