Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 10:57:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: William Cordova <wcordova98@yahoo.com>
Subject: William Cordova - Chapter Fourteen...

Disclaimer

This story contains acts of the sexual nature between underage boys.  If
you do not like this type of story, or it is illegal in the area in which
you live, do not read any further.

*****************************************************************************

Chapter Fourteen: Through Thick and Thin

"Hey Matt wait up."

Matt slowed to allow me to catch up to him.  "Hey how's it going."

"Good.  I hope we do something fun in gym today." I said.

"Yeah, same here."

We had our last softball game yesterday and the championship would be
played on Thursday.  My team ended up winning only a few games, so we were
near the bottom.  This was also the last week for the swimmers, and just
like last year, I only caught like two or three glimpses of bare butts,
minus the incident with Vince.  Gym went fine, Matt being his same outgoing
self in the locker room.  Coach gave us a free day, similar to what Fridays
are.  Most people shot hoops as some sat around.  As usual, Matt and I
teamed up and were playing with our normal group of kids on the main goal.
About half way through the game, Matt told me he had to take a leak.

Matt walked over to coach and asked to use the bathroom.  As Matt was
walking back past the floor, I stopped and waived one of the kids looking
on to take my place.  I walked with Matt back to the locker room.

"What you doing?"  Matt asked.

"I gotta use the shitter too."

Matt laughed.  I usually don't like using the bathroom in school,
especially since the students abuse them -- often not flushing, or
"missing" if you want to call it that.  The few times I do need to use it,
I always get out of class to do it, not between classes.  I don't do well
under pressure, hearing all the kids in the bathroom.  Matt used the urinal
and was talking stuff about whatever as he waited for me.

I was finishing up my business when I thought I heard footsteps off in the
locker room.  I flushed and before I could even shut the door on the stall,
James and his buddies were standing in the bathroom door way.

"What you want?"  I asked attempting to make my voice sound confident and
threatening.  Matt stood a few feet behind me.

"We have some unfinished business to take care of and this time no one is
here to stop us."

"What unfinished business would that be?"

"Coach interrupted us before we could finish our queer bashing.  I think
it's about time we finish."

"Queer bashing?  What?"  I was confused.

"Your little fag friend here needs to be taught a lesson."

"I'm not gay you bitch" Matt yelled.

"You must be fucking stupid James.  Matt's not a fag.  He's got a
girlfriend and everything."

"Oh I smelt gay on his ugly fuck the first time I saw him."  James barked
back.

"What the fuck does it matter anyways.  We're leaving, so move outta our
way."

"I don't think so."  His three buddies standing behind him spread out to
completely block the exit.  "You can step aside and let us have him, or you
can join in his beating."

"Just shut up.  Move out of the way."

James and his buddies just stood there.  I turned around and started
walking back into the other locker room, the one we hid in last incident
with James.  I didn't know if there was an exit or not but I was going to
find out.  Matt joined my side quickly.  I looked behind us and the gang
was on our heels.

I quickly looked around for an exit, but didn't see one.  I was getting
scared.  I knew I could take one on, but two of his buddies were just as
large I was, and the other third one was a bit smaller, but still, four to
two aren't good odds.

I turned around to try to compromise, but before I got any words out, it
was tackled and pinned against a locker.  James grabbed Matt.  Matt swung
his fists at James but between him and the other smaller kid, he was no
match.  They grabbed him around the chest and James took one swing, hitting
Matt square in the stomach.

I struggled to free myself but was punched in the stomach.  I fell to my
knees gasping for air.  I looked up and saw Matt being dragged into the
bathroom area.  I was kicked in the side a few times, falling to the
ground.  I winced in pain and couldn't move.  I saw the two kids walk back
into the bathroom area where Matt was.  I heard lots of noise, mostly Matt
making rude comments.  He screamed and grunted.  A moment later, the toilet
flushed.

