Copyright 2001. Disclaimer:
a) The following story is a work of fiction, and the rights of this series belong to its author.
b) If you are breaking one or more of your local laws by reading this, don't read any further! And,
c) Hope you continue to enjoy the story!
Chapter 9-Popcorn, Anyone?
Kara and I sat on barstools pulled up to the kitchen counter, drinking coffee together. It was one of those rare, quiet moments when Jase and Chris were out having fun, work was over for the day, and Kara and I could just sit and talk. She expressed curiosity about Eric's sudden change in mood.
"Just a problem or two we helped him work out, that's all."
"You don't say. . ." Kara looked appraisingly at me over the rim of her coffee mug, and, I decided, was probably thinking how best to get me to talk.
"Must have been some problem, eh?"
I met her eyes briefly, then looked down into my mug.
"Ah, you know, just the usual teenage stuff." I was avoiding the question, and she knew it. I began to fidget under her stare.
"I heard him talking to Jesse--" She let the question hang in the air, waiting for my response.
"Oh?"
"You know, something he, Jase, and you all have in common--"
I ventured a guess. "You mean, like, how we're all guys, and have hair on our chests, and that fascinating thing between our legs, and stuff like that?" She rolled her eyes as I smiled and took another sip from my mug.
"No, but nice try. If you aren't going to come right out and say it, then I'll just have to pretend I don't know. "
Kara helped herself to another cookie from a bag of them on the table, and munched it thoughtfully. "Although, Chris will figure it out pretty quick, especially if Eric starts hanging out with you guys more."
"Maybe. I guess we'll be one big happy family, right, Kara?"
"Happy? Sure. There's just one thing I can't figure out though-if you guys don't breed, why do we keep getting more of you?" Now it was Kara's turn to grin, and I grinned right along with her.
"Good one, sis-good one. I'll have to remember that."
Jase and Chris came back from their outing, sweaty from whatever it was they had been doing; Chris seemed excited that Eric was coming over, and asked if he was planning on staying over.
"Don't know, hadn't thought about it." Jase had run off to shower, and I was hoping to join him.
"He can have the top bunk, and I can show him my skateboarding video, and all of my finger board collection, and-"
I raised a hand to ward off this nonstop stream of enthusiasm. "I think Eric will be staying up way past your bedtime, maybe he can come over early some other night."
"Oh, ok. . ." He seemed crestfallen at this announcement, but then got a hopeful look on his face.
"Tomorrow, maybe? What if he stayed and then we could get up the next day and then do something, how about that, Uncle Zach?"
Chris wouldn't take no for an answer, a trait he shared with most kids his age. I mentally went through my list of vague responses and finally opted to go with, "Well, maybe one of these days."
"Awesome!" With a jump, he turned and ran off to make plans.
Jase helped me straighten up so we could watch the movie in the relative peace of our room; it was big enough to hold a couch, and TV stand and a couple of other thingsin addition to the regular items of bedroom furniture. Cozy, mind you, but it felt large with windows on two walls. Jase sat down in front of the TV to go through the videos we had and held a few titles up for inspection.
"How about 'Broadway Damage'?"
"That's a good one." I liked the scene where Robert plays the song he wrote for Marc, and also the part where Marc realizes he's in love with Robert.
"Here's 'Trick'-that's a great one."
"Yeah, but we watched that one not too long ago." It was worth watching just to see Tori Spelling's character sing 'Enter You' at her friend's music-writing workshop.
"Right." He put it back in the cabinet.
"Ok, then how about 'I Think I Do'. Eric'll love it."
"Sounds good to me." I kneeled next to him and put my arms around him, giving him a kiss on the top of his head.
"What was that for?" He half-turned and looked at me quizzically.
"For being you, and for caring."
"Well, ok-but I'm not the only one here who cares, I think."
Eric arrived around 8 pm, having called us first to ask if he could spend the night. He wanted to ride over on his bike, but then didn't want to ride home again and back for work. Jase checked with me, and told him sure, we could just open up the couch. I didn't mind, and it was kind of fun having a guest for a change. He brought the bike upstairs with him and took it up to the roof for safekeeping. I went with him, and we took a moment to enjoy the view-at night the lights from the bay form a continuous chain from the northern point near downtown to the fishing pier at the end. There was a nice breeze, so we sat and rocked on the swing together for a few minutes.
"Thanks again for inviting me over."
"No problem, Jase and I have been looking forward to it."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I think we've developed a soft spot for you, although we can't figure out if it's in our hearts or in our heads."
He laughed at the remark, and shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I'm flattered, then."
