The Embarrassment of Riches Chapter Fifteen: The Week That Was
The people, places and events in this story are entirely fictional and any resembelences to real people, real places or real events would be awesome.
MONDAY 23RD JANUARY 2017
"Freedom, at last!" announced Johnnie as he stepped outside; "Smell that fresh air."
"Fresh?" questioned Calvin.
Shieldhall sewage plant was within stinking distance of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, or the Southern General Hospital as it used to be known, and the stench was a problem that had long been lamented. Calvin was rather glad his friend was finally being discharged – for Johnnie's own sake, of course, but also because the smell every time he visited could be sickening.
The two lads walked towards the pick-up point where Victor was waiting. When Calvin had offered to take Johnnie home, what he meant was that he'd persuade Victor to drive him to Glasgow and then take them both back to Stirlingshire.
Johnnie was still thinking about his Consultant's final advice when he as seen that morning. He should expect pain around the incision site of his surgery, headaches, jaw pain, fatigue; reduced mobility with associated back pain, constipation, weight loss and also, temporary reduced motor control. Johnnie had a supply of analgesics and aperients and his GP would keep an eye on his blood pressure.
There was something in the silence that fell between them as the crossed towards the pick-up point that Johnnie felt compelled to fill. Quite why he filled it with such a difficult question was beyond him.
"So, is something going on between you and Daniel?"
"Eh?" asked Calvin.
Johnnie's question and Cal's reaction only served to remind them both of the conflict that had come between them. That Calvin was looking for the real thing and that Johnnie hadn't been seen for the trees.
"Alright, Johnnie?" Victor's voice carried from inside the car, sparing Calvin from answering.
Johnnie and Cal climbed in the back and Cal continued to ponder how he might have answered the question with more than one syllable.
He really didn't know the answer to the question.
"Hi Victor," Johnnie replied; "Thanks for the lift."
The journey only took forty-five minutes during which easy conversation and banter was exchanged. However, Victor had studying to do and was compelled to depart shortly after settling Johnnie back into E.J.'s house.
"Oh, eh, I should maybe mention something about E.J.," Victor said as he was about to leave. "He kind of broke up with Martin a few days ago. And it was pretty ugly."
"What happened? I thought they were like that," Calvin crossed his fingers to complete the metaphor.
"E.J. won't talk about it," Victor replied and although he clearly felt bad for E.J., Johnnie sensed he was a little hurt that E.J. would not confide in him.
Being alone together again was difficult at first; Johnnie and Cal's friendship had melted down and had not yet found a new norm. In an effort to avoid talking about "us," Johnnie brought up another painful subject.
"I've been thinking about Miles," Johnnie said.
His brother.
Cal had touched on the subject the previous week. Today was the day, nine years ago, that Johnnie's brother had died. Less than eighteen months later, Johnnie had been struck for the first time with neurological problems.
"It's been a long time," Calvin replied sympathetically. "You ok?"
Johnnie as too exhausted for grief or tears, rather he felt a profound, energy-draining depression – the weight of everything that had happened ganging up on him.
"I don't know," Johnnie replied without emotion.
Johnnie dropped into the sofa and closed his eyes; Calvin watched him for a minute and then approached, sitting close and put his arm around him. It was an intimate gesture that Calvin wondered about; they had always had a closeness, an intimacy that was both friendly and sexual. Calvin wondered, after the fear he felt for the health of his friend, if things had changed between them. Did he want what Johnnie wanted? Cal had to admit he had felt a prick of jealousy when he had watched Johnnie flirt with his nurse. Johnnie tilted his head onto Calvin's shoulder and left Calvin to reflect on their past, much as Johnnie had done not so long ago.
For Johnnie, thoughts of detention with Mr Carlisle had returned to him.
For Calvin, he was caused to recall a time nearly two years ago, a few months after their tryst with Mr Carlisle...
When you spend the last two years of your time at high school fooling around, fucking around, exhibiting and generally trying to one-up your best friend, it gets hard to keep every event in order.
How had sixth year started? Calvin and Johnnie were both very mature for their age: physically, at least. The first big bet came the week after Calvin had turned seventeen, late in October that year. The common room was where it started; a bet by Cal that he could win a game of strip twister.
Yea, he lost.
Bloody common room.
When he started dry humping the floor and then came on the shoes of those still standing close, Benedict Baird for example, it set a precedent for future wagers. A few weeks later, Calvin had to persuade Benedict to suck his cock; the straight boy fulfilled the terms of Cal's wager with Johnnie and left Johnnie with a forfeit himself.
January rolled around and Johnnie had just turned seventeen when the boys enjoyed a chance erotic encounter with their teacher, Mr Carlisle. It was a conversation after this event that gave Cal an idea for Johnnie's forfeit.
"Wish I'd had a camera," Johnnie had said; "A picture paints a thousand words."
Calvin thought on this, thought about school and photography and how it could be combined for Johnnie's forfeit. It seemed like the perfect thing and Cal was all set to talk to a lad whose interest in photography was renown within the school; in fact the pictures he had taken for an art project had won a national prize. Cal planned to put the lens to a new use.
But the best laid plans of cats and dogs don't always go to plan.
Also, Cal was getting into trouble in English for using mixed metaphors.
"Mr Jilks said he expected better from me," Calvin bemoaned on the feedback from his latest English essay.
"Wow, that almost as bad as: I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed," Johnnie said.
Cal found it hard to tell if Johnnie was being facetious or sympathetic.
"Are you being facetious or sympathetic?"
"Yes," Johnnie replied. "Look, it's no big deal just fix the mistakes he's pointed out. It's not rocket surgery."
Cal hit Johnnie - this time he was defiantly being facetious.
"You know, I was planning your forfeit for today," Calvin said.
"Oh, yea?" Johnnie tried to sound disinterested.
"Yea. I was thinking a photo shoot in the common room. Well, one of us would shoot at least," teased Calvin.
"Oh, c'mon," Johnnie moaned. He wasn't above or beyond jerking off in the common room, not even with a camera pointed at him, but he'd rather not.
