Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2015 17:12:13 -0400
From: JAMES HEADY <vector18@msn.com>
Subject: a Safe Place--Chapter 1

A Safe Place
By
James

Disclaimer

This story deals with sexual as well as romantic situations between
teenaged males.  Should you not be of the legal age to read such material,
or if you're offended by this story, then please find something else to
read.  Also remember to donate to Nifty so that these types of stories can
remain free to the public.

Prologue 1

Caleb Roberts

The cold wind was biting in to my face and making me wish even more for the
warmth of home and of my husband's arms now more than ever.  I was only a
few steps away from the house as I walked from the transport van, but I was
desperate to get home, as it had been a hard day at work that Friday and I
was anxious for the weekend to come.  Nearing the steps, I walked up them,
and got out my key to unlock the door.

As I opened the door, I felt the warmth from the house and it was coming at
me fast and enveloping me wonderfully.  I couldn't see any of the house,
but I could hear the sounds from within and smell the cooking smells and I
knew that I was finally home.  I closed and locked the door, then walked in
to the living room.

"Dad!" my two boys yelled happily and ran at me.  They both tried to hug me
at the same time and I was able to somehow accommodate them both and we
both had a group hug.

"How's my boys doing today?" I asked and kissed them both on the cheek.
They kissed back and we went to the couch and sat down.

"It was good," Greyson said.  He's the more out-going of the two.  They're
both twins and they both turned 13 just a few days before and I'm noticing
the changes quickly.  Not physical, but a sense that change for both of
them and for us all is coming, the realization that soon they'll both be
older and eventually be adults and not completely need Nathan and I like
they used to.  That causes me to have a thickness in my throat and I have
to look away from them sometimes.  They don't know this, because when it
happens, it's when I'm looking in on them when they're asleep at night
before I go to bed with my husband.

"I'm glad to be out of school now," Daniel, the quietest of them said.

"You don't like the new school?" I asked him.

"I just have to get used to the new people I guess," he said with his head
down.

"I'm sure you will," I answered and hugged him.

He held on for a moment, then let go.  I then heard Nathan wheeling in to
the room.  He said hi to Greyson and Daniel, then came to me and we hugged
and held it for a long moment.  We then kissed softly and I excused the
boys to go to their room.

Our boys are Greyson Christopher Roberts and Daniel Colton Roberts.
They're both identical twins and they both have black hair and
emerald-green eyes and are both 5-0 and are around 120 LBs with some baby
fat still left on Greyson and none on Daniel.  They both had been on the
streets and had been in and out of foster care since their family through
them out when they were five years old.  The parents were drug users as
well as alcoholics who clearly didn't give a shit about their kids.  While
on the streets, they obviously did what they had to do to survive and when
they were both ten, they found a house that wasn't used much and when a guy
who owned it came upon them sleeping in the living room, he told them they
could stay, but only if they did what he told them to do.  What he meant
was them exchanging oral sex for money and food with a few shit bag friends
of his.

They eventually escaped one night when the man was out and from 11 to 12
years old, they went around steeling food from garbage cans and they also
would shop-lift food and were in and out of jail for it, but most of the
police who would arrest them felt sorry enough that they let them go after
a few hours with some money, but that was only a quick fix.  Finally,
Nathan my husband was at a store that they would frequent and he saw them
running out the door with several hand-fulls of packaged muffins and candy
bars.  He went after them and Greyson the more bold of the two grabbed
Nathan's hand and bit down hard and ripped the skin enough so that Nathan
needed stitches.

Daniel was able to get Greyson to let go and after Daniel broke down and
pleaded with Greyson to let the man help, they came home with him and were
introduced to me.

We began the process of adopting them and once it was finalized, we also
got them counseling.  They of course had some lingering issues to deal
with.  Greyson had deep anger issues and it didn't take much to get him
pissed.  Mainly it was a tone of voice that would set him off, especially
when Nathan or I used sarcasm which we meant as humor, but it became clear
that although we would make Greyson take responsibility for the angry
things he said, we knew that all the same he didn't like sarcasm and
actually I didn't like it much either after I would think about something I
said, or that Nathan said.

