Chapter Fifteen: Goodbye

The meeting with the Canadian Alphas went off without a hitch and so Mike was on his way to meet with the southern Alphas in Louisiana. Rumor had it they wrestled with alligators for fun. Whatever waited him, he didn't care. Two months passed since he left Jack crying on the runway. They kept in touch on the phone and via Skype, but it wasn't the same.

God he missed the boy, but there were still the South American Alphas not to mention the whole of the UK as well as Japan and the Philippines. He stifled a yawn and called Jack.

After three rings he picked up. "Hey stranger what you up to?"

"Nothing much mister sexy pants. Just `bout to knock out the last of North America then it's off to Brazil, then the UK for a few months. So what's new with you?"

"Besides missing you like crazy? My psych teacher is insane. Like we have to read five books and write a paper on each of them on top of weekly tests, a midterm, and a 30 page final paper." Jack went on to say he joined the LGBT students' union and was busy preparing for a charity auction. Mike let him prattle on in that manic way Jack had whenever he was keyed up.

"Sucks to be you. When I do get back I'll have like sophomore level credits. So did you declare your major yet?"

"Fuck no but I was thinking either art or maybe education. You?"

"Dude I have no clue. Like my dad always wanted me to go into mathematics. But I have like no idea what I want to do with my life. Maybe start my own chain of martial art schools or there's always the Corps."

`You're kidding right?"

"Nope I'm seriously thinking about joining up maybe after college. You know to see if I have what it takes."

"Oh."

"Come on I said maybe and it'd only be four, five years tops. Not going career like my dad."

"OK I'll stand by your decision no matter what."

"Love you babe."

"Love you more my sexy man."

Mike smiled and hung up. The plane touched down not long after and he was greeted by a teen in bib overalls and a straw hat.

"You the yank that's staying with us?" the boy said, frown firmly on his ashen face.

Yep the name's Mike. What's yours?"

"Zachariah but y'all can call me Zack. Now get yo' stuff and let's go."

What a charmer, Mike thought as he loaded his bags into the dilapidated pick up. They rode in silence the hour back to Zack's place, an old sharecropper house that had been updated to a two family flat. For dinner they had jambalaya with crawdads and crab cakes.

"So Mike, you some big shot up north huh?"

Mike took another bite of his crab cake, swallowed then replied,

"S'pose so. I bested my dad and became leader of our group a year back."

Zack clapped. "Well aint that something. Boys we oughtta have a feast in Mike's honor."

"No need to go through all that for me. I understand if you're intimidated. What with me being the youngest Leader ever and you're, what 19 and having just bested yours."

Zack's group laughed long and said he was actually 23. He just got redder and redder, with knuckles clinched tight.

"If you think you're hot shit let's have a go!" Mike stood up, cracked his knuckles and was good to go. They went outside and circled around each other. Mike came in low and landed a jab to Zack's gut. He staggered a bit before he recovered and charged. Too easy, Mike thought as he side stepped and used Zack's momentum to take him to the ground.

Zack got up and charged again. This time Mike followed suit and as they collided Mike drove his shoulder into Zack's chest. Zack sailed back and landed on his ass. Before he recovered Mike was on him and rained down blows.

"Alright we get you're tough shit." Zack's brother Samuel pulled Mike off him. Zack wiped his bloody lip with the back of his hand then spit.

"Y'all think you're so hot. Let's see ya wrestle with Lulabelle." Zack whistled and a ten foot gator appeared.

"Get `em Lulu."

Mike about crapped himself when saw the mammoth creature charge right for him. He rolled to the side and tried to pin her down, but the gator's tail caught him off guard and she used the opening to bite Mike's shoulder.

With his free hand he jabbed her eyes. Getting no response he jabbed her snout and she unlatched his shoulder. He was on the gator in a flash and pinned her jaw closed. Mike chanced a look at his shoulder and it resembled hamburger meat. He tried to move it. It complied but hurt like hell.

"There you go. You'll be good as new in two weeks tops," Zack's mother said as she sewed the wound closed and poured alcohol on it. It took a month for Mike's shoulder to heal and in that time he and Zack came to an understanding: "Don't start nothing, won't be nothing."

Samuel reminded him of Jaden as he was always up to some prank or another and loved trailing after Mike like puppy. The boy was fond of wrestling and any chance he got he would pounce on Mike until Mike pinned him down and made him say uncle. The kid may have been small but he made up for it with piss and vinegar. Mike reluctantly said good bye and promised to keep in touch. Samuel was a hot mess of tears and snot bubbles as he waved goodbye.

Zack fist bumped Mike and they had one last spar. Mike won handily, but Zack didn't care because he'd learned a lot from the Yankee and viewed him as an honorary Bayou Boy and southern gentleman.