"But I've just had another idea," Cal continued. "Let's go fuck in the staff room."
"The staff room? Are you mad? The staff room?" Johnnie replied.
"Yea, the staff room."
"The room where the staff go?" Johnnie clarified.
"That's the one," Calvin agreed.
"You didn't answer my other question."
"No, I'm not mad," replied Calvin.
"The teachers eat their breakfast and lunch in there. They drink their coffee and talk about how awesome they think we all are," Johnnie said.
"Yes?"
"So we can't fuck in there because we'll get caught!"
"Only if someone sees us, which they won't," Calvin responded reasonably; "We'll sneak in right after lunch, missing fifth period. Have a quickie and then go to sixth period."
"Do I have any choice?" Johnnie asked miserably.
"Sure you do," Calvin replied, then mocked; "You can take your frilly man panties off in the common room."
Johnnie stirred beside Calvin, disrupting Cal's reverie.
Johnnie stretched his legs out and gave a pained exhale; it was time for more pain relief. Calvin watched his friend stand and cross E.J.'s living room where he fetched medication from one of the bags he brought back from the hospital and then made for the kitchen and a glass of water.
When Johnnie returned, he leaned against the door frame and watched Cal; "What you thinking about?"
Calvin didn't want to tell Johnnie he was thinking about the time they had sex in the staff room, it was confusing enough for him that he should be thinking about it. Calvin wasn't ready to tell Johnnie until he figured out whether he had changed his mind and desired Johnnie the way Johnnie desired him.
At the moment, he just wasn't sure about that.
"You look tired," Calvin replied without answering.
"So do you," Johnnie retorted; "I'm going up to my room to lie down for a bit."
Johnnie felt strange living in another man's home and referring to "my room," he wasn't yet used to not living in the university Halls and arsing about, fannying about or generally being a feckless student.
"Johnnie," Calvin said before he could reach the door; "Can I come?"
Johnnie seemed surprised, come to bed with me, he was asking himself? Yet they had shared a bed before without intimate inclinations many times before. For Johnnie it was difficult, given his feelings, but neither could he face turning away the man for whom he held a candle.
"Yea, sure thing."
Calvin listened to Johnnie's breathing as it relaxed and slowed and finally he fell asleep; Johnnie was out cold in half an hour, leaving Calvin to his thoughts...
So, a few hours later the two boys were hiding in one of the guidance offices near the staff room and waiting for the bell to ring. Calvin had bribed someone to find out the code to the lock for the staff room, there was always someone who knew, so all they had to do was wait for it to be empty. The bell rang, corridors around the school filled with activity, including the one just beyond the door that they had locked just as a precaution. They waited ten minutes to be sure the teachers had all left then another five minutes just to be extra sure.
"One – Seven – Zero – One – A," Cal said to himself as he typed the code into the electronic keypad beside the staffroom door.
The little red light turned green, the keypad beeped and the boys were admitted into the inner sanctum. Calvin and Johnnie weren't sure what they had been expecting so they were not disappointed by how ordinary the room was. In the corner, an area for making tea; white boards and notice boards along the walls; several sofas and chairs arranged to huddle around three coffee tables. Finally, at the back of the room, behind a partition that separated the area from the informality they had so far observed, was a long table around which a dozen-plus stiff-backed wooden chairs were placed; a place for them to discuss school business or eat lunch?
"Sofa?" Johnnie asked.
Calvin nodded – their options were sex on the sofa or sex on the floor.
"Naked, please," Calvin said
Johnnie was reticent about being totally naked in the staff room but undressed anyway. Once he was naked and barefoot, Calvin dumped the pile of clothes behind the partition. Cal began to kiss Johnnie and once the intimacy had begun, Johnnie's penis began to respond nicely.
Cal batted Johnnie hands away whenever they made a play to remove his clothing because he liked to be in control; after five minute or so, Cal was ready to get down to business. As much as he would like to keep teasing Johnnie, their time was running away from them. Calvin unbuttoned his shirt nearly to the top but did not remove it, nor did he remove his trousers. A danger fuck was one thing, exposing Johnnie naked in the staff room If they got caught was another thing but being caught naked himself? Cal wasn't for taking that risk – it was Johnnie's forfeit, not his. Calvin rolled on a condom and sat on a sofa, his cock sticking up and then lubed using a sachet that Cal safely stowed away in his school trousers pocket.
Johnnie turned his back on Cal and made to sit on his lap, tension in his thighs as he held the squat and lowered himself onto Calvin's erect penis. Johnnie tensed as he impaled himself but slowly relaxed as it went deeper; Cal thrust up just slightly and hit Johnnie's sweet spot. With hands on the sofa on either side of Calvin's thighs, Johnnie rhythmically lifted and lowered himself on Calvin cock. Johnnie loved the feel of the knob as it popped in and out of his arse, the little ridge of the head of Calvin's penis catching just slightly on the sphincter and warning when Johnnie was pulling out too much.
Beep – beep – beep – beep – beep. Beep.
The staff room door opened.
At the first beep, the two boys froze.
At the second beep, Johnnie lifted himself off Calvin's cock.
At the third beep, Johnnie put his hand over his arse as sweat and lube and juice leaked out.
At the forth beep, Cal was on his feet too.
At the fifth beep, they were making for the partition.
Beep five was the final alpha-numeric of the code to open the door; the final beep acknowledging the code as correct was followed by the turning of the handle and two voices.
"I understand that, but you agreed to stay beyond your notice."
"I have stayed beyond my notice."
"But I haven't found someone to replace you and..."
"I'm not being selfish, here. I have an opportunity to teach at the University and I'd be mad to not take it. I've worked hard to get this far, you know."
It sounded like the head master, Mr Hughes, and Mr Carlisle.
"Dean, look. Can't you stay until the end of the term? It's only a few months away. By then the lads will be sitting their exams..."
"Oh fuck," said Dean as he came around the partition and looked down at the two lads.
Johnnie was still totally naked and Calvin was still trying to silently squeezed his arse and privates back into his trousers.
