Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 12:19:54 -0800 (PST)
From: LaZer <lazer773@yahoo.com>
Subject: Nathaniel and Rocky

It was a warm summer day outside. Mom had just yelled
up the stairs that breakfast was ready and that soccer
practice was in two hours. She said I had just enough
time to get my chores done before I had to leave the
house. I rolled out of bed and stretched. I usually
sleep in my boxers and my T-shirt so I had to
straighten them up before walking into the bathroom. I
was  lucky that we had a two-story house surrounded by
the woods. I had a lot of privacy when I wanted to
take a hike and get away from everything.

Mom was downstairs in the kitchen and I knew dad had
already gone out into the woods. He was an avid hunter
and loved the outdoors. I loved the outdoors too but I
don't think I could ever love it as much as he did. He
would always tell me stories about how him and a
couple of buddies would go out into the woods and stay
for a couple of days, sometimes even a week or two.
Mom never did like this as she never knew when they
were going to come back. She always feared for the
worst. She thought they would get out somewhere and be
attacked by some wild animal. The only wild animals I
have ever seen around the area are a couple of cubs,
fawns, raccoons, and bobcats. We had a pond behind the
house so I guess that is what they preferred as their
drinking source.

I would swim in the pond every now and then, and if
you stay out in the middle of the pond you could see a
baby fawn come down for a drink of water. Every now
and then one would get brave and let you walk up and
pet it. Very rarely have I ever got  to do this, but
mom would go out to feed them and she would come back
in and tell me.

I went into the bathroom and took care of my early
morning business. I checked myself out in the mirror
to make sure I looked decent. I keep my hair really
short because that way when I wake up in the morning I
don't have to worry about looking like Beetlejuice.
Just so you have an idea of what I look like, I have
short dirty blonde hair. I have two ways I like to
keep it and it varies every day. Some days I like to
spike it up. My last girlfriend liked it that way. I
didn't like wearing it that way because I didn't ever
feel anything for her. See I have known I was gay
since I was eleven years old and I am now sixteen. But
anyway enough about her. Back to me. The other way I
like to wear it is the way you see some of the skater
type wear their hair. Comb it down and make it kind of
spiked in the front. I think it looks best that way.

I have green eyes, and I'm six foot tall. I have a
brother and two sisters, and I am the tallest of all
four of us. I guess I take it after dad. He is six
foot five inches tall. Mom is kind of short standing
at about five foot eight inches. How they ever worked
out the height difference I'll never know but they are
two of the happiest people in the world. I walked back
to the bedroom passing my brother Ryder as I went.
That was my brother's name, Ryder. He's younger than
me so he looks up to me as a role model like most
little brothers think of their big brother. He is only
eleven so I have to look out for him. Not that I mind,
unlike a lot of guys at the high school I go to, I
like hanging out with my brother. He is pretty awesome
and he loves about the same stuff as I do. We love
playing sports together and all that fun stuff.

My sisters are Leigh and Selina. Leigh is the same age
as me, she's sixteen. Selina is the oldest child. She
is twenty years old and already in college. I like
hanging out with her because I don't get to see her
that often. But she loves to hang out with her friends
more than me so I that takes away time from seeing her
too. She takes me anywhere I want to go when I ask
though so that is a good thing. On the way to her
friend's house she would always drop me off at the
mall or the movies and let me hang out for a while. I
would take my baby brother every  now and then because
it gets pretty lonely not having anyone to hang out
with.

Leigh is the typical sixteen-year-old girl, she never
wants Ryder or me around. She is always afraid that we
will embarrass her. And before I go on anymore about
my family I guess you would like to know my name. I'm
Nathaniel, but most of my friends call me Nathan or
Nate.

I walked on back into the room and over to my closet
where I kept all of the clothes I liked wearing. I was
lucky that Ryder had already gone downstairs to eat
breakfast. I had to share the room with him because
mom and dad didn't think it was right that him and
Leigh share a room together so they stuck him with me.
We each give each other the privacy when we need it so
it all works out. Leigh has to share the room with
Selina when she comes in ever so often.

