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This story takes place in the same universe as `Ian's Extra Credit,' also available here on Nifty.
"Oh my god Liam. What happened to you? Who did this? What were you doing laying in an alley?" I blurt out a series of questions, overwhelmed.
Liam pulls himself up more, I place a few pillows behind him so he can sit back. "Give me a minute Eli. I hurt all over."
Liam is filthy and pretty ripe. My Liam is never like this. Always impeccable in his grooming. I remember how he usually smells. Delicious. This smell ain't that. I go to the bathroom and run the tub, adding some bubble bath. I don't leave him alone for more than a minute.
"Can I have some water Eli? I'm so thirsty." Liam asks.
I pour him some water from the pitcher on my nightstand. He struggles to hold it but manages to drink the whole glass down.
"Thank you. I can't believe this Eli. I almost gave up on ever finding you."
"Finding me? You were looking for me? Your dad said you hated me. I thought you never wanted to see me again." I say, my eyes moist.
"What? Oh god Eli. No. I never hated you. My dad did. He blamed everything on you. He said that I was damaged almost beyond repair. The only way to salvation was if I went to a special retreat where they fix us. Eli, when I heard that I could be cured of this, get rid of these feelings, I wanted to go. I wanted to be normal. I really believed it would make me all better." Liam confesses.
"Liam, are you able to stand up? Let's get you cleaned off. Come with me." as I lead him to the tub. I help him to undress, cautious of his bruises. I undress as well and get into the large tub, helping Liam in. We sit in the warm, bubble filled water. My back to the end of the tub and Liam's back to me. I place my arms around him and squeeze him so tight. I don't want to ever let him go again.
"So what happened, how did you end up in an alley?" I ask while cuddling.
"This feels so good Eli. The hot water and being with you. Well, at first it was okay. There were eight of us there from all over. I remember that the first week we were allowed to call our parents, or they could come visit. The food was great, the place was nice and clean. We did a lot of Bible study and praying for redemption. They talked about love and marriage, children, families, shit like that. They said we should love ourselves but hate our behavior.
Well after that week it all changed. No more contact with anyone outside. The meals turned into slop, we were given one blanket to sleep, the mattresses were gone. The quiet study was now hours of being screamed at, berated, made to feel like garbage. They hit us every day. Whippings, beatings. Eli, look here," as he points to his dick. I notice an inflamed red area on his junk. "They placed these things on our dicks and showed us pictures of naked girls and naked boys. If we got a stiffie when looking at the girl pics we earned rewards. If it happened when looking at a naked boy they shocked us. Dozens of times a day. It fucking hurt so much. So one night I took off. I decided I wasn't going to get fixed, made better. I don't even know who or what I am sometimes but I wanted to be with you Eli. I love you. I don't want anyone to take that feeling away."
"But how did you end up like this Liam? How long ago did you run away?" I ask.
"I took off a week ago. I went directly to the city because I thought I would find you there. I had a bit of cash hidden in my stuff and it wasn't too bad. I ran into this cool kid who let me sleep in his car. The car doesn't run but it's nice to have locked doors at night." he tells me.
"Old ford mustang in hideous green?" I inquire.
"Yeah how did you know?" Liam asks.
"That is Owen. Good kid. He is protective of new boys. I like Owen." I tell him.
"Yeah but do you know what he does to make money Eli? It is like fucking gross. He has sex with old dudes. And he talked me into trying it. He said it was the only way for boys like us to make any money. He told me that you did it. I know that's not true. But I was really hungry and this guy pulled up and asked if I wanted something to eat. I thought sure. We picked up some burgers and stuff and drove to a park. After we ate this guy just zips down his pants and pulls out this huge, fat dick.
He told me to suck him. Fuck no. I told him that I didn't want to do that. I wanted my first time to be with you Eli." I die a little in this moment. "He said okay, just finish your drink and we'll get going. I think there was something in my coke Liam. It tasted strange. Well then he started screaming that he had already spent three dollars on me and I owed him. He tried to push my head down on him but I pulled back. That is when he started beating on me, over and over, his fists just kept pounding. I don't remember anything after that until I woke up in this room. How did I get here. You found me didn't you?" Liam asks.
