Date: Tue, 24 May 2016 20:33:37 -0400
From: JAMES HEADY <vector18@msn.com>
Subject: With Love We Can Be Human--Chapter 2

With Love We Can Be Human
By
James

Disclaimer

This story deals with sexual as well as romantic situations between
teenaged males.  Should you not be of the legal age to read such material
and if you're offended by this type of story, then please find something
else to read.

This is a work of fiction.  Any similarities of people either living or
dead as well as names of people in the story which are used in real life
are purely coincidental.

Finally, please remember to donate to Nifty so that these stories can
remain free to the public.

I can be reached at vector18@msn.com.  I'm willing to talk to anyone, and
flames will be ignored.

Chapter 2

Torey

I got out of the car after hugging Michael and I walked to the front doors
of the music store and went in.  The guy behind the counter looked towards
the door and when he saw me, he smiled.  He waited until I got up to the
counter and he introduced himself.

"Hey," he said.  "I'm Alex.  How's it going?"

"It's going good," I replied.  "I'm Torey and I was wondering if I could
check out a couple of things."

"Yeah," he said.  "What would you like to look at?"

"When I walked up to the front of this place, I saw that you have a couple
of adds in the windows facing the outside and it looked like they were adds
for new guitars."

"Yeah," he began.  "We just got a couple of new ones.  We got a new
electric guitar and a new base.  They're both really good brands, and we
have a practice room where you can try them out."

"Cool!" I said happily.  "I'd love that!"

"Good," he replied.  "I'll get one of them for you.  Actually, I'll bring
them both in and you can try one out, then the other."

"Sounds good," I answered.

0000

Brandon

My friends and I arrived at the music store and Alex smiled as he saw us
walk in.  He came from behind the counter and shook my hand.

"Hey Brandon," he said and smiled wider.  He said hi to Dana and Austyn as
well and then went back behind the counter.

"So what did you guys want to look at today?" Alex asked.

Dana was in to keyboards and she had been looking for a new one for quite
some time.  Austyn was in to various flutes and other similar instruments,
so after he and Dana went off to look at their respective instruments, I
thought for a moment as to what I wanted to check out.

"We have a new base that you might be able to check out that we just got a
couple of days ago," Alex said.  "There is someone already in the practice
room, but he might let you do some stuff with him."

 "Okay," I replied and headed towards the room.  I didn't hear much and I
figured that whoever was in there was thinking over whatever they wanted to
do, or they were looking over the instrument they had with them.

I went in and as I shut the door, some notes from an electric guitar
started up.  I saw the base leaning up in its stand and I turned to the
person who was holding the guitar and waited to see what would happen next
and when I looked up, I saw in front of me the source of the now fading
notes and it was a small boy who held the guitar.  I motioned at the base
and he nodded and smiled at me.  I picked it up and then looked at him.

It was a boy, but he was much smaller than I was and though he was standing
with the guitar in the playing position, I could still see that his body
was extremely small, but he still looked either 15 or 16.  He had auburn
hair that shined in the lights.  His eyes were light-blue like the sky with
no clouds and he looked to be around only 5 FT and I wasn't sure about his
weight at the time.  What I was sure of, was that I was instantly struck
with a want, no, actually a need to get to know him.

My thoughts were interrupted when he started playing once again.  I
immediately recognized it as the opening notes of the song Aras by the
group Skalmold which is a Metal group from Iceland.  I began doing the
baseline parts which began the song as he played.  As we began playing, the
boy began singing the opening lines which were the clean vocal parts.
Clean vocals in Metal are what they call singing or vocals which aren't the
usual growling or screaming.  Once he finished the opening lines, I began
the harsh vocals.

We went through the song without seemingly any errors.  I finished my
parts, he finished the lead parts as well as us finishing our respective
vocal lines, and it was over.  I turned to him and set the base in its
stand and walked over to him.

"Well, since we introduced our musical talents to one another, we should
probably introduce ourselves to one another in the typical way," I said
smiling.

"I'''I'''I'm T'''T'''T'''Torey," he stuttered out and held out his hand.

"I'm Brandon," I replied and we shook hands then held it longer than most
people would.

His hand was small, but soft and really silky.  I was falling for him
instantly and I didn't even know him.  I thought about that fact as we
stood there looking deep in to one another's eyes.  He then broke the
silence and that got me out of my thoughts.

"Did you want to switch off?" he asked.  "I mean, I can try the base while
you try something on the electric."