I couldn't lay here and listen to this.  I got up.  I was in some amount of
pain in the ribs but I entered the bathroom; saw the four of them huddled
in a stall, two of them holding Matt face first in the toilet.  I charged
at them, shoving one kid down on the ground.  I swung wildly at James,
striking him in the face.  I struggled to free Matt, but was grabbed from
behind.  I was thrown backwards and hit a urinal hard, right in my side.  I
fell to my knees once again.  This time, I was met with a flurry of fists
and feet.  I felt the cold floor against my cheek.  I reached up and found
blood flowing from my nose and lips -- tasting it on my tongue.  My vision
was blurry, but I saw Matt being manhandled and dragged out of the
bathroom.

The sound of the showers turn on caught my attention, then a moment later,
the most god awful scream I've ever heard in my life.  I heard laughing and
the word faggot at least a dozen times.  They were humiliating him again.
I crawled to the corner so I could see.  They had him stripped to his
boxers and soaking wet.  I gathered enough strength to get up on my knees.

"Stop it you fucking assholes!"  I screamed with what I could.

One of the kids walked my way and with his foot, shoved me backwards.  My
left knee twisted awkwardly and I felt an immense pain engulf it.


I was on my back; the nurse was looking over me, holding a rag on my lip.
"Will?  Will?"  I tried to speak.  "Don't move, you passed out.  Just don't
move ok."

"My knee, it hurts."

"What's wrong with your knee?"

"It hurts really bad."

"Ok."

"Where's Matt?" I asked.

"Matt will be fine.  Don't worry about him."

I moaned again.  "Don't try to move.  An ambulance is on the way."

I closed my eyes.  I had let them beat the shit out of Matt.  They stuck
his face in the toilet again, threw him in scolding hot water and who knows
what else.  I failed to protect him.  I felt worthless, and I couldn't do
anything about it.

Moments later I was being put on a gurney. I tried not to cry, but some
tears had slipped out.  I was too upset, angry and hurt not to let
something out.

My parents met me at the hospital.  The hospital stitched up my lip and
took some x-rays.  I only had a twisted knee, nothing too serious.  I
wasn't hurt that badly.  The school had to call an ambulance because I
passed out.  I only spent a few hours there when my parents took me home.

I got the interrogation on the way home.  "Why'd those boys jump you?" my
dad asked.

"They didn't jump me, they were trying to beat up Matt, but I wouldn't let
them, so they beat me up too."

"Why were they trying to beat him up then?"

"I don't know.  They are jerks that's all.  They've picked on him all
school year long."

"And you never told anyone?"

"Dad, it's the same asshole jerk that I got in trouble for last year.
Remember, I was too rough in flag football."

My mom stepped in then.  "Well, they won't be bothering you or Matt
anymore.  The principal said he would be removing them from the school."

"You spoke to the principal already?"  I asked.

"Yes."

"What he tell you?"

"Not much.  He didn't know more then you were in a fight and got hurt."

"Ok."  I was silent, watching the street as cars passed.  I thought about
Matt.  "How's Matt do you know?"

"Don't know son.  I am sure he's alright.  I don't think they took him to
the hospital, so it can't be that bad."

We arrived home around one-thirty.  I got up on my own power and wobbled to
the front door.  "Here, let me give you a hand son."

"No!  I can do it myself" I shot back.

"Ok ok.  Just go lie down and get some rest."

"No, I want to call Matt first."  My parents didn't argue with that.  I sat
on a chair and called Matt's house.  There was no answer.  I was worried
now.  I let the phone ring and ring.  I finally gave up, hanging up after
some thirty rings.  I was really worried now.  I went in my room, and sort
of undressed, leaving my shorts on.  I was still in my gym clothes.  I
pulled the bedspread up over my body.  I was tired, emotionally and
physically.  I closed my eyes and dozed off.

