Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2004 13:46:53 EST
From: Keybedder@aol.com
Subject: Halls of Academe, Part 4

AUTHOR'S NOTE: First, apologies to the readers who wrote and asked what was
taking so long. What can I say, the day job's gotten crazy <g>. There's one
more chapter after this one and I will really try and get it done before
the end of this year.

Second, this part is dedicated to David Brown, who will no doubt recognize
his influence on one of the scenes. David, I hope you'll take my
"borrowing" in the spirit which it's intended. Remember imitation is the
sincerest form of flattery <g>.

THE HALLS OF ACADEME, PART FOUR by K. Nitsua. Copyright 2004 by the author.

The days after I was dismissed from my teaching job in Oklahoma were the
darkest I'd had in my life up until now. They were nothing compared to the
despair of that night Drew walked out on me.

I felt like a boulder was pressing on my chest as I stared at the ceiling
of my dark bedroom. I didn't cry.

Exhaustion must have caught up with me. The next thing I knew I was waking
to the familiar beep of my bedside alarm clock. The light filtering into
the room was gray and faint--it was overcast out and probably going to
rain.

I dragged myself out of bed and made myself presentable enough to go to
work, at least on the outside. Holding my umbrella, I began walking toward
campus. I dreaded the thought of seeing Drew, but there was no point in
trying to avoid it. If we were really finished I'd have to get used to the
fact.

Luck, if you could call it that, was with me that morning. I taught my
class, saw a couple of students who were working with me individually, and
walked to the library to return a book, all without catching sight of him.

Lunchtime, though, loomed ahead. We usually ate together, Drew coming to
get me in my office about quarter after noon, to avoid the rush of students
in the cafeteria line who had just gotten out of their eleven o'clock
classes. I was pretty sure that wasn't going to happen today. I'd kept busy
enough all morning that I'd managed not to think of him, but now my spirits
descended into gloom again. As noon rolled around I sat at my desk and
tried to work, but eventually gave up, trying to muster the energy either
to go home for lunch or somewhere else.

I'd just stood and started looking for my umbrella when I heard a knock. I
wheeled toward my office door.

"Hey," Drew said. He didn't smile.

I swallowed, then managed to say, "I wasn't sure you were coming."

He scratched his head. "Yeah, well, I'm not really hungry. Can I come in?"

I nodded.

He shut the door behind him and sat on the couch. I wanted so much to go to
him. Instead I went back and sat on my desk, across the room.

A moment of silence, then Drew said, "I didn't get much sleep last night."

"You and me both."

"Guess I had a lot on my mind."

I found myself getting impatient. Why didn't he just say it and get it over
with?

"Well," I said, "You know Marsha's still going to have to do your eval."

He stared. "What?"

"After all, why would you want your ex-boyfriend evaluating you? I'd have
even more reason not to be objective."

Sudden anger flashed in his eyes. "Don't talk like that."

I tried to keep my voice harsh. "Isn't that why you came? To tell me we
were through?" My voice cracked on the last word and I felt a burning flush
creeping up my neck and face.

He sighed, not looking at me. "I thought about it." Then he raised his head
and looked into my eyes. "But then I realized--I didn't want to lose you."

My chest heaved. Tears welled before I could stop them.

Drew said, "You threw me for a loop last night. But really, I can
understand if you want someone else once in a while. Just tell me about it
first, okay? And you've got to give me some space too." He smiled, for the
first time since he had come in. "Not that I need it."

I stared. "You don't?"

He shook his head. "I haven't wanted anyone else since the first time I met
you."

I lost it then. We never did make it to lunch.

"Glenn," Drew said a while later. We were both sitting on the couch. My
head was on his shoulder as he cradled me in his arms. The rain pattered
softly on the roof above us. "They want to break us up."

I nodded and looked into his eyes, managing a smile. "Let them try. We'll
win this."

His expression darkened. "You think so?"

I nodded, with more confidence than I felt. "They've got to realize there's
no truth to his ridiculous story."

Drew shook his head. "That's not going to be enough to save us." His hands
cupped my face and his blue gaze filled my vision. "You were right. I never
should have given that kid the time of day. I got you into this mess
because of my own lack of judgment. That's what's tearing me up, Glenn--I'm
taking you down with me."

"No one's going down. Don't talk like that."

His face stayed grave. "It's going to get worse before it gets better."

"I can face anything, as long as it's with you."

Now it was his eyes that filled. "Thank you, Glenn."