"No, a couple of friends were in the city and some kid lead them to you. It must have been Owen." I tell him.
"Where are we anyway Eli? This room is amazing. It must be one of those fancy hotels right?" Liam asks.
"No Liam, this place is called Phoenix House. We are way out in the country, away from all the bullshit. We're safe here." I tell him.
"Well I'm glad that asshole beat me, I wouldn't have ever found you if he hadn't. It hurts like hell but it's worth it Eli. I missed you so much. I thought that if I could be cured I would stop loving you. It hurt too much. But nothing made me stop." Liam tells me.
"What's wrong with me Eli? Why do I like boys? Why do I love you so much?" he cries.
"There is nothing wrong with you Liam, nothing. I like boys. I love you. Is there something wrong with me?" I ask.
"No Eli, you're perfect. You're perfect." Liam says.
God no. Far from perfect. How will I tell him that I couldn't save myself for him. I wanted to so much. I had no choice. I'm in over my head. I'm just a kid. I need Mike and Blake.
"Let's wait until morning to talk about everthing Liam. You need a good nights sleep." I tell him, helping him out of the tub and handing him a gigantic, fluffy towel. After drying off we climb into bed together. Our first night with each other. Within minutes I hear gentle snoring. With my arms wrapped around him we drift off.
The early morning sun awakens me, along with a really strong urge to pee. After relieving myself I look out the window towards the oval track. I notice Blake is doing an early morning run. Quickly donning some sweats and a t-shirt I head downstairs and outside. The air is crisp and cool. I approach the track just as Blake is finishing his run.
"Morning Bean," Blake says with that gorgeous smile. "How is our new guest?"
"Blake, that new guest is Liam, my Liam." I inform him.
"Holy shit, you're fucking joking. How did he end up there? I thought you said he was okay at home." Blake says.
I fill Blake in on Liam's story. He listens intently, the only words he speaks are words of encouragement and postitivity. Liam wasn't out there long and so his healing journey may go fairly quickly. He never turned a single trick. Which brings me to...
"Blake, how am I going to tell him, you know, about me. He took a beating because he wanted me to be his first. I'm nothing more than an old cum dump." I moan.
"Bean, you are one of the most wonderful young men I have ever met. Don't beat yourself up over what you had to do to live. We've talked about this. None of you decided you wanted to prostitute yourselves. You had no other option. If Liam loves you the way I can see you love him it will be okay. He will understand. If you want me to be there when you tell him just ask okay buddy? You have Liam back again. What were the chances of us being there at that exact moment. Something magical Bean. Hey a magic bean. That's funny." Blake says, giving me a bear hug, always diffusing tension.
He's right. One minute earlier or later and Liam may not have been found. He could have died out there. I have him back. Anything else will be okay.
As I return to my room I see Liam standing, his naked back to me, looking out the window.
"Who is that guy Eli? You don't have a boyfriend do you?" Liam looks like the tears are going to flow.
"No Liam, god no. You are the only boyfriend I want. The only one I've always wanted. That was Blake, one of our house dads. He and his boyfriend Mike brought you here. I was telling him the amazing news. I talked with him and Mike a lot about you. How much I missed you. How I wanted you to be my first for everything." I tell him.
"Liam, I have to tell you something and I hope you won't hate me. You were the first guy I did anything with, but, well, there have been a lot of other guys. I wanted you to take my virginity but that was taken by a 40 year old guy named Earl. I love you Liam. Can you forgive me?" I beg.
"None of that happened Eli." he says, tears staining his face. "None of it. Owen told me that you did those things but it never happened. If you did it you had no choice. But you didn't do it. With anyone. That is what I want to believe about you Eli. Please, let me believe that we are each others first, for everything. The time we were apart doesn't matter to me anymore. I thought I would never see you again. You are all I thought about."
"Liam, you are the first boy I loved. The first I did anything with. If you want to believe the way you do about me okay but I will never lie to you about my time on the streets. I love you and only you. But I've done some awful things Liam. Gross, disgusting things. But never did I feel love for anyone. It was just sex. I'm so sorry Liam. I wish I were perfect but I'm really not. I don't want to be with anyone else but you ever again." I tell him.
