Tyler

After dinner that evening Rick did up the dishes then retreated to his room.

He was there no more then five minutes when his parents yelling from downstairs peeked his attention. He tossed his book aside then edged out of his room and to the top of the stairs.

"I don't understand why you brought one of them damn kids home in the first place Karen." He heard his father's angry voice say. "They are nothing but trouble, the whole damn lot of them."

"Robert I'm not gonna put him with another family that's gonna abuse him. He's dealt with that shit his whole life. There's no reason he can't stay here. Danny's off at college, we have plenty of room."

Rick sat down gingerly on the top step wanting to be sure to make no noise.

"I won't have him living here. These kids ain't trustworthy. Rotten kid, will rob us blind."

"He's not a rotten kid." he heard his mother's voice pleading desperately. "Honey you have no idea the life this kid has survived. He doesn't need to be shipped off to another family that's gonna mistreat him. A person can only take so much rejection. Tyler's taken more then most could ever fathom handling. His own parents damn near killed him three separate times."

Rick's eyes widened as he himself had never fathomed such a thing had happened to Tyler. He suddenly felt incredibly guilty for his initial mistrust of the guy. He knew now Tyler was a good guy and hearing what he'd just heard drove his guilt levels through the roof.

"That doesn't make me feel any better," his father retorted, "kid's unstable, got to be."

"No he's not. He passed his mental evaluation. His biggest problem is the fact he doesn't like himself. And with five different families all hating him, it's no wonder he feels that way."

"He's not staying here. That is final." Rick rolled his eyes from the top of the stairs, as that voice of his father's was not one that could be reasoned or reckoned with. "I want him out of here in one week. That's all I want, no further discussion on this."

Hearing his mother's footsteps on the stone tiled floor he jumped up from the step and ran back to his room. He sat on his bed, pulling a pillow into his arms he squeezed it against his chest, as he looked over at Tyler's measly belongings that his mother had laid out on his bed.

He cursed his father for being so hateful. He sided with his mother on this one, which was a truly rare occasion. He'd not mind one bit if Tyler moved in. In fact hearing what he'd just heard, he would welcome it. But he also knew his father. Even if his mother did end up winning out Tyler would not be treated well by the man. He wouldn't out and out hurt him, but his father had a way of making someone feel smaller then head lice. He knew that was the last thing that Tyler would want or need.

He was lying on his bed reading his English book when Tyler walked in at nine fifteen. "How was work?" he asked, looking at him and seeing him in a whole new much more respectful light.

Tyler shrugged as he peeled off his coat and dropped down on his bed. "Not so much fun when Robert's not there."

"Can I ask a personal question."

"You can ask it." Tyler kicked off his shoes and slid them under the bed with one foot before lying back and putting his head down on the pillow.

"How many foster homes you been in?"

Tyler turned his head on the pillow and looked over at him. "Why you wanna know?"

"Just curious."

He looked back up at the ceiling, squinting his eyes in thought. "Four."

"How old were you when you were put into foster care?"

"Fourteen."

"Has my mom always been your social worker?"

"No, only since I've been a foster kid."

"You had one before you were a foster kid?"

"Yeah some lady used to come by the house and interview me every now and then. My parents too. She was a twit." He drew his leg up in the air and massaged his calf. After lazing around for two and a half months, it took it's toll to suddenly be on his feet again for five straight hours. He'd woke up twice the night before with a screaming Charlie horse.

His ears started to tingle as he heard Karen and her husband reach the top of the stairs. "Damn kid thinks he can come and go as he pleases? God dammit Karen, he could up and kill us all in the night." Tyler propped himself up on his elbows and looked out the doorway, though all he could see was the corner of the wall outside the door.

"Ronald just shut up."

"It's my house; I don't have to shut up. Kid's shifty I don't like him."

'Shifty?' Tyler's mouth formed out the word, not exactly sure what he meant by that. He'd not heard that one before. He narrowed his eyes in confusion then jumped as a door slammed loudly down the hall. He dropped back onto his back on the mattress.

"Sorry man, my dad can be a real ass sometimes."

