Published 16 Oct 2017

Sixteen year old Roark pedaled his brand new Trek mountain bike towards his best friend’s house hoping to show off a little and catch up. He hadn’t seen or spoken to Jason for about two weeks now. Summer was almost over and school would start soon so he knew they weren’t out of town. Jason would have football practice nearly every morning.

Roark braked to a stop just off the road in front of Jason’s house and sent a text asking him to come out front. Five minutes passed with no return text and no Jason appearing at the front door. Roark sent a short text saying, ‘U there?’ and waited another five minutes with no answer and no best friend coming out to ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ over his new bike.

The deep red haired teen checked the time; it was just after one o’clock. Surely he’d had time to get home after practice. It was unusual for the two to go this long without at least a text or a quick ‘Hi! I’m swamped right now.’ phone call. The last time they had gone this long without any contact was when they were twelve and Roark had been sent to a month long summer camp and lost his phone privileges.

Staring at the front of the house a final time, Roark sadly turned his bike around and slowly pedaled back home. All the joy of his new bicycle was gone without his best friend of eight years to share it with. He blinked hard as he wound his way through the streets to his own two story house in the next subdivision.

The raven haired sixteen year old inside the house peeked cautiously through the blinds on his second story window for the fourth time since receiving the first text from Roark. He watched as the boy he’d been friends with from the time they met in third grade pedaled dejectedly up the road on his Carolina blue bike. It looked good just slightly lighter than the bike clothes the thin teen was wearing that made his eyes pop. Jason had given Roark the outfit on his sixteenth birthday back in May.

Millie, a mutual friend, had helped him select the present. Jason knew he wanted to get bike shorts for his friend since he spent so much time riding. It was Millie who suggested the color and to add the matching shirt saying Roark would look hot and sexy when he wore it.

Jason realized he may have made a mistake buying the clothes for his best friend when Roark wore it for the first time. Silently, Jason had to agree with Millie’s assessment and he also had to be thankful he was wearing a tight fitting jock or his six and a half inch cock would have made a tent in his shorts.

It was this that had him hiding from his best friend in his house. It was also the reason Jason made many excuses to not be alone with Roark. Usually the pair did nearly everything together during the summer months but this break Jason maneuvered things so that most of their activities involved a group of friends.

The six foot three receiver on the football team spent a lot of time alone dealing with the confusion his unexpected reaction caused. He had seen Roark naked and nearly naked many times over the years and never had his body reacted that way before. Why now?

He breathed a sigh of relief and trepidation as he turned away from the window and Roark’s retreating form. The relief came from having dodged the bullet of being alone with the source of his confusion but the trepidation came from knowing he would have to face Roark sooner or later.

Jason shook his head as he adjusted his dick. Why did Roark affect him like that? Since that fateful day he had checked out their other guy friends and nada, nothing. He even surreptitiously looked over other members of the football team when they showered after practices and still no reaction. And there were some well put together bodies on the team.

He missed all the things Roark and he used to do every summer, just the two of them, but he was afraid of what would happen if Roark ever knew how Jason’s boyhood reacted around the teen. They had missed out on fishing, riding their bikes all over town and the times they would lay out in one or the other’s yard at night with their heads and shoulders touching staring into the night sky speculating on their futures. All in all it was turning out to be the worst summer ever.

Jason plopped face down on his bed no closer to an answer than he had been the first time it happened. After stewing over it again for several minutes he hopped from the bed to satisfy the calls from his stomach. Lunch was overdue.

“Lunch is ready, dear,” called his mom as Roark walked into the house after locking his bike in the garage.

“I’m not really hungry, mom,” he answered wearily. “I’m going to my room for awhile.”

“Alrighty. It’s here if you change your mind,” his mom asserted. “Will you let your brother know lunch is ready?”

“Sure thing. Thanks,” Roark agreed as he slogged up the stairs. When he reached the second floor Roark stuck his head in the first room on the right, “Hey, Reilly, mom said lunch is ready.”

“Okay, thanks, bro,” replied twelve year old Reilly pausing his video game. “Hey! Aren’t you eating lunch with us?”

“Naw. I’m just gonna hang in my room. Not really hungry right now.”

“I miss having him hang around, too,” commiserated Reilly. “Jason never treated me like a nuisance like some of your friends.”

“Yeah, he liked you ’cause he only has sisters,” grinned Roark sadly. “One of the reasons he’s my best friend is ’cause of how he treated you.”

Reilly walked over to his older brother and wrapped his arms around his waist saying, “Hopefully you get to spend some time with him before school starts.”

“Thanks, Reilly,” Roark whispered while wrapping his arms around the boys shoulders to return the hug. “Now, let’s go get some lunch!”

“You’re going to eat with us?” asked Reilly his excitement building. The brothers had a very tight relationship and the twelve year old loved having his sixteen year old brother join him for pretty much anything.

“Yeah! I can sulk and mope around later,” joked Roark feeling better knowing his brother understood what was happening and how he felt about it.

“Cool,” announced Reilly with a grin and turned towards the stairs keeping one arm around Roark’s waist.

Roark turned too keeping an arm over his younger brother’s shoulders and side by side they descended the stairs and entered the kitchen. There the brothers were greeted by their mom’s warm smile as she watched her sons walk in with their arms around each other.

Caroline Malloye knew she had hit the jackpot as far as children getting along. The two rarely if ever fought and usually quickly forgave each other when they did. They supported each other in whatever endeavors the other brother wanted to try. Coming out of her ruminations Caroline served the boys their lunch then sat at the table with them to eat.

Later that evening after supper, Reilly paused at Roark’s doorway and knocked. Roark looked up and smiled at the almost carbon copy of himself standing there. They had the same features and same red hair but Reilly was slightly stockier than Roark.

“What d’ya need?” he asked the boy.

“Are you gonna be okay?” Reilly asked with concern.

“I guess so, I tried to do some sulking but somebody went and made me feel better,” joked Roark with a chuckle. “Hey! You wanna go riding with me in the morning?”

“On my little bike? I’d never keep up,” complained Reilly wistfully. ” I need a bigger bike now.”

“I wouldn’t run off and leave you,” cajoled Roark. “Come on!”

“I’d just hold you up from riding the way you like,” argued Reilly.

“Just join me in the garage after breakfast and let’s see how you feel then,” pleaded Roark putting on a pouty face.

That started Reilly giggling but he managed to stop long enough to answer, “Okay! Okay! I’ll be there after breakfast.”

“Thanks, bro,” Roark called to Reilly’s retreating back with a smirk on his face.

Jason was lounging on his bed when his twelve year old sister, Brianna, stepped just inside the door, “Why hasn’t Roark been around much this summer? Did you two have a fight?”

