Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 07:33:51 -0400
From: Vance Lister <vlista20@hotmail.com>
Subject: Shane
Chapter 15
"You're hair looks awesome." Seth said looking over at him from behind
the wheel after they pulled out onto the road.
Shane ran his hand over his hair. "Tad cut it last night. Said I had
to have it cut before I tried on glasses." Shane scrunched up his face in
disgust.
"Shane you such a twit. There ain't nothing wrong with glasses."
"I'll look like a nerd."
"Oh so all people who wear glasses are nerds?"
Shane grinned. "Well Yah!"
Seth reached into the back seat then dropped his back pack into
Shane's lap.
"What's this for?"
"Just look in it."
"I ain't gonna go through your stuff." He started to lift the pack to
put it in the back seat but Seth reached out his hand pressing it against
Shane's wrist the pack lowered back into his lap.
"Mostly it's just stuff we bought at Walmart. Just look." He said it
firmly and Shane slowly unzipped the pack.
"See a black case in there?"
Shane rummaged around. "Yeah."
"Pull it out and look in it." Seth kept his eyes on the road grinning
slightly.
Shane pulled out the black case and popped it open. His brow creased
in confusion then he smiled over at Seth who was grinning wider. "Okay so
they are not all geeks."
"I'm actually very hurt Shane. Don't talk to me right now." He
pretended to cry a bit while Shane shook his head and put the case back in
the pack.
"Aren't we going the wrong way?" He asked after returning the pack to
the back seat.
"Well I thought we could visit Matt for a while. He wants us to come
over. His mom's out today."
Shane's face lit up. Their threesomes as of late had revolved around
him. They'd said it was cause he was without his mate and had to baby him
and he totally loved it.
"Do you not want to go?" Seth was looking over at him now and could
see very clearly that Shane wanted to go.
Shane smacked him on the arm.
"Well I know how you hate going into that town."
"Well he's on the outskirts. I'll survive."
When they knocked on Matt's door Matt answered it stark naked.
Already hard apparently from anticipation.
"Looks like you got started without us." Seth said shaking his dick
like he'd shake his hand. Matt grinned. "Well get in here before the
whole damn town sees me." he stepped back pulling out of Seth's grasp.
He closed the door behind them then grasped onto Shane's hand and led
him up the stairs while Seth pushed from behind. Matt pushed Shane down on
the bed. "You just lie back. Seth and I will take care of everything."
Seth undid his shirt while Matt took off his pants. Once he was lying
naked Matt propped his head up on a stack of pillows. "We thought we'd do
a real live porn for you first.
Shane clasped his hands over his stomach while Matt and Seth kissed.
Matt undressed Seth while they kissed then lowered Seth to his knees by
pushing on his shoulders. Shane watched Seth take Matt's cock into his
mouth and work his head back and forth while Matt's eyes rolled back in his
head.
After several minutes Seth stood up and laid back on the bed by Shane
his dick standing on end. Matt got on his knees and straddled it. Seth
brought his knees up behind Matt and Matt grabbed Shane's hand and pulled
him up. He straddled Seth too and while kissing Matt, Seth latched onto
his thighs and pulled him down over his face his tongue licking teasingly
along his crack and hole.
Matt massaged Shane's dick and balls while Shane massaged his. Seth's
fingers went up inside him and they all seemed to moan simultaneously
creating a constant rhythm in the room.
They spent two hours in the room all of them climaxing at least twice.
Their bodies sweaty and still breathing hard they all laid down side by
side on the bed. "Why you gotta work today Matt?" Seth asked in his most
pathetic whiny voice.
"Cause I want money." Matt said chuckling.
"And you gotta work til midnight?"
"Yup."
"So I won't see you til tomorrow?"
"No, sorry."
"You guys want to come to Don's place tomorrow? We are having an end
of the summer barbeque."
They both jumped at the invite. "I love it out there man." Matt said
shaking his head. "Right on the ocean. Beautiful house."
"So you are using me for where I live?"
Matt sat up and leaned over Seth reaching out he tickled Shane from
his stomach up to his armpits. "I'm using you for sex idiot."
Shane laughed while he feebly pushed at Matt's hands. They took
showers then Shane and Seth struck out back for Cliff side.
They walked into Pearl Vision and Seth made the deciding vote on the
glasses. Shane still hated the idea he had to wear them but liked the pair
Seth picked out and thought since he had to wear them he was at least glad
they had some decent looking ones.
After getting a pair of glasses they went to Dairy Queen and both got
a large banana split for lunch. They sat at one of the tables and Shane
watched the people come and go paying particular attention to the younger
ones wondering if he'd see any of them in school come Monday. He knew he
would see several as several said hello or waved to Seth and Seth would
tell Shane who they were and whether he liked them or not.
When they were back in the car a truck pulled up behind Seth's car
blocking their exit. Shane filled with tendrils of fear and looked over at
Seth who smiled at him. "It's okay, it's just my friend Tim Sullivan."
Seth started the car and rolled down his window, Tim was now in front
of the window and leaned in on his elbows. He looked over at Shane his
eyes widening. "Woah Seth, you have been holding out on us."
Seth grinned. "Tim this is Shane, Shane, Tim." Tim reached over Seth
and shook Shane's hand.
"So you are finally gonna go to a cool school huh?"
Shane smiled shyly and nodded.
"You certainly are cute."
That's the pot calling the kettle black Shane thought as this guy was
nearly as cute as Seth. He was as light as Seth was dark, with blonde hair
and blue eyes. His muscles rippled on his arms like waves in direct
sunlight.
"I'm having a party tonight. Last minute thing but so far I got quite
a few people to come. It's either an end of summer party or a 'fuck
school's starting' party.'" he grinned. "However you want to look at it.
You wanna come?" He looked at both Shane and Seth as he spoke and Shane
was very pleased he was being invited to.
"Well we might show up."
"You better." Tim punched him on the arm then smiled at Shane. "Tell
him you guys gotta come. It was nice meeting you." he stood up and went
back to his truck which was as shiny as the old rust bucket was rusty.
Seth pushed at his head and he focused back on his grinning face.
"Don't look at him you are taken."
Shane chuckled. "I was looking at his truck."
Seth stretched out his back then leaned back into the seat. "You want
to go to that party?"
"I don't know," he'd only been to one party and that was the worst
night of his life.
"I know what you're thinking about." Seth said quietly. "And I don't
blame you for not wanting to go. I still think you should though. So you
can meet everyone and just basically have a good time."
Rubbing the back of his neck Shane looked out the window for a minute
then turned back to Seth looking worried but willing. "You won't desert me
will you? You'll stay with me all night?"
Seth smiled looking very pleased. "Of course I will. You and me
would be joined at the hip. I can't let you loose anyways. The girls and
queers will be all over you."
Shane blushed and shook his head. "Well I guess I'll go then."
Seth pulled his cell phone out of the compartment between the seats.
"Call Don and tell him you won't be home. You can spend the night at my
place cause I'm gonna drink and don't want to drive all the way back to
your house."
Shane nodded and took the phone. He looked at it curiously for a
minute then handed it back to Seth. "You dial it, I don't know how to use
that thing."
Seth nodded humorously and took the phone he dialed the number and Tad
answered.
"It's Seth. What's up with you not teaching your boy how to use a
cell phone." Shane laughed beside him while Seth went on. "Spose we were
out hiking and I fell in a big hole. Was knocked unconscious and Shane had
no idea where we were and couldn't go for help. He would have this phone
right in his hand and not be able to call anyone."
Once Tad stopped laughing Seth handed Shane the phone saying 'here's
Shane.'
"Did you get your glasses."
"Yes I got my glasses." Shane said mimicking him which got Tad
chuckling again. "Can I stay at Seth's tonight. There's some party and he
wants to go." Shane looked at Seth curiously who smacked his hand over his
forehead and was shaking his head.
"Yeah it's fine with me Shane. Just make sure you don't get in a car
if the driver's been drinking whether it's Seth or not. Call us if you get
stuck and we'll come and get you."
A warm feeling flooded through Shane at his offer. "I will, oh yeah
and I invited Seth and Matt to the barbeque okay?"
"Sure, just make sure you guys are here by one or you are gonna miss
the food."
"Okay, see you tomorrow." Shane handed Seth back the phone who shut
it off and put it back in the compartment.
"Well what did he say?"
"He said yes, but no drinking and driving."
Seth pursed his lips and nodded like he could work around that. "We
can spend the night at the party. Cause I wanna drink. Tim's parents are
loaded they've got like fifteen bedrooms."
"Okay that's fine with me. I want to drink too."
"I can't believe you told him you were going to a party. When you did
that I thought sure they'd make you come home."
Shane shook his head. "They wouldn't do that. They're real great.
In fact when we went up to Maine they let me and Sam drink right there with
them."
Seth's mouth dropped open in shock. "Wow, I wish I had two gay dads."
Shane narrowed his eyes. "You jealous of me."
Seth back tracked stumbling over his words and Shane smacked him and
started laughing. "I ain't mad. That makes me real happy actually."
They hung out in Seth's bed most of the afternoon when they got up
they took another shower and made a big supper of chicken and potatoes.
"You nervous?" Seth asked after they'd sat at the table for a few minutes
and Shane just seemed to be getting quieter and quieter.
Shane swallowed hard and nodded.
"We don't have to go if you don't want. We can just stay here."
Shane smiled and shook his head. "I'll be okay, just make sure you do
stay with me."
"Sure thing. My Dad's got a leash from this dog we had for about two
weeks. You could keep track of me that way. Or you could dangle a treat
in front of my face."
Shane snorted out a laugh. "I ain't exposing myself to no one
tonight." He put his fork back in his plate his throat constricting as he
looked over at Seth nervously. "I gotta say something else."
Seth put his own fork down and nodded.
"If I get there and have a fit or something can you just get me the
hell out of there preferably before too many people see it?"
"Sure," Seth knew going to a party must be very scary for Shane even
knew that showing up there could stir some very bad memories. He was going
to do whatever it took to make him feel safe and comfortable.
They arrived at the party at eight o'clock the house was a mansion and
Shane stared up at it in amazement. It was three stories and brick with
wide white pillars lining the front. Every window in the house was lit up
and he could see people moving in all the first floor windows.
Seth walked around the car and took his hand. "Come on. It will be
fine."
Shane squeezed his hand and to his surprise and relief Seth clung to
his tightly all the way up the stone stairs and into the house and even
then when they were among other people he did not let go.
Several people as they walked through the crowd called out to Seth
some even hugging him. As many people if not more looked at Shane
seemingly studying him from head to toe. As soon as he spotted someone
looking at him he turned away his fear only under control cause of his hand
in Seth's.
They walked through a huge living room with groups of three or four
people standing and talking, some people were sitting on the furniture
while others were making out on it. They entered a hallway where making
out seemed to be the most prevalent activity then into another room with a
round table in it surrounded by six other guys.
Tim who Shane immediately recognized stood up. "You came." He said
clapping his hands together once.
"Guys this is that Stud Seth has been hiding." he said grinning over
at Shane. He introduced him around the table and Shane smiled and nodded
at each one as they smiled and nodded at him all looking very nice and nice
looking.
"We were just playing spin the bottle."
Several of the six guys started laughing and Tim smacked one of them
in the back of the head.
"What's spin the bottle?" Shane asked not getting what was so funny.
A guy with short light brown hair that had been introduced as Kyle
smiled up at him. "You spin a beer bottle and whoever it lands on you have
to kiss. We weren't really playing that. Tim just said that cause he's
hoping to kiss you."
Seth pulled Shane closer by the hand he was still holding. "You can't
kiss him Tim. He's taken."
"Well you have." Tim argued making Shane feel like a piece of meat
though a happy one at that, since someone wanting to kiss him felt very
much like a compliment.
"I'm special you know that." Seth said with a laugh as he walked over
to the table and sat down pushing the chair beside him out for Shane.
"What are you really playing?"
"We are pretending to play poker but all we've been doing is sitting
here talking."
"You guys want beers?" Tim who was still standing asked.
"Yes please." Seth called over his shoulder and Tim took off to get
them. "What are you talking about?"
"Shane really." A guy who was equally as cute as Kyle said grinning at
Shane. "Tim was saying how totally hot you were. And I must say for once
in his life he wasn't lying."
Shane could feel his face turning beet red and Pete patted him on the
knee. "Don't worry we'll behave ourselves. Seth told us you are in a
serious relationship and whoever that lucky dog is we'll respect that."
"So you went to Prescott huh?" Jimmy another kid with brownish red
hair and the biggest green eyes Shane had ever seen asked.
Shane nodded but before he got a chance to speak the other kid spoke
again. "Did you like it?"
"Hell no."
The others all laughed. "Well you should fit right in at Cliff Side
then. Anyone who loves Prescott would never fit in there. Bunch of damn
hicks over there. Think they are so great cause they kick everyone's ass
in basketball and football. Well if they had swimming or soccer or even
baseball we'd kick their asses."
Tim returned with two frothy bottles of beer and retook his seat. "If
you won't play spin the bottle why don't we play truth, like truth or dare
only truth. You know initiate the new guy." he smiled at Shane again and
Kyle shook his head. Shane was pretty certain Kyle and Tim were a couple.
"You wanna play that?" Seth asked squeezing his hand over Shane's
thigh. "They are gonna ask you all sex questions."
Shane shrugged then hesitantly nodded he was happy about his sexual
exploits and didn't mind anyone knowing about them. He just would exclude
the sex with Buzz or Medusa from his truths. He figured that wasn't sex
anyways.
"Okay" Tim smacked the flat of his hand down on the table looking very
enthused. "It's my party and I go first." He looked over at Shane and ran
his finger across his lips while he thought. "Have you ever had sex with a
girl. If yes tell us about it."
Shane quickly shook his head while Seth squeezed his thigh. "Okay now
you ask someone something." Seth said quickly to avoid the silence and get
Shane's mind past the question.
Shane took a long haul off his beer. "Can I ask a group question?"
They all looked at each other considered it then nodded.
"Who here has had sex with who else here?"
Kyle grinned and rubbed his hand together. "Ohh juicy question. You
are a natural at this game." He looked around the table where no one was
offering up any information. "I'll iterate. I have had sex with Tim on
numerous occasions." He grinned over at Tim who looked excited just to hear
it spoke out loud. "And Jimmy." he pointed across the table to Jimmy,
"Jimmy has had sex with Kenny they are a couple have been for a while."
Shane smiled at Jimmy and Kenny, Kenny was small and somewhat frail
looking reminding Shane a lot of how he'd looked not so long ago. Jimmy
was just the opposite looking like a pro foot ball player with muscles
easily made out through his shirt.
"Pete and Nathan have sex all the time but they aren't a couple they
just satisfy each other while they are single." Kyle elbowed Tim hard in
the chest causing him to let out a small cry and lean forward rubbing his
chest. "Tim here is the slut. He's fucked everyone. Hopefully before we
started going out." He turned his head to the side and gave Tim who was
still rubbing his chest a withering look. Tim chuckled and nodded. "Of
course. I've refined my ways."
"Yeah that's obvious by the way you wanted to play spin the bottle the
second Shane got here."
Shane looked at them wearily hoping they would not get in a huge
fight. Seth elbowed him and shook his head. "They do this all the time.
Like a couple of old biddies."
"Okay my turn to ask a question." Kyle said sitting back in his chair
and taking a swig of his beer. "Tell us about the first time you had sex
Shane. Like when and where it was."
