Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 14:51:27 -0700 (PDT) From: Thomas Gaige <togaige@yahoo.com> Subject: The Abandoned Boy - Chapter 24 DISCLAIMER: The following story is FICTIONAL. It contains descriptions of sexual activities between men, teenage boys, and between men and teenage boys. If you are not over 18 years of age, or if you find this type of story offensive, or viewing this material is illegal where you are, then please DO NOT READ IT! If you choose to read it, then - I hope you enjoy it! The Abandoned Boy Chapter 24 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When Simon woke up in the morning, he was laying on his right side. He smiled remembering the dream he'd just had about himself and Ethan. He smiled even more broadly as he became aware of Ethan's warm body laying spooned up against his back. Suddenly the boy behind Simon muttered in his sleep, and Simon realized it wasn't Ethan's voice. Then somewhat disappointed, he simultaneously remembered that Rob was staying with them, and it was Rob who was snuggled up to him. Rob was sleeping yet, laying on his right side also. He was pressed up against Simon's back. His left arm was draped over Simon, so his hand was resting on the bed in front of Simon's chest. Rob's face was nuzzled into the Simon's golden blond hair that hung down the back of his neck. Simon felt Rob's good-sized hardon pressing against his ass crack. Simon had a semi-hardon when he woke up, but feeling Rob's almost 9" nestled between the outter edges of his cheeks, made Simon quickly go completely stiff. He so wished it was Ethan behind him, so he could wake him up to have sex. It was early, so Simon just laid there quietly, letting Rob sleep, enjoying the feeling of the boy's body pressing against him. Simon was still drowsy, and dozed intermittently as he laid there with Rob. Sometime later, Rob woke up. He was immediately aware that he was pressed up against Simon's back, and that his hardon was wedged slightly between Simon's buttocks. He wished it was inside Simon, buried up his ass, and that he was gently fucking the boy. Enjoying his fantasies about having sex with Simon, Rob laid very still, so as not to wake him. * * * After a while, as the two boys both laid quietly together, each thinking the other was still asleep, Rob was getting Hornier and hornier. So was Simon. Rob wished that Simon was his boyfriend. He was gorgeous! Even though Rob was still a virgin, he thought they could figure out the mechanics involved in making love, and he really wished that's what they were doing right then. Unable to overcome his intense desire for Simon, and thinking Simon was still asleep, Rob cautiously moved his arm, so that his hand was resting lower down, directly in front of Simon's crotch. As he relaxed his hand, the side of it grazed the tip of Simon's hardon, causing Simon's eyes to fly open, and a smile to spread across Rob's face. Simon stifled the gasp he felt was about to burst from his lips. He laid completely still waiting to see what would happen next. Both boys were still for a moment. Then, as Rob still heard Simon's slow steady breathing, he boldly reached back a little, opening his hand. Then, ever so gently, he closed his hand, wrapping it around Simon's erection. Simon closed his eyes and smiled, as he felt the warm firm grip of Rob's hand, encircling his manhood. In back of Simon, Rob too was smiling, and his hardon, which was still resting in Simon's ass crack, twitched a little. This was the first time he'd ever touched another boy's penis. He liked it. He liked it a lot. He liked Simon a lot. He wished with all his heart that Simon wasn't with Ethan. Maybe if he wasn't, the two of them could get together, and maybe he could move in permanently with Simon and Greg. Then he and Simon could sleep together and have sex together whenever they wanted. As the two boys lay spooned together, both still pretending to be asleep, Rob slowly and gently began massaging Simon's hardon. "Oh God!" Simon thought. "I want to have sex with him so badly!" Simon felt Rob's hips beginning to move slightly then, as he began grinding his hardon up and down in Simon's ass crack a little. Simon lay absolutely still, not knowing what to do, but enjoying the sensations his new friend was giving him. He knew it was wrong. He knew that he should stop Rob. He knew that by not stopping Rob, he was betraying Ethan. Ethan! Simon