“Get outta my room!” Jason barked then in a calmer tone. “No, we didn’t fight. We’ve just been very busy. Now, go away!”

“That’s why I like it when Roark’s here. He’s nice to us and you’re nicer when he’s here,” announced Brianna stepping back just far enough to be out of Jason’s room. “Although you have left me and Nina alone more this year even without Roark here.”

“Why do you care so much if Roark hangs around? Got a crush on him?” teased Jason sitting upright.

“No! Though he is hot. He’s too old; now Reilly,” admitted Brianna with a grin. “Do you have a crush on him? Is that why you don’t want to be around him? You’re not busy now. Why don’t you call him?”

“It’s n-not that. It’s complicated. I gotta lot to think about is all,” stammered Jason as Brianna got too close to the truth. “Go on and let me figure this out. I can’t talk to a twelve year old about it.”

“Well, then, you better go talk to Cathy before she goes back to college,” replied Brianna then she turned and walked off leaving a stunned Jason pondering her one piece of advice.

Brianna could be annoying sometimes or most of the time but she was pretty smart thought Jason to himself. Unlike with his younger sisters Cathy and he had a pretty close relationship before she left for college. He had always been able to talk to her about anything even a couple of things he didn’t feel comfortable talking to his parents about.

Decision made Jason heaved himself up from his bed and padded barefoot down the hall to Cathy’s room. He peeked in her open door and spotted her standing peering into her closet and occasionally rearranging some clothes. She was probably deciding what was staying here and what was going to college with her for the fall semester Jason guessed.

He knocked on the doorframe and asked, “Cathy? You got time to talk? Privately.”

“Sure! Come on in, little brother,” Cathy laughed as her five foot seven frame was dwarfed by Jason’s six two or was it three now. “Have a seat,” she offered patting the bed beside her. “Let me guess! Would this have to do with why I’ve hardly caught sight of Roark this summer?”

Jason’s jaw dropped and eyes went wide as he exclaimed, “Are we that predictable? Did we always spend that much time together?”

“Yes and yes,” answered Cathy with a chuckle that died off when she saw the expression on her brother’s face. “The two of you have been nearly inseparable in the summers since third grade. Until this year. So spill it.”

“Okay,” started Jason with a deep breath. “It started in June . . . no . . actually I guess it started in May. Roark’s birthday. You remember? I wanted to get him something special for sixteen but I knew he wasn’t getting a car. Didn’t even want one.”

“I remember. I told you get something that went with what he was interested in the most when you called,” Cathy softly replied. “Keep going. What was the big present?”

“You know Roark’s majorly into bicycling and has had some pretty nifty bikes but he always just wore regular shorts and t-shirts or sweats when the weather was cool,” answered Jason. “I wanted to get biking clothes like the pros have. Millie went with me to help pick it out.”

Cathy chuckled again, “Of course she did! Millie’s the only girl either of you ever spoke to until seventh grade. She’s like another best friend.”

“Yeah, I guess. Anyway, I thought just some shorts would do but Millie insisted we get the shirt too so he’d have a complete outfit,” Jason kept telling about it. “She said it needed to be in his favorite color and they had the perfect one for him so I got the shorts and a shirt.”

“I don’t see what the problem is,”

“The problem came in June when we scheduled a bike ride together,” Jason hesitated before saying more. “He came out in the riding clothes I’d gotten him. It fit him like a glove and showed off his body. You could see how slim and cut he was and the color made his eyes stand out. I couldn’t take my eyes off him and I started getting . . . uhm . . . well . . . you know . . . uhm . . . excited.” His face was bright red now as he looked at the floor.

Cathy started to crack a joke about then she looked at her younger brother again and realized he was really agonizing over the situation and changed her mind. She watched him sit with his head hanging for a minute and another realization hit her. Jason could be gay and falling for his best friend. Now she thought she understood the problem and Jason’s apparent solution. She didn’t like his solution but now was not the time to address that.

“Do you think you’re becoming gay?” she asked softly watching for his reaction.

Jason’s head jerked up and his eyes filled with unshed tears as he stammered, “N-no! Yes! Well . . . from this class they made us take I know you’re either gay or you’re not. You don’t suddenly start. I guess I’m afraid that I just started to realize it when I saw Roark looking like that.”

“Do other hot guys cause you to . . uh . . uhm . . get excited, as you say?” asked Cathy hesitantly.

“No, not really,” Jason answered looking down again. “I . . uh . . checked out some of the guys on the football team in the locker room after practice as we showered and changed. No reaction, at least not enough to count.”

“Was it just the one time when Roark was dressed in the biking clothes?”

“No. Now it’s every time I see him and sometimes when I just hear his voice,” admitted the teen with a huge sigh. “What am I gonna do?”

“I can’t make that decision for you, Jason,” Cathy asserted, “But I can help you figure out what you want and from that you must make your own decision.”

“I want it to go away,” groaned Jason in a low voice.

“Well, that ain’t gonna happen,” Cathy proclaimed. “So, let me start with this; do you want to lose Roark as a friend?”

“WHAT!?” Jason all but yelled in surprise. “NO! . . . No, I don’t.”

“Well, if you keep ignoring him and putting him off you’re going to lose him whether you want to or not,” advised Cathy a little sharply. “You need to think about the kind of relationship you want with Roark and what kind of relationship you think you can maintain with him.”

“What do you mean?” Jason questioned with a bit of confusion.

“Well, you have several options as I see it that you will need to think about,” Cathy answered candidly. “One, you can keep things as they are in regards to Roark and try to squash your feelings for him. Or, you could come clean and tell him everything and see what happens. Perhaps you can come up with something in between but you need to think it through thoroughly before you take action. If you want to bounce ideas off me before I leave come see me.”

“Right now I know two things for sure; I don’t want to lose him as a friend and I can’t tell him,” admitted Jason. “I’ll have to find some middle ground. Thanks a lot, sis.”

“You’re welcome, little bro,” Cathy chuckled again getting a weak smile from Jason. “Good luck!”

Immediately after Jason stood to leave his phone came to life with a distinctive ring tone. Cathy started laughing out loud. “Shut up!” grumbled Jason good-naturedly.

“Just don’t put him off this time. See what he wants,” Cathy instructed kindly.

Jason tapped the screen of his phone, read the text message, and then spoke to his sister, “He wants me to go riding with him and Reilly tomorrow.”

“So, what’re you going to tell him?” asked Cathy pointedly.

Jason grinned hugely, “I ain’t missin’ this. If Roark has his new bike then Reilly is getting the old one but doesn’t know it yet.”

He walked out of the room typing a return message: ‘What time should I be there?’

‘8:45. You can see Rei’s face when he learns my old bike is his now,’ was the reply.