Daniel's way of coping with the abuse and abandonment was to go within
himself and he would only come out of his shell when music was playing and
when he really began to be out and more expressive was one day when he and
I were walking to the store and a car drove by blasting what sounded like
some of the older Black Metal from the early 1990's.  He asked me what it
was and I listened for a moment while the car sat there and I recognized it
as something by the Norwegian Black Metal Band called Darkthrone.  I told
him who the group was and when he responded to what I said, I could hear a
smile in his voice for the first time ever.

Long story short though, Greyson and Daniel were slow in getting recovered
enough so that they could begin to lead normal lives, but they wouldn't be
like other kids.  They both didn't like doing things that kids their own
age were doing such as video games or doing sports and they didn't have
much to say about the tween type of crushes on any girls that they might
have, and Nathan and I didn't push the issue either.

0000

Prologue 2

Kevin Roberts

Snow and wind flew at me as I got out of my car and ran up the steps to
unlock the door to mine and Cody's house.  The weather for November was
already cold and it felt like Winter was already upon us.  The snow was bad
enough that Friday that they had us on a level-2 snow emergency which meant
that we had to be extra careful when we went to work that day.  Cody had a
position from home where he painted stuff and sold it at various shops, so
he didn't have to go out in the cold that day, or most days, and I wished
that I could have stayed with him that day, naked and under the covers
making love over and over again and cuddling and kissing one another while
the weather slammed the outside with snow and bighting winds.

Cody was my life and my whole world.  He and I met back when we were both
16 years old and I've loved him ever since, and even though it's 15 years
later, it still feels like Yesterday and the closeness is still there when
we sit and hold one another while talking when sitting in our living room
or when we wildly make love in our bed and give voice to our passions, it
still feels new and fresh and so sweet.

Were it not for a wonderful and loving mother and meeting Caleb and I along
with Nathan and Alecia, then Cody would have been at the mercy of the state
and probably to this day locked away in a nursing home for people with
mental and psychological disabilities.  Cody has different problems with
learning, at least that's how the education system looked at it.  He had a
child-like way about him and though he wasn't someone to get in to trouble
and get in to bad behavior, that didn't mean that he couldn't be easily
influenced to do dangerous things should the right kind of people have
gotten ahold of him, but his mother was always there for him to see that it
didn't turn out like that.

To me, Cody wasn't Learning Disabled, Mentally Retarded or slow.  He was
just "Cody", a boy who was kinder than any words could say and who had the
love of someone who believed in no labels or restrictions on that aspect of
humanity or any other positive dimension to the human condition.  He always
enjoyed being able to run and play outside and he always loved bright sunny
days.  He loved being able to play with and pet dogs and cats, but I knew
that he was mainly a dog person, but his one true enjoyment was a rabbit
who's picture he kept on the wall above his bed when he was a kid.  The
rabbit had died a couple of months before he and I met and while most kids
and adults would think of the death of his pet as something small and
rather sad, Cody felt the emotion and the loss deeper than he or I could
ever say in words.  I understood, not in any sort of way in to which I
could express in words, but deep within the confines of my soul I could
feel some of what he felt at the loss of "Bunny Boy", which was the name of
his pet.

As I hung up my coat and took off my shoes and socks, I heard footsteps
coming towards me.  I looked up and saw Cody's beautiful and handsome face.
His smile was larger and sweeter than anything I could imagine and all of
the stress from that day fell away as he ran towards me and I quickly moved
my shoes and socks off to the side to receive his run at me.

"Kevvy!" he yelled and ran right at me throwing his arms around me and
hugging me tightly.  "You're home!"

"Good thing I wasn't holding bags of groceries," I said laughing and
holding him just as tightly.

"Speaking of groceries," he began.  "I ordered a surprise for dinner.  I
hope you don't mind.  I wanted to surprise you and after dinner, I have
something really special for you."

"Can I have a hint?" I asked.  I mean about the second thing."

"No," he said trying to arrange his face in to a severe look and it forming
in to a smile instead.  He didn't have much in the way of anger, and what
he could express as anger was mainly his hands on his hips or his mouth set
in a disapproving frown.  Beyond that, there wasn't much he showed in the
context of anger and it showed less when he tried to fain it.

"I see," I said smiling.  He smiled back at me and we kissed softly, then
he deepened the kiss.