I picked out a red shirt that I loved and a pair of my
jeans to go with it. I went to the chest and pulled
out my soccer uniform. That was the only thing I hated
about soccer practice is we had to wear the stupid
uniforms. I don't see why they wouldn't let us
practice in just the regular shorts and T-shirt. But
no we had to use the shin guards, elbow guards and all
that stuff. That's the reason I loved playing
baseball, we got to practice in anything we wanted. I
could just wear my jeans to their practice. But I
don't play baseball much anymore because its not as
fun as it use to be. The reason being was that I got
on the team because of my best friend Rocky. I was
thirteen at the time and he was fourteen. He's a year
older than me so he would be seventeen now. A senior
in high school but he had to move away when his dad
was transferred two years ago. I've changed a lot
since then and I have always wondered if he still
thought about me. I guess he moved off and found
better things to do than call me or write me cause I
never got a phone call or letter from him.

He was the first guy I ever fell in love with. Yeah I
look at other boys all the time but it is nothing but
lust with them. With Rocky I knew I actually loved him
because sex wasn't all we talked about. We did
everything together. Every sport team I played on he
was right there with me. Everywhere I went he was.
Ryder and me went camping  with dad and it bout broke
Rocky's heart and mine because his parents wouldn't
let him go. I thought it would have been so much fun.
Actually that was the night I was going to come out to
him and see if he had the same feelings for me that I
had for him. But I guess that's something I will never
know now.

Although that night I did come out to dad and he made
sure that mom knew. For a long time it was rough but
they eventually understood that they couldn't change
me. They tried sending me to a psychiatrist and all
that junk. Finally the guy that was my psychiatrist
said that its not something you can help. You are who
you are and you love who you love.  After that I guess
mom and dad discussed it that night because the next
morning they took me private and told me that they
loved me and always would. They also said that they
were behind me in whatever choice I made. That was the
best thing you could ever have parent say to you.

Ryder still to this very day doesn't know what I meant
when I came out. I don't want to tell him either
because I don't want to ruin the image he has of me.
Selina knows and she said that there are a lot of
friends at the college she attends that are out so her
having a brother like that was no big deal. She even
introduced me to one of her best friends that I could
talk to anytime I wanted to about anything that was
bothering me. So even if she doesn't hang out with me
often she is still pretty amazing.

I got dressed and spiked my hair like I wanted it and
then turned to go downstairs to eat breakfast when I
passed Selina and one of her friends coming up the
stairs I said good morning and continued down the
stairs.

"It's about time you got your butt out of bed" she
said before her and her friend giggled at the comment.
She can be so lame at times it's pitiful.

I went on into the kitchen and walked up behind
mother. I gave her a kiss on the cheek and sat down to
eat breakfast. "It's about time you got down here, I
thought it was going to be cold when you go there. Rex
sure would have loved it if you didn't make it" she
said.

Rex is our dog. He has been with us for a long time.
We got him when he was just a puppy. Someone had set
him out at the place mom worked at and she didn't have
the heart to leave him sitting out in the cold so she
brought him home. He is part shepherd, part lab. We
all love him to death and he does come in handy from
time to time when a raccoon tries to get in the house.
Besides that dad takes him hunting every now and then.
I don't know why he didn't take him with him this
morning.

I ate my breakfast and then started getting my shoes
on. I ran up the stairs to get the gym bag I kept my
outfit in for practice. When I came back downstairs
mom was already waiting for me to go out the door.

"Selina, I'm taking Nathaniel to soccer practice, stay
in the house while I'm gone. I'll be back in a little
while."

"Okay mom" she shouted down the stairs not even coming
out of her room.

Mom and me went out and got in the car. She started
the car as I flipped to the radio station that I loved
to listen to. "You and that pop music" mom said.

"Hey, I love this music" I smiled as Jewel came on the
station.

"That's about the only one of those girls I like" mom
said humming along with the tune.

I just stared out the window as we got to the field
where practice was. "So where did dad go?"

"I don't honestly know. He didn't take his rifle or
anything so I know he didn't go hunting. And his truck
is gone so its hard to tell."'

"Think he will be home when I get finished with
practice?"

"I don't know Nathaniel, we'll have to see. Don't you
and the guys usually go out and do something after
practice?"

"Yeah I think they are going to go see a movie today
but I don't know if I want to go with them."

"Are you feeling alright honey, you always loved going
to the movies."

"Do you know when the last time I went to see a movie
was mom?"

"Yeah, about two years ago" she said shaking her head
knowing that the last time I had went to the movies
was the night right before Rocky had moved off.