"Ok, ok," said Mr Hughes from across the room, misinterpreting Mr Carlisle's curse as a reaction to what he was saying; "I had to try."
Dean turned back to the head master; "Sorry. It's just... eh... It's time for me to move on. Craig and Paul have already agreed to cover my classes."
"Yes," the head master agreed reluctantly.
"Perhaps we should go to your office and discuss the finer details," Dean suggested.
"Yes, fine. I have a phone call to make first. I'll have a coffee if you're making one," Mr Hughes said as a parting instruction.
The door opened and then closed and Dean looked down at Johnnie and Calvin.
"What the hell are you two doing here?"
Neither answered for a moment.
"I should think it was obvious," Cal said as he eventually stood up.
Calvin at least looked decent again, his shirt was untucked and his tie awry and his blazer a bit squint but otherwise he looked presentable. It was Johnnie who rose to his full height totally naked and covering his penis with his hands.
"We were having sex," Johnnie clarified; he had never said that so unenthusiastically before.
"In the staff room?" Dean asked incredulously.
"Danger fuck," Johnnie answered miserably.
"You can watch if you like," Calvin offered as he unzipped and hefted his cock back out.
He chose to put a new condom on for safety reasons, not trusting the original to be undamaged by the upheaval.
"I'd better not," Dean replied.
"Surely we're not continuing?" Johnnie asked disbelievingly.
"Of course," Cal said as if it were obvious. "And don't call me Shirley."
He was already hard and, despite his reluctance, so was Johnnie. Johnnie resigned himself to the risk of being caught again; he approached and then turned to lower himself onto Calvin's cock. Johnnie was now facing Dean who was trying not to look as he finished making two coffee's – he was ready to make a hasty exit but could not help but look.
Calvin was mostly obscured by the totally naked Johnnie, whose rigid cock stuck out from his folded midriff. Johnnie's cock bounced as he impaled himself on Calvin's cock; Johnnie of course could not cover up anything as he needed both arms to support his body weight and to lift himself up and down.
"I need to go," Dean said.
Something in Dean's eyes made Johnnie feel a pang of guilt. The young teacher looked torn, conflicted by what he was watching. Johnnie and Calvin were his student's, they were seventeen, they were nearly ten years his junior, he as in a position of power or influence or authority. He should know better.
"I need to go," he repeated and beat a hasty retreat.
The last thing Dean saw was Calvin's hand reaching around to yank of Johnnie's penis. Johnnie closed his eyes and pictured their last encounter; Johnnie, Calvin and Mr Dean Carlisle – it made the fuck much more enjoyable and the orgasm all the easier to reach. Cal came but Johnnie held off, it wasn't as if he could cum on the floor of the staff room and then just leave.
Calvin, ever the faithful friend finished Johnnie off with a blow job. Cal sank to his knees and sat with his deflating cock still wrapped in latex while Johnnie pushed his cock in and out of Calvin's mouth.
When Johnnie came, and it didn't take long, Calvin swallowed and then licked Johnnie's cock clean.
They were back on comfortable ground by the time Johnnie was dressed – at least if they were caught now, on-one would wonder why he was naked.
"That was one of the best orgasms I've ever had," Calvin admitted.
They had been having sex for a while, but Cal had enjoyed the risk and the thrill of the interruption. They would talk about it many times thereafter.
They got to the door and opened it a crack, peeked out and saw no-one. Time to go.
Calvin opened his eyes and watched Johnnie sleeping; he liked being around Johnnie, it was peaceful. There was an expression on Johnnie's face, even while he slept, that Cal only saw on this day. Calvin wondered what it was and what it meant.
"What?" Johnnie asked, his eyes still closed.
Calvin hadn't realised Johnnie was awake; perhaps that was why Johnnie's face had been set the way it was... that expression.
"I was just thinking," Cal replied.
"I know, that's why I asked what?"
Cal smiled at the retort but was reluctant to ask.
"Every year... I know why your melancholy but... every year you get this look on your face. You never tell me what you're thinking about."
"I'm thinking about my brother," Johnnie attempted to answer conservatively.
It was the same guarded expression he gave every year. Guarded even from his best friend.
"Ok, forget it."
Johnnie sighed.
"You were there. You know what happened. You know Miles died. Why relive it?" Johnnie asked.
"Because you do," Calvin responded.
Johnnie sighed; "I was thinking about..." Johnnie closed his eyes and Calvin realised what it was he had been seeing on this day every day for the last eight years: pain. "I was thinking about the day he came home."
Cal nodded but could not find the words to answer.
"They sent my brother home from hospital and it was the happiest day of his life. Because he was too young to know what it meant for him. Then he played outside without a clue..." Johnnie felt tears fill his eyes at the oxymoronic memory.
Calvin remembered that day too; it was a few days before Christmas 2007 and Miles died less than five weeks later. At the time, Johnnie had naturally been upset but Calvin felt angry about it. He had been raised in a Christian household and it was the first time he questioned how a god could be so cruel as to take the life of a boy. Watching his friend grieve, Calvin lost his faith. Johnnie didn't feel that because he had never believed - he grieved solely at the genetic bad luck and loss of the bravest soul he had known.
"It was the way the room felt empty after he'd gone," Johnnie continued; "And my chest hurt so bad as we just dragged on."
Johnnie went quiet, caught up in the memories; swept away in them like the scent of spring on a breeze. In all the years since Miles had died, Johnnie had never spoken so long or candidly about it.
"Did I ever tell you what my mum said the day Miles came home?"
Calvin shook his head.
"No," the word was said so quietly that Calvin wondered if Johnnie had heard him.
"He fell asleep in the living room and dad carried him upstairs. But I knew they were trying not to tell me what the doctors had said. She tried to tell me and... and I just couldn't get it."
Calvin said nothing and Johnnie resumed.
"Then mum said... it means there are more days behind than there are ahead. And I thought about that every day until the day he died. But he never let his smile fade. He was strong. Like every day he was using up the years left to use."
