Happy Birthday to Me

This story is about a gay relationship and sex between consenting gay teens, both High School Seniors. This is completely a work of fiction and is not intended to suggest anything about the personality traits of anybody mentioned in the story that isn't publicly known about them.

Any similarities to actual people or places - other than the ones specifically mentioned - are purely coincidental.

If it isn't legal for you to read this for any reason, please use that handy browser line and jump to a subject/site that is more appropriate. Copyright Cory Radke.

Reader comments are always appreciated. Thanks to Rich, Kevin, RJ, Rick, Uncle Tank, Wally, Jakob, David, Honzih, dfwtx, Peter, Baron, Alex, Barry, Jason, David F., Duke, Scott, Jerry, Matt, Roo, Robbie, Carlos, Kelsey, Billy, Michael, Alan, Bri, George, Ed, Larry, Eldon, Justin, Dick, Bobby, Dave, Wade, Jon, Oscar, DDE, Shinzon, Ridge, Rob, Tigger, Chris, Shane, Brigarn, Craig, Lee, Lach, Nick, Josh, RGill, CBrillant and Adam for their notes after reading Chapter 5. You're all great for taking the time to send me an e-.

Want to comment? You may email me at cory.08@outlook.com

And check out the HBTM story blog at www.cory08online.tumblr.com

Happy Birthday to Me

Chapter 6

In the way his mind had always been easily able to multi-task, a part of Cory's brain was still in overclock mode as it processed the reopening of the door that led to St. Albans and his pre-Branson past, his now fully realized feelings about Cathan, and what the kiss he'd shared with Chris had started between them.

That part of him basked in the warmth of the dim new sun that had been discovered in his universe, but Cory knew he had a lot to correlate before he could mentally and emotionally handle what had been released by Chris.

But another part of Cory's brain managed his body as he stepped out of the Charger, took hold of Chris' hand, locked the car and set the alarm - then turned to walk them both toward the mall.

Since the kiss Chris had been convinced that, at any moment, Cory would turn the car around to return him home. His expectation and his fear was that the jock would kick him out of the vehicle and his life. It had happened before.

Even though the other teen had seemed to enjoy the unintended and completely spontaneous affection, Cory's final reaction was still unclear.

After his tears stopped, Chris had sat staring at Cory. Mile after mile he had kept driving with eyes fixated on the road. Cory hadn't said a word, indeed hadn't made a single sound. He just drove and with every foot of pavement under the wheels, Chris had perceptibly begun to cling to a slender thread of hope.

As they drew closer and closer to the mall, both Chris' hope and confusion grew. Nothing in his experience helped Chris understand what was happening.

Every time before - though granted there hadn't been that many before"s" - either his kiss had been welcomed or immediately rejected.

This reaction was an enigma.

For Chris, the sandy blond haired football player had progressed from interest to fascination to secret obsession. Cory had done nothing to evoke any desire in Chris' direction. He was just always THERE and every day that Chris had known Cory life had become a little bit better.

It had nothing to do with Cory buying Rich and him the phones, or coming to Chris' defense when he'd been threatened by Hudson Wagner, or stunningly coming up with a way for Chris to swim competitively again.

It hadn't even been whatever Cory had done - and Chris was unswervingly convinced he had done something - to get his Mom an interview that resulted in the full time job his family so desperately needed right now.

Even absent all that Chris knew he would have been impetuously attracted to Cory.

And by all evidence 100% foolishly.

Chris knew from talking to other students that Cory didn't have a girlfriend, and as far as anyone knew never had a girlfriend. He was friendly with girls, but then Cory was friendly with everyone. Well everyone besides Hudson Wagner.

But Chris alternately had seen nothing to suggest that Cory was gay or bi. Other than the maddeningly odd references to Brandon, Chris had been unable to connect Cory to any guy. And those comments didn't really seem to infer anything because Chris couldn't believe that if Cory was in the closet his best friends Trent and Troy would so publicly and repeatedly connect Cory to a male college student.

Granted Chris' own "gaydar" was not something to be proud of as it had led him astray in the past, but it said nothing about Cory. For Chris there was not only no clear ping, there was no ping at all. Even the one gay student he had met at Branson and timidly asked about Cory had laughed at him and simply said "100% straight."

It was all so exasperating. And it was also quintessentially Cory.

So Chris had been left with his fantasies and the regular evidence of his longing sprayed across the shower wall almost every morning at his grandmother's house.

Until tonight.

When they'd finally pulled into the mall and Cory had parked and turned off the Charger he'd remained as he had been on the drive. Hands firmly on the steering wheel and eyes fixed ahead.

He had blinked a couple of times and as if putting together a puzzle had recognized Chris for the gay teen he'd been for years. Cory hadn't condemned or screamed abuse he'd just smiled and made a joke about beating up Rich.

Then Cory said that everything was okay between them.

That hadn't told Chris anything but his heart had blazed in happiness when Cory had taken his hand and told him that the kiss they had shared was the hottest he'd ever had.

The pair held hands until they reached the mall doors, then Chris let go to open the way for Cory to walk through. On the other side they just walked side-by-side. Cory didn't take back Chris' hand and Chris was too timid - and too faint hearted at the prospect of offense - to take Cory's hand.

"I'm hungry Chris what about you?"

"Nah I'm good."

Walking through the mall, Cory took a detour down the stairs to the first floor and off to the left. Stopping in front Mrs. Fields he ordered. "One White Chocolate Macadamia and one Milk Chocolate Chip please" he said to the girl on the other side of the counter. After paying and taking the small bag with the two cookies, Cory started to walk in the direction he originally intended.

"Pick one Chris" he said holding the bag open in one hand.

"Nah I'm good"

"No you're not and we both need sugar. Please pick one" Cory said flashing sad eyes at Chris.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh maaaaaaaaaaaaan puppy dog eyes? You're mean" Chris said reaching in the bag to grab the Milk Chocolate Chip cookie.

"Ya but I won" Cory said with a grin shoulder bumping his bud.

When Cory returned to silence as he ate his cookie so did Chris, but as he finished chewing Cory changed completely. Taking the two napkins that he had earlier put in the bag, Cory handed one to Chris then used the other to wipe his mouth and hands. He then pushed the used napkin back in the sack and crumpled the bag throwing it in a perfect bank shot in to the nearest garbage can.

"Oooooooooooooooooooh yah! I'm good" Cory said shoulder bumping Chris again.

Wrapping his arm around Chris' shoulder Cory went into task mode. "So other than what-shall-not-be-named that I'm supposed to buy, what is it we need to gear you up for training Chris?"

"Not that much really. I just need a couple pairs of drag suits and racing suits to wear under, cap and goggles."

"Oh man, is this going to be like Starbucks. Do I need to buy everything for you so you don't hold back? Come on dude, I want you in the gear that will get your ass on Swim Team. Remember, you got to make the team if you want me in what-shall-not-be-named."

"Cory you're just trying to ramp up my competitive side."

"Damn right dude. I want you thinking like, acting like and geared up like a winner. Will you do that for me?"

'Fuck' thought Chris 'why does he say stuff like that? It makes me horny and wanting to do anything to see him smile.'

"Ok Cory. I'll only look at gear that will help me make the team."

"That's my dude" Cory said smiling. "You're a winner Chris. I know stuff is messed up for you, but I know what you are inside and I'm gonna do everything it takes to bring that inside back outside. So work with me, deal?"

"Deal! Especially if it means I get to train you wearing 'what- shall-not-be-named'."

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."

"Problem?"

"No" Cory said sheepishly. "You were just supposed to make Swim Team and forget that I had what-shall-not-be-named hidden at the bottom of my dresser drawer."

"Forget? NO WAY! How could I miss out on the chance to see you in a racing suit? That's like my #1 incentive to make the team."

As the two of them walked together, Cory squeezed his hand tight on Chris' shoulder. "Don't worry Chris. I made you a promise and I always keep my promises. Especially to you."

'Shit' Chris thought 'I wonder how long it will be before Cory saying stuff like that stops making me start to bone up.'

"I know you will Cory" Chris said. "And I'll always keep my promises to you too."

Just then Chris felt Cory pull them to a stop.

They were standing in front of the biggest sports gear store in Portland and the place where Cory checked regularly for new gear. Chris could hear him take a deep breath.

"Ok let's do this" Cory said with a smile and led them into the store.

Working their way through the display areas, Chris led Cory to the swim gear. There were a number of styles, brands and price ranges being offered.

"So what's the strategy here?" Cory asked.

"To help you get comfortable with even being here why don't we work from the top down?" Chris said.

"Makes sense to me. So that would mean cap and goggles first."

Chris started to go through some of the cheaper options when Cory pushed him aside.

"Chris I'm not even a swimmer but I've been playing across a range of sports long enough to be able to tell cheap gear from good gear. To begin with put your VISA gift card away. I'm paying for all this stuff. Clearly the research I did when I put the proposal together for the Booster Club was inadequate. I want to get stuff you can use to design the custom gear for Branson and also show to Coach Morin for sign-off. We're going SHOPPING Chris!"

"Ummmmmmmmmmmmm... okay?" Chris said with a timorous voice. Even when he was competing he'd always been on a budget - either what his parents could afford or what he could afford from summer jobs. This was entirely new.

Cory started moving down the line of swim caps. "No...no...no... no...maybe?...nah...what about this one?" he said handing a cap to Chris. "What do you think?"

"This is Speedo's Silicone Stretch Fit cap. Most caps only come in one size and this comes in two. Between that and the stretch ability it should easily fit every size head - and hair length - on the team. I bought a silicone cap one time that was so tight by the end of practice I had a headache."

Cory picked up another cap. "Now this one is cool."

"Cory that's a Fastskin 3 Competition cap. You wouldn't wear it for practice only for meets."

"No problem we'll just give every team member two kinds of caps. This stretch fit one for practice and this one for competition. Ok where are the goggles?"

Chris held the two caps Cory had picked out in his hand as he followed the football player. In his own sport, Chris has been turned from "expert" to equipment carrier.

'Well this is what Cory said it was like being his friend. Ok Chris just suspend disbelief and follow' he thought to himself.

As he stood in front of the goggle display, Cory had his phone out. Looking over his friend's shoulder Chris saw he was scrolling through reviews both on Amazon and Speedo.com to see what various purchasers had said.

"It's helpful that people say what they think about stuff without Speedo editing it. Sure makes it easier to tell what's good and what's not" Cory said his voice kind of oddly trailing off as if he was distracted. "I really wish I had brought my tablet as this would be tons easier, but wasn't thinking right at that moment."

Then mostly to himself Cory said "still am not. Difficult to process and think at same time."

Chris wasn't completely certain what Cory was talking about, so he just decided to stay silent. He somehow knew that it had to do with whatever had fixated Cory as they drove to the mall and the football player had promised to talk about that when they got to his house.

As long as it didn't involve Cory kicking Chris out of his life - a fear that still weighed on his heart - he could wait.

"Ok goggles. From the reviews I'm thinking the Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 Mirrored for practice and the Fastskin 3 Elite Mirrored for meets. Does my expert approve?" Cory said looking at him with the question hanging in his eyes.

"Cory I completely approve, but come on bro you're picking high end stuff here. Each team member will need two pairs of Vanquishers for practice and one pair of the Fastskin 3 Elites for meets. Dude you've racked up $200 worth of gear and we haven't even done suits yet."

"Don't worry about it Chris. I've decided to expand this project. We're not gonna just outfit you with killer gear, we got to think bigger. I want to give Coach Morin access to gear that is at a standard that will allow him to prove exactly how good a Coach he is on behalf of all Branson Swim Team members. Besides this stuff is cheap compared to what gear costs for the football team. Why should you guys get shortchanged?"

Chris couldn't believe how fierce Cory was talking. It made his developing love for the teen - and that's the only way his heart would allow him to describe it - soar even higher. Chris had never been involved with anyone who cared about his participation in swimming as much as he did - even his own family.

