the small print

This is a story of friendship, commitment, love and trust. It is not a sex story. However, this story deals with love between male teenagers. If you are offended by stories involving love between two teenage boys, please do not read this story. There will probably not be any sex scenes in this story; and sex is not the main theme. So if you are looking for JO material this is not it and you'd do better to checkout another story on Nifty, If you are under age 18 or 21 or it is illegal to read this story where you live, don't read it. Reproducing this story for distribution without the owner's permission is a violation of that copyright. Everything in this story is totally fictional and all characters are simply the authors creation and resemblance to anyone living or dead is strictly coincidental.

bbe: I think I will start calling you 'spooky'

acd:
I regret ever telling you my middle name.


bbe:
I think your middle name suits you cuz you are so friendly!

acd:
Enough with the name, Dude! Thanks again to Ed The Editor!

bbe: You're just scared that I will reveal your middle name, hey?

acd: No. When we finish this tale I shall out my middle name...satisfied?

bbe: Hmm we'll see. Now, on with this story.

acd: Do you honestly think more than six people have read this story (6 e-mails :( )

Chapter 3
Dreams Coming True
Aaron Dubois

For the next two weeks I drove my car to school; that way I didn’t have to have a repeat of the shower thing. I carefully avoided Jamie too. I guess I was too embarrassed because he’d caught me crying. I also avoided Aunt Lucy. My life was returning to normal and I poured all my energies into my video, it was nearly complete. I missed riding my bike so today I rode my bike.

As usual I deposited my bike in the office and headed off to the showers, but this time I didn’t sing. I just wanted to get in and out as quickly as possible starting out with cool water to cool me off then gradually make the water hotter. I was in the middle of shampooing my hair and I swear I sensed someone there. Well, at least I wasn’t singing – I was humming the tune to my video. I quickly rinsed the shampoo out of my hair and turned off the shower, looking to see if there was someone there.

There was. It was Jamie Lockhart. He stood there looking at me then he looked down like he wanted to say something but couldn’t. I quickly walked past him trying to ignore him. I wanted so much to be his friend but I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t let him know how I felt.

As I passed him I heard him say almost in a whisper, “You really hate me, don’t you?”

I stopped and turned back towards him. His eyes were filling with water and his lower lip was trembling. I stared at him for a moment. Why? He’s a guy, a star athlete. Not a wimp like me. I mean he’s one of the most popular guys in the whole school.
“No…”

“Then why are you avoiding me?”

I couldn’t think of what to say so I simply shrugged my shoulders. I felt bad, I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, and I felt powerless to do anything but turn away.

“Aaron, please…if I’ve done anything to offend you. I’m sorry. I just want to be friends.”

“It’s better that we aren’t. I’m not a good friend to have.”

I felt his hand on my shoulder. “Can’t I be the judge of that?”

I turned back around and looked at him. Maybe it was the sincerity his face showed at that moment or the fact that deep down I was craving for someone to love who would love me. I weakened.

“Well, I need to get dressed and you need a shower,” I felt a smile creep onto my face, “For the life of me I have no idea why you would want to be my friend – you have everything going for you. You don’t need me as a friend but I promise not to run away this time.”

His face seemed to relax and he smiled, “Promise?”

“Ya, promise.”

It wasn’t unreal that this guy wanted to be my friend; after all I was the richest kid in the school. I mean I knew people were always nice to me but I kept them at arm’s length. I never hung out outside of school. People would ask me to hang out or go to a movie or the mall. I’d always just tell them I was busy or sometimes say my parents didn’t like the idea of me hanging out at the mall. Regardless, I’d always come up with some excuse. Photography and my video work being one of my biggest excuses and they always bought my excuses.

“Hey.”

“Hey, see you’re still here,” I smiled.

“So, I see,” he smiled and my defenses went up, “Come on, let’s go talk.”

I followed him out of the locker room.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“My car.”

Neither of us said a word until we got in his car.

“Nice car,” I said.

“Thanks.”

“So, you want to be friends. Cool. We can be friends. Okay?” I said nonchalantly.

“I’m not like the rest, Aaron,” he said just above a whisper, “I don’t want to be like the rest in your eyes.”