"Well call me and let me know what you decide to do"
she said pulling into the parking lot in front of the
place where coach has us meet. "Thanks for bringing me
down here mom" I said.

"It's no problem honey, you have a good time" she said
leaning over and kissing my cheek like mothers love to
do.

"I will mom" I said as I blushed.

"Don't be ashamed because I love you son, you will
always be my baby and I don't care what you say."

"What if one of the guys saw that though, they'll joke
about it all day long."

"Yeah I bet their mothers kiss them good-bye too so I
wouldn't worry about it."

"Okay mom, well I'll call you when I get finished. I
love you."

"Love you too Nathaniel. I might be a little late
picking you up if you come home. I have to swing by
and pick Ryder up from his friends house."

"I was wondering where he was, I didn't see him except
in the hallway this morning and he did look like he
was going somewhere."

"Yeah, he went to Johnny's house."

"Okay, well I gotta go, practice is about to start."

"Okay, see you later."

I shut the door and jogged into the building to hurry
and dress for practice. We went out onto the field and
did our daily practice. Doing this five days a week
you get use to everything that needs to be done so the
coach does nothing but pretty much supervises us and
every now and then he would join in and practice along
with us for motivation. He really is a great coach He
said that today was going to be different though
because we were playing the number one ranked team
this weekend and they have a new secret weapon. It was
then that I remembered we were playing the team from
the next town.  So that means that there was a new kid
that just moved in and tried out for the team and made
it.

"Everyone thinks he is a great soccer player so we
have to really practice and hope we might actually
walk away with a championship this year."

We all practiced harder than we have that previous
week and gave it our best. We really wanted to win a
championship and bring home  trophy. We haven't made
it in the past three years. Finally practice was over
and everyone talked about what movie they wanted to go
see. I piped up and said "I don't know if we should go
to the movies, you know the other team we're playing
is probably going to go see a movie too."

"Well that would give us a better chance to see what
their secret weapon is because you know that he had to
have been at practice too. And what kind of team would
they be if they didn't let him join in with them."

"You have a good point" I said realizing they were
right. We could check out the competition.

We all got in the shuttle vans and began our way to
the movies. When we get there we sure enough saw the
vans from the rival team in the parking lot. We all
decided to see the movie Orange County. When we walked
in we sat in the back and we saw a few players from
the other team. They were sitting up front of the
theater. A teammate of mine was sitting there naming
off names of the players that were sitting there.  He
then got to a person he couldn't name but he was
wearing one of their jerseys so we knew he was on the
team. He had light brown hair spiked just like mine.
He looked about our age and he looked like he had the
athletic build.

"I bet that's their secret weapon" one of the other
guys with our group said.

"I bet it is too" some of the other guys said agreeing
once they saw the guy sitting there.

Two of their guys got up to go get something from the
concession stands and we saw them ask the guy no one
recognized if he wanted to go with them and he said
yeah. They got up to the section where we were sitting
and the leader stopped the other two.

"Well if it isn't the losing team this weekend."

"You wish, you're going to be the ones going down"
someone from our group chimed in.

"Yeah, in your dreams girls."

The whole time I couldn't say anything because my eyes
were lost in the new guys eyes. We just stared at each
other and didn't know why but it felt like we knew
each other. Finally the leader ushered them on so they
followed his lead but the new guy kept his eyes locked
on mine as if searching for something in there. I
turned back around and was completely lost in thought.

A little while later my buddy was elbowing me. "Hey
Nate, you awake? Earth to Nate."

"Sorry man, I was lost in thought."

"Yeah, it must have been a good thought because you
didn't even finish watching the movie. you didn't do
anything but look down at the floor."

"Sorry" I said.

"It's your break, it was  a good movie."

"Where are we going to now?"

"Well a couple of the guys are going home and some of
us are going to the diner down the road to eat. Do you
want to go with us?"

"Sure" I said still thinking about what it was that
was odd about the new guy.

We got back into the vans and went down the road just
a little ways to the diner. Everyone that was going in
got off the bus. "Nathaniel, can your dad or someone
take you guys home?" the van driver asked.

"Sure man, go on" I said without even thinking about
it.

We got in and ordered our meal. Our team had paired
off and was talking about different things. I was
sitting there and didn't even notice my buddy Ben
sitting across from me studying my expressions. "Nate
man, what's bothering you?"

