Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2000 14:43:35 -0500
From: fsw99 <fsw99@pop.mindspring.com>
Subject: Chapter 37 of One Big Happy Family

Legal Notice: The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual
acts. The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.

Don't read this story if: **You're not 18 or over,

**If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live,

**Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex.

The author retains copyright to this story. Placing this story on a website
or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's permission
is a violation of that copyright. Legal action will be taken against
violators.

E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions or other 'constructive'
comments or advice may be sent to me at fsw99@mindspring.com.

			   Chapter Thirty Seven

The band set up, knowing it wouldn't be long before the football game was
over. They couldn't start playing right away, though, since they had
promised BD and the rest of the football team that they wouldn't start
until they were finished with their showers and dressing. Everyone was
excited about the reception they had gotten, though. Maybe they could make
it in music.

The game finished and everyone started coming in. The first people in
didn't hesitate, they headed for the front of the stage, making sure they
were as close as possible. The band didn't really have anything to do and
just sat down at the edge of the stage next to all the kids crowding
around, and started talking to them. They all met lots of new people, and
also recognized friends they knew who were very eager to talk to them and
make sure everyone around them knew they knew someone in the band. All of a
sudden, they were kind of like celebrities. Everyone wanted to talk to
them! And lots of times, four or five at once!!! They were kind of
overwhelmed.

More and more and more people started coming in, crowding the stage. It was
getting to be a huge crowd. Some started yelling from the back to start
playing. Isaiah finally got up and went to the microphone. "Hi! We would
love to start playing. We have a lot of music we would love to play for
you. But, we promised BD and the football team that we wouldn't start
without them.  Now, unless one of you wants to explain it to BD personally,
I think we should wait. What do you think? Any volunteers to explain it to
BD?"

"Explain what to me?" BD yelled, as he walked in from the back, followed by
the rest of the football team.

"Oh, nothing. Everyone was just ready for us to start playing. You did take
a shower like I asked, didn't you? Everyone is packed pretty tight
together, and I don't want people to start leaving because the football
team just got here," Isaiah kidded.

BD just smiled, as he lead the football team through the crowd. They parted
like Moses did the Red Sea in the Bible, letting them in close. When BD got
to the front of the stage, he didn't hesitate. He made one huge step up,
and was beside Isaiah before he could react. He quickly picked up Isaiah in
his arms like he was a little kid, and said, "Now, what did you ask me,
little man?" into the microphone.

He leaned Isaiah over to where he could speak into the microphone, but kept
a firm grip on him.  "Um, let's see, what did I ask you? I think it was how
did you do in the football game," Isaiah said, holding on to BD for dear
life, hoping he wouldn't just drop him. Isaiah, at 5'2" was dwarfed by BD's
6'8" size.

"I thought you said something about taking a shower. Maybe about me
smelling bad. Maybe I should just body slam your little ass. What do you
think?" BD kidded him.

"I think I couldn't sing for all these nice people any more if you did
that. Put me down, before I have to hurt you, OK? My knees are just about
level with your balls, you know," Isaiah said bravely.

BD just smiled widely, set Isaiah on his feet, and said, "OK, little
bro. Go show ‘em what you can do."

He started to get down off the stage, and Isaiah stopped him. "Oh, no. You
stay. Let's see how the big football star can do, dancing to the music. You
stand right over there, and you can be our dancer," Isaiah said, moving him
over to the side of the stage. "Hope you know something about Boston," he
said. "OK, let's get this show on the road. `More Than A Feeling` by
Boston. One, Two, Three, Four," and Robbie and Phill kicked in the lead
guitar part to introduce the song.

BD tried his best to keep up with the music, but quick moves and 305 pounds
weren't quite meant for each other. BD was a good sport, and everyone gave
him a big round of applause as he finally stepped down after the song was
over.

"OK, I tried what you do. Now, I expect you to return the favor. Be at
football practice Monday after school. We will let you run a few plays at
quarterback. I will be on the defensive side, naturally," BD kidded Isaiah.

"I'll think about it over the weekend and let you know," Isaiah kidded
back. Everyone laughed, knowing Isaiah didn't have a death wish and would
be anywhere but on the football field on Monday.

The band continued playing the songs they had rehearsed for so long, and
the crowd got louder and louder as they got into the music. The band was
ecstatic with the reception they were getting at their first
performance. They were a little too ecstatic. During `Crystal Ball` by
Styx, Robbie and Phill were singing backup harmony into one microphone and
smiling at each other.  Everything was going almost too well. And in cases
like this, something usually happens that changes the situation completely.

Phill was so happy, that he couldn't help himself. After their harmony part
together was over, he quickly leaned over and kissed Robbie on the
lips. The band kept playing, but both boys immediately reddened. Lots of
people in the audience had seen it happen, and they could already see
people talking and pointing at them as they continued to play. It was a
good thing that they had played this song so many times before, because
their minds were elsewhere and they just played on auto-pilot.

