Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 18:15:25 -0500
From: David Gaingridge <davidgaingridge@gmail.com>
Subject: Play Or Be Played Chapter Four

Disclaimer:  The following story is a work of gay fiction. It contains
sexual acts between males in high school as well as with males beyond high
school age. There are scenes of humiliation, some of them graphic.  If this
subject matter is offensive to you or if you are too young to be reading
it, please exit now. You have been warned.  This story is the property of
the author under copyright laws, and may not be used elsewhere without
written consent. Do not read this if you're a minor or are offended by gay
situations.

Even though nifty is free its services are not so before you begin reading
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*There is no sex in this chapter*
-----

Play Or Be Played: Chapter Four

As I read the message from 1346 again I could feel my world start to
crumble again. Just when I thought we had him by the balls we were really
playing ourselves. We took our own bait and were caught ourselves. We
weren't playing the blackmailer we were being played.

Aaron put his hand on my shoulder. I looked into his eyes and saw
despair. There was so much that I wanted to do...that I wanted to say to
him. But words just couldn't express what I was feeling.

I glanced over at Chris and Darren and saw 1349's words really take effect
on them. I took hold of Aaron's hand and went over to the pair. We guided
them to the bed so they could both sit down and process what just
happened. I guess it's true what they say that nothing pulls you together
like someone else falling apart.

"Who is he?" Chris looked up at me and then over to Aaron looking for some
kind of answer, but all we could say was that we didn't know.

"What does he want with you? And now...us?" Darren asked this time.

"We don't know. We were dragged into this a few days ago." Aaron responded.

I took a seat on the floor and Aaron joined me. Chris and Darren joined us
after they had collected their thoughts and, more importantly, themselves
in general.

We sat there for a few minutes waiting for someone to speak.

"Before we start talking, is everyone's phone off?" I said trying to break
the ice. The end was supposed to be a joke, but Chris just glowered at me.

"So..." Darren spoke.

Aaron sighed and waited a few seconds before he said, "yeah..."

"How long have you guys..." I started saying before Chris interrupted me.

"That's our business. Just because you got us into this mess doesn't mean
that we're now all buddy-buddy now. This isn't some fucking talk-show, this
is real life. Got it?" Chris retorted.

"Yeah, I'm well aware of that fact. I just thought..." I spoke again before
Chris interrupted again.

"You thought? Why weren't you thinking when you got that phone call?! Huh?!
You ruined all of us!"

"Look, I'm sorry. I really am. I'm in this mess too," I snapped back.

"Guys, we need to calm down." Aaron spoke trying to cool us down.

"No, don't tell me to calm down! This fucker right here," Chris said
gesturing towards me, "ruined my life! Who doesn't look at their phone when
they get a call?! God you're so fucking stupid!"

"Yeah well at least I didn't leave the door unlocked so anyone could come
in and see that I was blowing my boyfriend!" I shot back.

No sooner had I finished that sentence then Chris had lunged across with
his fist and hit me across the face. We were soon wrestling (or should I
say he was trying to attack me again and I was trying to get the hell out
of there). Chris had got in a few more hits before I felt his weight being
lifted off of me.

I looked up and there was Aaron in a massive bear hug and Chris' arms were
still flailing. Aaron asked me if I was ok which, for the moment, I
couldn't really feel anything because I was still in a state of shock so I
just said I was fine. Then Aaron took him out into the hall and left me
alone with Darren.

This whole time Darren hadn't said anything. He did try to help get Chris
off of me, but Chris weighed more so it was a little unfair. He now was
sitting back down with his head still looking at the door where our two
lovers had left. He lowered his head when he saw me try to make eye contact
with him.

"Dar, I really am sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen." Darren
just nodded his head in response. He breathed in and exhaled. His breathing
sounded like he was fighting back tears. "D, talk to me," I said as I moved
beside him and put my hand on his shoulder.

"I can't...I mean it's just so..." Darren's thoughts were so convoluted
that he couldn't even form a sentence.

"Breathe, it's ok. It'll be ok," I spoke as I rubbed his shoulder.

"How did this happen?...This isn't what was supposed to happen...I don't
know what to do!...B, what's going on?" Darren turned to me as a tear
rolled down his face. He was looking for answers. Unfortunately, I wasn't
the answer to those prayers.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sssorrrry," I said getting choked up.

Darren leaned his head on my shoulder as we both cried. He then put his
arms around his legs and began rocking himself. I kept my arm on his
shoulder and began rubbing it.

I could hear Aaron and Chris out in the hall and judging by their voices
they were having quite a different therapy session than we were.

I pulled Darren closer trying to block out the sounds of the shouting. I
just wanted it all to end. Not just the shouting, but to be free of
1346. To finally be done with this whole thing.