***

Mike had the time of his life as he downed one shot after another in the club. They never asked to see his ID and severed him whatever he wanted as long as the money continued to flow. Maybe he should stop since he swore he heard Kyle calling his name. He turned around and there was the red head sandwiched between two gorgeous women.

"Hawkeye what the fuck are you doing here?" Mike made his way over and gave Kyle a giant bear hug.

"Fuck man, good to see you too. Now put me down." Kyle laughed when Mike raised him higher. They retreated to the corner of the bar, took a shoot of vodka each and hissed as it went down.

"So how goes the trip?" Kyle ordered a rum and coke, and then made it a double.

"Not bad. Met tons of cool peeps and learned a bunch of new moves. But enough about me, what are you doing here, asshole?"

"I talked my dad into letting me do a gap year. As for tonight I had no idea you were in Rio. You never Skype me anymore, cocksucker." Kyle slugged Mike in the shoulder and he flinched.

"Well douche bag I've been busy and when I do get a chance, I always talk with Jack."

"Oh, right." Kyle played with the coaster then downed his rum and coke.

"Look Mike, if I tell you something promise it stays between us?"

"OK, shoot." Mike placed his arm over Kyle's shoulders and pulled him in close and laughed when Kyle blushed.

"I don't know how else to say this. I'm gay and totally in love with you and have been since we were like 12."

"Whoa, man I had no idea. I'm flattered but..."

"But you're with Jack. I know but had to tell you otherwise I'd go crazy." Kyle broke down in tears.

"Dude you'll find an awesome guy and if he don't treat ya right I'll kick his ass." Mike hugged Kyle close.

"Please don't. Why can't we be together? I loved you first. What does Jack have that I don't!"

Mike sighed and patted Kyle on the back as he let it all out.

"That's just it dude. It'd be like incest if we ever did get together. I just don't have those feelings for you."

"But why?"

"I just don't, OK."

With that Kyle ran off. Mike tried to chase after him be he was lost to the night and maybe it was for the best. He knew the hurt that came from not being with the person you wanted most.

"Hey babe sorry to call you so late but I just wanted to say I love you."

"Awe you're too good to me," Jack paused to yawn then continued, "I was up anyways doing a term paper that's due in like two hours."

"No excuses slacker. Well I'll let you get back to work. Bye Pinky."

"Bye babe."

The room spun as Mike tried to stand up and then fell back on to the bed. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the half-naked form of Kyle passed out between two local guys, each naked. Mike did a double take and then rubbed his eyes but the scene wouldn't fade away no matter how hard he wished. At the moment the contents of his stomach decided to come out. He managed to make it to the toilet and retched all over the place.

Fully awake and sober, the events from the night before rushed back to him. After Kyle wondered off Mike got hit on by Juan and Pedro. Flattered he told them he was spoken for but Kyle was free. The trio downed shoots then searched for the red head.

They found him outside about to wander off with a male prostitute. It was Mike who suggested they head back to his room. Kyle was game and the rest of the night the trio fucked in every potion imaginable, while Mike slumbered through the orgy.

"Morning sleepyhead." Kyle stretched out, putting his nakedness on display for Mike.

"Funny shithead, get dressed and I'll get breakfast." Mike yawned then worked the kinks out of his body. After they ate Juan and Pedro departed with a fiver from Kyle. The pair sat in silence, neither knew how to break the ice. They glanced back and forth and finally their eyes met and they laughed.

"So you're happy to see me I take?"

"Fuck you," Kyle said and blushed big time.

"In your dreams, lover boy."

They were off. Mike rounded on Kyle and took him the floor. Kyle wormed his way out of Mike's grasp and transitioned to top mount. Mike tickled Kyle in the small of his back and Kyle lost it. Mike used the opening to put the red head in a side headlock. Bested Kyle tapped out and it was on to round two.

"Fuck man you're a beast. Where'd you learn the aerial move?"

"From the locals. It's a basic capoeira move. You should totally learn it dude."

"K so how long before you leave?"

"Umm. let me check." Mike fiddled around with his phone. "Tomorrow. Whoa it's been a month already? Damn."

"Oh so guess you don't want waste you last day with me then."

"Nonsense. We've got a ton of places to visit before the day's over."

Mike dragged Kyle from one village to another. They stopped to eat and Mike laughed when Kyle tried to man up and eat a ghost pepper. His eyes watered and snot bubbled out his nostrils. Mike hit him on the back and passed him a glass of goat's milk. The fire in his belly was extinguished. Knackered they trudged back to Mike's room and passed out.

"So we're cool right?" Kyle looked at Mike with big puppy dog eyes.

"Of course, cocksucker." Mike gave him a noogie and they bumped fisted and hugged one last time. Then Mike boarded his plane bound for England.

 

Author's note: Well that's it for this chapter. What adventures a waits Mike in Europe? Find out next chapter. Send comments to silentbutcudly@hotmail.com and remember to donate to keep nifty.org free.