“Huh?”
He looked forward and was gripping the steering wheel tightly. He took a deep breath. “Aaron, please don’t freak out on me, but I’ve know you since I was twelve, since St. Mary’s. You were in the sixth grade when I finally got the balls to talk to you. Then we moved away and after two years my mom and I moved back. I couldn’t believe it when I saw you here this year and…” he paused for a while as if he were trying gather his courage to speak. “I’ve watched you everyday,” he said just above a whisper.

I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything but my heart rate was going sky high. I mean he never even said ‘hello’ until I freaked out in the showers. The silence was stifling. “You’ve been stalking me? Why?” I finally asked, “I’m nothing and nothing special, why this fascination with me, money?”

“No!” he said looking really hurt.

“Then why?”

“Because you changed so much since then… I used to dream about being your best friend back then but I was very shy and you had so many friends or so it seemed…I watched you now and you’re different. Every time I see you now there’s sadness like someone who really wants a friend…when you freaked out in the shower…” he was really blushing, “I just wanted to help. I was just going to tell you that I wanted to be your friend and I saw you crying so I figured it wasn’t the best time…”

I really didn’t know what to think because he had pretty well seen through my façade.

“I guess you think I’m some sort of weirdo…or something…and if you don’t wanna be friends that’s fine. I’ll just back off…” he said softly.

I sat there looking out the window, all these barriers I have built up around me over the last four years. I could feel them crumbling, he sounded so sincere. Should I trust him…would I get hurt? And worse than that, would I hurt him? For the last two weeks I’d been an asshole and yet he still wanted to be my friend. What happens if I fall in love with him? I mean really in love. He’s a jock and they just use people, don’t they?

I sighed heavily. I didn’t realize how tense I was. “You are very weird,” I laughed nervously. “But then so am I,” I added in another sigh.

Other students began arriving. I sat there thinking for the first time that I’d just like to sit and talk.

“So, I guess we should go to class,” he said.

“Yeah, that would be what we should do.”

We sat there for a few moments.

I looked at him I felt so happy like I did when I was twelve and I could feel this big smile growing on my face.

“So?” he asked with a grin on his face.

“So?” I replied.

“I don’t want to go to school today,” he said.

I couldn’t believe what I was feeling, “I don’t either. What do you want to do?” I said looking at him.

He blushed.

“What? Why are you blushing?” I asked.

“I, uh, I want, uh,” he was really blushing. He turned and looked out his window.

I could feel his embarrassment.

“I’m sorry, Jamie. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“It’s okay. I just…I just want to spend the day with you…I really like you.”

Now it was my turn to blush. I knew what I was feeling. Could he be feeling the same? “Me too.” I had never cut school in my life, but right now it felt like the only right thing to do. “Let’s go spend the day somewhere, just the two of us”

“You mean it?”

“Yeah.”

He beamed and my heart truly melted. As we left school he asked, “Where to, sir?”

“Chicago!” I replied.

“Uh, that’s a six hour drive you know – one way,” he said with a look of bewilderment.

“Yeah but it’s only a one hour flight,” I giggled; pulling out my debit card my dad gave me for ‘emergencies’. Well, this was an emergency…of sorts.

“Oh, uh, look uh…I can’t afford an airplane…” he said really embarrassed.

“It’s my treat…and my suggestion…and…I like Chicago…and that’s where I want us to go and spend the day.”

He shook his head and smiled, “Okaaaaay…this is crazy. This is really crazy!”

“Yeah, well, yes, that’s true but I warned you! I told you I was weird, hehehehe,” I laughed.

Two hours later we were getting into a taxi at Midway and heading towards Navy Pier. The whole day we talked and laughed and talked and listened to each other and of course I took pictures of him and he took some of me and we got strangers to take pictures of the two of us. I called home at four o’clock to tell Maria the housekeeper that I wouldn’t be home until ten o’clock, that I was with a friend and I would be having dinner with him. Jamie called home and left a message for his mom saying he was having dinner out with me and he’d be home around ten. But my cellphone battery died and chopped off part of his message.

We had dinner at a restaurant called First Edition or Front Page – I don’t remember but it was something with a newspaper theme.

“What ever happened to your pony?” he asked as we were having our dessert.

“I sold her before we left for Australia, it was a big upset for me. I must have cried for days after she and her colt were gone…God, I loved them…” I sighed.

“Remember when you rode her to school – the day she gave birth. Miss Ingle was insisting you take her home.”

