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May Short Story Challenge- Round Robin - sleeping on a bus M/M
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The game had gone into double overtime. By the time we boarded the bus for home, Danny was glassy eyed and looking totally wiped. Before I knew it he was leaning against me, snoring in my ear, his big arm still slung over my shoulder from the halfhearted victory hug he had given me the minute we sat down together. He was just so big and so warm...as my eyes drifted shut, I remembered the first day I met him there on the basketball court at Mckinley High...
I hadn't meant to stop at the courts. Hell, I hadn't even planned to go past there. But the sound of the ball hitting the pavement, the hollow ring as it rebounded off the rim, pulled me in better than some Greek mermaid on a rock. It grabbed me by the gut and hauled me over there.So I thought I'd just walk by, you know, because my grandma had sent me to do some weird shopping for her. (Shopping for Grammy was never a simple experience, but this took the cake.) Anyway, my hands were full and I really meant to get the stuff right home. But there he was, shooting hoops all by himself, even though the evening light was getting low.
The very last sun, flickering through the trunks and spreading branches of the trees in the park, sent the occasional gold spark dancing across the sweat on his skin. He was tall, but not freak-tall, and muscled and bronzed and I couldn't look away. He pivoted, weaving around some unseen opponent, dribbled, shot. It ripped through the net with barely a sound, hit a pebble and deflected my way.
I tried to stop it, but my hands were full with...
A kumquat, denture cream, Dr. Scholl's bunion cream and a KitKat bar. I'm Pretty sure it was the kumquat that caught his attention. What the hell is a kumquat anyway? I remember my cheeks burning as embarrassment ran through me. Then he smiled and my heart just stopped in mid-beat, my breath catching in my throat. Jesus. That smile. Then he spoke. He said...
" Dude, is that a kumquat? Did you know they're sometimes known as Chinese Oranges?" I stared at this bronzed god with the smile of an angel and opened my mouth to answer him but nothing came out. OMG OMG OMG he's going to think you're an idiot. Say something... say something interesting.....
" Uh Hi. My Grammy makes kumquat jelly. She has bunions."
"She has bunions!" I actually said that ... Kill me kill me now!
I looked at him and waited for him to call his friends over to laugh at the doofus with the weird shopping and the beetroot coloured face.
" Yeah, I gathered someone did." He was checking out the stuff I was holding, still smiling at me and I could see his eyes twinkling. " You gonna share that Kit Kat?"
He walked towards me and my mouth went dry, I held out the bar and he took it brushing my fingers with his. My fingers went numb and I dropped everything watching in horror as the denture cream rolled to a stop at his feet. Stooping he picked it up and.............
stared at the label."I guess your Grammy has false teeth as well as bunions." He grinned as he offered the cream back to me. "Unless you do of course."
"No, well, kind of yes," I babbled. "I've got two implants at the front. I had a bet with friends when I was thirteen that I couldn't jump over the tennis net."
"You couldn't jump over it," he frowned, something in the sentence not adding up.
"Yup. I said I couldn't clear the net and I didn't. I won the bet, but three dollars wasn't worth it given the cost of getting my teeth fixed, not to mention what Grammy had to say about it.
"You live with your Grammy then?" He asked, splitting the wrapper of the KitKat and breaking the chocolate bar in half before handing two fingers to me.
"Since my parents.....
....divorced its been difficult. I can't live with my dad, he travels too much with his job and my mom got married again last year." I shrugged " I don't get on with Bill, that's her new guy, we clash, so Grammy took me in. It works out the best for everyone." He looked at me with a strange look in his eyes. " That sucks. Why don't you get on with step-dad Bill then? "
I was in a bind. Would a jock like him understand if I told him the truth or would I be setting myself up for a fall? Being at a new school I was hoping to lie low, I'd had enough of being shoved in lockers and.........
called names. This guy didn't look mean. But you never know. I decided that I was better off in stealth mode for now. "Well, mainly because he's a jerk. Anyway, he and Mom are hung up on each other, and I'm just in their way. Grammy is far more fun. That denture cream? That's not for her own false teeth. It's old Mr. Crosby next door who has false teeth. Yesterday he let his obnoxious Dalmatian eat Grammy's flowers so she's going to..." I bit my words off short. What was I thinking??? I'd be better off coming out in rainbow stripes to this guy than telling him that Grammy was going to...
seal the old guy's mailbox shut. That stuff has some ass-kicking hold to it!! I mean who knew that denture cream could make crap stick together so tight that...shiiiit! I was doing it again, getting lost inside my own crazy ass head! Way to go doofus! And I call myself gay! Right, as if any red-blooded gay male could possibly forget all about the gorgeous guy standing in front of him. Especially when he was staring at him like he was going to....
... kiss him silly! No. That was what I wished he wanted to do, but I guess I was looking for things that weren't there. I mean this guy had to be straight. I couldn't be that lucky ... Could I? He was looking at me like I was ........
going round the twist. His eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed slightly. "Hey man. You OK? You look like you spaced out there for a minute."
" Um yeah, sorry... I was just thinking I'd betta get this stuff back to Gram... Shes got plans for some of it....I mean she really needs the dental cream... before the post arrives.... " I was babbling again. "....Uh I'll see you around then... ."
I really didn't want to go but crap I was only making myself look more of an idiot. How could this gorgeous guy want to be around a dorky gay guy like me any longer, he probably had some bouncy, mini skirted cheerleader waiting for him and how the heck could I ever compete with that? Unless he was deeply closeted and scared to come out in front of his jock friends in case of reprisals. He'd be struggling with his English classes so coach would ask me if I'd tutor him and we'd fall in love over verbs and conjugations, then we'd end up having a secret relationship for a while but he'd let me down when the school prom came round and take his cheerleader girlfriend instead of me but realising his mistake he'd declare his love, out himself and kiss me in front of all the kids ...... Sheesh I was definitely reading far too many Gay For You stories!
Suddenly a pair of fingers snapped in front of my face.
"Dude , you're zoning out again." I came to with a start and there he was, practically nose to nose with me, his beautiful intense green eyes level with mine. Our lashes almost touching as we both blinked. Wow he was gorgeous! I felt myself leaning in, still in the memory of our dream kiss at the prom and I.....
almost fell over when he stepped back. He ate the candy in one bite, licked his fingers - Oh, God - and said... "Well, I guess I'll see you round, dude." He jogged past me and picked up the basketball. "Not much practice time left. Gotta make that team this year, y'know."And then I was left there, staring at his back as he dribbled and went in for the perfect layup. The sun had dropped below the horizon in those minutes we spent talking, and he moved through the lengthening shadows with his own particular power and grace... Damn. Far too many romance books.
I didn't even know his name. Still, the new school was looking a hell of a lot better than it did last week.
The ball went back to hitting that court with its rhythmic snap, but I turned away and broke its spell. Grammy would be waiting for her stuff. Despite my distraction, I snickered over the thought of my tiny, plump, butter-wouldn't-melt-in-your-mouth Grammy planning her assault on Mr. Crosby's mailbox. She'd be waiting at home for her munitions.
Behind me, I heard my new basketball god shout "Yes!" and whirled to see him sink a gorgeous three-pointer. He leaped into the air in victory, punching the sky, and my breath caught. For a moment, as he landed, one muscled arm still raised, he looked my way. The next second, he was chasing down the ball, and back to his practice in the purple dusk of the high school court. I stuffed the remains of the KitKat in my mouth, to give it a reason for hanging open, and headed resolutely away. I'd have to stop at the gas station for another KitKat for Grammy. You did not want to piss off that little old lady.