Tyler looked over at him, now having a good idea where Rick had gotten his bad ideas about foster kids from. Rubbing his hand down across his stomach, Tyler shrugged it off. "No problem."

Rick lifted his head off his pillow and looked him over. He could tell it was a problem and knew Tyler must be feeling pretty low after hearing what he just heard. He also got the feeling that it was nothing new for him and could not imagine what it must be like to hear that crap all the time.

"Tyler I'm sorry about the way I treated you when we first met."

"Don't worry about it."

"I am worried about it. It wasn't fair. I see that now."

Nodding as he cracked the knuckles in his toes, Tyler continued to stare at the ceiling. He could not wait 'til he was living with Robert. Could not wait 'til he was with someone who actually wanted him around. He could take whatever came in his way over the next couple weeks, 'cause he knew it was nearly over. Soon he could be happy, and he had it to look forward to.

Not daring to leave the room, he crawled under the blankets with his work uniform on. Rick did not question it, he already had a real good idea why Tyler was doing it.

On Saturday he packed up his things and was driven over to the Pollock's. The Pollock's had two kids of their own and no foster kids, but had taken in a few in the past. Karen walked him to the door like usual, had a cup of coffee with Mrs. Pollock then left, making him promise to come to her if their were any problems.

Having already worked the morning shift, Tyler unpacked his bag in his new room then walked back out into the kitchen where Mrs. Pollock was reading the paper at the table.

"Can I go to my friend's house?"

She looked up at him and half smiled. "Sure, if you are coming home just make sure you get in by ten. Doors lock here at ten. No one comes in after that."

"So you don't expect me to call or anything?" He asked, just wanting to make sure the rules were clear.

"Nope." She quipped not looking up from her paper.

Tyler nodded then turned and left the house. It was only a five minute walk to Connor's and before he knew, he was being welcomed in by Carol. "Get your ass in here boy it's freezing out there."

He grinned as he walked past her. She took off his jacket and hung it on a hook by the door. "So how's the new parents?"

"Okay, I can spend the night if you guys want me," he blushed and put his hand over his mouth, "sorry that was kinda rude."

She chuckled and squeezed his shoulders. "We were gonna insist on that anyways."

Connor came running out of his room wearing only a pair of sweat pants. Tyler's heart beat faster seeing his muscular chest and cute little nipples.

He threw his arms around Tyler and gave him a big hug. Tyler nestled his chin against his bare skin but kept his hands from roaming, as his mother was still standing right there.

"I just gotta get dressed; I thought maybe we could go out this afternoon."

"Sure," Tyler smiled, always up for going out.

Ten minutes later they were in the car heading north. "So where are we going?"

"Well I was hoping we could go to a motel."

Tyler's eyes widened. "You horn dog."

Connor grinned sheepishly. "Well do you want to?"

Tyler took a long deep breath. "Okay, I do, but remember I don't look too good, so try not to harp on it okay?"

"I won't Tyler, I promise." He said bouncing up and down in his seat in excitement.

"Did you get condoms?"

"Yeah, some other play stuff too."

Tyler chuckled and put his hand over his mouth. "Let me see."

"Not 'til we get there." Connor said chuckling himself. They pulled into a motel about ten minutes later. Connor went in alone and checked them in, making no mention that they wouldn't stay the night. They'd just pretend when they left that they had a change of plans.

He grabbed a paper bag out of the trunk before leading Tyler into the motel room, with the number seven on the door. "Lucky number." Tyler said pointing up at it.

Connor pulled him into the room and swung the door closed behind them. "Lucky seven." he said tracing his finger down the front of Tyler's jacket. He reached the bottom and poked in on his groin. "Lucky number seven."

Tyler grinned as he cupped the back of Connor's neck and pulled him tightly into his lips. They pressed their bodies together, as their tongues danced around in each other's mouths. Tyler struggled Connor's jacket off, and threw it over a chair, then Connor pulled his jacket off.

They separated moments later and Tyler looked down at the bag. "So what's in it?"

Connor backed up and sat down on the bed. He pulled out a tube of KY and held it up. "I thought I may need that."