Rich never came to his meets and his Mom and Dad barely had either - even when they weren't working. Chris kind of wondered if his parents had looked at swimming as an expense the family shouldn't have to bear. It had bothered him because it never seemed Rich's involvement in football and baseball - and the cost involved - was demeaned in the same way.

While Chris knew his parents had accepted he was gay and didn't love him any less there had always been a nagging doubt inside him. A doubt that said they were embarrassed he was on the swim team because it was perceived by too many as a "gay" sport - which made no sense at all since almost every guy on his last team had been straight.

Here was this, if anything, hyper-masculine football player not just wanting him to swim, but going out of his way to make it possible for him to swim.

That was new for Chris and absolutely amazed him.

"Chris this is not efficient" Cory said reaching into his pocket and pulling out the key fob to the Charger. "Can you run and grab my tablet for me while I go look at what-shall-not-be-named?"

"Sure Cory."

"Thanks and keep it. I want you to have access to the Charger and I've got two spares in the key safe at home. For the short term as long in as you are in the car with me it'll start up no problem."

As Chris turned to run back to the Charger he could hear Cory talking to himself. 'Now what did he say was next? Oh ya, drag suits and what-shall-not-be-named.'

Chris couldn't help but laugh at his bud talking to himself as he dashed out of the store and headed upstairs three steps at a time to where Cory had parked. He used the key fob to open the Charger's trunk and pulled Cory's backpack toward him yanking open the zipper and pulling the tablet out of its net pocket. He closed the zipper and then the trunk.

As he rotated to head back to the sporting goods store it suddenly dawned on Chris what Cory had said when he gave him the fob... "I want you to have access to the Charger."

With a sob Chris fell to one knee his hand clutched around the key fob and his heart exploding with hope. But his brain told him that until he and Cory had their "talk" he wouldn't know anything for sure.

As Chris stood up scrupulously protecting both the fob and Cory's tablet the Martin Luther King Jr. quote the teen had throw at him came flooding back 'faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.'

Chris was going to have faith in Cory and their future.

He was going to believe in what could be between the two of them the way that Emmanuel Teney had instructed everyone 'as your faith is strengthened you will find there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit.'

A few minutes later he was back in the sporting goods store catching up with a Cory who was busy muttering to himself as he looked at what he would only refer to as 'what-shall-not-be-named.'

"Here Cory" Chris said handing over the tablet.

"THANKS Chris!" Cory said taking the tablet and reaching out to give Chris' shoulder a fervid squeeze then gave back the swim caps and goggles that Chris had handed over to him before heading out. Chris noticed that Cory had added duplicates of the gear selected so far to ultimately turn over to Coach Morin for sign-off.

Turning on his tablet Cory tested the link to the nearest internet connection. He saw the mall didn't offer any free access but there were at least six high-signal connections to which he did have easy access.

"Think you can keep me out do ya?" Cory whispered to himself as he automatically moved to access the hack app he and one of the Saeth IT guys had put together at the time they constructed his tablet. Then Cory remembered Chris was with him. "Ok I'll stay honest." Instead of hacking one of the local networks he linked through his tablet's onboard mobile broadband LTE connector.

He could almost feel Cathan watching him and smiling. This was a debate they had dozens of times as they had wandered Washington, D.C. hacking local systems anytime they needed a network connection.

Chris was astounded at how swiftly Cory was able to access the net and begin to pour through what was unquestionably a massive amount of information from at least four, no now five, different websites. As Cory's fingers swiped from window to window he cross compared and collated reviews on different Speedo suits dumping one then moving on to another and then yet another.

As he apparently made a decision Cory would flag and swipe that screen to a specific area of his tablet before moving on to the next series of comparisons. He briskly moved to bring back windows to check whatever was on them against new options before migrating on to the next suit up for consideration.

Even though Chris knew what Cory was doing and had a rough idea what suits Cory was looking at he could barely keep up. 'No wonder this guy gets his homework done so fast' Chris thought to himself.

The tablet was almost an extension of Cory's mind as he used it to gather, analyze and contrast one data point after another.

Finally Cory stopped and pulled up a window that Chris recognized right away - the Branson home page. Scrolling through it Cory called up the list of coaches and selected one auto-activating his email program and using both thumbs to type out a message and send it.

Then Cory finally looked up at Chris.

"I soooooooooooooooo did not do enough research before I put together the outline for the Booster Club and Coach Morin. I'm also a little disappointed that he didn't challenge me on the gear list that I told him the Club was prepared to provide. He should have said right away something like what you pointed out Chris - that I had forgotten about some important gear items that swim team members would need."

"Maybe he was just grateful for what the Club was able to provide and thought he could in-fill from his own budget, or swim team members could get it on their own" Chris said.

"You're probably right. I did kind of hit him hard and fast. Anyway, I emailed Coach Morin and asked for a meeting tomorrow morning between him, you and me."

"How come Cory?"

"Well I want him to meet you because you're the one he's volunteered to coach after school. But I also want him to look over what we pick up tonight and give input about the selections. He's the former Olympic swimmer and I need him focused on saying that the gear we selected is, or is not, what he thinks is best for team success. Make sense?"

"Dude you seriously have no problem riding rough shod over a Coach. Is this the way you treat Coach Thompson?"

"I guess you'd have to ask him that. Coach has always pretty much allowed me run the offensive side with support from the position coaches while he managed the overall team and dealt primarily with the defense. On the field I mostly pick the plays with Coach Thompson guiding general strategy."

"Just remember that this isn't your team, Cory. I want to make a good impression on Coach Morin. He's the one who gets to decide my fate over joining the team."

"Don't worry Chris. I'm not as much of an unstoppable force as you might believe. I know Coach Morin is in charge of his team. I simply would have preferred he said during our meeting what you told me tonight."

"Maybe I just know you better. You're like an information sponge, Cory. You crave knowledge and don't seem to have an upper limit on what you can handle."

"Well let's see how good I did with the new research I just completed. And don't feel like you have to hold back on me. If you think I'm heading in the wrong direction let's fix it. You with me?"

"Always Cory."

"Cool. Now drag suits. Grab two Hydralign Drag Briefs. Nah make it three. That way you can have two for your training and I'll provide a single set of everything we get for you to Coach Morin. He can return it and pick the same gear in his size and try everything out for himself. How's that for being considerate."

"Now you're being the good Cory I know" Chris said. "Wow this is tons better than the drag suits I'm used to wearing."

"Ya it's in a new fabric that Speedo claims is chlorine resistant and will last 20 times longer in pool than other fabrics. My new plan that I'll bounce off the Booster Club is to provide four for every swim team member."

"Wow... you're racking up the bucks Cory. I hope the Booster Club can afford it. I don't want them throwing out the whole proposal."

"Don't worry Chris. They've got the bucks."

"I hate it when you say that."

"Why? What'd I do?"

"You're fixing everything again. I know this is something you want to do Cory, but the guys who've been on Swim Team have been used to getting everything on their own. They might have preferences that don't line up with your idea of the 'perfect' gear. And remember swim gear isn't like football gear. Fit can be very body specific and when drag is the enemy you need your gear fitting exactly right."

"Ok Chris I guess I understand. How bout this... we'll put together a set of gear that the Booster Club is prepared to provide. Some of it will be in the design and Branson colors that you're working to create. That will be 'team gear'. I'll work with you and Coach Morin to come up with optional gear that is recommended, but isn't required and I'll coordinate with the Booster Club to give Morin access to a fund that will allow him to either purchase or subsidize gear choices of individual swim team members. Is that fair?"

"Absolutely fair Cory. Some guys will have stuff that for whatever reason they either like or fits their body better than what we're picking out right now. So providing a mix of 'team gear' and gear purchase support means everybody can be happy with what they are wearing and perform to their max."

"Cool and believe it or not, I wasn't trying to take over the Swim Team, but I do recognize that I tend to be who I am - the quarterback. So I call the plays and expect the team to follow. Thanks for pulling me back Chris" Cory said wrapping his arm around his friend's shoulder and almost giving him a hug.

"No problem Cory. And I'll pull you back anytime you need it."

"Okay let's deal with you. So are you good with the Hydralign Drag Brief?"

"Definitely. It's a great suit."

"Ok now for the what-shall-not-be-named. From my research I'd suggest the Speedo Endurance+ Solid Brief for you. It's in the same long lasting fabric that the drag suit is made from."

"Looks good for practice wear. So three of these too?"

"You got it Chris!"

"Ok. Normally I'd try this stuff on to check fit, but let's just get my regular sizes and I'll try on one of each at your house. If I need to make a size change, we can come back. That ok with you?"

"All good with me Chris. And this is what I have picked out for me to wear my 'proto-Coach' IF you make Swim Team. What do you think?" Cory asked holding up a Speedo Endurance+ Mercury Spliced Brief.

"You're seriously going to buy one?" Chris gaped.

"I told you I would and I always keep my promises Chris."

"Ya I know you said you would but I know how you feel about it and I didn't really think you would. I don't have any desire to force you into it Cory."

"Chris you make Swim Team and I'll wear it like I said. You hit great tryout times and rank first or second in any of your events and I'll put the damn thing on in public if you want. You gonna make Swim Team and become my swim coach?"

"With that as an incentive fuck ya!" Chris could feel himself starting to get hard just thinking about seeing Cory in the racing suit. 'Shit I hope he doesn't catch me boning over him.'

"Then do your job and I'll do mine" Cory added the suit to the pile in Chris' hands.

"Hold on a second let me make sure you're getting the right size" Chris said holding up the suit.

"Chris I'm not trying that on here."

"What size is your waist?"

"31 why?"

"Turn around a minute for me."

"Oooooooooooooooooooooooookay" Cory said turning around in place while Chris looked at him.

"A 32 waist is going to be too big for you Cory. Normally with a 31 waist you'd wear a 28 waist suit, but with your bigger upper body and lower body development I think a 30 waist is going to give you the best fit."

"Dude you do know you're talking about scrunching some seriously important parts of me together right?"

"Cory if it's too tight we'll bring it back, but the pouch is designed to stretch so I'm giving you the right advice."

"Okay 'proto-Coach' I'll trust you."

"See you learned something new tonight."

"What's that?"

"Cory isn't always right" Chris said laughing.

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."

"Stop that or I'll combo with the twins and take you for the genetic test they keep threatening you with."

"Yes Coach!"

"So are we done or is there more to add to this pile?"

"Done? We're not even close to being done. We still gotta do jammers."

"Cory you wear jammers for meets, not practice."

"I kind of figured that out on my own, but multiple sets of jammers are going to be part of the 'team gear' and you need to design for it. So stick with me."

"Ok Cory."

"For low level meets and for tryouts get two of the Speedo PowerPLUS Variegated Lanes Jammers. My updated outline will have the Club providing two of those to every team member in the custom design and Branson colors that you're going to prepare."

"Got em Cory."

"Now for high-level meets I'm going to suggest to Coach Morin and you that each team member be outfitted with two elite competition jammers. This will be optional gear that the team will either buy or subsidize purchase of by individual team members. Agree?"

"I've never been able to afford one of the elite competition jammers, Cory. So no way am I gonna say no. What are you thinking?"

"Get two of the Speedo Aquablade Jammers."

"Wow this is a sick hot suit Cory."

"And get two of the Speedo Fastskin FS II jammers. Remember you're going to keep one and we'll give one to Coach Morin to try out so he can make recommendations to team members when the time comes."

"Cory do you have any idea how much money you're spending?"

"Better than you do bro" Cory said smirking.

"Suspend disbelief... suspend disbelief... suspend disbelief."

"Keep repeating that and we'll do fine together Chris. Now a few last things."

Walking over to the bags Cory grabbed a forest green Speedo Small Pro Duffle. "This is to carry gear between your house and practice. Now let's hit my favorite part."

"What's that?"

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... I thought you said you had done serious research on me?"

"What do you mean?"

"SHOES!" Cory said laughing.

Cory walked over to the one area of the sporting goods store where everyone knew his name.