thought miserably about poor Ethan, and what it would do to him, if he knew what Simon was allowing Rob to do to him. Simon knew then, that he could never tell Ethan. He loved Ethan too much to hurt him that way. He had to stop Rob! Still, Simon was so horny, and what Rob was doing to him felt SO good! He didn't love Rob, and this was just sex, so it wasn't like he was really betraying Ethan. Was it? Simon was in a quandry about what to do, so he did nothing. Guiltily, he lay still, as if still asleep, and let rob molest him. Rob wondered just how soundly Simon slept. He didn't remember him waking up during the night at all. He wondered if he'd be able to roll Simon onto his back without waking him. Then he could gain better access to his genitals. He let go of Simon's penis, and backed away from Simon a little, much to Simon's chagrin. Simon continued pretending to be asleep. Rob waited a minute, then gently, he put a hand on Simon's shoulder and slowly pulled him over onto his back. Simon pretended to continue sleeping. Rob waited a minute, watching Simon, to make sure he was still asleep. Then, gently, Rob lifted the covers off the two of them. Again he waited a minute, then slowly, so as not to shake the bed very much, he got on his hands and knees and moved downward a little. "Holy shit!" Simon thought. "He's not going to-" Then Simon felt the warm wetness of Rob's mouth sliding down over his engorged member. "Fuck!" Simon thought, as his eyes flew open, and he stared down at the top of Rob's head, as it began to bob up and down on his rod. As Rob, who'd never sucked on a guy's cock before, followed his instincts, based on what he'd seen in a gay porno flick, and took Simon's erect penis in his mouth and began sucking up and down on it, he thought to himself "Damn, sucking dick isn't bad at all. In fact, I kinda like doing it!" Rob's mouth felt wonderful to Simon. But, then Simon thought of Ethan, and he knew he'd let Rob go too far. He had to stop Rob. Copping a feel was one thing, blow jobs were a completely different story. But Fuck! Rob's mouth felt SO good! Then too, Simon suddenly remembered that he wasn't supposed to be having unprotected sex for another 6 weeks or so. If he had HIV, he might infect Rob! "Stop!" Simon cried, pushing Rob off his penis. Rob looked terrified. Simon looked guilty and a little confused. Rob's eyes filled with tears, as the two just looked at one another. Neither knew what to say or do. Finally, as a tear escaped Rob's eye and trickled down his cheek, Rob said in a raspy voice, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Simon!" As another tear broke free from Rob's other eye, Simon said, "It's OK. It's not you. It's me. What you were doing felt great! But I- I can't let you do that. There's Ethan, and..." "I know. Oh God Simon, I'm so sorry!" Rob said, and he began sobbing. Simon scootched over to Rob then and put an arm around him. "It's OK!" Simon said. "I'm not mad at you or anything." Rob sat hunched over, crying, with his face buried in his hands for a couple minutes, while Simon sat next to him, with his arm wrapped around him, telling him it was OK. When Rob finally stopped crying and looked up, he said, "I'm so stupid. I ruin everything! I'm sorry Simon. I promise I'll never do anything like that again. And- and I'll find somewhere else to stay starting tonight." "Fuck you you will!" Simon said, as Rob stared at him, with a confused look. "You're staying right here with us, until Greg fixes things for you! You're not stupid, and you didn't ruin anything," Simon said. "I was awake the whole time, right from when you wrapped your hand around my dick and started playing with it. I liked it. It felt good. I shouldn't have let you do anything though. I'm the one who's ruining things for myself with Ethan." "You were awake?" Rob asked, looking somewhat shocked. "Yeah. You're not the most subtle guy!" Simon grinned. "I'm sorry," Rob said. "You don't need to be sorry," Simon said. "I promise I won't do anything like that again. If, you'll really let me stay, I'll sleep on the couch tonight," Rob said. "And I promise I won't tell Ethan anything! I won't tell anyone!" "You can sleep with me yet," Simon said. "But, thanks for not telling anyone though." "You're an amazing guy Simon!" Rob said. Simon smiled ruefully. "Not really," he said, as he wondered if it would be a wise idea to hide what happened from Ethan