Derek and Scott - Part 3

"No, that's OK guys.  I can unload my stuff by myself.  I'll catch up with you once I get unpacked.  It looks like you guys were off to someplace anyway."

Erik sensed some awkwardness here but figured that the day was all about new beginnings.  Why not start right now.  "Nonsense Derek, we can pitch in and help you unload in no time.  Then maybe we can all go get lunch and check out the cafeteria."

"Well, OK I guess.  I still need to head in and find my room first.  All I know is that I'm on the first floor."

"That's cool, Scott and I had to cart all of our crap up the stairs.  Consider yourself lucky! You won't have to run up and down the stairs between classes all the time."

Erik immediately regretted what he had said once remembered Derek was using a cane.

"Shit, Derek... I'm sorry!  I didn't mean it that way...  I wasn't thinking!"  Erik stood there absently looking at his feet.

"Hey, it's ok.  I know you didn't mean anything by it.  I get that all the time anyway. Most people don't expect someone our age to need a cane.  I asked the school to treat me the same as everyone else, but they saw that I had a cane when I was here for my interview and just assumed that I was a cripple.  Guess that's why they put me on the first floor.  I can handle the stairs just fine, but it takes me a bit longer is all."

"OK, well let's just each grab something and head in to find your room.  Do you have your key?"

"Yeah, I grabbed it while I was over at resident life checking in.  Supposed to be in Room 110." 

"That's right below Scott!  He's in 210.  Small world huh?" Erik said with a grin.

"Who's your roommate?"  I asked in some small way trying to stay in the conversation.

"I don't know, they didn't tell me." Derek said.

"You mean you didn't get a letter telling you who it would be?  Scott and I each got one.  Both of our roommates are due in tomorrow.  Maybe they just forgot.  Certainly wouldn't surprise me.  Must be a big job trying to get all of us here, settled and off to class in just a few days time.  Oh well, your room is under Scott's at the far end of the hall.  Let's go check it out."

We went in via the building's side door, which was closest to the parking lot and walked down the hall towards the other end where Derek's room was.  There were 10 doors on each side of the hall.  Erik was leading the way and came to the end of the hall first.  There was no room number on last door to the left.  Instead, it said 'Custodian'.  Room 110 was directly across the hall.

"Looks like you're at the quiet end! No noisy neighbors across the hall for you." 

I hadn't said anything since we entered the building.  I was following behind Erik who was marching towards the room much like a Scout Master leads his boys to camp.  Derek was following several feet behind both of us, trying to keep up while carrying a duffle bag over his shoulder and balancing the load with his cane as he walked.

As we neared the end of the hall, I must have seen it first.  There in all of its glory was a blue handicap placard just under the room number.  It wasn't overly large - just a small blue square about 4 inches in size.  Poor Derek I thought.  What a way to start college - having a blue sign on your door to announce that you're different. 

Erik was too busy yakking about the broom closet at the end of the hall to have noticed.  Derek was too short to see over Erik's shoulder as we neared his room.  Besides, he was clearly focused on keeping up with Erik who had yet to take notice that he was going to have to walk more slowly when Derek was around.

Derek went to unlock the door and then froze.

"Fucking fantastic!"  He groaned when he saw it.  "I told the school that I didn't want to be treated any different, and here they shove me in a handicap room."

He looked rather dejected at the entire notion.  Sensing this, Erik grabbed the key and unlocked the door.

"Whoa, check this out!"  He said as he again led the way for us.  "There's only one bed, looks like you get your own room.  Maybe it won't be that bad.  The rest of us have roommates that may turn out to be pricks.  At least you won't have to worry about that."

Upon further inspection of the room, I noticed that the room was a bit smaller than the ones upstairs.  Then I noticed that the room was smaller because a partial private bathroom had been installed in the room.  There was a small sink and mirror (lowered to wheelchair height) and a big walk-in shower that could accommodate a wheelchair as well.  There were those ugly stainless steel handrails for support in the shower.

The toilets were down the hall and he'd have to share those with the rest of the guys.  It was obvious that the school had made some accommodations for him.

"At least the sink and mirror are at my height!"  Derek laughed trying to make light of the situation.

"Yeah, you are a little guy..." Erik quipped. 

"Who are you calling little!"  Derek said and flexed his bicep.  "You call this little?