***
The next time I saw Danny, I...
was stood outside the locker rooms trying to pluck up courage to walk through the sea of half naked sports gods that I knew were probably walking around, wearing those skimpy towels - or even nothing at all. Is it me, or is it hot in here?Aww, give me a break I'm gay I think about these things... a lot!
Anyway there I was getting myself all worked up about the long temptation filled journey to the Coaches office (unfortunately I'd been the one graced with the task to deliver a parcel that had arrived for him that morning) convinced I was going making a fool of myself by standing there drooling like a kid in a candy store when.....
Danny came up behind me and thumped me on the back. "Dude, what are you doing here?""Special Delivery." I held up the package, a brown envelope, really, kind of soft. "Coach got a package."
"Want me to take it to Coach for you? Save you a trip." He grinned, almost like he could see inside my head."
"Um, I ..."
I wasn't sure if I could trust him. Even in this new school, I was getting those looks from some of the jocks - the ones that said they thought I might be a bit of easy entertainment of the push-him-in-a-locker variety. What if I handed him the coach's package and he didn't deliver it? And I got blamed and they thought I'd stolen it and it was something really important and Coach came after me himself...I'd clearly been thinking about this too long, because the grin faded off his face. "Okay, forget it." He started to turn away.
"No, wait!" I squeaked. I cleared my throat hurriedly as he turned back. "Yes. Thanks. Here. That would be great."
I handed the envelope over. I had a moment of panic as he took it and shook it contemplatively. "Hey, what d'you think is in here?"
"Um, I don't know."
He looked at the return address. "Fantastic Screenprinting. Maybe it's his Superman suit." He grinned and hefted it. "Nah. Too light." He held it up to the ceiling as if he could see through it. I was enjoying his clowning so much I almost didn't see Coach coming down the hall behind him. My new basketball god laughed. "Maybe it's his fishnet pantyhose."
I made frantic shushing motions, but I was trying to be subtle and not let Coach see me. Which meant I was too subtle.
Danny said, "Or his frilly apron."
Coach reached his baseball-mitt-sized hand over Danny's shoulder and took the package out of his fingers. "It's my bull-whip."
Danny jumped and whirled around, turning red.
Coach looked back and forth between us. "Since you two have extra time on your hands and a fondness for talking garbage, you can both report to me after school for some cleanup duty. An hour picking up trash in the playground should be just about right. Three PM sharp. Jones? Lopez? You hear me?"
We both mumbled something affirmative.
"Now get lost. I'm sure you have somewhere you're supposed to be."
We nodded like puppets and hurried off down the hall together. Around the first corner, Danny blew out a breath. We glanced at each other, and started laughing.
"...frilly apron."
"...definitely."
"Oh, God." Danny rubbed his arm over his eyes and said, "You're new. I've seen you around. Your Grammy has bunions."
"Crap, that's what you remember?"
He shrugged. "And kumquats. I'm Danny Lopez."
"I'm...
...gay." The word escaped my mouth before my brain could censor it."Gay Jones, your parents named you Gay? Jeez, that's just cruel man!"
"Yes, no, hell, I mean," I could feel heat rising like a wild fire as my face turned scarlet. "That's not my name, it's just, I am, you know, well," I babbled. The connection between mouth and brain had definitately broken.
I wanted to turn and run. Down the hall, through the doors, and away from the school. Away from everything.
I couldn't believe that I'd just come out to the straight jock I had a major crush on. I had visions of me being beaten to a pulp by him and his mates when he told them. Of course, if my life were a romance novel, he'd admit he were gay to and ask me out. Where would we go? would he kiss me on a first date? Would he...
"So what is your name kid?" Danny asked, breaking my rambling thoughts.
"Nathan, Nathan Jones, most people call me Nate."
The bell sounded through the corridor, followed shortly by banging doors and footsteps on the hard floors.
"Yo Danny!" A voice called from the other end of the hall.
"Well Nate, I've got maths class next, so I guess I'll see you after school."
I watched him as he walked away, I couldn't help staring at his butt as he went.
An very boring ninety minutes of American History later I headed out to the playing fields where....
Danny was practicing basketball with some of his team. I tried not to stare at him, but he looked my way before I could turn away. He smiled as he caught me staring. I...
... think I blushed. Damnit, of couse I blushed. When will my body start listening to me and stop reacting in such a crappy way. As if it wasn't obvious enough already what a pathetic daydreamer I was. No need to look like a red balloon as well.
I sighed and quickly looked around, trying to find something, anything, to occupy my absolutely empty hands with. Gods, there was nothing that would save me from looking like the pathetic daydreaming stalker I was. Which was quite embarrassing, once again, when I noticed Danny running towards me.
Straight towards ME.
Oh no, seriously? what is happening?
I was just out here to…errmm.. stalk?
Gods, do you realize how pathetic you are Nathan?
Wasn't it enough to go all 'hey I'm gay and you?' earlier?
I shook my head, took a deep breath and ---
"Hey," Danny suddenly stopped right in front of me, a basketball stuffed under his right arm and his backpack thrown over his left shoulder.
Man, that boy was fast.
"H-Hey!" I shouted back at him, louder than I had intended. I could feel that creepy and way too familiar blush jump right back onto my face. Damnit.
"You here to pick me up for our date with the Coach?"
A grin formed on his lips. His pretty perfect lips I couldn't take my eyes off.
"I…err….yeah." yeah, why not. God, he is playing it cool. I almost had forgotten about the whole coach apron thingy.
"Good."
He smiled at me with those beaming eyes that made my knees all wibbly wobbly and my weak stomach twist and turn. Out of nowhere he then put his free hand on my neck and slightly shoved me to start moving.
"So, how was...
...your day today?" I mentally roll my eyes at how pathetic that sounded."It was okay." Danny said, not seeming to notice how stupid the question was. Hopefully.
"Oh." I say, blushing again. We walk...
ed towards the playground and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest just because of the nearness of him." Wish I'd known Coach Creepmeister was lurking behind me. Man that guy's like a heat seeking missile where I'm concerned. Gets me every time. Sorry you got pulled in too dude. It was kinda funny though."
I giggled and then cringed because it made me sound like a girl and my first thought was ' Way to act even more gay doofus!' Not that I'm saying giggling is particularly a gay thing but come on I'm trying to be manly here!
" Um, about earlier and the gay thing." I zeroed in on floor trying to find something interesting down there that would prevent me from looking at his gorgeous face. I didn't want to see the disgust on it as I brought up the subject that had been niggling at me since I'd blurted it out so embarrassingly earlier in the day.
" Yeah. What about it dude.?"
" Well what I'm trying to say is... You know... If it bothers you.. Erm, I could ask Coach if there's anything else he wants doing so you can do this without me hanging round. I really don't want to ruin your rep with ....I mean if the other guys see you with me then....... " my voice tailed off as I finally looked up and saw him staring at me.
He looked me in the eye, long and hard and I saw that heart stopping smile slide off his face.
" Is that what you think of me?" He sounded pissed and I could tell he was kinda upset because his voice sounded strained as if he was trying to keep his temper. " You really think I give a Shit about what the others think. You think I'm into kicking the gay guy just because I'm a jock? Man that just sucks the big one. Well let me tell you something that you don't know about me ......
..I'm not like that." He stared right at me with his piercing eyes. I couldn't move, I couldn't look away, and hells, I couldn't think. I tried to nod, I really did but I am not very positive I made any sort of movement after all. Danny adjusted his backpack and after a pause that seemed to overdramatize everything he continued. "I mean, everyone just see's that I play ball and assume they know who I am. Labels and all, you know. Of course I love to play basketball, ok fuck probably playing ball is the thing I love to do the most, ever - period. But just because I do sports it doesn't mean I'm a heartless bitch."