"I don't know. It's something about that new guy we
saw today."

"You aren't intimidated are you? Cause I mean that is
the last thing we need is for our best player to be
intimidated by someone else."

"I'm not intimidated by him. Did you see the way he
was looking at me?"

"Yeah, the same way you were looking at him."

"It feels like I know him from somewhere but I can't
place him or anything."

"What if it is you know who"

"Who?" I asked not thinking about it.

"Never mind, to weird even for me" Ben said "Well man
I hope you don't lose focus cause you know we have a
big game coming up and then we have to work with the
rival team to put on a play for the charity benefit we
do every year."

"Oh crap, I forgot about that."

"You are going to do good, don't worry bout it Nate."

"I don't know, I mean I don't even have a song ready."

"First keep your thoughts on the game, cause we have
an easy play to do this year."

"Yeah I guess you're right I said" picking up the
phone to call dad.

He agreed to come and get us and was at the diner in
about thirty minutes. Everyone piled into his Jeep
Cherokee, He gladly took everyone home. When it was
down to just him and me he asked how my day went.

"Pretty good dad, where were you at this morning
though?"

"I was taking cafe of some business. You know I am on
the athletic board so I found a new kid I'm scouting."

"Speaking of new kids I want to ask you something." I
said. I told him the whole story of how the new guy
and me kept staring at me and I kept staring at him. I
told him that it felt like I should have known him but
I didn't.

"Did he have a haircut like yours?"

"Yeah."

"Did he have the number 36 on the jacket he was
wearing?"

"Yeah, so what?"

"You mean you didn't recognize him?"

"No dad why would I?"

"Because I remember you saying that you had a crush on
him."

"No I don't, I don't even know him dad."

"I can't believe you don't recognize him. He hasn't
changed much, just his hair isn't blonde anymore and
he has grown up a lot."

"Are you saying that the new kid is, you know who?" I
said not wanting to get my hopes up.

"Yeah son, that's why you couldn't quit staring at him
like you said. You recognized him but you couldn't
bring yourself to realize who he was."

"Are you thinking it is Rocky?"

"Who else would have the name R. Rasnake on it."

"I didn't even see the back of his jacket. We never
lost eye contact until he was out of site."

We pulled in the driveway to the house and I told dad
that I wanted to take a little walk.

"Okay but remember dinner is in about an hour."

"I'll try to be back dad."

I started walking down the driveway. It was about a
mile to the next house but I didn't care. The house
was empty but if there was a new guy playing for the
new team maybe that is where he lived. It was on the
borderline of the two schools' respective counties. So
anyone that wanted had his or her choice of which
school to go to. I don't know what possessed me to
want to go to the one I did but everything turned out
all right. I mean I have seen people that had
transferred to the same school as me because they said
it was a bad school. There was one kid who had to
transfer because a bunch of jocks found out that he
was gay. He came to our school and was gladly
welcomed.

Before I knew it I was at the house and sure enough
there was lights on in the house. I walked up the
driveway and rung the doorbell. A nice looking girl
opened the door and smiled when she saw me.

"Nathan?"

"Yeah, Denise, is that really you?"

"Yes, it is I."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm doing good. My my how you've changed in the past
two years" she grinned. "Come in, come in don't just
stand there in cold.

I walked into the house s Denise yelled for her
parents. They walked into the kitchen and were just as
shocked to see me as I had been to see them.
Immediately we hugged like it had been a lifetime,
which it sure did feel like it to me.

"How have you been the father asked me."

"I've been good."

"You still play sports?"

"Oh yeah, I love it. I have a big soccer game coming
up this weekend as a matter of fact."

"Oh no, you don't think" Ms. Rasnake said to her
husband.

"I'm afraid so" he said confirming her thoughts.

"What is it" I asked lost.

"Well your old buddy also made the soccer team and he
is playing for the school down the block. Isn't that
the one that is playing you all this weekend."

"Yes" I said shaking my head.

Just then we heard a movement on the stairs. I looked
up from he couch and saw him. When he saw me all
movement stopped. We couldn't do anything but stare
again.

"Well aren't you going to say hi" Denise said to her
brother.

"H.....H....el.....lo" he spat out slowly.

"H.....H....el.....lo" I spat out in the same shock he
was in.