Jason sent one last message before heading to the kitchen to find a snack; supper had been at least an hour or so ago. The message was short and to the point: ‘Cool See you then.’

On his way to his own room for the night Roark stuck his head in Reilly’s door and relayed, “Jason’s gonna join us in the morning for our ride. Is that okay?”

“Yeah. Sure. Whatever,” Reilly answered in a monotone causing Roark to worry. Then Reilly lifted his head to reveal the huge shit-eating grin that went from ear to ear. “At least you’ll be happier, huh?”

“You! Just for that I’m not taking it easy on you tomorrow,” laughed Roark as he left.

The next morning Jason knocked on the part of the garage door hanging within reach before stepping in and asking, “Am I on time?”

“Yeah! Reilly’ll be out in a couple of minutes so you haven’t missed it. Come on in” answered Roark coming into view sporting his favorite light blue biking ensemble.

The sight caused a hitch in Jason’s breathing and a plumping of his lower region but he was prepared. He spent a good amount of time last night and this morning tracking down the smallest, tightest jockstraps he could find. He was wearing two of them and a pair of one size too small navy blue trunk-style underwear beneath his basketball shorts.

When he caught a close up view of the bicycle Roark was making minute adjustments to he whistled appreciatively. The bike had been custom made and painted to Roark’s exact specifications. It was sort of a late birthday present since it had only arrived this week although the order had been placed two days before Roark turned sixteen.

The two best friends were still admiring and discussing the new mountain bike when Reilly entered the garage from the house. He walked to where his bike was kept and looked confused at the green bike that stood where his was supposed to be.

“Hey, Roark,” he called after a moment. “Where’s my bike?”

“Right there where it always is,” answered Roark before covering his mouth to prevent his giggling to be heard. Jason had to do the same as they waited for Reilly’s response.

A few seconds of silence were followed by an announcement by Reilly, “No, there’s a green bike that looks like your ol . . . ”

Another couple of seconds silence was followed by, “OH MY GOD! REALLY!?”

The two sixteen year olds could hold their mirth no longer and cackled until their sides hurt. By then Reilly had brought the bike in question to where his brother and Jason were trying to catch their breaths.

“I’d be mad if this wasn’t so awesome,” Reilly glared at the older teens. “I can’t believe I get your old bike. I thought dad said it had to be sold to help pay for your new one.”

“He did but I talked him into giving it to you instead,” Roark informed his brother. “Your old one will be sold in its place.”

“How did this bike get to be green?” the twelve year old wanted to know. “Surely, mom and dad didn’t spring the money to have it painted.”

“Nope! Did that myself,” answered Roark with a grin. “I knew it was your favorite color.”

“Wow! Thanks, bro!” Reilly one arm hugged his brother while keeping one hand on his bicycle. Roark returned the hug replying, “You’re welcome, bro!”

“Okay, okay! Enough sappiness already,” interjected Jason. “Are we going riding or what?”

“Awww! Is someone feeling left out?” Roark questioned.

“I think so,” returned Reilly.

The brothers gave each other a look, stood their bicycles up and trapped Jason in a bear hug from each side. With Roark’s hard body pressed against him Jason was thankful for the binding underwear he had put on plus the presence of Reilly on the other side to help him curb his wayward appendage.

“Let’s hit the road already,” stated an uncomfortable Jason hoping the hug would end before he embarrassed himself.

The brothers relented, released him from their trap and the three friends took their bikes on the road. They spent a couple of hours exploring the streets in town before hitting one of the trails at the state park. By the time they finished, Jason wasn’t sure he could make it home. He certainly was too worn out to worry about popping a boner in front of the best friend who he had developed stronger feelings for.

A few days later the friends had spent the day fishing and now that the sun had gone down they were lying in Jason’s yard with the tops of their heads touching. Just shootin’ the breeze and star gazing as they had done for many years Roark broached the subject of their end of the summer camp out.

“Whose yard are we using this year for our camp out?” asked Roark in the darkness. “It’s almost time for it.”

“Yeah. About that,” hedged Jason worriedly. “Somehow the subject came up after practice the other day and some of the guys thought it was interesting. I thought maybe this year we could each invite a few friends to join us.”

Roark was quiet for a few minutes before inquiring, “Do they know what the purpose is? That it’s not just a last night party but that we discuss our hopes and plans for the coming school year?”

“Well. It was kinda mentioned but I’m not sure they really heard it,” Jason replied hesitantly. “In fact based on their talk I’m pretty sure they didn’t catch that fact but you know we can still do it after they’ve settled.”

After another silent pause Jason heard movement then he couldn’t feel Roark’s head against his. From above him Jason heard, “You do whatever you want but don’t count on me being here.” Then Roark walked to his bike and rode home.

Jason’s fear of being alone with the object of his new obsession had just driven his best friend away and it looked like there wouldn’t be a camp out now.

For the next two days Jason tried calling, texting and even dropping by Roark’s house but to no avail. Roark wouldn’t talk to him. Reilly even gave him a scathing look and closed the door in his face after saying Roark wasn’t available.

At football practice several of his closer teammates and a few that weren’t close could talk of nothing else. When they tried to pin him down on place, date and time Jason hemmed and hawed around until his friend, Hogan, exclaimed, “What’s goin’ on, Jase?”

“There might not be a campout this year after all.”

“But you and Roark always have one,” stated another friend, Brad, from behind him.

“What’s the matter? That pansy not want to camp with a bunch of real men,” this came from Clint who was definitely not one of Jason’s friends and was new to the team and the school. He had moved in during the final few weeks of last school year.

Clint thought he was God’s gift to all athletic endeavors and declared he would be the top runner on the track team and would take Jason’s starting position as a receiver from him. The track coach told him to pick someone to compete against so he could see how Clint ran.

Looking around Clint spotted a slim redhead stretching off to the side and chose him to race against. Even though the red head, Roark, wasn’t a sprinter but favored the longer endurance distances he beat Clint handily at 400 meters which was once around the track. Clint had done his best to humiliate and belittle Roark ever since.

With football practices now in session it was making matters worse as it was quickly becoming obvious that Clint had no chance of taking Jason’s spot from him.

Jason chose to ignore the brash newcomer and walked away toward the locker room.

The weekend before school started was a miserable one for Jason. True to his word Roark didn’t come over to hold their usual campout. Jason had tried unsuccessfully to tell Roark that his football friends weren’t coming after all. Roark erected the small two man tent in his own backyard and invited Reilly to join him for his introduction to the annual ritual.

Jason received an invitation from a couple of his football buddies to join them in a summer’s end sleepover but declined when he learned that Clint and his cronies would be there.

Monday morning and the first day of school arrived without the two teens having spoken to one another since their disagreement. Usually they would meet halfway between their houses and walk to the school together on the first day.

