Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 13:46:30 +0000
From: fellhere@hotmail.com
Subject: a story part 9

This took a long time. But I would need feedback though. Do you think I
should flesh out Josh's character, or simply dump him to one side? Yeah.
Anyways, enjoy the story. It's a little self indulgent this time. But yeah,
it's what I like about it.

-A story part 9-

Copyright. All rights reserved.
If you are not above 18, please refrain from reading it.
+This chapter does not contain any sexual content.+

===

The next day, when I went back to school, after Mike had dropped me off at
my class, Brit was there waiting for me, and she looked highly apologetic. I
felt guilty.
'Hey stud. I'm really sorry-'
'No it's me. I was just acting stupid in front of a person who cared for
me.'
She just looked at me funny.
'Never mind gurl. So, wanna go for lunch today?'
She smiled and we hugged, all worries forgotten. We talked like there was no
tomorrow, and since she knew about me and Mike, she was quick on trying to
update on whatever we had. And my god did she go straight to the point.
'So, have you and Mike ya know, got it on?'
I gaped at her. She simply snickered as she whispered (Mr. Endel was
speaking), 'Is he like the bottom or top?'
All she got from me was a smack in the head and a blush so deep that Mr.
Endel noticed it. She simply grinned in smug satisfaction. She seemed
definitely cool about it. When lessons ended, she dragged me to the lecture
theatre and when she saw Mike, she immediately cornered him, brought him to
a corner and spoke a few words. When they came back, Mike was visibly shaken
and Brit looking as usual, smug.
'What did she say to you?' I whispered to Mike as we opened our textbook.
'She warned me to take care of you, if not, my balls gone, and from the way
she was talking, she seemed more than capable of doing it.' I smiled. And I
did the unthinkable. I turned to the right and hugged Brit. He looked
shocked, but I simply shrugged and stuck out my tongue.
Mitch was sitting beside Brit and Donen was beside Mike. It was really
funny, but I was rediscovering Brit all over again.

'Hello?'
'Hey, is this Seth?'
'Yeah. Who's there?'
'Um... it's Josh.'
'Oh Josh! Yeah. Hey! How did you get my number?'
'You gave it to me, remember?'
'Did I? Oh yeah. I did. Ok, so what's up?'
'Remember Monday, when I cancelled out on you last minute, was wondering if
I could make it up to you today by buying lunch for you.'
'Oh. That's nice, but I have an appointment with Brit, so there. I can't.
I'm sorry. Another day perhaps?'
'Hmm. That sounds great. Alright. Will call you some other time then. Bye!'
'Bye!'
I hung up my phone and proceeded to gulp down my break food, since the lunch
'time' would be over 3 hours later. Mike was beside me as per usual; he was
practically near me everytime possible when we were either walking through
corridors, eating, lectures or anything. It seemed very questionable, but no
one seemed to bother.

I guess that's a perk for being popular. (Him, not me.)
After the break, he took me to the lecture theatre where we would be having
Math together. Unlike me, Mike seemed very comfortable with himself; it
seemed that everytime we were walking his arms were either across my
shoulder, brushing very frequently with mine, or literally squashed against
me. And not to mention the times in Literature, when he brought his jacket
along and would hide our hands(held together) beneath it. He and I relished
the closeness but he seemed very bent on making sure I knew that he loved
me. I enjoyed the attention totally; though the idea of him walking me with
his arm around my shoulder along the corridors was a little suspicious.

What made it worse was that occasionally, he would whisper in my ear the
three nice words I loved to hear, that would make me blush in the middle of
the corridor. And everytime he did that, he would have to pull me in closer
so it looked like we were making out. However, today had Brit and Mitch
tagging along, so we didn't look too conspicuous. And the fact that now the
school's stairwell was a favorite place of meeting; Mike seemed to be
insatiable, something which I was highly amused by. Of course I tagged
along, but sometimes, he was just too much. Heh. But never mind, I digress.

Anyways, we managed to settle in Math without a big fuss, at the back of the
class as usual and this time I managed to see Josh. I waved at him and asked
him to join me, since Brit and Mitch were sitting besides Mike. He nodded
and came to me. Instinctively, I looked at his wrist and was saddened by the
fact that it had fresh cuts.