"It was last January. It was at my house. On my father's bed."
"With Sam?"
"No with someone from my old school. Sam and I didn't start going out
til like the end of February or early March."
"Ew," Kyle made scrunched up his nose. "You had sex with someone from
Prescott."
"Hey," Seth said plopping his beer down on the table. "My boyfriend
happens to go to Prescott and I happen to have sex with him all the time."
"Yeah well Matt's a special case." Nathan started laughing looking
like he'd already had his fill on beers.
"You make it sound like he's retarded."
Kyle lowered his head closer to the table as if to hide his face from
Seth behind his beer bottle and sort of laughed over at Nathan.
"You guys been drinking long?" Seth asked amused seeing their
exchange.
Kyle lifted his head back up obviously pretending to look totally
sober. "Got here like two minutes before you man."
Tim laughed and shook his head. "2 minutes in light years." he looked
over at Seth and Shane. "They followed me home from rounding people up for
the party. Been drinking since two o'clock. Neighbors thought it was real
nice when they went skinny dipping in the pool."
"Oh pish posh." Kyle slurred. "No one saw us."
Seth nearly spit out his beer from laughing so hard at pish posh.
"You see?" He said once he'd gotten it swallowed. "They are just like an
old couple."
Shane grinned and shook his head realizing he was having a real good
time. He took another long drink of beer and looked around on who to ask
his next question to. "Nathan where was the weirdest place you and Pete
have had sex?"
Nathan grinned and leaned into Pete while Pete turned a little red.
Pete put his mouth to Nathan's ear as he looked to be deep in thought and
Nathan immediately started laughing from whatever Pete had whispered.
Nathan turned and whispered something back and Pete nodded. "Oh yeah I
guess that's wierder."
Nathan turned his head back to Shane. "We have to say the principal's
office."
Shane's mouth dropped open and he immediately started to laugh. "How
in hell did you get away with that?"
"He was away. It was after school. We were feeling Randy." He
shrugged and started laughing himself. "God Kyle your old lady words are
rubbing off on me."
Kyle put his hand over his mouth and chuckled his dark brown eyes
looking as glassy as mirrors. "You younguns and your new fangled
language." he clucked his tongue and shook his head while everyone laughed
at him.
"Okay," Nathan smacked his hands together and straightened back out in
his chair. "The inevitable question Shane. Are you a top or a bottom?"
Shane wrinkled his face in confusion. "What's that mean."
Nathan's mouth hung open while Kyle snorted out a laugh and Tim
smacked him on the back like he was choking or something. Seth leaned
forward from his reclining and put the front two legs of his chair back on
the floor. "It's what position you like. Whether you are a giver or a
receiver."
Shane still looked confused and Seth smiled then looked over at
Nathan. "He's a bottom, all around wide receiver."
"You saying he's got a big ass?" Kyle dropped his head below the table
like he was checking for himself.
"No shit head." Seth said shaking his head. "I say wide receiver
cause he received me."
Shane turned beet red while every other mouth at the table hung open.
"You mean you two?" Kyle pointed at the two of them nearly drooling his
mouth was hanging so limply.
Seth nodded and Shane sensed he was real proud of this which only made
Shane feel real good.
"My god. Jesus Christ." Nathan and Tim were sputtering at the same
time the only two apparently who could find their voice.
Shane took another long drink of beer while he watched them his
curiosity growing. He set his beer back down. "What is the big deal?"
Kyle pointed evilly over at Seth. "He always said he'd never have sex
with anyone but Matt. All of us gave up trying and you come along and
BANG!" He smacked his hands together loudly. "He drops his pants and goes
at it in an instant."
Seth laughed and explained to them a little bit about how the
relationship worked. They all looked one hundred percent jealous and Shane
loved every minute of it. "Which reminds me." Seth slid his empty beer
bottle over to Tim. "We'd like to reserve a room for tonight."
Tim nodded and looked at Kyle. "Go set up the video camera in my
brother's old room."
Kyle drunk as he was started to get up and do just that but Tim
grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him back down. "I'm just kidding god
you are shit faced."
Kyle laughed and stumbled back into his chair.
"While your up." Tim said grinning. "Get us all more beers."
Kyle stood back up grabbed a few empties and stumbled out of the room.
Tim checked his watch. "I'll give him five minutes then go looking for him
cause I'm betting he ain't gonna find his way back here." He looked up
from his watch at Shane and smiled. "He's not really a drunk. He actually
drinks very little which is why when he does get drunk it affects him so
strongly." he motioned over to Nathan who was in a daze. "Much like him."
Nathan immediately started laughing and spun his mostly empty beer
bottle on the table. "I didn't do nuthin.'"
Tim mimicked his drunk slur and Nathan laughed harder nearly falling
out of his chair which Pete reached out and stopped him from doing just in
time. Another boy walked into the room laughing his ass off and spilling
his beer all over the carpet while leaned over and laughed. "Tim," He said
like three times before he composed himself enough to say why he wanted
Tim. "Your boyfriend is out peeing in the water fountain." He laughed some
more and swaggered out of the room.
Tim put his hand over his face and stood up. "I'm cutting that boy
off." He muttered as he left the room.
Shane looked at Seth and they both started laughing right along with
everyone else at the table. Tim came back dragging Kyle by the elbow.
"Well there was someone else peein' in it Tim."
Tim shook his head looking very amused as he plopped Kyle down in his
chair and yanked the beer out of his hand. "It's a statue of a person
peeing Kyle. It's not a real person."
Shane started laughing so hard he put his head down on the table.
He'd seen the fountain on the way in. In the center was some greek looking
statue of a guy taking a piss in the fountain. He could not imagine being
so drunk someone would think it was actually a real person.
When he lifted his head back up Kyle looked to be in a bit of a daze
and Tim walked back in the room his arms full of beers that he gave to
everyone but Kyle. They were in the midst of another conversation when
Kyle got laughing so hard he did fall right out of his chair hollering out
something about remembering the statue.
Once his laughter lowered enough so they could hear themselves talk
they started talking again. "So do you ever do much role playing when you
have sex Shane?" Pete asked.
"We played Deliverance once."
"With Sam?" Seth asked in awe.
Shane nodded.
"Who raped who?" Tim asked leaning over the table this seeming amusing
him as much as it enticed him.
"Well I'm a bottom what do you think?" Shane grinned.
Tim smiled. "You catch on quick." He nodded approvingly and smiled
over at Seth. "That's funny as hell. You mind if I steal you guy's idea?"
Shane laughed and shook his head.
Nathan looked over at Tim. "He's awful quiet down there."
Tim looking like he forgot all about Kyle looked down beside him.
Then leaned over in his chair. He came up laughing. "He's out cold. I'm
gonna go get him a pillow."
Shane leaned past Seth and looked down at Kyle who was sleeping sound
as a baby despite all the noise in the house. He sat back up and cracked
open another beer. He could not believe the fun he was having or how
comfortable he felt around all these people. He barely thought of his
loser status at all thinking even more surely that this school would be a
hundred times better then Prescott Cove High.
Tim returned with a pillow and Shane watched as he tenderly lifted
Kyle's head up onto it kneeling down beside him he stroked his hair then
kissed his temple. It made Shane feel warm all over seeing that Tim though
vocally abrasive really was a very caring person.
"Make sure he stays on his side." Kenny spoke up who had said very
little all night. "If he hurls on his back he could choke on it.
Tim stood up and smirked at him. "Well thank you Dr. Salisbury."
Kenny chuckled and shook his head. "Just so's you know."
"Kenny's the geek of our club." Seth said chuckling. "He's like five
times smarter then the rest of us. That's why he's always so quiet. Always
doing algorithms or something in his head."
Jimmy laughed and massaged one of Kenny's shoulders. "He's not that
bad. Just cause he's quiet don't make him a nerd."
Kenny smiled and leaned into Jimmy then made a face at Seth as he
pressed the back of his head into Jimmy's chest.
"What's 98765 divided by 876 Kenny?" Seth asked grinning at him.
"112.75" Kenny laughed at himself while he covered his mouth and Jimmy
shook his head.
"Why you answer him you know he's only gonna pick on you."
Kenny shrugged. "I guess it's the nerd in me."
Jimmy chuckled and wrapped his arm around Kenny. "You just let him be
Seth or I'll throw you in the fountain where Kyle and that other guy were
pissing."
Seth threw back his head and laughed mostly about the stone guy Kyle
had thought was human. Shane downed his 2nd beer and looked over at Tim.
"I gotta pee where's the bathroom."
Seth stood up. "I gotta go too I'll show you." Shane stood and
followed him out of the room, down the hall which now was filled with even
more people then before. He saw a blonde familiar back of someone's head
making out with a girl whose leg was wrapped up around him on the couch.
Shane stepped away from Seth who turned and followed him over to the
couch. "Brian?" Shane said leaning close so Brian could hear him over the
music. Brian pulled back from the girl his face flush and his lips wet.
"Shane!" he jumped up and gave him a big hug. "I didn't know you were
here." He said patting him on the back as he pulled away.
"Yeah well I've been in the other room." he glanced down at the girl
who was smiling up at him.
Brian looked from him to the girl. "This is my girlfriend Jessica.
Jessica this is my friend Shane."
Shane shook her hand and from the look he was getting from her knew
she knew more about him then he wanted anyone to know. He couldn't hold it
against Brian though. He'd told Seth things that he was sure Brian
wouldn't want him to know either. In fact it made him feel a lot better in
his guilt about having said anything at all.
"How are you Brian?" Seth asked smiling warmly at him.
"I'm good thanks Seth, how are you?"
"Great. I'm real glad you are coming back this year." He squeezed
Brian's shoulder his heart going out to the boy he'd never knew too well
but always considered to be nice.
"Well I'm real glad too."
"Your gram know you are out getting drunk?"
"Oh yeah," Brian smiled sarcastically. "I told her I was gonna get
wasted and make me some babies." He smacked his hands together and licked
his lips. "She said sure son, just be home by noon so we can go out to the
barbeque at Don and Tad's."
"Awesome." Seth said excitedly rubbing his hands together. "We are
going to that barbeque too."
"Oh good. Well it will be a blast. I just hope I'm not too hung over
to eat."
"Well then don't drink too much cause Tad's probably already cooking
stuff for it."
Brian ran his hand down along his face looking exasperated. "Well
I'll try."
Seth led Shane up the stairs and into the bathroom that was off the
room he said they'd be staying in. "This guy is loaded." Shane said
looking around back out in the room while Seth went to the bathroom.
"Sure is. His dad owns all five of the Sullivan Ford dealerships.
They go away all the time and Tim throws these awesome parties. His dad
don't even care. They've got enough maids to clean up after everyone."
Seth laughed. "The maids all hate him though."
Shane walked into the bathroom just as Seth was flushing the toilet.
"I'll bet." he stepped up to the toilet as Seth washed his hands. "Does
just him and his dad live here?"
"No his mom lives with them. I never met her, haven't ever met him
either. Don't think either of them pay much attention to Tim though. They
don't yell at him or be mean to him but they don't pay him much attention
either. I think he was mostly raised by the staff and they just kept him
out of trouble when he was younger. It's real sad actually. He's lucky to
have all this money and do whatever he wants when he wants but to have
parents that just don't give a shit about you must be kinda tough."
Shane nodded and zipped up his fly.
"But I guess you'd already know about that."
"Not anymore." Shane said happily as he walked up to the sink. "Tad
actually told me to call him if I got stuck here. You know if everyone was
drinking and I needed a ride home."
Seth smiled at him in the mirror and rubbed his back. "Feels good
don't it."
"What you rubbing my back?"
Seth chuckled and shook his head. "No loser having people that care
about you."
Shane grinned and nodded. "It feels real good."
"You tipsy?"
"What's that mean?"
"Buzzed?"
Shane's head snapped up, thinking of another Buzz. Then catching onto
what Seth meant he said, "Oh yeah a little. I guess I'm like Kyle I don't
drink much so when I do it floors me." He ran his hand through his hair
and turned to Seth whose arm was still on his back. "Kenny and Jimmy make
an interesting looking couple. I'd think poor little Kenny would get
crushed when they had sex."
Seth doubled over laughing clutching at his stomach and stomping his
feet on the floor. Once he'd regained his composure he stood back up and
shook his head while still chuckling a bit. "They are a real strong couple
though. They've been together like forever. Kenny was always getting
picked on cause he's so small and well he is a little geeky."
"He doesn't look geeky I think he's real cute."
"Well he's a real brain. Jimmy fell in love with him the first day he
saw him at school. Kenny came from out west somewhere. His dad is real
rich too but he's an ass. He kicked Kenny out when he found out he was
gay. Kenny lived on the streets for like six weeks before Jimmy's dad took
him in. They were kinda a couple before that but now that they live
together they are just like husband and wife. Jimmy's dad is gone a lot
too so they pretty much have the place to themselves. His mom died like
four years ago. Cancer."
"Geez doesn't anyone you know have a good life?"
"Oh we all got pretty good lives Shane. No one has a picture perfect
life these days. Jimmy and Kenny are both real happy now. Tim has found
true love with Kyle and could really give two shits about his parents
anymore."
Shane nodded. "That was so sweet when he went and got Kyle that
pillow."
Seth nodded too. "He is real sweet. With Kyle. Watches out for him
as much as Jimmy watches out for Kenny. The best way for anyone to get
killed at Cliff side is to mess with Kenny or Kyle. And now you." Seth
said giving Shane a big hug.
Shane returned the hug. "So you are gonna be my body guard?"
"Shit yeah, Sam's paying me two hundred bucks a month." Seth laughed
and took Shane's hand they walked back downstairs and back into the room
where Kyle was still passed out on the floor and Nathan looked like he was
with his head down on the table.
Tim looked up at them and verified it. He pointed over at Nathan.
"We lost another one." He slid Shane and Seth over another beer. "You
guys were gone a long time did you fool around?"
"No," Seth shook his head then took a long swig of beer. "You writing
a book?"
"Well I ain't gonna get any tonight." He glanced down at Kyle who was
now snoring and shook his head. "You spose it would be any fun to screw
someone whose passed out?"
Seth shrugged. "Try it. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
Reaching down Tim rubbed Kyle's back. "I'd feel way too guilty doing
that to him. He's too damn cute when he's asleep." he wiped a trail of
drool off Kyle's cheek then wiped it on his pants. "Just like a baby." He
said laughing.
Shane smiled warmly seeing Tim with Kyle only making him miss Sam
three times as bad. He made plans in his head to call him the very next
day as soon as the barbeque was over.
Hours passed and beers disappeared. Kyle roused to back to life a
little after midnight and crawled back up in his chair with the pattern of
the rug edged deeply into the side of the face.
Tim smiled over at him and rubbed his back. "It's about time you woke
up."
Kyle grinned wearily. "What time is it?"
"Like 12:15, we are waiting for everyone to leave so we can go skinny
dipping."
Shane who was totally shit faced started laughing again which he did
every time Tim had said skinny dipping in the last two hours. Tim grinned
over at him. "Hey Kyle wanna see a trick."
Kyle yawned and nodded.
"I can make Shane laugh just like that." He snapped his fingers well
tried but in his inebriated state it didn't make much of a sound. He
looked back over at Shane. "Skinny dipping." And sure enough Shane busted
out laughing again.
