Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 02:48:17 +0000
From: Eric Shaw <volleyboy26@hotmail.com>
Subject: A Beautiful Run: Chapter 5

A Beautiful Run: Chapter 5

Throughout the night, I could hear the cold thrashing of the rain against my
window. The thought of Eric was enough to keep me warm facing any extreme. I
suppose the heaviness of the rain outside reminded me of his strength and
how his companionship had the ability to help me recognize my own. The phone
rang.
- "Hello" I said sluggishly.
- "Oh sweets! I didn't mean to wake you. Just wanted to know how my
boyfriend was doing." Eric said.
- "Better now that you called!"
- "I was about to go for my run and thought I would take a chance and see if
you were awake"
- "Well I am now, and I seems like you've got me standing at attention too.
But let me get this straight, it's 8:30 on a Sunday morning and you're
taking a run? Don't most normal sleep at this hour?"
- "It's nice to know that the guy I love thinks I'm just `normal'"
- "Hardly" I laughed.
- "I just can't sleep now knowing that there's a whole new world to
discover, particularly yours."
- "Good answer"
- "I'm probably going out on a limb, but I'll assume you haven't had
breakfast yet"
- "What are you thinking in that pretty little head of your?" I asked.
- "I'll be over in a bit, and leave breakfast up to me" Considering that
there was no possible way I could object to seeing Eric, I agreed. I found
just enough time to brush my teeth and clean up after the night that I had
with Eric and Sam. After the film I kissed them goodnight, making my way
into my bed and falling asleep soon thereafter.
After about an hour since we spoke, I heard a few light knocks on the door.
Opening it I saw Eric holding what seemed like a picnic basket covered in a
plastic bag. He was wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt and a pair of running
shorts, all of which were completely soaked by the rain. I grabbed the
basket and gave Eric permission to run upstairs and change as his clothes
dried in the laundry room. I set places at the table for us while he
changed, and let him present the contents of the basket when he returned. It
was well worth the wait. I stood there in awe when Eric walked into the
kitchen with my bath robe tied around at the waist. His smooth chest was
exposed, feeding my desires. His cheeks reddened by the chill of the rain,
he had just walked out of the storm and into my arms. I held his soft face
to warm his flushed cheeks and looked into his rich brown eyes. I was
immediately lost in their warmth. Eric began to pout his lips, leaving me no
choice but to harbour some of their chill by placing mine upon them. They
were cold not from the shower outside, but from the separation from my lips.
I had no problem organizing this reunion.
- "You have no idea how badly I want to continue this, but we should have
something to eat first" Eric said.
- "If we must" I replied. "You know you don't have to do this"
- "I know, but I want to. And it's my job to take care of my Little Man" He
said, tousling my already ravaged hair. Pulling out a mushroom omelet and
half a grapefruit on a platter in the basket, he filled my plate. I grabbed
us some juice from the fridge and returned to the table with a puzzled look.
- "What's wrong?" Eric asked.
- "Oh nothing really, but how'd you know that this is my favorite
breakfast?"
- "I've just had a few years to notice that it's the only thing you order
from the cafeteria in the mornings. And for lunch, it's the chicken fajitas
with the bottle of water. I've even noticed in Miss. Davies' class you bring
a pack of M&Ms to snack on anytime you have something to do after school."
- "Wow I'm so creeped out right now!" I said sarcastically. With those
words, Eric made me feel so incredibly special, as though I held his
undivided attention. Seeing the impact that he made with his confession, he
grinned with false arrogance. I reached out and gently took hold of his chin
and pulled him toward me in a sloppy kiss. After parting from the embrace,
Eric licked around his lips, cleaning up the remnants of my kiss.
- "Boy do you taste good in the morning" he said.
- "Just leaving my calling card" I responded.
- "And a sweet one at that."
We began eating the meal and I once again took notice of Eric sitting in my
robe. The thought of his strong body against the material was hardly
unexciting and I could only just control my thoughts from going rampant. I
hadn't yet finished my breakfast when I was overcome with another hunger. I
grasped Eric's hand, drawing his attention away from his plate. He could
recognize the feeling in my eyes, and quickly took cue of my intentions.
Eric stood up and held out his hand, reaching for mine. I held it out when
he pulled me toward him and swept me from my feet into his strong arms. I
leaned forward and passionately locked my lips to his, and guided our
tongues in a heated embrace. Eric walked up the stairs as I lay overwhelmed
by his presence. We entered my room and he placed me on the bed. Managing
not to break out embrace, Eric laid atop me. I pulled the robe from around
him, revealing his strapping shoulders. My hands slid down his back and
pulled his body into mine. He moaned. Pulling the t-shirt over my head, Eric
began to kiss my neck and lean in closer to my ear. "I need you. I've needed
you for so long" He said, breathing harder from the anticipation. Guiding
his tongue from my chest down to my stomach, he pulled my shorts out from
under me. I had never felt such sensations as I pulled Eric's hair, guiding
his head in a rhythmic motion. I could only endure such pleasure for a few
moments, wanting to prolong our connection to infinite lengths. I untied the
robe and threw it on the floor. Holding Eric's body, I supported him and
turned him over to face the ceiling. I returned the favour, kissing the
length of his torso and moved down. Eric gripped my shoulders as we moved in
a unified pace. Placing my hand on his chest, I could feel him breathing
faster than ever before, harder than any run could cause. Eric pulled me up,
locking me in a kiss and we ground our hips in unison. We both breathed
deeply and then it stopped. I collapsed, with my head on top of his chest.
Kissing my brow in between deep breaths, he pulled the covers over us and
secured my position with his arms. We closed our eyes.
	* * *
Eric and I awoke mid-afternoon and realized we slept without as much as
moving an inch. I was formed to the grooves of his body, and sunk into him.
I pulled myself up and kissed his soft lips. It was difficult breaking the
intimacy we shared, but I knew it was time. As I got dressed, I heard
movement in the sound of the bed behind me, and felt Eric grab my waist and
hoist himself up. His touch was rejuvenating and caused my nerves to tingle
as it once did. Clothing himself in the robe, we walked downstairs. Eric's
things had ample time to dry and he got dressed once
realizing so. The rest of his stay was short, realizing that we both had
some work to do before school commenced the next day. We gathered the rest
of his belongings and Eric left after we kissed goodbye.
	* * *
- "Con, there's something different about you!" said I voice from behind me
as I rummaged through my locker before class. I recognized the voice
immediately. Mina was a friend from kindergarten that I lost touch with
after going to a different elementary school. We had our reunion in ninth
grade when our paths led us to Mayfield, and Mrs. Marshall's history class.
Standing less than five feet tall, she came in a small package but rarely
went unnoticed. Her big brown eyes possessed great wisdom and her full lips
a lot of appeal. Her wavy hair was pulled and pinned on top of her head, and
she wore her soccer uniform from the morning practice. Whether it was a prom
dress or a grass-stained jersey, Mina was always in her element.
- "If anyone, you'd notice with those tennis balls you call `eyes'" I
replied. Mina sneered.
- "I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over your lips" She replied. We always
managed to tease each other and treat it as a form of affection. "No
seriously, what is it? Oh I know! You made volleyball didn't you?" She
asked. I nodded, confirming her suspicions. "I knew you would, especially
since you learned everything from me". For the last couple of years, Mina
would always find time to help me with my game and practice whether or not
she felt like it. At this point, she could tell just by the face I gave her
that I wanted her to set me up for some hits or rally a little. Mina was the
epitome of a `well-rounded' student. If she wasn't preoccupied with some
kind of school activity, then she'd either be effortlessly working on
academics or traveling to some part of the continent with her soccer team.
She was a dream-come-true for parents worldwide, and I couldn't help but
love her. "You know what? Lunch is my treat today, just to say
`congratulations'". With that, she was off down the hall.
* * *
To my surprise, Eric sat beside me in Miss. Davies' kinesiology class. It
was comforting to feel the warmth of his body beside me, despite the filled
classroom and our agreement to remain discrete about our relationship.
Instead of teaching us about rigor mortis, she spent her time describing the
pitcher she had been scouting over the weekend. "Lindsay Rawlings is by far
the best pitcher I've seen in many a year. Her technique is more developed
than girls playing in their senior year of college ball, and she's still
only a minor." Miss. Davies' spoke for the duration of the class about her
wonder child and the "fine addition she'll make to any college team".
Softball hardly being a sport of interest for me, watching the excitement in
Miss. Davies' eyes and the exhilaration in her voice held my attention as
she was occupied with her passion, and the source of much of my mine sat
right beside me. After the class was over, I was able to speak with Eric for
a few moments as we packed our things.
- "Yesterday was incredible!" I confessed.
- "Better than words could describe. I'm glad you were my first!" I stood
there in shock. I had been thinking about Eric for quite a few years, but
the thought of him remaining a virgin never crossed my mind. How could
someone so beautiful both inside and out gone so long without having sex,
especially when having so many admirers? This discovery helped me realize
the virtue of Eric's heart, and the commitment he had to remaining true to
himself. If I could

