Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 14:32:23 -0800 From: Ryan Miller Subject: Bonding Energy Ch. 4 Consider this the second edition of my story. I looked back at my early works and saw how much I have improved as a writer and thought it only behooved me to polish up what I had written. So, I went through and edited the story stylistically and structurally. The story is still the same, just shinier. Disclaimer: This is a homoerotic story I have written, so if you aren't allowed legally, morally or ethically to read it, then don't. And don't post this anywhere else without my expressed permission. Feedback is very much encouraged, so hit me up at bluedragon314@gmail.com. Ch. 4 As I woke the next morning, I could see the dew on my window as the morning rose to greet me. Birds were singing songs of courtship if in honor of the night I shared with my love the night before. I heard the bathroom door open and steam wafted through the air like a cloud wafting through the air. And through the midst of the mist, like mighty Thor, stepped Brian, the god of my dreams. His naked body glistened in the new morning sun and his massive member hung like a sausage in a butcher shop, ready for me to reach out and claim as my own. He looked at me and smiled with a radiance unrivaled by any star in the night sky and said, "Good morning, Kyle. I was hoping you would be awake." He strode over to the bed where I lay and took me up in a passionate embrace and said, "I have been waiting for a man like you all my life. You are everything I'm not. You make me whole." "Oh Brain," I said as his lips met mine in a kiss of a fury and passion that made time itself stand still. It was almost blinding. It was so bright, I had to raise my hand and shield my eyes. It was so bight, I woke up. I layed there in my bed, squinting as the light from the sun shone through the window onto my face. 'Wait,' I thought. 'Where's Brian? What happened to the kiss?' I looked over and Brian was still asleep next to me. "It was just a dream," I lamented. I should have known, my dreams always play out like cheap romance novels. I was suddenly really cold and I looked down and saw that Brian had stolen all the covers as we slept. He was curled up, facing away from me. I raised myself up on one elbow and looked at the sleeping face of my crush. He was so peaceful, so innocent. But I saw fresh tear marks on his face. Whatever dreams he was having were not nearly as sweet as mine. My thoughts were interrupted by the smell of pancakes coming from downstairs. 'Wait, James doesn't know how to make pancakes,' I thought. 'But Aaron does!' I ran down the stairs in hopes of catching a glimpse of the cute butt that had captivated my imagination for the last year. I turned at the bottom of the stairs and ran down the hall into the kitchen. I saw Aaron standing at the stove flipping pancakes. His back was to me and I had a perfect view of his round, cute butt. Aaron has been friends with James ever since they started taking tae kwan do together. They acted and looked alike, though Aaron was a bit taller. Some people joked that they were more brothers than me and James were. They are the same age and, when they were old enough, both he and James got out on their own as soon as possible. James went and worked for the advertising people while Aaron took a job as manager of a local bowling alley. It wasn't glamorous, but he loved it because he got to bowl as much and as often as he wanted. He had short, spiked brown hair and always wore baggy jeans and a t-shirt. While his jeans were baggy, I still could make out the curves of a butt conditioned by years of martial arts. Suddenly, I was knocked on the floor when James walked in and slammed his shoulder into me. He laughed because he knew exactly why I wasn't paying attention. Aaron turned and said, "Hey James, I think these are done. Oh, hey Kyle. What are you doing on the floor?" "I, uh, slipped," I said. James let out an almost evil laugh because he knew I was lying through my teeth, and why. "Jeeze, James," said Aaron. "You shouldn't be so cruel to your own brother." He walked over and helped me up. At that moment, Nick popped into the room and said, "Did I miss anything?" Nick was a tall, slim Asian kid who looked like he should be going to MIT rather than hanging out with Aaron and my brother. He had glasses and was wearing his usual polo shirt and khakis. I'm not sure how he got involved with James and Aaron, but I think they saved his life or something. One night outside a bar, or so the story goes, some drunk hicks started picking on Nick, then Aaron and James stepped in a kicked their butts. Nick just started hanging out with them after that. They didn't mind the company, so they let him tag along. Nick is a math nut the way I'm