                                                ****************************

After they finished the song, Isaiah sensed something was wrong, and the
band took a break, promising to come back out and play several more
songs. With the sound now off, Robbie and Phill could see groups of people
talking and pointing at them.

The had been given the use of a classroom to get dressed and put their
personal things, and everyone, including Tim and Tom, all went inside and
shut the door. "God, Phill, I can't believe you did that in front of
everyone," Robbie yelled.

"What's the matter, I asked.

"Oh, nothing. Phill just kissed me during the last song and lots of people
saw him do it.  Absolutely nothing is wrong, except Phill and I are
probably going to get the shit beaten out of us on Monday once the whole
school finds out we are gay. Other than that, everything is just great,"
Robbie said angrily.

"Oh, no," I said, knowing all the hatred and bigotry that can go on in high
schools towards gays.

"Come on, guys. I might not be that bad," Isaiah said. "Everyone loved us
just a couple of minutes before that. So what? They found out. They would
have found out sooner or later anyway. I don't care if they know I am
gay. I might just tell them, too."

"Yeah, we ought to stick together," Ed said. "I don't care, either."

"Me either," Paul said. "I want to see someone try and push me around
because I am gay."

"Look, fighting won't solve anything," I said.

"I think I know a way to get us all out of this. Just trust me, this will
work. Let's play `Come Sail Away` by Styx, `Something about You` and `Let
me Take You Home Tonight` by Boston. That will be enough for the first
night. Then, we can judge how everyone takes it," Isaiah said.

"Tell us what you are planning," Phill said.

"No, it won't work unless it is a surprise. Trust me, guys. This is a
really good idea," Isaiah answered. "Come on, let's get the rest of the
concert over before we make the audience wait too long."

They all went back on stage, and were met with much less enthusiasm. Lots
of people were still clapping and yelling, like nothing had happened, but
some were just standing and staring at Phill and Robbie.

"Let's do it guys. One, Two, Three, Four," Isaiah counted, and they started
into `Come Sail Away`. This song was one of the more recognized songs they
were playing, and the crowd was immediately back into the music. Phill and
Robbie were forgotten for the moment.

When it was over, they immediately went into `Something About You`. Isaiah
moved over closer to Ed and it seemed he was almost singing the `Something
about You` part of the song directly to Ed.

They got tremendous applause when the song was finally finished, and Isaiah
walked to the microphone. "Thanks. Thanks very much from all of us. We have
really enjoyed being able to play for you, and hope to come back and play
for you again real soon. Would you like that?" The crowd roared their
approval.

"OK, we will try to work it out. We have time for one more song. It's
called `Let Me Take You Home Tonight` by Boston. It is dedicated to a very
important person in my life, who I hope will be the most important person
soon. I won't tell you who it is, but you will be able to figure it out by
the time the song is over. So, let us all thank you for coming and we will
see you next time.  One, Two, Three, Four."


Phill and Robbie started their opening guitar duet, and then Isaiah started
the first part of the song, this time, singing directly to Ed rather than
the audience.

"Now, I'm not like this, I really can be shy But I get this feeling,
Whenever you walk by I don't want to doubt you, I want to make you high If
you could see your way to me, Come on and let me try

Let me take you home tonight, Boy now it's all right Let me take you home
tonight, I'll sho be sweet tonight"

Robbie and Phill smiled at each other, as they realized what Isaiah had
planned. Isaiah wanted Ed to be his boyfriend and this is the way he had
chosen to ask him. By the smile on Ed's face, he clearly understood, too.

 Robbie and Phill played another short guitar duet, and Isaiah continued.

"You must understand this, I've watched you for so long That I feel I've
known you, I know it can't be wrong If we just get together, I want to make
you see I'm dreaming of your sweet love tonight, So come on and let it be

Let me take you home tonight, Boy now it's all right Let me take you home
tonight, I'll sho be sweet tonight"

I don't want to make excuses, I don't want to lie I just got to get aloose,
Will you tonight?"

Phill launched into his solo, followed by Robbie with his. They went back
and forth a couple of times, then ended in a harmonizing dual ending. Then
Isaiah got to finish.

"Let me take you home tonight, Boy now it's all right Let me take you home
tonight, I'll sho be sweet tonight

I don't want to make excuses, I don't want to lie I just got to get aloose,
Will you tonight?