Calvin felt something deep down inside him; he understood why this would return to Johnnie every year and why he would never talk about it. He understood how this could haunt a man. There were still tears in Johnnie's eyes and pain etched on his face, but he didn't cry.
Calvin leaned closer, closing the gap between them on the bed, and kissed Johnnie's lips. It was tender and strong and brought a deep confusion to Calvin's heart. He had been so sure Johnnie wasn't the man he was looking for, that the real thing was somewhere else, with someone else.
Cal pulled back slowly, still confused, and saw peace on Johnnie's face. Guilt compelled him to leave now.
"I need to go," Cal said.
"I get it," Johnnie answered; he was not hurt or offended or taken aback, nor did he feel rejected or led on. He just got it: Calvin had some things to figure out.
WEDNESDAY 25TH JANUARY 2017
The last of the prelim exams signalled a return to normality for the students of the Earl of Lennox Boys School. Except that things were not normal. Martin didn't feel normal: the world was changed, but life is what our thoughts make of it. Martin was having ideas about what to make of his world in the absence of E.J.
For all the right reasons, Martin had lost the man he loved and it sucked.
E.J. haunted Martin's dreams and dominated his fantasies. The fantasies allowed Martin to indulge the notion that they could be together again, but they couldn't, could they? It had only been a few days since Martin had broken his heart, and E.J.'s too; it was natural to indulge circular thoughts. It was natural to ask "what if" and to play the `if only' game.
Martin was walking into school on a gloomy January morning and wishing he was dead.
He felt dead.
Martin had gone to work at the weekend because if he stayed home and his parents asked if he was ok one more time he was going to have to scream. Being at the Pothos Emporium occupied his mind - there had been a Rabbie Burns theme - and preoccupied his anxiety but there was only so long he could run away before he would have to deal with his problems.
Running away takes so many forms.
Martin was wearing a painted smile by the time he was found by Connor, Sean, Matt and Kazuo; they were very chatty and evidently caught up in a conversation before making his acquaintance. Martin wasn't paying attention to what they were saying anyway.
"Martin?" nudged Sean.
"Sorry?" Martin replied, noticing the others were still talking and only Sean had caught him staring into the middle distance.
"What's up?" Sean asked.
"I... was just thinking. Er, about getting back to normal at school," Martin lied.
"Not quite normal," Connor interrupted casually; "They're taking some of the yearbook photos today."
It wasn't until an hour later that Martin saw the photographer was the same man whose shop was adjacent to the Pothos Emporium. Alec Rosenberg was handsome, dark haired and slim; not to mention he possessed a certain charisma that was rather appealing.
Martin recalled meeting him the day he was interviewed for his job, later they met after Alec had taken his photo for his staff picture: a shot taken amidst his strip tease in the display window of the shop. Their few encounters since had actually allowed them to converse and Alec had demonstrated a panache for satire.
Alec had arrived to take the sixth year class photo and group photos for various clubs and teams in the sixth year. Including the swimming team – which is where Martin started to brew an idea.
He needed something to distract his thoughts from... the person he was trying not to think about.
There were now eighteen boys in the school swimming team, including Martin who really only joined the team to have an excuse to go to the Symposium to see E.J.; Martin was only in the reserves, to be called upon if one of the main lads could not perform. So to speak.
Martin broached the subject carefully; "You know what would be cool?"
"What?" Connor asked while still chewing a granola bar that he really wasn't enjoying.
"If the swim team photo could be taken while we're in our swim suits," Martin suggested.
Connor laughed while Sean, Kazuo and Matt just smiled.
"Yea, you want a pervy souvenir of the lads in their trunks do you?" teased Connor.
"Maybe," Martin answered. "Do you think the guys would go for it?"
"Maybe," replied Connor; "I'll work on it."
Connor rather liked the idea. It wasn't a great leap to have come up with the notion but Connor was surprised it had been Martin to suggest they all stripped to tiny swim suits before being immortalised on film. The one good thing about boys confident enough to swim in Speedo's is that those boys have no illusions about their attractiveness. Or perceived attractiveness – they all thought they were shit hot, and certainly had killer physiques – thus none of them had prevailing qualms about Connor's idea for the photo.
That it had become Connor's idea was a nice touch.
The plan was to gather at lunch time in the locker room and change into their Speedo for the team photo, giving them enough time to redress for the sixth year class photo.
Martin found himself becoming a shrewd operator; "Alec, why don't you come take some candid shots in the changing room at lunch time. The team won't mind."
"Candid photos in a school boy's changing room... its ok for your name to be on a register Martin, you're a pupil. When an adult gets his name on a register it means something else," joked Alec.
"Alec," Martin said seriously, once he was done chuckling, "Come to the changing room and take candid shots."
Martin had agreed to meet Connor et al when the bell went so they could all make their way to the changing room together. Martin required a delay so first he waited for the bell and then he waited long enough to be later, timing it nicely so his friends wouldn't move on without him. Martin was confident Connor, Sean, Matt and Kazuo would be fine with candid photos of them changing; the other boys were a slightly more unknown quantity and were, at any rate, out with Martin's influence.
"We were about to give up, what kept you?" Kazuo as the first to ask.
"Girl troubles," dead-panned Martin.
They met Alec along the way and it would have been rude for Martin to not ask him to join them since they would all be headed that way anyway. Martin thought he caught a look on Sean's face when Martin asked Alec to come with them, but it was fleeting and gone before he could observe Sean more closely.
Observing Sean more closely was something Martin had only recently started doing.
Actually Martin had noticed himself observing several boys in the days since he had become single and noticing people checking him out was a rather new perception for Martin also. Martin was starting to figure; if you've got it, flaunt it. Martin introduced Alec to the rest of the group; "Guys, this is Alec. He has a studio on the same floor as the Pothos Emporium."
The penny seemed to drop amongst the group.
"Really, how interesting. Did you take Martin's staff photo by any chance?" asked Sean.
Sean too had a revealing picture – taken just last weekend in time for Burns night and involving Sean wearing only a kilt. They had both worn only kilts all weekend – Martin might have enjoyed it more if he hadn't been so busy being miserable as a single man.