"What does he want with us? We're just four teens!" Darren sobbed. "We
haven't done anything!"

"I know...I know..."

------

After about half an hour of Darren and I crying and Aaron and Chris arguing
we had all reached our wits end. We were done. Aaron and Chris returned to
the room and sat down beside us.

"I'm sorry, Brad," Chris said.

"I'm sorry as well." I spoke.

"So," Darren said looking at Aaron and I, "how long have you guys been
together?"

"Well we're not together," Aaron said, "but the first time we did anything
was the day that we were caught."

I let Aaron's words sink in. True, we weren't `together' and we hadn't
really discussed `us,' but I definitely felt something more than just being
friends. Was Aaron not on the same page that I was?

"How `bout you guys?" Aaron asked back.

"Well," Chris began, "On the night that you guys had your combined party a
few weeks ago I helped Darren back to his place since he was in no state to
drive. And, well, I had a few beers too, but I wasn't as bad as him. And
before I knew it we just started fooling around."

We sat there just processing it all. I noted that neither Chris nor Darren
corrected Aaron when he asked how long they'd been together. Was this
actually something more than friends with benefits? But, then again, they
had just been doing stuff for a few weeks. And then I looked over at Aaron
trying to see what he thought of all this. Was I just a guy he wanted to
mess around with? Or was there something more?

"So..." Chris spoke and we all turned towards him. "What are we going to do
about this?" Chris said as he held up his phone.

"We thought we should just pay him off," I said.

"How much does he want?" Chris asked.

"We don't know. It was just a suggestion. We don't really know what else to
do."

Darren lifted his head and said in a hushed tone, "does he want sex?" We
all turned to him when he'd said it. "I mean that's what I thought he was
hinting at when he said `what to do with us.'"

Aaron's face stiffened then softened and then he said, "that's what I was
thinking too."

I turned towards Aaron and said, "you were?" Aaron slowly nodded in
response.

"Well there's no fucking way..." Chris started ranting again.

"Chris, settle down. Nothing's happened yet," Darren said.

"Why don't we just email him and find out," I suggested.

After what we had decided on saying, Aaron sent an emailing that the four
of us would either pay him or have sex to get us out from under his wrath.

"And now we wait..." Aaron said.

"And now we wait." Darren replied.

-----

The four of us just chatted for the next half hour about random things
hoping that the blackmailer would email us back soon. All of us were
getting tired and a little antsy just waiting so Aaron and I said our
goodbyes and left. We told Darren and Chris that we'd text them if we heard
anything.

When Aaron and I got back to my place my Dad welcomed us and told us he'd
set a place already for Aaron at the table. We told him great and said we
needed to wash up. He told us to take our time as dinner still had twenty
minutes left.

Just as Aaron was about to deck into the main floor bathroom I gestured to
him to follow me upstairs. When we reached my room he followed me in and I
closed the door behind us.

"Did you get an email?" Aaron asked me.

"No...I uh...I just wanted to ask you something," I stammered.

"What is it?"

"Look I know we've only `fooled around'" I said using the air quotes, "but
I want to know if you just see me as a fuck buddy or something else."

"B, where's this coming from?"

I took a deep breath and said, "when we were over at Chris' you said that
we `weren't together.'"

"Well that's true. We're not together. You're my best friend, Brad. I guess
I don't want all of this to screw it up."

I lead Aaron over to the edge of the bed and we sat down beside each
other. "I know. You're my best friend too. But I also really like you," I
said going in for a kiss.

Aaron moved his head. My heart died a little as I realized that Aaron's
actions did speak louder than his words.

"Look, I'm not ready to come out either," I said. "Hell I don't even know
if I'm bi or gay." And then I laid it all out on the table for Aaron: "but
what I do know is that I can no longer deny the feelings I have for you."

"Don't make me do this, Brad," Aaron whispered.

"I'm ready to jump. I'm all in," I said taking Aaron's hand in mine.

Aaron let go of my hand and started to say, "I can't do this..." before
tearing up.

"What about all those things you said before? At Chris' place! About sex
and..." I trailed off searching for answers.

"I don't know! I'm so confused! I have a father who's pressuring me to play
college football and get married. And that's with a wife! Besides sex is
sex!"

I took a deep breath before I said, "do you really feel that way?"

Aaron was getting worked up and before he could say anything my Dad shouted
that dinner would be in a few minutes.

"Tell your Dad thanks for dinner, but I'm not staying. I have to go," Aaron
said as he left me. I just hoped that his leaving was only temporary, not
permanent.

-----

As Dad and I sat down for dinner he mentioned that Aaron left in a
hurry. He then asked if we were ok. I said we were and that he forgot he
promised his folks he'd eat there tonight.

