CHAPTER 16
Monday was a busy day. Right after breakfast, all assignments were due. The Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving and the Monday after Thanksgiving were workdays for the faculty. So, it was tradition for all major assignments to be due on, or before, what became known as Drop Dead Monday. As usual, James was finished with his projects, papers, and research papers a week before the due date, and Brock was working up to the last minute.
"Fuck, I'm not going to get this essay finished in time," Brock yelled.
"What do you have to do?" James asked.
"Edit the fucking thing. It's written, but there are so many errors to fix."
"Let me do it," James said.
Brock got up from his desk and James sat down and fixed all of the spelling, grammatical, and formatting errors in fifteen minutes. He hit print, and five pages spit from the printer.
Brock looked at the paper and said, "It would have taken me all morning to edit this essay, but you just whipped it out so fast we have time for a quick fuck."
James laughed and said, "We've just got time now so that we can get packed, get checked out, and get on road."
Brock stapled the pages together and said, "I hope you left a few errors in the paper, or Mr. Richard isn't going to believe I wrote this."
"Don't worry, I may have fixed the errors, but it still has your voice and style."
"Oh, so it still sounds like a dumb jock wrote it?"
"No. It sounds like a sincere, thoughtful, and caring guy who hides behind a goofy, dumb jock mask wrote it."
Brock kissed James and said, "Thank you."
By the time Brock got back, James was already packed. When Brock saw the one small bag, he said, "That's it? That's all you're taking?"
"You helped me move," James said. "So, you know I have a closet full of clothes at home. Frankly, it's embarrassing how much my mother buys for me. I think every time she feels guilty about me being in boarding school, she goes on a shopping binge."
Brock's way of packing was to throw clothes in a duffle. He also grabbed his dirty clothes basket. They threw everything in the trunk of Brock's car, checked out, and then headed for New York.
About an hour out of Concord James got a text from his mother, it read, "They have scheduled the exploratory surgery for your father at 6 a.m. tomorrow. Sydney and I will be flying back as soon as we know how he did. FYI, your aunt and I have gotten to know Courtney and actually like her. See you Wed."
James took a deep breath and said, "Brock, I need to tell you some of things going on with my family....." James then told Brock about his father's cancer, his parents' weird relationship, and his being named to have power of attorney if necessary for his father. ".....So, I guess what I'm trying to do is pre-apologize for shit I might do and say. I'll try my hardest to keep my family stuff in its own compartment, but I can't guarantee I will always be successful."
"First," Brock said, "thank you for trusting me enough to tell me about your family. Second, don't feel like you have to deal with this all by yourself. I'm here to support you. So, if you need to talk, to vent, of just need a hug, I'm here for you."
"Thank you. That's just what I needed to hear."
"Also, my mom and aunt won't be home until Wednesday some time, and then they are leaving again on Saturday. So, it will be just you, me, and Betty for most of the holiday."
"As long as you are there, it's all good with me."
The boys got to the apartment just a bit after two in the afternoon. When they opened the door, the smell of baking greeted them, followed by a joyous welcome home from Betty.
James gave Betty a hug and said, "It's good to be home. Nothing says home to me more than your cheerful greeting and the wonderful smells coming from your kitchen."
"I had to bake your favorite cookie."
"Which one?" James asked.
"All of them."
James laughed, and said, "You still remember that."
When James was around five, Betty had asked him what his favorite cookie was, and he listed five cookies. He said they were all so good he couldn't decide, and he didn't want to hurt any of their feelings by not picking one as his favorite.
Next Betty gave Brock a hug and said, "I bet a big guy like this can put away a dozen or so cookies by himself. It's a good thing I made double batches."
Brock smile and said, "My mom has always said it would have been cheaper if they had just bought a pony rather than bring me home from the hospital."
"Have you boys had lunch."
"Yes, we stopped at a McDonalds along the way," James said.
"Well then, go put your bags upstairs, and then we can have some tea and cookies."
It didn't take long for the boys to stow their gear and return for cookies and tea.
