Guardian Angel, Chapter 3
Bret swung by Caleb's house to get whatever he needed for school the next day, including a change of clothing. Carol gave them each a hug before she left for work. She was happy for her son that he had a prince charming to help protect him. Perhaps it was puppy love and wouldn't stand the test of time, but right now, it was exactly what Caleb needed.
While they were there, Caleb sent an email to his father, half a world away, to tell him about his encounter, and defeat, of a bully who had harassed him in the past. He'd not given any graphic details about the earlier beating because he didn't want to add to Hollis Barton's stress. Caleb would never forgive himself if he mentioned some bit of information which would cause his father to get less sleep or distract him when he needed all his wits to stay alive in a dangerous situation.
In that regard, father and son were very much alike. Both tended to send positive messages so the other one wouldn't worry.
Sensing that the boys would feel distressed after their encounter with the bullies, Mary Thomas had made stew for supper. It might be more appropriate for a cold winter's night than a warm fall one, but it was comfort food that contained nothing that wasn't healthy for growing teens. It should replenish the calories they'd, no doubt, spent during the fight. Adrenalin could drain a person's energy even if the physical part of the attack hadn't lasted long.
The boys both dug in and ate heartily. Ed, Bret's father, put away his share too. Mary was an excellent cook.
After the kitchen was cleaned up, Mary said they should sit back down around the kitchen table and have a talk.
"I'm wondering how you're planning to sleep tonight," she began.
"With our eyes shut as usual," Bret quipped, with a grin.
"That's not what I'm talking about, Mr. Smarty."
"Mom, I know where this is going, so let's lay our cards on the table. Caleb and I have come to care a lot for one another, just as boys and girls do. We're planning to cuddle in my bed as we go to sleep."
"Since we're not avoiding the issue, what about sex?" she asked bluntly.
"We may or may not engage in that whether we sleep together or not. At this point, we're not doing anything with each other that we haven't done by ourselves since the beginning of puberty. Does that satisfy your curiosity? I'm sure Dad can fill you in on the mechanics of that in private."
"I think you're purposely trying to embarrass me by what you're saying."
"Maybe, but you brought up the subject of sex. I'm trying to speak as euphemistically as I can. I think that's the correct term."
"He's right, Mary," Ed interjected. "It seems to me that you're prying into things that are personal and intimate. You remember what boys and girls did when we were that age. More than one teenage boy received relief at the hand of his girlfriend, and I'm sure boys do similar stuff with other boys. We're all sexual beings."
"I'm sorry," Mary apologized. "I know it's not any of my business. I just worry about diseases I hear about in the gay community, and I want you both to be safe."
"I've never been with anyone else," Caleb spoke up. "The gay community' as you put it, gets a lot of bad press about venereal diseases because some guys are promiscuous. But, you know the same thing happens in other populations' too. Anyone who messes around without being careful is in the same danger. If we're faithful, we'll be safe no matter what we do, um, in bed."
Caleb blushed profusely as he finished his speech. He hadn't intended to say anything at all. Now, he was self-conscious about having opened his mouth.
"You've said it well!" Ed complimented him. "Your point is valid, and your vocabulary is excellent. I mean it!"
"Thanks," Caleb gave a shy smile.
"Don't stay up too long tonight. Remember there's school tomorrow," Mary admonished, still feeling she needed to give parental advice.
"I think we'll take our shower tonight, so we won't be rushed in the morning. We can check each other for ticks in the process. I heard the ones that spread Lyme disease are active this time of year," Bret said, trying to let his mother know that there might be some intimacy, and that he wasn't going to be apologetic about it.
When Mary walked past her son's bedroom later, the door was open and the two of them were propped up in bed, with the sheet pulled up to their waists, reading. She had to admit that this boy was a nice kid, and he was making Bret the happiest she'd seen him in a long time. Perhaps it was meant to be after all.
The innocent, domestic scene she witnessed didn't last the whole night. After the lights were out, the boys cuddled in bed, intending to simply fall asleep in each other's arms. They did that, eventually, but only after making out and getting off again, sopping up the evidence with a few tissues.