a chemistry wizard and we often have "geek offs" to see who can outsmart the other. Much to my dismay, he usually wins. "Kyle just fell on his ass and Aaron was helping him up," said James. He smirked at me when he put that special emphasis on " ass." "So, how's your eye?" asked Nick. "Oh, it's better," said James. "It doesn't feel as bad since I was able to sleep it off." "What are you guys here for, anyway?" I asked. "We just wanted to check on James," said Aaron. "That was a nasty fight last night and we wanted to see if he made it back ok. Besides, it's Saturday morning and we needed something to do." "Well actually, it's not really morning any more," said Nick. I looked at the microwave and it was 10:03 a.m. "Sorry," said Aaron as sarcastically as he could. "Not all of us can wake up at 6:30 every morning." Nick just shrugged off the comment. It wasn't the first time it had been made, and it wouldn't be the last. "So, what are we going to do today?" Nick asked. "Well, I was thinking about taking James to a doctor," said Aaron. "That punk really clocked him last night, and with a beer mug." "Look, guys, I don't need to go to the doctor," protested James. "That's what you said last time," said Nick. "And you ended up with a mild concussion. I'll even take you myself. You like riding in the Jetta." "Hey, are you guys making pancakes?" asked a groggy Brian as he walked into the kitchen. He was wearing the sweats I gave him last night and rubbing his bloodshot eyes. As he walked in, I heard Aaron drop the spatula and ask, "Who's that?" "Oh, this is a friend of Kyle's," said James. "His name is Brian." "What happened to your head?" asked Aaron. "Err, family problems," said Brian. "Maybe you should both see a doctor," said Nick, examining Brian's head. "That sounds like a good idea," said James. "When we get done with breakfast, Nick can drive us to the doctor's office." "Who's Nick?" asked Brian. "I am," said Nick, as he reached out his hand and shook Brian's. Brian looked over at Aaron and got a dumb smirk on his face, a smirk I knew all too well. "And you must be Aaron," he said. "My reputation precedes me, as usual," said Aaron. Brian looked over at me and winked. 'What!?' I thought. 'Is my fantasy life just some giant inside joke now?' We all grabbed plates and forks and stuff and served ourselves from the counter. James, Aaron and Nick sat in the living room watching TV while Brian and I sat in the kitchen. He wasn't saying much, or eating much for that matter. Finally, he asked, "If I go to the doctor, will he tell my parents where I am?" "Well, how old are you?" I asked. "I just turned 18," he said. "Then you're legally responsible for yourself and you don't even have to tell him you have parents," I said. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Cool. Thanks," and dug into his pancakes. After we put our dishes away, James found some jeans and a t-shirt that fit Brian, though the jeans were a little tight (he he he!). We were headed out to the Jetta when I went back inside to get my Gameboy (magazines at the doctor's office were always lame). I walked out the front door and saw James helping Aaron up off the ground while Brian and Nick got in the car. James and Aaron were always sparring and messing around, but it was usually James that got knocked down. 'Just what I need,' I thought. 'A brother who's getting stronger and faster.' "Ready to go?" asked James. "Yeah," I said, holding up my Gameboy. I ran up to the Jetta in the driveway next to James' Tacoma as James pushed Aaron down again (he must have felt sorry for "the gimp" to let him win so easily). Brian was in the back seat on the far end and I moved over to the middle next to him. "How far away is the doctor's office?" asked Brian. "Just 20 minutes," said Nick. 'Cool,' I thought. '20 minutes in a cool car next to the boy of my dreams--make that boys!' Aaron had just sat down next to me. 'Aaron on one side and Brian on the other,' I thought. 'Holy crap!' I could scarcely contain my excitement. He whole trip there, I sat between my hotties, very pleased with myself and my acute surplus of good fortune. No one really said anything during the ride. Brian and Aaron both stared out their windows and Nick and James fought over what radio station to listen to (Mozart vs. Metallica) but both stopped when they found Frank Sinatra. So we enjoyed the crooning of Old Blue-Eyes and by the end I had "Que Sera, Sera" stuck in my head. When we got to the doctor's office and got out, I was sad that my "hottie sandwich" was over, but looked forward to the trip home. Nick led the group through the parking lot followed by a shy Brian with me behind admiring the view as James and Aaron followed up the rear. As we got to the entrance, I heard Aaron fall down and turned around to see