I stood there like that with him enjoying the contact of our lips and
feeling my penis beginning to awaken.  I could feel Cody's hardness and it
was even harder now.  We pressed against one another slowly, then he pushed
against me a little harder and I moaned in to his mouth.  He did the same,
then the doorbell sounded.

We broke the kiss and I waited for a moment so that my erection could
subside.  Cody was doing the same and he went to answer the door.  He paid
the delivery guy and then took the bags of food in to the kitchen.  Laying
out plates, forks, spoons and wine glasses, he came over to the bags after
making sure the table was set and then turned to me.

"Would you mind going to the bedroom and getting a couple of the candles?"
he asked.  "I forgot to get them."

"Yeah," I said smiling.

I went and did as he asked and once back in the doorway of the kitchen, I
saw that the food was set out on the table in the middle.  It was Chinese
food and I smiled and went over to my lover.  I sat down the candles and
took him in my arms and kissed him deeply and lovingly.

"That's a wonderful surprise," I said softly and kissed his lips again.

"I'm so happy you like it," he said smiling from ear to ear.

We sat and ate by the candle light.  It was after 6:00 P.M. and it was dark
as if it was 10:00 P.M. at night by this time.  We talked about how one
another's day went and also told each other how much we loved one another
several times which I never got tired of hearing, and I know Cody felt the
same way.  Then after we finished dinner and then showered, we went to our
bedroom and made love for the rest of the evening, then fell into deep and
wonderful sleep safe and happy in one another's arms.  That last part
obviously was Cody's surprise, and it was a wonderful one!

0000

Caleb

It was after 11:00 P.M. that Friday night by the time Nathan and I went to
our room.  He, Greyson, Daniel and I had dinner and watched a little TV and
talked for a while.  It was a joy to have that family time and it's
something I look forward to in the evenings and something I'll always
treasure.  Eventually though, they said goodnight to us and went off to
their rooms to get showered and to bed.  They had their own bathroom and it
was a full one.  They both enjoyed it and Nathan and I had the same setup
in our room.

Once they were in bed, I leaned over to Nathan who was resting against the
back of the couch with his arms folded behind his head.  I reached out my
hand and began to caress his cheek, then I began softly running my hand
through his thick brown hair.  He unfolded his arms and wrapped them around
me.  We sat like that for a long time and he was giving my hair that same
treatment.  I was trying to be romantic, but I was hungry for him sexually
and I could tell by the way he was moaning and breathing heavily that he
felt the same way.  In our relationship, I was the top.  We never
explicitly said that we wanted it that way from the start, but our actions
showed how we both felt about me topping him.  We also liked it when he
topped me, but something about me being inside him and my dominance over
him made things deeper and more intense between us.  With this thought in
mind, I lowered my lips to his and began to greedily kiss him.  He kissed
back just as deeply and hungrily, then I began to run my hands up and under
his shirt to feel his smooth back and shoulders.  We were dressed in
t-shirts and boxers and so there wouldn't be much to remove when we made
love.  I then broke the kiss and he moved his face to mine, but I put my
hand on his cheek stopping him.  I caressed his cheek with that hand and
then wrapped my arms around him holding him tightly and moved my face just
barely an inch away from his.

"How are you feeling tonight?" I whispered to him.  "How's the pain, do you
feel up to me loving you?"

In response, he took my face in his hands and pressed his sweet lips to
mine.  We kissed greedily, then he broke the kiss.

"I feel fine tonight," he said.  "I really need you!  Please, make love to
me tonight Caleb!"

And so I did.  In our room, I loved him more powerfully and intensely than
before and it ended with him coming when I stroked him a few times.  Once
finished for both of us though, we cleaned one another up, then after I
massaged his legs and feet like I've done for him all these years, he fell
asleep.  I lay awake with him in my arms for a long time after that.  I
thought about how special he is to me and how it hurts me deeply when he
would suffer.  Yes, we always casually use that word "suffer", but Nathan
really has suffered over the many years of his life.

It hurts to know that aside from a couple of different less mainstream
treatments, there's not much that can be done for him.  What he has won't
get worse, and he won't die from it, but there's no single pill he can take
to treat it, nor can he cure it permanently.  We do the best we can though
and that's all we can do; that's all that anyone can do.

Mostly though, I was lying there thinking about when we first met all those
years ago.  It was the start of the best part of my life and for Nathan as
well.