"Dude, just kidding.  You're just short that's all.  Nice arms by the way.  We should check out the gym later, maybe we can work out together."  Erik flexed his arm to reveal his bicep too. 

I just stood there admiring the two beautiful men in front of me.  Saying nothing.  Living in an all male dorm was going to be 'hard' for me. 

"Do you work out too?"  Erik asked.  Derek looked up at me as I answered.

"I just started a few months ago, but I've got a long way to go before I look like you guys.  Let's go grab the rest of Derek's gear."  I said hoping to change the subject.  I was really self-conscious about my body, especially around guys who had been working out for years.

We finished unloading Derek's Honda, which only took about 15 minutes between all three of us.  Derek had really only brought the essentials anyway; clothes, school supplies, some personal belongings, and his computer.  The only big items were his footlocker and computer monitor.  I had no idea how Derek had planned to unload those bulky items by himself.  Hell, he was struggling with one of the boxes when we found him.

I was inwardly upset at his family for sending him off to school in his beat-to-shit Honda with no way to unload it properly at the other end.  His family only lives a few hours away.  Why couldn't they have come to help him get settled?

Neither Erik nor I said a word about it.  We just worked quickly to unload the car - grabbing the larger heavier items before Derek could try to do it himself.  I could tell he appreciated the help, yet at the same time I'm sure he felt bad that he was unable to do it himself.

I'd only known Erik for a few hours, but I instinctively liked the guy.  We had several things in common and we seemed to be hitting it off pretty well.  He also seemed to have that big brother instinct in him.  I could tell that he liked Derek, and had already made it his mission to look out for him.

After we were done unloading the car we sat down in Derek's room to catch a breath.  It was getting warm out.  Maybe we'd have an Indian summer for a few days.  Erik again suggested that we head to the cafeteria for lunch.  Derek and I had still only said a few words to each other, and I could tell that it was probably just as awkward for him as it was for me.

"It's getting hot out guys.  I'm going to head upstairs and put on a pair of shorts before we head to lunch.  Erik, why don't we let Derek get settled for a few minutes before we head over to the chow hall?  What do you say that we meet back here in about 20 minutes?"

"That's a good idea.  I'd like to see if I could find a pair of shorts myself.  See you guys here in the handicap suite in 20?"  Derek smiled as he joked about his surroundings.

With that, Erik and I went upstairs

Once we got back upstairs, I started searching for a pair of cargo shorts to put on.  It wasn't that hot out, but the winter months were not that far off, and I wanted to prolong the illusion of summer for as long as I could. 

I started feeling sorry for Derek being stuck in the 'handicap suite' and I suppose I was sort of daydreaming about the old days too.  I had taken off my jeans and was sitting on the bed in my underwear with my cargo shorts in my left hand kind of staring off into space. The next thing I noticed was Erik standing next to the bed looking at me like I was nuts.  I jumped off the bed in an effort to put my shorts on as quickly as possible.  I was used to having my own room, and getting caught with my pants down threw me off guard.  I guess I'll have to be better about closing the door.

"Dude, you were a million miles away.  Did you enjoy your trip?"  Erik asked.

"Sorry, I guess I was daydreaming.  OK, lets go...  I'm ready now."

Erik put his hand on my chest and stopped my advance towards the door.  I guess that he could tell something was wrong.  He probably figured that Derek had something to do with it because he said, "What's up with you and Derek anyway?  For long time friends, you hardly said two words to each other.  Are you sure you want him to come along to lunch with us?"

"Whoa, one question at a time.  First, nothing's up between us, we've known each other for years, but we were more childhood friends than adult friends."  I hoped that was enough to stop his questions.  I didn't want to get into explaining my real feelings, and I was not sure if I could hide how I really felt about him if pressed for answers.

We talked for a few minutes though, and I explained to Erik a little bit about how we used to be best buds, and that we grew apart as Derek spent more time in gymnastics.  Eric asked if a gymnastic accident caused Derek to need a cane.  I thought that was pretty perceptive of him to figure out that's what happened.  Of course it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that a guy with a cane cannot hope to compete in gymnastics.  I told him that he was right, but it was up to Derek to explain if he wanted the details of his injury known.  He respected that as an answer.

It was time to head down to pick up Derek and grab some chow.  While we were walking down the stairs, Erik asked if I'd like to switch rooms and be his roommate.  I looked at him like HE was crazy this time.