"Man, I can't believe how you suddenly noticed me, and how it's ended up like this," Caleb sighed just before sleep overtook them. "Did my battered body turn you on?"
"Have you considered that it might not have been sudden. Maybe I've admired you from a distance for a long time. You look so cute in your cheer-leading outfit. Those white slacks and that tight blue shirt really show off your body nicely.
"But it was a lot more than your looks. It was the way you've always treated other people, including the kids who aren't very sharp. I've never seen you make fun of anyone."
"Hmm, I've never thought about that. I just treat others as I'd like to be treated."
"That's the cool part. You're genuine all the way through. I want to be more like you."
They kissed once more, and then Bret spooned against Caleb's back and wrapped him in his arms. Caleb felt completely safe, and totally loved.
On Monday, the boys rode the short distance to school in Bret's truck. They would have felt vulnerable on foot with Matt and Don on the loose. Perhaps they were being paranoid, but it seemed safer being in a vehicle than out in the open, especially if they'd been cutting through the park.
Bret assumed that Mark or Don would have spread around his comment about loving Caleb, and that there might be fallout at school. He didn't plan to go looking for a fight, but he wouldn't back off if someone came after him.
Most of all, he worried about his boyfriend. Caleb's confidence had grown by leaps and bounds since starting karate, and he'd scored a very lucky blow against Don. Bret hoped that his slapdash success wouldn't make him become overconfident about his abilities, and cause him to get hurt.
Of their six class periods, they had two in common in the morning, and another two in the afternoon. Coupled with lunch, it meant that Bret would have Caleb's back most of day. That made him feel better.
The acid test, for Bret, was how the other guys on the team treated them in the cafeteria at noon. There were monitors around the room, but with the general noise level, it would be difficult for any adult to overhear what was happening at their table.
To Bret's surprise, and relief, everything was perfectly normal. There was the usual good-natured teasing among the jocks, but nothing directed toward Caleb or him that had any sexual innuendo. He breathed easier, but still wondered when the other shoe might fall. Had their adversaries fled the area? If so, where would they go? They could go to Hell for all he cared.
At the end of classes, they headed toward the gym annex where Caleb would practice with the other cheerleaders, and Bret would change in the locker room before going to the football field to scrimmage. On the way, they compared notes about the parts of their day when they were separated. Neither had experienced anything bad in the two class they didn't have in common.
Caleb got a text from Bret after dinner, asking if he'd seen the news on TV. He hadn't because his mother and he made it a habit to keep the one meal they shared free of distractions, so they could enjoy each other's company.
Bret quickly filled him in. It seemed that the authorities were looking for two young men who had resisted arrest and fled the scene after unsuccessfully attempting to beat up two younger teenagers. Matt and Don were mentioned by name, and their pictures were shown because they were of age.
Their intended victims weren't identified, but the reporter did mention that one of them had been beaten up in the past by the pair and had overcome his adversary on Sunday when it was a one-on-one fight.
Caleb was very pleased at how the story had been told. He was sure that many at school would know who the news-person was talking about. If so, it would help his street cred big-time!
He found the answer to his question the minute Bret and he entered the school building the next morning.
"That was you guys they were talking about on the news, wasn't it?" Courtney Fischer said.
"Yup," Caleb grinned.
"Wow! I'm impressed. The deputy they interviewed said you had those guys completely in your control. Did you kick them around?"
"We didn't try to hurt them; we only wanted them to leave us alone," Bret told her. "They came spoiling for a fight, and they got one they didn't expect when we took them down."
"So, you didn't go find them later and kill them or anything?"
"No, of course not!" Caleb snorted. "Who started a crazy rumor like that?"
"Their girlfriends. They think you must have gotten revenge because they haven't heard from them at all! Do you think they headed for Mexico? That's a long way off."
"Maybe they're afraid the cops might trace their location if they use their phones. That's a possibility, but I don't think they're high-profile enough to be the subjects of a nationwide manhunt," Caleb shook his head.
"Maybe there's a nationwide `boy-hunt' because neither is that much of a man," Courtney giggled. "Real men don't beat on guys who are smaller than they are."