Kenny who was just as drunk as Shane laughed so hard he threw his hand
over his mouth and tore out of the room. Jimmy shook his head then got up
and followed him out.
"Kenny's gonna puke." Tim sang out.
"hey he did real good tonight." Pete spoke up. "He's had like ten
beers and for someone that little I'd say he more then held his own."
Jumping a little as arms wrapped around him Shane turned his head and
saw Brian's right there on his shoulder. "I'm leaving." he slurred. "I'll
see you tomorrow."
Shane put his hand on Brian's. "You ain't driving are you?"
"No dad." He laughed and kissed Shane's cheek. "My girlfriend is she
stopped drinking like three hours ago. I'm staying at her place tonight."
Shane grinned liking Brian even more when he was drunk. "See you
tomorrow then." Brian nodded and staggered a bit. He waved to the rest of
the table and they all said good bye to him.
"How do you know Brian?" Tim asked.
"He lived with me for a couple months. His dad and my mom were
shacking up."
Seth started to laugh and Shane looked at him bleary eyed. "What's
funny?"
"Your mom and his dad?"
Shane furrowed his brow and thought the sentence over after a moment
he got to laughing. "Oh, yeah, my dad and him mom." he said holding up a
finger.
Tim, Pete and Kyle all laughed. Kyle put his elbows up on the table
and put his head between his hands. He looked over at Tim. "Can I have
more beer?"
"You jealous?" Tim asked grinning from Kyle to Shane. Kyle nodded and
grinned. "And if we are gonna go skinny dipping..." he paused so Shane
could laugh. "Then I need to braven up again."
Tim laughed at him pecked him on the lips then got up to go get him
more beer. He brought another one for Pete, Seth and Shane as well as
himself and Kyle.
Jimmy came back pulling a watery eyed Kenny behind him.
"D'you pukey Kenny?" Tim said laughing, Jimmy turned and shot him a
severing look. "Don't pick on him man I mean it."
Tim held up his hand. "Would you calm down. Jesus you are so
protective. Kenny's a big boy he can joke right along with the rest of
us."
Shane looked over at Kenny who grinned back at Tim looking like the
throwing up hadn't sobered him at all. "I pukey'd all over your floor."
Tim made a disgusted face and Kenny started laughing while Jimmy sat
down and pulled Kenny onto his lap. He put his arm up around Jimmy's neck
and kept his eyes on Tim. "Went right into the carpet. It will smell for
days."
"Jesus Christ." Tim said shaking his head looking totally perturbed.
Jimmy got laughing. "He's kidding fuck head. Be a big boy Tim."
A wash of relief flooded over Tim's face and Shane busted out laughing
all over again. Jimmy laughed back at him. "You sure are the happiest
drunk I have ever seen." His eyes twinkled looking totally amused by it.
Shane only shrugged while he continued to chuckle as he sure did feel
damn happy. Kenny snuggled into Jimmy's arms and Shane thought they looked
more like father and son with the difference in their sizes. Kenny started
talking quietly to Jimmy while running his hand up his shirt. Jimmy made a
face and shook his head. "Man Kenny you got puke breath."
Kenny laughed and flopped over so he was hanging from Jimmy's lap his
head dangling towards the floor his shirt riding down over his stomach and
chest.
"What are you doing?" Jimmy said trying to pull his shirt back up.
Shane's heart was already racing though he'd already seen what apparently
Jimmy wanted to hide. Kenny's chest and stomach were covered in scars some
looking like burns and some looking like he may have been cut.
Pete dropped his hand from under his chin onto the table. "What the
fuck happened to him?"
Jimmy pulled Kenny back up who was oblivious to the sudden tension in
the room and was still laughing like a little kid. Jimmy pulled him close
to his chest and wrapped his mighty arms around him. "His dad did it to
him." tears filled Jimmy's eyes as he seemed to cling to Kenny for dear
life.
Shane gasped and Seth rubbed his back shocked himself as he'd never
known this about Kenny.
"Which is why I get so pissed when you guys pick on him." Jimmy's
voice was getting angry and Pete put his hand up on his shoulder. "He's
been teased and abused enough." Jimmy shook his head and looked into Pete's
eyes. "Don't you see now." His voice turned to pleading and tears
streaked down his face.
Shane put his hand over his mouth and got up and left the room. He
wasn't sure if he was gonna puke or not he just knew he had to get out of
there. Tim who had been stonily silent since Jimmy's revelation looked at
Seth. "Is he okay?"
"I'm not sure, I better go check."
"What's the matter." Jimmy said angrily. "Can't hack a little
reality."
Seth turned on him not blaming Jimmy for being upset but needing to
set him straight that Shane was not the person to be mad at. "I think
maybe it just hits a little to close for him Jimmy. Kenny was not the only
one in here tonight that's been abused." He turned and went after Shane.
Pete, Tim and Kyle all exchanged looks of shock while Jimmy squeezed
Kenny closer against his chest. "I didn't know," He said shaking his head.
"Geez I didn't mean to be an ass."
Pete squeezed his shoulder with one hand and patted Kenny's head with
the other. "It's okay Jimmy I'm sure Seth understands that."
Kenny who was getting pretty squashed in Jimmy's strong hold wriggled
around til Jimmy loosened his arms. "What's wrong?" He asked after looking
up and seeing Jimmy was crying.
"Your secrets out baby."
Kenny looked fearfully around the table then buried his face in
Jimmy's chest. "I wanna go to bed now."
Jimmy stood up picking Kenny up effortlessly with him. "We'll see you
guys in the morning."
Tim dropped his forehead down on the table creating a loud thud. "Boy
what a shock,"
Pete chewed on his nails and shook his head. "Totally. God, I had no
idea. And Shane god he just seems so happy."
"Well being beat don't mean you can't be happy." Kyle spoke up.
"Especially if he's not living with whoever abused him anymore. You know
now that I think about it I heard that Brian was living with some kid that
was treated so bad he nearly died." He slid his arm across the table and
made a fist. "I wonder if that was Shane."
"Well it must be." Pete took a long deep breath. "Wow. Poor Shane.
Poor Kenny."
Seth walked into the room where he and Shane were gonna sleep and
found Shane lying on the bed. "I'm sorry Shane I had no idea." He sat
down on the edge of the bed and rubbed Shane's stomach.
Shane turned and faced him. "I know that Seth. Why you gotta always
apologize to me."
Seth shrugged. "Well I guess cause I dragged you along here. You
wouldn't have seen any of that if I hadn't."
"I wanted to come. And I'm fine really. I just feel bad for Kenny."
"Kenny's okay though Shane. Just like you are."
Shane shook his head. "I'm not okay Seth. I'm better at pretending I
am now but I'm really not. I still feel real bad sometimes. I don't think
it's ever gonna go away."
Laying down beside him Seth put his hand on Shane's cheek. "No it
will never go away all together. But you are gonna keep getting better and
feeling better and soon it won't matter so much to you what they did to
you."
Shane nodded rolling onto his side he put his arm over Seth. "I'm
sorry I ran out like that. They must think I'm a real ass now."
Seth shook his head. "I told them you were abused Shane. I'm sorry
it just came out."
Shane closed his eyes which squeezed out some tears that had welled in
his eyes. "You didn't give 'em any details did you?"
"No, I just said you were abused that's it."
Seth woke up about ten the next morning. Shane was still sound asleep
and didn't look like he'd be waking up anytime too soon. He got up and
took a shower then walked down to the kitchen. He'd been in the house so
many times he felt almost like it was his second home.
Jimmy and Tim were both standing in the kitchen dumping out bowls of
cereal. "Hey man," Tim said looking incredibly hung over. "How's Shane?"
Seth shrugged and pulled another bowl out of the cupboard. "He's
pissed at me cause I told."
"I'm sorry Seth." Jimmy shook his head miserably. "I was drunk and I
didn't want anyone finding out about Kenny either. I didn't mean to get
pissed."
"It's okay Jimmy." Seth took the box of Wheaties from him. "I
understand why you were upset. I still shouldn't have said what I said."
The three walked over to the table with their cereal and juice and sat
down. "I actually think this might be a good thing that it's all out."
Jimmy said after crunching on some cereal. "Kenny won't talk to noone but
me about it. I don't know what to say to him. I don't know what it's
like. Maybe he and Shane could talk to each other. Since they both been
through it I imagine it would be easier for them to talk to each other then
the rest of us."
"Shane is as tight lipped about it as Kenny." Seth shrugged but looked
hopeful. "But maybe like you say they'll talk to each other. I know he's
got this friend he talks to on the phone that was treated like shit growing
up. He talks to him all the time."
"Did Pete and Nathan stay the night?" he asked after a glance around
the table.
"No, they went to Pete's he's right next door anyways. Don't have to
worry about driving."
"Right next door after you walk a hundred acres." Seth grinned and
shook his head.
A maid came in through the hallway shaking her head. "Tim I'd think
you could control your friends a little more."
"Sorry Mona." Tim said with a grin over at Seth.
"I don't get paid enough for this."
He took a long swig of juice. "Tell dad I said to give you a raise"
"You tell him."
Tim rolled his eyes and shook his head. He didn't talk to his father
and Mona knew it. She just always told him to ask him things for her to
try and get them to talk. His father hadn't spoken to him since he'd come
out to his parents but he didn't get kicked out like Kenny so he felt glad
about that. Though knowing what he knew now about Kenny he was glad Kenny
had gotten kicked out.
Shane came down the stairs two hours later where Tim, Jimmy and Seth
were watching a soccer game on TV. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs
and looked over at Seth. "We better get to my house or we are gonna be late
for the Barbeque."
Seth nodded and stood up glad he was still apparently invited to the
barbeque. "See you guys tomorrow." Tim and Jimmy both groaned having less
then 24 hours of freedom left before school. "It was nice meeting you
Shane." Tim said getting up and shaking his hand. Jimmy followed suit.
"You'll have fun this year Shane. Our school is way better then
Prescott." he pretended to spit at the name and despite Shane's extreme
embarrassment at what they knew he smiled. "We'll save you a spot at
lunch."
"Thanks." Shane nodded and smiled at them both glad that his secret
didn't seem to change the way they felt about him as last night he felt he
was gonna be good friends with all the boys he'd sat around the table with.
He started to walk to the door then turned back to Jimmy. "Is Kenny okay?"
Jimmy smiled warmly at him. "He's still asleep. But I think he'll be
okay. Thanks for asking."
Shane smiled and nodded back then turned back and followed Seth out to
the car.
They rode in silence for a couple minutes before Shane turned and
looked at Seth. "I'm sorry I yelled at you last night Seth."
"It's okay Shane. I'm sorry I told. I guess I ain't too good at
keeping secrets."
"Well if you reveal another I will kill you how's that?"
Seth looked over and smiled at Shane's grin. "I'll do better I
promise."
They pulled into Matt's driveway and Matt came running out. Shane got
out of the car to give him the front seat but Matt pushed him back in.
"You can sit in front dude." He got in the back before Shane could argue
and leaned over to the front and gave Seth a long deep kiss.
Shane sat back down in the passenger seat while Matt wrapped his arms
around the seat and Seth's waist. "This way I get to play seat belt. Did
you guys have fun at your party?"
"Oh yeah," Shane piped up before Seth could even open his mouth.
"Those guys are all real nice."
"Did you get drunk?"
"Absolutely." Seth and Shane both said together then laughed.
When they pulled up to Tad and Don's Brian's grandparents car was
already in the driveway. "Oh man we are late."
"No we aren't Shane. They're just early, it's only 12:30."
They got out and walked out back where the BBQ was already fired up
and Brian was playing with Shep who bolted for Shane the minute he saw him.
He jumped up on him and licked his face nearly knocking Shane over flat on
his ass. The three walked over to Brian.
"Did you get caught?" Shane asked grinning at him.
"Nah, but I got one hell of a headache." He rubbed his head and looked
back at his gram and gramps who were talking with Don who was waving over
to them. Shane waved at him followed by Matt and Seth. Brian handed Shane
Shep's ball and Shane threw it long sending Shep bounding after it.
Tad walked out from the house and over to Shane where he gave him a
hug. "Did you have fun?"
Shane nodded as he put an arm out around Tad's back. They walked back
toward the house Matt and Seth followed smiling warmly at each other seeing
in front of them a good sign of how very much Tad liked Shane and how much
Shane liked Tad in return.
After stuffing themselves like pigs on sirloin steaks, salads and
baked potatoes the boys did up the dishes while the adults went back and
sat in the chairs over looking the cliff.
Shane put the last dish away. "Come on let's go up to my room I wanna
show you guys something." He shivered with excitement realizing he'd so
easily called it his room and that's exactly what it was. All his.
They all ran up the stairs and into his room where he showed them all
the pictures on the walls from the trip plus the ones he'd put in the photo
album. They all sat around in sort of a circle on the floor while each
took a turn looking through the album.
Matt finished his turn and handed it over to Seth. "Let me see your
glasses."
Shane made a face and shook his head.
"I didn't know you got glasses?" Brian said looking at him
quizzically.
Seth who was directly across the circle reached over and smacked Shane
on the arm not looking up from the photo album as he did it. "Just put 'em
on loser. You are hurting my feelings again."
Shane making an exasperated sound reached up onto his bed and pulled
his back pack down which he'd brought back up with them. He unzipped it
reached through his notebooks and pulled out the glasses case.
"Here they are." He held the thin black oblong glasses.
"Put 'em on." Seth shook his head and laughed.
Shane sighed and slipped them on. Matt and Brian both started
clapping and he turned red taking them back off.
"They look good." Matt nudged Shane's thigh with his foot. "Makes you
look older more mature."
Seth looked over at Shane.
"What?" Shane asked looking back at him.
"I'm waiting for you to say and geeky."
"They're not geeky at all Shane." Brian shook his head adamantly.
"Matt's right you look real good in them."
Shrugging Shane threw them back in his pack. Seth looked back up from
the book nearing the end. "Don't you got any pictures of playing
deliverance."
"You know I don't think you are supposed to reveal secrets revealed in
truth or dare." It was much too late for admonishing though Matt was
already on his back on the floor laughing his ass off while he clutched his
stomach. Brian was looking confused. "I don't get it."
Shane sighed and gave Seth a dirty look. "It's just some movie.
Where these guys go out into the wilderness and one of them gets raped by
mountain men. When we were on this trip me and Sam played out that scene."
Brian put his hand on his mouth and started chuckling within seconds
he was laughing as hard as Matt. Shane shook his head. "You are an ass
Seth."
Seth shrugged knowing he was kidding. "You love me and you know it."
"Yeah well quoting a genius named Sam I like ass holes."
Matt pointed through his laugh. "He does say that all the time."
After everyone left at nearly eight o'clock Shane took the phone up to
his room and called Sam.
"Hello?" it was his mother.
"Is Sam there?"
"Well sure hon, how are you?"
"I'm good thanks, you?"
"Very good. Hold on just a sec, I'll get him." Shane jumped as she
started screaming out his name and fumbled to keep a hold of the phone.
Max had said it would take a few weeks for his Paxil to kick in and quite
frankly he couldn't wait he was tired of jumping at every little sound and
worrying long into the night.
Sam's voice came on the line and he filled with warmth as he always
did at just the sound of his voice.
"Hey I heard you went out partying last night."
"Jesus they just left how did you know?"
"I called for you last night. I expected you to wait by the phone
then you weren't there and I cried myself to sleep."