Both Roark and Jason were such creatures of habit that before they realized what they had done they were standing in front of one another halfway between their houses. At first there was a look of shock then uncertainty and finally shy smiles that they had followed tradition without even thinking about it.

Without a word being spoken they turned in the direction of the high school and started walking. After about five minutes of walking the two friends turned toward the other.

“I’m sorr-” they both began then stopped staring at their best friend. One started giggling then the other until they were nearly crying.

Jason recovered first and finished, “I’m sorry I ruined our back to school campout. I ended up not having one at all. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”

“I’m sorry too. I should have listened and then explained how I felt instead of letting my temper take over. I should have answered when you texted and called later,” Roark replied. “I introduced Reilly to the tradition in our backyard but it wasn’t the same.”

“Are we cool then?” questioned Jason hoping for the best.

“Almost,” answered Roark honestly. “Why don’t you like hanging out with me anymore? Did I do something?”

“No. No. Nothing like that,” Jason tried to assure his friend. “I’ve just got an issue I’m struggling with. I didn’t mean for it to cut into our summer fun but it did anyway.”

“You know you can tell me anything, right?”

“I know but this is different and something I’ve got to figure out on my own. I’ll tell you, just not yet. When I’ve got a handle on it then I’ll let you know.”

“Okay, Jase. Remember I’m here for you anytime.”

I know and I’m glad we’re friends, Roark. Whoa! We better get a move on if we don’t want to be late on the first day!”

Friday marked the end of the first week of school. Roark walked home alone since Jason had a football team meeting after school. Their season started next Friday night and the coach wanted to get them used to being ready for football as soon as school let out.

An hour and a half later just as Roark finished his homework he received a text message on his phone. It was Jason asking him to come over for the night. He wanted to make up for their missed campout.

Roark checked with his mom, got the okay to spend the night then sent a return message with the news to Jason. He sent another text with a list of things he wanted Roark to bring and what time to come. Roark was puzzled by one item on the list but shrugged his shoulders and started collecting what he needed for the night.

Arriving at the appointed time Roark headed directly to the backyard where he knew Jason was waiting for him. He set his stuff down and he and Jason got busy erecting the tent Jason had asked him to bring. Roark decided this was the appropriate time to ask about the puzzling item on the list.

“Why are we putting up my larger tent instead of yours that we’ve always used?” Roark badly wanted to know. “You didn’t invite anybody else did you?”

“Most definitely not!” Jason reassured his best buddy. “We’re getting bigger and it’s getting to be crowded. Plus I got us a cooler of drinks and some snacks.”

“Okay,” agreed Roark with some relief as they staked down the corners of the tent.

Soon the boys had all their supplies arranged in the tent and were laying on top of their sleeping bags with the snacks and cooler between them just as Jason had planned. If they weren’t forced close together then there was less chance of Roark noticing if Jason lost his battle and sported a second tent of his own.

A little while later the boys were headed back to the tent in the backyard after stretching their legs when an older model Chevy S-10 pickup pulled in and two teens jumped out. It was a couple of guys from the football team: one was Jason’s friend, Hogan, and the other was always called Roberts, which was his last name.

Roark scowled at Jason who just shrugged his shoulders and queried, “What are you guys doing here?”

“Clint said he saw Roark carrying a bunch of camping gear earlier. Although that’s not exactly how he said it,” answered Hogan turning toward Roark. “You better keep an eye on him. He’s got it in for you for some reason, Roark.”

“Bet I know why,” spoke Roberts in his quiet baritone. “Clint wanted on the track team so coach told him to show his stuff by racing a member of the team in the 400. He looked around until he found this little guy stretching off to the side. I think he thought he’d look good by trouncing a smaller runner. The one who got trounced was Clint. Roark left him behind and wasn’t even winded. Clint hasn’t mentioned wanting to run track since.”

Hogan and Jason chuckled about Clint’s mistake while Roark turned slightly red.

“I just wanted it over with so I could get back to training for the mile and two mile races,” Roark defended the incident. “I didn’t even look to see where he was.”

“Just be careful, Roark. Clint really does have it in for you,” advised Roberts.

“Yeah, we’ve both heard him blaming you and swearing to get even,” added Hogan. “He’s still out for your spot too, Jason. Watch your backs, both of you.”

“Thanks, guys,” proclaimed Jason dapping knuckles with his football buddies.

“Yeah, thanks. See you’ns around?” echoed Roark also dapping the two.

“No problem, fellas, and we’ll see ya at school,” answered Roberts.

“Anytime. Maybe next year you can hold two campouts,” replied Hogan. “One for the two of you and then one with some of the football team and maybe track guys too.”

“Uhh,” Jason looked over to Roark.

“That would be awesome!”

Jason and Roark waved as the guys pulled away then retired to the tent for the night. They settled in with ginger ales and barbeque corn chips. After taking care of their hunger the best friends got down to the business of the campout.

“Do you want to start?” asked Jason to get the ball rolling. “What do you hope to accomplish this year?”

“Oh, wow! Where to start?” exclaimed Roark. “Well . . . Let’s start with sports. I want to make it to state in cross country again and finished in the top five. Winning it would be the ultimate.”

“You got awfully close last year as a sophomore,” declared Jason nodding. “I think you can do it.”

“I would like to compete in my first duathlon and get better in my track races. There’s stiffer competition there than in cross country. What about you? What do you want to happen in sports?”

“Mmm. I want to score more touchdowns than last year and maybe get to play defense some.”

“You didn’t mention basketball,” commented Roark after making sure Jason had finished. “Weren’t you thinking of trying out this year?”

“I haven’t decided for sure so I didn’t include it,” Jason answered then changed the subject. “What about academics? Any goals or plans there?”

“Nothing special. Just want to keep my grades at their current level. What about you?”

“Mostly want to do better than last year. I barely kept my grades high enough to remain a starter on the football team,” admitted Jason with an embarrassed grin. “Maybe make one A.”

“You know I’ll help you as much as you’ll let me,” assured Roark before slurping down the last of his soda.

One by one the friends went through their topics until Roark brought up relationships which Jason was hoping to avoid this year. He hemmed and hawed around finally saying he hadn’t given much thought to relationships wanting to concentrate on classes and sports then turned the conversation back on Roark.

“I . . um . . I had hoped to maybe . . um . . to have one develope this year,” admitted Roark after a bit. “But I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

“Why not?” queried Jason perking up.

“Things haven’t been going well lately,” answered Roark sadly. “Don’t ask me anymore about it; I can’t say anything else, okay?”

“Sure,”

Both boys laid back on their sleeping bags ensconced in their own thoughts for several minutes until Jason heard rustling and the sound of a zipper.