or not. "C'mon, it's time to get ready for school." The boys got up then, and pulled on their jeans. Then they went to the kitchen to get some breakfast. * * * "You guys OK?" I asked as Simon and Rob walked into the kitchen. Rob looked like he'd been crying and Simon looked guilty. "Fine," Simon said. I looked at Rob. "I'm fine too. Thank you for letting me stay with you last night," Rob said. I smiled and said, "No problem. Just consider our place, your home too, at least until we get your situation figured out." "Thanks," Rob said. We ate our breakfast, then all took turns using the bathroom. Finally, we took off for school together. * * * That afternoon, after school, Tom came over for supper. Ethan was supposed to be coming over too, but had to work an extra half shift, so we wouldn't be seeing him till later. During supper, we talked about school, homework, and anything but Rob's situation. Finally, during dessert, Rob said "So, what are your plans for me?" I swallowed the piece of apple pie I'd been chewing and set down my fork. "Well," I said. "Tom and I are going over to your house to talk with your parents." "NO!" Rob cried. "Why not?" I asked. "I-it'll make things worse" Rob said. "You mean things could get worse for you than they are now?" I asked. "How?" Rob looked at me blankly for a minute, then said, "Well, I suppose they can't actually." "So, you and Simon hang out and work on your homework, and Tom and I are going to go meet your parents. "Don't expect it to work!" Rob said, sadly, as he went back to eating his pie. * * * After we picked up the table and did the dishes, Simon and Rob went to Simon's room to work on their homework, and Tom and I drove over to Rob's house. There were two cars in the driveway when we got there. "Well, it looks like they're both home," I said. "Maybe!" Tom said. I pulled into the driveway behind the second car, and we got out and went up to the door. Tom rang the bell. No one answered. He rang it again. Still no answer. I peeked in the window next to the door. The lights were on, but nobody appeared to be around. Tom rang the bell a third time. I stood back from the window, in case anyone came. After a minute we heard a woman's voice. "Coming!" she called, groggily. "I'm coming!" A moment later the door opened. A woman, who I thought would, under normal circumstances have been rather pretty, stood there. She was wearing a floor-length pink fuzzy bathrobe. Her hair was askew, and she was having a difficult time focusing on us. It looked as though she'd just woken up, even though it wasn't even 8PM yet. I asked if she was Linda Watkins. She said she was. I introduced Tom and myself, telling her I was a teacher and Tom was the principal at the school her son Rob attended. She suddenly looked a little nervous. "Is he OK?" she asked, slurring her words, but looking somewhat concerned. "Yes, he's fine at the moment. He's at my apartment, with my foster son, who's a friend of his," I said. "Good!" she said, emphatically. I asked then if we could come in to discuss why Rob wasn't living at home. "Won' do no good!" she slurred. Then she pointed off behind her and added, "He doesn' wan him here no more!" Tears filled Linda's eyes, and one ran down her face. "Who doesn't? His father?" I asked. "Yeah," she said, wiping her cheek with her hand. "Do you know why?" I asked. "Yeah," she said. "Well, how about you? Don't you want him here?" I persisted. Linda started to cry then. "Of course I do! He's my baby!" she wailed. Awkwardly, we waited a minute, while Mr. Watkins pulled herself together. As her crying abated, Tom pulled a kleenex from his pocket and gave it to her. She took it and nodded at him, then started wiping her eyes and blowing her nose. "I tried," She said, finally. "Unless you can change his mind..." she trailed off, pointing again behind her. "Where is your husband maam?" Tom asked. "Garage," she said. "Where he always is." "Thank you maam," Tom said. "We're sorry we bothered you. Maybe it would be best if we spoke with your husband. We'll find our way out to the garage." "PLEASE!" Linda cried, grasping Tom's hand, as we turned to leave. "Please change his mind!" "We'll try!" Tom said, smiling sadly at her, as he extracted his hand from her's. "Good night now!" "C'mon," Tom said, pulling my elbow. I nodded at Mrs. Watkins and followed Tom off the front steps and around the house, toward the garage out back. * * * As