As Betty served the tea and cookies she said, "I hate to leave you alone on your first night home, but my niece's daughter is getting married in two weeks and we are having a wedding shower for her tonight at my sister's house in Queens."
"Do you need us to give you a lift?" James asked.
"No, my niece's husband is coming to pick me up. I was drafted into catering the affair, so I have a fridge full of food to haul to Queens, not to mention my gifts for the couple. So, I hope you boys are okay with lasagna for supper."
"Betty, you know I love your lasagna," James said, "and Ponyboy here will eat anything put in front of him."
"Okay Sodapop, I certainly hope this Ponyboy moniker doesn't follow me back to Mill Brook. It's not exactly the sort of thing the captain of the lacrosse team wants to be called on the field. And, I sure as hell wouldn't want it following me to Fordham."
"I don't know," Betty said, "Thomas Howell was pretty cute as Ponyboy Curtis in the movie."
"That might be so, but cute and lacrosse are not often used in the same sentence. On the other hand, cute and swimmer just seem to be a natural combination."
"Hey, I have no problem being cute," James said.
Betty smiled and said, "I don't care what anyone says, you two are both handsome young men, and you make a very smart looking couple."
Both James and Brock smiled and blushed a little.
After cookies, Brock dragged James to the building's gym to see what it was like. After looking around a bit, Brock said, "It will do if it's cold and snowy, but I think we should find a gym with fewer old ladies and find one geared toward athletes."
"The other option, and I can't believe I'm saying this, the mansion has a gym with a weight room, an Olympic size pool, and a sauna. It's about an hour's drive from here. Of course, I'd have to call and make sure I'm still allowed on the place."
"I can't tell you what to do," Brock said. "You have to decide when you are ready, if you are ever ready, to go back to that place. This fitness area will be fine until we graduate and move here permanently."
"I'm really torn," James said, "I hate the house and most of the memories in it, but it is a gorgeous estate and has some great facilities. It's a shame not to use them....Fuck it, I at least have to know if I am allowed on the property."
James said, "Let's go up to the apartment. I'm going to call the Pierce Estate manager and find out."
When they got back to the apartment, Brock went out onto the terrace, while James made his call.
When James finally joined Brock on the terrace, Brock didn't say anything. He waited until James was ready to tell him. Finally, James said, "Noah, the estate's manager said, "My father told him I should be treated like the new owner since that may soon be the reality. I just don't know what to think about all of that. I thought I had plenty of years still left to hate him."
Brock hugged James and said, "There's still a chance you will."
James nodded, then said, "I want to go out there tomorrow, but now I actually feel I need that workout." So, James and Brock changed into workout clothes and headed down to the fitness area. James and Brock were the youngest people working out, and the free weights were all theirs.
While he wouldn't have called it fun, James was beginning to get into the workout. Whether it was his desire to look better in a speedo, the camaraderie of Brock as a workout partner, the fact that working his muscles was quieting his mind, or all three, James was pushing himself like he had never before. In fact, Brock had to actually tell him to ease up before he hurt himself.
Occasionally, one of the older ladies and even a couple of the guys would chat with James and Brock. The conversation usually started with what apartment they lived in, and it invariably took them back a bit when James said his mother was Julia Spangler and they lived in PH4. However, the next part of the conversation was that they had a daughter, granddaughter, or niece that would be coming for the holiday.
James would politely say, "Unfortunately, we are each dating someone at school and it is pretty serious. So, we promised not to see anyone else."
The would-be Yentas would say something like, "That's so sweet,' or `It's good to meet boys who know how to treat a girl." The exception was one old man who looked at the boys then gave a knowing wink.
After their workout, the boys headed back up to the apartment. James stripped off his workout clothes, and Brock said James could take a shower first. James put his hands on his hips and looked at him a very disapproving frown on his face. Brock laughed at the sight of James silently scolding him while his huge cock swung freely between his legs. Brock stripped off and ran to the shower with James in hot pursuit.