fall in love anymore than I had, this had done it. At volleyball practice,
Coach Armstrong mentioned a
tournament being held at a neighboring school the coming Friday. The idea of
an entire day playing volleyball excited me to the bone and I could hardly
contain myself. The rest of the practice went quite well, with the team
beginning to show signs of a new level of unity. Some of the other players
mentioned the improvement in my hitting, making the day an even more
memorable one. I helped take down the nets and changed out of my practice
gear. As I left the locker room, there stood Eric in front of the door.
- "I didn't see your car parked out front. I wanted to leave this for you."
He said, holding out a black-stringed choker with a volleyball charm on it.
- "How observant of you" I smiled in delight.
- "Let's go, I'm taking you home"
- "I'll just follow that cute little tush of yours" I said, grabbing his
rear.
On the way to the parking lot I explained that my dad took the car for an
oil change, and I'd have to walk if it weren't for his hospitality. Eric
just looked at me as though I just said the silliest thing in the world, and
I blushed at his demeanor.
After opening my door and entering the sports car himself, Eric tied the
choker around my neck and complimented how it looked. I was impressed beyond
words at his gesture, and showed him so with a kiss. As he started up the
car, Eric spoke.
- "I spoke to Will last night before bed"
- "What did he say?" I asked nervously.
- "He knows about us, and don't worry I know you didn't tell him. We had a
long talk about the things that are going on between us, and he's completely
supportive."
- "That's wonderful"
- "In fact, he's invited us to dinner tonight if you're interested"
- "That sounds good, I just have to ask my parents first"
- "Just give me a call when you know for sure" he said, and I agreed.
* * *
My parents agreed to my going out to dinner with Eric and Will, taking into
account I finished all of my homework. Considering there wasn't anything due
the next day, I agreed to their terms. I rested for a while just laying on
my bed and letting my mind wander, I unsurprisingly began to think about
Eric and Will soon thereafter. How were Eric and I supposed to act around
Will? I knew that he was comfortable with our relationship, but at what
point would things become awkward? There was much more grey area in this
situation than Eric and I had first realized and it led to another question.
Were Eric and I going to curb our feelings and relationship around the
people we cared about most according to how they felt, or us? I realized
that this night was going to be quite a learning experience for all of us,
and held many more implications that even we could imagine.