Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2003 19:25:42 -0500
From: Rhaven <rhaven2002@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Long Road Chapter Three

This story contains strong language and sexual content between
boy/man.

For more stories and poems, please visit:

www.rhavenlore.com


The Long Road

CHAPTER THREE

Midnight rolled around and Jeremy was feeling no pain. He wasn't
feeling much of anything actually. He took another drink of the Jack
Daniels and giggled as it splashed down his chin. The last time he
remembered being drunk; he had only been a teenager. Getting drunk to
prove he was a man, to prove that he was just like all his 'normal'
friends. The thought of that experience was too much for Jeremy. The
tears began to flow and mount, into he couldn't control them. He
impulsively felt behind his left ear, at the scar and shivered from
the memory. The night he almost died, was still to painful to think
about, it was the end of Jeremy's innocence. He had learned that night
just how evil people could be.

Jeremy gulped down more of the alcohol and grabbed his remote. He
needed to find something cheery on TV, something to take his mind of
his past.

"Cool Godillo.err Gozerra, oh shit am I drunk or what?" Jeremy giggled
again despite the fact he still had tears running down his cheeks.
Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla was one of his favorite monster movies,
though he didn't remember it being so funny. Everything about the
movie was hilarious. Jeremy was about to take another drink from the
bottle when he heard his door creak open.

"What the. Bram?"

The boy warily stepped into the room.

"I'm sorry Bwam.Bram. Is my TV too loud?" Jeremy tried his best to
look sober, but the harder he concentrated the more his body swayed.
He tried not to smile, but his mouth wouldn't obey him and the more he
thought about it, the larger his smile got.

 Bram was wearing blue pajamas, as pressed and clean looking as the
rest of the clothes, he had seen the boy in the last two days. He was
beginning to wonder if Bram had any 'normal' clothes.

"No. the TV is fine. I thought you might want to read my poem." Bram
handed Jeremy a piece of paper. Jeremy rubbed his eyes and looked at
the paper.



Who am I, a tune?

A Song?

I have no music to belong.

Who am I, an enemy?

A friend?

There is no seeable end.

A winter of blinding sadness, left with want and anticipate.

To see that beauty of summer and not the hate.



Jeremy read the poem twice; he found it hard to stop reading it.

"This is wonderful Bram. You . I. I like it very much."

Bram smiled briefly and quickly looked away, as if ashamed of his
pride.

He stood there playing with the bottom button of his pajamas, glancing
over to the television and then back to his hands. Jeremy patted the
cushion next to him.

"Have a seat, the movie just started." It wasn't until Bram sat down
that Jeremy remembered the Jack Daniels on the coffee table. He went
to grab it, in hopes that Bram hadn't noticed it yet. However, Bram
had a hold of the bottle before Jeremy realized it, in fact he was
still grabbing at air, where the bottle had been.

"Are you all right?" Bram asked arching an eyebrow.

"Well. I guess I'm a little tippy.tipsy." Jeremy giggled. "I'm not a
good alcoholic." Jeremy giggled again, finding humor in Bram's
disapproving look.

"I'm not sure my father would approve." Bram said standing, hands on
hip, a stance Jeremy had seen Maggie make many times.

"Oh come on now." Jeremy grabbed the boy's hand. "Sit down and watch
the movie with me. Your father isn't here. let's just enjoy the
evening. Think of it as. as a slumber party."

"A slumber party? That's just silly." Bram shook his head, but managed
to smile. "But I do have to say 'I' don't approve of you drinking
either."

"All right then, I promise not to drink anymore." Jeremy said holding
his hand over his heart. "To be honest. I hate the stuff."

Bram frowned and looked at the bottle. "If you hate it, why were you
drinking?"

Jeremy wiped sweat from his frown, for some reason, the room seemed
warmer. "I. I was upset." He stood and stumbled towards his bedroom.
"I've always been kind of an emotional person. wearing my feelings on
my sleeve." Jeremy looked at his wrist as he said this and ran into
the doorframe. Without missing a step, Jeremy stumbled into the
bedroom still talking.

"I don't handle conflict well." Jeremy pulled off his shirt and threw
it across his bed. "I just. just didn't want to fight with you
anymore."

Bram followed Jeremy, stopped at the door, and peeked in. He looked
around the room as if it was a sacred temple, not wanting to intrude.

"May I come in?" He whispered.

Jeremy laughed and motioned for the boy to enter. Perhaps if he wasn't
drunk, he would have felt awkward with Bram in his room. However,
alcohol gave him false confidence, it even cured his fear.