Shane laughed. "Well I spent a lot of the night wishing you were
there does that help."
Long sigh. "Well I guess. Hey turn on your computer. I sent you an
email."
Shane got up from the bed and walked over to his desk. He fired the
computer up and opened his email. "I got like five from you."
Sam chuckled. "Well I weren't out partying. It's the one that say's
for you on it."
Shane nodded and double clicked the words 'for you'. His eyes widened
and his breath caught in his throat as a picture of Sam came up on the
screen totally naked with a full erection. He started chuckling which got
Sam laughing on the other end. "I thought you may need that on lonely
nights."
Shane ran his hand along the picture on the computer screen and
sighed. "So I guess you got your digital camera?"
"Yeah I was real tricky." He chuckled a bit then continued. "I signed
up for digital photography. They give you a free one. I really could care
less about the class but I wanted the camera. You gotta get one cause I
want a picture of you just like the one I sent you."
"Well Don's got one. But what if I don't delete it off it right and
he sees it?"
"He'd probably laugh."
Shane chuckled. "That's not really the point."
"Well do it tomorrow afternoon then call me and I'll walk you through
deleting it. Then we can go in and check to make sure it's gone."
"Have you met anyone you are going to be going to school with yet?"
"No one good. My neighbor I guess. She's nice but a little slutty.
She came right out and asked me if I wanted to do her."
"What did you say?"
"I said I was queer. I thought it would get rid of her but she still
shows up at least once a day in some slutty outfit. I think that's all she
has for clothes."
"You gonna tell everyone your are queer?"
"Yeah, it's easiest just to get it over with. I thought I'd wrastle
the P.A. system out of the principals hands and announce it over morning
announcements."
Shane laughed and leaned back in his chair not taking his eyes off the
picture. "You are so brave."
"Hey I survived at Prescott Cove I can survive anywhere. It's only a
year. Then I'll come running back to your open arms and live happily ever
after."
Smiling warmly Shane rubbed his chest almost able to feel Sam pressed
up against it. "Let's have phone sex."
"Okay, you naked?"
"No give me a minute. He clicked off the computer and ripped off his
clothes shutting out the light he crawled into bed. "Ready."
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 07:33:51 -0400
From: Vance Lister <vlista20@hotmail.com>
Subject: Shane
Chapter 16
The alarm jarred him awake at 6am and he reached out from the blankets
and smacked it with the butt of his hand. His stomach was all sticky as
he'd fallen asleep pretty much the same second he got off the phone with
sam only six hours earlier.
He threw back the covers and put his feet down on the floor. Shep
stirred on the other side of the of the bed then got up and licked his
face. "I gotta go back to school today boy. Remember the routine just in
case." He knew he was way too far from school to run all the way home but
figured just in case he'd better let Shep know.
Don stuck his head in and smiled. "Just makin' sure you were up."
Shane nodded and rubbed his eyes. "I am."
Don walked in and sat down by him and Shep. "You nervous?"
"Uh huh," Shane said grinning as he'd been asked that question like
fifty times over the past week. "But I met a lot of people at that party.
I'm glad I went. Least now I'll know more then just Seth."
"Did you like them all?" Don asked not really having had the chance to
talk to him the day before with their guests and him talking to Sam all
night on the phone.
"Yeah, they all seem real nice. I pretty much stayed in the same room
with six other guys and we talked and laughed all night. Seth says it's
the gay club." He chuckled and wrapped his blanket tighter around him as it
was a pretty chilly morning. "Most of them are coupled off. They all seem
to really love each other." Shane sighed and looked over at Don. "There's
one kid that reminds me so much of myself. He's small and frail looking,
his boyfriend is like twice the size of him. Kinda like me and Derek were.
And we all found out last night that he was beaten by his dad. He had
scars all over his stomach. I guess I should be real thankful that I'm not
covered in scars like that. I just feel so sorry for the kid."
Don rubbed Shane's back through the blankets. "He's not still living
with his dad is he?"
"No his dad kicked him out he was homeless for a while then he moved
in with his boyfriend."
"Wow." Don couldn't get over the similarities. "How does he seem?"
"Quiet but nice. He sure loves his boyfriend and his boyfriend really
loves him. Sticks up for him all the time. Sure not like Derek."
"You think about him much?"
Shane shook his head. "As little as possible."
Don turned and looked at the clock. "Well you best get showering.
I've got to leave." he leaned over and kissed Shane's temple. Shane
grinned and rubbed his hand down across his temple. He loved that Don did
that but it still made him feel funny when it happened. Don squeezed his
knee and chuckled. "Tonight we'll have your favorite dinner. Just to
celebrate your return to school."
Shane threw off his blankets and stood up looking very forward to
having scallops for supper. He hugged Don goodbye and took of to the
bathroom Shep hot on his heels.
He dressed in a pair of jeans and dark green pullover shirt put on his
sneakers and socks then checked himself in the mirror. "You sure do look
different." He adjusted his shirt and ran his hand through his hair then
let out a long sigh. "Just don't act like an idiot and you may be okay."
He took off down the stairs hopefully catching Shep off guard but as
always Shep darted ahead about half way down and he wondered again why he
bothered racing him at all. He opened the door and let him out then walked
into the kitchen. "Pancakes and bacon this morning." Tad said putting
three slices into a plate beside a tall stack of pancakes. "Need fuel for
a full day of learning."
Shane chuckled and sat up at the island. "Okay Mr. Rogers." He
scarfed down his pancakes and drank down his juice. He and Tad went out to
the car and Shane kissed Shep goodbye then gave him a big hug before
getting into the car.
"So you got it down where the shop is in association to school right?"
Shane held up a thumb then dropped his hand back to his bag. "Check!"
"And if you don't come right to the shop after school you have my
number so you can call and let me know right?"
He held up his thumb again. "Check!"
"And you are gonna stay at school all day, if you have a major problem
you are gonna go to the principal and not just leave right?"
Another thumb in the air. "Check!"
"Nervous?"
Shane laughed. "Check!"
Tad grinned over at him. "Tired of hearing that question?"
"Check!"
"Got your condoms?"
Shane snapped his head over to Tad and grinned. "Un check!"
Tad laughed. "Good!"
Shane started trembling the moment they pulled into the school parking
lot and he saw tons of other kids making their way into school. Most
talking in groups of twos, threes and fours while some straggled in alone.
He scanned the parking lot for Seth but didn't see his car.
Tad squeezed his shoulder. "You'll do fine Shane. Once you get in
there and get a few classes under your belt you'll stop being so nervous."
"Yeah okay, give me a hug."
Tad leaned over and squeezed him tightly Shane took a deep breath in
his arms then pulled back. "Okay, I'll see you at around three." he got
out of the car and Tad watched him til he got in the school feeling very
much like Shane's real dad watching his son go off to school for the first
time.
Inside the doorway Shane stepped out of the stream of traffic and
pulled his schedule out of his back pocket. Seeing he had locker number
413 he started walking again looking at the lockers as he went by all the
ones around him started with ones. He looked among the other people
wanting to ask where the 4's would be but didn't dare.
He jumped considerably when a hand clapped down on his shoulder. He
turned quickly and smiled with relief seeing it was only Kyle.
"You lost new boy?" Kyle said grinning at him.
"Very much."
Kyle smirked at him. "Damn new kids. What you looking for?" He
leaned over towards Shane and looked at his schedule then took it right out
of his hands. "Hey we got English together."
"Awesome. But I gotta find my locker."
Kyle looked up to the top of the schedule. "Well you are not even
close."
"Well I told you I was lost."
Kyle chuckled put his arm over Shane's shoulders and guided him down
the hall up some stairs through two other halls and into another one that
was much quieter with some classrooms doors lining one side and lockers
lining the other. Kyle walked down the row of lockers saying then
repeating the number 413 aloud. He stepped forward about halfway down.
"Here it is. They put it here cause your home room is right there." He
turned and pointed to the nearest door across the hall. "That way you
don't have to run to your locker then run to home room." He looked back at
Shane and grinned. "You can just sorta hop."
"If we got the same English you must be a junior."
"Oh yeah, me Nathan and Kenny are all juniors."
"But don't you have the same home room?"
Kyle made a show of laughing and shook his head. "Oh you small town
boys. There's way too many kids in the junior class to all share one home
room. There's like six. Mine is in that hallway we just came through.
I'll come get you before your first class so's I can show you where it is."
Shane nodded appreciatively. "That would be great." Kyle patted him
on the arm. "See you in half an hour."
Shane turned back to his locker then rummaged through his bag for the
lock Don had gotten him the week before. Something he could not believe he
had forgotten on his own school shopping trip. It was a combination lock
and Shane had the code well memorized so he wouldn't have to write it down
anywhere and keep it on him. He opened the locker and slipped the lock
through the handle then closed it back up. There was nothing in there to
get and no books yet to put in it.
He turned around and walked into his home room which according to his
schedule his home room teacher would be Mr. Craft. He was very happy that
five out of his eight teachers were men. The room was already half full of
other kids and he found a seat over by the window feeling all eyes were on
him.
Other kids filtered in and sat by their buddies some looking like they
hadn't seen each other all summer and Shane wondered how good a friends
they could be. He looked around the room itself and noticed several
differences between it and the classrooms back at Prescott High. First off
it was a lot brighter. The desks and chairs didn't look like they'd been
bought at a rummage sale in the fifties and the floor was wood as highly
polished as the gymnasium at his old school.
It was almost like going from black and white to color, like in the
wizard of Oz. Like Kansas the old school was dull old and dismal. But
this school like Oz was just real bright and pretty the feeling put Shane
more at ease despite the fact this place would probably hold plenty of
wicked witches the setting itself could almost make up for it.
The teacher a tall dark complected man dressed nicely in tan pants and
a red dress shirt walked into the room and put his brief case up on his
desk. He wrote his name out on the board just like Shane had seen teachers
do in most movies that featured classroom scenes.
Shane watched him closely as he turned back to his desk and opened the
brief case he pulled out several file folders and set them just so on his
desk. If a personality could be told by looks Shane figured this guy must
be nice. He was clean shaven and had no hard facial features. They were
all soft and seemed to put forth an air of peace.
The bell rang, Shane looked around the room and every seat was full.
His eyes fell on a girl with long blonde hair wearing a cute skirt suit
thingy that was pale blue. She was pointing over at him while whispering
to another girl and despite her cute outfit Shane filled with anger that he
was already being talked about. When she and the girl she was whispering
with started chuckling he turned back to the teacher who was now in front
of the desk with a sheet of paper in his hand.
"Class. Welcome to a new year." he smiled that was good. "Two years
left and you guys will be out of here so keep that in mind as you are piled
high with homework. First I'll do roll call please raise your hand when I
say your name."
He read down through the names looking up only long enough to register
each name to a face. "Shane Campbell." He looked up longer this time as a
young man over by the window tentatively raised his hand. He'd heard about
this one from the principal, heard about his abuse, his temporary
homelessness and the way he was treated at his last school including being
assaulted by the entire basketball team. He was told to keep a close eye
out on this one and had no problems doing so as the kids life had been a
virtual hell.
He hadn't expected to see such a handsome young man raise his hand to
that name though. He figured since the kid was horribly teased all through
school he'd be a geeky little scrawny thing. But this boy was well dressed
well muscled and had a face he'd already caught half a dozen of the girls
whispering about. He hadn't heard what they were saying only knew from 15
years experience of watching girls whisper excitedly about some new heart
throb that they had been talking about Shane Campbell.
Realizing he'd stalled too long and Shane was looking at him fearfully
he quickly looked back down at his list and read off the next name. After
seeing everyone was present and accounted for he sat back on his desk.
"Now for you new students." he said looking from Shane to the three other
new kids in his home room. "Home room here is only thirty minutes long.
It's used to catch up on that last minute homework you were too busy saving
someone's life to finish or just redoing it say if your dog ate it or
something."
Shane smiled as half the class chuckled feeling more sure he'd like
this teacher who was also going to be his Government teacher. He sat and
talked with them told them what to expect from the year and enforced that
he was there for all his students should they need help or guidance in
anything.
Shane tried to shake the feeling that he was looking at him more then
anyone else as he talked. It worried him that the principal had gone
blabbing to all the teachers what a miserable wretch he was trying so hard
to try and not be.
The bell rang and as promised Kyle met him right outside the door.
"What do you have next?"
"Art."
Kyle grinned. "What a fairy."
"Yeah I know," Shane said shaking his head. "I figured it was the
queer thing to do."
Kyle laughed and led him again through the maze of hallways. At the
end of another hall he stopped. "Right in there Monet. Next we have
English. It's on the first floor in the hall you first came in."
"Okay, thanks." He turned and walked in the room where two long
tables were set up with stools surrounding them. Past the tables were a
dozen or so easels surrounding a raised platform he hoped would contain
some nude male models sometime during the year. The walls were all
decorated with art work some of it looking pretty old and he figured it all
must be past student's work.
He set his book bag down on one of the tables again over by a window
and looked around more at the paintings. More kids wandered in looking to
be in all different grades and he sat down when the bell rang. There were
two girls across from him and he smiled politely and was very relieved to
see them both smile back.
The teacher was a woman. Tall and bony looking with a hooked nose
much like one you'd see on a witch. She had pretty long dark hair clipped
on both sides with barrettes and several beaded necklaces hanging down her
chest. She wore so many rings Shane wondered how she could keep her hands
held up under their weight.
She didn't read off names instead she set them to work drawing
anything they wanted to draw saying it was so she could get taste of their
abilities. She handed out white paper and very sharp pencils and set them
to work. She asked them to all sign their papers and hand them in after
class and at the end of the week she would hand them back and try to guess
who was who soley by getting to know them more and see if she could match
each students art with them. Shane thought this was a really cool idea and
though he still hated woman in general thought he just may like her.
He had Shep's head all drawn out and was just starting to work on his
body when the door opened again and Kenny walked in. His heart lurched a
bit as he'd thought of him many times over the last day. He went to hand
the teacher a note and she stepped back from it.
"No dear. I don't want to know your name yet." Shane chuckled to
himself at her adherence to the rules of her own game. "Just tell me why
you were late?"
"I had to change my schedule. I was in the office." He said it
quietly but being quite close to where they were Shane could easily hear
him.
"Okay dear," She grabbed him a pencil and a piece of paper. "Sit
anywhere you'd like."
Kenny's eyes looked over the room then lit up seeing Shane. He walked
over and sat down beside him. "How are you?"
Shane smiled. "Good how are you?"
"Good," He set his bag down and put the paper and pencil on the table.
"What the hell is up with her not wanting to know my name?"
Shane explained it to him and he made a funny face. "That's kinda
weird."
"I think it's kinda cool. I can't wait to see if she gets them
right."
Kenny smiled and tapped his pencil to his lips thinking on what to
draw. He looked over at Shane's paper. "That your dog?"
Shane nodded.
"German shepard?"
"Yeah," Shane said happily. "Guess I must be doing pretty good."
Kenny chuckled. "It is real good. Jimmy's got a dog. A Dalmation.
I think I'll draw his cat though." he smiled then started in.
Shane kept glancing over at him out of the corner of his eye. Kenny
was totally involved in his work and didn't notice him once. In fact he
seemed so involved Shane didn't even dare talk to him til he was done. He
wasn't done til about ten minutes after Shane was. He set his pencil down
and stretched his arms letting out a good yawn.
"Not sleep last night?"