“I’m gonna turn in now,” Roark announced quietly as he turned off the battery run lantern at his head.

“Alright. Night,” returned Jason turning off his own lantern then laying back on top of his bag. It was still too warm for Jason to get inside the insulating sleeping bag.

The next two weeks passed quickly with no incidents of any kind. Everyone was getting settled into the routine of school, homework and sports practices. So far Clint had done nothing more than glare and make some snide comments when he could do so without a teacher overhearing.

In the third week there was one almost altercation; Roark had to stay after class in English to discuss his choice of topic for a major term paper. Ms. Anglican handed him a hall pass and an excuse for his next class. Roark had just finished at his locker when Clint who was roaming the halls skipping class rounded the corner.

Clint couldn’t believe his good luck when he saw Roark alone in an empty hallway. Checking up and down the hall carefully Clint grinned evilly in Roark’s direction upon finding they were for sure the only ones in the corridor.

Roark tried to rush on to his next class but unfortunately it was in the direction that required Roark to pass Clint. He was almost past when he was violently shoved against the lockers along the wall. The smaller teen placed his back against the lockers and waited to see what his assailant would do.

Clint drew back his fist while spitting out venomous remarks, “You’re gonna get it now, faggot! Gonna beat your ass good!”

“Hey!” came a shout from the direction Roark had been headed. It was another football player. Roark didn’t know him well but he knew the sophomore tended to hang around Jason’s group.

Bobby wasn’t familiar with the smallish redhead but he had overheard Brad, Hogan and Roberts talking about looking out for Jason’s best friend. He was pretty sure this guy fit the description he had heard so he moved toward the pair. In any case he didn’t like Clint at all.

Cursing under his breath knowing he wouldn’t be able to give the ass-beating he had planned Clint tried to make the best of the situation and slammed his fist forward as hard as he could. Even when he had looked to see who had intervened Roark kept part of his attention on the angry teen in front of him.

As soon as the fist started forward Roark ducked under and rolled along the lockers toward the intervening football player. By the time Clint’s fist impacted the lockers with a resounding clang Roark had sprinted halfway down the hall. When the pain finally registered with Clint and he let loose with a loud stream of profanity Roark had met up with Bobby who wrapped his arm over Roark’s shoulder and hustled him around the corner.

“Come on, dude. Let’s get you outta here,” the larger teen urged with his arm still wrapped around the smaller redhead.

“Won’t you get in trouble for being out of class?” worried Roark as he hurried to keep up.

“Nah, I was runnin’ an errand for Mr. Hanson anyway,” explained Bobby with a grin.

In the meantime, Clint was alone in the hallway when every teacher and a few of the braver students stepped out to see what the commotion was about. Soon vice principal, Mr. Gregor, appeared and took charge of the situation. In seconds the hall was empty except for Clint and Mr. Gregor.

The upshot of it all was that Clint got three days in-school suspension for skipping class, damaging school property (he dented the locker) and for cursing in school. He also missed two weeks of football practice and games due to a bruised hand and sprained wrist.

Clint also vowed revenge on Roark, whatever it took, and enlisted the aid of his two main buddies, Dray and Teddy, who were also second stringers on the football team. Clint had another plan to make besides revenge on the red-headed pipsqueak which was a way to get back in Coach Radford’s good graces.

Before football practice Bobby met with Brad, Hogan, Roberts and a couple of others that he knew were friends with Jason and thought Clint was bad news for the team. He told them what had transpired in the hallway earlier that day.

“We’ve got to do something,” insisted Roberts when Bobby had finished his story. “Roark’s a cool guy and one hell of a runner.”

“You’re right and we will,” Brad stated thoughtfully. “But we can’t let Roark or even Jason know.”

“Yeah! They’d just say they could handle it. But what can we do?” asked Hogan.

“Make sure he’s safe while at school,” answered Bobby. “Don’t let situations like today occur.”

“How?” questioned Roberts looking around the group.

“How many do we have here?” queried Brad counting heads. “Seven. Who else can we trust? As many as we can get so we can keep watch without giving ourselves away. Everyone with me?”

A chorus of ‘yeahs’ and nods of agreement ensued. Satisfied Brad led them all to the locker room and football practice.

“How are things going with Jason now?” asked Reilly as he sat across the table from his brother where they did their homework.

Roark looked up from his Algebra II book, “Fine, I guess. We talk. We do our homework together sometimes. We walk to school together.”

“But something’s still not right, is it?” Reilly probed while laying out his books.

“No, not really,” admitted Roark sadly. “We do our homework here or at his dining room table. Not in our rooms like we used to. Our talking is only about school and sports.”

“How come?”

“He says he has to figure things out. It seems to really bug him but he won’t talk to me about it,” Roark complained. “He says he’ll tell me what it’s about when he comes to terms with it.”

“Be patient then and wait for him to come to you with it,” advised Reilly with sympathy.

“It started back in the summer and it’s almost October. How patient should I be?” Roark all but yelled in his frustration. “I can’t take much more. That’s why I told him not to come over today.”

“What do I do?” Jason questioned himself alone in his room. “I don’t want to lose my best friend.” He paced the room a bit as he continued to talk out his thoughts then he would plop down on the bed then stare out the window and repeat it all once he’d gone through the cycle.

“If I tell him I’m gay I might lose him especially when he learns I’m falling for him. However, I’m also going to lose him if I don’t figure this out and keep pushing him away. Like today we were suppose to meet here and do our homework together. But Roark said he had to go home and I shouldn’t come over.”

Jason sighed then started up again, “I gotta get up the nerve to tell him. Don’t know how I’m gonna do that; I haven’t even told my family except for Cathy. Ugghh! What am I gonna do?”

The anxious teen fell back on his bed with his arms over his eyes and face for a few minutes before rising and heading for the kitchen. A snack and then homework should help take his mind off his dilemma.

“Did ya get it?”

“Yeah! Now I just have to find the right number.”

“So, when we gonna do this?”

“The week before the big game. I found a way to kill two birds with one stone.”

“Cool!”

“Hush while I figure out how to get past the security code.”

“Hey, Millie!” greeted Roark as he set his tray down on the table across from her. “Have you seen Jason yet?”

The three usually met and had lunch together in the school cafeteria but Roark hadn’t seen or heard from Jason yet today. They didn’t share any classes before lunch but he usually got at least one text from Jason.

“Hi, Roark,” returned Millie glancing up from the book she was reading as she ate. “I was going to ask you the same thing. Is there something going on between you two? You’ve both been off kilter lately.”

“You’d have to ask Jason about that,” replied Roark sourly. “He’s the one with a problem but he won’t tell me or even talk to me about it. Says he has to find the answers on his own then he’ll tell me.”

