Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 11:48:34 -0500
From: Douglas West <brawlinauthor@gmail.com>
Subject: Brawlin Chapter 7

Hey readers! Hope you enjoyed chapter 6! Sorry there was such a lull in my
writing earlier this month but I had a lot going on job wise plus I
moved. Regardless, I just want to say thank you to all of you who emailed
me over the stretch of my hiatus. It was super encouraging to know that my
story was missed so! You all are the best!

Please let me know what you think about the direction of the story and
remember you can always email me at brawlinauthor@gmail.com. I absolutely
love hearing from readers and I always reply (promptly even! :) in fact
that is actually becoming my favorite thing about writing this story!

Let me also take a moment to thank readers Jeremy for the use of his eyes
over the last few chapters and Austin who will be taking a look at chapters
from here on out! They are absolutely great and I'm so happy that they are
willing to correct my many grammatical errors.

Also, considering my writing has become a bit more sparatic I was wondering
if anyone would be interested in getting put on a mailing list for updates
on future chapters. It will be a BCC'd mailer sent from
brawlinauthor@gmail.com that will simply notify you of chapter updates and
maybe info about other stories that I write. Just email me and let me know
you'd like to be added!

Cheers! ~ D. West

______________________________________________


"Hey Josh!" Mike, the other pool boy, yelled at him from across the
patio. It was Josh's first day working at the country club and he was
enjoying himself so far. It was a fairly simple job, check the skimmers,
make sure there were plenty of towels, and basically that was it. The best
part was that once fall rolled around he'd be moved to groundskeeping for
the golf course so he didn't have to worry about finding another job.

"Whats up?" Josh yelled back to the shaggy-haired twenty year old.

"We're low on towels in the womens changing room. Mind running down to the
basement and grabbing some more before we open? You remember where they're
at right?"

"Sure thing!" Josh said, remembering the tour that Mike had given him
earlier. He slipped in through the side door which connected to a short
hallway lined with offices. Beyond that lay the lobby which contained the
door he needed to use to reach the basement. Other than his brief tour of
the facility earlier that morning, Josh had never been in a country club
before, despite his father having always been a member back home. Josh had
never been invited to attend any of the events his father frequented. He
could only guess that the other club members wouldn't have approved of a
bastard child being brought into their ranks. Shaking off that thought, he
decided to take a quick look around since it was only 10:30 and the place
didn't even open for another thirty minutes.

Drifting down the main hall he peered at the countless pictures that
adorned the walls. Many of them were very old, displaying scenes from
events throughout Rockshire's history. Sporting events, grand openings,
parties, picture after picture was fascinating. However, as he approached
the end of the hall which gaveway to the main dining room he spied a
picture that really caught his eye.

It was of a man and woman cutting into what appeared to be a wedding cake
in the club's dining hall. They were a beautiful couple, but more than
that, what attracted Josh to the photo was the way that the man stared at
his bride. It was compelling how much his gaze alone was communicating -
love, fascination, devotion. It was all there in a simple look from his
piercing green eyes.

Josh couldn't be sure how long he had stared at the photo as laughter from
the dining room shook him from his trance. He hadn't even been aware that
anyone was there yet but as he turned to face into the dining room he
caught the glance of familiar eyes. Gorgeous green eyes. The same eyes, he
realized, that he'd been staring into in the photo, only younger. It was
only after he found Rob's eyes that he realized why the man in the picture
had looked so familiar. It was Rob's father.

Josh couldn't see the entire table, but he gathered it was a large party,
all dressed as if they had just come from church. Robert looked flawless in
a seersucker jacket and brightly colored pants, standing out boldly from
the two dimly dressed gentleman on either side of him. He participated in
the conversation, legs crossed while lounging back in his chair at the head
of the table, in much the same manner as a prince. His face was etched with
the familiar pose of disenchantment, as if everything around him was
completely unbearable. Simply put, he looked bored out of his mind, 'but
when doesn't he look bored' Josh thought, 'other than Friday night' he
smirked.

"What are you doing up here?" The tall woman who ran the club spoke from
behind him. He believed her last name started with a B... but he couldn't
be sure. Josh was always so horrible with names. "You're not supposed to be
inside the club house. You belong by the pool." She said, making no attempt
to hide her distaste for the situation.