Tyler chuckled, as he sat down beside him. "Me too." He said, taking it and setting it down beside him on the bed.

Next he pulled out a deck of cards.

"What's that for?"

"Well," he said looking him in the eye. "I figured you'd be leery of taking your clothes off. So I thought a nice game of strip poker would ease you into it."

"Oh yeah," Tyler said, taking the cards. "Good idea."

Connor reached back into the bag and pulled out a tube of strawberry flavored warming gel. Tyler laughed as he took it in his hands. "Where the hell did you find this?"

"Internet. Tastes good."

"So you sampled the goods?"

"Yeah, heats up real nice too."

Tyler rubbed his hand down along his crotch. "I'm getting excited just thinking about it." He grinned.

"Well let's get started then." he kicked off his shoes and crawled over the king size bed. He turned back around and sat on his butt, crossing his legs in front of him. Tyler turned around and sat in the same position. He ripped open the deck of cards. "You actually know how to play poker? All the different games I mean?"

"Yeah sure, you?"

Tyler nodded. "So dealer calls. I got the cards so I'm the dealer." he glanced up at Connor and grinned wryly. "I call five card stud, 'cause we are studs. 2's are wild." He dealt out the ten cards, then fanned his out in front of him. Keeping his poker face, he reveled in the fact he had two kings. He looked over at Connor who threw two cards into the middle of the bed.

He took two cards out of the deck and handed them to him. "I take three." he said, setting down his three cards. He picked up three more and said a silent 'shit' as he still only had two kings. "Well?"

Connor laid his cards down revealing three eights.

He said,'shit' aloud and pulled off a sock.

"Whoa there." Connor said, holding out his hands. "Don't go too far, too fast."

Grinning Tyler lifted his leg and stuck his foot in Connor's face. "Smell good?"

Connor latched onto it and licked it from the base of the heel to the tip of the big toe. "Mm, tastes good too." he said, licking his lips.

Tyler crinkled his nose up in disgust. "I been working this morning man, they can't taste good."

"I like sweat."

"Well there goes my hard on."

Connor laughed and smacked him on the knee. "Shut up. Don't you have any sense of erotica?"

"You'll see when I lick your ass."

Connor's face lit up and he could almost hear the cartoon like sound effects to his dick rising up. He picked up the cards and shuffled them. "I call seven card stud. Sixes are wild."

The games wore on, and before long they were both down to only their boxers. Though now horny as hell, Tyler was still nervous about baring his privates and he prayed the measly pair of eight's he had in his hand would be better then whatever Connor was grinning at in his own hand.

"Well sparkly what've you got?" He asked nervously.

Connor looked up at him with an amused expression. "Sparkly?"

Tyler chuckled, "Your eyes. They're all sparkly." he said pointing over at him, then resting his hand back down on his knee.

Blinking at him flirtatiously, Connor laid his cards down on the bed. Tyler groaned seeing a pair of ten's and tossed his own cards on top. Connor elated they were finally through playing the game looked at Tyler and saw his nervous hesitation. "We don't have to if you don't want." He said, praying Tyler would want, but feeling guilty that maybe he had been to pushy.

Tyler shook his head, wanting it more then anything he'd ever wanted for in his entire life. He lifted himself up onto his knees and slowly lowered his boxers, feeling his blood running up into his face, making it go hot as his shorts moved downwards.

Connor gulped, but kept a straight face as Tyler's scarred genitals came into full view. Though it wasn't as bad as he'd pictured, it was still a sad sight to see. Knowing Tyler would not want him making any big deal out of it; he got up on his own knees and wrapped his arms around Tyler's waist pressing his chest, stomach and groin into his. He ran his lips along Tyler's forehead then down his nose to his lips. Tyler removed Connor's boxer shorts, and not that he'd thought he'd been lying, was still shocked to see the size of his endowment.

Half an hour later, both still panting from their spent pleasure, they held each other tightly in their each other's arms. "That was incredible Tyler. I can't believe we waited this long."

Tyler chuckled. "Yeah if only they had conjugal visits in the nuthouse."