He came over and stood in front of me. I immediately
rose up off the couch and embraced him in a hug.

"It's been a long time" he said.

"Yes it has I said hugging him tighter than I thought
I ever could."

"Would you care to stay for dinner" Mr. Rasnake asked
me.

"Sure I said" forgetting that it was getting
dinnertime at my house too.

We sat around at the table talking and catching up on
old times. Mr. Rasnake told me how they transferred
him to around thirty places all in a year. He finally
got tired of it and told the company how he really
felt about them. I guess they didn't take to that so
well because he is living here now.

"So how long are you all going to be staying in this
area" I asked.

"Hopefully a long time" Denise said. "I'm tired of
moving."

"Yeah same here" Rocky said

We finished up dinner and talked some more around the
fireplace. It wasn't until about 11 o'clock that I
noticed it was getting late. "I really need to get
going. Mom and dad are going to freak."

"Yeah, you'll have to get them to come over tomorrow
so we can catch up on old times."

"That would be nice" I said.

"I'll walk with you home" Rocky said. "Would you mind
if I stay at his place tonight?"

"No son, go ahead you don't have practice tomorrow so
I don't see why not."

"Thanks mom, thanks dad" he said hugging them both.

He grabbed a jacket and then turned to me,  "do you
have a jacket?"

"No, I didn't bring one, it's in dads car."

Rocky told me he would be right back and ran up the
stairs. He came back downstairs with a jacket from a
former school he had attended. He handed it to me and
told me I could borrow it. I said my good-byes to his
family and let them know how great it was to get to
meet them again. They let me know that I was welcome
back anytime as me and Rocky started out the door.

We walked down the driveway and to the sidewalk. It
was really cold and I was glad I had borrowed his
jacket now. We talked about how much he loved finding
out that we were moving back to the area and how glad
he was to get to see me again.

"I've never had another friend like you Nathan.
There's just something about you. When I saw you in
the movies today I didn't mean to be rude and stare
like that but I couldn't help myself. I was dying
inside because I wanted to say something to you but I
didn't know if you would remember me or not."

"I did remember you but I was speechless at seeing you
again."

"I know, I was the same way seeing you. It was like
someone had just knocked the air out of me."

"Yeah, I know exactly how you felt."

We continued talking and then we talked about the game
coming up this weekend. He also mentioned that he was
also going to be helping in the play that we were to
be doing I told him a lot about what has changed with
me in the past two years. The only thing I didn't tell
him about was the fact that I was gay and I was out. I
didn't really want to tell him right now and I also
didn't want him to find out on his own.

We got in the house and I introduced my parents to
Rocky. They all said how great it was to see him again
and all that stuff. We stayed up till like three in
the morning talking. We then said we were going to bed
and I showed Rocky to my room.

"You can use my bed tonight man and I will sleep on
the couch."

"You don't have to do that man, let me sleep on the
couch."

"No, after all you are the guest and I wanted you to
come over so it would only be right."

Rocky looked at the bed and then turned to me, "well
it looks like you have a good size bed, I don't mind
sharing it if you don't."

"I don't mind a bit, it will feel more like old
times."

Rocky and me use to share the same bed when we were
kids. We have known each other most of our lives. That
is why I said it broke our hearts when we had to move
away from each other. I just wish he liked me the same
way I liked him.

We both took care of business in the bathroom. When I
walked back to the bed I saw he was stripping down to
his boxers. I striped down to my boxers and T-shirt. I
laid down in bed and felt him slide into bed behind
me.

"You don't know how great it is to see you again"
Rocky whispered before we fell asleep.

The next morning when I woke up I noticed that Rocky
had stretched out on the bed and I was using him as a
pillow. I don't know how I ended up in this position
but I kind of liked it. I started to shift and noticed
his arm was draped over me resting on my back. He must
have felt me shift because the next thing I knew his
hand was caressing my back.

"Good morning" he said then let out a big yawn.

"Good morning to you too. Sorry I used you as a
pillow." I said apologizing.

"No problem, I'm the one that put your head on my
chest. You only have one pillow and I guess I hogged
it. I saw that you didn't have a pillow so I shifted
to let you lay your head on me."

"That was nice of you."

"Nathaniel, I have something I need to tell you but I
don't know how to say it."

"You can tell me anything Rocky, you're still my best
friend, and nothing has ever changed that."