"Do you think we should try to stop the rumor?" Caleb asked.
"No, because if we make too big a deal out of it, everyone will assume we're covering up something. Besides, I don't mind having a bad-boy rep for a little while," Bret laughed.
As the three were headed to their first class, they met Jared Burnside who high-fived both boys.
"I heard you guys might have killed Matt and Don. If you need any help disposing of the bodies, let me know. My dad has a couple of sharp spades, and I know a spot down by the reservoir where the ground is soft."
"Are we seriously getting a reputation?" Caleb asked.
"Nah," Courtney shook her head. "Nobody believes those two hoes they were screwing. They're both dumb as a box of rocks. Anyway, I hope the part about you guys holding them until the cops came is true."
"What you heard on the news is factual," Bret said. "You both ought to join us at karate club. Caleb learned a lot about self-defense from it, and that could have saved our lives."
"Wow! I think I might give it a try," Courtney agreed.
"Me too," Jared nodded.
The Lions won their homecoming football game, and several players were carried off the field by the exuberant crowd. Bret had played a great defensive game which helped their win, but he wasn't among the "heroes." That title was reserved for the quarterback and his main receiver.
The cheerleaders got some recognition from the players, and there weren't any asides directed toward the two males on the squad. Caleb had overheard some disparaging remarks earlier in the term.
Now, with word being spread that he'd kicked Don Harkin's ass, he wasn't being hassled. That, along with the self-confidence he'd gained from taking karate, tended to make him walk taller, and be less of a target.
Bret went home with Caleb on Friday night after the game. Carol had to pull another overnight shift, so she was glad that Caleb wasn't going to be there alone. She didn't say anything one way or the other about sleeping arrangements. She assumed they would share Caleb's bed, and her silence was taken as tacit approval.
They did share his bed after their communal shower. Bret had showered with the team after the game, but Caleb hadn't, and Bret was happy to soap up his body for him. Both got major erections in the process, and nearly came.
Once they were dried off and in bed, Caleb licked Bret's nipples and worked his way southward. He had Bret writhing in ecstasy before he reached his target.
"If you're gonna blow me, I want to do you at the same time."
"Are you sure you want to take my cock in your mouth? That's a very gay thing to do. I'm don't know if there's any turning back after that."
"I don't want to turn back. I am what I am, and I want to become a proud gay guy, and a proficient cocksucker!"
"In that case, be my guest," Caleb giggled as he turned around completely to place his goodies where Bret could easily get to them.
When two naive teenagers engage in oral sex for the first time, it can be a real trip! Running one's tongue over the slippery, silky skin of exposed grans is, in itself, awesome. Coupled with the feeling of your own dick being stimulated by a warm, wet tongue makes the experience doubly erotic.
Neither could hold off for long. With gasps and moans, they filled each other's mouth with their yummy fluids. Nothing was wasted, not even a Kleenex.
Both savored the taste, and knew they would continue to enjoy this pleasure together for a long time.
In the afterglow, they kissed for several minutes. Their bond was now even stronger than it had been before.
"Oh, thank you, Caleb! Out at the reservoir, I asked you to show me the way and you've certainly done that! The more we're together, the more I know who and what I am. I love you; I hope you'll never leave me!"
"I'm not going anywhere. You've opened a whole new world to me. I feel like a different person. I've lived in a kind of shadow-land ever since I knew I liked guys better than girls. I didn't ever expect to find someone to love!"
On Saturday morning, the boys were seated at the breakfast table in their boxers watching cartoons as they ate. The volume was loud enough that they didn't hear the garage door open or close.
"Oops, I didn't expect to be seen without clothes on!" Bret blushed, as Carol came into the room.
"You're as dressed as Caleb and Hollis are for breakfast on any given weekend. Don't worry about it. I'm a nurse, after all, and I see a lot more than that every day I'm on duty."
"Would you like some eggs?" Caleb asked, shifting the focus of conversation. "We have bacon and two extra waffles staying warm in the oven."
"Yes, I'll take two, scrambled, if you please."
Caleb jumped up to cook them while Bret got out another plate and silverware to set a place for her. Before long, she was enjoying a good hot breakfast.