Kenny shrugged. He leaned closer to Shane and turned his head away
from the girls. "It's hard living with your boyfriend sometimes. You
don't get much sleep." He pulled back laughing and Shane laughed right a
long with him. "It must suck with yours way up in Maine."
"It does. But we talk on the phone all the time and I got a dirty
email yesterday."
Kenny grinned sheepishly. "Naked shots?"
Shane blushed and nodded and Kenny laughed again. "Did you ever meet
Sam?"
"I saw him a couple times at Soccer games with Matt watching Seth. He
seems real nice. Real cute that's for sure. You guys must look real good
together." He put his hand on his chest. "Not like David and Goliath like
me and Jimmy."
Shane chuckled. "I had a Goliath boyfriend once. Felt great sleeping
by him every night."
Kenny nodded looking totally in agreeance. "It is, like sleeping wit
a big ole teddy bear." He wrapped his arms around himself and shivered. "I
think I'll go home and go back to bed." Shane laughed and pulled him back
onto his stool.
"Not a good idea?" Kenny chuckled.
"Probably not it's not good to skip school on the first day."
"Uh oh," Kenny's eyes widened as he looked at Shane.
"What?"
"Are you a nerd too?"
"Yes," Shane snickered. "Cept I'm a nerd that gets bad grades."
"Well then you aren't a full fledged nerd." Kenny said as he shook his
head emphatically. "Besides you haven't even got the look." he pointed
over at Shane. "You got muscles. You don't dress like Urkel."
"Well neither do you."
"Jimmy helps me pick out my clothes now. I used to. Can I see your
schedule." He asked leaning back over towards Shane.
"Sure," he dug it out of his back pocket and handed it over. Kenny
took his out of his pocket and flattened them out on the table side by
side. "Wow we got gym together. And sign language. Awesome!" He looked
over at Shane. "You know what that means don't you?"
"What?"
"You gotta be my locker room body guard. You know them gym folks get
rowdy and like to shove the little guy in his locker."
Shane was absolutely flattered. "Well I'd love to. I don't know how
good I'd be but I'll give it my best shot."
Kenny smiled happily and patted him on the thigh. "Maybe you and me
could be good friends." He said with heart warming sincerity.
"I would like that."
"Me too."
"Scuse me dear?" they both looked up at the teacher who was pointing
over at Shane. "Yeah you hon. Can you please collect all the papers.
Shuffle them up then bring them to me."
Shane nodded then got up and gathered the papers he shuffled them up
and took them over to her at her desk. She thanked him at the same time
the bell rang he nodded then went over and got his book bag.
He and Kenny walked together as far as his next class then they said
goodbye saying they'd see each other at lunch. Shane's Algebra II teacher
turned out to be the biggest bitch of his morning classes. She kept them
all after the bell saying that when the bell rang it didn't mean she was
done teaching and they were not dismissed until she said they were
dismissed.
After she said they were dismissed she called Shane to her desk. His
heart felt like it shrank to the size of a prune as he walked slowly to her
desk. "Son I'm told here on my student files that you wear glasses. Why
aren't you wearing them?"
Shane turned his head and was relieved to see they were alone in the
room.
"I don't think you'll find any answer there behind you."
He snapped his head back to her. "I'm not used to wearing them yet I
forgot." He repeated for himself to stay calm over and over in his head
wanting this woman to hate him for him if she was gonna and not anything he
had done.
"Can I see what you copied down from the board." She reached out her
hand and Shane pulled his notebook out of his pack knowing it was not a
question but an order by her tone.
She took the notebook and opened it to the first page where Shane had
written out his problems. She turned to the board and checked them over.
"Honey you got most of these numbers wrong. How do you expect to learn
anything if you don't wear your glasses and can't see the board?"
Thrown by her calling him honey he only shook his head. Now not sure
if she was a bitch or not.
"I want you to make sure and wear them tomorrow. I don't want to tell
you in front of the whole class to put them on. I'm not here to embarrass
you I'm here to teach you." She smiled handed him his notebook then
another sheet of paper. "Take my copy of the problems. I'll recopy them
you need to go eat lunch."
Shane tucked the paper in the notebook not able to take his eyes off
her as she had him completely baffled.
"You okay Shane?"
He turned his head to one side then nodded. "Yeah fine. Thank you."
He shoved the notebook back in his bag slung it over his shoulder and
hurried out of the room.
Melanie Chambers the teacher began copying down the problems from the
board as surprised as Mr. Craft had been by Shane's outward appearance.
She as well was expecting a feeble looking boy. In fact she'd been sure of
it as one day in the doctor's office she'd been looking through yearbooks
and came across Shane's picture it had stuck out to her because the
principal had just talked to her about him a few days before. The boy she
saw in the picture and this boy were obviously the same boy but he was much
different now then how he looked last fall.
She knew he was living with two men now and figured things must be
going much better for him as he looked to have gained like 30 pounds and it
looked like a lot of that was muscle.
By the time Shane got the cafeteria it was packed. Instead of dozens
of round tables the tables here were long and rectangular with benches to
sit on instead of chairs. It as well was brightly lit and looked oz-like
with it's brilliantly colored banners hanging all over the walls. He
realized within and instant of walking through the doors that this schools
colors were red and white.
The food line like in the other cafeteria was at the other end of the
room, though this room was much larger then at Prescott and the tables were
set up on either side of the room so you had to walk down the middle kinda
like you were getting married to get your food.
He turned back to the hall thinking of ditching lunch all together
then told himself he was stupid and took a deep breath. He walked down the
aisle the wedding march ringing in his ears. He saw a couple hands go up
on a table about halfway down to his left and smiled seeing Seth, Tim,
Kyle, Pete, Nathan, Jimmy and Kenny all sitting together near the wall at
one of the tables.
Shane gave them half a wave then went up to the lunch line. He held
his tray up for everything then put it down on the metal bars and slid it
over to the cashier. He grabbed two pints of milk then took two dollars
out of his back pocket two dollars that Tad had given him that allowed him
to buy his lunch and not have to just say his name so he could get checked
off a free lunch list. He wondered if they even had such a thing at this
school.
Derek Kirk sitting back to Kenny, Jimmy and Seth at the next table sat
in stony silence as he was sure the person who had just come into the
cafeteria was Shane. Though he was sure one half of his mind was still
arguing with the other half saying it couldn't have been him. That he
looked so different so wonderful, so drop dead gorgeous. He'd always known
Shane was real cute but the boy he just saw was eye bulging-ly hot.
He clutched his stomach as one of the boys behind him called out the
name Shane a minute later. He turned his head to the wall not wanting
Shane to see him knowing Shane hated his guts and had every reason to. He
wanted to run from the room but didn't dare get up for fear of being
spotted.
He wondered how long Shane had been going to this school. He wondered
if he transferred here after what he had done to him. The boy beside him
nudged him. "You alright?"
Derek nodded not able to find his voice. The boy beside him's name
was Walter. He had met him in class just the period before and thus far
was the only boy he had talked to at this new school. He hadn't wanted to
come at all. Would rather be in the mental hospital he'd spent 3 months in
where he felt like everyone else. Where he wasn't a freak. Where everyone
was as much of a nut as he was.
Shane sat down between Kenny and Seth and they all asked how his first
day was going. Shane shrugged and took a bite of potato. "Is that Miss
Chambers a bitch or does she just pretend to be?"
"She's a bitch in class but if you meet her out of class or talk to
her alone she's real nice. I think she just is that way in class so she
keeps everyone's attention." Pete answered. "I had her last year. She's
also my faculty advisor."
"What's a faculty advisor?"
"A teacher that you go to whenever you have a problem. It's like a
guidance counselor. We don't have actual guidance counselors here. The
teachers do it."
"Well how do I know who mine is?"
"Should be your schedule." Seth held out his hand. "Let me see it."
Shane pulled it out of his pocket and handed it over to him. He
started laughing. "You got Looney Miss Moon."
Shane grinned. "Whose Looney Miss Moon."
Kenny smacked him on the arm. "Your art teacher dufus."
"Oh I liked her."
They all started laughing at him. "She's a hippie."
"Well she's a nice hippie whatever that means." he gave a wave of his
hand. "She calls everyone honey and dear. I think it's sweet."
Seth chuckled and squeezed his arm around Shane. "I just think you're
sweet."
Derek dared to turn around now only because he wanted to see who was
saying this to Shane. He figured it must be his new boyfriend and had to
have a look. He saw the boy looking at Shane lovingly and jealousy coursed
through him seeing his arm around him.
The boy looked over at him and Derek quickly turned back to his tray.
The boy was hot, Shane was hot. Damn the whole next table was hot.
Shane put his hand on Seth's thigh and squeezed it. "You get paid for
that too?"
"Sure," Seth laughed and returned to his food. "Besides Tad's a
hippie too no wonder you like her."
"Tad ain't no hippie."
"You don't even know what one is how would you know,"
Shane blushed and chuckled. "Good point."
"So I hear you are gonna take care of my boy in gym class." Jimmy said
wrapping his arm around Kenny's shoulders.
"Well I'll try Jimmy. I've never beat anyone up before so's I'm not
sure how effective I'll be."
Jimmy reached out his hand and shoved Shane's head playfully to one
side. "It's not something you gotta practice." he said grinning. "Just
kick 'em in the nuts. Do that a couple times and they'll know not to mess
with you. They probably won't anyways. You look as though you could do
some damage."
Shane blushed taking his words as an incredible compliment. Kenny
smiled at him from deep in Jimmy's arms. Shane smiled back thinking he sure
was cute and glad he had someone looking out for him like Jimmy whose first
concern always seemed to be Kenny.
"You gonna come watch us practice after school Shane?"
"Soccer?"
Seth nodded. "It's the field right out front. Kyle and Kenny are
gonna be there. It only lasts til 4:00 so you'll have plenty of time to
get to the store. I can give you a ride anyways."
"Or you could be cool and come watch foot ball practice." Pete spoke
up.
Shane made a face. "I don't think so."
"You don't like football?"
"Not one bit. Guess it's the queer in me." They all laughed while
Seth pulled Shane closer. He kissed his temple and Shane ate the rest of
his meal with Seth's arm around him feeling very content there with his new
friends.
Kenny sat by him again in Sign language class where they learned the
alphabet that first day. "This is so cool." Kenny said as he packed up his
book and they waited for the bell to ring. "You and I can talk this secret
language and no one else will have a clue what we are talking about." He
put his finger to his lips and thought for a minute. "I wonder if they
teach swears."
"Oh I already know one." Shane stuck up his middle finger and Kenny
laughed so hard he nearly fell out of his chair.
"Everyone knows that one though. It wouldn't be much of a secret
language."
"Well we'll make up our own." Shane held out two finger and pressed
them into his wrist. "Like this."
Kenny did the same thing. "So what does it mean?"
"Anything we want. Say like 'fuck him.'"
"So if some guys being a shit I just do that to you and I'll be saying
fuck him?"
Shane nodded and Kenny grinned. "Oh I like that one."
"Oh you know what though. We shouldn't make it so obvious like they
would know something was up. We should pick something someone would
normally do. Like scratch behind our ear or something."
"Oh yeah!" Kenny clapped his hands together and held them there.
"Great plan." He reached up and scratched behind his ear. "How was that?"
Shane grinned. "Great"
The bell rang and they walked together to gym. The locker room was
not as fancy as Prescott's but since it was obvious not all the money at
this school was not spent on sports it didn't surprise him much.
The gym teacher was waiting near the lines of lockers. "Names?"
"Kenny Salisbury." Kenny said quietly.
The teacher looked down at his chart. "Locker 214." He pointed out to
one of the rows of lockers then looked at Shane.
"Shane Campbell."
The coach's head snapped back up from his chart and studied him.
Shane wanted to shrink down so small no one could see him under his gaze.
He was feeling like smashing the principal's head into a wall as it was
obvious by all the looks on the teachers faces that day they all knew all
about him.
He looked back at his chart. "219." And pointed to the same row.
Kenny was waiting for him at the end of the row.
"Name?" He heard the teacher say. "Cat got your tongue son?"
"Derek Kirk."
Shane's head snapped back his mind whirring he knew that voice and
certainly knew that name. Derek was looking back at him and his heart
froze right there in his chest. Shane felt like he was gonna throw up or
faint or something but he couldn't take his eyes off him. He'd prayed he'd
never see him again. Yet here he was at the same fucking school, the same
fucking gym class.
He stopped short crashing into something solid and pain shooting
through his shoulder and head. Kenny who had no idea of his distress
started laughing beside him. Shane turned his head back in the direction
he'd been walking and saw he'd crashed into the side of the lockers.
"Watch where your going Shane." Kenny said still chuckling as he
pulled Shane by the hand into the row of lockers. Shane sat down heavily
on the nearest bench. "hey what's wrong?" Kenny asked sitting down beside
him.
Shane shook his head his throat feeling like it had closed up and
swallowed his tongue in the process.
"You look like you seen a ghost or something."
Rubbing his hand across his forehead he shook his head again. He
remembered he was supposed to be watching out for Kenny and stood back up.
"I guess it's good we got lockers close together.
Still eyeing him nervously Kenny nodded. "You know you can talk about
it with me Shane. I'm sure you know about me like I know about you."
Shane put his hand on Kenny's shoulder. "I'll tell you Kenny just not
right now. Let's just get changed and get this over with."
Kenny leaned down where there were sweat pants and shorts laid out on
the benches. "What size are you?"
"Medium I guess." Shane answered walking over to his locker. He
opened it up and put in his bag. Kenny handed him a pair of medium grey
sweat pants with Cliff Side written in red up the side of one leg and a red
T-shirt. "I gotta go change in stalls. I'll be right back." He picked up
another set of gym clothes and took off to the stalls.
Shane closed his locker and leaned his forehead into it pleading with
himself not to start crying right there. He hated Derek told himself that
every day. But seeing him again had brought back as many good memories as
it had bad. He wiped his hand along his face took a deep breath and turned
around setting his gym clothes down on the bench he peeled off his shirt
and put on the T-shirt as quick as possible. After bringing it down over
his eyes he looked ahead and saw Derek standing across the way against the
other set of lockers. Less then five feet from him.
"How are you Shane?" He sounded scared but it did little to put Shane
at ease.
"I don't want to talk to you Derek." He slid off his pants not
feeling at all funny about doing it in front of Derek as he'd seen him a
million times and the fact he hated him now did nothing to change that.
"I know you don't Shane. And I don't blame you." Derek was holding
his hands in front of his chest in a pleading manner. "But I never got to
apologize to you. I need to apologize to you."
Narrowing his eyes as he pulled on his sweat pants he looked up at
Derek. "That gonna make you feel better Derek? Til next time you decide
to deck me anyways. I shoulda known it all along." He stood up straight
and looked him straight in the eye realizing he must have grown taller as
he'd always had to look up to him before. "You don't hit people you love
Derek. Didn't you know that?"
Derek shook his head and tears seeped out of his eyes. "But I did
love you Shane. I still do."
Shane shook his head and threw his clothes into his locker slamming it
hard. "You don't know what it is Derek. If you did you never would have
done what you did to me." he looked over and saw Kenny stopped dead in his
tracks looking from him to Derek. "Come on put your clothes in your
locker. We gotta get out there."
Kenny nodded though it was obvious he wanted to know what was going
on. He walked over and put his things in his locker then giving Derek who
was still sobbing a wide girth he and Shane left the locker room.