I awoke to the sound of the front door slamming shut.  I looked at the
clock.  It must be Benjamin coming home.  I heard foot steps.  I was
cuddled up facing the wall, away from the doorway.  I heard Benjamin stop
in my doorway.

"Will?"

"What?"

"What you doing home?"

"Mom and dad brought me home.  Not feeling well."

"Ok.  You missed it then.  An ambulance came to the school today.  I
watched the whole thing from my classroom upstairs.  They hauled some kid
off."

"You didn't hear anything about who that?"

"No.  Why?"

"Because it was me" and I turned over so he could see me.

"Oh my god Will.  What happened?"  He was utterly shocked.

"Matt and I got in a fight."

"You ok?"

"I'm fine.  I only twisted my knee and got my lip cut.  They only took me
to the hospital because I passed out for a minute.  That's all."

"You look like crap.  You have a black eye and you have stitches."

"Huh?"

"Yes, you have a black eye."

"Oh, didn't even notice that.  Guess I haven't looked at myself yet.  I
need to call Matt."  I went to call him. My body was sore.  I noticed I had
some bruises on my ribs and my eye seemed a bit swollen.  My knee still
hurt, but I could walk without much problem.

I picked up the phone and dialed Matt.

"Hello?"

"Hello Mrs. Nichols, its Will."

"Oh hi Will."

"Matt's ok right?"

"Yeah.  I had his doctor check him over.  He has some minor burns on his
back and nothing much else."

"He got burns on his back?"  I remember they tried to shove him in the
water before, and the god awful screaming.  What does that have to do with
anything?

"Yeah, they are just minor, nothing a little cream won't heal up."

"I'm sorry Mrs. Nichols."

"Sorry for what Will?"

"I couldn't protect him.  I promised him I would protect him from those
bullies, but I couldn't do it."

"Oh Will, it's not your fault.  You didn't have anything to do with it, you
couldn't have stopped them.  No one blames you."

"I know.  I just feel like I should have done more."

"That's ok really Will.  You want to talk to Matt, I'm sure he's worried
about you, watching them wheel you off into the ambulance."

"Ok."  I thought for a moment.  Matt was there watching me?  I never even
saw him.

A moment later I heard from the phone "Will?"

"Hey Matt, how you feeling?"

"I'm just fine.  How are you?  You're not too hurt are you?"

"Awe no I'm fine seriously -- just a busted lip and twisted knee. I'll be
fine."

"Oh that's good.  I was worried when they took you off in the ambulance.
Thought you were like dead or something."

I laughed.  "Why would you think that?"

"I was kidding."

"I heard those guys got expelled I think.  That's good."

"Yes, that's excellent.  Fucking asshole bitches."

"I wonder what Anthony thinks?"

Matt laughed.  "He's probably heard things by now."

"I don't know.  Benjamin hadn't heard about it."

We talked a bit more, and then told Matt I was going to call Anthony and
tell him we were alright.  I called Anthony, telling him what happened, but
Anthony had heard already.  I informed him I wasn't really hurt and Matt
was fine.  Anthony suggested we get together on the weekend and have some
fun, just the three of us, no girlfriends, and no movies.  I thought it was
a good idea, it would just take convincing my parents.  Sometimes they try
to over protect me.

"How about a pool party at Matt's.  I don't think he'd have a problem with
that."

"Sounds like a plan to me."  Anthony replied.

"Ok, let me call and check it with him, and I'll call you back ok?"

"Sure."

I hung up the phone and called Matt back.  Mrs. Ducker answered the phone
and I ran the idea by her.  She thought it'd be an excellent idea.  She
never realized that we've been over to her house on several occasions.  She
thought it'd been quite awhile since we been over there.  I called Anthony
back and said it was all good.

The next morning I had to convince my parents to let me go to school.
Normally I would concede to their wishes to stay home and rest, but I
didn't want to seem too tired or ill to have the pool party at Matt's on
Saturday.  Between my ability to walk well enough, and the idea that I hate
getting behind in classes, I did convince them to let me go.  I figured if
I went to school and came home normally, without any problems, they
wouldn't have a problem taking me to Matt's this weekend.