"I love you Eli. I just don't really want to know right now okay? I can't imagine you doing that stuff. You're just a kid, like me. Can we just pretend that none of this ever happened and just be together. Like we were headed before your dad caught us. Please. Knowing that other stuff and thinking about you having to do that makes me really sad. How long can I stay here Eli? I guess I'll have to go back home."
"Get dressed Liam. Let's go meet the others." I tell him before we head downstairs.
As we enter the dining room I notice the boys have taped up on the wall papers with the lettering: "WELCOME HOME LIAM!" I have the best friends in the world.
"Home, what do you mean?" Liam asks, very puzzled.
"Liam, you can stay here as long as you wish." at this point a little white lie. They only had a few days. "If you choose this is your home. You are safe here and we all work together to make a better life. Don't worry about your dad. Right now he is being questioned by the police regarding that conversion camp he sent you to. We have a friend who was able to sign an emergency custody order. Not quite kosher but what the fuck right?" Blake says.
"I can stay here? With Eli?" Liam asks, uncertain if the offer is genuine.
"With me Liam." I say.
"So another little whore joins us." Skip says.
What happens next is very out of character for me. I lunge across the table, grabbing Skip by his collar. My momentum carries us both to the tiled floor, where I reach back, fist clenched, about to connect with Skip's nose. Blake grabs my elbow and pulls me off of Skip, pushing me away.
"What the fuck was that Bean? What the fuck? You know we don't tolerate any physical violence here." Blake is in my face. "Get a grip. Breathe Bean."
I collapse into Blake's arms crying non stop. He holds me tight as my body trembles. I haven't felt this shitty in a very long time. Skip is one of my closest friends. How could I do that?
"I'm sorry Skip, sorry guys. Liam isn't like us okay? Just don't call him things like that." I say through sobs and tears.
"No, I'm sorry Bean, sorry Liam, I didn't mean anything. You know me. Well you don't Liam. Sorry. Welcome to Phoenix House. Welcome home." Skip says giving Liam a warm embrace.
Skip and I then hug, holding each other for a few minutes. "I love you buddy," Skip whispers in my ear. "I'm glad you found Liam again. I deserved that."
"We have to talk later about your reaction Bean," Mike advises me. He's right.
"Okay Mike, sorry again guys." I say.
We make the introductions as we eat, Liam offering up a summarized version of the last thing he remembers before waking up here. Skip gives me a very apologetic look. We are used to being around kids like us. Liam, fortunately, never got that far.
"How's Owen? I haven't seen him since I got back in town." Skip asks.
"Good, I guess. At least his car is a dry place to sleep. He really wanted to help me find Eli." Liam tells him between bites.
"Who's Eli?" Skip asks.
"That's me Skip. I'm Eli. Didn't you know my name?" I can't remember if I ever told him.
"Nope, you're just Bean. So, that's cool Liam. You ended up finding Bean, or Eli, and Owen helped without even knowing." Skip says. "Hey can we bring Owen here? He's a really nice kid. His mom used to pimp him out for drug money. So when he escaped that he used the only skill he could sell at his age, he's 15 or 16, I'm not sure. But he's really good with cars. That is why he keeps that old piece of crap around. He has been fixing it up over time but parts cost money and he had his tools stolen a couple times."
"Boys? Owen? On the list?" Blake asks to an enthusiastic response of yes.
"Well guys, I think this weekend has been busy enough. We planned to start with just you and Jesse, Bean, but now there are four of you. Tomorrow we will head into the city and start searching. In the meantime you can think of where to best look." Blake says.
"Monday morning? I know exactly where he will be." Skip says confidently. "He will be living here by tomorrow afternoon."
"Let's go for a walk Liam, I want to show you around. Is that okay with you guys? I'd just like to have some time alone with him." I ask.
"Of course Bean, you guys have some catching up to do." Blake says.
Liam and I head to my, our, room to get changed. As we head out the door I pick up a file folder that is protecting my sketch. When we are a short distance away I stop.