That night I said to him as we embraced in my bed, "Punish me."

Drew raised his head, surprised. "Why?"

"I wronged you. I should pay."

"What--" A glint appeared in his eye. "Maybe you're right. You should be
punished. Severely."

I nodded, my breath quickening. "Yes, sir."

Drew thought for a moment as a slow smile spread across his face. He rose
and stood by the bed. My mouth watered at the sight of his erect cock. I
wanted it so bad.

He stretched out his hand, pulling me off the bed as I took it.

"Wait."

I obeyed, standing passive as he rummaged in my closet and came back with a
handful of my neckties. He took one and bound my hands behind my back. When
he was done he stood in front of me and examined his handiwork. My cock
rose under his smoldering gaze.

"Very nice." He took hold of my erection and stroked it gently, sending
shivers of pleasure through me. The next moment I cried out, startled, as
he flicked the head with his forefinger and thumb, hard enough to
sting. Drew chuckled. I jumped again as he reached out and tweaked both my
nipples. My heart was pounding, my breath quick and shallow.

He picked up the other neckties from the floor where he had let them fall,
then took hold of one of my elbows and led me through the house to the
kitchen. When we got there, he pulled a chair out from under the table.

"Sit."

I obeyed. Drew took the rest of the neckties. In a few moments he had me
tied to the chair. I could still wiggle some.

He looked at me with a frown on his face. "Think we need one more
thing. Don't go away." With a teasing wink he left me. In a few moments I
heard him returning. He reemerged holding a bright yellow length of braided
nylon. I recognized the strap I put around my suitcase when I traveled by
air. How did he know I had that thing?

In a moment I saw what he had in mind. He threaded the strap under my arms,
around my waist, and pulled it tight as he snapped the plastic buckle
shut. Now I really couldn't move. If I struggled too hard I'd fall
over. This was way beyond the mild bondage we had tried before. I could
hardly contain my excitement.

He stood before me, hands on his hips, a small smile playing across his
face.

"How'd you like to teach your class tomorrow like that?"

I spoke through dry lips. "Anything for you, sir."

He stepped forward until his erect cock loomed before me. I bent forward,
straining to take it in my mouth, but he kept just out of reach. I extended
my tongue as far as I could, a small moan escaping my throat. Drew laughed
softly.

"You want it, don't you?"

"Please."

"No." Drew's voice was soft, implacable. He took hold of his rod and began
to slap it across my face, smearing my cheeks with his precum, still not
letting me have it the way I wanted. Then he bent and gave me a long, wet
tongue kiss, holding my head hard, pressing against me until it hurt and I
was emitting muffled sounds of protest.

He let go with a smack. I threw my head back, dizzy with lust and
frustration.

He grinned at me. "The night is young."

"Oh fuck," I gasped.

When Drew finally let me have him minutes later it was on his own terms. I
gagged, his musky pubic hair tickling my nostrils, as he thrust his tool
down my throat and held it there till my head swam from lack of
oxygen. When he released me this time I drew great heaving breaths, tears
running down my cheeks, but before I could recover his mouth was on mine
again. I felt my chest swell as he forced his air into my lungs. We passed
our breath back and forth.

"Had enough?" he said when he broke away.

I couldn't speak, but managed to shake my head. Drew smiled. "You're
tougher than I thought." His eyes darkened with desire. "So fucking hot,
seeing you naked and helpless. Makes me want to just jack off right here in
front of you."

"No!" The thought of him pleasuring himself while I could do nothing but
watch drove me crazy.

He chuckled. "I didn't think you'd like that idea." Suddenly he knelt in
front of me. I cried out as he swallowed my cock and began to slide up and
down on it in long strokes, spit running out of his mouth, coating the
shaft and wetting my balls. Just as I felt the climax begin to rise inside
me he stopped.

"Damn you!"

Drew shook his finger playfully in my face. "Temper." He grabbed my
shoulders as he spread his legs and straddled my lap. I opened my mouth to
take his cock when I felt his hand grab my slick shaft. It happened in an
instant--I saw his thigh muscles bulge as he bent his legs, then in a flash
his full weight was pressing on my lap and a squeezing, enveloping warmth
surrounded my cock. Drew had speared himself on me, the last thing I'd
expected.

Our cries were simultaneous, mine from surprise, his no doubt from pain. I
looked into his face and saw his features twisted into a grimace, his eyes
screwed shut, as his body tried to deal with the sudden invasion of his
innards. Then they opened and he saw me looking at him. Drew smiled. He
knew he had gotten me but good, and it was worth the hurt.