James had given him a flat tire. One of the biggest advantages of Aaron being around was that James gave him crap instead of, or at least less than, me. Aaron got up and walked through the door and, as he walked past me, I stole a glance at his butt; a glance quickly interrupted by James pushing me into to the bushes by the door. (I couldn't avoid him forever.) Nick and Brian had already gone up to the clinic by the time we got in the elevator. James had this really dumb smile on his face, kind of like the "you think my best friend is hot" smile, but exaggerated and more devious. He hated seeing the doctor, and whenever he had to, he made sure we regretted it. The elevator stopped on our floor and I rushed to get off so James didn't have an excuse to trip me or something, but I wasn't fast enough because, as soon as I stepped out, I felt his shoe on my heel in his classic flat tire technique and I fell forward on my face. But much to my surprise, Aaron fell with me. I looked back and James had lifted himself up with his hands in the door of the elevator in order to utilize both feet. "Damn-it, James! Knock it off," said Aaron. James chuckled and swung forward, his feet landing right by our heads. He swaggered into the clinic on the other side of the hallway and closed the door, laughing at us. Aaron got up on one knee and put his shoe back on. "Don't worry," said Aaron "He'll get his. I'm going to remind the doctor he needs a tetanus shot." 'Holy Shit!' I thought. 'When Aaron wants to play dirty, the gloves sure come off.' James' beef with the doctor's office was mostly because of the possibility of having an injection, a fear which I never could explain. But he hated shots more than anything I could think of, and if Aaron was actually going to do what he was threatening to do, they would have to sedate James because he would quickly become violent. After I got my shoe back on, Aaron helped me up and we went into the clinic. Brian was in the corner by the secretary's window filling out some medical forms while Nick and James sat on the other side. Nick was trying to read Popular Science while James kept putting his feet up in Nick's lap. James was being more of a jerk than usual for a doctor's visit. Aaron went to sign up James for an appointment while I went over and sat next to Brian, who was busy concentrating on the medical forms. "So, how good is this Dr. Norwood?" asked Brian. "Oh he's really cool," I said. "I've been seeing him ever since I was little. He's really into games like Doom and Half-life, so we became friends pretty fast." "A doctor who likes to play games where all you do is kill people?" said Brian. "I know," I said. "I think it's weird, too. But you'll like him. He has a really good bedside manner. He could probably let you know you have cancer and you'd be cool with it." "Umm, ok," said Brian, and he went back to his forms. He seemed detached, distracted, but such is to be expected considering the last 24 hours. I pulled out my Gameboy and embarked again upon my journey to save Lycia. After a couple minutes, a nurse appeared at the door next to the secretary's window and said, "James Wilson." James flung his feet off of Nick's lap, making sure to knock the magazine out of his hands, and followed the nurse. As soon as the door closed, Aaron jumped out of his seat and went up to the secretary. I couldn't hear what they were talking about, but I knew it was in regards to James' tetanus shot. "Thanks, I'll make sure and remind him," said the secretary. Aaron sat back down next to Nick with a mischievous smile on his face. There would be hell to pay for this, but it would be so worth it. Brian got done filling out his chart and took it up to the nurse. She looked it over and said, "Everything checks out. We have an exam room available if you are ready to go back." "Umm, sure," said Brian. "Can someone else go with me?" "You may bring whomever you want," said the secretary. Brian smiled over at me and said, "Would you go with me?" "Sure," I said, trying not to sound too excited. I didn't know why he wanted me to go with him, but the last several hours have proven him to be rather clingy. And I sure didn't mind if he was clinging to me. A nurse escorted us back to exam room 5. She took his vitals and said that the doctor would be in shortly. He sat on the examination table looking nervous and I was in the chair across from him. "You don't have to be so nervous, you know," I said. "I know," said Brian. "But it's just...what if he finds out? What if they do some test and he finds out I'm gay?" "First of all, I don't think there's any test they can give you to tell if you're gay," I said. "Second, it won't matter. Dr. Norwood is really cool and wouldn't kick you out or anything." "I just don't like telling other people," he