"You don't have to be so. formal here Bram." As he said this, he
stumbled out of his pants, falling back on to the bed with a bounce.



"Can. I help you? I'm afraid you might hurt yourself." Bram asked
stepping cautiously into the room.

"T-shirt." Jeremy moaned as he tried to lift his head up from the bed.

"Where.where is your t-shirt?"

"Dresser.top drawer. Star Wars. grab the Star Wars shirt!" Jeremy said
still sprawled across the bed. The next thing he knew, Bram crawled
onto the bed and was trying his best to get the t-shirt over his head.
Jeremy grinned as the boy grunted and groaned, trying his best to get
the shirt on him. After the third time Bram accidentally kicked him in
the side, Jeremy decided to help.

"You promise not to drink again?" Bram said trying to catch his
breath, the effort of dressing Jeremy had exhausted him. "I don't
think I could dress you everyday."

"No problems." Jeremy said laughing and playfully pushed Bram.

"You. are so different from anyone I know." Bram scooted to the edge
of the bed, fumbling once again with the bottom button of his pajama
top. "I'm sorry for upsetting you Mr. Roberts."

"I'm sorry too Bram. Please call me Jeremy. As for being different,
you don't know the right people. I am mild to some I have met in my
life."

Jeremy forced himself to sit up, which only made his head swirl more.

"I do have to warn you though. I'm much worse sober."

"That is hard to imagine." Bram arched an eyebrow at the comment.
"Just what do I have to look forward too?"

"I'm very informal. I sing at the drop of a hat, I fart in public..."
Jeremy said giggling. "And I give a mean Belly Buster."

"A Belly Buster.what's a Belly Buster?" Said Bram frowning as if he
was almost afraid to ask.

Without a thought, Jeremy leaned over and lifted Bram's shirt up. He
put his lips on the boy's bare stomach and blew as hard as he could.
Bram collapsed onto the bed, screaming with laughter, squirming madly.

"That is a Belly Buster." Jeremy said sitting back up. Bram rubbed his
stomach and chuckled.

"That was disgusting.do it again!" Bram pulled his pajama shirt up
higher and lay back on the bed. He started laughing before Jeremy even
got close. Jeremy once again placed his lips on the smooth skin of
Bram's stomach and blew. The boy went wild with joy, kicking madly
until Jeremy finally stopped. Jeremy sighed and gave Bram a gentle
kiss on his stomach before sitting up.

"Let's finish watching that movie." Jeremy held out his hand and
waited until Bram took it. They walked back into the living room and
sat down on the couch. Godzilla had just begun his fierce rampage
through Tokyo, destroying stryofoam building after stryofoam building.
Jeremy wasn't watching the movie, all he could think of was Bram. He
could still feel the warm skin of Bram's stomach on his lips, the
texture, and the softness. He glanced over at the boy sitting next to
him. Bram wasn't watching the movie either. He was still rubbing his
stomach and staring at Jeremy.

"Is this what you wear to sleep in?" Bram asked frowning at Jeremy's
t-shirt. The Star Wars iron-on was all but a phantom of its former
self. Jeremy looked down at himself, his favorite attire to lounge
around in; t-shirt and boxers.

"Actually, I'm a little overdressed for bedtime." Jeremy snickered.

"You don't wear pajamas?" Bram seemed honestly surprised.

"I don't wear anything to bed. Actually, I don't know many people that
wear pajamas anymore." Jeremy flicked the collar of Bram's pajamas and
smiled.

"But I have a different pair of pajamas for everyday. It wouldn't be
proper to sleep in anything else. I'm not sure I could sleep without
my pajamas."

Jeremy threw back his head and laughed.

"Proper? Bram, sometimes. sometimes you sound just like an 80 year old
man!"

"I do not? I just have manners and I don't like being laughed at!"
Bram jumped up so fast from the couch he almost tripped over the
coffee table.

"Wait a minute!" Jeremy quickly grabbed Bram's hand before the boy
could run from the room. "I didn't mean to laugh, I'm sorry. I just
think you should let your hair down once in a while."

Bram didn't move, he stared towards the door and then back to Jeremy,
who squeezed his hand.

"Sit down. please?" Jeremy patted the cushion next to him. "Come on.
sit."

Bram without releasing Jeremy's hand finally sat back down.

"I. I don't know how to act like a normal person." Bram said barely
above a whisper.

"I don't know what it's like to be a kid. Maybe I am an old man."