Going downstairs, we found Jase sprawled across the bed, watching 'Whose Line Is it Anyway' on the comedy channel; you could hear him laughing before we even got to the door. On the TV, one of the comedians was holding a pair of large comma-shaped foam pieces, the goal apparently being to use them in as many sight-gags as possible. For the current one, he held the two pieces parallel to each other on either side of himself with the points down calling it an "escalator to nowhere" and pretending to climb onto it. Way funny, you couldn't help but laugh.
"Anyone for a snack?" The vote was for chips and salsa, so I went out to the kitchen to get them. When I got back, Eric had joined Jase on the bed, sitting cross-legged and looking down at him while they talked. Since there was no way they were going to eat in my bed, I made them follow me to the floor in front of the couch and put down the tray.
"We usually drink water, so that's what I brought."
Eric took the bottle gracefully, without complaint. "S'ok, it's not like I was expecting a beer or anything." He grinned.
"Although. . .if you've got some--"
"Check the mini-fridge, Eric." Jase pointed to the corner. "And bring me one too. Zach, you don't mind us having a beer, do you?" I leaned back against the couch, one leg stretched out in front of me.
"I'll stick to water, but no, you guys can do whatever you want."
"Anything?" This from Eric.
"Don't even think of it." I reached out and pulled Jase to my side, putting my arm across his shoulder protectively. "It's taken a few years, but I finally managed to tame this one for my own."
Eric handed Jase a beer and, since he was up, started the movie. Initially, we all sat on the floor, but moved to the couch to get more comfortable. At one point, Eric grabbed a pillow from the bed, then brought it over; he threw it across my lap, a smile on his face, then stretched out so his head was on the pillow and his feet across Jase's legs. Good thing he was short, or he might not have fit between the arms of the couch. I looked over at Jase, who winked at me, and shook his head. The three of sitting on the couch together would have made for a great picture, and I suddenly wished someone could take it. I had lots of pictures of people I liked in little frames scattered around the room, to keep their memory fresh in my mind.
As movie came to an end, the two friends rode together on a train towards their future, one sleeping with his head against the other's shoulder in peaceful slumber. I glanced down, and Eric had done the same. Jase had an arm across Eric's legs, holding them steady, and I had one under his arm and draped across his chest. He was breathing slowly, regularly; his face relaxed and looking much like the character on the screen, who had found peace at last.
We looked at each other, and Jase reached out to stroke my neck with a finger. "I think we did the right thing, babe-he looks so happy."
I murmured back, sleepy myself. "Yeah, I think we did, at that."
"Do we dare move him?"
Eric stirred, rolling onto his back and crossing both arms on his chest. "It's ok, I'm still awake-just tired, I guess. Felt good to close my eyes. You guys going to bed now?"
"Pretty soon, what do you want to do-take the couch or sleep with us?" Jase lifted Eric's legs and stood up, stretching and yawning as he made the offer. "Gotta go brush my teeth, you need to take a shower or anything?"
"Yeah, guess so, since I rode all the way over here. I'll make it quick."
I let him sit up before making my way out to the kitchen, and stopping to pet the Beast, I put away everything and did dishes. By the time I was done, and had changed into my pajamas, Eric was back all freshly scrubbed and smelling of soap. He wore boxers, but nothing else, and I couldn't help but admire his body as he jumped onto the bed saying, "last one in's a rotten egg!" I dove for the bed, and beat Jase, who had been taken by surprise while pulling his shirt over his head. He, too, had opted for boxers, which left me the over-dressed one in my pajama bottoms and baggy shirt. 'When in Rome', I thought, and pulled off my t-shirt, tossing it onto the floor.
Pugsley was at the foot of the bed and Eric was between us as we lay down and turned off the light; you could almost hear his heart beating fast. We lay on our backs, staring up at the ceiling, and after a moment Eric spoke up.
"Hey, thanks for. . .well, for--um, you have no idea how nice it feels to just be held." He blurted this last out, apparently hard-pressed to put what he was feeling into words. I think I knew what he meant, it's isolating to be gay and alone, and I remembered those days well. Fortunately for me, since I met Jase that feeling has never come back.
Jase rolled onto his side, facing Eric and turning him towards me. "Snuggle up, everybody move in--that's an order."
Eric's warm body pressed into me, his chin against my shoulder, and Jase's arm went across us both. Eric put his arm down my side, and let it lay on my hip, separated from me only by the thickness of the covers. I let him mold his body to mine, Jase and I both trying to communicate through this simple touch that Eric would never have to feel alone again. We were his friends, and we were going to do whatever we could to be there for him.