"Sorry ma'am, I just came inside to cut down to the lockers for more
towels."

"Well go around the outside next time. No one wants to see a pool boy
trouncing through the dining room!" Her glare sent daggers through Josh. He
had no idea why, but he feared this woman.

"Is there an issue?" Rob's voice sounded from around the corner as he rose
from his chair to approach them.

"Not at all Mr. Tilton, I was just correcting one of our staff members
here. I'm so sorry we disturbed you all. Run along and fetch those towels"
She said, flicking the back of her wrist at Josh essentially shooing him
down the hall.

"His name is Josh." Rob said firmly with his not-so-subtle air of arrogant
authority and for the first time since they'd known each other Josh was
somehow pleased to hear it. "And he happens to be one of my close friends
Mrs. Bunt. I expect that he will be well taken care of?"

"Of, of course Mr. Tilton" She squeaked, "run along then... Josh" she said
with a polite smile after a short pause. Josh could tell she was
pissed. Hell, he probably would be too. He scurried off towards the door
and bolted down the steps not at all wanting to piss her off further by
standing there any longer. He knew that Rob was only trying to help, but
god, that mouth of his was doing more harm than good this time. Sweeping in
and acting like you own the place might work for the privileged but for the
rest of the world it usually only made shit worse. Rob didn't understand
how much Josh needed this job to save money for a car.

"You're pissed" Rob said over the loud bang of the mens locker room door
closing behind him. His entrance startled Josh so much that he dropped the
basket full of towels he'd picked up. Josh hadn't expected Rob to follow
him in the slightest.

"I didn't need your fucking help Rob" Josh said as he began furiously
refolding one of the towels that had dropped.

"I never said you did" Rob said, leaning down to help with the other
towels.

"You're a dick"

"Never said I wasn't" He said chuckling. They continued folding the towels
in silence until they were all neatly placed in the basket again.

"I appreciate it..." Josh said finally.

"Well its kind of my fault that you dropped em anyway."

"I meant with scary lady upstairs."

"I knew you appreciated that too" He said smiling. Josh loved that smile.

"Smart asses get their ass kicked" Josh said, picking up a towel to throw
in Robs face.

"I think you tried that once if memory serves." Rob said with a devilish
grin, catching the towel and handing it back to Josh. As Josh reached to
take it from him their hands grazed ever so slightly and Josh felt the
contact immediately. Merely a finger stroke, that was all it was, yet it
had Josh reeling to take Rob, to kiss his lips, his neck, every inch of
him. They stared at one another intently, Josh could see it in Robs eyes as
well, he felt something too. Of course he did, Rob never denied what he
felt, he only regretted that he felt it.

"I uh... I better get upstairs." Rob said, shuffling to his feet.

"Yeah... and I need to get back out to the pool. Especially since Bunt is
probably going to be up my ass because of you." Josh laughed, trying to
make light of the situation.

Rob looked at him very seriously before saying, "do you really think so?"

"Maybe... she looked pretty pissed. You couldn't tell?"

"What days do you work?"

"Just weekends, why?"

"I guess I'll have to make sure I'm here. Y'know to come to your rescue
again." He said just before he escaped through the heavy metal door
again. He knew Rob was most likely bullshiting but it still felt nice. So
nice in fact that he felt his chest swell in that same weird way it had the
morning before. Rob had an effect on him, there was no denying that fact,
but why? There was nothing there. He'd thought about it all night and he'd
concluded: Robert Tilton was trouble.

"Oh Josh" He heard from behind him as he began his ascent from the lower
level up the small grassy slope to the pool area. He'd heeded Mrs. Bunt's
words this time and had taken the outdoor route. This choice however left
him walking in plain sight of the balcony above where Jenn had obviously
spotted him from. He knew her voice without even having to see her face.

"Hey Jenn" He said, looking up to the porch to meet her stare. He'd wanted
to say "what the hell do you want?" but considering Jenn was most likely a
member he didn't think that would go over to well with his employers.

"I didn't realize you worked here" She said, grabbing the large hat she had
on by it's side, dipping it down in an effort to block the sun from her
face.