"Yeah," I replied happily.  "Electric guitar isn't my strength, but I'll
check it out."

"I know it pretty well," he said as we switched sides.  I was now on his
right holding the electric guitar and waiting for him to continue.  "I can
teach you some of it."

"Thanks," I said.

So he went over some of the basics with me and I was at least able to play
some notes of the guitar lead from a song by Therion.  It was the closing
solo which closed out the Therion Song called "Three Treasures" and while I
played the notes, Torey played the closing base lines.

Once it was over, he put down the base and I put the electric guitar back
on its stand.

"Too bad I can't afford the base," I said.  "I might see if my dad and mom
can get it for me for Christmas or something like that.  I need a new base
anyway."

I did too.  The one I had that I had been given from a cousin back when I
was 12 was getting old really fast, but I was using it for all it was
worth.  Torey looked up and smiled at me.

"Here's something funny that I can tell you," he said.  "I wouldn't be able
to afford the electric guitar right now either."

We burst out laughing and I put a hand on his shoulder.

"Glad to see we have that in common as well," I answered.  "So how much of
an incurable Metal head are you?"

"Beyond saving," he said smiling.  "What about you?"

"The same," I said.  I told him that unless it was National Socialist
Metal, then I listened to it all.  He said that he felt the same way and
then a silence began.

I moved closer to him and our hands connected and I was holding his hand
once again.  I knew that it probably wouldn't be a good idea, but no one
was in there with us and unless he pulled away or told me to stop, I didn't
see any reason to keep physical contact of that friendly nature out of it.
As I stepped closer to him, he began talking again.

"It's nice to know that I'm not alone in my Metal obsession," he said
looking directly at me and looking in to my eyes.

"Me too," I replied.  "I definitely feel the same way.  I'm sure we have
other things in common as well."

"You mean aside from both of us not being able to afford these guitars?" he
asked which got us going with laughter again.

"Seriously though," I began.  "I'd enjoy talking with you more."

"I feel the same way," he answered.

"I do have to find my friends since they came with me," I went on.  "Would
you like to come along with me while I look for them?"

"Really?" he asked smiling hugely.

"Yeah," I said.

"Thanks!" he said happily and we exited the practice room and went in
search of Dana and Austyn.

We found Dana and she was walking away from a keyboard which looked more
futuristic than anything I had seen in a while.  She walked towards me,
then looked at Torey.

"Did you like what you saw?" I asked her and pointed towards the keyboard.

"Yeah," she replied.

"I wanted to introduce you to Torey," I went on and moved so that they were
facing one another.

"Hi Torey," she said and smiled at him.  "I'm Dana."

"Hi Dana," he replied.  "It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too," she answered and shook hands with him.

"We should go and find Austyn," I said.

We went and found him.  He set down a silver flute on a velvet padded stand
and turned to us.  I introduced him to Torey and they smiled at one another
and shook hands and said hi to one another.

Once introductions were made, I faced all three of them and looked mainly
at Torey.

"So do you guys have anything else you want to look at?" I asked.  "I'm
getting pretty hungry."

"So am I actually," Austyn responded.

"I can definitely eat something," Dana added.

"Would you like to come with us Torey?" I asked.  "I'd love having you join
us."

"I'd like that too," Dana interjected.

"So would I," Austyn added.

"I'd enjoy that!" Torey said smiling hugely once again.  "I just have to
call Michael and let him know where I'll be since he has to pick me up.
He's the guy I'm living with right now.  I'll call him quickly and let him
know where he needs to pick me up since I won't be here after all."

He made the call and it went quick.  He finished up and put the phone back
on his belt and smiled.

"Are you guys ready to go?" he asked.

"Yeah," we all three said simultaneously, then we were off to get food.

After we talked to Torey about the restaurant we were thinking about going
to, he agreed happily and after he called Michael again while we walked and
told him the name of the restaurant and that that's where we'd be, he hung
up with him and he fell in to step beside me.  Dana and Austyn were walking
in front of us and I noticed Dana giving looks back at Torey and I.  I knew
what she was thinking and I was glad that she wasn't saying anything.