Chapter 1

"Love children especially, for they are little angels sent by God to bring
us to tenderness."  Fyodor Dostoyevsky The Brothers Karamazov

September—2015

Caleb

I stood in the center of the bathroom that was joined to my bedroom and
finished drying off.  I had the first day of school that day and I was
somewhat excited and nervous at the same time.  I hoped that I'd make
friends, but I knew that kids at times could be mean and though they can
sometimes find or make up reasons to be cruel, they could especially be
cruel when they encountered someone who has a disability or who is
different in some way that can be noticed.

Once back in my room and dressed, I made sure I had everything together,
then I came out to the dining room for breakfast.  I could hear my dad and
mom talking and I heard plates being sat on the table.

"Good morning Caleb," my dad said.

"Good morning," my mom added.  "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah," I replied.  "Good morning to you both.  Did you two sleep well last
night?"

"Yeah," my dad said.

"I did as well," my mom added.

My mom and dad are Bill and Maria Roberts.  They're both in their forties
and both are doctors at Sangger University Hospital.  They're the best
parents I've ever had the pleasure of being born to and I've always gone
out of my way to show it.  I also have a brother and sister, Kevin and
Alicia who are the best older siblings a boy can have.

I'm especially grateful to them all, as there are definitely times in which
I need and have needed their love and support.  I have no vision in either
of my eyes.  I have Glaucoma in both eyes and it was found when I was only
a couple of months old.  It's just something that's happened.  It's given
me problems and sad points in my years as a child and yet, I have deeper
vision than someone with physical sight, but more on that later.

I stand 5-7 inches, and I'm around 130 Lbs.  I have black hair and
sapphire-blue eyes.  Kevin has the same hair and eye color and I know a lot
of people think he's attractive.  At times, I wonder if he'll ever find
someone with whom he can share his life, but I know that when he's ready,
he'll look and maybe even find that someone.

Nathan Daniels

I finished getting ready and after my shoes and socks were on, I wheeled
myself out of my room and in to the dining room for breakfast.  My mom had
made my favorite.  She made bacon, eggs, pancakes with syrup and the tea I
enjoyed so much.  That whole sight made me feel a little better and eased
my anxiety a bit.

"Thanks mom," I said wheeling up to where she was sitting and hugging her.
She hugged back and then I wheeled up to the table.

"You're welcome," she said.  "I just figured that I'd give you this to
brighten up your morning a bit."

"Thanks," I responded and smiled.

"Are you ready for today?" she asked looking at me intently.

"No," I said.  "I don't know if I can do this."

"Well, you have me, and you also have Derick."

Derick was my cousin and he was living in our guest cottage at the time and
attending college.  He was 20 years old and a while back, he had needed a
place to stay and my mom let him stay in the guest cottage.  He's really
helped out with things around the house and as he and I got to know one
another better, I noticed that he's a really good listener and he's helped
me when I've had problems.  That is, whenever I can feel comfortable to
open up and trust people around me, but that's another story for another
day.

"I know," I said beginning to eat.  "Thanks, I'll remember that."

Caleb

I put my plates and cup in the sink and rinsed them off.  Alecia and Kevin
did the same and then we turned to where our parents were sitting.  I went
to them and hugged them.

"I'll see you tonight," I said.

"Okay," my mom said.

"Sounds good," my dad added.

I love you guys," I said.

"We love you too," my mom said.

My dad said the same, then after Alicia and Kevin did the same, we all left
the house.  We all three walked that day to school together, and it was a
good time.

"I wonder who we're going to meet this year," Alicia said.

"I'm not sure," I said.  "I just hope they're not pricks and that some of
them are nice."

"Hey!" Alicia said in exaggerated anger.  "That's not polite language in
front of a lady!"

"Oooo," I said pretending to be concerned.  "Is her feelings hurt?"

"Damn it Kevin!" she said directing this same faked anger at him.  "You're
supposed to be protecting me from him and his not so politically correct
words!"

"Yeah," Kevin replied.  "There's a lot of things I'm supposed to do, but I
don't."

I heard him yell as she grabbed him and tackled him.

"Help!" he yelled trying to sound scared.

"No," I said.  "I'm not involved in this one."

"Bullshit Caleb," he said laughing as Alicia was obviously doing something
to him to make him laugh.  "She's poking her fingers in my ribs!"