"You just met me, why would you want to do that?"

"Well...  I got a few letters from my new roommate over the summer.  He's trying out for the football team.  Gave me the long drawn out story about how he was big man on campus at his High School.  He sounds like a pretentious ass.  He's already gotten on my nerves and I've never even met him."  Erik said.

"My roommate is here is on a hockey scholarship.  He sounded nice, but I have never gotten along with jocks too well.  Little guys like me are usually laughed at by jocks."  I regretted saying that as soon as the words came out of my mouth.  I think Erik sensed that it was an uncomfortable subject and moved on.

"Well, the school says that we have to keep our current roommate assignments until we've been here 30 days. We can always see if they want to switch with us.  You and I seem to be hitting it off pretty well.  I know we just met, but I'm not sure I can last the school year with my assigned roommate.  He gets here later today, so we'll see.  Anyway, it's just a thought."  He said.

"Sounds like something we can talk about once we meet our roommates.  Let's not mention this to Derek though.  He seemed kind of sad that he was going to be alone in that room by himself.  The school will probably not let him switch either since they made special accommodations for him."

A moment later we arrived at Derek's room.  His door was open, so Erik  just walked in to get Derek.  He was in the process of unpacking a box,  but set it aside, locked the door and we were on our way.

The cafeteria was in the basement of an old ivy covered brick building that still served as one of the dorms.  This particular dorm was co-ed by room and was reserved for upper-classmen.  There were men's and women's bathrooms / showers on each floor.  I was a bit surprised when a good looking blond women emerged from the bathroom dressed only in a bathrobe, slippers and towel wrapped about her hair.  She was carrying her toiletries in a small plastic basket.

"I'm going to like going to school here!" Erik said as he nudged me in the ribs with his elbow.  I laughed a little to maintain the illusion that I too was interested.  Derek said nothing, but his face was a little red as if he were blushing a bit.  Derek was an only child so this sight was as new to him as it was to me having only an older brother.  Erik was obviously more comfortable with the situation.  I had a brief though that Erik's sister Caroline probably marched around the house all the time like that.

Erik was obviously straight, and excited at his newfound freedom and close proximity to available and partially naked young women!  I groaned inwardly at the thought of feigning interest in women to maintain the illusion that I was actually straight.  It was going to be a long 4 years.

Lunch itself was a pretty bland affair.  To get to the cafeteria, you had to walk down the stairs to the basement where there was a student worker checking ID's.  The school had several meal plans to choose from, and they checked at each meal to see if you were eligible to eat.  Sounds pretty silly, and it did turn into a joke after a few weeks.  You must be eligible to be hungry...  I guess you had to be there.

The food was not all that bad though. You had several entrees to pick from, and you could go back for seconds if you were still hungry.  Derek had difficulty with carrying his tray and walking with the cane.  I noticed that he grabbed two glasses but only filled each half way.  Probably used to spilling I guess.  I offered to help him a few times, but he insisted on doing it himself.  Erik gave him a look, but Derek's reply was simple.

"Thanks guys, but we've got four more years here, and I need to learn to  do this for myself.  I can always make a few trips so I don't have to carry as much."

Our conversation during lunch was pretty generic.  Erik naturally did most of the talking.  We learned more about is sister Caroline, and how much of a pain she was.  He was hoping that she'd not be coming to school here next year.  He talked mostly of his interests in music, and a bit about his friends.  He steered away from talking too much about his family though.  I sensed that there was something more there, but I didn't ask.

Erik asked Derek a few questions in an attempt to draw him out of his shell.  Each time Derek looked at me as if for approval before answering.  He gave a condensed story of his accident finishing up with a statement about how he had already recovered more than the doctor's thought possible, and that he'd need the cane for the rest of his life.

The rest of lunch was pretty quiet.  Much of the conversation was about current events, speculation about how long the warm weather would last, what classes we'd signed up for etc.  Erik would be in my 8AM English Literature class, and Derek would be in my freshman Chemistry class.  Lunch ended shortly thereafter and we wandered back to Evan's Hall.  Erik again took the lead as before, but he slowed his pace to something more comfortable for Derek.