"Liam, look, look at the oval track, the building, the trees. Okay, now do you remember the sketch I was working on? The place I wanted to escape to?" I ask.
"Yeah, that was a really good one Bean, I liked that place. When you would talk about it it just sounded so nice." Liam says, clearly remembering our times together.
"Liam, look." I hold up the sketch as he looks towards the residence. "I know it is fucking weird but this is where we are supposed to be."
"Bean, this is the place you said you would take me. This is the drawing. You said you saw us together here in your dreams. It looks exactly the same. How did you know?" Liam asks, perplexed.
"I don't know Liam, but it tells me that whatever happened to me, whatever happened to you, it was meant to happen so we would end up here together. God, Liam I'm so happy now. Since I met Mike and Blake you were the only thing missing. Come on. The grounds of this place are beautiful."
"I'm scared Eli. I just know that my dad will take me away from here. Then what will we do? This was your dream and so it's my dream too." Liam begins to cry.
Fuck, he's right. I know Blake and Mike have someone that can help hold things off for a few days but what then? Blake seemed pretty determined but, hey. I wonder?
"This way Liam, I want to go see someone." I say leading Liam behind the residence and towards the large house looming in the distance. I have no idea what I'm doing but I know that the kid, what's his name? Chris, yeah, he started all of this. And he has like some power or something. I'll do anything. What will I say?
As we round the large grey metal building I see Chris just leaving it and heading to the house, a coffee cup in his hand. Jesus, I mean this kid looks just like us.
"Chris!" I call to him.
"Oh hi, Bean right? And I don't think we've met, I'm Chris," as he shakes Liam's hand.
"Chris, this is Liam, my boyfriend. Can I talk to you for a minute. It's really important." I plead.
"Sure guys, come on in, coffee?" Chris says, welcoming us into his kitchen and pouring us steaming hot coffee. Smells good.
"Where are the other guys, don't they live here?" I ask.
"Yeah, Ian is in his garage, the others are in the dance studio. So what's up?" Chris asks me.
Liam tells Chris his story. Chris, listening intently doesn't show much expression although his face seems to be a bit redder than it was before.
"Just sit for a little guys and relax, I have to have a chat with someone." Chris says as he presses the button on the intercom panel. "Hi Reg, I need you in my office, now."
Chris heads down the hall. I hear a door open and then slam. Hard.
About a half hour later I hear the door open again and Chris' voice telling someone, "Whatever it takes, you have free reign, but keep it tidy." Chris returns. His color normal.
"Sorry to keep you waiting guys. Listen, the order Blake has will protect you for the week. I have someone looking into a few things. I'll do whatever I can to make sure you can stay here Liam. Don't worry okay? It will all work out." Chris tells us. Weird, this rich kid is real. Like he really does care.
"Thanks Chris, losing Liam again is to scary to think about." I tell him as we head out the back door. Walking across the large lawn I wonder if this is where his helicopter lands. The kid has a freaking helicopter. I tell that to Liam who shoots me a `yeah right' look.
We take our time wandering around, tossing pebbles into the large pond, sitting by the babbling brook, the only sounds from the water and a couple of birds chirping and rustling the leaves in the tree above us.
"This is really nice Eli. It's so quiet. I'd really like to give you a kiss right now but..." as he points to his bruised face.
"It's okay Liam. I would love to kiss you too but I've waited this long, I can wait a bit longer. Come here." taking him into a tight embrace. This feels so perfect. I will just have to trust Chris. I really like him. He's so nice and normal. Different though. Sometimes he seems like a kid and other times like a super smart adult. I've never met anyone rich before but he is not what I expected at all. And he has a helicopter.
"And Liam, what you said about us being each other's first, for everything. Let's pretend that's true. If you can I can. I know it is the way I wish things had gone. And I never wanted to be with anyone else. I love you so much Liam." I stand and yell, at the top of my voice, "I am so fucking happy and I love Liam!"
"Come on baby, let's get back to our house." I grab his hand and we run together towards home. God this looks so gay. Seems right.
Returning home Blake greets us in the doorway.
"Hey guys, where were you off too?" he asks.
I tell him about our visit to Chris.