"Hey Sean I need some shoes."

"Cory" the salesperson said "you always come in here saying that and I always keep wondering what you do with all the shoes you buy."

This was the conversation that Cory and Sean shared each time he walked in the door.

"You want to help me or should I get someone else?" Cory said laughing.

"I'll help you Cory. What do you need?"

"Three pairs of Speedo Hydro Comfort 2.0 Lace Ups in Charcoal."

"Not Nike? Cory you do know that there's going to be a run on the stock price when the market analysts hear you're breaking from your tradition?"

"Just gimme the shoes."

"Those run big but a 13 will probably fit you just fine. I'm guessing you're buying for more than one" the sales guy said looking at the loaded down Chris.

"Yep. What size do you wear Chris?"

"Actually same as you Cory."

"You never told me that."

"It is kind of hard to scream out my shoe size when I'm in mid-air flying head down the stairwell Cory. And it's not really what was on my mind at the time."

"You got me there Chris. Cool, then three pairs at 13 Sean... and give me a pair of Nike Free Trainer 7.0 EA Sports too in 13.5."

"Be right back Cory."

"So are we having fun yet Chris?"

"If discovering what it's like to be a Sherpa is fun then I guess I am" Chris said smiling.

"Oh please, I gave you a cookie didn't I?"

"Is that supposed to make me feel better or more like Jaxson?"

"Jaxson would never carry gear for me. He'd consider it below his dignity as a pure bred Weimaraner."

"So are you saying I'm lower in status than your dog?"

"No I'm saying that you're nice enough and kind enough of spirit to indulge me and help carry stuff that is going to get you on Swim Team."

"Oh ya that's right... then I'm good" Chris said laughing.

Sean came back carrying four boxes. "Here ya go Cory. You want to check everything out here instead of having to lug it to the front?"

"I think that's a good idea. My Sherpa is getting cranky."

"I am not."

"Are too. You just suggested that I held Jaxson in higher esteem then I do you."

"Do I need to go over and grab two pairs of boxing gloves and let the two of you duke it out?" Sean said laughing.

"Naaaaaaaaah. Get up here and dump that pile Sherpa Caldwell so Sean can check us out."

Chris walked up to the counter and started laying stuff out for Sean to scan. "And thanks for carrying everything Chris and for making sure I got the right size what-shall-not-be-named."

"You're going to be wearing one of these Cory?" Sean asked as he scanned item after item. Oh wow... the students at Branson are going to love that. You need to tell me which one is yours so I can advise management to make a special inventory purchase. We'll probably have a run on them after."

"I'm not telling."

"Awwwwwwwwwww... Cory I make part of my money on commission. Do you know how much I could earn if I worked a deal with the swim gear manager?"

Chris rummaged through the pile and pulled out the suit that Cory had chosen for himself pointing it out to Sean.

"Traitor" Cory mumbled pouting.

"Think of it as my first 'Cory-mission'" Chris said smiling.

"Oooooh that's a low blow. First you still my lines and now you're stealing 'Cory-missions'" Cory said shoulder bumping Chris.

"Hey no hurting the working guy friendly blond" Sean said.

"Ya but he was my blond first so he should be on my side."

"I told you I would always on your side Cory, but you're the one teaching me to be EXTRA considerate of other people who deserve it" Chris said smirking back.

"Ok ok ok... I give."

Chris couldn't believe the total that was rapidly rising on the register as Sean scanned everything - especially the pair of Nike's that Cory had added to the pile at the last minute. Those were $130 and about four times the sale priced Addidas that Chris was wearing.

As Cory handed over his credit card, Chris was also not surprised that it ran to approval with no problem. Sean then spent several minutes bagging everything up before turning it over to Cory and Chris.

"Sean please do me a big favor and tell the swim gear manager a bunch of this is going to be returned right away by Coach Morin who's the Swim Team Coach at Branson. He's going to want to change it out for the same gear in whatever size he wears. Just make sure he's not hassled."

"Will do Cory and here's an extra receipt printout that you can give Coach Morin to make returns easier. Since all he's doing is exchanging stuff for a different size there should be no problem at all, but I'll mention it to management to make sure."

Splitting the bags between them, Cory and Chris both said "thanks" and "bye" to Sean as they headed out of the store and up the stairs to where Cory had parked.

"You ready to head to my house Chris?" Cory asked.

"Sure Cory."

He waited for Chris to unlock the doors to the Charger and then the two teens piled the bags filled with gear, a duffle and shoe boxes into the back seat. With his door open, Cory hit the trunk release button and went back to unzip his backpack and replace his tablet in the net pocket where it belonged.

After they got settled and buckled up, Cory hit the start button and the Charger began a low-rumbling idle instantly. "See as long as you're at my side the car will start no problem" he said looking at Chris.

"Then guess I better stick there, huh?"

"Definitely."

Chris could feel the thrill of Cory's words shoot through his body but he still wasn't assuming anything. Too much had happened and Chris was settled on not projecting any of his strong feelings toward his friend until they were clearly reciprocated.

He was simply not going to risk messing up what he hoped was slowly evolving between them.

With practiced ease, Cory put the Charger in gear and started to carefully pull out of the parking slot. By nature and character he was an attentive and prudent driver - in fact Cory has passed both his written and practical driving tests with perfect scores. Cory didn't speed and didn't unnecessarily change lanes just to arrive 30-seconds early at his destination.

The simple reality was that even while it had been hidden too much still resonated from his experience with Cathan for Cory to act in any way aggressive on the road.

And with that door now completely open there was a part of his mind where he was experiencing the horror of what had happened all over again. Chris hadn't noticed, but before Cory had even started the Charger he had looked over to ensure his friend was securely buckled up in the passenger seat.

While much of what Chris had released inside Cory was still being systematically processed deep in his mind, the teen could also feel it sequentially changing him and how he looked at other people. For four years now, Cory had protected himself by holding anyone who might get close at arms length.

Trent and Troy were his best friends, but the fact that Cory had never allowed them to visit the house was just one bit of evidence to his newly released mind of how he had not allowed the people he truly cared about to become a full part of his life.

That was something he honestly regretted.

Cory now realized how right Aaron had been. In self-defense his mind had transformed Cory into a lonely hermit. Now he needed to discover if his friends and family were willing to step up to the plate and help him both overcome that distance and forgive him for it.

For the first time since before that final fateful ride with Cathan, Cory was wholly connected again both in mind and soul.

He also felt the gravity well that was drawing him ever nearer to Chris. Cory knew that Chris would never be Cathan, but then no one ever could as the original was too unique.

However, in his own special way Chris was an uncommon individual unto himself. Cory instinctively knew that the other teen had been hurt by the way some - and Cory believed that Chris' family was unfortunately amongst those - had reacted to his sexuality.

Even though Cory had only been around the Caldwell family a short period of time, he could tell that while there was deep love between them there was also a distance.

In that way, Cory recognized some of himself - some of the same loneliness he had felt for years - in Chris. As he continued to process his liberated emotions about Cathan, Cory wondered if Chris would be able - and indeed would be willing - to help him overcome that loneliness in the same way that Cory might be able to do for Chris.

Cory knew that his conversation with Chris at the house tonight would be a defining moment in his life. Whether his freshly unbound emotions were up to the task of being both honest and open with his friend was the true question.

But he knew that from somewhere Cathan was telling him that if he was exactly that - honest and open - everything would work out.

Cory smiled as he remembered one of the quotes that Cathan most enjoyed throwing at him. It was from Dr. Seuss... 'be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.'

And in the perfect circle he had shared with Cathan, Cory recalled the quote from Albert Einstein he had always given back... 'few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts.'

Cory was again, without omission, feeling with his own heart.

As the drove in the rapidly falling darkness of a Portland autumn evening, Cory put his hand on Chris' left knee and gave it a squeeze.

"Thanks for going shopping with me and staying the night Chris."

Chris cautiously put his hand on top of Cory's and kept it there. "Thanks for inviting me Cory. And like you said we bought all this stuff to help me start training, get ready for tryouts and hopefully make both me and the Branson Swim Team more competitive."

"You got the gear, the Coach and the opportunity. Only you can develop the desire."

Chris started to gently squeeze Cory's hand. "If you stick with me I know I can do it."

"Then you're gonna do it Chris because I'm not going anyplace. Plus, you gotta make Swim Team to become my swim Coach and gain the right to tell me what gear to wear in the pool" Cory said staring into Chris' eyes.

"Now that's an incentive that might get Hudson Wagner trying out for swim team."

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... like I'd let him tell me what to wear!"

"Be nice. I think there's stuff going on in Hudson's life that nobody knows about."

"Why do you say that?"

"I don't know. Just a feeling I got the few times I've been around him. He's like I was before I came out to my family. I think Hudson's got a secret that is ripping him apart that he constantly works hard to keep inside."

"Wow Chris... I'm impressed by your powers of perception. Hopefully, Hudson's secret is that he's a friendly human not the asshole bully he always acts."

"I think it's something more than that, but I don't think there's any way he's going to tell you or me."

"Nah... in four years the only thing Hudson has gone out of his way to give me is punches. But you're right, I'm almost positive he's hiding something and I'm going to work with Nathan to figure out a way to find out what it is."

"Another 'Cory-mission'?" Chris asked smiling.

"I don't know, but I've got multiple reasons to keep watch on Hudson and the entire Wagner family right now."

"Oh ya? What's going on Cory?"

"Don't worry Chris, I'll tell you soon enough but for now let's just focus on getting home and enjoying some down time. K?"

"Anything you say Cory."

As long as Cory kept his hand on Chris' leg he was willing to let the other guy get away with anything. Chris was glad it was dark because he could feel that he was at least half hard and there was no way he wanted Cory seeing that.

"Cory we're a long way from Branson and I'm pretty sure way outside its boundary area. Are you taking the scenic route home?"

"No. I live outside of Branson's normal boundaries."

"Why come?"

"When I came to Portland Branson was the school I wanted to attend, but it wasn't close to the house my Dad bought to live in. So I filed for transfer permission. That's why I drive every day instead of taking the bus."

"Like you'd be happy riding on a bus with 50 screaming high school students instead of riding in this dream car."

Thinking ahead to Chris' likely reaction to seeing the house Cory said "I may not live ordinary Chris, but as a person I'm a pretty ordinary guy."

"Let's see you saved me twice. You set up a Scholarship Fund to help the Branson Swim Team in a couple of hours. You're the most famous guy in school and you handle homework like it was nothing. Ya Cory, you're totally ordinary... like to the max."

"Are you scoffing at my ordinariness? Remember what Ralph Waldo Emerson said that 'a hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.'

"Ok ok ok... how about we compromise. You are ordinary with an amazing capacity for the extraordinary."

"Alright I'll buy that."

"Cool because I don't like arguing with you" Chris said. "And since I've agreed to not challenge your ordinariness is it ok for me to ask a question."

"Any question you want Chris."

"Are we driving through this neighborhood on the way to somewhere else, because these houses are gigantic?"

"Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm... no this is actually my house."

Cory took a right off the street and into the parking circle. As he hit the button to open the garage he noticed Aaron's SUV off to the right. 'I wonder what Aaron's doing here? He didn't tell me he was coming over. I hope it's not a problem. That's the last thing I need right now.' Cory thought to himself.

'Oh FUCK I totally forgot about the security guards Aaron was going to bring in to watch the backyard after Charlie breached the fence. I don't want to explain that either.'

"Cory are we going to talk about this too?"

"Yes Chris we will talk about this too" Cory sighed. "But how about we just get inside, relax a little and get something to eat first."

"Ok Cory."

Slowing to a stop, Cory shut down the Charger and opened his door with one hand while simultaneously hitting the buttons to close the garage door and pop the trunk. He could hear Chris gather up bags from the back seat as he stepped out to pull his school pack and Chris' gear bag and school pack from the trunk.

As Cory reached in to grab their stuff, he said "Chris wait for me before..." and then without warning time slowed to a crawl.