'Hey!'
'Hey Josh! So, how are you?'
'Well, alright I guess. Hey...' He made a polite gesture to Mike and the
rest, and Brit was eyeing him with what I reckoned to be the
i-think-he's-boyfriend-material look.
'Ok, I won't beat around the bush Josh. What REALLY happened?' I whispered.
He looked at me sadly and looked down at his feet.
'I just felt very bad today and I did it just now in the toilet. I'm sorry.'
'You don't sorry me Josh. It's your life! What made you so sad?' I attempted
to put my arm around his shoulders and squeezed it reassuringly.
'You won't understand.'
'Trust me. I can.'
He looked at me firmly. 'You can't.'

That marked the end of the serious conversation. Note to mind: Get more out
of him later. But now, I had to continue studying math.

With Mike occasionally whispering, and more than brushing his hands against
mine all the time. Always I caught him smiling at me, and then he nudged me
and gave me an sms which made me blush the deepest shade of crimson.

[You are MINE tonight hon. I want you. Love you.]

I tried to concentrate on the fixed point iteration. But I couldn't. Oh to
those smirking, do give me a break.

When lessons ended finally, I waited for Mike to come out of his gym lesson,
while I had just finished whiling my time away in the library. Just as we
were about to leave the school, I saw Josh who seemed to be waving to get my
attention. I told Mike to wait for me, and he went to the locker area. I
went up to Josh.
'Hey. What's up?'
'Oh hey... I thought u didn't see me.' He looked down.
'No... I don't not see friends. So, yeah?'
'Oh. I was just wondering if you wanted to have lunch with me or
something... u know, hang out.' He looked really hopeful, but I really
wanted to be with Mike, not because of the passion overflowing in me, but
because I really wanted to be, be with him.
'Oh, I'm sorry, I really like to, but Mike already wanted me to coach him
for math. Another day perhaps? So sorry...'
'Oh never mind then. U enjoy yourself. I'll just go home and study.' He
shrugged.
'U sure?'
'Yeah.' He looked nonchalant.
I whispered, 'Promise me you won't cut yourself.'
He looked at me. 'Why not?'
'Cuz I care about you. I'm your friend. Please?'
He looked firmly. Then he just nodded.
Then, Mike called after me. I had to rush. I hurried out a goodbye, and went
back to Mike.

<You don't care for me enough>

As I have iterated in previous chapters, I do not belong in the ranks of the
Marquis, nor plan to do so anytime soon. But I do have a knack for pure,
cold, hard facts. Well, the fact was that when we went to Mike's house,
well, we made love to each other as usual and then made a miracle by doing
Math. It was kinda nice really, but sometimes, I wondered how it would feel
to simply sleep after the climax. But I digress. That's only a luxury
married couples can afford to have. He refuse to let me go home at eight,
though he did in the end. He always pouted when I had to leave, but always
accepted it all the same. I laughed.

When I reached home, I called James immediately to see what happened to him
and his hockey game. (They were in the group stages) Fortunately, they got
through quite easily and that he wasn't in the mood to talk too, so I
managed to get a good rest all the way through the night.

[Mike's point of view- Now]

I let him go back home and I felt the usual emotion, an emptiness that I
always felt. I shuddered at the intensity of feeling I felt for him; it was
new and all foreign, yet it was a pleasantness that reigned supreme. I loved
Seth so much; I hoped he saw what I saw him worthy to be.

He was still aloof to me when we were in school. He was the usual in school,
cold and aloof though he was much warmer towards me, but I was attempting to
bring out what I saw in him. I loved the fact that he let me touch him here
and there and the stairwell meeting place; sometimes I laugh when I think of
it. It's amazing isn't it, after my first time, I felt so in touch, like
something just lit me up.

I can't get enough of him since then.

I love him.

I know. I just gush, gush all about him to my parents who look on worryingly
and smilingly. I think about him and ensure that I get close to him in every
possible way. He's so, perfect.

Though sometimes, just sometimes, I get jealous. Really jealous. I cannot
stand the fact that he is close to James and the way he's treating Josh. It
just gets to me. I mean, I know I'm not supposed to, but it does. And it
hurts. I know he doesn't like them, but I just feel that they are taking up
his time which could be shared with me. I've analyzed it, but I doubt that I
was possessive. I just wanted him to be with him all the time. And I could
tell he loved it, the attention and the care I was giving him. Oh, how I
wish I could give it to him everytime.