we approached the garage, we suddenly heard a car engine revving inside, and a plume of exhaust billowed out a tube that was sticking out from under the cracked garage door. We walked up to the side door, and looked in the window. A man was in the garage, working alone on a car. When the engine was quiet, I rapped loudly on the glass in the door, and opened the door. Tom and I stepped inside and shut the door behind us. Even though there was a tube hooked over the end of the tail pipe, which was sticking out the door, in an attempt to remove the carbon monoxide from the building, the distinct odor of exhaust still hung in the air. "Can I help you?" The man asked. "Howard Watkins?" Tom asked. "Yes," Mr. Watkins said, eyeing us. Tom introduced the two of us. "Yeah? So what do you want?" Mr. Watkins asked. "Basically, we want to know why you threw your son out!" I said, staring, evenly at him. "He's no good! And he's NOT my son!" Mr. Watkins said. "He may not be your birth son, but you are his adoptive father! Isn't that true?" I said. "That doesn't make him my son!" Watkins retorted, glaring at me. "No, I suppose it doesn't," I said. As I opened my mouth to continue, Tom gripped my elbow and stepped forward. "Mr. Watkins, for lack of a better term to use during this conversation, we're going to refer to Rob as your 'son'," Tom said. "Your son is at my colleague's apartment right now. He's staying there, with him, and his foster son, because he has nowhere else to go. He's told us about your differences, and why you told him to leave, but the fact remains Sir, that the boy is still your responsibility, whether you agree with how he chooses to live his life or not. You simply cannot throw him out like he's a piece of trash!" "He doesn't want to be here anymore than I want him here!" Mr. Watkins responded. "With an attitude like that, I can see why!" I said, testily. Tom gripped my elbow again. "Mr. Watkins," Tom said. "Fathers and sons, whether by blood, or adoption, don't always agree on things. Usually in fact, they disagree. The fact remains though that the father, the man in the relationship, bears the responsibility of seeing to it that the son is raised to adulthood! It's your responsibility to care for Rob - to feed, cloth, and shelter him at minimum! You can and need to do this, whether you agree with him about anything or not! Furthermore, what about your wife's feelings? Don't you think she wants her son at home with her?" "She's useless! All she's good for is wasting my money on all those damned drugs the quacks prescribe for her! She's so doped up all the time, she doesn't know if she wants the little faggot here or not! So I'm the one's making the decisions! There's NO WAY it'd work if he was here! You're both so all fired up about his well being - why don't one of you take him? Go ahead! Have him move in with you! I'll sign the papers!" Mr. Watkins said. "How can you be so callous?" I burst out. "That boy lived with you since he was a baby! You took care of him as a child, and tried to teach him things. It's unfortunate that he didn't like the same things you like, like baseball, and camping. It doesn't mean he didn't love you though! Didn't all those hours you spent together working on these project cars mean anything to you? He loved working on cars with you! You had that in common at least! So what if he's gay! It's not like he squatted in front of you and asked to suck your dick! His sexual orientation has nothing to do with his relationship with you! That's his own personal business. You never have to deal with that part of his life if you don't want to! All you have to do is be his father. How can you just throw your son out like that?" "He's a fucking faggot!" Mr. Watkins bellowed at me. "He hates everything about me! He hates everything about being a man - except these cars! How would you like it if your kid was queer, and you couldn't understand him at all? How would you like it if you and your kid had absolutely nothing in common, except one thing? And What would all your friends think about you as a man if you had a faggot for a son? Besides, you're wrong! He doesn't want to be here, anymore than I want him here! Now I've heard enough! Get out of my garage! And get off my property!" Mr. Watkins and I stood glaring at each other, until Tom pulled on my sleeve and dragged me out of the garage, slamming the door shut behind us. We stood for a