“So wait until he tells you,” offered Millie calmly.

“The trouble with that is it’s been since the summer and he still hasn’t said anything and he won’t even be alone with me anymore,” groused Roark as he played in his food. “Let’s just drop it. Whatcha readin’ now?”

“The Renegades of Pern. It’s by Anne McCaffrey.”

The two friends ate in a companionable silence and when they had finished there still was no Jason.

“Hey, Jason! Hold up!’ shouted Millie as she hurried to catch up. “I’ve got a bone to pick with you.”

She had hung around after school reading so she could talk with Jason after what Roark had revealed at lunchtime. Millie was determined to get to the bottom of the trouble between her two best friends before they were no longer best friends with each other.

Jason slowed down and waited before answering, “What’ve I done now?” He was used to being fussed at by Millie for transgressions known only to the headstrong girl.

“What’s this crap about you keeping things from Roark?” Millie demanded immediately. “You never keep things from him.”

“Does he think sending you will get me to tell before I’m ready?” questioned Jason with an edge to his voice.

“He doesn’t even know I’m talking to you. You know he don’t do things that way,” retorted Millie with anger creeping into her tone. “At least you used to.”

Jason and Millie glared at one another for a moment then Millie heaved a sigh.

“You’re losing him, you know,” Millie said quietly.

All the steam went out of Jason as he replied just as quietly, “I know. I just don’t know what to do. I’m trying to come to terms but I’m afraid I’ll really lose him when he learns the truth.”

The tall teen walked on slowly but gaining speed as he went.

“What truth?” Millie called after him.

“I’m gay and in love with him,” Jason returned plainly then shot off at too fast a pace for Millie to comment or follow.

She stared at his disappearing back her mind in turmoil. She knew the problem but it was one she couldn’t pass on to Roark without Jason’s okay. She’d also forgotten to ask why he didn’t show for lunch.

Roark held his phone listening to the ringing as he waited for Jason to answer. He waited until it finally switched to the voice message option then hung up without leaving a message. He had been trying ever since it was time for football practice to end but Jason never picked up. First, Jason doesn’t meet for lunch without calling then, he won’t answer his phone. Roark wished he knew what had his friend so torn up but he guessed he’d never find out at this rate. He put his phone away and went back inside the house.

“Have you found which number is his yet?”

“No, there isn’t a contact with his name anywhere on this phone.”

“Are you sure you took the right phone? Maybe it’s someone else’s.”

“I took it right out of his locker. It has to be his. Someone named Ginger called half the afternoon so I haven’t been able to look much more.”

“Oh! Okay. Wait, did you say Ginger?”

“Yeah. Why? Who cares about some girl calling him.”

“Didn’t Richie say he heard them talking and that they don’t use each other’s real names for phones, emails and chats and stuff?”

“Yeah, he did! I’d forgotten about that. What’s that got to do with anything?”

“I think I found his number. It’s under ginger.”

“Why would he use a girl’s name for his best friend?”

“He didn’t. It’s a description. A ginger is somebody with red hair.”

“Cool! Now I can put my plan into action.”

Roark was surprised to find Jason waiting to walk to school with him the next morning. He almost didn’t come this way since both he and Jason have a more direct route from their houses to the school. If they meet here it is solely for the purpose of meeting the other one.

The slim redhead was glad Jason was waiting for him, for in spite of being extremely frustrated Roark was not ready to give up on his best friend.

“Hey, Jase,” he greeted as he closed the distance between them.

“Hey, Ro,” Jason returned the greeting smiling at the memory of the first time they had greeted each other with shortened versions of their names. Roark had burst out laughing and called Jason, ‘Scooby,’ because it sounded like the cartoon dog when he said, ‘Hello.’

“Sorry about missing lunch yesterday,” Jason apologized. “Coach called a lunchtime meeting about Friday’s big game against Rockfield High.”

“You could’ve called or texted me or Millie to let us know,” stated Roark. “Unless you’ve forgotten how to use your phone. You never answered or called back when I tried to get you yesterday after practice.”

“Uh . . I haven’t seen my phone since Monday’s practice,” explained Jason as they started walking toward the school. “I thought I put it in my locker but when I went to get it after practice I couldn’t find it. I looked everywhere for it yesterday so today I’ll check in the office and hope someone found it and turned it in.”

“Good luck with that,” chuckled Roark. “What was the meeting about or is it a secret?”

“No, coach just wanted ideas for getting us pumped for the game,” answered Jason. “You’ll never guess who had an idea about team building. Clint! And coach is gonna let him run with it. He’s supposed to text us with the details tomorrow. I’ll have to see if one of the guys will email me the info if I don’t get my phone back because Clint ain’t getting my email addy.”

“You never know he might have a real idea but be careful. Your friends still think he’s out to get you and he’s already come after me once,” advised Roark as he quickened his pace.

The school was just barely in sight and it was almost time for the first bell. Neither wanted to be late so the conversation was over in favor of making haste.

Roark felt his phone buzz in his pocket right as his family was getting up from the dinner table. After rinsing and putting his dishes in the dishwasher Roark took a peek at his phone. He was surprised to see it was a text from Jason’s phone.

He quietly slipped out the door to the garage before opening the text to read it. Roark reviewed the message several times not sure what to make of it. He debated back and forth whether to answer the text because it was a little strange.

Jason asked him to meet that evening at an abandoned house in an area they ordinarily wouldn’t go. Maybe he was finally ready to tell Roark what had been troubling him since the summer. With that thought Roark made his decision and sent a one word answer, ‘Okay.’

Roark checked the time and saw he only had a few minutes to get ready if he was going to get there on time.

“YES! He took the bait! I thought for a minute he wouldn’t.”

‘I can get Teddy and be there in ten minutes. Should we get Richie to help, too.”

“I’ll pick him up and meet you there. This is gonna be great!”

“Yeah! The queer boy will get his and his best friend’ll get roped into at least letting it happen.”

“Yep! There’s no way he’ll buck the whole football team.”

Roark stopped his bike in front of the spooky looking abandoned house with its broken window and one porch rail hanging half off. He dismounted and rolled the bike down the driveway and then into the tall grass at the side of the house. Laying the bike on its side to help hide it he started creeping around the house checking it out.

The slim redhead had traveled down the side and around the back to peek up the other side. He began to think maybe Jason had chickened out and wouldn’t show. He turned and started back to where he had left his bicycle. Roark was just about to turn the corner when he was roughly grabbed by the shoulders from behind.

Before he could react a cloth sack or something had been pulled over his head preventing him from seeing anything that was happening. Suddenly a fist connected hard with his abdomen which would have doubled him over if he wasn’t being held upright. He caught a quick breath and managed to tighten his ab muscles before the fist hit again. It still hurt but not as bad and he heard a small grunt from in front of him.

