Second Chance, Chapter 17
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This story contains descriptions of love and sexual fulfillment between people of the same gender. If possessing or reading this kind of material is illegal where you live, please leave this site at once.
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Chapter 17
Toward the middle of the week, Blake came over to the house in the early evening. He wanted to treat Eric and Josh to dinner on Friday night for helping him get his job, if their dads were willing to let them go.
Ben and Scott had no qualms about their sons going out with Blake and Reese. They figured that the college guys were less likely to lead the boys astray than kids their own age and it was good for them to have gay friends to socialize with.
Blake thanked the guys again for finding him employment. Although he admitted that some of the kids at the county club were brats, he was actually having a very enjoyable time teaching them to swim. The boys were eager to prove that they could perform the strokes and kicks that he demonstrated, and the girls seemed to want to please him as well – probably because they had crushes on him.
The kids were easier to bear than the parents. A few of the mothers were staying to chat with him while their kids were getting changed. He felt like a piece of meat in a cage of hungry lionesses and was doing his best to dress in trunks that wouldn't encourage them to stare at his body.
The two or three fathers that brought their offspring tended to hang out in the bar until lessons were over. They treated him in an aloof manner, just as they would any "hired help".
All things considered, it was a great job because Blake was making more than he did at the hardware store for fewer hours, and he had benefits in the form of free use of the club's facilities.
Near the end of September while reading earlier entries in his journal, Eric reflected on how truly happy he was for the first time since he was a little kid – before his parents divorced. He was enjoying school more than he ever remembered. The courses were more demanding than the ones he'd had in Illinois, but he was eager to meet the challenges. His increased mental development was almost tangible, especially in writing. The evidence was there when he compared his current work with what he'd done only a few months before.
Eric's body was also developing. Both he and Josh were working out in the weight room on a regular schedule and that was paying off in better defined muscles and more endurance in the pool.
A large part of Eric's newfound contentment had to do with his relationship with his dad. He could not believe how awesome his father was turning out to be. He rued the years that he'd spent ignoring his dad while not having a particularly close relationship with his mother either. If he hadn't been such a spoiled, materialistic brat, he might have seen through her earlier. It had taken the miracle of camping out away from civilization and getting to know his "Tigger" to change his life.
The biggest factor in Eric's new life was Josh. Josh was his special friend in many ways. He was not only a considerate lover, but also the guy who kept Eric on an even keel emotionally. Josh encouraged him in his writing efforts and helped him become more adventurous. He also taught him self- discipline, mainly through example. And, Josh could take on the role of a cuddly stuffed animal when Eric was simply in the mood to snuggle. "Tigger" was a good nickname for him.
After the first frost, there were several days of Indian summer. It was the earth's last hurrah before turning cold and hibernating under a blanket of white.
The best fall weather was predicted for the weekend. With parental encouragement, the two boys planned a two-night camping trip. They decided to go back to the lake where they had gone just before school started. They invited Dylan and Garret to go with them.
Dylan's mother, Beth, was pleased to have Dylan go. She felt that it would be good for him to revisit the place where he'd been shot in order to help him heal emotionally. She thought too that paddling in a canoe with friends might strengthen him physically more than his therapy exercises. He'd be working his arm and shoulder while enjoying the experience of being out with his buddies. His counselor agreed that he needed to face his nightmare in order to get past it.
Aaron was rather bent out of shape that he wasn't asked to go since he had been swimming with the rest on the relay team. When he complained to his mother, she did not take his side. She explained that Josh had consulted with her before inviting Dylan to see if they should include Aaron. Beth had insisted that her sons needed to do some special things with boys in their own class and that since Aaron was already invited to a birthday party on that weekend he couldn't go anyway. It wasn't right to back out of an earlier commitment just because something came up that he'd rather be doing.
Dylan showed up shortly after dismissal time on Friday with a canoe strapped to the top of his mother's SUV, gear stashed in the back, and Garret riding shotgun. Josh and Eric were securing their new canoe on the top of Josh's pickup when the other two arrived.
They drove straight to the lake, making only one pit-stop along the way. Josh and Eric knew where they wanted to set up camp, so it didn't take long to get there and to put things in order.
Daylight savings time was still in effect, allowing enough hours of sunshine to prepare dinner and clean up before it got dark. Despite all of their camping experiences together, Eric was still somewhat in awe of Josh's ability to be so at home in nature. He noticed that Dylan was equally capable. Garret, like Eric, hadn't been in scouts and tended to let his tent-mate take the lead while he assisted as much as he could.
The frost had killed off the mosquito population and most of the other flying pests. Therefore, the boys were able to sit around the campfire clad only in their underwear toasting marshmallows and making s'mores without being bothered.
Their conversation revolved around school – beginning with the swim team.
"I'm going to challenge Aaron for the spot on the relay squad as soon as formal training begins. My arm doesn't hurt at all from canoeing across the lake today. I've worked hard for the past two seasons and I deserve a shot at it. My little bro will have plenty of time to shine after I graduate. Besides, he's getting way too big for his britches, as grandma would say."