The morning started tough.  I was stiff and tired, but I wouldn't let
myself show it.  In school, there was plenty of talk about the previous
day's events.  I got tired of answering questions after the first twenty
people asked me how I was.  If I wasn't ok, I wouldn't be here.  But stupid
teenagers don't think that far ahead.  I suppose they have to ask because
I'm walking with a noticeable limp, a stitched up lip and a black eye -- of
course they're going to ask.

Gym class came.  Coach told me and Matt that we didn't have to dress out
and participate if we didn't want to.  We were only watching the
championship game today anyways. We sat in the bleachers waiting for the
kids to come out for class.

"How's your burns?" I asked Matt.

"It's fine, really.  Just feels like a bad sunburn."

"What did they do to you?  I didn't see after they had you half naked."

"Nothing.  Coaches came in before they got to finish again."

"Thank god.  What do you think they were going to do?"

"I really don't want to know.  The toilet and shower were bad enough."

We didn't talk a whole lot during the game.  It was a relief not to see
James and his bullies in class.  We grumbled over that on several
occasions.  Lunch and the rest of the classes went by fine.  Ian questioned
me on all the events, worrying I had been hurt bad.  He sure can be sweet
for such a young kid.

Saturday around noon, my mom picked up Anthony and took us to Matt's house.
It was fairly cool for this time of year, overcast and a chance of showers.
Mrs. Nichols made Matt wear a shirt; she didn't want his burn getting any
worse from the sun.  We wrestled, joked around talked and did some diving
stuff.  We ate lunch, some sandwiches and chips.  Mrs. Nichols makes some
excellent sandwiches.  I don't know how she makes it taste so great, since
it's all the same stuff I have at home.

We were up in Matt's room talking.  I was lying on his bed, Matt leaning
against his headboard and Anthony in his desk chair.  Anthony asked "Why
was James picking on you anyways Matt?"

"I don't know."

"You have no idea why he was doing that to you?"

"Well, he seems to think Matt is gay, but that's ridiculous.  He called him
faggot several times."

"Yeah, what a stupid shit."  Anthony replied.

"Yeah, like I'm gay?  I have a girlfriend and all."

"Why didn't you tell him that?" Anthony asked.

"I did. I told him exactly what you just said, but he didn't care."

We were silent for a moment.  Anthony spoke up first.  "People like that
are such morons.  They just pick on someone because they have a small brain
or something, and then they'll try to make an excuse for it."

"Yup" both Matt and I said at about the same time.

"Was it cool having stitches?"

I had my stitches removed Friday.  My lip felt sore afterwards, but it
wasn't too bad.  "Kind of weird actually.  It always felt like I had food
on my lip.  Felt sort of embarrassing."

"It made you look cool though."

"Oh, I don't know about that.  I got my ass kicked."

"You were jumped.  You didn't stand a chance.  It was four against two.  I
don't think you got your ass kicked.  It wasn't a fair fight to begin
with."

"I know, still feel like I got my ass kicked though."

We talked, watched TV and horse played around some.  It wasn't our typical
horse playing though, with our subtle injuries; it was a light work out.  I
got to hold Matt around the neck in a headlock; Anthony put some good arm
locks on me and different things like that.  We were in an awkward
position, I was on the bottom of a pile, Anthony on top of me, and Matt on
top of him, when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in" Matt managed to squeeze out.

Mrs. Ducker opened the door.  She laughed when she saw us -- the human
pile.  "Boys, you crack me up sometimes.  Matt, we need to put some more
medicine on your back ok."

"Ok mom, I'll be there in a minute."

She walked back out the door and Matt started to get up, but I grabbed him
by the ankle.  "Where do you think you're going?" I said.

He was standing on one foot, his other still up on the bed.  "I have to get
medicine on my back."