"Give up?" she asked.

"No!" he said trying to challenge her.  "No!"  He said laughing harder.

"I'm digging in harder," she explained to me.

"Cool," I said walking closer to where their voices were emanating.  "I get
the audio-descriptive version!"

"Okay!" Kevin yelled breathless from laughing so hard.  "What do you want!"

"At lunch, if they let us go off school grounds for that," Alicia said.
"You have to give me half of your ice-cream if you get anything after
lunch.  You have to do this, especially if it's a hot fudge Sunday you
get."

"What!" he yelled pretending to sound pissed.  "That's fucked!  No!"

He yelled again has she pressed down on him harder.

"Excuse me?" she said pretending to be angry again.  "What was that?"

"Okay!" he yelled.  "I'll do it!"

"Thank you," she said, then let him up.

That was how it was with us.  Through most of our childhood, we were close,
then we had some dark times, but that'll come later.  We continued our walk
which didn't make us late for school especially with that little diversion,
seeing as how we left the house a little earlier.  Soon though, we were at
the school and I said goodbye to my brother and sister, and went off to get
my locker number and schedule.

Nathan

I got out of the van and wheeled my chair down the lift and on to the
pavement.  Once on solid ground, I turned to the van.  I stood and hugged
my mom and looked at her.  I was scared and still wasn't sure I could do
this.

"You can do it," she said as if reading my mind.  "Call me if it gets too
rough, but I think you'll be okay."

She hugged me again and held on for a moment.  After that, we separated,
then I sat back down in my wheelchair and wheeled myself towards the
building and inside.

Caleb

I sat down at one of the empty desks and put my bag on its surface.  In my
bag, I had a laptop which had software on it which would speak each letter
I typed and it also read all the information on the screen out loud to me
by way of synthetic speech.  I also had an electronic note taker which was
basically a blind person's version of a tablet, but with buttons that were
in the same layout as the buttons on the keyboard of a braille writer.
There were three keys on the left with the spacebar in the middle and three
keys on the right.  On the far left of the left three keys, there was a
backspace key, and on the far right of the right three keys, there was a
return key which put a new line or as many as the user wants just like on a
computer.  I also had my brailed versions of the school books and I began
setting up everything.  I finished with that, when I heard the door open.
I then heard the door close, then I listened and expected to hear
footsteps, but nothing.  There was only some odd metallic sound as if
something was being slid on a rough metal surface.  I listened more
intently and was beginning to think that it was someone in a wheelchair.  I
had a couple of relatives who used manual wheelchairs that had wheel rims
with that same rough surface on it which would make that same sound when
they would wheel it with their hands.  I waited to see if the person would
ask for help since I didn't want to be presumptuous.

I heard the sound get closer to where my desk was and I felt to see if
there was a chair next to mine and there wasn't one, but there could have
been since the desk was long and big enough to fit two people.  I waited
and then heard the sound get right up next to my right side.

"Can I sit here?" a voice said.  It was a boy.  I was instantly attracted
to the voice.  It was that typical 13 or 14-year-old sounding voice that's
still got some boy, but a little more man starting to make its presents
known.  I tried to form words, but nothing came out.

"Well?" the voice asked with a bit of edge this time.  "Oh god, it's
starting al-fucking-ready."

I heard a soft, but noticeable thud and figured that the boy slammed his
hand or more likely his fist on the arm rest of his chair.  I broke myself
out of my mental paralysis somehow and spoke to him.

"Sorry," I said.  "Yeah, there's a place right here beside me.  I didn't
mean to freeze up like that, I guess I have a lot on my mind for the first
day."

"Yeah," he said and his tone showed that he wasn't buying my apology.  "I'm
sure."

He wheeled himself up to the empty space beside me and I moved my stuff so
he could sit whatever he had on the remaining space of the desk.

"I really didn't mean anything by my silence," I said and held out my hand
for him to take.  "I just wasn't sure who's voice was going to speak when
you came in to the room.  I can't see, so I have to go by my hearing, I was
just trying to process everything.  That's all."

"Yeah," he said again, this time annoyed.  "Relax, I don't need a speech."

This was clearly not getting off to a good start.  I tried to keep my
feelings in check so I wouldn't get angry and I looked in the direction of
his voice and tried to give what I hoped would be a kind look.