"I did, yes," replied Alec.
He could have mentioned Sean's staff picture too but seemed to sense the rest of the group were perhaps not in on how revealing Sean's part time work was. They would find out.
"Great picture," commented Kazuo; "If you have any outtakes from Martin's... session... maybe we could have a copy?"
Alec didn't answer which was almost as unsettling as if he had. Martin knew his photo was taken when he was totally naked and on display. It was an upper body shot and his new friends had seen more of him since but still – he would rather not let them have those pictures. But then he didn't know there were pictures of him on Connor's phone.
In the locker room the lads were all, more or less, dressed in their Speedo's already but a few had pulled on a t-shirt or hoodie to keep warm and decent while they waited.
"Guys, this is Alec," introduced Connor; "We asked him along to take some extra photos. A behind the scenes look kind of thing."
"Aye, well he can stay away from my behind the scenes," joked John Davies, one of Mitchell McMann's close friends but less of an intolerable prick.
"No danger," retorted Kazuo.
Martin, Connor, Kazuo, Sean and Matt began to strip while Alec moved around the room and took photos as the boys allowed. Most had no objections, horsing around to create some cute moments on film.
When Connor, Kazuo, Sean, Matt and Martin got down to their underwear there was an expectant pause. Everyone wondered if the boys could nonchalantly drop the last stitch of their clothes while a camera was in the room and wondered further if said camera would exploit the opportunity to capture them.
Alec did not immediately turn but was eventually compelled by the sheer will of all the lads smirking nodding and nudging in their general direction. Most of the boys had heard about Martin's sex education class, though Martin didn't know they knew. He was, for all the other changes in his life, still capable of shocking naiveté and obliviousness.
The five boys were all naked and moving slowly for their Speedos as if daring him to take a shot. When they turned as one, hands and garments half covering their privates, Alec snapped a picture with a solitary theatrical click that could be heard throughout the silent room.
The room burst into jeers and laughter and, while the five lads got dressed, the others crowded around to see how revealing the humiliating photo was. Alec was lucky no penises or testes were in full view; he wanted plausible deniability in the event of accusations that he was a pervert.
He wouldn't get what he wanted.
He would not be accused either.
Once dicks and balls were again covered up, the photo shoot proper began.
There is a certain tedium involved in a photo shoot; the boys lining up, being moved around, two rows or three, squat or kneel, stand or sit. The boys were all good sports about it but by the end their interest was waning.
Interest was naturally reignited by a suggestion from John Davies.
John was in the front row with one foot tucked behind him and the leg bent at the knee on which his hands were rested. He wasn't quite the exhibitionist that Martin was but he was a big and handsome boy with a man's chest, smooth and toned and a respectable package tucked inside the Speedo. He was front and centre before the camera and it liked him very much.
"How about the back row makes things fun? They could strip off without anyone knowing. I mean we'd all know whenever we looked at the photo..." he let it hang there, the fun jape of it all but he was angling for embarrassing Martin and Connor et al.
He was especially aiming to embarrass Connor who, John's friend Mitchell was still furious at for a transgression that Mitchell sill would not discuss with him. It was hardly surprising Mitchell didn't want to tell his friend he was left naked in the locker room after being cummed on by five boys.
All eyes turned to the third row with John's suggestion. Naturally it was Connor, Martin, Kazou, Matt and Sean in the back. They didn't mind the back; it was their preferred view of males.
"You wanna see my dick, John?" teased Connor.
"You afraid?" John asked.
Connor knew better than to be goaded.
Martin pushed down his Speedo.
The two rows in front of Martin were parted enough that everyone in the room could see the Speedo fall and Alec took a silent snap with the camera while the lads all gasped or chuckled in surprise. Martin's penis dangled between his legs and he resisted the urge to give it a little tug; he stretched theatrically, exposing his armpits and thrusting out his chest so everything was out there on display.
Somewhat reluctantly, but forced by Martin's brazenness to follow suit, the other four boys also stripped naked. For the camera, Sean and Matthew were revealed to have small and tidy pubes above their cocks while Connor and Kazuo were totally hairless from the neck down.
More discrete photos were taken before the thirteen boys in front of the naked quintet closed ranks. Their nudity would not be allowed in the yearbook but Alec went to great lengths to take a photo that was as telling as possible. He was lining up another shot when Martin gave his dick a tug and he started to fantasise about the boys in the room; he wanted an erection.
Martin felt a craving to be hard and naked, even or especially if it meant derision by the other boys. It seemed bad decision making was becoming something of a forte for Martin. Paul was the boy in front of him and Martin recalled that the lad had been in the sex education class; he had had cold hands when tentatively touching Martin's hard erection.
Martin could not be sure if Paul had turned because of some sixth sense that something was happening behind him or whether perhaps his cock had nudged the back of Paul's head, but the boy in front turned just as a string of precum dislodged like a filament of a spiders web.
The pre cum streamed off of Martin's cock and onto Paul's cheek and Paul looked open mouthed at Martin's massive cock. Martin was tempted to shove his cock in Paul's mouth, but that would be wrong.
"Fucksake," John said, airing the thoughts of everyone in the room.
Martin had a big dick. Straight or not it was an impressive organ.
"Maybe Paul could clear up some of that leakage for you so we can finish off," John suggested, then added; "I don't mean he should finish you off, I reckon Paul had enough to eat in the cafeteria."
John's joke encompassed cock humour and a dig at school lunches which everyone appropriately laughed at. Except Paul, he took the opportunity of everyone's attention being focussed on each other and hooting at the gag to lean forward and lick Martin's cock.
The pre-cum sluiced away with one quick lap of Paul's tongue; Martin obviously noticed and smiled broadly at Paul for the overture. Neither of them spotted Sean watching the exchange too.
Sean, whose inside burned with jealousy at what he saw.
But something else too - Sean was realising more and more that Martin was not acting like himself. It was almost as if...
"One more set of photos and then we're done," Alec said.