“I think that that was one the happiest days of my life. I knew she was about to foal and I couldn’t leave her at home because if she foaled while I was at school I’d miss it. I tried to explain it to Miss Ingle – talk about a bitch, she was the epitome of bitch!”

“Yeah, that’s for sure,” he agreed.

I thought about that day and while I was arguing with Miss Ingle my pony started into labor. I looked at Jamie and remembered something.

“That was the first time I actually met you! You were there and you helped me deliver the colt. Wow!”

“Wow?” he smiled.

“You were so neat. I really wanted to be your friend because I really liked you for helping. You were so cool. I stayed at home the next day with my pony and her colt and when I got back to school you were gone…believe it or not I was so disappointed.”

“Yeah, we went to California. I tried calling you once but your number was unlisted.”

I asked the waiter for a pen and a piece of paper and quickly jotted down my cellphone number and my private line and our home number then handed the paper to Jamie. “Here, if we ever get separated and you want to talk me you have my cellphone and my private number and our home number.”

We landed back home around nine and Jamie drove me home. We didn’t talk much on the way home. This had been the best day in my life since the pony gave birth. I was so relaxed.

When we got to the security gates I gave him my entry card and we drove up the drive to our house.

“Keep it. You have to pick me up in the morning…my bike is at school.”

I had really enjoyed the day and didn’t want it to end but we both had parents to see and explain why we’d cut school.

“I guess this is it for today, I had a great time,” I sighed, “I wish it didn’t have to end.”

“Me too. You are so cool, Aaron,” he said resting his hand on my shoulder.

“You too,” I smiled. I really wanted to kiss him but that would have ended the friendship so I didn’t. I got out of the car. “See you in the morning.”

“Yeah, see ya.”

I turned and went into my house. As I walked into the house my father called me from the living room.

“Hi, Dad! Hi, Mom!” At first they looked a bit angry but the anger vanished, “I skipped school today and I went to Chicago with my friend Jamie, Jamie Lockhart. I guess you think it was wrong, but I had a fantastic day! So, whatever trouble I’m in I’ll accept it because it was…” I was on cloud 20! Cloud 9 is way down there!

Dad looked at me, then at Mom. She giggled and shook her head at Dad. Dad smiled.

“What?”

Dad shook his head and laughed, “Nothing, I was just all ready to bawl you out and yell at you. And you, you brat, come in happier than I’ve seen you in years. Come here!”

I walked over to him and he pulled me into a hug. Mom got up and joined us. “Tell your friend he’s to have dinner with us. Okay? What’s his name?”

“Jamie, Jamie Lockhart.”

“The son of Audrey Lockhart?”

“Uh? I don’t know. Why?”

“Well, we interviewed Audrey Lockhart last week and extended an offer to her today to become our VP of Marketing and she’s accepted.”

I sat and told them about the fantastic day we had had going to Navy Pier, the Science and Industry Museum. I love museums. Then I had a thought.

“Mother, Father,” I said in my most English accent, “Do you think I or rather Jamie and I or perhaps all of us could fly to London so we could visit the British Museum?” They both raised their eyebrows and I quickly reverted to my American accent, “Oh! Please, please, please. I really like him as a friend, as a best friend, and I-I want to show him all the wonderful things I’ve seen!”

“Well…I was saying to your mother that I needed to take a trip to the UK and spend some time there…I suppose we could leave on a week from Friday. Fly to London and your mom and I could catch the train to Manchester and you boys fly back on Sunday if his parents agree and if he has a passport.”

At that moment the phone rang and my dad answered.

“Dubois residence. This is Edmund Dubois speaking. Yes, who may I say is calling? Oh! Jamie Lockhart! Are you the son of Audrey Lockhart? Well this is amazing! Your mom has just accepted the position of Vice President of Marketing for Teledynamics Worldwide. I hope your mom wasn’t too upset with you and Aaron skipping school today. Hmmm, well I can understand that. Well, look, my son is anxious to talk with you. You must be quite a person. I haven’t seen my son this happy in years!” Dad laughed.

I blushed.

“Aaron, go call him on my private line because I need to talk to his mom – to arrange for dinner tomorrow night. Of course maybe you should stay home because I know you hate these social events.” Dad laughed.

I was halfway out of the room when I realized I didn’t know Jamie’s number. I got the number via Dad and ran to his study to call Jamie.

“So, I guess your parents weren’t mad with you?”

“No. I-I was expecting the worst and I got the best! What about your mum - mom?”