"How're you doing?"

"You're unbelievable," was all I could manage. He stared into space, his
features relaxing as his body adjusted to me. Finally he looked at me and
smiled again.

"Try and fuck me."

I realized why he'd added the luggage strap. My butt was pinned to the
chair and I couldn't thrust upward. It was a complete role reversal, even
though supposedly I was topping him. I struggled harder and Drew
chuckled. I felt him begin to move, squeezing my rod with his ass muscles
as he slowly raised himself, until only the head of my cock was inside
him. He flexed his ring, milking and working the sensitive flesh until my
breath grew ragged. Just when I couldn't take anymore he let himself fall
back on my lap, relaxing his hole so that my tool surged through him in a
huge thrust.

"Oh my god!"

I don't know how long it lasted, but it seemed like forever. Drew used his
powerful leg and thigh muscles and his talented ass to take my helpless
body, slowly, thoroughly, drawing out each down and upstroke on my aching
erection until I saw stars. Knowing that I was inside him bareback only
added to the excitement. Every now and then he'd take a breather, frenching
me, or bending to tease my nipples with his tongue. After a while both of
us were panting, coated with a sheen of sweat. I was shaking, incoherent,
half laughing, half crying as I begged for release. Drew's response to
every plea was a smile and shake of his tousled head. At last he must have
seen that I was reaching my limit.

"Had enough?"

Before I could answer his body swung into action. The chair squeaked in
protest as Drew began to ride my cock with powerful thrusts. It only took a
few seconds for the cum that had built up in my balls to come boiling up
and out of my cock buried inside him. I threw my head back and roared with
delight as spurt after spurt of hot cream surged into his ass. Drew laughed
with satisfaction.

"Uh-huh, give it to me."

He slowed his movements but kept his hands on my shoulders, asshole clamped
on my cock as he milked the last of my load out of me. Finally one hand
went to his own erection.

"You're so fucking hot, Glenn," he muttered as he jacked himself with quick
hard strokes, leaning back and grinding his hips, working his prostate with
my still hard tool. His breath whistled through his clenched teeth,
strangled grunts rose from his throat as jets of spunk shot out of his
purplish engorged head, hitting my face, chin and chest. He fell against me
then, his hot breath cool against my sweating skin. We stayed in that
position for a long time, captor and captive.

At last Drew stirred. Gingerly he raised himself off of me, letting out a
small noise as my cock popped out of him. He stretched, took a few stiff
steps and smiled.

"Really gave my legs a workout. I'd better untie you."

A minute later I was free. I tested my own limbs, then tried to rise. My
legs wobbled and Drew caught one of my elbows. Small tremors shook my
thighs. I'd exhausted myself struggling against my bonds.

"I'll help you."

He kept one arm around me as we walked slowly back to the bedroom. When we
got there, he said, "I'll get a towel and clean you up."

"No," I said. Drew looked at me, surprised.

"I want to wear your cum to bed." Most of it had dried. "You marked me with
it."

A slow smile spread across his face. When we got in bed he kissed me. "I
have your load up my ass, don't forget. You've marked me too."

I looked into his eyes. "I want yours up mine. No more rubbers."

His teeth flashed in the grin that had captivated me from the first time I
saw him. "Okay, but I'm going to have to recharge my batteries first." He
looked at me and winked. "You do look good wearing my juice."

The next morning I woke earlier than usual, around seven-thirty. Drew lay
asleep, his breathing still deep and even. When I got out of bed I
winced--my body hadn't quite recovered from being trussed up the night
before.

Under the hot shower I began to feel better. I washed the evidence of last
night's play off my skin. My cock rose as I relived the memories.

When I came out and began getting dressed Drew stirred in the bed.

"Why're you up so early?" he murmured, his eyes still shut.

"I have an errand to run at the main administration building before I
teach,"

Drew opened his eyes with an effort, yawned and smiled. "The life of a
department chair. Don't go."

"Have to," I said, my jaw set as I knotted my tie. It probably wasn't going
to be an altogether pleasant trip. With an effort I shook off my grim mood
and walked over to the bed. I leaned down and kissed him. "See you
later. Stay in bed as long as you like."

"Nah, I should go home and change. Keep up the pretense that we live in
separate establishments." Drew threw back the covers and sat up. I hugged
him and managed to turn away.