The boys all faced forward for the last snaps of the camera and then disbanded row by row until only the naked remained. The five seventeen year olds shuffled closer together and put arm around shoulders for the final shot. Martin stood out at the far right of the photo, mostly because his eight inch cock stood straight out.
Chatting filled the room as Alec left the room; the official photos would be made available in due time and the unofficial one's would be available after a little negotiation.
"I hope you were ok about... well, y'know. You didn't have to..." Martin said to Paul.
Paul was already half dressed, Martin was as laidback and oblivious in the locker room as he always was: dressed only in his briefs and taking the time to talk to Paul before getting dressed.
"It was fine," Paul answered; "Yours wasn't the first dick I've tasted," Paul answered; not too loudly.
"Ok, cool," Martin replied.
From across the room Sean was watching, he turned to Connor to ask; "Have you noticed anything different about Martin lately?"
"No," Connor answered coolly as he tied his laces; "But I don't spend as much time looking at him as you do."
"Ha bloody ha," Sean said as he put on his school tie; "I mean... does he seem ok to you?"
Connor looked over at Martin who was slipping his long legs into his trousers and he was still shirtless.
"Looks great to me," Connor fired back enthusiastically.
Sean sighed, he was getting nowhere; "I just mean... never mind."
Sean was trying to articulate that Martin's behaviour had been out of sorts. Martin was certainly an amiable exhibitionist but today had been different.
"I just mean..." Sean tried again; "Martin seemed more forward than usual."
Connor just looked at Sean and then - slowly - shrugged.
Sean let out a groan of exasperation.
"Ok, what?" Connor asked, easing off on his usual 'take the piss out of Sean' routine.
Kazuo and Matt joined them just then and Sean spoke to the huddle.
"We know Martin can be a bit of a show off but only because of us or his boss at work," Sean paused while he put his thoughts in order; "He's never courted it like he did today. He saw to it that Alec got the chance to take pictures of him naked. Then with a hard-on. He..."
"He got caught," Matt offered.
"He wanted to get caught," Sean corrected; "He's always gone along with the mad things that happen to him. Fuck knows why. But he's never made mad things happen. He just doesn't seem himself."
"Ask him," Kazuo suggested frankly.
Sean didn't respond immediately which was the same as saying no.
"Tell you what, we're all going to E.J.'s on Friday for Johnnie's welcome home doo, let's see if we can ply him with drink and get him chatty," offered Connor.
Sean nodded.
They would find out on Friday what had caused Martin to teeter off the rails; they would understand when they discovered why Martin was not invited. Because guys who bareback their boyfriend and then break up with them apparently don't get invited around to their house anymore. For some reason.
Sean watched Martin for a few more seconds as the others set off towards the main school building. It had bothered Sean that Paul had licked Martin's cock but what bothered him more was that something was bothering Martin. He liked Martin, he had an undeniable crush, a full-blown infatuation, a soul-wrenching desire, an unquenched lust...
"You coming?" asked Matt.
Sean looked at his twin and nodded.
"Sean, are you ok?" Matt asked.
Matt knew his brother all too well and knew Sean had been coveting Martin for some time.
"Hmm," Sean answered noncommittally.
"I don't want you to get hurt," Matt said quietly.
Sean made no reply.
FRIDAY 27TH JANUARY 2017
E.J. was risking a repetitive strain injury... but only from typing.
He was sitting getting bleary eyed in front of his monitor and keyboard and was feeling his concentration wane when a knock came from his office door. Anthony Slade was standing at the threshold; the manager of the Stirling Symposium Athletics Club was a few years under fifty with a fit build and salt and pepper hair.
"Are you still working, E.J.?" Mr Slade asked with a smile.
"Oh, yes," E.J. answered wearily; "I'm still trying to find cover for Hari tomorrow."
Hari was once of the Symposium's athletic assistants, who had been hit by a bus while cycling to work that morning. Mr Slade's expression became sombre as he came forward and took a seat in the chair in front of E.J.'s desk.
"How is he?"
E.J. took a moment to answer, he had been on the phone to Hari's wife a few hours ago and the news had been ambiguous.
"He's broken his collarbone and both his legs and he hasn't woken up yet," E.J. answered.
It seemed Hari would be off work for months at least.
"How unfortunate. Perhaps you could keep in touch with his family?" Mr Slade asked.
"Of course. Is there something else, Tony?" E.J. asked, sensing there was another reason for his boss coming to his office at the eleventh hour of a Friday afternoon.
"Between me and you, you're getting a promotion," Tony said enthusiastically.
"Really?" E.J. asked breathlessly.
"I know we've been mooting it since December but with the new Symposium clubs opening at the end of March or beginning of April, a decision needs to be made," Tony continued.
"And you've decided to promote me, really?" E.J. asked.
E.J. had of course hoped he would bet the top job but he was really proud to finally have the offer made official.
"Of course, really," answered Tony; "It's already been decided who will manage the new club in Ayr but it's felt an experienced manager should be put in place in the new Symposium in Aberdeen."
E.J. studied his boss's face, trying to work out what he was trying to say. E.J. had feared the opportunity to step up from deputy manager to manager might involve moving city and he was starting to get that feeling again.
"Myself or Mr Hendry are being considered for the Aberdeen post," Tony said; "Which means if I go, you'll take over from me here."
"But if Mr Hendry gets it... I'll need to move to Edinburgh," E.J. finished.
Tony nodded.
Back in December the possibility of moving was frightening because he did not want to move away from Martin. But now things were over with him, though E.J. still did not understand why, and the chance to move away seemed more like an opportunity to move on.
Or to run away.
"When will the decision be made?" E.J. asked.
"Next month," Tony said. "Either way, we'll be advertising soon for a new deputy manager. I'd like you to be involved in the interviewing process." Tony stood up and shook E.J.'s hand; "Oh, and congratulations."
"Thanks boss," E.J. answered.