"I just started today"

"Oh, well they really should have hired you as a lifeguard."

"Huh?"

"I'd be by the pool every day to see you shirtless" She said with a smile
prompting Josh to blush. Even if he hated her guts she still seemed to
always be able to embarass him.

"Well good seeing you..." Josh said, spinning on his heels to treck the
rest of the way to the pool.

"Hold on a minute Joshy boy! You aren't still mad about that little
misunderstanding a few weeks ago are you?" She frowned sarcastically.

"I think we should talk about this some other time I've kinda got a job to
do" He faked a laugh. Of course he was still mad, infuriated
actually. They'd used him. She'd used him! But... hadn't Rob used him too?

"Oh don't be silly the club hasn't even opened yet."

"True, so how are you here?" He said too quickly to catch himself.

"Jenn, Uncle is ready to leave." Rob stated as he came to lean on the
balcony's railing next to Jenn, "Good morning Josh." He was pretending as
if this was the first time they'd seen each other. It suddenly made sense
though, how Jenn was here early. She was a Tilton, or at least related to
them.

"I'm worth the wait." She said, winking at Josh, "So Josh, do you have
plans this Saturday?"

"Uh... just working here."

"Jenn, we really need to go." Rob said, grabbing her by the elbow.

"Not so fast Robert, can't you see I'm having a conversation? Quit being so
rude to Josh." She laughed. Rob glanced down at him and then back at her
never removing his hand from her.

"Why?" Rob said, without so much as looking at Josh. The question felt like
a punch to his gut. Every single time he felt that he and Rob were making
progress he shot Josh down. He knew it was in an effort to hide their
relationship. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

"Oh Rob!" She said, rolling her eyes and ripping her arm from him, "Ignore
him Josh, anyway since you're free I was thinking you might like to go on a
date Saturday. The brawl has been moved to that night considering our
little incident last week." Josh couldn't believe what he was hearing. Did
this crazy girl who had basically treated him like a fly landing in her web
really think he'd be going on a date with her? Josh glanced at a fuming Rob
which suddenly took precedent over Jenn. 'Really dude? You're pissed that
she's asking me on a date when you've basically treated me like a worthless
piece of shit this entire conversation?'

"I don't think Josh would be int..." Rob started to say before Josh
interupted him.

"That sounds great Jenn. I'd love too." Josh said, smiling at her before
glancing at Rob. Don't you dare try and speak for me asshole, Josh
thought. "What time should I pick you up Saturday?"

"Oh, we'll pick you up. Ricky will drive us." Jenn said.

"Uh... Ricky?"

"Of course, we're doubling silly, Ricky and I, you and Michelle. You're
going to be Michelle's date of course." She smiled slyly, not looking at
Josh but rather at Rob. Josh could tell Rob was not happy, his jaw locked
tightly as he stared at Jenn icily. Josh found it amazing that Jenn was
completely unfazed by Rob's intimidation tactics and in fact seemed rather
amused by it all.

"What Rob? It's not as if you're ever going to man up and ask her." She
said to him, "He's been keeping Michelle in the friend zone for years." She
nodded towards Josh laughing. Josh found it rather awkward. He was pretty
sure he knew why Rob kept her in the friend zone. At least, he hoped he
knew why.

"Hey bud! You got those towels?" Josh turned to see Mike yelling from above
the fence a few feet up from him at the top of the hill.

"Sure thing! Sorry it took so long man I just got distracted." Josh said,
"Sorry y'all! Gotta get back to work. I guess I will see you and Michelle
Saturday Jenn" He winked before turning to walk the rest of the way up the
hill. "Oh and Rob" Josh turned back to face them, "Smile more. Ok?" He
watched as the icy glare melted, softening ever so slightly into his usual
look of boredom. Josh knew though that Rob was still pissed and that
excited the shit out of him.

***

Rob -

"Have you ever wished you could go back and repeat a night over again?" Rob
asked Evan as they took their seats at the usual table in the corner of the
cafeteria.

"Like do it over to make it better or something?" Evan asked as he dug into
his plate of what was supposed to be bar-b-que while Rob took a moment to
think about his question. Make it better as in not let it happen? Was that
really what he wanted?