I love him.

I gave him my virginity, if it mattered to me or not. To me, that was the
breaking point and I knew he was overwhelmed that I allowed him to make love
to me. He was always the passive one in the relationship, never bothering to
initiate anything, which is why when I asked him to, the thing which I had
planned all along since day 1, he was shocked. But happily shocked. And
since that, I think we pretty much sealed the cup that we drank from, the
bed we made. He was much more open now to me when we were alone and I got to
know the real him, the insecure and very talkative side of him, yet I
constantly felt the pangs of jealousy come whenever I realized that James
also shared this intimate knowledge with me.

He knew that James made me mad, and always assured me that nothing was going
on. Even when we were sitting down at the patio with him on my lap, he would
always whisper and ensure that the tone he used soothed me, made me feel
happy. And for that I was extremely proud of him and very happy that I
finally managed to be his, and him mine.

[Back to normal point of view]

How wonderfully refreshing it is to wake up in the morning after a good
night, take the bus to school with your best friend James, then see your
boyfriend waiting for you with hot lemon tea at the entrance with Brit, then
going in together for class, which isn't a real bore.

Ah, such brilliant mornings. If only my routine followed this.

'Hey, so loverboy, wanna go out today for lunch? We have an early break?'
'Ask the other first gurl... I'm not sure he has plans or not.' I said
distractedly as I attempted to pull out the literature notes from the bag I
carried.
'The other huh? Ok.' She turned. 'Hey, Mike, Seth's coming for lunch with me
today, so no afternoon sex for you.'
Both of us simultaneously whacked her on the head and tickled her silly.
Donen who had just came in simply raised an eyebrow and whispered something
which caused me to attack him too, of course.
'Gee, an orgy.'
So it was decided that I went for lunch with Brit while Mike had to stay
back for some soccer practice; he would meet me at dome after Brit and I
were done.

As said, the day was a quick one, with Brit and I arriving at Olio Dome by 1
in the afternoon. We were greeted by a cute waiter, whom I thought had came
in just today, since Brit and I frequented this place. He could not have
been older than 20. He brought us to the table and I simply smiled and said
thanks and guess what, the guy blushed and went off. Brit was just looking
at me with the most incredulous look in her eyes.

'Loverboy, that was so flirting!'
'Huh? What? I do that to every waiter/waitress all the time!'
She was going to say that it wasn't true, but then on reconsideration, she
realized it was. But still, she smirked. It was true that I smiled, I did
that to everyone here, and it could be considered flirting, but I didn't
think it to be. It was just good manners.

We talked about quite a lot of things and it was refreshing to me. Not that
I would have to liked to divulge the information, but it was mainly about
philosophy and of course, the idea of sex as she and I would always talk
about. I was about to call Mike to come and join us when I received a
message from Anna in my phone.

[Hey, where are you now?]
[Lunch. Why?]
[James is in hospital. He tore his hamstring]
I immediately gave my dutch treat to Brit, then giving her a hug and
explaining to her in the sketchiest details, left the restaurant to go to
the hospital that James was warded. I had called Mike in the process of
going there, and he wished James all the best, though I didn't exactly sense
the sincerity in his voice. But I was too worried about James to worry about
his jealousies.

I reached the hospital by 3 and went directly to his ward. He was there and
looked like he had been crying. Anna was already there by his side, but he
still seemed lost. He never liked hospitals and I knew it; the last time he
was admitted, I was his nurse for the whole week in the hospital. His
injured leg was in a cast and he looked extremely uncomfortable. When he saw
me, he immediately smiled and shouted out my name in relief.

I simply smiled and depositing my bag on the sofa, left to hug him in the
bed. Anna decided to make herself scarce then.
'What happened to you?'
He proceeded to tell me the most grisly details and I think I made the most
appropriate comments and grunts to show my disapproval.
'But what's important is that you will heal quickly and well, so there. You
must rest well James.'
'Yeah I know. Anyways, you seem that you are leaving all of a sudden. Why?
Something on?' He said in a very hesitant voice.
'Yeah, I have an appointment with a friend, I can't be late.'
'But I'm your best friend and I have a torn hamstring. Surely that beats
that?'
I was going to say that Mike was my boyfriend and he had an ass but I
decided against that. 'Hey, I'll just be there for a while, I promise to
keep you company tonight k?'
He smiled.
I left the room.