"Well, it's okay Bean but I wish you had told me first. Actually a good idea. I'm not too proud to accept help. Chris has access to assets I don't, but keep me in the loop, okay buddy?" Blake asks, his smile letting me know all was okay. "I should give Chris a call to see what the plans are."
We head to the kitchen where Jesse, with Skip's help, is preparing a feast.
"I thought it would be fun to celebrate Liam's arrival. And a regular Sunday night family dinner would be nice, I think." Jesse says with excitement.
"Can we help in any way?" I ask.
"Nope, Skip and I got this. Why don't you show Liam the pool?" Jesse suggests.
"There's a pool here? Let's go Eli." Liam says.
Holding Liam's hand the entire time I lead him down to the pool. As soon as the door is opened the humid air envelops us.
"God this is amazing Eli." Liam says, his voice echoing off the marble walls. "I can't wait to go swimming but right now I'm kind of tired. Can we go and take a nap? I feel worn out."
"Of course Liam. The doctor that checked you out for Mike and Blake said you would need some rest. Come on. We can swim anytime." I assure him.
We head upstairs to our room where we undress and climb into bed.
"I love you so much Eli. So much." Liam tells me. Some of the swelling is going down.
"I love you too Liam. I always have." I tell him as we snuggle up close and begin to dream.
I wake up with my body wrapped around Liam. So cozy. I watch him sleep. Sometimes his lips flutter a bit when he breathes out. He's so cute. Mmmmm. I feel so good. As quietly as I can I get up to take a leak. "FUCK!" I scream at the table leg, grabbing and squeezing my throbbing big toe. Then I start to laugh. All of us kids here have been badly beaten yet a stubbed toe hurts more than all of that.
"What's wrong Eli?" Liam asks.
"Just stubbed my toe Liam. How are you feeling?" I ask, brushing hair out of his eyes.
"Better thanks. I was just so tired but I feel good now. I don't even hurt much anymore," he says, rising and letting out a yelp. "Well, that still hurts. I have to pee." as he walks, half chubbed, into the can. I can't wait to taste him again but we want to wait until he has healed more so we can have a really special night together. It's so hard.
We dress and head downstairs for dinner. The smells reaching my nose cause my stomach to growl. We arrive in the dining room just as large bowls and platters of food are placed on the table. The six of us, our family, sit down to a green salad, Caesar salad, garlic bread and spaghetti with the most enormous meatballs I've ever seen. Skip and Jesse make a great team in the kitchen.
"How is everthing guys?" Jesse inquires. "I made the bread, sauce and meatballs. Skippy did the pasta and the salads. His first time."
"Great job guys, this is delicious." Mike says, nods of agreement all around. Skip beaming with pride.
"Liam, why are you the only one that calls Bean, Eli?" Skip asks. "Everyone calls him Bean."
"We've been best friends since we were three so I knew him as Eli long before he got the nickname Bean. It's just what I'm used to I guess." Liam answers. "And I like being the only one who calls him that. It feels special." I melt a bit.
"Well guys, enjoy your evening. We have a big day tomorrow so make sure to be well rested. Especially you Liam. You have to take things easy for a few days." Blake tells us as he and Mike head off to their apartment. "Goodnight guys, thanks for a wonderful dinner." Mike says waving goodnight.
Skip and I clean up and load the dishwasher. I hated doing this at home but here it's kind of fun to work together. Once done I make a suggestion.
"Why don't we go to the games room. Let's see if we can beat our scores."
Jesse and Skip dash between games, yells and squeals of joy coming from them both. Liam is playing pinball, I'm standing behind him, my arms enveloping him, my head on his shoulder. I find myself unconsciously nibbling on his neck.
"Hey, that tickles," Liam says, squirming in my arms, giggling.
"No making out in the games room guys. That is disgusting. Ewwww." chides Skip, getting us all a bit giggly. Four teenage boys, feeling safe. Knowing we can be ourselves. Tomorrow we start to share this with others. Other kids that have not had a decent night's sleep maybe in years. I want to get every kid off the streets. But like Blake reminded me, we can't help everyone but this will change the lives of the boys we can help. For me, that is good enough. I love life again.