Unlike the shower at school, the one in James' bedroom suite was large and had multiple shower heads. Also, James had discovered the lights could be dimmed and changed to different colors allowing different moods. It wasn't long before the boys were finishing their workout with a little aerobic exercise.
When they were again dressed, Brock said, "I'm starving."
"You just had a couple of helpings of protein." James said.
"Jocks cannot live on cum alone."
So, James went down and put the lasagna into the oven. There was also a note telling them there was garlic bread and a bag of Caesar salad to go with the lasagna. Betty had made a variety of finger-food pastries for the wedding shower and she left the boys a sampler plate for dessert.
Beer, wine, soda, or water? James asked.
"We need to be sure to stay hydrated, so how about water with dinner, and beer and popcorn later while we watch Monday Night Football."
"Who's playing?"
"The Broncos and the Jets."
"Well, at least one of them will have a win to be thankful for on Thursday," James said.
"So do you want to place a wager on tonight's game."
"I assume this isn't money, we'll be betting."
"You're right on that. It's the winner's choice tonight in bed. Winner can decide positions, the mood, even get a little kinky."
"I'll take that bet."
"Okay," Brock said, "let's do rock, paper, scissors, to decide who gets first pick. Best two out of three."
Brock chose paper twice and James chose rock twice. "I'll take the Broncos, or should I say the Brock-O's," Brock said with a smile.
"You're about as funny as a hard kick to the balls, you know that?" James said.
"Look who's a sore loser before the game has even been played," Brock taunted.
Neither James nor Brock really knew how to turn on the TV in the media room, and James was absolutely sure neither his mother or Sydney had any idea. So as soon as they finished eating, they went up to the media room to figure it out.
Brock found a touch pad that looked like it could be the remote. He said, "It looks like it needs some pin number to unlock the remote. Do you know what it might be?"
"Try 0225."
"Hey that works. How did you know that was the pin?"
"It's my birthday. That's what Mom always uses for her pin," James said
"Brock tapped the tablet, and a screen came down and nearly covered one entire wall. He tapped it again and a projector came on. One more tap and blackout shades covered the windows. After a bit of scrolling and tapping, Brock finally found the channel for the game.
"Now, if I can just figure out the sound," Brock said, as he tapped another icon. Suddenly the Monday Night Football theme began blaring at full volume and Brock frantically started tapping the screen until he found the volume control.
The seats in the room were organized into three rows, each having four leather upholstered recliners.
"This room is amazing," Brock said, "You don't mind if I send a few pictures to Kip and Weston."
"I don't have a problem with that," James said, and Brock began taking photos. He sent them to Kip and Weston, who texted back that they were jealous.
The Jets were just kicking off when James came back from the bar in the game room with two beers and a bowl of popcorn.
James was about to hand Brock his beer when he went nuts. The announcers went nuts. The players on the TV went nuts. The Broncos returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Sixteen seconds into the game and the Broncos were already up by seven. The Broncos put up another seven at the beginning of the second quarter and three at the half-time buzzer. The Jets went into the locker room at the half, down 17-0.
Brock couldn't resist gloating as he handed James his third beer.
"So, what kind of fiendish torture do you have planned for me tonight," James asked.
"Have you heard of Singapore Spoon Torture?"
"No," James said warily.
"Neither, have I."
James punched Brock in the arm, and said, "Asshole."
"Ouch," Brock said while laughing, "Has anyone ever told you that you have sharp knuckles?"
"Well just you remember that when you decide what you're going to have me do tonight."
The Jets got the ball first in the second half, and thanks to a couple of nice pass plays, a missed tackle on a running play, and an inopportune penalty on the Broncos, the Jets managed to put points on the board. After the Jets first possession of the half, the score was 17-7 Broncos. The Jets scored late in the 3rd quarter to close the score to a three point margin. Brock cocky attitude seemed to fade. Only to return when the Broncos forced the Jets to punt with only 1:26 left in the game.
"Well the Jets made it closer than it should have been, but all that's left is a couple of kneel downs, and then....."