"Okay," I began.  "It is important that you know about my vision right off
the bat.  I wasn't trying to be long-winded, nor was I trying to give a
speech.  Unless you know up front about my blindness, then any further
conversations we have with one another won't make a lot of sense.  Anyway,
I'm Caleb."

"I'm Nathan," he said after letting a few seconds of silence go by.  "Sorry
for being bitchy.  I'm just not in the best mood right now and I try not to
take it out on others, and it's obviously not working right now."

"Thanks," I said.  "I do want to be friends and get to know you if that's
alright."

"Yeah," he said and for the first time since we began talking to one
another, I heard a smile in his voice.  "I'd like that."

We shook hands and his was soft and smooth.  I was definitely interested in
him and hoped that he felt or eventually would feel the same about me.

Kevin

That morning was going by quickly and so far, people didn't have much to
say to me.  I was hoping that I could make some friends, but most of the
kids seemed to have their groups figured out as to who they'd associate
with and who they'd keep away from.  I was clearly one from whom they'd
keep their distance.  Then as the last class came up before lunch, I saw
someone walk towards me as I stood at my locker getting the books for that
up-coming class.

"Aww," the boy said and smiled in a cold way.  This wasn't looking good.
"Looks like a pretty boy.  Like looking at me?  Huh fag?"

I felt my insides turn to ice.  This wasn't the first time I was called
that and the first time I was, was on a day I thought I'd die, and I tried
to keep those memories locked away.

"What is it fag?" the boy said and he neared me and closed the distance.
He was right up in my face now just a couple of inches from me, so close
that I could feel the cloth of his shirt rubbing against my exposed arm
since I was wearing a short-sleeved shirt.  "Come on fag, you can't talk or
something?"

I turned to face him and grabbed his shirt.  I turned him and slammed him
up against my locker.  His face was pressed against the cold metal and he
cried out.

"What's up Bitch," I said low and threateningly to him.  "Now here's what's
going to happen.  You talk to me again at any point as the school year goes
on and if you're nice, I'll be nice.  If you keep this shit up though, and
you keep calling me a fag, then it's going to turn out very bad for you.
You understand me?"

"Let me go!" he said, but his words were mostly muffled since his mouth was
pressed hard in to the metal of the locker.  "I don't fucking like faggots
like you!"

"What's that?" I said in that same hateful tone.  "That doesn't sound very
kind or friendly."

"Fine!" he yelled.  "Now let me go!"

I turned him around and held him by the shoulders.  I looked directly at
him and he would have looked cute, but for the hate I saw in his eyes.

"Get out of here," I ordered.  "Don't even think about starting anything,
because I'll make it my business to know where you are at the end of the
school day.  I'll find you after school and take you somewhere and give you
a lesson in what happens when you don't do as I say.  Got it, Bitch!"

"Fine!" he said.  "Now get your fucking hands off me!"

I did and he ran away.

"Bastard!" I thought in my head.  I was shaking all over and my legs were
like jelly as I began walking to my next class.  I was lucky it was only a
few steps down the hall from my locker since I would have been late if it
wasn't, due to having to take care of Mr. Cuddles just a moment ago.  I
hoped that that would be an isolated incident, and not a sign of things to
come.  Like I said before, I had a horrible experience with homophobic
violence a few years ago and that period in my life was enough, it was more
than enough.

Caleb

Lunch with Nathan went well.  We ate at a small café that specialized in
sandwiches and other appetizers which we both enjoyed.  Once the food was
ordered, we ate for a few minutes in silence, then Nathan began talking.

"I was wondering if we don't have any homework, and if our parents say it's
okay, if you'd like to come over to my house to spend a few hours after
school today."

"I'd like that," I said.  We both texted our parents and luckily we both
got replies back from them immediately saying that barring any homework
that didn't involve both of us, we could do it.

"Glad to hear that," I said.

"So am I," Nathan responded.  "So you were saying in the last few minutes
of our last class that you have your mom, dad and a brother and sister."

"Yeah," I replied.  I told him all this in the last few minutes of our
previous class, as the teacher let us talk for the final few minutes.

"So it's just been you and your mom?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said.  "That's how it's been since I was four years old."

"Do you ever see your father?" I asked.