"Don't be too hard on him, he's just a kid." Garret said.
"I'm easy enough on him. After all, I've saved his scrawny ass several times when older guys wanted to kick it! I probably shouldn't run interference for him, but he IS my brother."
"I think it's great that you protect him," Eric responded. "He may need all the help he can get since he came out so publically a few weeks ago."
"He's never really been in the closet," Dylan stated. "Even when he was a little kid, he was playing doctor with other little boys instead of little girls. He doesn't seem to have any qualms about letting the world know. When I read letters on the editorial page of the Tribune written by people who claim that being gay is a choice or has something to do with a kid's environment, they make me laugh. If they'd have grown up with Aaron they'd know how full of bullshit they are!"
"So, you think that sexual orientation is an inherited trait?" Eric asked.
"Sure. I KNOW it is."
When the last rays of crimson faded from the sky, the boys bid each other goodnight and crawled into their tents. Eric and Josh zipped their sleeping bags together, shucked their undies, and climbed in to snuggle. The evening air was beginning to cool and they felt chilly now that they were away from the fire.
It didn't seem prudent to make love when the tents were so close together that their friends might hear them. They did, however, fall asleep with their hands holding each other's stiffy.
Their slumber was deep and undisturbed except for once in the night when someone cried out. It was short-lived and Eric and Josh went back to sleep without rousing to full consciousness.
Josh awakened in the morning to the sound of someone taking a noisy leak against a nearby tree. He looked out of the window flap to see that Garret's hard dick was the source of the sound. He nudged Eric, who was rousing, so that he didn't miss the show. They grinned and called each other "pervert."
Moments later, they were out watering the same tree. Garret's extended flow had motivated their bladders to follow suit. Dylan joined them about the time they were shaking off the last drops. Since they were often naked or semi-naked around each other, the three were pretty casual.
After a hearty breakfast, the guys prepared to go exploring. Dylan said that he wanted to go to the big island first because he wanted to get that out of the way. He admitted that he'd had a nightmare about the incident as recently as last night.
"I don't want you guys to get any wrong ideas, but Garret held me until I stopped shaking. It wasn't gay or anything."
Garret blushed profusely at Dylan's telling about the incident. He hadn't wanted his other friends to know.
"I think it's really cool when a guy can comfort a buddy without being embarrassed about it," Josh told them. "Our society is way too hung up on what's gay and what's not. Guys can care about each other without its having anything to do with sex. It's like fathers and sons or brothers might do."
Garret looked a bit relieved, but kept his eyes focused on the ground and didn't say anything.
Dylan's paddling slowed down as he approached the place where he'd nearly lost his life over a month ago. It was as if a sense of dread were paralyzing his muscles. He got a look of grim determination on his face and began to stroke more rapidly again. Before long, the boys were beaching their canoes.
There were no signs of blood anymore, but Dylan walked directly to where the accident had occurred. He said that the images of particular trees were etched in his brain from when the first shot hit him.
"I was right here. The guy with the gun was about two feet from where Josh is standing and the dude he was trying to shoot was almost beside me on my right. Wow! I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, alright. Eric, you and Josh were really smart not to have accepted the invitation to party."
"I've been to pot parties and I knew how they can end up. I only tried it once, but that was enough to convince me that I didn't like it. It just made me stupid!" Eric admitted. "It also made me hungry."
"Yeah, I had a similar experience," Garret admitted. "I will say that it made me horny as hell."
"Hey, you're 16; the smoke from a campfire would be enough to make you horny!" Dylan quipped.
Garret blushed and turned away looking toward the lake. Josh and Eric exchanged a quick glance.
The four of them explored a couple more small islands before trying their luck at fishing near one of them. Like the last time Josh and Eric were there, the fish that might have made good eating were too small and the larger ones were bottom feeders that were bound to taste like lake algae. As they sat on the island eating the lunch they'd packed, they agreed that canned stew would taste better than the bullheads from this lake.
Saturday night, the boys noticed that theirs wasn't the only campfire in the area. There seemed to be a sizeable bonfire going on the big island. If the noise coming from that location was an indicator, there must be a party going on. Dylan shook his head sadly. His memory of getting wounded was being stirred up again.
It might have been an hour later, when several motorized boats converged on the party island. The boys were concerned that this might turn into an even bigger gathering which might disturb them most of the night. However, as soon as the bullhorn came on it was evident that the authorities were making a raid. There was quite a bit of activity for a short while and then the whole lake became still except for the sounds of motorboats heading toward the opposite shore.
"Wow, I wonder if some of the same people were there!" Dylan said. "I heard from my cousin that no one came out here to party for weeks after I got shot. They figured that the sheriff and the DNR were all watching the place. Maybe they were. I'm really glad I'm here with you guys tonight instead of being over there."
"We are too," Josh exclaimed as he squeezed Dylan's shoulder gently.
"I agree," Garret added as he gave Dylan a half-hug with his arm around his buddy's waist.
"I'm glad it turned out okay for you," Eric agreed. "I really feel bad that you were hurt. I know that we met that way, but I'd rather it had been through swimming."