"Making excuses it sounds like to me." Anthony said.

"Oh yeah?" then Matt turned around and jumped back on top of Anthony,
giving us both a big humpf.  He lifted himself up again and plopped back
down.  I was being squished between both their weights.  He got up and this
time escaped.

"Bastard got away!" I said.

"Sure did, that means it's just you and me now."  He sat up on me -- butt
planted firmly on my chest.  He was backwards, his rear end only a foot
from my face and grabbed my right leg, placing it in some sort of painful
leg lock.  I groaned in agony.

I tried to get him off me.  He had one of my arms pinned beneath his leg,
so I had one free hand to try and get him off me.  I tried pushing and
prying him off, but he was not budging.  I couldn't think of anything else
to do, so I jabbed my fingers into his side, in an attempt to tickle him
off.

He started laughing and wiggling, whipping one of his hands back to stop
me.  "Stop it dork!"

"Get off me!"

"Stop...tickling...me..." he managed to get out between giggles. "and...I
will..."

I stopped for a second and Anthony didn't get off, so I jabbed my fingers
back into his side.  "You said you'd get off if I stopped, but you didn't."

Stop tickling...me...or I'll...fart."

"You better not fart you dickweed."

"I'm going...to...fart...if...you don't...stop."

I was saved by Matt coming back in.  He made a spurt tackle, knocking
Anthony off me.  The only thing holding me down now is their four legs.  I
rested a second, rubbing my thigh.  I wiggled out from underneath them, and
gave them a semi body slam.

We wrestled a little bit longer, stopping only from a lack of energy.  We
lay in a mangled mess, huffing and puffing.  "You know, my knee doesn't
hurt any longer."

"Oh really, that's good."  Anthony said.

"No, it's not good.  It doesn't hurt because my mind is too busy thinking
of all the other body parts you hurt."

Anthony laughed.  "Awe poor baby.  Did I hurt baby William?" he mocked.

"Oh shut up.  It's because you're fat."  I knuckled punched him on his
thigh.  Anthony let out a loud scream.

We watched some TV and talked some more.  A little while later Mrs. Ducker
knocked on the door again.  "Your father and I are thinking of going out to
dinner, you want to come Matt?"

"Where you going?"

"We were thinking of `Daddy Did Its.'

"Yes!"  Matt exclaimed.

"Would your friends like to come?"

I perked up.  I love `Daddy Did Its.'  It has the best frog legs.  "Sure,
I'd love to come."  Anthony spoke up at about the same time, indicating
he'd like to go also.

"Ok, let me call your parents and see if they don't mind.  We'll be leaving
in about half an hour.  So get cleaned up, ok?"

When Mrs. Ducker left, we got cleaned up and ready.  We went down to the
living room and sat around talking while we waited for Matt's parents.  We
left for the restaurant shortly after.  Dinner was superb.  I had frog legs
and gumbo.  `Daddy Did Its' is the first place I've ever seen frog legs on
the menu and under just about any normal circumstance, amphibian is not on
my radar, but these frog legs are just wonderful.  I really can't conceive
the idea of frogs being big enough to have legs this large.

My family can't really afford to come here much.  The Duckers don't seem to
have much problem eating at fancy establishments like this, so much we had
dessert afterwards.  We got back to Matt's house around seven-thirty where
we picked our things up and were driven home.

Watching TV alone in my room that night, I couldn't help but think about
the great day I had.  For the first time since my brother's death, I had a
day that I truly enjoyed from start to end.  I had more fun today then the
previous two months combined.  I really have no idea what life would be
like without Matt -- if Matt hadn't moved down here to Houston, if Anthony
and I hadn't gone to the pool that Saturday morning, or if by chance Matt
and I hadn't gotten gym class together.  A lot of ifs that I am greatly
thankful for.

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Questions and/or Comments?

wcordova98@yahoo.com New Chapters every weekend