Then it happened, the Bronco's punt returner lost the ball in the lights and didn't know where it was until it bounced off of his helmet, and into the end zone where a Jets player recovered the ball for a touchdown. In the end, the Jets won 21-17.
Brock looked at James and what he saw was a big grin, and he asked, "Okay, what did I just get myself into?"
"Follow me."
James stopped in his bedroom to get a couple of outdoor blankets, and then he led Brock out onto the terrace. Sidney liked to read and drink coffee in the mornings on the terrace, so Julia bought her a double outdoor day bed for the terrace. But tonight, it was going to be James and Brock's 33-story-high love nest.
The boys stripped off their clothes and quickly cuddled up under the blankets. Brock said, "Has anyone told you that you can be adorably romantic?"
James kissed Brock's chest, and said, "It's hard not to be romantic when you love and make love to a young Apollo." James kissed Brock's lips then whispered, "I need your tight hole wrapped around my cock."
Brock rolled onto his stomach and said, "It's all yours, babe." The two lovers caressed and pleasured each other in the warm glow of the city's lights, and tenderness and passion shaped their lovemaking well into the night.
The morning sun was beginning to light the sky when a light snow began to fall. James gently shook Brock and asked if he was still warm. Brock smiled and said, "Yes, how could I not be warm cuddling with the hottest boy in New York City?"
"You are so corny."
"It's part of my charm," Brock said, and gave James a kiss on the top of his head.
"Do you think we should go in?"
"Or we could fuck in the snow."
James laughed, then said, "Is the lube warm? I'm not putting a cold glob up my ass."
"It's right here next to me. It should be as warm as I am."
"What the hell. Let's do it," and James rolled over on his side so Brock could spoon in behind him. After a bit James could feel Brock's cock pushing against his hole. James took a deep breath, relaxed, and pushed himself onto his lover's all-American manhood.
Brock wrapped an arm around James and began to thrust. James was totally swept away to a new reality. The coolness of snowflakes landing on his face, the warmth of Brock's body, the fullness inside of him, all culminated in one massive total body orgasm.
Finally, James said, "I need to go inside."
"Me too."
The boys grabbed the quilts and ran inside. After they both took a much needed piss, they climbed into the shower. As they washed each other, James asked, "Do we have a plan for today?"
"I need to get some things from my room, and Mom would like us to have supper with them. I was thinking this afternoon we could go out to your father's place and use the gym and pool. Then we'd head over to my parent's place in Brooklyn for supper."
"That sounds like a plan."
After getting dressed, James and Brock went down to the kitchen. Betty was just putting the coffee on when the boys showed up. "My, oh my, you boys are up much earlier than I thought you would be. What would you like for breakfast? As if I didn't know what Jimmy Boy is going to order."
James smiled and said, "Aunt B you know me too well."
"French toast and bacon for Jimmy, and how about you Brock."
"I'll have the same, plus a side order of explanation. First, why does Betty get to call you Jimmy and no one else?"
"Well Aunt B practically raised me. So, when you bake me my favorite cookies and change my stinky nappy, you can call me Jimmy."
"I'll stick with James. My other question is, what's with Aunt B?"
Betty laughed and said, "Jimmy and I used to watch the Andy Griffith Show before nap time. I didn't like all the new cartoons, and Jimmy wasn't into watching the soaps with me, so we compromised on Andy Griffith. One day, he called me Aunt B and it stuck."
"That's a nice story, I bet James was a cute kid." Brock said.
"Here let me show you," Betty said and went to her room to grab a framed picture."
"No, not the birthday picture!!" James said when he saw what she had.
"Oh, but you were so cute," Betty said, as she handed Brock the picture. "That was his fifth birthday."
In the picture was a very cute boy with his cheeks puffed out as he blew out the candles on his birthday cake. James was wearing a birthday hat as were the two smiling adults standing behind him. Brock recognized a much younger Julia and the resemblance of the man to James could only mean it was his father. They looked like a family straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
James choked a bit, and said, "I forget, there was a time when we were happy."