"You gonna tell me now?" he asked once they got into the gym.
"I'll tell you at soccer practice. As long as we are alone. If
Kyle's there I'll tell you after okay?"
Kenny nodded as he looked up into Shane's eyes. Looking very worried
about what he may hear.
Shane had little reservations in telling Kenny what had happened. In
the short time he knew him he considered him very trustworthy and it wasn't
only cause he had tons of dirty secrets of his own. Kenny seemed like the
type of guy where what you saw was what you got. He didn't seem to put on
airs to impress people. He seemed the type that could really care less if
he had tons of friends or not. He seemed happy with the few he had and
paid little attention to everyone else. Those qualities made him very
trust worthy in Shane's eyes.
The teacher blew his whistle and all eyes in the room turned to him.
"Everyone grab a mat. Today we are gonna test your endurance and your
strength. See what we have to work with."
"Oh great." Kenny rolled his eyes and he dropped down onto his butt on
a mat. Shane sat down on the next one over. "I love this first day of gym
humiliation. Damn fool knows I ain't got no strength." he was grinning
like he was joking but Shane got the feeling he wasn't joking at all.
Derek walked in five minutes into sit ups and the teacher spent a good
minute yelling at him which Shane thoroughly enjoyed. Kenny who was red
faced and sweating still managed to chuckle at him seeing how happy he was
that the other kid was getting yelled at.
The coach walked over to them as they were doing push ups. "Work it
Salisbury. You gonna be a wimp your whole life."
Shane looked up at the coach anger surging through him. He looked
over at Kenny who it was obvious to him he was doing his best.
"Switch to leg lifts." he called out after blowing his whistle. Kenny
moved over onto his back taking deep breaths.
"Come on Salisbury I said leg lifts. Can't you manage that?"
"Let him alone." Shane shot out.
"Don't you tell me what to do young man. It's for his own good he
needs to toughen up."
Shane propped himself up on his elbows and glared at the man. Kenny
reached over and touched his arm and Shane looked over at him. "Just
forget it Shane. He's just like that."
"Yeah that's Kenny's way of life." Coach said laughing sarcastically.
"Just let people walk all over you. Get shit on. It don't matter."
"Wouldn't it be better sir," Shane said sitting up all the way and
trying to sound polite as possible. "If people just stopped shitting on
other people, instead of people having to toughen up to ward it off?"
Half the gym class started clapping and Shane blushed from his toes
all the way to the top of his head.
"In an ideal world that would be good. But this is not an ideal
world. There are a lot of jerks out there and Kenny merely needs to learn
how to defend himself. His big brawn boyfriend ain't gonna protect him
forever."
Kenny who was doing his leg lifts looked very shocked at this.
"You don't know that sir, you don't know what you are talking about at
all. This world would be an ideal place if people like you would stop
showing off how mean you can be. Every little bit helps you know."
Another round of clapping went through the room and Shane could see
the coach was getting angry. He shrugged and looked apologetically at him
though he didn't feel sorry at all. "I'm sorry sir, I'm just giving my
opinion."
Huffing the coach walked off but said little else besides which
exercise to do next for the rest of the class. Shane was not at all
surprised to be called into his office the moment he had changed.
He sat down opposite the coach behind his desk feeling fearless and
having no idea why.
The coach eyed him as he tapped his pen on his desk. "I'm not a mean
man Shane. I'm sorry if I come across that way. I feel bad for kids like
Kenny I just try and push them harder cause I hate to see them picked on by
other kids. I'd like to see them defend themselves."
Shane leaned forward in his chair. "Well if you don't mind my opinion
sir you just came off mean. You think he doesn't already know he's a wimp?
You think he really needs to be reminded of it in front of a room full of
kids that like to pick on him in the first place?"
The coach rubbed his chin for a minute, then let out a sigh and put
his hand down on his desk. "Most kids I'd yell at 'em and tell 'em to mind
their own business Shane. But you've been there. I can't bring myself to
do that with you."
Shane sat back in his chair angrily. "What did all you teachers sit
around and have a big meeting about me or something?"
"No, principal Webber did tell us all though. Not in a big meeting
more one on one I think. I'm sorry if that upsets you."
"You think any of you guys are gonna tell the other kids?"
"No, it's confidential Shane don't worry about that. Derek Kirk went
to Cliff Side too, you gonna have a problem with him being in the same gym
class?"
Shane shrugged he did have a problem with it but was not about to
start whining about it. "Long as he don't bug me I won't have a problem."
Coach chuckled a bit. "To tell you the truth son, he looks more
scared of you then you look of him."
Shane smiled very glad to hear that though he didn't really believe
it.
"You have the body of a swimmer or a gymnast Shane. I was watching
you out there. You have good endurance and good muscle. You want to join
one of the teams?"
"I was thinking about swimming. Well diving actually."
"Have you done much diving?"
Shane grinned. "Never. I've done a lot of swimming though."
"What do you have next period?"
Shane thought for a minute the next period was last period. "I have
study hall."
"I have no class. What do you say you don swim trunks and show me
what you got?"
"You mean for swimming? Cause really I've got nothing for dives. I
just want to learn."
"That's fine." he said with a nod. "First you can show me how fast
you swim then we can try out a few dives. Swim season starts in two
months. I could get you on a work out routine so you'd be more ready for
tryouts."
Shane pulled at his lip glad this man was coming to him with this
cause he really wanted to try out but wasn't sure he would dare. But now
since it was being presented like this it seemed easier somehow. "Okay,"
He clapped his hands together and stood up. "Great!" he opened a
cupboard behind him and pulled out a red Speedo with two white stripes down
the left front side. Coach handed them over. "Whose your study hall
monitor."
Shane pulled out his schedule again and checked it over. "Mr. Metcalf
room 221." he dropped his hand down to his thigh. "You know we had ten
classrooms at Prescott this 200 and three hundred crap totally blows my
mind."
Coach chuckled. "You'll get used to it fast enough. I'll go tell
Mr. Metcalf where you are you get changed and meet me at the pool."
He headed for the door. "Ahh sir?"
"Yeah?"
"Where's the pool?"
"Oh yeah that may help huh?" He motioned for Shane to follow him and
once they were back in the locker room he pointed over to a door. "Right
through that door."
Shane was looking down at himself in the form fitting Speedo when he
got a sharp slap on the ass. He turned quickly nearly dizzy with fright to
see Seth grinning at him. "What in hell are you doing you sexy mother
fucker." His eyes were wide as he looked over Shane in the suit.
"Well I was talking to the coach and he says I have the body of a
swimmer." he flexed his muscles and grinned. "So's he wants to see me in
action."
"That's awesome Shane." Seth swatted his rear again. "We could be
swimming buddies."
"Not if you keep slapping my ass." He chortled.
Seth wrung his hands. "It's just so God Damn cute in that thing." He
shook as though to control his raging hormones. "I swim last period. If I
do that and do sports it gets me out of gym. I can practice with you so by
swim season you'll be sure to make the team."
Shane's face lit up. "That's awesome!"
"We gotta warm up though." Seth shoved him against the locker and
muckled onto him with his lips. "The..lips...are...the.. Most
important....to warm...up."
"Seth could you stop molesting the swim team hopefuls."
Seth pulled back and they both looked over at the coach who had his
hands on his hips but a grin on his face. He walked down the aisle of
lockers. "You two a couple?"
"Well no sir, I just come in here and found this hot guy and thought
I'd slam him up against the lockers and have my way with him."
Coach cuffed Seth playfully upside the head. "Are you ever serious?"
"No sir," he shook his head emphatically. "But we are sorta a couple.
Part of a foursome really. See..." he stopped as the coach held up his
hand.
"I think we are heading for territory I don't want to know about." he
said looking a bit red in the face. "Come on Shane. I'll save you from
him this time. You swimming today Greenway?"
"Yes sir,"
"Good you can help me show Shane the ropes."
"Sure thing." he went to his locker and got changed while Shane
followed coach out to the pool. Shane's eyes widened the second he stepped
into the room. It was as fancy and as well equipped as any he'd seen on
the Olympic shows. The room was huge and the pool nearly filled it. The
bleachers were up on a balcony looking over both sides of the pool which
had blue lining and ten black lines running along the bottom and each end
of it.
At the far end of the pool he saw the pedestals the swimmers dove off
and in the middle was a tall ladder leading up to three separate diving
boards all of different heights the top one being way up near ceiling which
he had to really crane his neck to see.
"Pretty impressive huh?" coach said squeezing Shane's shoulder. "Bet
they didn't have anything like this at Prescott."
"They didn't even have a pool at Prescott."
"Well hop in." Shane walked over to the edge of the pool sat
down on the
side and lowered himself in. The water was refreshing but
nowhere near as
cold as the ocean or that river in Maine.
"Why don't you start at that wall swim whichever stroke you like best
go to the other wall kick off then come back."
"Kick off?" Shane asked looking up at him.
"Boy we have work to do."
Shane chuckled as the coach shook his head and grinned. "I never was
formally trained in swimming sir, I just used to go out swimming in the
ocean. For fun really. But I think I went pretty fast."
Seth walked into the pool room and Shane took a deep shuddering breath
the sight of the bulge in his Speedo nearly making him dizzy.
"Seth show Shane what a kick off is."
"Oh sure," Seth put the goggles that were around his neck up over his
eyes and jumped into the pool and swam over to the middle. "Go stand by
the side Shane so you can see better."
Shane nodded and walked over to the edge of the pool near one of the
black lines. Seth swam over to him did a sort of somersault thing then
kicked off bolting him forward off the wall.
He stood up again in the water.
"Can you do it one more time?"
"Sure," Seth swam back out to the middle then did it again.
"Okay," Shane said once he'd resurfaced. "I think I can try it now."
"Okay," Coach said smiling down at him impressed with the boy already
though he had yet to swim a stroke. "Try what Seth just did just swim in
from the middle and kick off. Get that down first."
After a few failed attempts one sending him slamming painfully into
the bottom of the pool he finally got it down. Coach had him do it a few
more times til he was sure he had it down then had him swim the length of
the pool and back.
Shane was glad Seth was on the other side of the pool doing his laps
and hopefully paying little attention to him. If he was gonna make an ass
of himself he'd rather have as little audience as possible.
"On my whistle." Shane nodded and backed up against the wall putting
one foot flat out on it and his arm up on the side. The whistle blew and
he kicked off as powerfully as possible and swam his heart out reaching the
other end he fumbled a little on the kick off but still got a little
distance and swam his heart out back. Coach was clapping as he came up and
his heart flooded with relief that maybe he'd not made an ass of himself.
"You can't just dive Shane. You are too good a swimmer."
"Well that's okay sir, as long as I can at least try diving."
"Sure, but first I want you to go back and forth here four times. I
want to see how you would do in a longer swim. I'll give you a minute to
rest."
Shane nodded glad of that as his lungs were feeling deflated at that
point.
"And when you go out on this one don't go for speed so much as
longevity. Go fast but only fast enough so that you can keep up the pace
okay?"
Shane nodded again taking another deep breath.
"I'll be right back." He was back less then a minute later and handed
Shane down a pair of goggles. "Helps when you can see where you are
headed."
Putting them on Shane smiled at him as he adjusted them.
"You ready?"
"Ready."
He blew his whistle again and Shane took off going at a pace he hoped
he could keep up with though he could feel himself slowing more on each
lap. When he finally reached the last one he put his hand up on the side
pulling his head up out of the water.
"Not bad Shane. But I'd say you are stronger at sprints. Want to try
some dives?"
"Yes please." He climbed out of the pool and snapped the bottoms of
his Speedo back in place around his ass. Seth whistled at him and he
grinned over where Seth was resting on the side of the pool his legs
dangling in the water.
"This sure is weird." He said absentmindedly as he walked alongside
the coach.
"What's weird?"
"That Seth is whistling and being all flirty and you ain't kicking him
out of the pool."
Coach laughed and shook his head. "It's no concern to me son who
loves who in this school. Seth is a good athlete he can love whoever in
hell he wants and I won't kick him out of my pool."
Shane smiled at the man wishing he'd not been so much of an ass
earlier but more so hoping the man had listened to what he'd said about
Kenny. He could see now the coach was a nice man just maybe confused on
how to deal with kids like Kenny, kids like him.
"Start on the lowest one and work your way up. Just jump off if you
want. Or try something fancy it's totally up to you. Do what you feel
like you can do." He stepped back. "Oh wait."
Shane turned his upper body towards him while Seth tamed his expanding
cock at seeing Shane's rippling muscles.
"Put this on. And take the goggles off."
He slid off the goggles and set them on one of the platforms then put
on the red rubber cap the coach handed him. He pulled it down tight over
his head and snapped the strap.
"Oh look the red baron."
"Hush up over there Seth." Coach called out grinning.
After each of his first two dives Seth and Coach exchanged opened
mouthed looks of total shock. "He's lying when he said he hadn't dived
before isn't he?" Coach asked before Shane surfaced from his second dive.
Seth shook his head. "I don't think so coach. I don't know where he
ever would have got the chance."
Getting out of the pool Shane's heart tremored as the highest dive was
next. The one he was most excited about. He climbed the ladder which took
him a good two minutes then stood at the top feeling like the king of the
world. He wanted to raise his arms up and yell it out just like Leonardo
Dicrapio had done in Titanic.
He never felt so excited or thrilled with anything before and felt
like maybe up here high above the world was where he belonged. He walked
to the edge of the board and curled his toes over the edge. He smiled down
at Seth who looked about the size of an ant below him.
He decided he was not just gonna jump. He decided he was gonna try
one of those fancy rolls he'd seen so many times on TV. Surely with this
much room between him and the water he could accomplish one. He slid his
feet back just a hair and jumped a couple times on the board amazed at how
much bounce it had. He looked up at the ceiling that was only a few feet
above him now and wondered if anyone had ever bounced so high they'd hit
their head on it.
He grinned as he put his arms out to his sides feeling more powerful
then he'd ever felt in his life. He slowly raised them up over his head
like he'd seen on TV feeling his muscles expand and contract with
anticipation.
He jumped twice more then flew into the air feeling a rush of
excitement nothing like he'd ever felt before. He tucked his hands down to
his feet grasping his ankles and keeping his legs straight he flipped over
in the air. Feeling plenty of strength still he flipped once more then
straightened out like a board with his hands out ahead of him pressed
tightly together.
He hit the surface of the water hands first and slid in and under the
surface.
Coach stumbled back a few steps feeling for the wall to brace himself.
When Shane surfaced he couldn't speak so instead he just clapped. Seth
joined in then jumped in the water and swam over to Shane who was now at
the side. Reaching him he threw his arms around him and kissed him full on
the lips. "My God Shane I think you found your hidden talent."
Shane kissed him full on the lips then pulled back and laughed. "That
was just the best thing ever. I had no idea I would love it that much." He
looked back up at the board and shivered just from the memory. "I felt so
powerful. And Seth..." He paused and took a deep breath. "I ain't never
felt powerful before."
Seth smiled warmly at him the squeezed him extra tight wrapping his
legs around him too.
Shane holding himself up with only one arm pushed him back. "You are
gonna drown me you oaf."
Finding his voice coach walked back to the edge of the pool. "Shane I
don't think you are gonna have to try out. I'm signing you on right now.
I have never seen anyone in this school do a high dive as well as the one
you just did and though I think you lied to me about never diving before I
can't stand the thought of you not being on this team."