This time I think it worked, I actually moved my head enough it could count as an approving nod. With his eyes never unlocked from mine he moved an inch closer towards me as if to check whether I was still breathing or not.
"Do I really come off as such a monster?" He asked, raising an eye brow. "I do scare the shit out of you, don't I?"
Again, I managed to nod. Great. Now what was I approving him of? Damnit, Nathan you are seriously one stupid guy. Good Job.
"Hah, I knew it." Danny shouted and turned away, just to looked back at me a second later. "I'm sorry." He added and patted my shoulder. "I don't mean to scare you, or anyone. Acutally my brother is gay too. He's about 24 or something. Doesn't live wiht us anymore though. Think he moved away about five years from now, or so. I don't really recall..."
He continued to talk, I think. I kind of lost him at 'brother, and gay, and 24 --'
Think all I could do was continue to stare at him as he mumbled somehting about hurrying to coach, and there was some more apologizing.
His brother was gay, wow. Well, it's not like it's a disease or something. I shouldn't be so surprised. People are gay. That can happen.
It's not like he said, only because he is a jock it mean's its a gay-free-zone or he is a born gay-hater.
But, W-What could that mean? For us? A Chance? No.. right. It doesn't implicate he would also be gay, right? if so he would have said 'I'm gay too,' not his brohter. Maybe he was just afraid to tell the truth?
Bullshit. That would have been only good. For him I mean. Well maybe for me too. And besides, who am I kidding, it doesn't just *run in the family* either --
A sudden clap on my shoulder pulled me out of my daydreaming, and I made out Danny's concerned voice.
"Dude, ...
Lets get this stuff done and forget it. OK?"I nodded and followed him as he sauntered away. God gay or not, his butt was scrumptious. Even though I knew we were sort of alright I still felt a little tingle of disappointment stabbing me in the heart. My dreams of proms and kisses seemed a long way off now but at least I could still be near to him, he liked me as a friend. Right? That would have to do. I could do just friendship if it meant he'd hang around with me. Couldn't I? Jeeze who was I kidding. I was still harbouring thoughts that one day he would look at me and see that I was the love of his life and we'd get married and I'd have his babies! Hah! I laughed out loud at that and he turned and bestowed that glorious smile on me that made my tummy do flips and my trousers tighten in a way that shouldn't be allowed in public. I sighed and caught up to him, glad that I was wearing the oversized T-shirt that hit me mid thigh and sort of swamped my slight figure. Thank you Grammy for forgetting to wash the tighter fitting one I was originally going to wear!
" What's so funny dude?" He knocked my shoulder with his and flung his arm across my shoulder, pulling me into him. Oh yeh, I could get used to this. Suddenly he stopped and still hugging me tight he looked down at me and.....
said, "Oh, crap. Here comes Coach Creepazoid." He shoved me away again, and tugged at his shirt. I was getting seasick, but I tried to smile and stick with the program. The coach frowned at us as he drew near. "You girls ready for some real work?" He handed us each plastic gloves, garbage bags and these sticks with points on the end. "I want this place clean as a whistle. One hour. Don't put anyone's eye out with those. Right?"
We both muttered, "Right, Coach."
"I'll be over there on the football field, so don't think I don't have my eye on you. Go!"
He walked away with his muscle-bound gait.
I sighed, and hefted my pokey-stick. Danny swung his in a circle and grinned. "Bet you I can come up with six names for this tool."
"You name your tool?" OMG, did I say that?
He laughed though, and slid the stick through his hand. "Mr. Pokemeister."
Before I could grin, there was a shout from behind us. "Jones. Lopez. Move it!"
With a sigh I turned toward the first squished sandwich bag against the chain link fence. Here I was with the hottest guy I'd ever seen, one who actually laughed at my jokes, and we were picking up garbage.
By the end of the hour, the place was cleaner, and we'd managed to not do any damage to each other despite a totally unplanned swordfightish-type thing when Coach was busy demolishing some guy for missing a catch. Coach looked around, sneered and dismissed us with a snarl of, "Next time, be respectful of your betters."
Danny heaved a sigh and looked at me. "Want to...
Go get a soda after school ? I could do with a looooong cold drink." He licked his lips and I followed the journey his tonge took as it wet his lush lips. Oh. My. God! " Yeah sure, that'd be great. I'll need to call Gram but I think that sounds fine. I'm parched too." And if it means I get to spend more time with you then I'm on it like a car bonnet.
" Great!" He grinned and actually looked really pleased "You wanna meet me outside the gates in Ten? Just look for the ancient blue Pick up. I'll be waiting."
" Kay, I'll seeya later." I was so excited, this was almost like a date. Well probably not for Mr lush tush but in my little Danny obsessed brain I was again in Romance Land, both of us sat across the from each other, sharing a soda from the same glass, looking into each others eyes, our knees touching under the table. Boy was I sunk. No way could I act anything other than in lust around him but underneath all that I really did genuinely like the guy and I think he really liked me. Perhaps not in the way I wanted but I'd be a fool to pass up a friendship with such a great guy. I sighed and at that moment decided that if this was all it could be I was going to try and keep it in my pants and enjoy this budding friendship for exactly what it was. I could do this. Racing into the school I made my way to my locker, all skittish and feeling happier than I had for a long time when....
..suddenly my phone vibrated in the back pocket of my jeans. Without hesitation I pulled it out and picked up, a smile still on my lips. "Oh hey Grammy! I was just about to call you and.."
I let my shoulders slump down when I notice the voice on the other end doesn't sound as excited as as usual.
"... Sure of course I will be there. It's nothing, really. I'll be home as fast as I can."
Oh great. I sighed. This wasn't going as planned....
I got my stuff from the lockers and hurried out as quickly as I managed.
I could already spot the car he had described far away from the parking lot. Quite a big car, kinda old I guessed. And there he was, Danny my knight in shining armor, - or well, in shorts and T-shirt. Very nice shorts though, hugging his waist and pretty butt so very deliciously. And damn he looked stunning in that shirt. He probably looked very fine in anything actually.
Once I was close enough for him to spot me he instantly waved his hand my direction.
"Where do you wanna go?" He asked with a bright smile. "Any stop in mind?"
"I, err.. Actually I'd like to go home." Damn, why did I have to phrase it like I needed to get away from him as fast as I could? I really wasn't meant for conversations, especially not with handsome basket-ballers.
"Oh,..OK." He looked confused and his smile faded quickly.
"It's not like that. I mean, I do wanna go ...out. But right now isn't a good time after all."
"It's ok, I get it. Don't worry it's fine, really."
Wonderful. Now he is totally pissed at you Nathan. Great job.
"No no, I didn't change my mind or anything. Really. It's just, Grams called. She needs me to go home, she isn't feeling very well."
I explained, even though I really hadn't planned on bringing up her condition. He wasn't in any need to know really. But, but.. I couldn't just let him think I didn't want to go out with him.
I would go anywhere with you Danny, really. I'd follow you to the moon and back, even to the end of the world... - Maybe I should have said that? Ah, I'll save that for another time.
His expression softened in an instant, then filled with concern. "Did something happen? Is she alright?"
"No nothing. It's fine, she is OK. I mean it's just, she isn't feeling so well today. A bad day, and all, that kinda stuff you know. Usually she is very fit and pretty hilarious actually, you should meet her one day, I bet she'll crack you up!" - Wait, what are you doing doofus? No way would he want to meet my grandma. I should really learn when to shut up. Especially when talking to him. My dream-everything! ughs.
"Sure, I'd love that." Danny said with an honest smile. A sudden silence fell over us, and I am pretty damn sure I gave him an awkward look because he somehow eyed me as if he had said something wrong.