"Look Brad, I may be older, but I've been around the block a few times. I
know something's the matter with you, what's wrong?"

"We just...got into a fight, that's all," I said trying not to tear up.

"Over what...?"

My Dad and I have a really close relationship, but even then there are a
few things that I wouldn't share with him (such as telling him that someone
saw his son getting a blowjob from a star football player).

I was trying to think of a good cover story when Dad said something
shocking: "is Aaron afraid to tell his parents he's gay?"

I looked over at him trying to judge where he was going with this. Dad had
never hinted that he was homophobic at all, but even then the ones that are
near and dear to us often hurt us the most.

My eyes suddenly welled up and I began crying. My Dad got out of his seat
and hugged me. I just cried like a baby the whole time. He just kept saying
`it's okay' over and over again as he hugged me tighter. My Dad patted my
shoulder as I continued blubbering. He then told me that nothing I could do
would make him love me less.

After a few minutes I had calmed back down and I finally told him that I
was bi or maybe gay.

"I'm so proud of you, son." Dad said as he hugged me again. "It takes a lot
of courage to do that. Just remember I love you no matter what (well maybe
not as much if you become an evil dictator)." We laughed at that. "I still
want you to be safe though. I just want you to know that you are loved
because there's a lot of hate and discrimination out there."

I nodded my head that I understood and then told him I loved him. I then
asked, "how did you become so cool about all this? Did you do some
experimenting in college?"

"Hey now that's for me to know," he joked. "No, you remember my brother,
Luke. The last time you saw him would be three years ago now." I told him
that I vaguely remembered him. "Well he's gay as well. But he came out when
there was even more hatred and discrimination. He moved to California after
a few incidences in town and he's never been better. He's been with Isaac
for, oh god, I think 17 years or so now."

"Why hasn't he come back to visit?" I asked.

"I'm sure we can work something out. Last time he mentioned that we should
visit him and we could stay there."

"Yeah we should!" I said getting excited at the idea. There would be plenty
of hot guys out west. But then I felt guilty remembering that Aaron and
whatever we were (or weren't) was still here. God, why was I still allowing
Aaron to dictate how I should feel here?

"After you're finished high school though, mister," Dad teased.

"Deal! And I'm holding you to that promise." I told him. I started to
collect our plates then said, "and Dad," he looked up at me, "thank you for
being so cool and understanding with all of this."

"Of course." Dad said to me. "I just want you to be happy. Take your time
and figure it out. You don't have to know right away if you're gay or
bi. Hell, it took Luke more years than you to figure it out."

"Thanks again Dad, for...for everything." I said setting down the plates
and hugging him.

Dad and I chit-chatted a bit more and loaded the dishwasher. I asked him
how his travel plans were coming along since today was already Thursday and
he told me everything was pretty much set for him to leave tomorrow.

"And I think you'll be ok by yourself," Dad told me. "You're obviously
mature enough you can handle it. And you're going away to school in the
fall and I have to learn to let you go."

"Thanks Dad."

No if I could only learn to let Aaron go...

------

The next morning I still hadn't heard from the blackmailer or Aaron so I
texted Darren if he had. He replied he hadn't. I debated texted Aaron
asking if he had heard anything, but for now I just let sleeping dogs
lie. And I realized that hopefully I wasn't lying to myself when it came to
my relationship with Aaron.

After breakfast Dad and I hugged and said our goodbyes since he would be
flying out when I was at school. He took a cab to work so I could have the
car for the time that he was gone.

I got a little sad after my Dad left. This was supposed to be one of the
happiest and horniest times of my life! Then we fucked it up. And here I
was all alone. This is when Aaron would be over, but that wasn't an option
anymore. I guess it's true what they say: one really is the loneliest
number.

I got out my phone and did what any horny, irrational teen would do. I sent
a text saying that my Dad had left and that I didn't want to be by myself
tonight and asked if he wanted to stay over.

The same time that I was sending my message I was getting one from none
other than 1349: "Hello boys, missed me? I'm sure you have. I'll bet you're
wondering what I've decided on. Well let's just say that you should be in
the boys' locker room tomorrow at 11am sharp. Oh, and make sure your asses
are nice and clean. We wouldn't want the janitorial staff to get suspicious
now would we? Until then, XOXO"

I got a reply to the text I sent earlier: "I'll see you after school. Then
we can strategize about tomorrow." And then some, I thought as I replied
back to Darren.

If Aaron doesn't want me then I'll go for my lacrosse buddy (I know he has
a great `stick' as well). Besides, he and Chris hadn't technically
confirmed that they were together. And I really didn't want to be alone
anyways. No man is an island after all. And I was hoping that my virgin
territory was going to be explored tonight.

-----

Thank you again for all of the feedback! Comments are always welcome:
davidgaingridge@gmail.com