Shane wanted to cry from joy right then and there but instead he
hugged Seth again. "Can I do it again?"
"Please do." Coach said with a laugh.
Seth was so excited back in the locker room he was nearly dancing.
Between 'dances' he'd stop pull Shane's head forward and plant big ole kiss
right on his lips. "God Shane. You better not think you are a loser
anymore, if you do I'll beat the shit out of you myself." He stood up and
pointed over towards the door of the pool. "I ain't never seen anything
like that. Jesus." he pulled off his Speedo and flung it across the room
and into his locker like and elastic.
"You are gonna make us state champs this year I just know it." He
danced around some more while Shane now fully dressed tied up his shoes
while watching him out of the corner of his eyes. "Would you put your damn
pants on. I'm having a problem in my pants over here."
"I'll give you a problem in your pants." Seth grabbed onto him and
playfully wrestled him over the bench. Shane was laughing so hard he could
barely fight it but managed to get out of his grasp. "Man you are hyper
when you are excited."
Seth laughed and slipped on a jock strap then bending over
provocatively and picking up his soccer shorts. Shane laughed again and
dropped back down onto the bench.
"Yuh," He sighed and put his hands behind his head cracking his
knuckles. "I think I'm really gonna like school here."
"Well I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so." Seth grin
popped out from the neck of his shirt.
"There is one problem though."
Seth's face dropped. "What?"
"Derek is going to school here."
His face turned white and he dropped down on the bench beside Shane.
"What do you want me to do?" he said it like he would do anything and
everything Shane asked.
"I don't want you to do anything Seth. Just leave him alone. If I
leave him alone hopefully he'll leave me alone."
"Has he said anything to you yet?"
"He said he was sorry."
"You didn't accept it did you?"
"No," Shane laughed a short and bitter laugh. "I'll be fine, I just
wanted you to know so you wouldn't find out on your own and beat the hell
out of him or something."
"Well that's what he deserves."
Shane shrugged. "Well I don't want to be the one behind it. I really
think he feels bad for what he did and though I don't forgive him I don't
want to be downright mean to him. We did get a long well when we were
together and had some good times. I know he's not all bad. I just think
he made some bad choices."
Seth shook his head rubbing Shane's thigh. "You are a bigger person
then me Shane. I could never be this calm."
"Well it's been a long time. And I really don't want to rehash the
same issues over and over. It's in the past and I'd rather just leave it
there."
Seth squeezed his knee. "Okay, but if he harasses you or anything and
I find out and you haven't told me I'm gonna be pissed."
Shane nodded and put his head on his shoulder. "Thanks Seth."
They left the locker room together. In the front lobby Shane headed
to the pay phones while Seth walked outside. He dialed the number to Tad's
shop and before anyone answered Kenny walked up beside the phone and leaned
against the wall. Shane smiled warmly at him feeling so damn good he had
to fight not to reach out and muckle onto Kenny who he still thought was
real damn cute.
Not so much cute as in hot. More cute as in boyish good looks. He
looked his age but had many qualities that made him appear younger.
"Homestead antiques."
"Can I talk to Tad please." Shane smiled again at Kenny who put his
fingers in his ears. "I'm not eaves dropping."
Shane pulled a hand at a time away from his ears and shook his head
grinning. Jimmy walked up and kissed Kenny so passionately Shane had to
turn away and think gross thoughts before he had another problem in his
pants. By the time Tad came on the phone Jimmy was gone and Kenny was
smiling happily.
"Tad here."
"Shane here." Tad laughed.
"Already got plans do you Mr. Popularity."
Shane snorted and told him to shut up. "I am gonna be a little late
though. More like quarter to four."
"Detention?"
"Nooo,"
"How was your day?"
"Oh I can't wait to tell you, but it would take too long so I'll tell
you when I get there okay?"
"Sure thing, can't wait. See you in one hour and fifteen minutes."
"Well don't set your stop watch, I might not be exact."
"Just make sure you're here by five thirty our you'll have to hitch
home."
Shane laughed knowing full well he was only kidding. "Okay see you
later." He hung up the phone and he and Kenny walked down to the soccer
field. They sat high up in the bleachers.
"Kyle's not here."
Shane smiled over at him. "You been thinking on what happened all
afternoon haven't you."
Kenny nodded with a hint of embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I just didn't
like seeing you so upset."
"I'm okay really. I was a bit shocked but I'm better now."
"So what's with that guy?"
Shane put his hand on Kenny's which was on his knee. "What I tell you
has to be our secret. Seth knows but I don't want anyone else knowing.
Not even Jimmy."
Kenny nodded looking very honored that Shane had chosen him to tell.
"That guy used to be my boyfriend. We only went out for a couple
months. He was pretty great most of the time. But sometimes he got mad
and hit me." he looked out at Seth on the field who had the ball and was
heading for the goal. "I was getting hit all the time back then so I
didn't think much on it. I know now though that, that isn't right." Kenny
turned his hand over under Shane's and squeezed his hand.
"So that was your Goliath?"
Shane nodded and grinned slightly as he looked back at Kenny.
"He don't seem much bigger then you."
"Well he's not so much anymore. I used to be real scrawny, I had no
muscle and a stiff breeze could have blown me over."
"Like me?"
"Well a little. I was always taller then you but I had no weight on
me."
"So did you break up with him or did he break up with you?"
"Both I think. And this is what you really can't tell anyone." Kenny
squeezed his hand harder and nodded.
"One night I was kicked out of my house and I was wandering around the
streets trying to find some change so's I could do my laundry that weekend.
It was a Saturday night and I only needed like seventy five more cents. I
found a whole bunch of change and started picking it up. It turned out
though that it was a trap. It was put there so I'd stop. Everyone knew
how poor I was so they knew that'd be a good way to get me to stop."
"The basketball team surrounded me. They beat me up, put me in a car
and took me to some party. They beat me up some more and..." Shane stopped
and swallowed hard having thought he could say but when it came right down
to it found out he couldn't.
"Did they rape you Shane?"
God Bless Kenny he thought for saving him from saying it himself. He
nodded and Kenny immediately wrapped his arms tightly around Shane. "Was
that guy on the basketball team?" He asked his voice muffled from his mouth
being pressed into Shane's chest.
"Yes, he was there."
Kenny squeezed him tighter and Shane felt wetness seeping through his
shirt telling him Kenny was crying though he was making no noise at all.
Shane put his hands on Kenny's biceps and held him out away from him. "I'm
sorry Kenny. I didn't want to make you cry."
Kenny shook his head and smiled sweetly. "I just feel bad for you is
all. I shouldn't say that. I hate when people say that to me. But I do I
can't help it." He wrapped his hands around Shane's wrists. "I can't
believe you stayed so calm seeing him. I would have melted into a pile of
shit, puke and pee on the floor."
Shane grinned. "I thought so too. But I didn't when I actually saw
him other then smashing into the locker I didn't do too bad. I guess we
can surprise ourselves sometimes."
Kenny put a hand over his mouth. "Oh God Shane." He shook his head.
"I'm sorry I laughed at you about that. I just thought you were being
klutzy."
Chuckling Shane shook his head. "I imagine it was pretty funny. Hurt
a little though."
Kenny grinned. "Well I'm sorry I laughed anyways."
Kyle bounded up the bleachers towards them and sat down on the other
side of Shane. "You okay Kenny?" he asked seeing his eyes were red and
puffy.
"Just got sneezing. Damn fall."
Shane grinned at his great excuse not feeling one bit nervous about
his secret being exposed to Kenny. They all stretched out their legs and
leaned back on their elbows on the bench behind them.
"So whose Tad?" Kyle asked amidst his gum chomping.
"Guy I live with."
"Just you and him?"
"No him and Don and me and my dog."
Kyle pushed himself up a bit on his elbows and looked back at Shane.
"You live with two gay men?"
Shane furrowed his brow and nodded.
"Oh my God that must be so cool."
The corner of Shane's mouth turned up in a half grin. "Well I like
it. They are both real nice."
"Do they make out in front of you and stuff."
Kenny and Shane both laughed. "You're such a perv Kyle." Kenny said
shaking his head.
Kyle laughed. "I know."
"Usually he sits here with a boner all practice." Kenny said to Shane
who got laughing again. "And he sits in that position like he's proud of
it or something."
Kyle eased back on his elbows. "It's just my pennant. To cheer my
team on you know."
Looking up at the sky Shane shook his head. "Oh my God you guys are
so funny."
Kyle patted Shane's hand. "You're pretty funny yourself there Shane.
You'll fit right in with the gay club."
Chapter 16
Seth dropped him off at Tad's shop at three forty five. He opened the
front door making the bell over it ring just like in the old stores he'd
seen in older movies. "Hey Shane." Kathy Cleverand said from behind the
counter. A woman he'd met on two occasions and had been pretty nice both
times.
"Hi. Where's Tad?"
"Back in his office."
Shane nodded and forced himself to stay walking as he wanted
desperately to break out into a run. He walked in the office and dropped
his bag into a chair by the door. He ran around the desk and threw his
arms around Tad.
Tad chuckled and rubbed his back while he moved Shane's face up with
his hand and kissed his cheek. "So the day was that bad?"
Shane stood up and sat on the edge of the desk. "Oh it sucked." But
his smile was so big Tad didn't buy it for a second.
"Well let's see." Shane held out his hands like he was gonna count
something out on his fingers. "First off, all my teachers had the audacity
to be real nice." He put a finger down. "Second off the friends I met at
the party had the balls to be real nice to me too." he put another finger
down as Tad grinned widely crossing his arms across his chest and leaning
back in his chair. "Then the God Damn gym teacher that fucking son of a
bitch said I could join the diving team."
Tad's eyes lit up and he slammed his hand down on his desk. "My God
Shane that's awesome. That god damn prick." He added just to keep up with
the game before standing up and giving Shane another huge hug. "I'm so
proud of you."
Shane nestled into his hug closing his eyes feeling totally at home
and totally content. "You know what?"
Tad pulled back and looked into his eyes. "What?"
"I think maybe I'm a little proud of me too."
Grinning again Tad cupped the back of his neck and pulled him into yet
another hug. "Damn that's good to hear."
Tad sat back down a minute later beaming like any proud father would
while Shane swung his leg back and forth over the desk. "What's a hippie?"
"Well I'm not sure, pretty much someone who enjoys the simple things
in life." He crossed and arm across his stomach and put a finger to his
lips. "Someone who doesn't get all caught up in money, likes herbal stuff,
lives off the land."
"They ain't bad people are they?"
Shaking his head Tad said no. "not at all. They are real nice
actually. Nicer then most people. Why do you ask?"
"Cause they said my art teacher is one. And Seth said you were one."
Tad grinned then let out a laugh. "Well don't worry I take it as a
compliment."
Shane smiled happily. "Good then I don't have to be offended."
"Certainly not on my account." He was glowing inside that Shane would
be offended at someone picking on him. He knew Shane liked him but was
getting the feeling maybe Shane liked him more then even he knew. "Why
don't you sit over on the other side of the desk and do your homework.
That way when you get home you can call Sam and Aaron and not have to worry
about homework."
"Sure," He got down off the desk and walked around pulling out his
least favorite, Algebra, homework first. He sat and worked on it quietly
while Tad did a lot of punching into a calculator and writing stuff down.
At five thirty with his homework done Shane helped him lock up and they
drove home.
They walked in the door and the smell of scallops greeted them as
strongly as Shep greeted Shane. Shane knelt right down and gave him a big
hug then set his book bag on the stairs and followed Tad into the kitchen.
Don was standing at the island slicing cucumbers. "Well how'd it go?"
Shane rambled on and on about how great his day was and Don hugged him
as tightly as Tad had over the swim team announcement.
"Well I can't wait til the first meet. What are your school colors?
I'll have to wear the proper colors."
Shane grinned a feeling of euphoria washing over him so strong tears
sprang right out of his eyes with no warning at all. Don cupped his hand
around his neck and wiped them with his thumb. "Happy tears?"
Shane nodded feeling pretty embarrassed.
"Well you better get it all out Shane. Cause we are gonna go to every
single one of your meets. Cheering you on louder then anyone else cheers
their kids on."
Shane chuckled through his tears and wrapped his arms around Don's
neck. "I love you guys." He'd said it. He'd never said it to them before
had been scared to. He braced himself a bit hoping it had not been a huge
mistake. Don's arms only closed in tighter around him then he felt Tad
come up behind him and he was immersed between them.
"And we love you Shane. Very much."
Shane could hear that he was crying and it made him not feel so stupid
that he'd been crying. When they pulled out of the hug he smiled at Tad
then to Don. "Happy tears?"
They both laughed and nodded while wiping furiously at their eyes.
After dinner Shane borrowed Don's digital camera went up to his room
positioned it on the desk then took off his clothes. He brought the naked
picture of Sam up on the screen and that was all he needed to get hard. He
set the timer on the camera then posed in front of it in sort of a super
man pose while he tried not to laugh at how stupid he felt doing this whole
nude picture thing.
He set the timer one more time then turned back to the camera. Leaning
over he spread his ass cheeks and did laugh this time knowing his face
would not be seen in this picture. He took a few more suggestive shots the
more he did the more fun he had then put his clothes back on and sat down
at his desk.
He downloaded the pictures into his computer then mailed them off to
Sam. He got on the internet and his eyes lit up seeing Sam was on there
too. He brought up his instant messenger and typed in. 'Check your email
I'll call you in five minutes.'
He waited long enough for Sam to say okay then clicked off the
internet and patted Shep for five minutes. Five minutes passed and he
picked up the phone and dialed Sam's number. All he heard was laughing for
about 10 seconds after the phone was picked up on the other end.
"God Shane I love you."
Grinning Shane changed his voice and said. "Whose Shane." There was
a second or two of silence and Sam busted out laughing all over again.
"You had me there for a minute."
Shane laughed. "So you liked the pictures?"
"God yes, I'm gonna have fun when the lights go out tonight. I
especially like the ass close up." He started snickering again and Shane
joined in. "So love muffin, how was school?"
Shane told him and Sam got so excited Shane had to pull the phone away
from his ear so he would not lose an ear drum from Sam's yells of
excitement. When he calmed down there was a heavy moment of silence after
Shane broke the bad news.
"Well," He said sighing deeply. "You ain't gotta worry about him
bugging you there Shane. You got plenty of friends who'll stick up for
you."
"I know, and it really didn't bother me as bad as I thought seeing him
again would. I hate him I know that. But he didn't really scare me or
make me pee my pants or anything."
"God what are the damn odds you two would both change schools then end
up in the same school?"
"Bad odds."
"Did you tell Seth to beat him up?"
Chuckling Shane said no then explained why. Sam said the same thing
Seth did but seemed content to go along with Shane in whatever he said.
They talked for so long that night that Shane did not get a chance to call
Aaron so he sent him an email apologizing and saying he would call him the
next night before shutting out his light and going to bed.
He walked into art class on Friday very excited to see how the teacher
would do guessing who every one was. He had no idea why it interested him
so but it did. He sat down by Kenny in his usual seat.
"Well today's the big day." he said then started laughing thinking it
was funny as hell how excited Shane was about the teacher's little game.
Shane smacked him on the arm. "Stop picking on me." He said laughing
himself.
Miss Moon stood up three minutes later with the papers in her hand.
She walked around slowly and handed them out looking like she was doing
some last minute thinking. She walked up to Kenny and Shane last.