"We'll clean up the kitchen, so you can catch up on your sleep, Mom."
"Thanks, I'm going to do that. We had a busy night with an accident and two gunshot victims. I'm really beat!"
After KP duty, the boys went to Bret's house where they wouldn't have to worry about disturbing anyone's sleep. Bret's parents were happy to have them around for a least part of the day, though some of it was spent doing homework.
Mary made them lunch, and they talked about all sorts of ordinary things. She didn't have any more admonitions about sexual matters, nor did she give advice about going to the homecoming dance together. She seemed to have accepted them as a couple, and for that, Bret was thankful.
Later, they dressed up for the dance, and went to dinner at Cheddar's. It was a place where they felt welcome because the waitstaff was always friendly and considerate, even to teenagers on their own. Their sixth sense told them some of the people who worked there was also gay.
At the dance, neither lacked for partners, and both had a great time. A few members of the football team might have thought it unusual that they arrived together, but if they did, no one said anything. The general feeling-tone of the school had improved dramatically with the elimination of a couple of troublemakers.
After the dance, they went back to Caleb's home to spend the night.
"I think maybe it's easier for gay couples to have sex than straight ones," Bret said.
"Um, how to you figure that? We don't have the flexible holes girls have to put our dicks in."
"I was thinking about availability, not the mechanics of it. Our parents know we can't get pregnant, and they seem to be okay with us sleeping together. We do have other openings, like warm, wet mouths, and we can rub our junk together to get off. Besides, it isn't all about sex, is it?"
"Nope, a lot of it is about sharing love."
"And, I'll bet most hetero couples our age aren't allowed to cuddle all night."
"No, and we probably won't have those privileges on school nights very often," Caleb lamented.
"Anytime your mom has to work at night, I think they'll allow it. If we keep our grades up, they might give us even more freedom."
In early November, the Army Corps of Engineers opened the dam to lower the level of the reservoir. Long-range predictions called for heavier than usual snowfalls in winter, and forecast a wet spring. If either of those came true, there was a danger of flooding downstream unless there was more room in the man-made lake to contain all the extra.
As the water receded, four black tires appeared near the bridge that Don Harken had struck. Soon, part of a metallic blue vehicle became visible. It was lifted out of its watery grave by a large crane. Inside, there were two decomposing bodies. The county coroner was summoned before the wreckage was transported.
The investigators theorized that the car must have ricocheted off the bridge rail and become airborne, catapulting it into the water on the other side of the bridge. That would account for no skid marks or damage to anything like trees or bushes beyond the bridge deck. They must have been traveling at a very high rate of speed.
Caleb, and the taxpayers of the county were spared the stress and expense of a trial, but at the cost of two young lives that might have been turned around. People of the community had varied reactions to the news.
Even Caleb's emotions were mixed. He was definitely relieved that he wouldn't have to testify in court, and that he wouldn't have to look over his shoulder all the time, but he did feel a twinge of sorrow over two lives snuffed out at such a young age.
Bret didn't have a problem sorting out his thoughts. He felt that Matt and Don deserved what they got, and would have grown into adults who were even more abusive. He was glad they were gone!
Author's notes: Again, I'm very pleased with the number of responses to this story. There have been over 100 to date. If you like the story, and haven't yet let me know, I'd love to hear from you at: dlee169@hotmail.commailto:dlee169@hotmail.com .
Thanks to the following who sent emails this week: Gilles T, Avid R, Wayne, Rick P, BJ, Jim M, John L, Walter Sz, Vern D, Steve J, Joe W, Bill T, Adrian M, Allen T, Shawn K, Max P, JCH, Vinnie, Dave F, Daz S, Allen, Charles G, Geoff S, Bill K, Mick E, Tim T, Michael(D)S Gordon, Barry J, Westly W, Mendy D, Jim C, David W, Kyle Z, Derrick M, JLF, Rob H, Matt L, Greg W, Ryan H, John McD, Jim W, Paul R, Rory, Wade G, Tony C, Frank K, Mark J, Tim T, and Zero M.
Thanks to David S (Boxerdude) for editing.
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