[He remembered the day when he was admitted to the hospital. He hated them
and frankly, would rather be at home then that sodden place. It gave him the
creeps, even though his parents gave him the best ward, single bed, ensuite
toilet and personal nurse at call, he still felt uncomfortable. Seth had
immediately come within 20 minutes of the news and he was extremely
heartened by it. He had skipped school just to visit him, and when he
quizzed him on it, he simply said,
'Fuck school. I wanna be here with you.'
Oh, how innocent the statement would seem to Seth but meaningful to him. He
turned away like the bashful lover, yet Seth started scolding him lightly
about taking it lightly with the tone of a friend. Seth then, knowing his
fear of hospitals, offered to stay with him in the hospital. He was elated.

That night, at 1, he wasn't sleeping still. Seth was sleeping in an awkward
position on a recliner bed they put. He was having nightmares, and hated it.
He whispered out silently to Seth, and he had heard him.

Rubbing his eyes, he asked him what the problem was.

'Er, Seth, I'm really sorry, but I keep having these nightmares and I can't
sleep and I'm sorry if I am distur-' Seth had walked over to the hospital
bed and scooted in besides him. 'I know you big baby, it's a little bit
tight, but you're my best friend man. Sleep tight.'

And then Seth had fell asleep right next to him on the bed, and being small
he felt the warmth emanate from Seth's body, smelt his scent. His face was
mere inches away from Seth's hair, floppy and smelling absolutely beautiful.
He decided to be bold, and encircled his arms around Seth, but to his
surprise, Seth simply snuggled into the embrace, and moaned gratifyingly in
his sleep.

Seth was asleep, oblivious of everything occurring around him, while he felt
every excitement and love grow like little furs off his body and become
permanent in his memory. It was a beautiful sight to behold, his back, his
face when he turned.

He only slept at 4. And when he slept, he dreamt pretty dreams of Seth.]

'I need to get back to the hospital tonight.'
'Why?' He snuggled in some more.
'Cuz James's kinda afraid of the dark and hospitals, so I'm going there to
stay the night.'
'Doesn't he have his parents or anything?'
'Well, he has them, but I'm his best friend, and I've always done this all
the time-'
'But I'm your boyfriend.' He whined, as he constantly snuggled into my arms.
I had to be firm; James was my best friend, and Mike had to know it.
'Nope babe. I've got to go. Now let me get dressed and something.'

He let me go off reluctantly and I simply changed out of the uniform into
something  more comfortable. When I turned to leave, I saw Mike holed up on
the bed, and he looked like he was extremely upset. I sighed.
'What is it babe? He's only my friend!'
I said as I encircled him and he willingly took me.
'I don't want you to go. He likes you.'
'But he won't try anything with me. We're way past that stage now.'
'I don't believe that.'
I was frustrated. Mike was still being jealous all over again.
'Well, you'd better believe it. Good night Mike.'

With that, and a kiss on his forehead, I left his house immediately and went
over to the hospital, where James still hadn't been asleep and he looked
positively scared. I rushed into the room and pulled the recliner into
place.
'Hey. You came.'
'I made a promise. Of course I would come.'
'Thanks Seth. I love you.'
'Heh. Right. Goodnight. You need your rest James. Sleep tight.'
With that, I turned off the light and went to sleep on the recliner.

I'm not sure what time was it in the night when I was woken up by James. He
looked at me hesitantly as my eyes groped in the dark for his image.
'Seth, Seth!'
'Yeah James? Anything wrong?'
'Er... could you sleep beside me?'
In my sleep induced brain and the platonicity we shared, I assented and
simply sleepwalked to his bed, where I simply slept to one side. In my
pseudo sleeping state, I felt two arms encircle me and thinking that it was
Mike I was snuggling into, I wiggled into the embrace. The last thing I
heard was, 'I love you Seth.'

But what I didn't see was Mike outside the ward. Crying.