It was a pure example of relativity in action as several things happened all at once.

There was an unbelievable clamor as Cory heard Jaxson start to bark and growl like crazy in full protective mode. There was a THUNK as the magnetic lock on the garage entry door engaged. And there was a THUD as something heavy fell against inside of the door.

"CHRISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!" Cory yelled as he ran from where he was at the Charger's trunk to the entry door. As he rapidly keyed in the entry code nothing happened and then he noticed the alarm light flashing red.

"HAGRID!"

"Intruder detected. System lockdown."

"HAGRID. VOICEPRINT IDENTIFICATION. ARRIS 3. DUMBLEDORE."

"Voiceprint Identified."

"Cancel lockdown and reset all systems."

"Lockdown cancelled. Systems reset."

"FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK" Cory yelled as he quickly keyed in the door lock code.

When the lock showed green Cory moved to open the door only to be stopped by something heavy after it cleared barely a few inches. Cory could hear Jaxson still loudly barking and growling.

"Jaxson. QUIDDITCH."

Hearing his command code from Cory, Jaxson instantly stopped barking, but the door still wouldn't budge.

Cory could feel his biceps peaking as he pushed against the door levering it forward with his legs. When there was finally enough room to move through he entered the house and discovered the obstruction. It was Chris splayed out on the marble entry floor with bags scattered around him. Jaxson was on his haunches looking up at his master with a quizzical demeanor.

"OH GOD. CHRIS!"

"HAGRID. EMERGENCY."

"System Dialing 9-1..."

Just then Cory heard feet running into the entry. "Hagrid cancel. Rocha Indigo 419923 Execute."

"Last instruction cancelled. System on standby."

"Aaron why did you cancel my call? Chris is hurt he needs help."

"Cory calm down" Aaron said. "Let me check him over and see what's going on before we call the paramedics."

Kneeling next to Jaxson holding tight to his dog, Cory watched Aaron systematically rub his hands over Chris' unconscious body. Suddenly Cory thought of something. "Jaxson look at me buddy." Cory gently held his puppy's head and lifted his lips. There was no blood in his mouth.

"I don't think Jaxson bit him Aaron. There's no blood."

"And there's no blood on Chris either. And I don't feel any indication that he hit his head. I think he may have just fainted. Go get the medical kit for me."

Releasing Jaxson and running into the kitchen, Cory pulled open a drawer next to the stove and pulled out the medical kit then ran back to Aaron.

Popping open the medical kit, Aaron reached in and grabbed an Ammonia Inhalant ampoule. Before he could break it, however, Chris started to moan and regain consciousness. He immediately started to get up but Aaron held him down. "Stay where you are Chris for a little while longer. It will help you recover faster."

"Ok."

Now that Chris was awake Aaron checked his head again. "Chris did you hit your head? Do you remember what happened?"

"I came inside and the dog started barking at me. I jumped back and banged against the door and kind of slid to the ground. My head doesn't hurt at all. I don't think I hit it on anything."

"Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?"

"No sir."

"Do you have a headache or feel any pain?"

"No sir."

"Cory he's going to be okay. He just fainted from being surprised half-to-death by your four-legged guardian."

Somehow Jaxson managed to look proud and embarrassed at the same time.

"Jaxson" Cory said. "This is Chris Caldwell. He's friend of mine and totally okay. He was at my game last Friday and is a really good guy so please be nice to him just like you are with Trent, Troy, Adrian and Declan. Ok buddy?"

Jaxson shook his head yes then padded over to Chris who was still spread out on the floor. He gave the blond a doggy kiss in apology.

Chris moaned at the wet doggy lick.

Cory walked over and kneeled next to Chris holding his hand and shoulder. "That's Jaxson's way of saying sorry Chris. And I'm sorry too. I was trying to tell you to wait to come inside until I got the stuff out of the trunk but you beat me to the door. I should have said something before we even parked. Chris I'm really really sorry" Cory said leaning forward to put his head against Chris'.

"It's okay Cory I shouldn't have come inside so fast."

"You've got nothing to apologize for Chris this was my fault. Will you forgive me?"

"Sure Cory, but we're still going to talk right?"

"Yes definitely."

"Okay and thanks Mr. Radke" Chris said looking at Aaron.

"Chris this isn't my Dad. This is Aaron Rocha. He handles security for the house."

"Is this something else you have to explain?"

"Ummmmmmmmmmm... ya." Now it was Cory's turn to look embarrassed.

"That's a lot of explaining Cory."

"I know, but it's all kind of inter-related."

"Chris" Aaron said. "I know it's kind of weird, but stay on the floor for a little while longer. I need to talk to Cory for a minute and then you should be good to get up."

"I feel okay now Mr. Rocha, but I'll wait for Cory."

"Thanks and call me Aaron."

"Okay Aaron and thanks for checking me out."

Aaron walked toward the front door with Cory in tow. He knew he was in trouble with Aaron. As they got to the front door, Aaron turned around to look at Cory. "Well that couldn't have gone much worse now could it?"

"No Coach."

"Cory you knew that Jaxson was on edge today because of the survey crew. Charlie also opened the back fence. He's extended it around the guest house, but there are now guards stationed in two trailers - which has Jaxson even more agitated. You're lucky he didn't attack Chris."

"Aaron I feel guilty enough. I thought I had time to tell Chris to wait for me before coming in the house."

"Ok Cory, I understand. And I know this is your first time to have anyone over which means you have no experience in getting them ready. I'm not going to beat you up anymore about this, but you better figure out a way to apologize to Chris that involves more than just saying I'm sorry."

"I will Aaron. And I'm going to get the twins over too so I'll get better. I'm not going to be alone anymore."

"I'm proud of you Cory. Now go take care of your friend. I'm heading home, but will be back in the morning to watch over Jaxson. Charlie got permits so he'll be under construction at 7AM tomorrow... so I'd suggest explaining that too. This may help. I left the final set of plans and conceptual drawings in the den. Show them to Chris and he MAY... just MAY... forgive you."

"Yes Coach."

"I'll see you in the morning Cory. And I fed Jaxson."

"See ya Aaron and thanks for feeding Jaxson and taking care of Chris."

Aaron squeezed Cory's shoulder then opened the front door and left. With a sigh, Cory turned around and headed back to where Chris was still on the floor. Jaxson had come over and was lying down next to him and Chris was rubbing his head and ears.

"Thanks for taking care of Chris for me Jaxson. I told you he was a good guy. By the way, I know Aaron fed you."

Jaxson got up and headed into the kitchen to get some water. After all his barking he was thirsty and now he was disappointed that he had, again, lost out on a second dinner. But his canine brain was already thinking of how he could guilt Cory into giving him a doggy treat.

"Ok Chris. Let's take this slow just to make sure you're ok." Bending down to lift with his legs, Cory helped his friend up on his butt to lean against the garage entry door.

"I'm so embarrassed."

"Don't be. It's entirely my fault Chris not yours. I should have said something and I didn't. I'm really sorry."

Without even thinking about it, Cory leaned in and kissed Chris.

Chris moaned and held on to Cory continuing the kiss. When it finally ended he said "thanks Cory. You keep doing that and I'll forgive you in a heartbeat."

"I'm not trying to bribe you Chris, but if it's working..." he leaned in and gave Chris another quick kiss.

After he broke the kiss Cory looked Chris in the eyes. "Ok I know this is going to make you sound like an invalid, but just work with me. I don't want to overextend your system before you're ready to handle stuff. Let's move you to lean against the wall instead of the door so I can bring in everything from the car."

"Ok Cory."

With Chris' help Cory moved his friend to the side and off the entry door. He then gathered up the scattered bags that Chris had already brought in and got them organized.

"I'll be right back Chris. Don't move!"

"Yes Coach" Chris said back smiling and looking like he'd returned to his normal self.

Heading back into the garage, Cory got their combined stuff out of the trunk and the few remaining bags in the back seat. Putting it all down in front of the entry door he went back to close up the Charger before picking everything back up again and carrying it inside.

Laying it all down with the bags already on the entry way floor, Cory turned back to Chris.

"Do you think you're ready to get up on your feet Chris?"

"Cory I honestly feel like I'm okay now."

"Humor me and let's do this step-by-step just to make sure. I want to get you on your feet, but stay leaning against the wall. I'm going to take everything upstairs and when I get back down we can decide what the next move should be. Ok?"

"Ok Cory, but I really do feel like I'm ok."

"I know Chris, but your system had a shock and I don't want to push it."

Cory looked down and saw that Jaxson was back at his side. "Hey buddy, please stay here and watch over Chris for me. If he looks, or acts, weird come get me right away."

"Cory how is Jaxson going to know what counts as 'weird' for me?"

"Don't worry, he'll know."

Jaxson trotted over and sat down looking up at Chris. In part to watch the teen as his master had instructed, but also because he wasn't 100% sold on the idea that Chris was not a burglar. To Jaxson's mind too many strange people had been wandering around the property all day for him to be entirely trusting yet, and some of them were still here.

Lifting everything he'd brought in from the Charger in both hands Cory headed upstairs and down the hall to the guest room he knew that Maria had prepared for Chris.

He laid everything in front of the king-size bed and then took his school pack and carried it to his bedroom to leave at his desk before going back to Chris.

"So how ya doing Chris?"

"Cory, I promise you I'm ok now. As personally mortifying as it may be, I just fainted."

"Ok. Let's get you upstairs to the guest room and then we'll take it from there."

"Will you give me a tour of this place?"

"Anything you want Chris. Let's just get you upstairs successfully and then make the next move. Deal?"

"Deal bud."

Chris pushed off from the wall. For the first time he reached down to grab Cory's hand in his lacing their fingers together. "Ok where to now?"

"Shall we follow the yellow brick road?"

"Cory I doubt there's anything about you that's midget."

"Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan... I knew stuff was going to get crushed when I eventually try to get in what-shall-not-be-named."

"Oh please, thousands of swimmers get into what-shall-not-be-named every single day and nobody gets anything crushed. So stop being a baby about it. You're just being modest and don't want to show off your worked-out body to the world."

"That's the same thing Aaron said."

"Guess that means I'm right then."

"Ok ok ok... maybe you are. Alright let's get you upstairs."

Holding firm on to Chris' hand, Cory led his friend upstairs and down the hall to the guest room on the left. Cory was glad that it was on the left - the street side - because it meant that Chris wouldn't have an immediate view of what was going on in the backyard.

"Is this your room Cory?"

"No Chris this is one of the guest rooms. And your room."

"One of the guest rooms? Cory this room is bigger than the master bedroom was at our old house and about four times the size of my room."

"Chris it's a bedroom. Walls, bed, dresser and bathroom. Let's not get crazy here. And take a seat on the bed so you got a soft place to land if you want to faint again."

"I don't think I'm going to faint again, and I don't have a barking dog surprising me."

"Good point."

As Chris sat down on the bed Cory sat down next to him. "Ok here's the plan. I am going to go change into t-shirt and shorts and then go back downstairs to make dinner. That sound ok to you?"

"Sure but I didn't bring anything to change into except school clothes for tomorrow."

"Chris we're almost the exact same size. You can wear some of my stuff."

"No problem Cory. And thanks."

"Okay look in my eyes Chris."

Chris looked into Cory's eyes and couldn't help but start to smile. "So why am I doing this?"

"I'm going to ask you the same questions that Aaron did and I want to see your eyes to make sure you're not fibbing to me. Do you feel dizzy, nauseous or have a headache?"

"No... No... and No."

"Alright you seem good. But wait here for a second."

Cory walked over to the pile of sports gear bags and pulled out a pair of the Speedo shoes, the what-shall-not-be-named and the Nike box.

"Ok we're going to head down to my room and get you some clothes to change into, but first these are yours" Cory said handing over the Nike box. "Check them for size and we'll take them back if we have to."

"Cory you don't need to give me your shoes."

"Chris I bought these for you as a thank you for helping me out tonight and now as a 'sorry' for not telling you more about this place before we got here. They were never for me."