minute in the yard, trying to compose ourselves. From within the garage we heard a string of swear words, and a lot of banging around. "GOD DAMNED FUCKING SONS OF BITCHES!!!!" Mr. Watkins bellowed, then it sounded as if he was pounding on the car with a hammer. After a minute, all was quiet. Tom snuck back and peered through the window. I was shocked when I saw a small smile creep across his face. Quickly Tom retreated back to me. "Why are you smiling?" I demanded. "There's hope!" Tom said, grinning at me. "He's crying!" I looked at Tom, confused. "He's crying! Don't you see? That means he DOES give a damn!" Tom said. I smiled then too, as we walked back to my car. As we were driving back to the apartment complex, Tom asked, "How about we stop at Smitty's for a beer?" "Sounds good!" I said. We passed Tom's apartment complex, then, just before we reached my complex, I turned into Smitty's Tavern and we went in and had a couple beers and played a game of pool, while we discussed strategies for getting Rob back home. * * * While we were gone, Simon and Rob were back at the apartment. They'd lost track of the time, and were surprised when they heard the key in the lock and looked up to see Ethan walking through the door, rather than us. "He has his own key?" Rob whispered to Simon. "He's a part of our family," Simon said. Then he looked nervously at Ethan. Ethan stood looking curiously back and forth between Simon and Rob. "Hi Ethan," Rob said. "Rob," Ethan nodded. Then he looked at Simon and said, "I didn't know you two knew each other." "Yeah," Simon said. "We've known each other for a while now." "I see," Ethan said. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence, then Rob stood up. "I think I'll let you guys have some privacy," he said. Ethan looked at Rob, and stared after him in complete surprise when he walked off down the hallway to Simon's room. "What the hell is going on?" Ethan asked, looking at Simon with furrowed brows. "And just how well do you know him?" "Sit down and I'll tell you all about it," Simon said. Ethan took off his jacket and sat down next to Simon, looking at Simon, who appeared rather nervous. First Simon asked Ethan to promise not to tell anyone anything that he told him. Warily, Ethan promised. Then, Simon told Ethan all about how Rob was thrown out by his father, because his father found out he was gay. "Oh My God! The poor guy!" Ethan said. "How come he's here? Are Greg and Tom trying to help him?" "Yeah," Simon said. He looked nervous to Ethan again when he said, "There's more though." Simon told Ethan then how he'd been helping Rob, giving him food, money, and even having him stay at the apartment a few times. "Greg's such a great guy. Always trying to help people!" Ethan smiled. "No Ethan! It wasn't Greg. It was just me. Greg didn't know I was doing it," Simon said. Ethan looked at Simon, confused again. "I was afraid Greg wouldn't help Rob, so I did it on my own," Simon said. "How'd you manage that?" Ethan said. Simon told Ethan about the big lunches he packed each day, and about borrowing money from me to give Rob. Finally he said, "and I hid him in my room a few times." Ethan looked at Simon again. "He's been sleeping with you?" "Not like that. But yes. He's been sharing my bed," Simon said. Ethan's countenance was hard to read. He didn't look upset, but he didn't look happy either. Finally Simon decided he looked 'concerned'. "How come you didn't tell me any of this?" Ethan asked. "Rob made me promise not to. But now he's agreed I could tell you." Simon said. Ethan looked at Simon, and could tell that Simon hadn't told him everything yet. "What else?" Ethan asked, looking at Simon, somewhat accusitively, Simon thought. Simon swallowed and looked guiltily at Ethan. He was terrified of how Ethan was going to take what he still had to tell him, but he'd thought about it all day, and he decided that it would be better to tell Ethan now, and face any problems that occurred right now, rather than to hide it and have Ethan find out later. "Something happened last night, and I don't think you're going to like it," Simon said. Ethan felt his heart constricting, as he looked at Simon, the boy he loved so much. He was certain that whatever Simon said next, it was going to change their relationship forever, and not necessarily for the better. Ethan didn't say anything, he just kept looking at Simon, so Simon continued. "Please