"Well what I was going to tell you might change that."

"I doubt it I said."

"Maybe I should wait until we are both fully awake
before I tell you."

"Okay, just remember that you can tell me anything you
want to tell me."

"Thank you Nathaniel."

"No problem, that's what friends are for."

`Boy's the bus is pulling up the driveway" mom yelled
up the stairs.

"Oh man, the alarm didn't go off."

"Shit" Rocky said. "What am I going to do, today's my
first day.

"Well I can get dad to run you to school if you want."

"Do you think he would mind?"

"Not one bit."

We got dressed and I grabbed  bite to eat. I told dad
the situation ad he agreed to take Rocky to school. I
ran out to the bus so he wouldn't end up having to
take us  both although I would have rather it been
that way. The whole bus trip I was wondering what it
was that Rocky needed to say to me.

Dad was almost to the school when he looked over to
see Rocky in deep thought.

"Thinking about Nathaniel?"

"Yeah, I am Mr. Gibson. I almost told him what I
wished I could have told him before we left but I
chickened out. I don't know how he would react to it."

"Well Rocky, that is something you have to do yourself
but I promise you you're not going to lose him. I mean
you all act like you've never even been split apart
and you just moved back after being away for two long
years."

"Well do you have a problem with me liking your son
the way I do?"

"I think you two would be perfect so no I don't have a
problem with it. Just tell him how you feel."

"Thanks for the advice Mr. Gibson."

"You're welcome Rocky."

Rocky got out of the car and went into the school. The
day went about like any other school day for me. It
was time for gym class so I was getting ready.

"I heard our main star here was seen talking to the
enemy" one of the school bullies said shoving me into
a locker.

"Yeah, I heard he has a crush on the main player of
the other team" the boys brother jumped in.

My buddy Eric jumped in and shoved the boys off of me.
"Leave him alone guys, he's on our team, not theirs."

"Yeah but what if he decides to screw us over in the
final game?"

"I wouldn't do that" I said. "I'm on this team, not
the other opposing one."

"Well I still don't like it" the two boys said walking
off.

When I got home I asked mom if Rocky had been over
yet. She said no, and that he had practice too just
like I had. She then told me she had some good news.
She told me that the Rasnake's had invited us all over
for dinner and that they had accepted. We all got
ready and dressed up. We piled into the car and drove
down the road to their house. We were all greeted with
hugs as we walked in.

I noticed that Rocky wasn't around so I asked Denise
where he was.

"Well him and another boy kind of got into a fight at
school today over something."

"What was it over" I asked wanting to know.

"I'll let Rocky feel you in."

"I have to go get him in a few minutes, you're welcome
to come  along if you want" Ms. Rasnake said.

"Can I mom?" I asked.

"I don't see why not."

We got our jackets on and went to the schoolhouse. We
got there right as Rocky was walking out of detention.

"What did you get in a fight for?" I whispered to him.

"Denise told you didn't she?"

"Yeah, now tell me."

"I'll tell you later, I promise."

We all got back in the car and went back to the house.
When we got there Denise and Mr. Rasnake had dinner
ready.

"That didn't take as long to fix as I thought it would
have" Ms Rasnake said.

"Well of course not when I have a lot of help tonight"
Mr. Rasnake said pointing to Selina and mom.

"Thank you all for helping" she said.

"It's no problem" they said.

Everyone sat at the table talking while me and Rocky
sit in the living room talking. Selina and Denise were
off talking as the parents joked around and had a good
time. Ryder and Leigh were playing with the video
games in Rocky's room.

"Want to go outside a moment" Rocky asked me.

"Sure, but why?"

"Well I want to talk to you about something that's
been on my mind for a long time now."

"Okay" I said walking out the door with him behind me.

We walked off to the swing that sat out near the
gazebo. We sat there and swung for a few minutes in
silence.

"Nathan, I don't really know how to say this but while
I had two years away from you I have had a lot of time
to think about it."

I sat there in silence listening to him.

"I've had a lot of friends but never another friend
like you. There is just something bout you and I don't
know how to say it."

"Just say it."

"Nathan, I'm in love."

"With who?" I asked not believing my ears.

"Who do you think I'm in love with? I'm in love with
you. I have been for a long time. I hope it won't
change our friendship but I thought you ought to know.
I think I'm in love with you"

"Rocky?" I said softly.