"Wow thanks Cory. I totally never expected that. And I really appreciate it."

"Look I know this is coming way late, but you are the first of my Branson friends to ever be here - and that wasn't on accident, I wanted you to be the first. Trent and Troy have never been here. Nobody from Branson has. Until a few days ago Trent and Troy didn't even know I don't actually live in the downtown condo they've spent 3 years thinking of as "my house." They now know I live someplace other than the condo, but don't know where 'here' is. I know I should have prepared you better and I definitely should have said something to Jaxson, but I can't change what's already happened. I can only apologize for not getting it right the first time and hopefully not mess up again."

"You don't have to keep apologizing Cory. Now that I'm here I can completely understand you not wanting to tell everyone at Branson about this house."

"Chris you're going to learn a lot about me tonight. None of it is bad, but a lot of it is probably different from what you think you know about me - or imagined about me. I just hope it won't change how you feel about me."

"Cory the only thing that would change how I feel about you is if I discover that you're an axe murderer with bodies buried in the basement" Chris said smiling up at the teen he now knew he loved.

"Oh that's very funny. But there's nothing about me that exciting. I know this is difficult to wrap your head around, but no matter what you learn about me tonight, or what you think about this house and probably a dozen other things... I honestly am just Cory. There's a lot about my family and my past that I haven't disclosed, but there's nothing about who I AM - I'm talking about the Cory inside my head, my heart and my soul - that you don't know. This isn't an act. The guy you've met and been around is 100% me."

"Ok just Cory. I'm onboard."

"Cool stand up and let me start to tell you a few things."

"First" Cory said pointing at the door to the right of the bed "that is the door to a closet. So unless you're planning to go back in to it I wouldn't spend a lot of time in there."

"LOL... very funny Cory."

"Hey I'm trying to lighten the mood. So stick with me. Let's review. On this side" Cory said again pointing to the closet door "is the closet. On the other side is the door to the bathroom. In there you can pee, you can take shower and do whatever other stuff you like doing in a bathroom. I told you when I invited you over the bathroom is loaded with everything you need... toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, everything. It's not there for decoration, so use whatever you want."

"You do know you're starting to enjoy this way too much."

"Ya but I've never had anyone faint in my entry way before either so I'm going with the new experiences."

"Now you're just being exasperating."

"Ya but I told you what to do about me and any feelings of exasperation."

"Give you a pass and grant you a bottomless supply of understanding?"

"Yep pretty much."

"Can we just go to your bedroom now?"

"Sure. This way my good man."

"And no sucking up. I already like you enough."

Turning to the right out of the room Cory had put Chris in he walked past the top of the stairway and through the open door. "Okay this is my bedroom."

"Damn Cory, I thought the other bedroom was big. This one is more than twice as large."

"I had it made by combining two bedrooms from the original house along with part of the hallway and then remodeling the entire thing to meet my needs."

"Ok so how many bedrooms does the house have?"

"Five. One for me, one for my Mom and Dad and three guest rooms."

"Are you planning to entertain a crowd?"

"No. The house came with six bedrooms. I combined two. What do you want me to do start slicing off parts of the building?"

"Nah. So far it's good just the way it is. So when are your Mom and Dad going to be home?"

"Ummmmmmmmmmm... they're not."

"They're not? What's that mean?

"It means that my Mom and Dad don't live here. They just come to visit me every once in a while.

"Visit?"

"Ya... as of my 18th birthday this will actually be my house. The small amount of stuff they have here will be moved out sometime next week."

"Cory I don't understand. How could you not live with your parents?"

"Our relationship is complicated and..."

"Something I'll have to explain" Chris said at the same time as Cory.

"Ok let's not do that a lot. It's freaky enough when Trent and Troy do it Chris, I don't want to get into the habit."

"You do know that at the rate you're racking up the 'explanations' we're going to be up most of the night."

"Hope not. I get up at 5:30AM just to get to school on time."

"You mind if I look around your room?"

"Feel free. I'll grab you a t-shirt and a pair of team shorts and then I'll make us dinner."

Cory walked over to his dresser and pulled out two pairs of Branson football team shorts and two matching AE pocket tees. He then turned around to lay them on his bed.

"Cory?"

"Ya Chris?"

"Why do you have a stick in a plastic box on this shelf?"

"Chris that's not a stick it's a wand."

"There's a plaque that says 'holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple' and a signature underneath the stick.

Walking into his closet Cory started to take off his clothes, putting what he'd worn down the laundry chute and his shoes into their cubby. "Wand, Chris, it is a wand."

"Okay so why do you own a wand."

"It was gift from my Mom and Dad on my 11th birthday. It's what is called a 'hero prop' from 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'. Which means it is a prop that was used by the actor during filming. In the story, a wizard gets his first wand and becomes a first-year at Hogwart's on his 11th birthday."

"Kind of an odd gift isn't it?"

"Chris I know you are crazy about anime and even draw it. That's why you're doing the design for the new Branson Swim Team gear. Are you telling me that you've never read the Harry Potter series or saw the movies?"

"Nope... and whose signature is under the stick, sorry wand?"

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... I guess I'm going to have to show you a few movies besides Star Trek. I can't believe you grew up in this generation and haven't read or seen the Harry Potter series."

Cory walked out of the closet in just his gray AE Performance Trunks carrying the Warrior gray Coxswain shoes he planned to wear after he put on the t-shirt and shorts.

"Sorry Cory, I mean I've heard of..." just then Chris turned around and saw Cory in nothing but underwear walking toward his bed. He turned beet red in seconds. "OMG!"

"What's wrong Chris are you going to faint again?" Cory asked in a sudden panic.

"Ummmmmmmmmmm... no" Chris got out in a choked voice. "I've just never seen you..." his face began to blush an even deeper red and he began to sweat a little "...like that before."

"I think I better put some clothes on before you faint. Why don't you go in my closet and grab some shoes to wear. The casual stuff is in the last five vertical rows."

Cory grabbed a pair of the team shorts he'd laid out and slid them up his legs and then put on the t-shirt and shoes.

"Ok Cory" Chris said walking past him.

"And thanks for the compliment" Cory chuckled as his eyes glanced down to Chris' crotch where his hard cock was clearly visible.

"FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK I'm going to die of embarrassment."

"I don't believe that actually ever happens Chris."

"I might be the first."

"Please don't. Jaxson would get upset if I buried your body in the backyard. He'd keep trying to dig you up."

"I don't believe this" Chris said from Cory's closet.

"Now what?"

"No wonder you gave me those Nike's. I think you own more shoes then were on display at the sporting goods store."

"That is a major exaggeration."

"Not by much."

"Just pick out a pair of shoes, please. I need to start making dinner."

"Ok ok ok... geez, I just didn't know you were such a shoe freak."

"I am not a shoe freak. I just happen to own a large number of shoes. I have one indulgence in my life, that's hardly something to call home about."

"I don't think I'd dare. There are more shoes in there than we got in our whole house. No one would believe me."

"Then maybe you shouldn't TELL them."

"Wow... sensitive. And I'd never tell anyone that you are a shoe freak Cory."

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."

"But I might call Trent and Troy. I think your genetic anomaly is acting up."

"Do I need to tweet out about what you were showing off a few minutes ago?"

"On second thought, I think we'll keep this 'shoe freak' thing between the two of us."

"THANK YOU! And the signature is Daniel Radcliffe's."

"Signature?"

"Under the wand!"

"Oh. Will you explain that too?" Chris said giggling.

"OUT!"

Chris smiled back at Cory as he picked up the t-shirt and shorts and walked back toward his room. Cory stopped at the top of the stairs. "I'll be in the kitchen. Go to the bottom of the stairs and take a left. Dinner is going to be a while so try on the gear we got tonight for you and separate out what we're going to turn over to Coach Morin in the morning."

"Yes QB!"

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."

"Hey I'm just trying to be as respectful as Trent and Troy."

"How about being you instead?"

"Ok I'll try that."

Cory headed down to the kitchen as Chris went into the guest room. Jaxson was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs and stuck by his side. Opening the big refrigerator he pulled out all the ingredients for dinner - most of which Maria had prepped for him from a list he'd emailed her before he left for school.

After washing his hands, Cory took the lid off the container of peeled and cubed Yukon Gold potatoes and poured off the water. He then dumped the potato cubes in the perforated insert pan of the Wolf Steamer. Rinsing out the container Cory filled it with filtered water and poured it to the appropriate level. Turning the steamer on high he left it to hit temp as he turned to the other ingredients.

Removing the cover from the two eight ounce Lobel's Natural Prime Filet Mignons that had been delivered by FedEx while he was at school, Cory used paper towels to pat them dry and set them aside to come to room temperature.

The final thing he finished prepping were the vegetables. He dumped the asparagus, biased sliced zucchini and yellow squash into a stainless steel bowl while he left the Chanterelle mushrooms in the container which Maria had put them.

With all his ingredients ready Cory walked over to check the table. Maria had already set it with tablecloth, cutlery, a white porcelain charger and a very masculine autumn floral centerpiece that Stephanie had undoubtedly arranged for him. Satisfied with how the table appeared Cory walked back and looked in the warming drawer, finding the two plates that he knew Maria had put in before she left.

Cory noticed that the steamer had come up to temp and he lifted the lid to drop in the perforated pan loaded with the cubed potatoes. While those cooked he pulled out a saut‚ pan and small sauce pan. The saut‚ pan he put on the range top while the sauce pan he carried over to the refrigerator and poured in about 1/2 cup of milk. Cory then put it on the back warming element of his Wolf range and turned on the exhaust hood as he knew it would shortly be needed.

As he waited for his potatoes to cook Cory took out a pitcher and filled it with chilled filtered water. Then he grabbed a glass out of a cabinet and filled it drinking about half of it before refilling the glass and leaving it on the counter.

Satisfied with how things were going Cory played the waiting game leaning against the counter.

He looked up from mentally planning out the rest of the schedule for dinner as Chris walked in looking around with wide eyes. "If you say this is the biggest kitchen you've ever seen in your life, I'm going to smack you upside the head even if it causes you to faint again."

Smiling broadly Chris looked at Cory "Ok then to preserve my personal safety I will be silent."

"Good plan."

"But this is..."

"CHRISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

"Oh please I'm just jerking your chain."

"Why don't we get Jaxson more comfortable with you so he doesn't make you drop on your ass every time you come over?"

"Now that's the best idea you've had tonight."

"See where his food and water bowls are?"

"Yep."

"Open the 4th drawer above the food bowl and pull out one of his treats."

"Why are they in that drawer?"

"I have to move them every time Maria makes a new batch because he remembers where I get them from and then opens the drawer and takes them on his own. The Weimaraner is one of the smartest dog breeds around and Jaxson is fully capable of opening drawers. To be honest, I'm positive he can sniff out where I hide them, but it's our game."

"Ok I got one" Chris said.

"Cool kneel down and hold it in the palm of your hand" Cory said as he looked down at Jaxson. "Hey buddy go see Chris and remember he's your friend too."

In his usual fashion, Jaxson gave his dubious look over the reliability of anyone new, but Cory was counting on his dog still feeling bad about scaring Chris and be willing to give him a break.

Walking over to where Chris was kneeling Jaxson decided maybe this blond guy wasn't a potential burglar from hell after all. He leaned down and picked up the treat in his mouth then sat down and put his paw on Chris' shoulder.

"Great. Looks like he's decided you don't deserve to be ripped into small bloody pieces" Cory said happy to connect Chris and Jaxson.

"As someone who likes to have all of his pieces together and unbloodied I consider that a very good thing" Chris said reaching up to pat Jaxon's side as the dog walked off to enjoy his treat. "So what's for dinner Cory?"

"Prime Natural Filet Mignon with olive oil mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables and saut‚ed Chanterelle mushrooms."

"Ummmmmmmmmmm... Cory?"

"Ya Chris?"