Jeremy squeezed the boy's hand again and scooted closer to him.

"You're not an old man." He whispered in the boy's ear. "It's just no
one has given you the freedom you deserve." Jeremy heard himself talk
and knew if it wasn't for the alcohol he wouldn't be saying any of
this, he tried to shut up, but his mouth wouldn't close.

"You need to go wild, to break all the rules. Live a little."

Bram obviously understood, for he nodded to Jeremy's slurred words.

They both turned their attention to the movie, still holding hands.



      Jeremy awoke with the worst headache of his life. He was
surprise to see sunlight piercing through the window. A glorious new
morning, which Jeremy wished wasn't so bright. Bram was stretched out
across the couch, his legs resting over Jeremy's lap. He wished he
didn't have the headache, so that he may savor this special moment.

"Oh my God." Jeremy shook his head as he remembered some of the
conversation he had had with the boy. "I'm an idiot." He whispered. He
had told the boy to break all the rules. He said this to a boy who has
been expelled from every school he had attended.  Jeremy was certain
he would never touch alcohol again, it made him stupid. He carefully
slipped from under the boy's legs and staggered to the bathroom. He
stripped and fell into the shower. Though he wanted to scream when the
cold spray hit him, he forced himself to stand still and endure the
freezing water.

When finally his body was numb, Jeremy grabbed a towel and dried off.
He hated showers, especially cold showers, but it had helped his
headache, not to mention the hangover. He wrapped the towel around his
waist and peeked into the living room. He felt his heart sink at the
sight of the empty couch. Bram was gone, he just wondered what kind of
mood the boy would be in now. He quietly cursed Maggie for giving him
the Jack Daniels, what had the old woman been thinking?

Jeremy wasn't surprised when he ate breakfast alone. Even Maggie
seemed a little distant this morning, and he hadn't seen Nancy in a
few days.

"Is something wrong Maggie?" Jeremy dared to ask.

Maggie seemed to think hard on Jeremy's question, she finally sat down
at the table and inhaled deeply.

"Mr. Roberts. did Bram spend the night in your room last night?"

Jeremy felt his headache return; he stared down at his eggs and
searched for something to say. "He. fell asleep on the couch."

Maggie nodded and stood.

"Well all I have to say is. good job Mr. Roberts."

"Excuse me?"

Maggie filled Jeremy's coffee cup and sat down again.

"You should have seen his face this morning. I can't remember the last
time he looked so happy."

"Bram talked to you about last night?" Jeremy couldn't believe what he
was hearing, had he done something right.



"He was full of energy; I just can't believe the change in him."
Maggie slapped her hand on the table. "Why don't I fix you two a
picnic lunch today? I think you two would be a wonderful time."

Before Jeremy could say anything, Maggie was back on her feet
rummaging through the pantry. It looked like he was having a picnic
today, no matter what he thought. Jeremy quickly finished his
breakfast and headed back to his room. He only had a few minutes to
get out his paperwork and books before Bram appeared at the door.

"Good morning." Jeremy said standing. "Are you ready for class?"

"I'm ready, if you are? Are you. feeling better this morning?" Bram
sat down behind his desk and smiled.

"I will manage. Please pull out your history book."

The day went well, Bram seemed honestly interested in the lessons, as
they studied history, algebra and finished with English before Maggie
came knocking at the door.

"I have lunch ready, if you think you two can find a stopping point."

"I think we can stop." Jeremy gave Bram a wink. "I've been a slave
driver all morning; a break is just what we need."

Maggie handed Jeremy the picnic basket and smiled. "Go have fun."

"What is that?" Bram asked pointing at the wicker basket.

"Maggie thought it would be nice to have a picnic." Jeremy explained
as he headed downstairs.

"Outside. we are going to eat outside? With bugs and animals? Maggie
knows. she knows I don't like it outside." Bram shook his head, but
followed Jeremy without any further complaints.

Once outside, Jeremy headed for the tree line. If he was going to have
a picnic, it was going to be in the shade. Though it was late spring,
the days were already warm.

"How far are we going?" Bram finally broke his silence. "Couldn't we
stay on the porch; maybe the pool would be cooler .if you can't find a
place here."

Jeremy stopped and looked back to the house. "No. let's go a little
further."

Jeremy held in his laughter, as he watched the boy creep cautiously
behind him, tiptoeing as if he was walking across eggshells. He couldn
't imagine anyone being afraid of the outdoors, he himself had spent
most of his childhood roaming the woods, climbing trees and just being
a kid. Bram had never had the opportunity to any of that; Jeremy
realized he was trying to shock Bram into childhood. He wasn't sure
that was a possibility.