"So, get in. I'll give you a ride home." He eventually spoke and opened the driver's door for me to get in.
"I..err.. Thank you."
Great, now he will know where I live. I shook my head and jumped right onto the passenger's seat. Danny closed the door once I was comfortably seated. I looked out the window where he still stood for another couple of moments. Our eyes met and I could feel that heated rush on my cheeks all over again.
I gave him directions and watched him drive like a god. He made driving this old chunk like the most beautiful and easiest thing to do. I could hardly take my eyes of his wonderful, manly hands on the steering wheel.
A slight coughing noise brought me back to reality. It was Danny.
"I said, ...
..." He glanced at me to see if I was listening this time. "Do you want me to stick around for a while? In case you need me to get something from the store, or, you know, give you a hand?"He could absolutely give me a hand... "No! I mean, thanks, that's really..." sweet, nice, Oh God... "really great of you. But I imagine she just needs some tea and Tylenol or something. She gets these, um, spells." And I wasn't about to explain them.
"Okay."
"There!" I pointed to Grammy's little white house, sandwiched between the bigger neighboring homes, one with pink and one with brown stucco. The cotton candy and the turd, Grammy called them. Guess which one was Mr. Crosby's. "This is mine."
Danny pulled over. "So I guess I'll see you around."
"Yeah." Despite my worry for Grammy, I didn't want this to end. "Thanks for the ride. I don't have a car, so it would have taken me a while to get home otherwise."
"You don't have a car?" He frowned. "Does your Grammy?"
"No." She'd totaled Gramp's car and never replaced it. She said it was bad for her blood pressure.
"I don't like that." Danny held out his big hand. "Give me your phone. I'm gonna put my number in it. What if she's really sick and you need to go to the hospital or something? You can call me if you want a ride later."
I handed it over and he entered his number. When he gave it back... was it my imagination or did he hold onto it a moment long, as he said, "Or if things are good, maybe you can call me and we can still go out somewhere."
I swallowed hard and nodded. I stood on the sidewalk watching, as that old clunker pulled away down the street. I wanted to run after him, waving, with slow motion music playing... No, I was going in to see what was up with Grammy. Could be anything from a heart attack to back pain from hanging a new life-sized voodoo doll from the ceiling. One never knew.
I opened our front door cautiously and saw...
nothing! What the... This wasn't right. The house was quiet and appeared to be empty. Oh god. Where was she. I'd only spoken to her about twenty minutes ago and it had only taken ten of those to get home in Danny's car, so where the hell was she. My mind was going into overdrive now, my thoughts bringing to mind axe murderers and zombie outbreaks. Yes I know that's stupid but you know I have an active imagination. I wanted to shout for her but I was frightened in case the Zombie hordes were going to turn their brain eating focus on little old me so I crept down the hallway, wincing as every step creaked and groaned.
" Grammy" I called softly as I approached the kitchen. No answer. OK this was just spooky and I was getting jittery. The door was shut, it was never closed because this was Grams domain, she was always in there either baking or washing stuff or whatever you do in kitchens so that was all wrong for a start. I put my hand on the door knob and turned it slowly, my eyes screwed tightly shut in preparation for the gruesome sight I was so sure was going to greet me.
" SURPRISE..........
I think I jumped a mile before I came down to earth again to see Gram stood in the midde of the kitchen with Mr Kelly, the old guy from across the street and Mrs Guitierrez from next door, her and Gram were thick as thieves." Jeeze Gram." My pulse was racing and I was seconds away from having to change my shorts " You scared the shit outta me!"
" Language young man, we have company."
" Sorry, but what the fu...heck is going on... Its not my birthday, so whats this all about? "
Then I saw what she was holding in her hands. No, what she was dangling fom her fingers. A set of keys, specifically what looked like a set of CAR keys! OMG! Car keys!
" Happy new car day." She walked over to me, gave me a squeeze and dropped them in my hand to the sound of oohs and ahhs from the other guys. Mrs Gutierrez grabbed me and planted a huge kiss on my cheek, beaming as she ruffled my hair. " You are Lucky lucky boy. Your Abuela is wonderful lady!"
I was still staring at the keys in my hand when Mr Kelly clasped my shoulder and said " Come outside Nate and let me introduce to ' lucille'."
We all followed him outside and there in front of the house was his 1970 classic Red Dodge Challenger. I had been drooling over that sweet car ever since I'd moved in with Gram. I loved Classic cars and I knew that she was his pride and Joy so surely this wasn't really happening.
" There she is son, meet Lucille, shes been my baby for a long time but its time to let her go and now thanks to your very persuasive Grandma she's all yours. Now you promise me you'll love her and care for her as much as I have!" I swear there were tears in his eyes as he caressed the hood one last time and said goodbye. " Now you know where I am so just call me Nate if you ever need any help." I thanked him and we shook hands, then he walked across the street with a little less bounce in his step. I looked at my new gift.
She was beautiful and for the first time in my life I fell in love with a female, every shiny red inch of her. She was perfect and I couldn't believe she was mine.
Gram came and stood next to me, her arm around my shoulder and a huge grin on her face.
" So is my Nathan a happy boy then?"
" Oh Grammy I love her, but why... I mean its not my birthday for another three months. You can't afford this, its too much... I'm ... " my voice started to break and I wiped my arm across my eyes.
" Sweetie you've had a rough time lately and you deserve something nice in your life. You're a good boy and you put up with a lot from your old Gram so I just wanted to give you something to put a smile back on that lovely face" she grabbed my cheeks and pinched them as she said it.
" But why the secrecy? You didn't need to say you were ill to get me home."
She chuckled and said " True, but then it wouldn't have been as much fun would it!"
I looked at the twinkle in her eyes and sighed. That's my Gram!
" You are one sneaky old broad Molly Jones. You nearly gave me a coronary but I think me and Lucille can forgive you. How about we take her for a spin and then you can tell me how you managed to persuade Mr Kelly to part with her."
What I didn't tell her was how I'd missed out on a date with the man of my dreams but just at that moment I could have forgiven her anything.
I was so stoked I had to tell someone, I pulled my cell out of my pocket and just as I was about to search out a certain persons number it started to ring. I hit answer and Danny's mellow voice flowed over me. I shivered and my breathing quickened making my voice sound a bit too high as I answered.
" Nate speaking." Or squeaking more like it...
" Hi Nate, I'm sorry dude but I was really worried about you..." He coughed and I could tell he was trying to cover his mistake "I mean I was worried about your Gram... Is she Ok. Can I do anything to help? "
He was worried about me. Could this day get any better?
" Thanks she's fine Danny, but can you come over later? Ive got something I'd really like to show you."
" Actually if Its alright with you Nate I'm just ....
...around the corner! I could stop by right now if you'd like."If I would like? What a question!!
But wait, why is he just around the corner? That's kinda creepy..
..well, not really. Who am I kidding. I have always been dreaming about a hot stalker friend. I giggled to myself. OK, stop it Nathan you are being super stupid right now and your dirty hot stalker friend fantasies have to stay in your bedroom! I shook my head and sighed.
"Or not. I mean if you are busy I can come back later." Danny continued as I once again kept quiet to myself for too long.
"No no that's fine. Right now is perfectly fine. I'll be just outside waiting for you then."
Smiling to myself I literally jumped up and down the drive way. I threw my hands into the air and all that. I didn't start singing though, mind you, but I was way to excited to keep calm, really. This day was already the best of my life!