"Will you hit me if I ask how come you can cook better than my Mom and Grandmom combined?"

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... you know I don't even hit Hudson Wagner so what makes you think I'd hit you?"

"Well you did just say you would if I said anything about the kitchen."

"Yes and you knew I was joking. As for cooking, every summer from the ages of 8 to 12 I spent school break learning at Le Cordon Bleu in London - and before you ask that's a cooking school that opened in Paris in 1895."

"Wow that's amazing Cory."

"Not really. London is where my Mom mostly lives and where I returned to as a kid when I wasn't at school in Washington, D.C. and living at the house there. Learning to cook gave me something to do while she was gone instead of being alone in the house. And to start telling you something about me, I was born in London."

"You don't speak with an English accent Cory."

"Chris I was born there and only lived there full-time until I was three. Then during the school year I lived in Washington, D.C. which is where I went to pre-kindergarten and grades K through 8. Both my Mom and Dad are American."

Walking over to the steamer, Cory checked on the potatoes. They were about 3/4 done so he turned on the in range gas grill to heat up. He then went over to the steaks and patted them dry with paper towels again before seasoning both sides with freshly ground black pepper. After washing his hands Cory also turned on the oven to pre-heat. Finally, he pulled down a bottle of Columela Extra Virgin Olive Oil from a cabinet.

"Sorry Chris, I'm being a bad host. Would you like anything to drink while you wait for dinner?"

"What are you drinking?"

"Water. But I got in some soda in case you wanted that instead."

"What did you get?"

"I got Pepsi, Coke, 7-up and Thomas Kemper Root Beer. There is also milk if you would prefer that.

"I like root beer so I'll have that please."

"Have you ever had Thomas Kemper?" Cory asked pulling a bottle out of the refrigerator and one of the mugs he kept in the freezer.

"Nope, but I've heard of it."

"It's the best root beer made, at least in my opinion, though most Oregonians prefer Henry Weinhard. And root beer is the only thing I drink besides water." Cory placed the bottle and frosty mug in front of Chris for him to serve himself.

"Then I guess we got something else in common."

"You mean other than you looking good in my clothes?"

"Ya I do don't I? BTW... I didn't try on the jammers because they take forever to put on. But everything else fits cool. The stuff is actually a little tight, but I'll shed weight once I get training again and it will fit perfect fast enough."

"Chris if you need a different size to start don't worry about it. You can keep the gear you got now and move to it once you lose the weight. I don't want you being uncomfortable."

"It's okay Cory, it's not really that far off size it's just a little tight. But I'll dump my extra weight within two weeks of starting to seriously train."

"Okay Chris, you know best."

Checking the steamer again, Cory saw the potatoes were ready. He turned it off and used tongs and a hot pad to pull out the perforated pan and put it in the prep sink to drain. He then used the tongs to put the steaks on the grill to sear and cross hatch.

Cory took out a stainless steel bowl and ricer to mash the potatoes. After he was done he seasoned them with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper before grabbing the now warmed milk and pouring 1/2 cup of Columela Extra Virgin Olive Oil in swirling the two around and then folding the mixture into the mashed potatoes. He tasted them for seasoning, adjusted appropriately and set them aside for a moment.

Turning to the grill Cory flipped the steaks and started to sear and cross hatch the 2nd side. He then opened the refrigerator and pulled out some flat leaf parsley, chopping it and adding it to the mashed potatoes and putting the now finished side dish in the warming drawer. Lastly, he put the saut‚ pan on medium high heat.

"Cory you really do know how to cook."

"Since I'm guessing that means you don't Chris it's good that at least one of us does."

"Ya I guess you're right."

"By the way, we're only about 10 minutes away from eating."

"Good because I'm getting really hungry."

With the 2nd side of the steaks cross hatched, Cory used the tongs to put the steaks on end to sear the sides as he drizzled some olive oil and kosher salt in to the bowl holding the asparagus, zucchini and yellow squash.

Finishing the side sear on the steaks, Cory turned down the heat on the grill and removed the steaks to a metal oven tray sliding them in the now heated oven to finish cooking. He then poured some olive oil into the heated saut‚ pan waited until the oil started to shimmer, dumped in the Chanterelle mushrooms and turned the gas up to high.

With those starting to cook Cory used tongs to put the vegetables on the grill.

"Eight minutes Chris!"

"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM... me hungry."

"BTW... you made a friend."

"Huh?"

Cory used the tongs to point down. Jaxson was lying between the two of them but slightly closer to Chris. "He knows to keep out of my way while I'm cooking, but don't doubt for a second he isn't ready to snatch anything that falls to the floor."

Chris laughed.

With an eye to the grilling vegetables and saut‚ing mushrooms, Cory kept everything in motion. At the two minute mark he checked the steaks in the oven and by touch could tell they were at the perfect rare/medium rare state he wanted. He pulled the tray out of the oven and put it to side to rest sprinkling the top of the steaks with some sel gris.

With the mushrooms browned and the vegetables grilled, Cory combined them in the saut‚ pan and took them off heat. He shut down the grill, range and oven as he added some fresh oil, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper before pan flipping the mix dumping everything into another stainless steel bowl.

"You do know you're helping me clean up after we eat right?" Cory said looking at Chris.

"Ooooooooooh maaaaaaaaaaaaaaan you're gonna make me work for my dinner? That's mean. And I would have offered to help even if you hadn't said anything Cory."

"Thanks Chris."

Cory took the heated plates and mashed potatoes out of the warming drawer and plated up the two sides. He took out a serrated knife and half sliced each filet and fanned them on a plate. Last but not least he reached down in to the refrigerator drawer and pulled out a roll of black truffle compound butter he'd prepared the day before. Slicing off a generous round to melt on top of the steaks.

Cory then picked up the final plates. "Let's eat."

With Chris following him, Cory walked over to the table and put a plate at each place on top of the white charger.

"Enjoy" Cory said as he went to grab the pitcher of water and his glass before sitting down at the table.

The two teens didn't talk about anything very serious while they ate. Chris complimented Cory on his cooking and Cory thanked Chris for being willing to come over and try it. Jaxson just looked disappointed that nobody had dropped anything.

After they finished, Chris walked with Cory and put his plate and cutlery in the sink. "You ready for dessert bud?" Cory asked.

"Sure!" Chris said enthusiastically.

Opening the freezer, Cory pulled out three containers then walked back to the counter to take a sauce pitcher out of the warming drawer. Placing two bowls in front of him, Cory poured a puddle of warm mint fudge sauce in the bottom of each. He then opened the three containers and using a scoop placed rounds of white, milk and bittersweet chocolate ice cream in each bowl topping them with roasted chopped Oregon hazelnuts. He handed Chris a spoon and a bowl then picked up his own bowl.

"Come on Chris, we need to talk."

With Jaxson at his side Cory headed out of the kitchen and backtracked down the hall to the more casual family room. He sat down and waited for Chris to take a place in front of him. Jaxson jumped up on the couch and lay down with his head in his master's lap.

'I'm at the single most defining moment of my life Cathan' Cory spoke to the lost friend of his youth inside his head. 'I could really use your help right now, buddy.'

Cory took a couple of bites of ice cream and let the silky creaminess of Maria's homemade treat roll over his tongue. Then he started to talk.

"I should be better at this since I revealed a lot of what I'm going to say last week to Trent and Troy, but somehow you're different Chris. I guess the first thing you should know is that my real last name - well the last name that is on my birth certificate - isn't Radke, its Arris. My legal last name is, in fact, Radke but that's because I had it changed. So I never lied to you. Hell it even says Radke on my Driver's License so if the State of Oregon says it's true you know I'm not fibbing."

"Arris somehow sounds familiar to me Cory, but right now I can't think why. So why did you change your last name and what does that have to do with all of this?" Chris asked using his spoon in a gesture that encompassed the house.

"I'm glad you think different from Troy. His 'criminal' mind immediately went to the thought that I was in the Federal Witness Protection Program. So you don't compare notes with the twins and then get pissed that I didn't tell you the same thing I told them let me backtrack on one thing. The name on my birth certificate is Cory Michael Radke James Arris. To answer your question, I changed my last name as part of the legal process initiated when I divorced my parents."

"You divorced your parents?"

"Why do people always react the same way to that statement? At least I don't have to hear it in stereo from you like I did when the twins said it."

"Now you're just deflecting."

"Oooooooooooooooh psycho-babble. I'm hugely going to like being around you" Cory grinned at Chris.

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."

"What did I say about stealing my lines? That's two royalty payments you owe me now. I'm liking this... it could become a major source of income for me."

"No changing the subject and I thought you already liked me."

"You're wearing my clothes Chris of course I like you, and I'm not changing the subject."

"So how did you divorce your parents and why?"

"I hired an attorney to file a court petition to have me declared an 'Emancipated Minor'. In essence I've been an adult since I was 13 and could make all my own decisions as a result. You had to wait until you hit your 18th birthday to become an adult" Cory said sticking his tongue out at Chris.

"Like that's real grown up."

"I know, but I did it just for the thrill factor. Usually a person can't file for emancipated status until they reach 16, but my parents agreed to not contest the petition and, in fact, supported it so I got through on technicality. Plus I had a really good attorney, but never tell Steven I said that."

"Ok by me since I don't know who Steven is. So you told me the how but you still haven't told me the why."

Cory stood up slowly to allow Jaxson time to move his head. "The why relates to St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. Give me your bowl and I'll go clean up in the kitchen. You go up to my room and grab my tablet out of my pack bring it down here and Google it. Then I don't have to repeat things."

Chris handed over his bowl and Cory and Jaxson left to go back to the kitchen. After cleaning up everything and loading it in the dishwasher Cory opened the treat drawer. Jaxson was immediately at his side. Cory knelt down and wrapped his arms around his dog. "Thanks Jaxson for accepting Chris. I just hope he does the same for me after he knows everything."

Jaxson licked his face and then took the treat. He may not have got two dinners, but multiple treats were an acceptable replacement.

Leaving Jaxson to munch his treat, Cory walked back to the family room and took the same seat he had been in previously. Chris was busy reading stuff off his tablet.

"Are you an idiot or what?" was the first thing Chris said.

"Ooooooooooooooookay" Cory laughed back "not quite the question I was expecting. Would you care to expand on that thought?"

"St. Albans is completely unbelievable. It has great facilities, small classes and what looks like a constantly challenging learning environment. It has almost twice the number of faculty for 500 students that Branson has for its 1400. Why would you give that up for Branson?"

"Don't you think you're worth it?"

"Cory you just met me this year and have been at Branson since you were a freshman. Yes I think I'm worth it, but you didn't come to Portland expecting to meet me."

"That's true."

"So why?"

"I came to Portland and Branson to escape myself. It's the reason I forced my parents to accept emancipation. They wanted me to stay at St. Albans for the same rationale you can't believe I left. But I couldn't stay at St. Albans."

"Cory WHY couldn't you stay at St. Albans?"

"Because my world died."

"What are you talking about?"

"I finally understood it as a result of the kiss we shared in the Charger when I got to your house."

"Because of my kiss?"

"Slow down tall blond one. I'm not endowing your kisses with super powers, at least not yet. But it did help me fully comprehend a part of myself that I had locked away. Well, more accurately, hidden."

"Locked away?"

"You do realize that mindlessly repeating the words of others is an initial sign of impending insanity don't you?"

"Hey I'm not crazy."

"Then maybe it's the result of all the chlorine and pool chemicals your body has absorbed over the years."

"Excuse me. But this conversation is supposed to be about you explaining stuff Cory, not delving in to the effect of pool water on the minds of swimmers."

"Oh alright. But you do realize you're cramping both my ability to charm and humor by keeping me on task."

"I'm willing to risk it Cory. So what did you lock away?"

"Actually I corrected myself to describe it as hidden and it wasn't a 'what', it was a 'who'."

"Whom did you hide?"

"Wow I'm impressed by your grammar skills Chris. Not at all what I'd expect from the intellect of water logged swimmer, and the answer to your question is Cathan Byrne."