"I'd rather not talk about him for now," Nathan said.  "I'll only say for
now, that from what I do remember of him, it's best that he left and I
don't really give a fuck."

"I see," I responded.  "We can change the subject if you want."

"That'd be fine," he said.

"What kind of music do you like?" I asked.

"I enjoy a lot of different music, all, but Wrap.  I can't take that
stuff."

"I feel the same way about music and Wrap especially," I replied.  "So have
you ever heard of groups like Nightwish or Delain?"

"Yeah!" he said excitedly.  "I love both of them and all the others.  Do
you listen to any Black Metal like Darkthrone or Mayhem?"

"Both of them," I said.  "I also like Dimmu Borgir and Emperor."

"So do I," Nathan responded.  "What do you think of the history of these
groups?"

I smiled.  I figured that the sorted history of The Black Metal Movement,
especially the second wave from the 1990's would come up between Nathan and
I eventually.

"Well," I began.  "I don't agree with some of the homophobic areas of it,
like with the first drummer killing that one guy because he was gay.  I
don't exactly like the fact that they burned churches, but I do think that
organized religion is filth anyway."

"I definitely agree with that," he said happily.

"I know I know," I began.  "Martin Luther King J.R. was guided by religion
to do good.  Then you have people like Tolstoy who through Christianity
found the courage to fight authority and the abuse that can come with
authority, but let's keep our heads in reality.  Most people I know think
that there is some sort of God or some God-like presents in their lives.
Yeah, some people say he's loving, others say he'll punish you if you so
much as kiss your girlfriend outside of marriage."

"Yeah," Nathan said.  "I see the same things.  Religion might not be the
problem within itself, but why do so many people who claim to be religious
get so hateful when challenged on their beliefs?"

"Yeah," I replied.  "I mean, if people take a stand on something that can't
be proven exactly, then say honestly that you're doing that, and quit
trying to force us to believe things that on their surfaces are bullshit."

"So do think you're an Atheist?" Nathan asked me as he looked directly at
me.  I could feel his eyes looking intently at me.

"I'm definitely an Atheist when it comes to the typical idea of God people
say they believe in," I responded.  "As for that thing about God being a
force that works through everyone to bring love, I don't know about that."

"Yeah," Nathan added.  "I'm about at that same point with it.  I'm
surprised though to hear you mention Tolstoy earlier.  You must have some
deep readers in your family.  My mom reads his stuff and my cousin Derick
enjoys stuff like Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky."

"That's interesting," I responded.  "My dad has stuff on the bookshelves of
his study that's by those two authors and he also has more stuff.  I've
read some of Crime and Punishment, but might have to set aside more time
for that, because it seems really deep."

"It definitely is from what I hear," Nathan said.

"So what all do you like to do when you don't have school?" I asked.

"I enjoy listening to music and I do some reading," he replied.  "I also
hang out with my cousin a lot, at least when he's not studying for his
classes, and I try to get out and make friends, but that doesn't go very
well.  What about you, what do you like doing?"

"I enjoy the same things, listening to music and reading," I replied.
"Making friends hasn't really worked for me either, but I'm hoping that
changes soon.  I consider you a friend."

"You might want to wait for a while before you say that," Nathan said.  He
was trying to pass it off as a joke, but I could hear some hurt in his
voice.  "Just give it some time, you might come to regret knowing me, but
I'll do what I can to get to know you and let you in to my life."

"Well, I won't push you," I said.  "I don't think I'll come to regret
knowing you, but I'll be patient with you."

"Thanks," he said and reached across the table and grabbed my hand holding
it for a moment.

The school day continued on and once school was out, Nathan and I met at my
locker and texted our parents that we didn't have any homework and after I
let his mom talk to my dad and mom, they agreed officially this time that
we could go to his house for the afternoon and that I'd need to be home by
9:00 P.M..

Author's Notes

This is a good place to stop.  I know Nathan seems cold and distant, but
that's going to change as the story progresses.  He has reason to be this
way, but he'll change as he gets to know Caleb.

As for Kevin, he has a backstory and it'll be revealed soon, and damage
done to him psychologically will play a part in his life as he goes
forward, but he'll be alright eventually.  So I hope everyone likes this
new story.  Everyone take care and I'll see you all in Chapter 2.