After the man had left his office, E.J. sat down heavily in his chair and sighed. He pulled out his phone and studied it. He had tried to call Martin a dozen times since the sudden termination of their relationship; it hurt him very deeply to think there were reasons for it that Martin would not reveal to him. No call had been answered and none returned. E.J. had tried texting, with similar disappointment.
E.J. would have thought Martin had just used him, that he was shallow and petty and vain - except he knew that was not in Martin's nature. Which meant, whatever the reason for his inexplicable behaviour, there was defiantly a reason for why he broke up.
E.J. was about to text again when a message came through. For just a moment he hoped...
It was from Victor asking him to pick up some things for the party tonight.
"Ugh, the party," E.J. said to the empty room. He scrubbed his hands across his face and felt the bristles on his chin that marked the early stages of a handsome beard.
E.J. had agreed to host Johnnie's welcome home party, though he was in no party mood; he was committed now, though and so resigned himself to it. After all, what could happen?
It hadn't taken much persuasion to talk Tom into meeting Connor before the party. Tom sensed he should be around to chaperone Calvin and Daniel, but it didn't work out that way. Tom had noticed that Calvin and Daniel seemed closer in recent weeks, ever since Johnnie's melt down over his feelings for Cal. Tom didn't like to speculate, but he was savvy enough to know a budding romance when he saw it. The only question was whether it would bear fruit or end before it began. Despite all of Calvin's protests to the contrary and his guilt over rejecting Johnnie, there was something between him and Johnnie; it went beyond friendship and Tom simply couldn't tell if it was platonic love, romantic love or a love that could not speak its name.
Calvin had confessed as much since Johnnie had been sick; Cal knew he was looking for the `real thing' as he called it and he had been so sure that that would not be found with Johnnie... but now Cal wasn't so sure.
"Don't you think you should figure that out before you go looking for someone else?" Tom had asked.
Calvin looked miserable at the prospect of choosing. Tom had been trying all week to talk to Calvin about it to no avail; he suspected something had happened on Monday when Johnnie had left the hospital but all Cal would say was that he had some things to figure out.
"He's probably already at the party," Connor said to Sean.
The pair had been talking about Martin for the past fifteen minutes.
"Probably," replied Sean who had asked Martin numerous times if he wanted to join them when heading over to E.J.'s for Johnnie's party.
"How's the job at the Pothos Emporium going?" Tom asked Sean, the connection to Martin was implicit and Tom asked the question with a crooked eyebrow and a knowing smile.
"It's pretty good," Sean answered but blushed.
Sean was saved from further discussion on the matter by the reappearance of Matt and Kazuo, who had gone out to pick up appropriate beverages for the party. A taxi ride later and they were arriving at E.J.'s semi-detached house on the edge of the city.
"You know, as a responsible adult I should point out that you guys shouldn't really be drinking at this party," Tom said with false sincerity, then teased; "Maybe we should pick you up some nice chocolate milk."
"I'll give you something milky to taste later if you like," replied Connor.
They waited a few moments for E.J. to answer the door and were invited in.
Calvin had been taciturn about seeing Johnnie again, despite Tom and Daniel's best efforts to get him to talk; he had been reserved since seeing Johnnie and knew his two friends could see something was wrong. But he didn't especially want to talk about it if he could avoid it
Calvin had hoped Tom would accompany him and Daniel to that party, the rationale being that three is a crowd. But Tom had other company to keep so now Calvin and Daniel were headed in together with a distinctly `looks like a couple' vibe going on.
"Penny for them," Daniel said as they settled into their taxi.
Calvin was quiet for a few seconds before replying; "I'm holding out for more."
Daniel admonished Calvin with a nudge.
"I didn't want to be with him," Cal said without looking at Daniel; "When I told him I was looking for the real thing, I didn't even think of him as a possibility."
"And now?" Daniel asked, wondering and fearing that Calvin's feelings had changed towards Cal.
"I was starting to think there was someone else who..." Cal answered but then bottled it. "I know Johnnie is my friend but I don't know what else he is. I've not been this confused since... ever, actually."
"I can understand why you might feel that way about Johnnie," Daniel replied with emphasis on the word might.
Sean watched while Johnnie took his turn of answering the door. There was over a dozen people in the house now, most of whom Sean did not recognise. Actually, Johnnie didn't seem to know some of the guests either and it was his party. He seemed to greet Calvin and Daniel with warmth but also awkwardness. Calvin tried not to look Johnnie in the eye and Daniel made extended eye contact that seemed to say an awful lot that Sean was not privy to.
Sean had been looking for and waiting on Martin's arrival, but time was getting on and there was still no sign of him. Sean had had a few drinks and his head was feeling warm and floaty. He had watched E.J. and noticed he was not being particularly social; E.J. was not being rude or anti-social, he just seemed distant.
Sean moved on over to E.J. when a gap in his conversation with Tom and Connor allowed it.
"E.J.?" Sean asked.
E.J. turned and smiled but it didn't reach the eyes; "Yea, hi."
"Hi. Are you ok?" Sean enquired.
E.J. exhaled a sigh; "What do you mean?"
Sean shrugged.
"Martin told you, I suppose," E.J. said and looked rather embarrassed.
"Told me what?" Sean replied.
E.J. studied Sean's face for signs of duplicity but found none.
"He hasn't mentioned we broke up?" E.J. asked
"What?! N-no. Really?" Sean replied, taken aback.
E.J. swallowed hard and nodded by way or reply.
"Sorry."
E.J. looked a little surprised at the young man but grateful for the genuine sympathy.
"Yea, well," E.J. answered.
"I really like Martin," Sean admitted; "But I know he was happy with you. Or I thought he was. I wouldn't have wished you guys to break up not matter what I feel about him."
E.J. patted Sean's shoulder; "That's very kind," he replied.
Briefly, when Sean had confessed to liking Martin, E.J. had considered that Martin had broken up with him to be with Sean. But the way the boy spoke it was obvious that had not been realised and so the mystery remained: why had Martin broken up with him?
Was it because of another man? Did is mother or father disapprove?
"E.J., Sean, I can't help but notice you guys don't have a drink," Victor said.