Just imagine if we'd acutally stay friends!? I will probably die of happiness sooner than later.. Hey, maybe we can go camping together like I always wanted to. Me, Nathan Jones. Camping. With a real friend. With a real and really really hot friend! We could drive into the mountains with Lucille, set up our tents together, search for fire wood together, play some ball and sing songs at the campfire! And with the nightfall there could even be a thunderstorm where I would be way too scared to sleep alone. Then I could sneak into his tent and because we would be inseperable friends by then he wouldn't even mind me cuddling up for comfort.
I wonder what he wears to bed, just plain underwear? Boxer or briefs? Does his skin feel as smooth as it looks if I embrace him? and does he smell as nice as I imagine?
"Oh fuck," I muttered to myself when I felt my pants tighten in a very familiar way. Of course my cock has to react to such thoughts..... I shifted awkwardly on the spot and my stomach flipped upside down when I saw his car pull up before my eyes.
Nervously I looked around and when I was just about to walk towards him, I was literally stopped in my tracks by the sound of the door opening behind me. I turned around to see.....
Grammy beaming widely and holding out a picnic basket. She said, clearly enough for the whole neighborhood to hear, "Is that your boyfriend, Nathan? You should introduce us."I wanted the ground to just open up and swallow me. Jesus! I turned quickly to Danny. "I'm sorry. I never said... I never meant... you're not..."
His easy grin just about stopped my heart, and it stilled my panic attack. "No worries. I know what grandmas are like. You should meet mine. Every girl she sees is my future bride, you know?" He held out his hand to Grammy. "Hi. I'm Danny. And Nathan and I are just friends."
Grammy shook his hand and they made some kind of small talk, but I couldn't hear it over the throbbing of my head and the tightness of my throat. He'd smiled about the boyfriend comment, but then he'd said "every girl" and "just friends". Not that I didn't want to be friends, but all those stupid castles in the air I'd been building were crashing down around my ears. I blinked hard and managed to plaster a smile on my face before they looked at me.
Danny said, "What did you want to show me?"
I perked up a little for real at the reminder. "This! Look, I got a present!" I pointed to the Challenger.
"Wow. That is sooo cool." Danny practically ran over to the car. "Pop the hood for me. I wanna see it. Is it all original? Wow, she's in great shape."
I handed him the keys and he opened the door and popped the hood. I stood watching as Danny pretty much made love to my car. It was great that he shared my interest, but dammit, I wished he'd run a hand over me the way he did over the damned car's fender. Pathetic. I was jealous of an inanimate object.
Danny straightened up from peering at the engine and closed the hood with a solid slam. "Can we drive it, you lucky bastard? Yes?"
"Yes." For that smile, I'd even have let him go first, but he handed me the keys and slid into the passenger seat.
Grammy gave me the picnic basket. "Here. Dinner. Now you boys have a nice time, don't drive too fast where the speed trap is along route six, and remember you're going to pay all your tickets. Have fun."
She kissed me on the cheek and went in, leaving me standing on the curb with a basket that smelled like fried chicken, keys to a vintage car, and a hot, fun, straight guy in the front seat. The moment was heavy with sweetness and bitterness. So close to heaven, but one "girl I'm going to marry" away.
Then Danny said, "You gonna hang around all day, or get your hot ass in here and drive this thing?"
I got in, and started the car, but my vision was whirling. I didn't pull away from the curb. "What did you say about my..."
Danny laughed, and it was pure joy. "C'mon. You know you're hot. But not as hot as this car, so let's go see what she can do, and then we can find a place to eat that amazing chicken I smell. And we can talk in private."
"Talk. Private. Chicken. Right." I sounded like an idiot. There was nothing to do but put the car in gear, and head for the bluffs over the river.
We got there without a ticket, but I'd only opened her up to eighty-five for a few minutes on the main road. Danny had laughed with pleasure and said, "We need to find a straighter bit of pavement."
Now we were pulled over out of the way on my favorite turn-out. It was early enough that there were no necking couples parked along the bluff yet, but I'd still driven past all the empty places to the last spot on purpose. I wanted space and privacy for Danny. I hefted out the basket and set it on the rock overlooking the river below.
Danny began digging through the basket with little sounds of pleasure, but I couldn't take one more second. Gathering all my nerve, I put my hand on his wrist and said, "First. I need to know. You're driving me crazy. Are you gay?"
Danny laughed and said, "...
Do you want me to be?" His eyes were sparkling. " Aww come on Danny dont be shitty." I turned away unsure of how to respond in case this was all going to turn out to be a stupid hoax, expecting all his jock friends to jump out from the back seat or something, with slushys ready to throw at the stupid gay boy! Ok that wasn't going to happen but I couldn't get my head round Danny's sudden shift. It was confusing as well as exciting and I was both turned on and wary at the same time.
" Hey Nate." I heard him almost whisper as he took my chin in his hand and gently turned my face towards him. " I'm sorry, I should have answered your question without teasing. "
My heart was pounding and I could feel his fingers slowly caressing my cheek, his thumb stroking my jaw causing tingles from the top of my head to to the tips of my toes. I knew I was trembling but I couldn't meet his eyes for fear of what I would see there. Would it be pity? I couldn't take that, not from him. He tilted my chin upwards and then I had no choice but to look him straight in the eye.
" You know this has sorta taken me by surprise too Nate. Am I gay?" He smiled at me and leant into my space, his lips a fraction away and his sweet breath mingling with mine, he was so close and just before his beautiful mouth met mine I heard him softly say " I think I am for you Nate." Then he kissed me and I melted into him our tongues exploring each other. It was the kiss I'd been waiting for all my life and Danny was the boy I'd been waiting to get it from, it deepened and my body responded. Then it was over as we came up for breath, both of us panting hard. I looked at him and waited for the fall out. Surely he would be disgusted now.....
But instead he was giving me that grin, the same one he'd given the Challenger. Or even better. Like I was the best thing he'd seen in his life."Wow." There was a throaty rumble in his voice, and he coughed self-consciously. "That was awesome. Wanna do it again?"
Did I? I almost knocked him over lunging forward. Our teeth clicked, our noses bumped, I had no idea where to put my hands. The kiss was wet and fumbling and gloriously wonderful. This time when we came up for air, Danny wrapped one of those big arms around my neck and pulled me against him. I went more than willingly. His chest was solid against my shoulder and I could hear his heart beating fast. For a while, we just sat like that.
Eventually I said, "Now what?" And immediately I changed that to, "Are you hungry? Grammy's chicken is the best. It's better hot though so we should probably eat it now, and not let it..."
Danny laughed, and kissed me fast to shut me up. "Now we talk. And yeah, we eat, because that wonderful smell is making it seriously hard to give you the right amount of attention. But after that, we'll talk." He gave me a squeeze, and then a noogie and pushed me away.
I unpacked the basket, my lips tingling and my whole body on alert. Having Danny just a couple of feet away - Danny who had kissed me, three times now - was really screwing with my coordination, and I dropped half of the stuff, but somehow we each ended up with a soda and some chicken and a tub of Grammy's coleslaw. I even passed Danny a fork without stabbing him, much.
Eating was good. It grounded me. Danny said, "Wow. Your Grammy is like a master cook. This is amazing."
"Mm hm." I chewed a mouthful, looking out over the river rather than at Danny licking his fingers, so I could actually swallow.
When we were down to gnawing the bones, Danny wiped his hands on the paper napkin, and then stretched out his legs and leaned back on his elbows, looking over the river. "So."
I copied his pose, leaving an inch of space between us. "So." I hoped he'd move, slide his hip up against mine but he didn't.
There was a small frown on his face. "So, this is kind of new to me. I mean, kissing a guy and all. I've always, um, been kind of equal opportunity. Guys or girls, if someone was hot and sexy I could see being with them, you know? In theory. But I always did girls. It was just easier, especially being on the team and all."