"Dude whats up with you?" Evan said, between bites. Rob realized in that
moment that his best friend was pretty much the most disgusting eater he'd
ever laid eye on. How had he never noticed it before?

"Nothings up with me. I just..." He glanced across the room to spy Josh
coming in with some of the guys from his roster. He smiled, glad that Josh
had some friends to hang around finally, "nevermind."

"What is it Rob?"

"Nothing. It's fine man." But it wasn't fine. In fact it was as far from
fine as he'd ever been in his entire life. Friday night was all he seemed
to have on his mind. Each time he thought back to it he smiled. He smiled
because it had felt right, but more than that, he smiled because Josh asked
him too.

"You're acting weird man."

"What?" Rob chuckled, trying to shrug off Evan's staring at him.

"What are you smiling about? Did you get lucky this weekend or something!?"
The accusation had Rob panicking internally. He felt his heart race and the
smile immediately left his face.

"Right, between the running from the cops and making it to my truck I ran
into a beautiful young damsel in distress..." Rob managed to say
unwaveringly.

"I thought you were already at your truck when I called?"

"Nope... I was on my way back."

"So you were on your way back and you didn't wait for Logan and me and the
rest of the guys to give us a lift? That's shitty dude"

"I uh... sorry I flipped. I was drunk and I just couldn't risk it man." As
shitty as he knew it was he didn't give a damn. He wouldn't have changed
one thing and it definitely wouldn't have turned out the same had he waited
up for the guys. He took a moment to glance over to Josh making his way
through the lunch line.

"Why do you think they showed up?" Rob said, attempting to change the
subject as quickly as possible.

"The cops? Dunno... I mean Logan blames the new kid and I've gotta admit it
does seem kind of weird."

"New kid?" Rob asked, knowing full well that he meant Josh.

"Holt... like maybe he's trying to get payback or some shit." Evan said,
before ripping into his potato chips.

Would Josh do that? Rob didn't think so. But, how could he be sure?
Suddenly Rob realized he had no idea why Josh was walking alone in the
woods that night. That was strange wasn't it?

"Why would he join Luke's roster then?" Rob said out loud, not exactly
asking but rather stating his thoughts aloud.

"What better way to find out where the Brawls will be? Rosters find out way
in advance of the crowd when and where stuff is going down. And I
mean... what better way to avoid suspicion?"

"What's up?" Jenn said, taking her seat next to Evan.

"I was just talking to Rob about Logan's theory."

"About Josh Holt ratting out the Brawl last Friday?" She said rolling her
eyes, "you do realize Logan also watches that show Ancient Aliens... and
thinks it's historically accurate."

"Ok then explain where he disappeared too after his fight!" Evan
grunted. Rob tensed at his suggestion.

"To piss maybe? Hell if I know but Josh isn't the only new recruit. It
could have been any of them. Just because Josh is an outsider doesn't mean
it's him." She stated as she delicately cut her salad.

"Speaking of pissing I'm gonna do that and head to my locker. Catch ya'll
later." Rob said as he stood. He needed to escape this conversation before
he said something stupid. But before he completely left the table he turned
to Evan, "Do it over again because it was incredible."

"Huh?"

"Repeating the night... I'd want to repeat it and not change a thing" Rob
said before turning to head towards the exit.

He made his way to drop off his trey before heading up the stairs to the
second floor bathroom. It was barely used during the lunch periods and he
needed the quiet. He'd desperately wanted to tell Evan exactly where Josh
had been that night. He wanted to defend him, which still made little
sense, but there was no denying that it was his reaction nonetheless. It
was all he had thought about since Sunday - how good it had felt to come to
Josh's side and stand up for him. But still, he couldn't be sure why Josh
was alone that night. Why had he been skulking away from everyone else?

He stared at himself in the mirror, unsure of who stared back at him. He
was scared, he was always scared, but even moreso now because he couldn't
control this. He couldn't control the way he felt, the possibility that
people might find out and more than anything he knew he couldn't control
Josh. In fact, it was becoming more and more obvious that Josh was much
better at controlling him. But one thing stood clear from the lunch room
conversation: Rob had no idea who Josh was, what his motives were, nothing.