listen to EVERYTHING I say, before you say anything. And remember Ethan. I love you!" Simon said. Ethan knew it was bad news then. Blinking, he sat waiting. "Even though both Rob and I are gay, and we were sleeping in the same bed, and we were both naked, nothing's ever happened between us. I love you and wouldn't cheat on you," Simon said. Ethan still really upset. "You've been sleeping naked with him?" "Uh, yeah," Simon said. "That's the way I'm most comfortable. You know that!" Ethan just looked at Simon. Simon could tell he was already hurt, and dreaded telling him the rest, but he had no choice anymore. "Well, this morning when I woke up, Rob was laying up against me, behind me. We were spooned I guess." Simon said. "There's nothing wrong with that. It's how we ended up sleeping. Thing is, while we were laying there, I thought Rob was asleep, so I was being quiet, so's not to wake him up. Well, he wasn't. He was laying there being quiet, thinking I was asleep. I probably should've known, because he had a hardon, and it was kinda stuck between my cheeks." Ethan looked pale now. Simon continued "Well, while I was still supposedly sleeping, Rob reached down and started feeling my dick. I was hard too - " "HE WHAT?" Ethan hollered, jumping to his feet! "NO! Ethan!" Simon cried, pulling on Ethan's sleeve. "Don't! He- he didn't mean to do anything wrong. He just couldn't help himself. He's a virgin! He was probably just curious." "WHAT?" Ethan cried, sitting down again and looking at Simon. "He's got enough problems! Don't be mad at him," Simon said. Ethan looked at Simon incredulously. "He was playing with your dick and you want me to leave him alone?" "Yes! It's over Eeth. He didn't hurt me or anything. Quite the contrary. Let it go." Simon said, not sure now about telling Ethan the rest. "Wait!" Ethan said, incredulously. "You liked it?" Simon looked confused now. Ethan was looking at him horror stricken. "Oh my God!" Ethan said, when Simon didn't answer right away. "You did!" "W-well, if someone was playing with your dick, you'd like it too!" Simon said, somewhat desperately. "Fine!" Ethan said. He felt like someone had just cut a hole in his heart. "What else happened?" "What?" simon asked, shaken now. "I can tell there's more. Tell me everything!" Ethan said. "Well..." Simon said, eyeing Ethan, worriedly. "Please don't get upset over this. It didn't mean anything, at least not to me!" "What happened?" Ethan demanded, feeling both hurt and angry. "Well... he pulled me over onto my back," Simon said. "Then he pushed the covers down and he went down on me." "WHAT?" Ethan bellowed, completely appalled now. "It's OK!" Simon said. "I stopped him right away, and he was sorry!" "He sucks your dick and I'm supposed to be OK with that?" Ethan said. "I told you - he's got enough problems! Let it go!" Simon said. "Wait a minute! You didn't stop him right away, did you? You waited. You waited and let him suck on you a while first, because you liked it! Didn't you?" Ethan shouted, frantically. "NO! I mean, well, yes - of course it felt good! You'd have thought so too if it was you he was sucking on. But Ethan - I DID stop him right away! He apologized, and promised never to do it again! It's over! Please. Let it go! If I'd known you'd be this upset, I wouldn't have told you. But I never wanted us to have secrets from one another!" Simon said. "Why didn't you tell me to begin with that he was staying here?" Ethan asked, as tears of pain and anger welled in his eyes. "Because I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone," Simon said. "I'm not just anyone!" Ethan cried. "I know you're not! But I couldn't tell anybody! I promised! I didn't even tell Greg!" Simon, said, desperately. "And why's he still here? Why didn't you throw him out if he did that to you? You treat him really great. You take care of him like he's your brother. He molests you while you're supposed to be sleeping. And he's still here?" Ethan shouted. "He didn't hurt me! I'm OK! We talked about it and he's really sorry! And he has no place else to go!" Simon said. "Where's he going to sleep tonight?" Ethan asked, suddenly using a quiet tone. Simon looked at him with huge eyes, but didn't answer. "Your bed?" Ethan persisted, his eyes brimming with tears now. Simon's eyes welled with tears now too. "Oh My God Simon! You're gonna let him sleep in your bed again? Fuck Me! You're hoping he'll do it