Chuckling himself, Connor ran his hand up and down Tyler's arm that was wrapped around his chest. He turned his head to the side and kissed his forehead. "I love you so much."

Cupping his hand around the back of Connor's neck he pulled his head down a bit and connected his lips to his while he intertwined their legs together, his knee coming to rest gently against Connor's groin. They both got hard again within a few minutes and had to relieve themselves once again.

They did not leave the motel until after five, then had to drive around wasting more time so their hair would dry from their showers before they saw Connor's mom. Who would of course get suspicious if they both showed up looking freshly showered.

When they got back to Connor's she was just putting dinner on the table and smiled at them as they walked in. "I made chop suey Tyler. Connor says you love that at school."

Tyler nodded, his eyes alight with pleasure, he was very hungry after the afternoon's activities and could not think of anything better to hit the spot. "Thank you." He remembered to say as they all sat around the table.

He had a wonderful weekend up until late Sunday afternoon when he got a call from Robert. "How are you?" he asked, as soon as he'd found out it was Robert on the phone.

"Tyler I got bad news."

Tyler's face fell, though he managed to keep his voice strong while he asked, "what?"

"I am gonna be here for at least a couple months. My parents are making me stay here 'til we get grams settled into a nursing home and sell the house. They are enrolling me in school here tomorrow. I won't be back 'til at least the beginning of April."

Mustering up all the courage he had, hiding his sudden deep despair and putting forth his most confident voice he said, "That's okay Robert, I think I'm really liking this new family. You just stay there and do what you gotta do."

"I'm so sorry man, but I promise as soon as I get back. Me and you we're gonna be roomies."

Tyler smiled at the thought. Just wishing he didn't have to wait a few more months. Shortly after he got off the phone with Robert he packed up his back pack, kissed Connor goodbye and walked back over to the Pollock's.

Seconds after closing their front door behind him he heard his name being called in the dining room and walked in to see them and their two daughters sitting around the table. "You want dinner?" Anne Pollock asked.

Truly honored at the invite he was tempted to say yes, but having just eaten a full meal at Connor's he smiled and shook his head. "No thank you ma'am." She nodded and looked back at her plate. Taking that as his dismissal, he turned back out of the room and walked down the hall to his bedroom where he spent the rest of the night sitting on the floor in front of his bed doing his homework.

His alarm woke him up early the next morning. He got up and took his shower. Once he got to the kitchen he realized he was the only one up in the house. Not knowing what time they worked and figuring the girls were in elementary school, which started an hour later, he figured it was normal routine for them to still be sleeping. Not feeling comfortable enough to rummage through their kitchen as it had never been allowed at any other home he turned out of the kitchen and quietly left the house.

Connor's car horn jumped him nearly out of his shoes once he was about halfway to school. He smiled, turned and seeing his red car, then stepped off the sidewalk, crossed the road and sat down in the front passenger seat of the car.

"What in hell you doin? I was on my way to get you?" Connor asked, after a quick kiss on the lips.

"Well I thought I'd just meet you." Tyler half grinned as he adjusted his back pack from his shoulder to his lap.

"Things okay there?"

He nodded without hesitation. "Fine honest. They even offered me to sit with them at dinner last night. Course I didn't 'cause I was so full." he chuckled.

Connor smiled, not having ever realized that being invited to sit at a table to eat would be such and honor, but realizing to Tyler it was just that. "Track tryouts are today. You please, please, please, wanna try out?"

"I can't man, I got a job."

"Practice is out by 4:30 you'd still get to work by five. And you'd only miss one night a week or a day on the weekends for meets. Most you'd lose is like five hours."

"I don't know,"

Connor reached over and dropped his hand down on Tyler's thigh giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Just come and try out. You got tonight off. Then if you make it, you can take the schedule to your boss and see if he can work around it."

"Okay loser," Tyler chortled shaking his head. "And I don't know what in hell you mean by if I make it. I've got a damn fine running form. I'll be the star of the team." He broke out laughing at his own ridiculous thought.

"You do have a damn fine running form." Connor spoke up squeezing his thigh again. "Damn fine form all around. And besides we'll be able to spend so much time together if we are both on the team."