I nodded.
"So." He was quiet again.
He watched the river, and I watched him. I could see thoughts passing over his face, happy, sad, worried. Danny had the most open face you could imagine. I saw him bite his lip, hard. This would be painful for him, maybe even dangerous, being with me. I couldn't do that to him. I hated to see his open happy expression swallowed in sadness. I couldn't be that selfish.
I said, "We don't have to. Be together, I mean. I know being gay can really suck, especially at school."
"Nathan, no way I'm gonna suck you at school."
I choked. "No. Wait. What?" My big sacrifice was being misinterpreted. "I didn't..."
Like storm clouds rolling away, Danny rolled over onto one arm and looked at me intently. "I said, I've never done this before. But only because there's never been a guy worth doing it for. But from the first time I saw you, I've been thinking about it. I'm not gonna let some ass-faced Neaderthal jerks tell me who I can or can't be with. I like you. A lot. I want to go out with you."
Maybe I hesitated too long in shock, because he added more slowly, "If you still want to."
"If?" I laughed, and body-slammed on top of him. Kissing Danny was like nothing I'd imagined - hotter and rougher, but also more awkward and where's-my-elbow, and should-I-close-my-eyes-or-not. More real. The rock under us was hard and there was a mosquito trying to make it a threesome, and I drooled down my shirt, and it was perfect. Absolutely freaking perfect.
Eventually we paused for breath, and to get a pebble out from under Danny's ass. We sat up, and he manhandled me around to sit between his legs, my back to his chest and his arms wrapped around me. He leaned forward to look over my shoulder, his cheek against mine. I could feel the slight roughness where he hadn't shaved since morning. His breath brushed my cheek. The river below didn't look any different, but the whole world had changed.
"That was awesome," he said quietly. "I want to do it again. But I kind of want to keep this quiet for a while. Would that be okay?"
I wanted to shout it from the rooftops, and he was the one talking about homophobic assholes like they didn't matter, but I said, "Okay."
"Not forever. I'm not ashamed or anything."
"Okay."
"It's just, you know, if we come out at school, we're going to catch a bunch of shit. This is so new, it's kinda perfect. I want some time to enjoy it. Before they all crap on it and we have to fight for the right to be together. You know?"
I turned to kiss his cheek. "You're a very smart man."
Danny laughed and tightened his arms around me. "I guess you can tell your Grammy I'm your boyfriend after all. Tell her the car did it - I have to date a guy with a car that cool."
He grunted as I elbowed him in the ribs.
"What? I don't want you to tell her it was because of your hot ass. Right?"
I couldn't help laughing, and the rub of his chest as he chuckled against me was the warmest thing I'd felt in my life.
Eventually, we had to come down off the cliff. We passed some parked cars, with shadowy kissing couples in them. Danny squeezed my knee with his big hand when we saw them, and we exchanged grins. I knew how that felt now, sitting close, arms entangled, mouths pressed together. Only I knew even better, because none of them was kissing Danny.
When we got to my house I parked the Challenger at the curb, and looked at Danny. I wasn't sure where we went from here. I didn't want to see him go, but I surely didn't want to invite him in to see Grammy. I felt like everything we'd done was written on my face, even if we'd barely made it to second base. She was psychic, my Grammy - she would take one look at us and know.
Danny took the dilemma out of my hands by leaning in for a quick hard kiss and then shoving his door open. "I don't want to go. This was the best day of my life. But if I don't study calculus I'm liable to fail and get grounded for a month, and that would be a freaking shame right now."
"Oh yeah," I breathed.
He leaned on the door, looking in at me. For a moment, I thought he might change his mind, but then he said, "Call me," and slammed the door.
I sat in the car, watching him get into his own and pull away down the street. Wow. Just wow. I touched my lips, which felt tingly and sensitive. Danny. I said his name out loud. "Danny. My boyfriend!" I couldn't help a little punch of victory, but the thump of my knuckles into the car roof brought me down to earth.
I locked the Challenger carefully, and headed up the walk. When I opened the front door...
Grammy was just walking out of the kitchen with a cup of hot tea, probably going to the tv room to watch one of those crazy interview shows that usually play at night. As soon as she spotted me in the front door, a huge smile came to her lips and a knowing look was in her eyes, what made me blush right away. Damn how could she know from just looking at me!? "Grammy stop it, will you?" I complained while turning around to lock the door.
"Doing what?" She said with the most innocent look she could master and didn't work cause I knew she was grinning inside.
"Doing that, the grinning and the looks you're giving me..." I said while I walked towards her in the corridor.
"Oh dear I'm just happy to see my grandson back home... safely" She said while taking a sip of her tea, I know she was just hiding a chuckle. "I'm guessing the 'ride' was nice right?"
"Grammyyy..." I groaned loudly.
"Oh you're such a mood breaker when you want Nate, did you know that?" She said shaking her head slowly. "I just wanted to tease you a bit, can't I be happy that my grandson finally got lucky?"
"Ahhh you kill me Grammy, how can you already know from just looking at my face?"
"Just because I know you and you're giving that energy ' I'm floating over rainbows' that you only give when something really good happens. And by the way you were drooling over that boy earlier and the dreamy looks he was giving every time he looked at you, isn't hard to imagine what did happen..." She said while patting my cheeks softly.
"I wasn't drooling..." I started to say but yeah I guess I was drooling, how could I not? Did I mention how smocking hot Danny is? But wait what else did she say? Dreamy? "Wait Grammy, dreamy? Danny was giving those kinds of looks? To me?"
"Oh Nate my dear you're really smart boy, but when it comes to people you're really slow ... That handsome boy couldn't take his eyes of you, if you weren't looking at his ass for so long maybe you would have seen it."
"Re-really?" I couldn't help but smile even thought I was ashamed my Grammy saw me checking Danny out. Thinking he was checking me out as well gave that warm feeling inside that made me want to make a silly victory dance right there.
"Really Love, and by that smile I bet he already told you he was giving you those kind of looks, right?" She said winking at me, and I couldn't control my smile getting bigger.
"Ye...yeah he did.. kind of..." I said but I knew I didn't really had to answer and I didnt want to have to get to the kissing part. I loved my Grammy but I wanted to keep Danny's kisses just for myself for now.
"That's great sweetie, he looks like a nice young man." She said giving me a quick kiss in my cheek. "Now go do whatever you do in your room, I got my show to watch!"
I decided not to say anything cause the bubble of happiness in my chest was so big I didn't mind any teasing anymore. I felt like floating up the stairs and before I noticed I was dropping over my bed and hugging my pillow and replaying all that had happen today, especially the parts were Danny and I were so close we could share ours bodies heat and the kisses, omg the kisses...
Danny had really kiss me today, all my crazy fantasies before didn't sound that crazy anymore. Well they still were crazy but they were more possible or at least close to something that could really happen with us. The camping trip now wouldn't need a storm as an excuse for me to cuddle with him inside his tent, and if the gay god was kind to me, way more than cuddling could happen.
And of course that well know tightness was back in my pants, I was already used to the idea that every thought that involved Danny would end up leading me to a painful hard on. When I was just getting more comfortable in my bed and wanting to get out of my pants to deal with the effects Danny made in my body, when my ass started vibrating and I was lost for a second before I remembered I still had my phone in my back pocket.
I moved my hips up and reached down to grab for it, when I looked at the screen, I couldn't help but smile seeing...
..the small glossy display light up with a message from Danny. I jumped up into a sitting position, holding the phone as close to my face as possible without touching it with my nose. Then I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before sliding my finger across the screen to open the message.
Hey pretty boy, are you still up?