"Make yourself some coffee. I'll see you for lunch," I said, as I walked
out.

The storm system of yesterday had passed, and the day promised to be
sunny. My strides were quick and purposeful as I headed toward the
Provost's office.

Jon's secretary hadn't come in yet when I got to his office. I'd planned it
this way. I knew he often came early to get work done and this was a good
time to catch him. Sure enough, his office door was open. I knocked.

"Come in," he called. He looked a bit surprised when he saw me. Maybe also
apprehensive? If so, he was reading me right.

"Glenn, hello. You're up early."

"I need to talk to you," I said. I felt my heart beat faster and willed
myself not to lose control.

"What can I do for you?"

"That was a rotten and unfair thing you did to Drew."

He blinked, then sighed. He knew what I was talking about. "I know you're
angry, Glenn."

"Damn right I am. Disappointed too. You've turned into a true
administrator."

That provoked a flicker of annoyance. "I'm not sure that's fair."

I wasn't going to give him anything. "You didn't have to tell Marcia about
Drew's sexual harrassment accusation. Especially since nothing, absolutely
nothing's been proved."

"As Drew's de facto chair she should know what's going on."

"Maybe. She probably would have found out anyway, especially after what
happened to us a couple of days ago. But telling her to put it in his
report is unbelievable, Jon. I really thought you were better than that."

No response. Jon's gaze was directed away from me, at a point on the wall
of his office. With an effort I hung on to my temper. Losing it wouldn't
help Drew. Besides, a part of me still thought of the Provost as a
friend. "The least you can do now is to ask her to postpone filing his eval
until the hearing is held and a finding is made. Otherwise he'll have this
accusation floating around in his file forever."

More silence. When Jon finally looked at me his eyes gave nothing
away. "I'll think about it, Glenn."

Anger rose again. "I hope you do. You of all people should know what
unfounded rumor can do to a career." Without waiting for an answer I walked
out of his office. In the corridor outside I leaned against the wall and
took a deep breath. There went the department budget increase I'd
requested, but I'd done what I had to do.

It turned out to be one of those mornings when I was reminded how little
teaching had to do with my job. First there was the colleague, telling me
that the next guest speaker on our lecture series was wondering whether we
could increase his fee. Then there was the student who wanted to withdraw
from her upper-level Chaucer course though it was past the deadline. That
wouldn't have been a problem, except she didn't want it to show on her
transcript that she was WF--withdrawing failing.

In between all the meetings and e-mails I did run out for an hour and teach
a class, as I remember.

Drew stopped by my office just before noon. He had a paper bag in his hand.

"I got a couple of sandwiches from that place you like downtown. Thought we
could eat here."

"Good idea."

We munched on sandwiches and chips, washed down with soda. I suppose we
might have been cowards for not eating together in the cafeteria. Somebody
on campus had let us know in no uncertain terms that our relationship did
not meet with their approval. In a day or two I'd get over it, but I didn't
feel like facing more brickbats today.

I told Drew about my conversation with the Provost. "I don't know if it did
any good."

"Well, I appreciate you trying, Glenn." Drew drained the last of his Diet
Coke. "Too bad about Jon. I thought he was on our side."

"Knowing Jon," I said, "He probably did it from some misguided idea of
treating everyone alike. He's scared Elden Lewis or some other right-winger
on the faculty will say he's coddling his queer buddies."

"You're probably right. Well, I'm going back to work." Drew gave me a hug
and rose. "See you tonight?"

"For sure."

Drew smiled. "Good. Because I owe you something."

For a minute I was puzzled, then I smiled back. "Yes you do. And you won't
have to tie me down to pay me back."

He left. I sat at my desk and tried to hold on to the good feeling our time
together had given me. Not five minutes passed before there was a knock.

"Glenn?"

"Hello, Phil," I said, a bit surprised. I hadn't seen Philip Ramsey for a
long time. The Art Department had moved out of the Humanities Division a
few years back when they got their own state-of-the-art facility on the
other side of campus. Even though Steelman was a small campus, it was
remarkable how not working in the same space cut down the amount of time
you saw anyone.

Philip and I had never been close anyway. Before he came out he had been
married and had kids. I guess it's hard to get over the urge to hide even
when it doesn't matter anymore. I would have liked to have gotten to know
him better, at least until Drew had come along. Even nearing the age of
sixty Phil was a hunky fellow, tall and broad-shouldered with a full head
of silver hair.