They walked deep into the woods until they came to a small creek. It
was a picture perfect setting, which astounded Jeremy and even seemed
to relax his lingering headache.

"This will do." He said in awe.

"Finally, I thought you might walk to Florida before you found a
 spot." Bram said sarcastically.

 Jeremy knelt down and opened the basket. Maggie had supplied them
with everything needed for the perfect picnic. He pulled out the
picnic blanket first and handed it to Bram.

"Find a nice flat spot." Jeremy instructed. Bram was almost
overwhelmed as he looked for a perfect spot.

"Over here will be fine." Laughed Jeremy and helped the boy spread out
the blanket.

"I. I have to be honest Jeremy. This is my first picnic." Bram blushed
and sat down cautiously on the blanket.

Jeremy handed the boy a coke and started unpacking the lunch.

"Don't worry; I think you will have fun. Just relax and enjoy the
scenery."

Maggie had prepared fried chicken, potato salad and bake beans for
their meal. To Jeremy everything tasted wonderful, but he could tell
Bram didn't enjoy it as much as he did. Once Jeremy had finished his
meal, he lay back on the blanket looking up at the sky through the
thicket of leaves. The shadows swayed hypnotically across his face,
almost putting him asleep.

"What a beautiful day."

"A bit warm." Bram complained, looking up to see what Jeremy was
seeing.

Jeremy sat up on his elbow and looked over at the boy. He had been
slightly disappointed that Bram chose to wear his normal clothing;
long sleeve shirt and dress slacks. But he guessed it was too early
for Bram to appear in tattered t-shirt and shorts, but perhaps one
day.

"It is a little warm." Jeremy finally said, to show that he agreed, he
unbuttoned the top three buttons of his short sleeve shirt, although
he wasn't that hot.

"What do we do now?" Bram asked staring at Jeremy relaxing on the
blanket. "Shouldn't we get back inside?"

"Why don't we relax a little here, being outside can clear the mind
and open the soul."

Bram groaned and started rolling up his sleeves.

"Poetic babble, the only thing I will get out here. is a sunburn."

Jeremy rolled his eyes and deliberately yawned. "Lay back and relax
Bram."

The boy obeyed. "I'm still hot. How long are we going to stay out
here?"

Jeremy sat up and looked towards the sparkling creek. "You want to
cool off? Let's go for a walk then." He started taking off his shoes
and rolling up his pant legs.

"What are you doing?" Bram asked looking nervous. "Where are you
going?"

Jeremy pulled the boy's legs towards him and pulled off his shoes.
"Where are 'WE' going?" He corrected as he rolled up Bram's pant legs.
"Follow me."

"Oh I'm going to hate this." Bram said tiptoeing across the grass. He
watched timidly as Jeremy stepped into the creek and pulled Bram in
with him.

"Wow that's cold!" Bram almost scream, he hugged Jeremy's arm tightly
as he tried to steady his steps over the slick rock bottom. "This
feels weird. No telling what lives in here."

"I love the feeling of mud between my toes." Jeremy confessed. "Now
isn't this refreshing?"

"Disgusting, is more like it." Bram slipped a little and tightened his
grip on Jeremy's arm. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"How do you get me to do these things?"

Jeremy looked down at Bram and smiled. "I don't do anything; it's all
you, sweetheart."

Bram laughed and tugged on Jeremy's arm playfully. "You called me
sweetheart."

"Sorry." Jeremy felt his face flush with embarrassment. It was natural
for Jeremy to call someone that, but he didn't want to insult Bram
with the tender term.

"It's okay, no one ever called me sweetheart before." Bram leaned into
Jeremy and whispered. "I kind of like being called sweetheart. Can we
get out of the water now?" Bram gave Jeremy his most angelic pleading
smile.

"Okay, okay. Let's go back to the blanket."

Jeremy helped the boy out of the creek, which was a feat in itself.
Bram kept slipping and stumbling on the slippery bank until Jeremy
gave him a final shove.

"That was a horrible experience." Bram said brushing off his pants, at
imaginary dirt.

"Oh, it wasn't that bad. It did cool you off, didn't it?" Jeremy
flopped down on the blanket. He patted the blanket next to him, but
Bram remained standing.

"If you don't mind. I think I will go back in." Bram said avoiding eye
contact.

Jeremy sighed and finally nodded. "That's fine, I'll be in soon."