Aw. Is he checking up on me? That's so sweet.
I smiled to myself; I just got home, silly! Of course I am awake.. I replied and hit send.
Not a minute later my phone buzzed with an incoming message.
..yet you could've just passed out from all that excitement today :)
I'm glad you didn't tho...
As I re-read his text a few times I couldn't help but giggle every time.
Wasn't he just the sweetest! And damn right, it was way too exciting... I should be dead by now.
I half-wrote and instantly deleted a dozen different messages before I finally settled on, Yes I'm glad I didn't either :)
Oh man. I sent the text, burying my face in my hands at how lame that was. I really suck at dealing with people; even virtually I can't keep up an interesting conversation. Soon Danny will realize just how lame I am and leave me for someone better...
Thank god I was interrupted by another buzz of my phone in my lap. I couldn't open the message fast enough.
Do you want me to let you in on a secret?
What? A secret? I had to read it again. He has secrets? And again. Am I starting to sweat? A secret? No secrets, please. Why would he want to tell me a secret? I am bad with keeping secrets! I should have told him first thing. Wait, stop. Focus. Reply.
I can't help but suddenly feel nervous about this.
Sure. Tell me.
Oh dear lord, please let it be -
And once again I couldn't finish my thoughts as my phone buzzed in record speed.
I'm thinking of your sexy ass and.....
delicious lips. Omg!omg!omg! Danny my wet fantasy god was just sexting me? Is that for real? And I was thinking this day couldn't get more perfect! Just imagining him laying on his bed just like me, he probably just got home, took out his shirt and dropped in bed to study but decided to talk to me? Omg I can't believe how sweet and sexy is that! How much I would love just to throw myself over him right now, kiss him senseless, and get his pretty as naked and...
Guess I was thinking for too long because my phone was buzzing again and...
His caller ID came up. He was calling me!! I was too in shock to do anything. I slowly answered it and in a sqeaky voice I said, "Hello!"He...
...said, "Nate? You still there?""Yeah."
"Today was... the best."
"Oh, yeah." Crap, how lame was that. "I mean, I'm thinking about you too." I shifted on the bed, because damn, even his voice was enough to get me going.
"So, you know the team has a game on Friday."
"Yeah, I know. I guess you'll be busy."
"No, man, that's not what I meant. I was wondering if you were going to go?"
"I don't know." I wasn't really that big of a basketball fan. Just a basketball player fan, which could be dangerous if someone noticed where my attention was really going, so usually I didn't go to games. Except... I realized this was Danny, my boyfriend who was crazy about the game, asking if I was going to come watch him. "I mean, yeah, of course, now I'm definitely going."
"It's an away game, but there's a bus for the fans that leaves school at four on Friday." His voice got deeper. "I have to ride the team bus. Going there, anyway. Coach's rules. But sometimes the guys ride the fan bus home with their girlfriends, afterward."
"And... you would ride home with me?"
"I'm thinking about it."
"That would be..." -sweet, wonderful, amazing- "cool." Damn, I needed another adjective.
"We'll see how it goes."
"So I'll see you Friday after the game?"
"Hell, no. You'll see me tomorrow. And the next day. I want to spend all the time we can together. But Friday, on the bus, maybe..."
"Yeah?"
"Maybe we'll quit caring what anyone will say or do. Ya think?"
I had to clear my throat. That sounded wonderful. "Sure."
"Great. G'night, sexy boyfriend."
"Goodnight."
I held that phone to my ear for a long time, even though he'd hung up, pretending his voice still echoed on the other end. "Boyfriend..."
****
Danny was as good as his word. There he was at my door the next morning, as I stumbled out yawning and disheveled, with my backpack slung over my shoulder.
He grinned casually. "Lazy. You gonna give me a ride to school in that cool car?"
"Huh? Yeah, sure. Absolutely. No wait, I don't have a parking permit."
"Park on Harrison and we can walk. It's not far."
I rubbed my eyes. I'd half-convinced myself overnight that I'd imagined it all, the kisses, the words, the light in Danny's eyes. But here he was, warm and solid, grinning at me. "Okay." I felt my answering smile stretch my lips.
In the car, he put his hand over mine to stop me from turning the key. "Kiss me and I'll give you something."
"A kiss back, right?" But I leaned happily toward him.
After a very satisfying minute - we were getting better at this - he murmured, "Not just that." He sat back, rummaged in his own pack and pulled something out. "Ta da. Breakfast."
"I never eat breakfast." I took the greasy package tentatively.
"I know. That's not good. Breakfast is your fuel for the day. But I figured, you have a sweet tooth, so I didn't bring anything healthy. This time."
I unwrapped the paper to find a buttery chocolate croissant, only slightly squashed. Yeah, that I could probably choke down. I took a big bite.
Danny leaned in for another kiss, heedless of crumbs. "Oh yeah, chocolate kisses." He licked my lip. "Now eat with one hand and drive with the other, or we're gonna be late."
"You do know this is a stick shift?" I started the engine, and my baby roared with that rumbling purr that shook my bones. I mean the car. My boyfriend laughed.
"I have faith in your mad skills."
"I'm gonna get chocolate on the upholstery." But it was a fake grumble. The day couldn't get much better than this boy and this car, and hours ahead of us.
I think I screwed up pretty badly in school that day. I kept tasting chocolate and remembering Danny's voice saying, "...kisses." I almost exploded my chemistry experiment, and my algebra grade was not going to be improved by that pop quiz score. But I could care less.
At the end of the day, Danny was nowhere in sight, even though I hung about near his locker, but when I finally dragged myself off to the car, there was a note under the wiper.
"Practice today - no choice - I'll call you when I'm done. I'll be hot and sweaty. You can come pick me up. Me.
I drove home on autopilot, with my phone on the dashboard just in case. Two hours later Danny did call, and I went by the school, and... You don't need to know about the rest of that afternoon.
So we had a great week and then Friday rolled around. I didn't try looking for Danny as the buses loaded in the school parking lot. The team guys were all there, horsing around and loud with excitement and tension. Danny didn't need the distraction.
But as I was standing in line to get on the fan bus, there was a tap on my shoulder. I turned. Danny's face was inches from mine, his eyes glowing, lips parted with excitement. "See you after the game?"
"Absolutely." I could barely breathe. "Good luck! I mean it!"
"Thanks, Nate." He dropped his eyes to my mouth, just for a second, almost the kiss we both wanted. He lowered his voice to a whisper. "First basket's for you." And then he was gone, back into the shoving testosterone of uniformed tall guys. I got on my own bus in a fog.
The girl who dropped into the seat next to me said, "You know Danny?"
"Yeah. I guess."
"He's hot."
"Yeah." A moment later I realized what I'd said. I turned to stare at her, sure that my face was flaming red, but she just smiled.
"I don't think I've had any classes with you. I'm Lori."
"Nate."
"So. Wanna bet on the point spread?" Her wicked smile made me laugh.
"Not on your life. I have gas to buy."
The girl across the aisle leaned over to say, "Smart guy. Lori's like some kind of betting shark. She never loses."
Lori tossed her head. "It's all statistics. If you guys did more math, instead of straightening your hair for hours, you'd beat me more often."
The other girl just grinned. "Not worth it. You do smart. I'll do gorgeous."
"Girlfriends," Lori snorted. "Can't beat 'em. Can't have sex without them."
I just about choked on my tongue.
The other girl said, "Aw, Lori, you shocked the poor guy. How about it, Nate? You think lesbians are hot or sick?"
"Um, neither? Just, you know, girls?"
"Aw, he's cute." She leaned over precariously to pat my knee. "You're a nice boy. I think we'll keep you."