I had been thinking more and more about finding a boyfriend, but I was
definitely set against the idea when I was 14, since I was still
psychologically and emotionally getting comfortable with being gay.  Dana
would ask me about any guys I liked back then and I let her know that I
wasn't ready yet, and though she'd drop it and she wouldn't be pushy about
it, I knew that if she had it her way then she'd be setting me up with a
nice guy.  I knew she cared and I loved her for it.  Now though since I had
told her a few months ago that I figured that I might start dating, she was
talking a little more about it and would tease me about cute guys who'd
walk past us if we would be sitting outside restaurants eating.  Now since
I was walking beside Torey and if we got a strong friendship going between
us from which to build a romantic relationship, I knew she'd really be
pushing the point.

I was removed from my thoughts when I heard Torey speak.

"Food! I can't wait!" he yelled and made as if he hadn't eaten food in
years.

I looked up and saw that we were closing the distance and soon, we were
walking up on the doors of the restaurant.  We walked in and while Austyn,
Dana and Torey looked at the menus on the walls in front of us, I checked
my wallet and made sure I had enough money so I could pay.  Dana and Austyn
didn't know it, but I was going to surprise them and pay for all of us, and
that now included Torey and I was happy with that.  I then put my wallet
back in my pocket and looked at the menu.  Soon though, a waiter came and
we were all seated.  Torey sat beside me on my left and Dana sat to
Austyn's right across from us.

I looked over the menu and saw some of the specials they had listed at the
door on this menu as well.  I decided on the crab plate which had a serving
of soft-shell crab, a side of coleslaw, a side of fried clam strips and
spicy seasoned fries.  Austyn got some clam strips as well as soft-shell
crab along with some buffalo shrimp and potato salad.  Dana ordered the
same as Austyn and after Torey looked at the menu, he ordered the same as
what I got.

We talked while we ate and Torey explained that he was living with a guy
named Michael at a home for kids who had nowhere to go.  He said that he
had been living there since he was 13-and-a-half and he was doing well now
that he was in a safe place.

"So what about your parents?" I asked.  "Do you see them at all?"

"No," he said and I saw from the look on his face and in his eyes that this
wasn't a subject he wanted to discuss, so I let him redirect the topic.

After saying that he was glad that Michael and Josh took him in, he asked
us about our families and I let Austyn and Dana tell him about their
families.

Dana's family had been in Sangger for decades and her parents had hard
times, given that they were African-American and she herself had hard
times, and though they didn't seem like much, they were hard in that people
would be hateful towards her because of her skin color, but they were
abusive verbally in ways that were hard to prove which made it all the more
difficult for her.  It was also hard on Austyn and I to have to see her go
through it and to know that there was little we could do.

Mostly it was at school where she'd be bullied and we would write down what
happened and at that point, we just hoped that it wouldn't get any worse.

I told Torey about my family and he seemed happy that I was in a family who
treated me well.

We talked about Heavy Metal and which types we all enjoyed, then I
mentioned my love of reading.  Austyn and Dana were readers as well and I
was always extremely happy about that, given the lack of reading among
today's people regardless of them being young or old.  Torey said that he
loved to read and he and I talked about what we enjoyed reading.  Like me,
he enjoyed the deep moral thinkers and he as well as Dana and Austyn
discussed what the two of them enjoyed reading.  They liked most of what I
enjoyed reading as well, but they also enjoyed some of the contemporary
authors in Horror, Suspense and Fantasy.

After we talked and were close to finishing up, I got out money and paid
the waiter.  Dana looked at me and pretended to be offended.

"You really shouldn't have," she said with a mock sneer.

"Yeah yeah yeah," I said and waved my hand in a dismissive fashion.

"Maybe I was planning on paying," she shot back.

"I'm sure," I said smirking.

"Seriously though, thanks," she said.

"That was really nice of you," Austyn added.  "Thank you Brandon."

"Thanks," Torey said.

"You're welcome," I said.  "It's no problem and I was happy to do it for
all of you."

Just then, Austyn got a call and so did Dana.  They moved so that they
wouldn't be talking over one another, then came back.

"I have to go and get some stuff cleaned up around the house," Dana said.
"We're having my Aunt Tammy and Uncle Ron over, and the dining room as well
as the living room need a little cleaning so they look good."

"I have to go as well," Austyn added.  "I have to help my dad with some
yard work since he's starting a new garden for the summer."

"Okay," I said and stood to hug them.  "It was really good seeing you guys
today and spending time together."

"Definitely," Austyn said.

"I enjoyed it too," Dana added.

Torey stood and they hugged him, though him allowing it took some effort on
his part.  He looked nervous at first, but then relaxed and hugged both of
them back, then they separated.