again, aren't you?" Ethan wailed, as a couple tears broke free and ran down his face. "NO!" Simon cried. "He won't! And I don't want him to! I swear!" "Well, it's clear there's no place for me in your life right now!" Ethan said, his jaw trembling, and tears flowing down his cheeks. "Have fun with your new boyfriend!" He leaped up and grabbed his jacket, and ran out the door, leaving Simon staring horror-stricken after him, with tears running down his face. "Ethan!" Simon cried, just before the door slammed. Ethan didn't come back though. Simon jumped up and raced out the door then. Barefoot, he ran down the stairs after him, out into the freezing cold parking lot. It was raining, and the ground felt icy under Simon's bare feet. He didn't notice or care. "Ethan!" Simon yelled, as Ethan started to get into his car. Ethan looked back at Simon for a moment. Simon could see the look of anguish on his tear-streaked face. Ethan got in the car then, started his engine, and put the car into gear. "ETHAN!" Simon screamed, his voice filled with anguish, as he stood barefoot, in just his jeans and a T-shirt in the pouring, freezing rain, watching Ethan's car fly out the complex driveway. * * * It was raining when Tom and I walked out of Smitty's a little while later. As we carefully walked across the parking lot, which was starting to ice over, a black Camaro careened wrecklessy by on the road in front of us. "Shit!" Tom said to me. "Did you see how fast that that guy was cruising?" "Yeah! He's gonna kill someone, or get killed himself!" I said. Then thinking a second, I added, "That didn't look like Ethan's car did it?" "Yeah, it did," Tom said. "But he's a pretty careful driver. That couldn't have been him. Besides, isn't he working?" "He was," I said, looking at my watch. "He should've gotten out by now though." "Still, he wouldn't be driving that fast!" Tom said. "No, I doubt he would," I said. I unlocked the car, we got in, and I headed back to the apartment complex then. * * * After watching Ethan flying at a high rate of speed, out of the apartment complex, and as he was sure of, out of his life forever, Simon had stood sobbing uncontrollably in the parking lot for a few minutes. Finally, soaked to the skin, freezing, and still crying, Simon walked hopelessly back inside, and up to our apartment. * * * As we got out of my car, at my complex, Tom asked if I wanted him to come inside while I told Rob what had happened. I said I could handle it, so he said he'd best get going, since the roads were getting really icy. "You can stay if you don't want to drive," I said. "Nah! I'll be fine," Tom said. "OK. Drive careful!" I said. We said good-night, and Tom got in his car and left, while I headed inside. * * * An ashen-faced Rob was waiting inside the door, when Simon walked, dripping and shivering, back into the apartment. Rob tried to take Simon in his arms to console him, but Simon pushed him away, and ran into my room and slammed the door behind him. He threw himself down on my bed sobbing. Pretty upset himself, and not knowing what to do, Rob sat down on the floor in the hallway outside my room, with his back against the wall, and began crying himself. That's how I found the two boys when I got back to the apartment a few minutes later. * * * Tom drove very slowly back to his apartment, as the road was getting really slippery. "Temperature must be dropping. It's gonna be a sheet of ice in a few minutes," he thought. As he approached the sharp bend before the turn-off into his apartment complex, colloquially known as 'Dead man's Curve' because of all the fatal accidents that had occurred there, he saw flashing red lights up ahead of him. There was a cop directing traffic, past a hole in the guardrail in front of the steep embankment that went down into a stony creekbed far below. An ambulance was just arriving on the scene. "Shit!" Tom thought. "Someone missed the curve and went over the edge again! There'll be another memorial tied to the phone pole tomorrow! Bet it was that Camaro!" Suddenly Tom was overcome with a feeling of dread. He drove on quicker than he should've then, given the conditions. As much as he knew Ethan wouldn't be out driving as fast as the Camaro he and Greg had seen a few minutes earlier, he wanted to get home and call Ethan, just to make sure... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next chapter in this series will be published shortly.