"Cathan Byrne?"

Rather than point out to Chris that he was, again, repeating what Cory himself had said he just started to recount the five years he had shared with Cathan at St. Albans in all the detail empowered by that freshly opened door. Most important, Cory shared what those years had meant to him with an understanding that his nearly 18 year old mind was able to relate. His brain had processed countless memories over the last few hours and all of them were laid bare - to Cory and in his telling to Chris.

Cory didn't hold anything back or embellish and he barely noticed when Jaxson returned to his place on the couch next to him with his head this time resting on Cory's abs in an instinctive act to comfort his master.

As Cory told Chris about the accident and Cathan's death in his arms he could see the tears first form and then begin to freely flow down the blond teen's cheeks. A part of him wanted to go over to comfort Chris, but a greater part of him needed to liberate all the pure, raw emotion he had held back for so long.

Cory could still distinctly remember the darkening of Cathan's eyes as the Angel of Death stole the boy he now knew he had loved. He had so wanted to keep Cathan with him - to keep the binary star they had been in eternal orbit. The helplessness Cory had felt as Cathan's soul had left his body reverberated not only through him but through his remarkable words sent it unintentionally slamming into Chris.

But nothing could stop the tale that Chris' kiss and Cory's own fully realized and processed memories had unleashed.

After Cathan's death St. Albans had remained a center of learning, but it had also become a living tomb. No place on the huge campus had been exempt from the amazing energy that Cory and Cathan had generated together. And so no place on campus was empty of a memory of Cathan for Cory.

In the same way that heaven had removed Cathan from Cory, it was now Cory's turn to move heaven and earth to expunge himself in self- defense from St. Albans. Cory's remarkable mind had continued to complete his school work at the same time it generated the plan to remove him to a place of safety.

By sheer force of will and the single minded energy of his lonely orbiting sun, Cory forced his parents to accept emancipation and his plan to transform himself from Cory Arris to Cory Radke. Though Cory didn't know it, the counselors he had been sent to after Cathan's death and during the emancipation process had advised that unless Cory was allowed to chart his own path he would likely tear himself apart.

And so his Mom and Dad had not only grudgingly relented, but also became accessories to the plan.

Cory had moved to Portland and into the house his Dad had bought and submerged himself in the anonymity of Cory Radke and Branson High School. That anonymity allowed him to not only obscure his past at St. Albans but also his true feelings for Cathan.

Cory's body, mind and feelings however never stopped their ceaseless natural process toward full maturation. Cory's self-imposed hermitage and the power of the door he had erected between his Branson self and his St. Albans self had kept him safe but entirely alone.

In their own way, Trent and Troy had felt the door that Cory had within him because they each had their own door protecting their individuality from the natural duality that was the result of their being twins. The unrivaled friendship the three shared had likely been the result of that mutual need for self-protection.

But while they had subconsciously recognized Cory's door they never had the power to penetrate it. They had sensed Cory's loneliness but not reason for it or the key to unlocking it.

No one did.

Until Chris.

With a single kiss Chris had blow the door Cory's 13 year old mind had constructed to pieces and forced his older self to face, understand and accept what he had been unable to 4 years earlier. To learn the true lesson of the synchronicity Cory had shared with Cathan.

If Cathan had lived and Cory had stayed at St. Albans that first kiss would have probably been shared between them as they grew and explored each other's bodies as their younger selves had explored each other's minds.

Cory would never know Cathan's true sexuality and at this point it didn't matter. By the actions of Fate, it wasn't Cathan who had let loose that part of Cory but Chris.

And that's where Cory stopped talking.

Lovingly stroking his dog in the way that had consoled him since the two had been joined by Aaron Rocha, Cory waited for Chris to react.

"Ummmmmmmmmmmm... wow."

Cory guffawed in a way that startled Jaxson and didn't stop until he had tears running down his cheeks. "That wasn't quite the reaction I had expected."

"For someone who said my kiss didn't have super-powers I think your words just proved otherwise."

"Somebody sure is putting them self on a pedestal. And I think what I said was I hadn't assigned it super-powers 'at least not yet.'"

"Ya I think that's what you said too" Chris admitted.

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."

"I was agreeing with you how did that deserve an ughh?"

"It just did. Call it an emotional release if you want."

"I guess I got the 'why'" Chris said sniffing back the last of his own tears "but you haven't really explained this" he said pointing up.

"The second floor?"

"Without incurring a third royalty payment to you, I think you know what I mean."

"That part is easy. My grandfather was a very successful businessman who left me a trust with more money than any one person could imagine spending in a lifetime. My father has been an even more successful entrepreneur who has tripled the size of my trust and is daily adding to it by building a company that has surpassed what my grandfather created exponentially."

"Sooooooooooooooooooooo???"

"The money I spent buying you and Rich those phones wouldn't even count as a rounding error. It also explains why my Dad insisted that I have Aaron Rocha ss my on-site Security Chief and why I have a military level guard dog capable of making you faint for a pet."

"Ummmmmmmmmmmm... wow."

"Keep that up and you'll have developed your own line Chris."

"Thanks Cory."

"No charge."

"Would it be okay for me to ask a question?"

"What other appellation would you put on everything you been asking tonight? And I already said you could ask anything you wanted."

"Cory are you gay?"

For about 30-seconds Cory's eyes fixated identically to how they had during the drive to the mall and then he smiled in that way that always melted Chris' heart.

"Yes I am."

"You can't be."

"Ummmmmmmmm... I'm pretty sure I can."

"But you're Cory and the quarterback of the football team."

"Chris while the first part of that description is true. I'm not sure how the second part is determinative in my decision of whom I choose to share an emotional and sexual relationship."

Chris started to blush wildly as he realized what he had said.

"So you finally got hit by how weird it sounds for one gay man to tell another gay man that he can't be gay, huh?" Cory smirked.

"Yah... I'm sorry about that. It was kind of a repeat of the argument Rich and I had when I came out to my family - he said that a 'big brother' can't be gay."

"Think you proved that one wrong, bud."

"So are you and Brandon dating?"

"WHAT? Where did you get that from?"

"Well... ummmmmmmmmmmm... from... ummmmmmmmmmmm... from stuff that you, Trent and Troy said at school."

"Chris you are completely off beam. Brandon is the PSU film student my Dad hired to vid my games so he and my Mom could see them. He also does the vid the Coaches use for review. Yes, he is a friend and he picks up Jaxson here and brings him to the stadium for me. Brandon is also straight and has a girlfriend that he's crazy about though both Jaxson and I think that he likes her a lot more than she likes him. Ain't that right buddy?"

Jaxson looked over at Chris and shook his head yes then yawned and put his head back on Cory's abs.

"I don't know where you got that idea from Chris, but Brandon and I are definitely NOT dating."

"That's great!"

"You were jealous of Brandon!" Cory said astonished.

"Ummmmmmmmmmmm... was not" Chris blushed out again.

Cory looked down at his dog. "Jaxson is Chris telling the truth?" Jaxson looked up at his master with a 'why are you asking the obvious' look on his face and shook his head no. "See even Jaxson knows you were jealous. He's my four-legged lie detector."

"Hey that's no fair."

"It's simple. Don't fib and he won't detect it."

"Still don't think that's fair" Chris grumbled.

"So are we done with the inquisition or do you want to pull out the thumb screws over something else? BTW... on your stereotype that all football players are straight I know that there is at least one gay player currently on the team and I think there is a second. Pretty certain that one guy is bi- too."

"What? Who?"

"Chris you know I'm not going to tell you that because it's not my business to tell anybody stuff like that about anybody but me. And in case your brain is even going in that direction, it isn't Trent or Troy so purge that thought."

Chris blushed yet again.

"You do know you look really cute when you blush."

"CORY!!!"

"Well you do."

"Ya but I'm just getting used to the idea of you being gay, it's still tough to have you thinking that I'm good looking."

"You're certainly good looking, but definitely more hot and sexy."

"CORY!!!"

"Why are you getting on my case? You're the one who was very visibly showing upstairs that you think I'm good looking."

"You weren't supposed to see that."

"Chris it was kind of difficult to miss. I was going to say hard but I thought that would make you blush. Oooooooops, I said it" Cory said looking amused.

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."

"That's three you owe me. Ok follow me. I got some other stuff to show you. Uhhhhhh... Jaxson? I'm getting up bud." Jaxson gave Cory an 'oh brother can't we stay in one comfy place' look but rolled over and jumped off the couch.

With a wave for Chris and Jaxson to follow, Cory headed out of the family room and across the entry hall to the den. He found the updated plans and drawings that Aaron had mentioned along with a data disk. "I know what this is! Come on Chris you're gonna love this."

Pounding down the stairs to the basement Cory pointed out the fully equipped gym and locker-room and then walked Chris next door to the media room.

"Oh brother, does this house ever end?" Chris grumbled.

"Quit griping. I didn't even show you the 5,000 bottle wine cellar. Please take a seat in the first row, I've got to load this up." Going to the media cabinet, Cory slid in the data disk and grabbed the special control tablet. "One of the companies my Dad owns is a large construction firm - it's building the new Columbia River Bridge right now. When this room was built special software was included so he could review plans. Mostly he just sends me files so I can see what Saeth Construction is doing."

"I thought we were going to watch a movie?"

"Talking took too much time so we're going to have to watch the movie some other day. Besides, this is gonna be TONS cooler." Cory rubbed Jaxson's head as his puppy lay down between the two teens to watch what would be on the screen.

Using the control tablet, Cory first dimmed the lights and then brought the full wall projection system online.

"FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKK this is like being in a theater. Do I at least get popcorn?"

"Ya if you want to go up to the kitchen and make some. You can make enough for both of us."

Chris made a face like he was moping at Cory for not volunteering to make him popcorn then smiled.

"There is a THX Home Theater designed sound system too, but I doubt any of this has music. You ready?"

"Is there a way to get ready for whatever you're going to show me?" Chris asked.

"Probably not so just hang on for the ride. There's an animation listed in the file log so I'll play that. I haven't seen any of this either so it'll be fun."

With a tap on the tablet's start button the animation began. It was shot from the perspective of someone walking out the back door. Cory was impressed that the plans had been fully rendered with accurate lighting and shadowing - it almost looked like a Pixar movie. There was also a soundtrack, but just soft environmental noise and water noise from the hot tub and lap pool.

Cory guessed that the animation had been prepared by the swimmer- architect that Charlie had hired. There was a small amount of motion bounce as 'you' walked across the pool deck and stepped on the starting platform. Then a pause as 'you' got in position a voiced "get set" and a buzz to start the race. A realistic sound of 'you' hitting the water and then moving both below and above the surface was included. 'You' raced to the other end did a flip turn and reemerged to continue the race. At the end 'you' impacted the touchpad and then looked over to a race display for 'your' time.

After checking 'your' time you got out of the pool and walked over to the glass-sided hot tub to step in and sit down. The tub was as fantastic looking as Cory had hoped and sitting in the hot tub you got a full view of the competition lane lines, backstroke flags, in-pool lane guides and turn targets with the open area for recreational use.

The animation looked over to visualize the glassed lap pool then 'you' stood up and stepped out. Walking over to an in-deck marker and pressing on it with your foot caused a circular pylon to emerge from the deck. There were controls on the pylon and 'your' hand worked them to close the glass pool enclosure and engage the heating system. Eight other pylons surrounding the pool emerged from the deck and there was the sound of blowing air as the system heated the now enclosed space.

Finally, the animation showed 'your' hand on a fingerprint ID system that glowed green upon approval. 'You' looked over as a portion of the deck sank and then pulled away exposing a staircase down. Walking down the steps 'you' entered an underwater viewing area with LED under lighted benches facing a large horizontal window.

'You' walked past the window to first look at and then use an electronic keypad to 'open' a heavy-weight security door that showed a view of the hallway connecting the media room, gym/locker-room and stairs back to the main floor of the house.