The cafeteria was only about a 5-minute walk from our dorm.  Derek said that he wanted to see where our rooms were so he ambled up the stair after us.  We walked to the end of the hall and saw that Erik's door was open.  Looks like his roommate had arrived!  Erik excused himself and went in to introduce himself and see what he could do to help.

"Do you want to see my room Derek?"  I said.

"Sure thing!"

I unlocked the door and we went in.  Derek followed, and closed the door behind him.

"You can leave that open if you want.  Erik will probably wander over in a few minutes."

"Umm... Actually, I wanted to talk to you privately for a few minutes if that's OK."  He was staring at his toes while he said it.

"Sure thing D."  I used to call him D for short when we were kids.  He looked up from his feet and his face brightened a bit at the use of his old nickname.

"Scott, I really don't know what to say...  I was surprised to see you today, and I guess, well, I guess...  It was a little awkward.  I also wanted to thank you for helping me with my stuff.  You didn't have to do that..."

"Stop.  It's OK really."  I sensed that he was going to ramble on.  I could tell he was very uncomfortable.  "I was glad to be able to help."

"That's not all.  I really don't know how to say this, but I don't understand what happened to us these past few years.  We used to be really close.   I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've missed you, and I'm hoping that since we are going to school together that we can become friends again."

I was speechless.  Here was the man that I fell in love with years ago, basically asking me if he could be in my life again.  Now it was my turn to be at a loss for words.  My mind was racing in all different directions.

"I'd understand if you didn't want to, and I can keep to myself if you wish."  He said.  He looked so hurt and sad.  I wanted to hold him so bad.  Oh to feel his strong arms around me.  I felt like I was losing it.

"Umm... sorry, I guess I just didn't expect you to say that.  If it means anything, I never stopped being your friend D.  I guess we just drifted apart once High School started. You had different interests than I did I guess."

"Well, since we are starting over here at school, and seeing how neither of us has any friends here - besides Erik...  Do you think we can be friends again?  Maybe we can sit next to each other in Chemistry since we have the same class."

He still looked a little pitiful.  He actually looked like he needed a hug.  So what did I do?  Something stupid.  I shook his hand.  Can you believe that I actually shook his hand and pronounced us friends again?  I felt like I was watching myself in a cartoon.  I guess he picked up on the awkwardness of the situation and he laughed.

Just then Erik opened the door and barged in only to stop in his tracks.  "Did I interrupt something?"

"No, Derek and I were just catching up on old times."

"Cool, well if there is some sort of secret handshake then I'll need to know about it so I can join the clubhouse too."  Erik said with that adorable grin that revealed his dimples.  It was then that D and I realized that we were still shaking hands.  We let go our handshake and laughed along with him.

"No handshake needed, I guess we can let you in."  I laughed.

"Well my roommate is here.  His name is Peter. Good name too, because he's a prick!"  Sensing our confusion he added... "You know, nickname for penis - peter, prick you get it...?"

"Oh very funny."  I looked at Derek and added, "Maybe we should reconsider his membership."

"You're going to pay for that..." Erik tackled me and tried to make me say uncle.  Derek whacked him lightly with his cane and told him that roughing up members of the clubhouse was strictly forbidden in the bylaws.

The next few weeks passed by rather quickly.  I spent more time studying and doing homework than ever before.  It seemed like each professor viewed the class he taught as the only important thing in our lives.  Assigning 2 hours of homework each night was common.  It didn't matter that I had at least 3 classes each day.  I was spending quite a bit of time in the library each night.  Gone were the days when I breezed through my classes.

I was learning quite a bit and was pleased with the results of my first set of exams.  It was a pretty lonely time for me though.  Apart from hanging out with Erik and occasionally Derek, there was not much free time left over after studying to make new friends.  Sure, there were people I would socialize with in class and join for study groups on occasion.  I really was really not making any close friends though and I was both sad and angry with that.

Part of problem was the necessity of studying to stay ahead of the assignments, but the bulk of the problem was my roommate Mike.  I hated him from the moment he walked into the room.  He barged in like he owned the place, and sized me up as if my presence were mainly an annoyance.