"Look on the bright side," Dylan grinned. "By visiting me in the hospital, you got to know my bratty brother better. I thought he was going to follow you home and lick your boots or something else!"
"He does come on a little strong," Eric admitted. "But you can't dislike the kid."
"Not unless your name is Jake."
The fresh air and exercise had relaxed the guys so much that they were ready to sleep shortly after the noise on the lake had ceased. They all crawled into their sleeping bags and Dylan fell asleep almost before his head hit his small camping pillow.
Eric and Josh lay awake because they were feeling horny. It was difficult to be lying in the sack naked and not do anything about it. They couldn't resist kissing. Kissing was like lighting a fuse on a keg of dynamite. Josh lay on his back and pulled Eric on top of him so that they could have full-body contact while making out. It felt awesome, of course.
The soft sound of snoring made them bolder. Eric used his toes to give him leverage as he moved his body slowly back and forth over their trapped cocks. That stimulation along with deep kissing sent them toward their desired goal rather rapidly. Both gave little gasps as the pressure built up in their loins. With a stifled moan, Eric unloaded his pent-up store of juice. He didn't stop moving, however, until he felt Josh's tool swell and begin to spew too.
They couldn't help giggling at the mess they had made. Eric made a grab for his underwear to mop up. It would seem that once more they hadn't been prepared. But in fairness, they had only intended to make out.
In the next tent, Garret heard the giggling and wondered what the other boys were up to. Were they engaged in what he'd like to be doing, or was it his overactive imagination? He turned on his side and laid his arm across the chest of the boy sleeping next to him.
Sunday morning was especially warm. After breakfast, Josh suggested that it was a great day for sunning one last time. The others agreed. After striking the tents, the boys used the plastic sheets that had been under them to lie on. Josh casually stripped and lay-face down naked on his towel. Eric followed suit. Dylan shrugged and did likewise. Garret blushed as he turned away to remove his shorts. Then he quickly lay on his stomach to hide his growing excitement.
Josh had thought to bring sunscreen, figuring that there might be a chance to lie out. He got it and coated Eric from head to toe, including his buns. Eric did the same for Josh before passing the tube to Dylan. Dylan and Garret applied the lotion to each other's backs where they couldn't reach, but didn't do anything more than that. Garret hurried to finish because he was beginning to bone up again. His face turned as red as if he'd been sunning for hours. He hoped that no one would notice his problem.
Eric saw it and wondered what, if anything, it indicated. Perhaps it was simply the sign of a shy boy who wasn't used to being naked outdoors.
Had they been camping alone, neither Eric nor Josh would have dressed until they got close to the other shore. But for the sake of their straight companions, they pulled on their shorts.
They all agreed that it would be best to row across the lake to their vehicles and load everything before eating lunch. That would give them plenty of time to drive home before dinner. Dylan had a partial assignment to finish for Monday, so he was eager to hit the road. Garret seemed especially sad that their weekend was coming to an end. All decided that they should do more activities like this when the weather permitted. It had been a fantastic time.
As they were ready to leave, Dylan hugged each one of his companions beginning with Josh and ending with Garret. He thanked them for helping him face the source of his nightmares.
Josh and Eric were surprised that Dylan was so demonstrative. It gave them a warm feeling that he was not afraid to express his affection for his buddies. Garret was amazed too. He was left breathless by the encounter.
The two vehicles stayed together until they got to the city. Dylan turned off to take Garret home and Josh went straight toward the house where he and Eric lived.
"Do you think that Garret is one of us?" Eric asked as they lay in bed that night. "His body language made me think that he might be."
"I've been wondering about him too. He seems to idolize Dylan. I think he has a definite crush on him, but that doesn't always mean a guy is gay. I mean, you can have a kind of hero worship without its being sexual."
"Yeah, but did you see him get hard after putting lotion on Dylan's back?"
"I saw it. It was pretty impressive, too!"
"Do you know lots of gay guys at school?" Eric asked. "You've known some of them quite a few years, right?"
"The only one I know for sure is Aaron because he's so out. Maybe the three of us are all there are."
"Dude! If there are 2,000 students, give or take, then there must be about 200 who are like us. If half are lesbian, that still leaves 97 males besides the three we know about. I think we should make it our mission to discover some of the rest."
"Well, we could go to the gay/straight alliance club meetings and find out who some of our brothers and sisters are. It wouldn't necessarily out us since Dylan goes. We could be there to support Aaron, I guess."
"Aaron might come onto me more if he saw us there. I'm not sure I'm ready to fight him off." Eric joked. "I might not have the strength!"
"He'd better leave you alone, or answer to me!"
"You have no worries, Tigg. You are in my heart AND in my bed tonight. Want me to practice rubbing lotion on your body?"
"Oh yeah!"
Author's notes: Thanks as usual to those who emailed since last posting. These include: Scott J (re: Tales), Dave J, John McD, Baruch, Tony W, Danny F, Jim We, Richard Y, Tom A, Jim C, Bill (TX), Paul R, Mark H, Tim E, Vanyel, Mel, and Rutabaga.