Lori pushed her shoulder back over. "Sit up, Sue, and don't grab the boy while I'm watching."
They bantered back and forth, teasing each other. I watched the crowd in the seats around us. No one seemed to care. Other than Angela shouting, "Get a room," when they kissed across the aisle, and Grady yelling, "No. Stand up and give us a better view," they hardly got any notice.
I stared out the window. Could it be that easy? Could it be that good for Danny and me?
I don't remember much of the game. I'm sure I cheered and booed in the right places. I do remember Danny after his first basket, jumping in the air and then turning in a circle to point randomly at the stands. I sat up taller in my back-row seat, but I didn't dare wave and I don't know if he saw me.
The game went long, and then longer. The play got more ragged. Sweat soaked Danny's uniform and hair, plastering them to his skin. I started paying more attention.
We won. Barely, but we won. The stands on our side erupted with leaping and cheers and high-fives. It wasn't very loud, since most of the spectators were from the home team, but it was fun to be part of that. The teams headed off toward the locker rooms, and Lori grabbed my hand. "Come on. Let's go hang out by the bus."
I stood around in the excited crowd, listening to them replaying the game with a fraction of my attention. Waiting. Two people came over and gave Lori money. I guess Sue was right about the betting shark thing.
Then a cheer went up, and the team guys jogged out, in their regular clothes. Danny looked wiped out, hair wet, eyes tired but sparkling. Danny looked freaking wonderful.
A couple of the guys collected big smooches from their girlfriends. Matt and Candy had their tongues down each other's throats. The coach yelled from the other bus, "We're heading out. All aboard who's coming aboard."
Most of the guys trotted back over there, but Matt and Greg and Lucas and Sean had arms and other body parts engaged, and ignored him. And Danny stayed, standing next to me.
"Um, great game," I said. "You were great. Just... great."
"Thanks." His eyes laughed at me.
"It was fun. Are you, um, coming back with us?"
"Didn't I say I would?" He slung his arm over my shoulder. It wasn't more than a guy hug, but the heat of it burned my skin.
"Yeah."
We got onto the bus and found two seats together. Before I knew it he was leaning against me, snoring in my ear, his big arm still slung over my shoulder. I eased my leg against his, just casually. He was just so big and so warm. My neck was going to get a crick from the way he was squeezing me, but I didn't want to move.
"Here."
I lifted my gaze without moving my head. Lori was holding out a pillow. "I'm wired. I don't need it."
"Thanks!" I awkwardly fit the pillow in under my head. Danny's deep breaths ruffled my hair. The ride home was long and uncomfortable, and far, far too soon over.
As the bus stopped, the guy behind us stood, and looked down.
"Awww," he mocked. "Isn't that sweet? Danny has a faggy boy for a pillow."
I jolted, yanking away from under Danny's chin. He snorted and came awake.
I stood, and turned. The guy turned out to be Xander, all two hundred pounds of defensive lineman of him. But I wasn't going to back down. I opened my mouth, but Lori's voice cut over mine.
"Xan. Swear-ta-God, I'm gonna rip you a new one if you keep using that word."
Xander blinked. "What word?"
"Fag. Or any version of it."
"What did I say?" He gave her an innocent face.
"You know perfectly well, you shit. And you know Mom's a proud PFLAG momma now. One word to her about you being intolerant to some gay boy, and you'll be grounded until next year."
Danny had stood beside me, and he put an arm around me, but we both had the sense to keep quiet.
Xander was looking as small as a football player can. "Aw, Lor, don't be like that. I was only joking. You know I got you and Sue's back. It was a joke. Don't tell Mom."
Lori set her hands on her hips. The whole bus was watching us. "You gonna apologize to Danny and Nate?"
"Sure. Yeah. Sorry guys." Xander hesitated. "Are you really, like, um..."
"Boyfriends?" Danny shifted his arm higher around my neck and stared at Xander. "Yeah. Want to make something of it?"
Xander glanced at Lori and raised his empty hands. "Nah. Just asking."
A voice behind him said, "Who the hell cares. Get out of the aisle so we can get off the freaking bus."
"Yeah," a girl called. "They can make out on their own time. Or fight or whatever. It's after midnight and my mom is gonna have a cow."
Lori took her pillow from where it had fallen to the floor, gave us a grin and moved off toward the door, her free hand behind her holding Sue's in a firm clasp. Xander followed them without looking at us. Danny and I stayed in our seat as a bunch of our classmates filed past. Most didn't even look at us, but Shawna grinned and said, "Do stuff I wouldn't do, 'kay?" And Drew muttered, "You go, guys."
We were the last ones off the bus. We had to go to the luggage compartment for Danny's gear bag. Matt and his other teammates were there too, and they didn't look at him, just grabbed their bags and headed out, arms around their girls.
Danny took a breath, and called after them, "Great game. See you at practice."
None of them stopped, but Matt's voice floated back, "Nice three-pointer in the last quarter, man. See you."
Then they were gone. Danny hefted his bag. "You have your car here? Gonna give me a lift home?"
"Don't you have yours?"
"I had my dad drop me off, so I could ride back with you."
Oh. The reality of that hit me. "We are boyfriends.""Damn right. I told my dad not to wait up."
"I like the sound of that." I took his bag from him. He'd been working hard, I'd been sitting around.
He resisted for just a second and then let me. "Thanks. So, where to?"
"The car's over here." I led the way. "I think maybe we should drive out to the park. Unless you're too tired." I hefted the bag into the back seat.
Danny caught me and pinned me against the car for a long hot kiss, even though we were standing in a corner of the rapidly-emptying school lot. "Never too tired."
"Mm."
He leaned away to look me in the eyes, his arms braced on either side of me. "You know, this won't all be that easy, like Xander was. We're gonna catch some crap at school on Monday."
"I know." I leaned forward to kiss him, soft and slow. "Worth it."
"Definitely."
Behind us, someone yelled, "Get a room, guys." It didn't sound unfriendly.
He stepped back and ruffled my hair. "That sounds like a good idea. You think? Or a patch of grass? We have a whole weekend."
I don't think I've ever smiled that wide in my life. "That sounds like a perfect idea," I said.
######
**comment moved**Edyth said "I loved it wish I could find more stories like this one!!!!!!, Nate and Danny are sooo cute!"
Lovely ending Kaje. Nate and Danny deserved their HEA and they got the perfect one.
Macky wrote: "Lovely ending Kaje. Nate and Danny deserved their HEA and they got the perfect one."We all make a good team, eh? :)
Kaje wrote: "Macky wrote: "Lovely ending Kaje. Nate and Danny deserved their HEA and they got the perfect one."We all make a good team, eh? :)"
Absolutely it was fun! Thanks for giving me a chance to dabble again. :)
I really like these. (Honestly Sammy - Kumquats??) So much fun.
Nice ending!! :) I was struggling to think of anything good to continue, but glad to see its finished and the boys are happy :)
I hope we can do this again! It was a blast!
Janie wrote: "WHAT, It's over already??? :|"I think two months pretty much does it ;)
We'll have to do another one another month though. Both this and the October one were just a lot of fun :D
Kaje feels we need direction--authors! what can you do with them? (Sammy throws up hands in air, grinning madly)
SO--here's a few reminders--but don't let them bog you down.
Watch for typos--(pretty sure this was directed at me, ahem....guilty!)
add as many sections as you want--no sweat--write away...
no length limits--write to your heart's content....or give us just a "smackeral" as Pooh Bear would say...
end with a cliff-hangery (author's word not mine *grin*) kind of phrase...
and for pete's sake, have fun!!!!!
So, get those plot bunnies hopping...here's a little kick start...