A familiar voice then cursed right before Roark was knocked over by a hard slap to the face that would have stung worse if not for the head covering. While on the ground he received several kicks in the stomach, ribs and back bruising him and possibly breaking a rib or two.

Roark was harshly jerked up causing him to groan in pain then his hands were tied behind him eliciting more groans and moans. “Shut up, fag,” hissed someone behind him then he was rocked by two quick but hard slaps to the head. If not for the firm grip on his arms he would have fallen to the ground again.

“Get him in the van,” the familiar voice ordered. “It’s almost time for the team to show up.”

“Yeah,” agreed another voice. “We don’t want the guest of honor to be late.”

Several voices laughed at the joke as they dragged a groggy, moaning Roark across the backyard to where the van and car were parked on the street that ran behind the row of houses. He was punched a couple more times in the back before being dumped in the back of the van and was nearly out of it.

“Where you been, dude?” asked Hogan when Jason answered his door. “We’re supposed to be at the school five minutes ago.”

“My phone is missing and no one had emailed me last time I checked,” Jason replied pulling on a light jacket. “I’m ready. Let’s go!”

Within a few minutes the pair entered the gym and headed for the locker room. They found most of the team gathered at the locker room door with two of Clint’s goons guarding it.

“What’s going on?” inquired Jason as he bumped knuckles with several teammates.

“Don’t know,” replied Roberts.

“Clint won’t say other than it’s guaranteed to get us warmed up for beating on Rockfield tomorrow night,” Brad added. “He won’t let anyone in until the whole team is present.”

“Am I the last one?” Jason asked looking around.

“Almost. Here come two stragglers and I think that’s all of us,” answered Bobby walking up to dap knuckles with Jason.

At that time Clint opened the door of the locker room and looked over the players milling around. A quick count told him they were all there or close enough then he spotted Jason and smirked.

“Gather ’round team. I got us a punching bag to represent Rockfield” announced Clint excitedly. “We can take turns knocking it around like we’re gonna do to their team tomorrow night. Are you’ns with me?”

Most of the team yelled out, “Yeah!”

“I can’t hear you! Let me know you’re ready to pound them pussies! Louder now!”

YEAH!” came the roar from almost the whole team. Jason and his close friends still weren’t sure about Clint’s motives.

“Those faggots aren’t gonna know what hit ’em just like the one in the locker room. Right?”

“Yeah!” came the cry again only a few more held back after Clint’s words registered.

“What do you mean?” demanded Jason with verbal agreement from Brad and Hogan. Roberts, Bobby and several more nodded their endorsement of the question.

“Come on in and see,”offered Clint with a sinister grin. “I’ll even let you go first.”

Clint had Teddy and Richie hold the doors open and motioned for Jason and his group to follow him. Inside they found Dray holding upright a seated slim figure with a cloth over his head. The surprise and disgust on their faces delighted Cint and he couldn’t wait to up the ante.

“Dray, why don’t you remove the hood so everyone can see who we get to smack around.”

Gasps of shock erupted from the mouths of Brad, Hogan, Roberts and Bobby when the recognized the bruised face of one of their friends. Jason’s reaction was way beyond what Clint had counted on.

“ROARK! My god what have they done to you!” exploded Jason then he let loose with a roar that deafened all within the room.

Clint’s triumphant gloat turned to fear when Jason looked at him with death in his eyes. He never had time to move before Jason had decked him twice then pulled him off the floor to hit him again. Teddy and Richie thought to intervene but soon found themselves in just as much trouble.

Brad and Hogan had Teddy held against the lockers with a bloody nose and an eye that was quickly blackening. Roberts had Richie by throat shoved against the locker room wall. Dray released Roark seconds before Bobby sent him sprawling across the floor and glared at him daring him to get up.

A few of the team that saw no problem with beating up on a defenseless person started to go to their aid when they found themselves facing the others on the team that Brad’s group had recruited to protect Roark at school. The rest were too shell-shocked to do anything.

Once he was certain Dray wasn’t going to move Bobby pulled Jason off Clint before he went too far. Jason then knelt next to Roark and cradled his head to his chest. Brad left Hogan holding Teddy and called 911 then he called Jason’s dad since he didn’t know Roark’s parents. After explaining everything to Jason’s dad, Mr. Jenkins said he would called the Malloye’s and have them go to the hospital.

During this time someone had also called Coach Radford while another had contacted Mr. Hanson. The coach arrived first and started yelling at everyone. He yelled most at the friends of Jason’s that had Clint and his cronies subdued threatening to throw them off the team.

When one of the others explained what had happened, the coach said he didn’t care what they did to some lowlife homo. He had given explicit permission for this rally and knew what Clint had planned so the ones who objected could sit the bench.

“Let me get this straight, coach,” interrupted Brad forcefully. “You knew Clint planned to beat up and severely injure another person just because he said that person was gay and you gave him permission to do it and have the whole team join in.”

“Yes. I did,” spat out the coach angrily. “They have no place at this school and definitely shouldn’t be in sports of any kind with real men. You have a problem with it you can walk away from the team.”

While the coach was throwing his tirade at the team and admitting his part in the incident, Mr. Jenkins had come in and turned on video app of his phone. During the last admission Mr. Hanson entered the locker room and asked, “What did you just say?”

“None of your business,” retorted the coach. “This is between me and my team.”

“Here,” said Mr, Jenkins turning his phone toward the vice principal and hitting play. “You can listen to the whole thing.”

Mr. Hanson’s face turned redder and redder with anger the more he listened to the recording of the coach. “You’re fired! Get out now!”

“You can’t do that,” the coach insisted.

“You can go now or you can go after the board makes it official and you lose your pension too,” threatened the livid vice principal. “I will have you physically removed from these premises if necessary.”

At that moment a sheriff’s deputy and the EMTs entered the locker room. Mr. Hanson pointed at the coach and said, “Officer, get this man out of here then come back or send another officer back. I think a few of these boys will be going with you as well.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Jenkins led the EMTs to where Jason still held an unconscious Roark then gently pulled his son back by the shoulders so they could take care of the injured teen. Jason turned to see who had ahold of him and buried his face in his dad’s chest upon recognizing him.

“I want to go with him, dad,” sobbed the distraught teen.

“We can go to the hospital but I don’t know if they’ll let you ride in the ambulance,” Mr. Jenkins spoke soothingly while rubbing his son’s back.

Jason turned toward where Roark was being laid on the stretcher pleading with his eyes. The two emergency workers glanced at each other and one of them spoke, “We don’t usually take passengers but if the boy comes to it could be helpful if there was a familiar face. Would he know your son, sir?”