“She was pissed until I told her whom I went to Chicago with and her jaw hit the floor,” he giggled. He has the cutest laugh and giggle. I really love it – it makes me feel warm and safe inside.

I giggled too, “Jamie, my jaw hit the floor tonight – I was telling my mom and dad about our day in Chicago and –and, “ I was so excited I was try to catch my breath, “and I said I’d like to show you the British Museum some weekend.” I didn’t tell him I begged my parents. “And he said he has to go to Manchester next Friday and we could all fly over to London!”

“You’re kidding me! Right?” he said excitedly.

“No. It’s the truth! You just have to have your mom’s permission and a passport. Do you have a passport?”

“Yes! Yes! Oh! …Oh, shit...” it sounded like he was sniffling.

“Jamie, are you okay? Are you crying? Jamie? Please don’t cry.”

“I-I just never thought this would happen…that…we’d ever be friends…and” he half giggled, “Now you’re asking me to go to London and see the British Museum.”

Tears were now rolling down my cheeks, “Yeah <sniff> now look, you got me crying too…I-I …it’s –it’s just been so long since I met anyone who I felt cared about meeee,” I was out of control and the sobs just took over and I wept. I hung up the phone and ran up to my room and threw myself on my bed and cried. There was no doubt in my mind I was gay and I had fallen in love with Jamie.

I couldn’t let this happen. I had to steel myself…to be just a friend and to keep him at arm’s length like I do with everyone else…why had I ever invited him to go to London? Well, I’d just call him and cancel it…but I couldn’t or rather I didn’t want to. I’d just let London happen and I would out myself to him there in London and then he could fly back and I’d bum around Europe or something…I’d just make the best of what little time I had left with him.

My phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Aaron?”

“Yeah, sorry I got all emotional, anyway, London. You for it?”

“Me too. I’m sorry I was …and yes I’m all for London, and my mom says it’s okay too,” he said. We had both managed to quell our emotions. “I’m really sorry I got upset and upset you – I wasn’t sad, just really happy!”

“Yeah, me too. Mind if we change the subject?”

“No, that’s fine with me.”

I sat in silence, not being able to think of anything. Moments passed with neither of us saying a word. I giggled.

“What?”

“I can’t think of anything to say, “ I giggled again, feeling a little foolish.

“Yeah, me neither,” he laughed.

“You know you have such a great laugh. I think that’s why I enjoyed today because we were just laughing a lot.”

“Yeah, me too. If everyday could be like today – you’re so funny.”

“Yeah, so are you. We go well together – you know as friends – best friends,” I said.

“Best friends,” he said in a dreamy sort of voice, “Mom says we are all going out for dinner tomorrow night.”

“Yeah, that’s nice,” I yawned, “Sorry, I’m a bit tired.”

“Me too,” he yawned, “Maybe we should say good night.”

“Yeah, maybe we should.”

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

A few moments passed. Then he asked, “You still there?”

“Yeah, I was waiting for you to hang up,” I giggled.

“I was waiting for you to hang up too, so hang up, okay? Night,” he said.

“Okay, night” I said but I didn’t hang up. I guess I really didn’t want to.

More moments passed.

“Aaron?”

I said nothing I just listened to his beautiful voice.

“Love you so much, goodnight,” he said softly.

I giggled.

“Oh shit,” he muttered and hung up.

I pressed *69 and called him back.

“You weren’t supposed to hear that,” he said sounding like he was embarrassed.

“Well, I called you back because I wanted to say that I love you too and I think it’s alright for best friends to tell each other that they love the other person. It’s not gay – it’s just expressing your feelings for a best friend. So, we are best friends, right?”

“Yeah, we are.”

“Good now that that is settled. Good night and I love you, Jamie Lockhart.”

“Good night and I love you, Aaron DuBois.”

I hung up and hugged myself tight for a while. I loved Jamie.

I got undressed and got into bed. I knew I was hopelessly in love with Jamie. He said that he loved me and I could only hope that he meant more than just a friend…I would tell him in London that I am in love with him – Saturday night in a romantic setting and I know just where. I smiled just thinking about it and hoping it wouldn’t be the end of our friendship but the beginning of a long and meaningful relationship, the kind I had always dreamed of. I was happy and relaxed as I drifted off to sleep.

 

Comments praises etc send to: acd_bbe@yahoo.com You know where to send the other :P <---smiley.