Tyler wondered what in hell he'd gotten himself into the moment he walked into the locker room for track tryouts at the end of the day. He didn't know why it hadn't dawned on him that the jocks, that all hated him, would all be on the team or trying out too. Every eye in the room turned to him and Connor, though Tyler could tell it was him they were eyeing scornfully and not Connor.

Mitch Jacobs, one of his top teasers sauntered over with his gym shorts and no top on. "What you doin' in here Washington?"

Connor grasped Tyler's hand and faced off against Mitch. "He's here because he goes here now. He's no more Washington than the rest of us."

"Well let's just focus on the crazy then." He sneered, his eyes boring back into Tyler.

Tyler started to turn and leave but Connor's hold on him increased 'til it was almost painful. He turned and looked at him, seeing in his eyes that he thought if he cowered back now it would never stop. Though he was still all for turning and running he didn't want to disappoint Connor and stayed where he was.

As the coach came out of his office and gave a speech about the tryouts, how many would be picked and what was expected. Mitch pulled his eyes away from Tyler though he still looked plenty pissed off. Snide comments ran rampant through the locker room as they all changed up, all of them directed at, or about Tyler, who was cursing Connor for making him do this, almost as much as he was cursing himself for being stupid enough to agree.

He did notice that no one made any fag comments while Connor was there and had to be a little thankful that Connor seemed to have enough clout among them to save him from that particular degradation.

With ice and snow still piled high on the track that surrounded the football field they walked into the gymnasium after they'd changed up. Tyler like everyone else was wearing the standard issue blue gym shorts and a white T-shirt with the school's mascot, a ferocious lion emblazoned on the back and the school's name written out where a pocket would normally be on the front.

He had a pair of old crappy sneakers on, that he knew full well would not make it through a season of track, and had already started thinking of how much he should spend on a new pair, though he still was not too eager about the whole track team and more so him being a part of it.

They spent an hour and a half running sprints, doing calisthenics, and then ran around the perimeter of the gym five times which they were told equaled out to a mile. Tyler feeling proud that he'd at least held his own, as he'd never gone out for any sport before was elated when Connor and one other guy seemed incredibly excited about his performance.

In the locker room after they'd showered and changed Connor was absolutely certain Tyler would make the team and seemed to be even more certain that he'd be a huge asset to the team. As he talked, Tyler looked over the other team hopefuls and noted none of them, but the one other boy were not one bit happy about him doing so well.

After they'd changed the coach walked back in with a clipboard and stood in front of them all. As the coach read down the names of those who had made it, several cheered and clapped each other on the back. When Tyler's name was read the only one who cheered was Connor and it was quickly drowned out by several boo's and snide remarks.

Tyler's face burned in shame, he'd been booed by a crowd before but that made it no less painful and humiliating when it was done again. His eyes focused in on the coach, who to his relief he noted the man looked angry, and for once not at him.

"I want to hear no more of that behavior among my team." he ordered, his voice loud and strong. "Anyone who continues to try and alienate someone and not act as a team will find themselves no longer a part of this team."

"But coach!" Allen Carlton shot out. "He's a Washington, he's only trying out to spy for them."

"Don't be ridiculous." Coach Hayden snapped. "This is high school sports, not Mafia crap. Now I want to hear no more about it!"

"But what if he's gotta go to the nuthouse again. Then we lose a team member just because he can't keep his mind intact."

Tyler's face burned a deep red, as Connor turned to Allen ready to lunge an attack. The coach's voice stopped him.

"Leave Allen. I don't want you on this team."

Allen's mouth fell open as his own face turned red. "You can't kick me off. I'm the best one you got."

"You may be able to run, but you don't have what it takes to be a team player. I don't want you on this team. I don't even want to see you in, or anywhere near this locker room, while practice is going on."

Tyler dared to look around and saw all Allen's friends were glaring back at him with murder in their eyes. Knowing it was just not worth it to be on a team he was hated by, he looked back at the coach. "I don't wanna be on the team sir; don't kick him off on my account." He looked at Connor apologetically then hurried out of the locker room.