"Hey..." Rob heard the familiar voice trail from behind him. He hadn't
bothered to look up when he'd heard the door open but as his eyes met with
Josh's in the mirror he wondered how long he'd been standing
there. 'Perfect' he thought sarcastically, 'exactly who I needed to see
right now.'

"Hey" Rob said in reply.

"You ok?" He said, crossing his arms to lean against the wall.

"Do I not look ok?" Rob said coldly, nervous that someone might come in and
wonder why two rival brawlers were conversing.

"I just saw you leave the cafeteria and you looked kinda pissed"

"And how is that any of your concern exactly?" Rob spat.

"You can pretend to be a total dick all you want. You aren't fooling me
man." Josh shrugged his shoulders and simply smiled. Rob felt a tension
leave his shoulders that he hadn't even been aware was there. How could
someone he barely knew see right through him so easily? When no one else
could? It was disarming.

"Excited for your date?" Rob said, turning to face Josh, choosing to ignore
the smug rebuttle.

"Why? You jealous?"

"You know the answer to that." He said, unable to catch himself. In fact he
was beyond jealous actually.

"Shouldn't have been such a dick at the club then." Josh grinned, cocking
his head to the side knowing full well he had total control over the
situation. It was sexy how dominant he could be but Rob couldn't stand for
it, couldn't let that domination affect him the way in the pool. He
launched himself towards Josh, pinning him against the wall.

"That hard to keep your hands off me?" Josh said, he hadn't even flinched
at Rob's actions. He simply stared at Rob with an unmistakeable heat in his
eyes. Suddenly Rob realized this move was a bad one as he felt his cock
start to stir at Josh's stare.

"You're a cocky little shit Josh. You think you know me but you don't know
shit man. Got that?" Rob barked merely inches from Josh's face, "I'm not
sure what game you're playing at but I swear to god if you end up hurting
Michelle with this revenge plot of yours I will fuck you up
Josh... Understand me?"

"Revenge plot? What the fuck are you even talking about Rob?" Josh said,
making out as if he were genuinely confused by Rob's words.

"I don't know... I don't know Josh. I don't know anything about you." Rob
almost whispered, he knew he wasn't making any sense. Words always seemed
to escape him when it came to Josh.

"What are you accusing me of Rob? You think I'm out for revenge? You think
that's why I went home with you Friday night? This has gotta be a fucking
joke" Josh spoke in a raised voice, "don't know anything about me? I think
you know something pretty damn big about me Rob, wouldn't you say?" Rob
felt hands on his chest push him back away from Josh.

Rob backed away, breathing in heavily before decideing how he might
continue, "You need to calm down!" He whispered. "A stupid drunken mistake
doesn't mean we know each other Josh." You're taking that out of context. I
don't know you... you don't know me."

"Why are you always such a dick!?" Josh said, his face twisted somewhere
between hurt and rage.

"Why are you always such a hot headed little bastard?"

"What the fuck did you just call me?" Josh yelled. It was the last thing
Rob heard before he realized he was on the floor. Josh had moved so quickly
he hadn't had a single second to react.

"What the hell Josh" Rob shouted back, finding himself pinned to the ground
with Josh's fist raised into the air above his head.

"I am not a fucking bastard. Do you hear me!?" Josh continued yelling, his
eyes bloodshot and watery.

Rob was dumbfounded. He stared into the young man sitting on top of him
longing for the sexy eyes that had been staring at him earlier. He wasn't
exactly sure how they had gone from their regular verbal sparring match to
an actual fight but it physically pained him. The ache he felt in his chest
over his words enraging Josh in this way was almost unbearable.

"What in God's name is going on in here!?" A fuming Principal Wright
screamed as he entered the bathroom. Rob could see him pause, absolutely
shocked by what he saw as he rounded the corner. Fighting on school
property wasn't something that happened often at Rockshire. "Get off of him
son" he said calmly after assessing the situation. Rob felt Josh's weight
lift from his chest and then they were both promptly escorted to the
principal's office. Josh never so much as looked at him the entire trek
across campus.