“They’re best friends,” replied Mr. Jenkins. “If Roark were to know anybody it would be Jason.”

The EMT explained the rules for Jason to follow to be allowed to ride then they all left for the hospital. While Roark was being seen to and the coach was escorted out to a waiting squad car, Mr. Hanson had Brad and a couple of the other players tell what had taken place at the school. He then questioned the four students who had kidnapped and beaten Roark. They didn’t have much to say so he had them hauled off by the sheriff deputies to let them sort it out.

A search of the four miscreants revealed an extra phone in Clint’s pockets. Mr. Jenkins, who hadn’t left yet, recognized the phone and asked to see it. In only a few seconds he had confirmed that it was indeed Jason’s missing phone and it still had the texts Clint used to lure Roark to the old house.

“I know where that is,” exclaimed Brad.

“Can you go there and retrieve Roark’s bike?” inquired Jason’s dad. “I’d bet anything that’s how he got there. He goes everywhere on his bike.”

“I’ve got my truck,” spoke up Hogan. “If you can get me there, Brad. We can put his bike in the back.”

“Let’s go!”

Jason has been sitting on the edge of his seat in the ER waiting room when Roark’s mom, Mrs. Malloye and Reilly walked through the door. Jason stood and took a couple of steps their direction when Reilly spotted him. He charged at Jason yelling, “What did you do to him?” and started hitting him.

Mrs. Malloye hurried to grab her younger son but Jason held up a hand to wave her off and grabbed Reilly around his shoulders. He held the younger boy until his punches slowly dwindled down and he was bawling into Jason’s chest.

He then wrapped his arms around Jason’s waist, looked into his face and asked, “Is he going to be okay?”

“I don’t know, little bro,” admitted Jason. “I sure hope so. I couldn’t take it if anything happened to him.” He looked over to Roark’s mom and added, “The doctors haven’t come out yet.”

They all moved over to a row of seats and sat down with Reilly still huddled up to Jason. Several minutes later a doctor came out looking for Roark’s family. He told them that it appeared that besides numerous bruises and a few cuts Roark may have a concussion and a rib or two might be broken. He would need a couple more tests then they were putting him in a regular room.

The doctor asked the family to follow the nurse he motioned over to the waiting room on the floor where Roark would spend the night. When Jason started to go with them he stared at him and said, “Just the family.”

Jason began to protest when Mrs. Malloye laid a hand on his arm and opened her mouth to set the doctor straight but before she could someone else spoke up.

“Since his father is out of town and unavailable my son and I will be going with the Malloyes,” Mr. Jenkins tone brooked no argument and the look in his eyes dared the doctor to dispute his assertion.

After waiting in another room for what seemed like forever but actually was only about forty minutes Roark was wheeled past them into a room. They were told he was still out but they could visit for a few minutes. Jason stood up to go but Roark’s mom wanted a few minutes to compose herself before going in and told Jason to go ahead. Reilly had fallen asleep so he went in alone.

Jason gasped when he caught sight of his best friend bandaged and laying in the hospital bed. He looked even smaller than he actually was. Jason closed the distance quickly and took hold of Roark’s hand.

“I’m sorry this happened to you, bud. It should have been me; I’m the one who’s gay. You have to get well. I can’t stand seeing you like this. I- I . . uh . . I love you, Roark.”

Bending down Jason softly kissed his best friend on the forehead and turned to leave. He felt his hand gripped weakly and rotated back around to find Roark’s eyes open and looking at him.

“What did you say?” the injured teen barely croaked out still holding on to Jason’s hand.

The taller teenager wiped tears from his face with his free hand braced himself and said, “I’m gay and I’ve fallen in love with you. I’m sorry. I’ll go now.”

“Jason, wait,” Roark forced out a little stronger than before. “Come here.”

Jason stopped and took a step closer to the bed.

“Closer.”

He stopped beside the bed.

“Bend down.”

Jason followed the order.

“More.”

He did it not sure what was going to happen.

“Even closer.”

He did then closed his eyes as Roark lifted his hand up. Jason waited for the smack he thought was coming and was surprised when Roark gripped his shirt pulling down on it as he raised himself up and lightly pecked Jason on the cheek with his lips. Then Roark collapsed back to the bed exhausted

Jason didn’t move as he waited for Roark to recover from his exertions. When Roark opened his eyes again Jason asked, “What does this mean?”

“Kiss me, you dolt!” croaked the bedridden redhead smiling.

Jason leaned down to kiss Roark’s cheek but he had other ideas and turned his head so they met lips to lips. The football player jerked up in surprise then bent over and kissed the lips he had dreamed of again.

In their passion the boys didn’t hear the door open or shut again but Jason jumped when Reilly barked out, “You better have a good explanation for kissing my brother.”

Recovering from his deer in headlights look Jason stated honestly, “I’m gay and I love him.”

“YES!” Reilly almost shouted and pumped his fist. “About time but you just have a couple of minutes before the ‘rents come in.”

Jason gave Roark one more quick kiss then hand in hand he said, “We’re ready.”

“To go camping maybe with that tent. You better tuck it somewhere quick,” retorted Reilly grinning.

He did and just in time as the door open again and in walked Mrs. Malloye, Mr. Jenkins and a doctor.

The parents looked at the clasped hands of their sons but made no comment. The doctor walked over to the bed looking pleased.

“Our patient is awake. That is very good. Very good indeed. I’ll give you a quick rundown and a few minutes to visit then he needs to rest. One of you may stay the night if you wish. Roark does have a mild concussion which is the main reason we’re keeping him overnight and maybe longer. He also has multiple bruises and a few cuts. Thankfully there were no broken bones. I’ll check back tomorrow.”

“Thank you, doctor” said Mrs. Malloye as he left. “Would you two care to explain?”

Before either boy could reply Jason’s dad cut in, “Jason, do you love him?”

Jason could only nod in response.

“I thought so from your actions tonight. As far as I am concerned you couldn’t have picked a finer young man,” Mr. Jenkins smiled at his son who sighed in relief.

“Do you love him, Roark?” questioned his mom.

“Yes, mom. I do,” Roark croaked in reply.

“Good. I feel the same about Jason and that solves one problem.”

Everyone looked at her with confusion wondering what she was talking about.

She turned to Mr. Jenkins and explained, “I was going to ask you if Reilly could stay at your house but I’ll just take him home with me. I hope you’re okay with Jason staying the night.”

“I think I’ll have to be since the alternative would be to try to pick him up and carry him out,” laughed Jason’s dad as he held the door for the Malloyes.

Jason pulled a chair over to the bed, made himself as comfortable as possible and took hold of the hand Roark draped over the side. They slept like that all night.

Well that was a bit of a ride! Let Jeikor know how you felt about this story.

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