However, instead of going that direction 'you' turned around and walked to the end of the pool where another large horizontal viewing window was placed along with more LED under lighted benches.

'You' passed this window to another keypad locked door that led into a pool equipment room full of pipes, filters, treatment media, a natural-gas fired heating plant and a ladder to an access port that Cory knew came out in the backyard.

That is where the animation ended.

"Freaking hell" Chris exclaimed wide-eyed and open mouthed. "That is the most amazing competition pool I've ever seen in my life. Where is your Dad's company building it Cory?"

"Actually Saeth Construction isn't building it Chris. It's being built by a company owned by a Seabee buddy of Aaron's. And it's being built right overrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr there" Cory pointed to the left and slightly back. "In fact, construction starts tomorrow at 7AM."

"You're building a competition pool?" Chris yelled.

"I'm not going to be building it. I think Charlie has got over a hundred guys lined up to do the actual work."

"Why are you building a competition pool?"

"For you to train and practice in Chris."

"WHAT?"

"Remember that 'suspend disbelief' mantra you were repeating at the mall. Now might be a good time to begin repeating it" Cory said smiling at the astounded blond.

"Suspend disbelief... suspend disbelief... suspend disbelief."

"See it helps doesn't it?"

"Cory you can't build a pool."

"Are we back to the same 'can't' you threw at me when you said that I couldn't be gay?"

"You're building a pool."

"Ya pretty much" Cory said. "You know I should trademark that line too. I use it a lot around you."

"You're building a pool."

"Not just a pool. There's a hot tub, lap pool, motorized glass enclosure, heating system, race timer display system and apparently a two-sided underwater viewing area as well. That was new. I hadn't seen it before. If Charlie arrives before we leave for school tomorrow, I'll have to ask him about it. Cool idea though."

"You're building a pool."

"Chris you do know that's the third time you've said the same thing right?"

"Yes, but I keep thinking if I say it enough that I will begin to comprehend it."

"I don't know it is that tough to comprehend. You needed a training and practice facility that was available at convenient hours. I have the space, so I'm building a competition-level pool. It will have a filtration and treatment system that's designed to allow Jaxson to swim in it as well. Maybe you guys could race. I should warn you though he'd be upset if I didn't root for him to win so you're just going to have to be understanding on that point."

Jaxson looked up from where he was lying on the floor between the two guys turned toward Chris and nodded yes.

"See told ya" Cory said smiling.

"And this is what it is like being your friend?"

"At the risk of repeating myself in the same way you have been... ya, pretty much."

"Is there anything else going on that I don't know about."

"Mmmmmmmmmm... I don't know how to answer that one Chris because I don't what you don't know. So maybe the rule between us should be if you have a question, you ask it. That way I can tell you what you want to know. Make sense?"

"I guess so."

"Cool."

"Can you turn the lights up please?"

"No problem" Cory grabbed the tablet and raised the lights.

"May I ask you a question Cory?" Chris asked looking at him.

"Think we already covered that one. Yes you may. And once again, points for the proper use of grammar."

"Are we dating?"

"Since I've never dated anyone I'm not totally certain what the proper procedure might be. I'm willing to learn. I guess the real question is do you want to date me?"

"Yes please" Chris enthusiastically answered.

"Ok. Then we're dating. I guess it helps that evidence proves you find me attractive, but then I find you very attractive too."

"You do?"

"I haven't bulged out my jeans around you yet. But then I haven't seen you in your underwear. So gimme time and I'll catch up."

"Okay that's fair."

"And I should probably also tell you that besides not dating anyone I haven't done anything with anyone - so yes, the Branson High School varsity football team quarterback is a virgin. The truth is the full extent of my sexual experience with anyone besides me has been the kisses we've shared."

"Really?"

"What you think I don't date people but I have sex with them?"

"No that doesn't really seem like you Cory."

"Good because it's not. Also, I guess we need to have another conversation too. I've told you I'm gay, but nobody else knows. So I hope you'll respect me enough to keep this between us until I can figure out how I want to tell Trent, Troy, Coach Thompson, the team and my parents."

"Cory I'd never out you."

"And I'm not going to hide who I am or that we're dating Chris. I just need to decide the path forward from here. Is that fair?"

"Totally fair."

"Thanks Chris."

"But there's a price."

"Hey you were the one who said I didn't need to buy you as a friend. Are you suggesting that I do have to buy you as a boyfriend?"

"Ya, but my price is cheap" Chris said leaning over the chair arm and wrapping his hand around the back of Cory's head bringing them together in another passion filled kiss. As they traded tongues both teens moaned until they separated panting.

"That's a fair price" Cory said smiling licking his Chris wet lips. "And before you ask if I stood up right now I'd be showing the same evidence of 'attraction' that you did in my bedroom."

"Cool" Chris said with a smug smile.

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."

"What?"

"Don't get cocky or I'll tickle you until you beg."

"Oh no, I'm like deadly ticklish Cory you can't do that to me. I will literally piss in my pants."

"Then I guess you better learn to do what I say, huh?"

"Yes sir" Chris said smiling broadly.

"UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..."

"Now what? I agreed with you."

"Ya but you went way overboard saying it."

"Alright. But I can't help it if I like being around my studly play calling football guy."

"Okay swim boy, it's time for both of us to get to bed. We got a 7:10AM meeting with Coach Morin. I'm going to get up at 5AM and do my regular run with Jaxson then come back, shower, get ready for school and make us breakfast. You should set your alarm for 5:50AM so we can be out of here by 6:45AM. Make sense?"

"Sounds good to me."

Cory stood up and held out his hand for Chris. Walking out of the media room and back upstairs with Jaxson beside them Cory led Chris to the guest room stopping at the door. "Goodnight Chris and thanks for sharing tonight with me. I know it turned into more than you expected, but I promise I'll do everything I can to make you happy and us happy together." He leaned forward to give Chris another kiss.

After they broke Chris had tears in his eyes. "I am happy Cory. Being with you is something I dreamed about, but also something I never believed would happen. I know you've had a lot of sad in your life. I'm committed to imparting you joy."

"Thanks Chris" Cory whispered then gently kissed him again and turned to his bedroom. "Goodnight babe."

"Goodnight Cory."

As he stepped away from Chris, Cory found every step harder to take. He wanted to go back for more kisses - for more of the connection he was beginning to share with the other teen - but Cory knew he had to get to bed. Over the last few hours, he had experienced and processed more emotions then he had over the last few years. And reliving his time with Cathan had been no picnic. Though it took effort of purpose Cory was soon back in his own room mostly closing the door - just leaving it cracked far enough for Jaxson to open if he needed to go out in the night.

With a sigh Cory went to the dresser and pulled out a clean pair of shorts. With Chris in the house he didn't feel it was right to sleep naked. After finishing in the bathroom, Cory went into the closet to strip off his t-shirt, underwear and shorts to drop down the laundry chute and put away his shoes in their cubby. He stepped out naked to put on the clean shorts and climb into bed.

As he rolled on his side Cory saw Jaxson looking at him from his own bed. "So buddy what do you think can I trust Chris to love me the way I need?" Jaxson appeared to think about it for a few minutes. "On second thought maybe I should find out on my own."

He reached over to turn off the light with the darkness swallowing up his view of Jaxson vigorously shaking his head "YES".

Cory was asleep in minutes.

But while his body slept his mind didn't.

He was reliving the animation.

Stepping out of the back door, Cory walked across the expanded pool deck to jump in the water. He wasn't a graceful swimmer like whoever was skillfully completing laps in one of lanes on the other side, but Cory enjoyed the feel of the soothingly warm water that enveloped him as it relaxed his mind and muscles.

Cory could hear the swimmer continue to do laps as he completed his own exercise. Finally, he paddled over to the edge and hauled himself out of the water to sit on the deck. It was then Cory noticed he'd been swimming naked.

Cory leaned back on his hands and let the water sheet off him enjoying the feel of the sun shining through the glass pool enclosure on his skin.

Then he felt it.

First a hand surrounded his cock and then something else - warm, wet and absolutely amazing. In seconds he was hard and with hand and tongue the skin still covering his uncut head was pushed back.

Cory looked down to see a mouth engulfing his cock. It was in equal measure fantastic and glorious.

And it was Chris.

Cory moaned as he slid a hand into Chris' pool darkened blond hair as his swim boy swallowed every inch, his nose in Cory's trimmed pubes and his mouth wide around the base.

He felt as if every nerve in his body was alive and pulsing to the meter of his throbbing cock.

Cory moaned loudly as he thrust into Chris' devouring mouth, but he didn't care. He just wanted to experience more. Cory could feel his bicep peak out as drove Chris' mouth on his cock. His hips also pushed off the deck with a single goal and a single purpose, to bury himself in that stunningly amazing mouth.

The mouth of the man he loved.

They were connected, bonded and united as one.

Then the new sun that has first dimly shone in Cory's universe just hours earlier exploded in a rainbow cascade of light as Cory's cock exploded in Chris' mouth.

It was unending, it was all-encompassing and it was all consuming.

The clock read 2:17AM as Cory came awake with his cock hard and his shorts soaked. He jumped out of bed waving Jaxson back down as he stripped naked and walked into the bathroom. It took a few minutes but Cory eventually managed to rinse out his shorts and then wipe off himself - he wasn't doing it out of personal embarrassment just out of a sense of consideration for Maria and Stephanie.

He then turned off the lights. Took a clean and dry pair of shorts out of his dresser and got back in bed.

This time as he slept Cory smiled.

Author's Notes:

Yes I lied.

In the author's notes at the end of Chapter 5, I promised you a short"er" chapter this time. When I wrote those notes it made perfect sense to me. Chapter 5 had covered two and three-quarter days. Chapter 6 was only going to cover about 5 hours.

So it seemed rational that it'd be shorter.

Wow was I wrong. Chapter 5 was 59 word pages long. And Chapter 6? Well, it's getting posted at 52 word pages.

Let's hope I don't try to write a chapter that aims to cover a week or you'll have to set aside an entire day to read it. LOL

After Chapter 5, one reader emailed me with positive comments but a complaint that story Cory was "asexual." I realize I know more about story Cory than any reader because I have a narrative arc planned out for HBTM that completely eviscerates the concept that Cory is asexual.

To a point, I can understand the reader's opinion. The argument he was making was that since story Cory hadn't even beat off a single time in five chapters there was either something wrong with him, or he was completely void of any sexuality.

One imagines any number of readers suggesting that Cory go to a Doctor for a prescription of literary Viagra.

However, if you combine what you learned in the last part of Chapter 5 with this chapter you recognize that while story Cory is a fully functional and emotionally mature 17 year old the door he put up after Cathan's death prevented him from "connecting" to a single individual of either gender.

The fact is that I always imagined that story Cory regular beat off throughout Chapters 1-5, but he did so for physical release only. Now, I certainly could have described that but it would have interfered with the reader's understanding of the character far more than it enlightened.

Until the door in Cory's mind that led to St. Albans and Cathan was blasted to pieces by Chris he had - by force of will - blocked the processing of both those memories and the emotions inherent in his past.

That's all changed guys. And if the end of Chapter 6 didn't prove that nothing will. :-)

And, yes, the note at the end of Chapter 5 "promising" a sex scene was carefully worded. As I mentioned to a couple of readers I in no way said that both CnC (my shorthand for Cory and Chris) would be in the same bed at the same time - at least not physically.

At least not YET.

In this case they were, but only in Cory's cum dream.

Now the guys are together. But there are still spills, chills and plans yet to be experienced, uncovered and discovered. Cory's 'good' friends Hudson and Colin Wagner are hard at work (ominous music plays).

So watch out for Chapter 7. There's a lot more to come!

In both iterations of the word. ;-)

To take a look at the regularly updated HBTM story blog go to (as an FYI, I've added three new things this week alone and got more in the pipeline)...

www.cory08online.tumblr.com

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Thank you for reading HBTM. I have readers across the globe (literally) and I appreciate ALL of you.