"Yes" he said I could hear the nervousness in his
voice. He didn't know how I was going to react and was
scared.

"I think I love you too."

"Really?" he said excitedly.

"Yes, I have known I was gay since I was eleven years
old. And I always thought that maybe one day I would
be able to tell you how I felt about you. Looks like
you beat me to the punch."

We both laughed at the comment. He turned to face me
in the swing and slowly places his hand on my knee.
"So now what."

"I don't know" I said not knowing whether to make the
next step or not.

"I want to kiss you" Rocky said.

"What are you waiting for then" I said.

He started leaning in close to me. When he was just
inches away someone yelled from the house. "Are you
out there boys?"

"Yes mom we are" Rocky yelled with a little
frustration in his voice.

"It's getting cold and we're going to play some card
games. Come on and join us" she yelled.

"Okay" he said getting up. "I'm sorry" he apologized.

"Don't be sorry" I said caressing his hand.

He held his hand out to me. In the dark no one would
be able to see us so I gladly laid my hand in his as
we walked to the house. We let go of each other's hand
as we got to the door. We went in the house and joined
the parents for a few games. About three in the
morning we all decided to turn in for the night.
Especially since all us kids had school in the
morning. Ryder and Leigh had already turned in and
were using Rocky's bed. He walked into the bathroom
and was brushing his teeth when I walked in. I started
brushing mine right beside him. We connected eyes in
the mirror the whole time. We rinsed and dried our
mouths off. He wrapped his arms around my waist and
held me near him. He started to lean in again ready to
kiss me.

All of a sudden there was a knock on the door. "I need
in the bathroom" Selina said.

"Damn it" Rocky mumbled.

I couldn't do anything but laugh. I thought it was
pretty funny. But what wasn't funny is every time he
started to kiss me someone would interrupt. We opened
the door and walked out letting Selina in. "Hope I
didn't interrupt anything" she said grinning
mischievously.

We walked on into the den where Rocky had an air
mattress laying on the floor. "You were prepared for
me to stay all night weren't you?" I asked.

"Yeah, when I heard dad say you were coming over I
knew that they would be here so long that you would
have no choice but to sleep over."

"Sounds like I've got a smart boyfriend."

Rocky blushed at the comment and said "it wasn't that
hard to figure out you were staying, besides if your
parents were going to go home I was going to ask them
if you could stay with me. I mean I know you're only
sixteen but I can watch you, I am considered an adult
almost."

"Yeah you are."

We stripped down to our boxers and T-shirts. He
decided to keep his on tonight so that we wouldn't
have to do much when we got up in the morning for
school. Besides I don't think he wanted the parents to
walk  in and see him in nothing but his boxers. We lay
there for a few minutes. All of a sudden he rolled on
top of me. "What are you doing?"

"I'm finally going to do what I have tried to do all
evening."

He leaned down and finally his lips connected with
mine. I slightly opened my mouth and that was all the
invitation he needed. His tongue slipped between my
lips and massaged mine. We kissed for what seemed like
an eternity. We were about to pull apart when the
lights came on. Rocky quickly jumped off top of me as
we tried to look like we were asleep.

"Don't mind me" Denise said throwing her sleeping bag
down on the floor.

"You mean you're sleeping in here tonight?" Rocky
asked.

"Yes, and so is Selina." she said.

"Bummer" I said.

"Oh, you can still kiss him goodnight, just don't be
making out" she said teasing us.

"We need to get to sleep anyway" Rocky said. "We do
have school tomorrow."

"Yeah" I said sadly.

He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine again
ignoring the fact that Denise was even in the room. As
we kissed Selina walked in.

"Way to go little brother" she said.

I turned as red as the blanket that Rocky and me were
using.

"Don't be embarrassed. Consider yourself lucky that
you're kissing someone as hot as he is" she said.

"Quit trying to flirt" I said, "he's all mine."

"Yeah, I'm all his" Rocky said smiling at me.

"That was a nice thing to say. Why do all the great
guys have to be gay" Denise said.

"Good question" Selina chimed in.

They turned out the lights and got into bed. Rocky
kissed me quickly and said "I love you Nathaniel
Gibson."

"And I love you Rocky Rasnake."

He wrapped his arms around me and held me to him as we
both drifted off to sleep.