Mike was your typical jock.  He had done extremely well at all sports, but he excelled in hockey.  Judging by his trophies he would have no problem making the school's team.  Can you believe he actually brought his trophies and ribbons to college with him?  What a jerk.  I immediately understood why Jan took and hid Marsha's ribbons in the closet!!  Marsha, Marsha, Marsha...  If you didn't get that joke, it probably means you're too young to be reading this story :)

Mike's girlfriend and High School sweetheart and oh yes - prom queen was also going to school here. She was ALWAYS in our room fondling her boyfriend.  Several nights I came back from the library only to find the door locked and loud fuck sounds coming from the room.  When she was not around, Mike's hockey buddies were. 

Luckily Erik's roommate was almost never there and I would usually hang out in his room until the two lovebirds were finished.  Several times I passed out on Erik's floor or on his roommates bed.

Thirty days passed before I knew it and we were allowed to swap roommates.  Erik and I asked my roommate Mike and Erik's roommate Jeff if they would meet us after dinner one night.  The four of us discussed it briefly and agreed to trade rooms.  Erik would move in with me, and Mike would move next door to room with Jeff.

The arrangement worked out well for everyone.  Jeff was the only one who was impartial, and didn't care as long as he didn't have to move. He was always at his girlfriend's house off campus anyway and spent most nights out of the room.  Mike liked the idea because his girlfriend could spend more time with him.

I seriously doubted that Mike would pass a single class.  He'd get an A in fucking his girlfriend though.  The sad fact was that he'd probably end up graduating.  It is a sad commentary on our times that men who excel in sports can breeze through something the rest of us struggle with.  I had to maintain good grades to keep my scholarship.  Mike had to score an occasional goal to keep his.

Erik and I were arranging his stuff in the room.  I was occupied with hooking up Erik's stereo when he said.  "This is going to be fun Scott.  I really wanted a roommate when I went away to school.  Jeff was never there, and I didn't much care for him anyway."

"But you had more privacy.  You were essentially living by yourself."  I said.

"I know, but my Dad always remarked at how much fun he had in college, and how he is still friends with his college roommate.  I never had a brother either, so I figured it would be cool."

"Yeah, I hear you.  As far as I'm concerned, not having to live with Mike and his girlfriend will be a plus.  It really sucks not being comfortable in your own room."

"She was a moaner all right, I could hear her next door."

"Oh by the way Erik, you might want to flip the mattress over - that's where Mike and Miss Moaner used to get their groove on."  I said and flashed an evil smile.

"Gross!  I never thought about that.  Grab the other side and help me turn this skanky thing over."

Erik and I were laughing pretty hard and hadn't noticed that Derek had walked into the room.

"What's going on guys?"  Derek said looking a little left out.

"Oh, we were just moving Erik's stuff over to my room.  The residence life office let us swap roommates.  I guess we should have told you we were going to move." 

I felt really bad about not telling him ahead of time.  Derek looked a little sad and hopped up on the desk and tossed his cane over to my bed.  It came to rest with a little bounce on the cheap mattress.  He looked like he was going to pout, but his face brightened after a moment.

"That's OK.  I know you didn't mean anything by it.  I guess I'm feeling a little but like a third wheel.  The school will never let me change rooms, and it gets a little quiet at my end of the hall downstairs.  Seems like most of the guys hang out on this floor anyway."

"Derek, you will never be a third wheel.  Scott and I like hanging out with you.  This is our room now, and you are welcome here anytime."

"I guess your right.  Maybe we will actually see Scott study here instead of the library now that the lovebirds have moved next door.  I just feel sorry for you Erik."  Derek grinned.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, I guess Scotty here didn't tell you that he snores like a water buffalo.  We used to camp out together in my back yard when we were kids.  He used to snore so loud that he kept me up half the night.  Hell, one time I even went inside to sleep in my own room to get away from it.  I set my alarm and went back out in the morning before Scott woke up!"

"You did not you little punk!"  I screamed.

"Hmmm, maybe I did and maybe I didn't.  You'll never know."

That did it.  I grabbed him off the desk and threw him on the bed and we started to wrestle.  For a little guy he was still way stronger than I was and somehow he pinned me on my back.  He was hovering over me with his hands on my shoulders telling me that I'd have to 'submit' before he's let me go.

I was laughing so hard and struggling at the same time.  My cock quickly became ragingly hard.  Derek was straining over me and I found it incredibly erotic.  The sight reminded me of watching him exert himself while on the Rings in gymnastics.  He looked so manly and in control.  I relented because I didn't want him catch me with a hard-on.  He was all but sitting on my crotch.