Not feeling like facing anyone, not even Connor he walked out of the school and hurried to the Pollock's. Once there he went straight to his room and lay down on the bed, curling his legs up so his knees were at his chest and wrapping his arms around him.

He couldn't believe how dumb he'd been to think he'd fit in enough to actually join a sport. He thought just having a few friends and a boyfriend had made him forget his place, and was questioning his relationship with Connor deeply when his bedroom door opened and Connor walked in.

His feelings of doubt about the relationship faded seeing him, as he realized he could never be happy without Connor by his side. Whether he deserved someone so great, he still did not know, but his wanting for the guy overrode his many feelings of doubt.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, his eyes darting up to Connor's face. "I just can't do it."

"You can't not stick up for yourself Tyler." Connor said cautiously, as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "They are gonna ride you forever if you don't."

Tyler rolled over onto his back and squinted up at the ceiling as he laid his hand on his chest. "I've been ridden my entire life Connor, I only got another year and four months in fucking high school, I think I can make it."

"Yeah and if you go onto college with the same 'I deserve it' attitude they are gonna ride you just as bad there."

Tyler's eyes narrowed as anger shot through him and he glared over at Connor. "So this is all my doing? It's all my fault no one likes me?" He'd been of that opinion his entire life, but the fact someone else was saying it to him, was really pissing him off for reasons really unknown to him.

"Of course not," Connor shook his head and rolled his eyes wishing he could just say it right. "But I think you can stop it. You can show all them assholes what a good person you really are. You can make them eat their words. You just have to be the way with them that you are with me."

Tyler studied him, his eyes raking over his face for a long time, before his face broke into a smile which surprised the hell out of Connor. "What?" he asked shaking his head totally confused.

"I don't think they'd like me any better if I made out with them or had sex with them."

Putting his hand over his mouth, Connor laughed flopping onto his back, his head resting on Tyler's stomach. "You could be funny though, like you are with me."

Tyler moved his hand to the top of Connor's head and ran his fingers through his hair. "I just can't be on a team that hates me Connor. What in the world would be the fun in that? I don't care about teaching anyone they were wrong about me. I just want to get through high school with my body in one piece."

Connor turned his head and looked up at Tyler's face. "Coach didn't let Allen back on the team, even after you left. And he told everyone else they could have just lost the entire season for all of us, for just letting one of the best performer's in tryouts walk out the door."

Chuckling Tyler shook his head. "Well the coach was the one that kicked him off. That would be his fault or even mine for showing up. Not the rest of the team's."

Connor sat up looking down at him. "Not Allen you twit. You! You were the best performer at tryouts."

Tyler's eyes widened, sure the man must have just been saying that to make the team feel guiltier, but still surprised he'd said it.

"You do much running?" Connor asked, cocking his head to one side as he looked Tyler over.

Shrugging, Tyler shook his head. "Just running away from people," he chuckled.

"Well it's been beneficial in one way. You are awesome at it. Please think on it tonight. You'd be great for the team, even if they don't realize it at first, they will realize it."

Though he was already sure he didn't want to do it, he nodded hating to deny the pleading look in Connor's eyes. "But please don't be too upset with me if I don't do it Connor. We can find plenty of other ways to spend time together."

Connor nodded as he rubbed his hand up and down Tyler's chest. He leaned over and planted a firm yet gentle kiss on his lips. "I love you man, I would never be pissed off at you."

Tyler smiled and pulled Connor's head down for another kiss that lasted a bit longer then the first. "You want to come over for dinner?"

"Yeah okay," Tyler sat up and pulled his shoes back on. "Your mom's working tonight right?"

"Yeah, but I can cook a little."

Chuckling, he shook his head. "Wasn't why I was asking, I was thinking of a little dessert action."

Connor cooed in delight, then pulled Tyler up by the hand. "Dessert sounds like an incredible idea."

Copyright 2005 Vance Lister. All Rights Reserved.

Please email responses to vlista20@hotmail.com

This story was edited by Joe-aka_dannybhoy

This and my other stories are available online at www.storylover.us