said. "Well that's understandable, but you can trust Norwood," I said. "Does he know you're gay?" he asked. "No...but the issue's never come up," I said. At that moment, I heard some yelling down the hall and we saw orderlies go running in the direction of the noise. It must have been time for James' shot. From the direction of the noise came Dr. Norwood. He was a taller man with glasses and parted, brown hair. I never asked, but he looked like he was in his mid 30s. He had a lab coat and was carrying a clipboard. "Kyle, did you tell the nurses James needed a tetanus booster?" asked Norwood. "No that was Aaron," I said. "Well, give us more warning next time so we don't have to call in extra people," he said. "Or at least you could medicate him before you come here. So, you must be Brian?" "How did you know?" asked Brian. "Because I was just holding your chart," said Norwood. "Oh, I guess that makes sense," said Brian. "You seem on edge," said Norwood. "And I doubt it's because of that cut on your forehead." Brian shifted his seating anxiously as it seemed Dr. Norwood was more perceptive than he had hoped. "So, what is it? Family trouble," said Norwood as he began the examination and checked Brian's ears. "I guess you could say that," said Brian, nervously. "And you must have gotten someone pretty mad for them to throw something at you," said Norwood as he checked Brian's eyes. His eyes looked like that of a wild animal caught in a trap. "My guess is that it was a picture frame or a plaque or something like that with a sharp edge that can be thrown. Say, 'aah.'" As Dr. Norwood looked down Brian's throat, Brian was breathing really heavily. "Now doesn't look like a good time to check your heart rate or your breathing since you're obviously excited by what happened. Do you want to tell me what happened, or do I need to keep guessing?" Brian must have decided to end the tension on his own terms because he closed his eyes and blurted out, "I told my father I'm gay and he got mad and threw a trophy at my head." At the end, he held his breath and braced himself as if waiting for a blow to come. But he was surprised when nothing happened. "Huh," said Dr. Norwood. "I figured it was over a girl, but that's close enough. So are you ready to calm down so I can finish my checkup?" "Yeah, I guess," said a relieved Brian. "Do you want some water or anything?" asked Norwood. "No I'm good," said Brian. "Uh, Dr. Norwood?" "Yes" he said. "Do--Do they know what makes a person gay?" asked Brian. "What do you mean, like, do they have a medical explanation?" asked Norwood. "Yeah," said Brian. I was also intrigued by this new line of questioning, because I've often wondered myself. "Well, nobody knows for sure," said Norwood. "Some think it's genetic, some think it's psychological, but I think it doesn't really matter. I mean, why would someone choose to live a lifestyle that was so heavily persecuted and socially negative? I think it's obvious that gay people don't choose to be that way, so why does it matter what causes it? We can't fix it anyway. But I don't really think it need to be fixed in the first place?" 'Wow,' I thought. 'I knew Dr. Norwood was smart, but never did I think he was so insightful.' "Thanks," said Brian. "That makes me feel better." "That's what I'm here for. Now lie down," said Norwood as he checked Brian's stomach. "And...what about sex?" asked Brian. "What about it?" asked Dr. Norwood. "Well, there's all that stuff about HIV and STDs and everything," said Brian. "Do I need to be worried about that?" "Gay sex is just like straight sex," said Dr. Norwood. "If you're having it with a lot of different people, then STDs are a big problem. But if you have a monogamous partner, you won't have to worry. And don't rely to much on condoms. They don't always stop pregnancies--heck, my second daughter was conceived while we used condoms--and viruses are a lot smaller and easier to slip by than sperm. So...anything else you wanted to know?" "No, not right now," said Brian. "Thanks" "Everything seems to check out," said Dr. Norwood. "Now I need to check your genitals. Do you want Kyle to step out?" 'Did I just hear what I think I did?' I said to myself. 'Dr. Norwood was about to check Brian's manhood, and I might be able to see it.' "Err...you can stay if you want to, Kyle," said Brian. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The boy of my dreams was about to drop his pants right in front of me! But, did he want me to see him exposed, or did he just not want me to leave? "Ok then, just stand up and unzip your pants," said Norwood. I never thought such words would have such a powerful effect on me. As I heard his pants unzip, the sound echoed in my ears. My head was spinning, and I blacked out. I was quite disappointed when I woke up to the acrid scent of smelling salts in the chair in the exam room. Dr. Norwood was standing over me. "I didn't see that coming," he said. I looked around for Brian, but it was just me and Norwood in the room. "Don't worry about Brian," said Dr. Norwood. "He's outside in the lobby. He was kind of embarrassed by how you reacted and wanted to leave you alone. It was pretty funny, though. You two are lucky to be together." "What do you mean 'together?'" I said as I collected my wits. "If you two aren't already boyfriends," he said, "you're well on your way there." "Who said anything about me being gay?" I said indignantly. "Kyle," he said, "I've been your doctor for 10 years and you're my only 15-year-old patient who hasn't asked me anything about girls. I can take a hint." 'What the hell?!' I thought. 'I spend so much freakin' time trying to not act gay and even my doctor can tell.' "Well, I guess you have me there," I said. Norwood just laughed and slapped me on the shoulder and said, "Is there anything else you wanted to talk about while you're here?" "Not really," I said. "Then I guess I'll see you later," he said. "Oh, and tell your brother 'no hard feelings.'" "Will do," I said. And with that, Dr. Norwood walked out to the secretary for his next patient and I went back to the lobby. Nick was still reading Popular Science and Aaron and Brian were next to him talking. Brian had a bandage on his head and hand. I walked over and asked, "So, what did the doctor say?" Brian looked kind of embarrassed to see me, but managed to maintain eye contact and said, "He gave me some antibiotics. He's mostly concerned about the stuff that got under my skin when I was cut. He said my head doesn't look too bad, but my hand will probably scar-over." Suddenly, I heard the aggressive slurs of my brother on fetanol as he lumbered through the doorway. Knowing the drill, I ran over and propped him up on my shoulder so he could walk to the car. "You son-of-a-bitch!" he yelled at Aaron. "As soon as I can walk straight, your ass is mine!" We all laughed at him, Aaron especially, and made our way back to the car. The ride home was similar to the last, with me cozily between Aaron and Brian while they stared out their windows and Nick and James in the front, except James' lack of coordination prevented him from changing Nick's music selection. So we rode home listening to "A Little Night Music" and everyone was quiet. Nick dropped us off at our house and Aaron left with him. Brian and I helped James inside and let him lay on his couch. "I swear," said James "If he tries to pull shit like that again, I'm gonna kill him!" "Just sleep it off, James," I said. "You'll forget all about this in the morning." "Speaking of which, we need to take you to your house tomorrow," he said to Brian. Brian looked mortified and said, "No, no way. I-I can't go back there." "Well, you can't just keep wearing clothes that barely fit you, and I'm sure you want your back-pack and stuff," said James. "No, I can't go back there," said Brian. "I won't!" "Look, we can drive over there tomorrow and you can stay in the truck. I'll go out and get the things you want and you won't even have to go inside." "Yeah, but...I really don't want to go back there," said Brian. He was starting to tear up. It had only been one day since the altercation with his father and I'm sure he didn't want to go through it again. "Look, your family goes to church, right?" I asked. "Yeah," he said. "Well, tomorrow's Sunday," I said. "While they are away, we can go over and you can get all your stuff." "Good idea," said James. "But I don't have a key," said Brian. "Surely you must have a spare hidden outside," I said. "No, my dad never believed in that kind of stuff," said Brian. "That's ok," said James. "Aaron can pick a lock, so we'll get him to come over in the morning. Your house isn't alarmed, is it?" "No," said Brian. "Well, that sounds like a plan. What do you say?" asked James. "Aaron would come and pick the lock?" asked Brian. "Yep," said James. "And he's experienced at this sort of thing, so he wouldn't break the lock or anything." "Well, ok," said Brian. "They leave for church at 8:30." "Ok," said James. "I'll call Aaron and tell him the plan." James was getting a little more energetic as the sedatives wore off, but I was really tired. We'd all had a full day and it was only 1:00. After making a sandwich for lunch, I went upstairs and played Gameboy to help unwind and Brian stayed downstairs and watched TV with James. I fell asleep in bed while trying to get to the next level in Tetris (no school like old school). I remember feeling really excited about the "stealth job" we were going to pull off at Brian's house tomorrow. He would probably be really nervous in the morning. I hoped he would be ok.