"You two have got me confused. I must say that hardly ever happens.
By me being confused it means that the two of you think a lot alike." Shane
and Kenny looked at each other in surprise the news pleasing them both.
"You're good friends huh?" She asked smiling warmly at the both of
them. They both nodded without hesitation.
"See it's amazing what you can tell from one drawing." She looked at
the two drawings in her hand Shane could see through the thin paper and saw
she was holding the picture of Shep and the one of Jimmy's cat. She looked
from them to the papers for a minute then sighed and slid the picture of
Shep down in front of Shane and the cat down in front of Kenny.
"How'd I do?"
Shane grinned at her picking up the picture. "Very good."
"And you both are very good artists. I'm very excited to see what
work you produce this year." she started to turn away. "And Shane. I'm
your faculty advisor. Do you mind staying and talking with me for a few
minutes after class?"
"No ma'am." She set them to work in white doctor type jackets around
the easels with acrylic paints to paint a bowl of fruit. "No drawing." She
said like it was life or death. "Just work your paints. Get the feel of
them. Learn how each one has a life of it's own."
Kenny turned bright red from trying not to laugh and Shane tried not
to laugh soley cause Kenny was being so funny in his effort not to. The
white coat itself was funny on him as it was like three times too big,
rolled up five times on the sleeves and the bottom was hanging down on the
floor. He looked even cuter then usual in it and again Shane just want to
grab a hold of him and squeeze.
Still unable to picture him and Jimmy having sex he wanted to get more
of a visual. He leaned over and whispered. "Are you a top or a bottom?"
in Kenny's ear.
Kenny broke out laughing making a long red line across his canvas as
it caught him so off guard. "Look what you made me do." He said pointing
to the canvas and the red streak with his brush.
Shane grinned then got up and wet some paper towels he wiped off the
streak leaving only a very light pinkish hue. Then threw the papers away.
"well you gonna tell me?" He asked stepping back up behind the easel.
"You want to know cause you can't get over what it must be like for us
in bed can you? You think he'd squish me." he was grinning widely and
seemed to enjoy this conversation.
Shane laughed a little nervously then nodded.
Kenny laughed again making sure to hold his brush away from the
canvas. "My answer is only gonna make it worse."
Shane's eyes widened. "You are a bottom then?"
Chuckling at Shane's wide eyes Kenny nodded. He leaned over closer.
"Mine ain't big enough to get through his big ole ass cheeks anyways."
Shane turned a little red but managed to grin. "Seems to me like his
would be bigger then your whole ass though."
Kenny laughed again. "His ain't as big as the rest of his body. It's
not teeny but nothing more then a little guy like me can't handle. I
imagine it would be a little funny for someone to watch. That's why we
haven't invited spectators." Kenny started laughing again at his own joke
and Shane laughed right a long with him.
"It really doesn't bother me though Shane that people might laugh at
us. I love him and that's all that matters. I know he loves me too and I
feel so safe with him. You know what I mean?"
Shane smiled warmly and nodded. "Yeah I think I do."
When the bell rang Shane grabbed his pack and walked up to Mrs. Moon's
desk. "Oh have a seat dear." she said standing up and walking to the other
side of her desk. She sat on the edge of it while Shane sat down in a
chair.
"How are things going so far for you here?"
"Really great ma'am. I really like it."
She crossed her arms across her chest and smiled warmly. "Heard me
called Looney miss Moon yet?"
Shane blushed and looked at the floor. She started laughing. "I
spose I am a little looney. But I like to think I'm a good teacher and I
don't want those other kids to scare you off towards me. I'm here to help
you out and I don't want you to ever be scared to come to me with
anything."
"I won't be scared Miss Moon. I think you are very nice. And I've
not let what people have said scare me. No one's really said anything mean
other then the looney thing and that's not necessarily scary I think
everyone can be a bit Looney sometimes."
She laughed again and patted his shoulder. "You are certainly right
about that. So you are content with all your classes and everything?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Have you got any plans for after you graduate?"
"No ma'am."
"Don't have any idea what you want to do when you grow up?"
"No ma'am."
"Well Shane you are a Junior this year. In less then six months
you'll need to start filling out college applications. Why don't you start
thinking on it. I'm here anytime you want to talk and I'm pretty
knowledgeable when it comes to careers and the best colleges to go to for
those careers. As you probably guessed I'm for you at least going to
college." she smiled warmly again.
"Well I've never considered it before. But I'll think on it okay?"
"Sure dear. I wish you would a college education can be very
valuable."
"And very costly."
"Oh there's scholarships and grants. I think you'd be eligible for
some. Remember though the sooner you apply the better chances are of you
getting them. Now I'll write you a pass to your next class. That is if
there isn't anything you want to tell me."
Shane shook his head and stood up. "No ma'am."
She chuckled as she turned to her desk and picked up a notepad. "You
sure are a polite young man."
He sat down at lunch between Kenny and Seth like he had been all week.
"So what did Looney Miss Moon want?" Kenny asked.
Shane shook his head. "She wanted to tell me that she didn't want me
to be scared of her despite what all the very rude kids in this school call
her."
Kenny put his hand over his mouth and chuckled. "So she knows we all
call her that?"
Nodding Shane looked up at Jimmy who was smiling with his arm wrapped
around Kenny. "So you think I'd squish him huh?"
Shane nearly choked on his milk and turned bright red. "Kenny did you
tell on me?"
Kenny nodded and chuckled some more burying himself deeper into
Jimmy's massive body and pulling his arm tighter around him. Jimmy laughed
and shook his head. "You are not the first one to ask Shane. And I'm sure
you won't be the last. It takes a lot of muscle to have sex with Kenny
when you're my size." He grinned widely. "To make sure you don't fall over
and make a pancake out of him."
Lowering his head Shane laughed still unable to picture anything but
cartoon character looking Kenny and Jimmy going at it.
"You can't sit here." Shane's head shot back up at Seth's voice and he
looked across the table where Derek was standing by Pete.
"Why not?" Pete asked angrily while Shane's eyes locked into Derek's.
Seth pointed over at Shane. "They have history."
Shane shrunk down on the bench wanting to disappear right under it.
Kenny looked from Derek to Shane nervously while Seth held his ground and
stared warning-ly at Pete.
"Well we..." Pete pointed to Derek then himself. "Have a present.
And I don't think I should have to lose my lunch spot just cause they have
a history."
Shane watched Derek's face turn as red as his felt. "It's okay man.
I'll just go sit somewhere's else."
"Yeah do that ass hole." Seth sneered.
Shane put his hand on Seth's arm. "It's okay," he looked up at Pete
then Derek. "It's okay really. Derek can sit here. I don't mind." He
did mind but did not want to be the asshole of the situation.
Seth looked at him with a gaping mouth. Shane squeezed his arm
tighter. "It's alright Seth." He gave him a look that he hoped portrayed
he just wanted to subject to drop. Seth read it and took a deep breath
calming his raging anger. "Yeah okay Pete. I'm sorry." He looked like it
killed him to say it but he looked a little better after seeing Shane's
very appreciative smile.
Pete sat down across from Kenny and motioned for Derek to sit on the
other side of him closest to the wall and as far away from Shane as
possible while still sitting at the same table. Pete looked at him
apologetically and Shane smiled at him.
Derek could easily tell who knew the story of what he'd done. He was
surprised it was only two he'd have figured Shane would have told all his
friends which was why he'd been so surprised when Pete started making
passes at him in the locker room before and after football practice.
He'd thought Pete was cute from that first day in the cafeteria
thought the whole table was pretty damn hot. But Shane was by far still
the cutest and he had to force himself to keep his eyes on his tray and not
stare over at him.
"You coming to practice tonight Shane?" Kenny asked after a few
minutes.
"I can't I have an appointment." He said it quietly but there wasn't
anyway to say it low enough for Derek not to hear unless he whispered which
would probably raise more of a suspicion then him just saying an
appointment.
"You can get out of study hall again though can't you?" Seth asked.
"Oh sure, as long as I keep my grades up I can stay out of study hall.
Sort of a deal the coach worked out." Shane downed the rest of the milk
and got up from the table.
"Where you going?"
"I'm all done."
Seth sighed and shot Derek a dirty look. Derek didn't see it but Pete
did. He kept quiet about it though til Shane was out of earshot. "He
didn't do anything man."
Derek looked up and over at Seth who was looking back at Pete with
daggers coming out of his eyes. Seth turned to Derek seeing him looking.
"What are you trying to do Derek?"
Derek stammered but could say nothing comprehendible.
Seth threw his fork back into his tray. "You are god damn lucky Shane
told me to leave you alone you fuck. Cause I'd kick your fucking ass into
next week." He stood up grabbed his tray and took off before Derek could
say anything not wanting to hear a word that came out of his God Damn
mouth.
With 20 minutes left of lunch Shane went up to the library wanting to
get a good book to read over the weekend. He walked through the fiction
section tracing his finger along the books pulling one out here and there
and checking it over. He went down one aisle then turned into another
seeing the girl who'd been laughing at him the first day of school. The
one who'd been wearing the cute blue suit thing-y he turned back out of the
aisle and went over to the next one.
He was just starting down the aisle when the girl joined him. "Hi
Shane." he dropped his finger that had been tracing along the books back to
his side and smiled at her.
"How are you?" She asked almost curtsying as she said it.
"I'm fine. How are you?" he wanted to at least appear polite.
"Well I'm good." she leaned back against the bookshelves and ran her
finger along her lips while her eyes studied his face.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Shane asked too
uncomfortable to just stand there and wait for whatever the hell it was she
wanted.
"Well uh," She giggled a bit and turned bright red.
Shane shook his head. "Are you teasing me or something?" He asked
turning and looking around to see if there were other people there to watch
him get teased.
"No Shane. I just gotta ask you something."
"Well ask it." he snapped.
"Are you gay?"
Shane rolled his eyes and took off down the aisle. She ran up behind
him and grabbed his arm. "I'm not teasing you Shane. I just want to know.
So I can not waste my time flirting with you all year."
He stopped and turned back to her totally shocked now. Not only was
she not gonna tease him she apparently thought he was worth flirting with.
She smiled shyly at him looking nervous. He smiled back feeling a little
sorry for her looking so nervous. "Yes I'm gay." he braced himself still
expecting her to laugh right in his face but she only smiled again letting
out a sigh.
"Why is it all the cutest guys are gay?"
Shane laughed a little and shook his head. "I have no idea. In fact
I hadn't really noticed. But I appreciate your compliment anyways."
She held her books tighter to her chest, leaning her head into the
bookshelves she sighed again. "And apparently very nice too."
Blushing Shane chuckled.
"And modest."
He put his hand out and nudged her arm. "Would you stop you are
embarrassing the hell out of me."
She touched his hand. "I'm sorry. And I'm sorry I made you
uncomfortable that first day in class. My friend and I get a little
excited when we see a new cute guy. We weren't saying anything mean. Just
how cute you were."
A little unable to believe it Shane was finding himself liking this
girl. He'd never talked to any girl around his age this long before. Had
mostly run from girls as fast as he could. But this girl seemed real nice.
"There you are." Shane turned to see Seth coming down the aisle. He
stopped beside him and looked over at the girl. "Natalie are you trying to
convert again." He said putting his hands on his hips like he was pissed
but Shane could tell he was just joking.
Natalie laughed. "I was just checking. I won't try and convert." she
reached out her hand and Shane shook it. "Maybe we could at least be
friends."
Shane smiled and nodded. "That sounds nice."
She nodded to him then to Seth then turned around and walked off.
"She seems nice." He said turning to Seth.
"Oh yeah she's real nice. One of the few girls I can tolerate at this
school." Grabbing his hand Seth led him over to one of the tables. "Can I
please kick Derek's ass." He said holding his hands up in a praying
position.
Shane laughed. "No, I'm sorry Seth I just wouldn't feel right about
it. It would make me as bad as he is."
"No it wouldn't you aren't pretending to love him. You would just be
defending your honor."
Putting his hand over Seth's in the middle of the table Shane shook
his head. "No you'd be defending my honor. Don't get me wrong I really
appreciate the offer, but he hasn't done anything to me. He seems like
he's sorry. I'm not gonna start trouble all over again."
"You tell Sam about this?"
Shane's eyes widened in shock. "You mean you didn't call him right up
and tell him?"
Seth shook his head. "I got grounded from long distance calls. I was
up about 200 bucks last month my dad was pissed."
"I told him. I told him what I told you. He seemed okay with it.
Said it was my decision. He's as unhappy as you are at the situation but
he knows it's my situation and will go along with what I say." He pointed
over at Seth jabbing him in the forehead. "And if you call and sway him
I'll kick your ass."
Seth grinned and rubbed his forehead. "Alright I'll be good. But I
swear if that fuck puts one finger on you it's all over."
Shane nodded. "That sounds fair."
In the locker room before gym Kenny grabbed his gym clothes and took
off again to the bathroom stalls. Shane felt sorry for him that he had to
do that cause he knew he did cause he didn't want anyone seeing his scars.
He was facing his own locker when Derek's voice spoke up.
"Is that Seth guy your boyfriend?"
Shane shook his head and slipped on his shirt. He threw his other one
in the locker and turned around. "Why does it matter to you?"
Derek shrugged. "I just want you to be happy Shane. I think that guy
would take good care of you."
"I don't need any taking care of." he snapped pulling roughly at the
bottom of his shirt.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
Giving him a dirty look Shane asked. "Why does it matter?"
"I just want to know."
"Even if I didn't I would never go out with you again."
"I know that Shane." He knew it but desperately wished it didn't have
to be that way. He loved Shane every bit as much as he had when they were
going out and didn't think that love would ever stop. "Is that little guy
your boyfriend?"
"My boyfriend doesn't go to this school. You probably know him
though. He went to Prescott last year." He wasn't sure why he was giving
out this information. Figured maybe it was just cause he was real proud of
his boyfriend and wanted Derek to know just for that reason.
"Who?"
"Sam Mcneil."
Derek nodded looking like he approved, not that Shane gave a shit, but
also impressed which Shane really liked. "He good to you?"
"Hell of a lot better then you were."
Derek nodded again and lowered his eyes to the floor. "My dad said he
talked to you right after it happened. He said you didn't look good at
all."
"Did you expect me to look good?" Shane shot out angrily. "I couldn't
move for a fucking week Derek. I couldn't see I couldn't sit up. And you
left me there to fend for myself." Tears burned at Shane's eyes and he
refused to let them fall. "I don't know if I'd have made it if Don hadn't
come along. I was scared to death."
Tears were coursing down Derek's cheek as he shook his head and
apologized repeatedly.
"I don't know why you expect me to keep talking to you. To act like I
like you when I don't. If you were me would you forgive you?"
Derek shook his head again.
"I don't give a shit if you sit with Pete at lunch. I don't give a
shit if you come to parties I'm at. But I don't want you talking to me."
He could not believe how bold he was being. Could not believe how much
Derek was crying he did not care though he'd cried a hell of a lot harder
the night he was attacked and the days following it. Derek in his opinion
deserved to feel as bad as he was feeling now. Kenny walked back into the
aisle he looked at Derek then at Shane. He jammed his clothes in his
locker took Shane's hand and hauled him away from Derek.
"Why don't he just leave you alone?" He asked angrily as they walked
into the gym.
"I don't know, don't worry about it though. I'm quite certain he's
not intending on hurting me."