"Come on in. What's up?"

Phil seemed aware that his visit was a bit unusual. He scratched his head
and shifted on his feet.

"I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time."

"No, not at all."

His eyes met mine. "Glenn, it's shameful what happened to you."

I shrugged with a casualness I didn't feel. "Oh, well. Kids."

"If it was a joke, it was in damn poor taste. I hope they catch whoever did
it and give `em hell." His voice was vehement. I could imagine that for
Phil, there'd be nothing worse than being publicly outed.

"Thanks, Phil. I appreciate it."

"Anyway, I thought of something that might help. Catch the guy, I mean."

My interest perked up. "Really, what?"

"Well," Philip said, "I heard about the signs, how they used fluorescent
posterboard."

"Orange and hot pink. Attention-getting colors, eh?" I said, wryly. "Seems
to have worked."

That seemed to get Philip excited. "Exactly. Those were the colors, all
right."

"What are you talking about, Phil?"

He sat on my couch. "The department orders posterboard for matte work,
architectural models, couple of other things. We don't usually use colors
like that, of course. About a year or so ago, though, some drawing major
wanted to frame her work in freaky colors for her senior show. She ordered
tons of it and charged it to the department, way more than she needed. We
were stuck with about a dozen sheets of the stuff."

"So the Art Department owns the same posterboard that was used for the
signs, is that what you're saying?"

Philip shook his head. "I didn't care, but some of my snobbier colleagues
were not going to have that shit lying around." His grimace was
eloquent. "So we voted to donate it to the Student Activities Office. It
made sense, actually. Some organization or club could use it to make
eye-catching signs." He shook his head. "This isn't quite what we had in
mind."

I thought for a moment. "There must be dozens of registered student
organizations and clubs on campus. Doesn't narrow it down a great deal."

"No, except--" Phil leaned forward and lowered his voice. "How many student
organizations are into outing people?"

I was stunned. "What?"

He nodded. "You might not know that LEGAL, the Steelman gay and lesbian
student organization, recently voted to endorse the concept. There are some
loose cannons in that bunch."

"But--" I was still groping for answers. "It's true that I'm not exactly a
poster child for gay liberation. But I've never hidden what I am. And I've
never used my closeted power to oppress gays on this campus--unless you
count flunking people who deserve it as oppression. According to the
statistics, ten percent of everybody I've flunked has got to be gay."

Philip smiled. "You do have the reputation of being a hardnose,
Glenn. Still, though, have either you or Drew ever made someone in LEGAL
mad? Might be worth looking into."

Drew, though, was skeptical when I told him what Philip had said.

"Glenn, I know some of the students in LEGAL. Sure, they're intense, but
they're not mean. And this was a mean thing to do."

We were at his place, getting ready for bed.

"Well, maybe you're right. Still, it's the best lead we have so far." I
wanted to wrap this up, because Drew was flopped naked on his bed, hands
behind his head, and the sight of him was making it hard for me to think
straight.

"When are you coming to bed?" he demanded. He looked at me and
snickered. "My god, you still have your pants on. What are you, scared?"

"Take them off of me, then, if you're so impatient." I moved toward
him. Drew had a little surprise in store for him. I hoped he'd like it.

He unbuckled my belt and unzipped my fly. I saw his eyes widen. He looked
up at me and grinned. "Aw, you."

I was wearing my swimmer strap. After my workout at the pool that afternoon
I'd put on another, dry one instead of my usual underwear.

"You sure know how to cheer a guy up," Drew said, sitting up and putting
his mouth on the full pouch. He worked on it until the head of my dick
poked up past the waistband.

My pants came off pretty fast after that, but Drew made me keep the jock on
for quite a while, until the pouch was soaked with his spit and my
precum. He tugged on the straps as he ate out my ass from behind, my head
buried in the pillows. Then he flipped me onto my back and peeled the thing
off. He took the lube on the table beside the bed and squeezed some
out. His eyes locked onto mine as he applied it to his unsheathed cock with
slow, twisting strokes until the shaft and head glistened in the dim light
of the bedroom.

His cock slid in without any pain. We gasped in unison. "Sweet Jesus, that
feels incredible," he gasped.

His motions were slow and tender, as much from his not wanting to cum too
fast as wanting to tease me. My arms were free to wrap around his broad
back and shoulders. My hands felt his rock-hard butt muscles contract on
each thrust.