The big cheerful black man was beaming at them as he thrust drinks into their hands.
"I don't know if I'm really in the mood," E.J. admitted.
Although Sean would never have said it out loud, he wasn't in the mood for it either. E.J. was dejected because he had been rejected and Sean was daunted because he felt unwanted.
"Don't talk pish," Victor admonished as if they had just said something stupid; "Now you get tanked up on booze right now, both of you. I insist." In an aside to E.J., Victor added; "Martin doesn't know what he's missing. And I don't mean the party, I mean you're a real catch and he must be mega crazy."
E.J. smiled appreciatively and joined Victor in conversation with Calvin and a few others from the Halls who had come along to lament Johnnie's leaving university and his return to health. Sean joined his own brood, all of whom were a few drinks ahead of him
When he told the others about Martin, he tried to do so without letting the whole room, particularly E.J., know what they were talking about.
"Was that an I told you so?" quipped Connor; "Because I'm pretty sure Sean tried to tell us something was wrong with Martin and we all thought he was nuts. And now it turns out he was right."
"That defiantly would qualify him for an I told you so," Kazuo agreed.
"I thought it did," Connor said wryly.
"Shut up," Sean replied.
"It explains why Martin ignored our suggestions he come along with us tonight," Matt said as he thought out loud.
"Yea I guess it does," Sean replied as he was nudged back to pensiveness.
It appeared as if Daniel had been waiting for Johnnie as he exited the toilet but it just worked out that way. He had hoped they could talk in private but it wasn't as if he had stalked Johnnie for the opportunity.
"Hi Johnnie," Daniel said.
"Danny boy, how's things?" Johnnie replied outwardly with a lightness he didn't quite feel inside.
"Good. You?" Daniel answered economically.
"Ok, I guess. I'm not allowed to drink so I'm a little jealous of all the mellow people around the house," Johnnie responded.
Daniel smiled and said; "Yea, E.J. made a comment that he didn't seem to know most of the people at this party. To be honest I don't think I do either."
"Ditto," Johnnie said and the two shared a comfortable moment together. "So... You and Calvin?" Johnnie asked.
He had tried to ask Calvin on Monday as they left the hospital but the conversation hadn't worked out. It was hard for Johnnie to say that he thought Calvin and Daniel looked pretty close lately without sounding jealous.
"What?" Daniel asked, honestly not sure what the question was.
"Are you two..."
"I dunno. Are you two..." Daniel returned the question.
It made Johnnie wonder if Calvin had told Daniel they had kissed on Monday right before Calvin ran off. But he reconsidered this possibility and decided probably not.
Johnnie made a choice; "Calvin and I are just friends. I wanted more and he didn't and I've just made things hard and messy and unclear by... I dunno, by continuing to hope and ask that Cal change his mind. I guess that's not fair and I want him to have the real thing."
Daniel nodded along.
"I don't know what, if anything is going on with me and Calvin," Daniel answered honestly.
"You won't know until you ask," Johnnie told him.
"And what if he says no?"
"If the answer is no, it'll be no whether you ask or not. At least if you ask you'll know. And if Calvin wants more..." it was hard for Johnnie to just give up like this because he still wanted Calvin. Giving advice to another suitor hadn't been in his plans for the night. "If he wants more then he couldn't choose a better man than you."
Daniel didn't know what to say to that.
"Anyway, I'll leave you to it," Johnnie said.
Johnnie descended the stairs and Daniel entered the toilet and closed the door but he didn't need to go, he actually been stalking Johnnie for the chance to talk. Behind the door he smiled and then the smile faded, replaced by the fear one feels before taking the plunge.
He was going to talk Calvin.
It took a while and a bit more Dutch courage before Daniel had the chance to talk to Calvin alone. Inside the house the music was still playing and everyone was still merrily drinking and dancing. Something slower was playing now which had brought together couples, or at least pairs of folk, to dance closely. Daniel watched Tom and Connor; Victor and E.J., Matt and his girlfriend and numerous others shuffle around the room.
Daniel meanwhile slipped away as he spotted Calvin head for the back door. Outside it was cold, but it was still January and the night was rather mature. Calvin was chilled the moment he stepped outside.
"Just needed some air," Calvin said to Daniel when the door clicked closed again.
"To clear your head?" Daniel asked – the meaning quite implicit.
"Yea, it's not working," Calvin admitted.
"Can I ask you something?" Daniel implored.
Calvin had been looking down the back garden that was wreathed in darkness so he turned to face Daniel properly and nodded.
"Have you and Johnnie ever been anything more than friends?" He knew Calvin didn't know how to answer so Daniel added; "You've had adventuress and fooled around... you've had sex. But were you ever more than friends? If Johnnie hadn't told you how he felt, would it ever have occurred to you that you and him might already be a real couple?"
Calvin shook his head but it didn't strictly speaking count as a no; perhaps it wouldn't have occurred to him if Johnnie hadn't said anything. But he had, and that as the source of Calvin's doubt and confusion.
All the right ingredients were there to make Johnnie and Calvin a viable couple: their history, friendship and rapport; their attraction and their similar, adventurous, sexual ideals.
Daniel couldn't take it anymore. "Look," he said, ending Calvin's reverie; "You and Jonnie have a thing... or had a thing going on. But you deserve more than that and you want more than that."
Daniel was too good a person to tear anyone down so he didn't say that Calvin deserved better than Johnnie. He thought Johnnie was a great guy, just the wrong guy for Calvin.
"I know there are some things," Daniel admitted of Johnnie; "But it's not real... We're real."
Calvin looked at Daniel differently as he said this and a fog felt as if it was lifting. Things seemed clearer from this cold and dark back garden where only Cal and Daniel stood.
Calvin smiled before leaning over and kissing Daniel's lips. It was not passionate, rather tender and grateful and meaningful.
When Calvin stepped back he asked a question; "Do you wanna go out sometime?"
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If you are enjoying this story, I have also written:
School Exhibitionism - http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/highschool/school-exhibitionism
The Symposium - http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/authoritarian/the-symposium/