"It was nice meeting you Torey," Dana said.

"Yeah," Austyn added.  "I'm glad I was able to meet you today and I look
forward to getting to know you a little more."

"I feel the same as Austyn," Dana responded.

"I'd really enjoy that also," Torey said and smiled at both of them.

After they left, it was just Torey and I.  I decided to get some pie and
Torey looked at the menu and ordered what I was getting which was some
chocolate pie.

"That's my favorite," I said, then with a smirk added: "Of course they
don't have the "Pie" I usually like, so I'll have to settle for my first
favorite."

"Torey looked at me for a moment, then laughed.  Apparently he needed a
moment to think about my double meaning.

"Yeah, they don't have my most favorite here either," he replied and we
both cracked up.  "Chocolate Pie is my favorite though."

"I wonder what it is we don't have in common?" I asked half joking.

"I'm sure we can figure out one thing," he said smiling.  "For now though,
let's not ruin the mood."

"Agreed," I replied.

"So what do you have planned for when you get home?" he asked and looked
closer at me as if making sure my image would stay in his mind forever.

"I don't have much planned aside from doing a little working out down in
the basement," I answered.  "We have a treadmill along with a set of
weights in our basement so I use those to keep in shape."

"Cool," he said.  "I mainly use the treadmill at Michael's house, and that
helps me stay in shape, though I need to build more muscle since I don't
have much weight on me."

"I could help you with that," I suggested.  "I mean, if you want me to."

"Yeah," he answered.  "I'd like that.  Thanks."

"You're welcome and I'm happy to do it," I responded.

"When I get back to the house, I'll probably read for a bit then after that
I'm not sure," he said.

"I've really enjoyed our time together," I said looking at him and then
looking in to his eyes.  "I kind of wish it didn't have to end."

"I feel the same," he answered putting down his fork.  "Would you like to
exchange numbers with me?"

"Yeah!" I said and I saw the deep understanding that flashed in his eyes as
I figured that he saw that my face lit up and a large smile spread over my
face.  I figured that I had given myself away without realizing it.

0000

Torey

I saw the smile that lit Brandon's face up and joy, the depth of which I
had never seen in a boy's eyes was now showing in his.  I saw it for what
it was.  He was crushing on me and bad.  I felt the same way and wondered
if I was giving myself away to him during the course of our time together.

0000

Brandon

When Torey asked if we could exchange numbers, I saw the hope and the
infinite joy on his face and in his eyes as well.  He was definitely
falling for me and I hoped that we could be together at some point as more
than friends.  Right now though, I was happy that we were becoming friends.

I put his number in my phone and when I gave him mine, he did the same and
once we put away our phones, I saw someone walking towards our table.  He
was tall and had brown hair and blue eyes.  He was definitely cute, and I
at first thought he might be around my age or a little older, then Torey
turned and smiled at him.

"Hi Michael," he said and got up running towards him and hugging him.

"Hey Torey," the guy named Michael said.  "How are you?"

"I'm fine," he answered.  "I wanted you to meet my new friend Brandon."

Michael and I introduced ourselves to one another and shook hands, then we
all three walked out to the car that Michael had apparently driven here.

"I had a nice time today," I said as Torey reached out and we shared a hug.

"So did I," he answered as his cheek was pressed against mine and I felt
for the first time how small he was.  He was delicate, or at least that's
how I perceived him at the time.  We eventually let go, but reluctantly
then looked in to one another's eyes for a moment.

"If you want," I began.  "I can see if we can have you over this up-coming
Monday if I'm not doing anything.  Also, if you're not doing anything
either?"

I looked at Michael when saying this last part and he smiled.

"I don't see any reason why he can't come and visit you on Monday," Michael
said.  "You have your appointment with me in the morning, but I'm sure you
can go see him sometime in the afternoon."

"That sounds good," Torey said.

"Yeah definitely," I added.  "I'll call you and let you know what's going
on."

"Thanks," Torey said and got in the car.

"No problem," I replied.

I said goodbye to him and then to Michael and I watched them pull out and
drive away.  I called my mom and let her know that I was coming home, then
I walked along and all that time, I couldn't stop thinking of Torey.  He
was beautiful and I was learning quickly what it was like to fall in love.

Author's Notes

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and that you continue to enjoy the
story.  I also have plans for Austyn, but that'll come later and no, I'm
not telling.  LOL.

So everyone have a good evening and I'll see you all in Chapter Three.