I took hold of his face and drew his lips to mine. As we kissed Drew
finally lost control and began to drill into me. I clamped my ass muscles
tight around his raging shaft, trying to squeeze the prize out. He broke
away and shouted, "Take it, fucker!" as he plunged in and held his pulsing
tool as far in me as he could. I felt his cum flood into me for the first
time. That was all it took to send me over the edge. Without my ever having
touched it my own cock shot white spurts across my stomach and chest as I
gasped and tossed my head from side to side.

Afterward we lay in each other's arms. I felt a peace inside and a bond
with Drew even stronger than what I'd felt up until now. I'd never cheat on
him again.

"I've been thinking," he said. "It's been getting warm lately. Spring is
really here."

I nodded.

"How about going to the lake this weekend? We haven't been there since last
fall."

My heart leaped at the thought, but my head worried. "Are you sure that's a
good idea?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

I tried to think of a reason, but Drew supplied it for me. He clicked his
tongue. "Because we'd be, what, flaunting our relationship by appearing
naked together in public? It's not illegal out there."

"Still--"

"Who's going to see us? Elden? Jon? Not likely." He looked into my eyes
with that intent expression. "Glenn, you're the one who said they were
trying to break us up. Why should we let them--whoever they are--keep us
from doing what we want to do? Don't misunderstand me," he said, smirking,
"I'm not going to fuck you at the lake. That would be hot, but I'm not that
stupid."

"Aw," I groaned in mock disappointment, then smiled. "Okay. Better make
sure we have sunscreen."

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, a perfect day for a lake trip. We got an
early start, and the parking lot had only a few cars in it when we
arrived. Despite our troubles, my spirits began to lift as we walked along
the paved path above the jagged limestone outcroppings that led to the
water.

Drew turned to me. "How about here?"

We left the path and picked our way down the rocks to the edge of the
water. We found a flat ledge in the sun, spread out our towels and peeled
off our clothes.

Despite the fact that being naked together was usually a cue for rampant,
wanton bodily contact, today we both felt content to lie next to one
another, not touching. There was something peaceful and innocent about
sunbathing outdoors when it was still winter according to the calendar.

After a while Drew reached over and grasped my hand. I turned and smiled at
him. For the moment all our trials seemed very far away.

"This is nice, isn't it?"

"Mm hmm. If only we could stay here forever," Drew said. "To hell with that
damn place."

He rose and stretched. "I'm going in."

I turned and watched as he slipped into the water and dove under. In a
moment he broke the surface, gasping and whooping.

"Jesus, it's cold."

I shivered. "Brrr. I think I'll soak up some more sun."

Drew grinned. "You're such a wuss." He dove under and began to swim out
into open water. I watched him go and thought about the first time we had
come here last fall, just after he had arrived at Steelman. So much had
happened since then, good and bad.

By now Drew was a long distance away, his powerful arms still stroking. He
seemed small and vulnerable against the wide expanse of blue water, and a
lump rose in my throat.

He turned and began to swim back in. When he was about halfway back I
clambered to the edge of the rock. Even though I tried to slip in gradually
the icy water still made me gasp. I stroked as hard as I could toward him
and the chill went away. Drew saw me and started to tread water, waiting
for me. When I reached him my heart was thudding, not just from the
exertion.

"Isn't it great?" Drew said, his hair plastered to his head.

The effort of keeping my head above water made it hard to talk. I reached
out with both arms and hung on to his shoulders. "Being anywhere with you
is great."

He kissed me, his breath warm on my cold face, then turned onto his
back. "Is this a gorgeous day or what? It might as well be spring
already. Look how green it is up there," Drew said, gazing toward the
shore.

The next moment a cascade of water hit me in the face, blinding
me. "What--"

Drew had bolted upright, his eyes locked on a point in the woody hillside
above the rocky ledge where we had laid our clothes.

"He's up there."

"Who?" I didn't get an answer. Drew had begun swimming vigorously toward
shore, not waiting for me. Puzzled and scared, I swam after him, barely
keeping up.

We got back to our spot and pulled ourselves out of the water. I sat on the
edge of the rock, winded, but Drew, without pausing, began to pull his
shoes on.

"I'm going up there and find him."

"Who?" I asked again, raising my voice in frustration.

Drew looked at me as if seeing me for the first time. "Nathan. Nathan
Lewis."

"What?" I said, thunderstruck, but Drew was already clambering up the rocks
toward the woods, naked except for his Nikes.

TO BE CONTINUED