I don't want to doubt you, I want to make you high But I get this feeling,
Whenever you walk by

If we just get together, I want to make you see I'm dreaming of your sweet
love tonight, So come on and let it be

Let me take you home tonight, Boy now it's all right Let me take you home
tonight, I'll sho be sweet tonight

I'll sho be sweet tonight, I'll sho be sweet tonight Let me take you home
tonight, I'll sho be sweet tonight"

The song kicked into a much faster pace, with the rest of the band singing
"Let Me Take You Home Tonight" over and over, with Isaiah singing a solo
and running all over the stage, exciting the crowd. The crowd was going
wild as they watched Isaiah alternate between running over to sing to Ed
once more, then running to the other end. As the song ended, Isaiah and Ed
ran off the stage holding hands, and the crowd exploded in applause. Maybe,
everything would work out after all.

                                                ****************************

They all ran back to their dressing room. Isaiah was almost out of
breath. "Did you mean what you said to me in that last song?" Ed asked him.

"Oh, yeah. I have for a long time now. I just couldn't get up enough
courage to tell you," Isaiah said, looking up into Ed's eyes. "I love you,
Ed."

"Oh Isaiah, I love you, too," Ed said, as he picked up Isaiah in his arms
and kissed him passionately.

"Uh, guys, I am glad for the two of you, but don't you think you had better
wait until you get back to my house. Our house, I guess," I said.

"Yeah, I guess you are right," Ed said, blushing and putting Isaiah down.

"Come on. The quicker we get all of our stuff packed and back home, the
quicker we can get away by ourselves," Isaiah said, leading everyone back
out to the stage. Most of the crowd was gone or in the process of
leaving. I went outside to get my Expedition and the trailer behind it so I
could pull up to where we could load all of the equipment.

Paul saw a friend of his named Nate walk up. "All of you were awesome. I
couldn't believe how good you sounded. You need some help?"

"Sure, Nate." Paul said, as Nate started helping him break down the drum
set. They worked in silence for a minute or two and then Paul added,
"Thanks, by the way."

"For what?", he asked.

"For what you said about the band. For helping. For not asking any
questions right now," Paul grinned. "I guess a lot of things happened
tonight that we didn't exactly plan."

"I think that is an understatement," Nate said, laughing, as he took the
snare drum of the stand the drums had been set up on.

"Paul, do you have anyone helping you set up when you play like this?" Nate
asked.

"No, this is the first time we have played before an audience before. We
really haven't thought about it," Paul answered. "Why, you interested?"

"Yeah. I would really like to help. I could be back stage and hand you
anything you needed.  Whatever all you guys needed. I can help you set up
your drums, and take them back apart. I could do all kinds of things for
you," Nate answered.

"And you don't care that some of us are gay? Fuck it, that isn't right. All
of us are gay. There, I said it. Do you care?" Paul asked.

"You are gay, too? I never would have thought that. I have seen you in
several fights," Nate answered.

"Yeah, and I would think I will be in several more real soon. Like,
Monday," Paul said, laughing.

"Look, I know it isn't any of my business, but I think there are lots of
gay kids at school that are just afraid to admit it to others. If you come
out, I am sure others will follow you. And, I really don't think you are
going to get much grief about it. I heard lots of people say they didn't
care if you were gay or not, you were a great band and they were going to
be your friends. I think you are going to be surprised how many people at
school support you," Nate said.

"You really think so?" Paul asked.

"Yeah, I do. You guys are like celebrities right now. You came out of
nowhere and just blew everyone away. You were beyond good. And the last
song really kicked ass. Isaiah is a great singer." Nate said.

"What about you? You didn't answer my question," Paul said.

"Oh! No, I don't care if you are gay. Why should I? It's none of my
business," Nate answered.

"Nate, I think that answer just might get you a job," Paul said, putting
his arm around Nate's shoulders. "Come on and let me introduce you to the
rest of the band and see what they think."

Paul and Nate joined the others in getting ready to load everything into
the trailer. "Hey guys, this is Nate. He is a friend of mine from school,
and he wants to help us set up and back stage while we play," Paul said.

"Hi Nate. I think you know everyone but Jimmy and Brian, right?" Robbie
asked.

"Hi Nate. Nice to meet you," Jimmy said, walking over and shaking his hand.

"Hi, Jimmy. I really loved your keyboard playing," Nate said.

"Hi, Nate. I write songs with Jimmy," Brian said, as he walked over and
offered his hand to Nate.

"Hi, Brian. Nice to meet you," Nate said, shaking his hand. A little
electric current shot through both of their bodies as their hands came
together. Not like the lightening storm that passed through Phill and
Robbie when they first met, but it did sends chills up both of their
spines. They stared deeply into each other's eyes.

They didn't have any time to think about it, though. Just them, BD walked
around the corner of the stage, followed by six or seven big football
players. They didn't have smiles on their faces, either. In fact, they all
looked pretty mad.

(You guys like the music aspect of the story? Is the story getting to be
too long? Should I cut out the music and end it soon? Let me know, OK?)

Comments can be sent to me at fsw99@mindspring.com.