DEREK & I
Copyright © 2003
By Lee Mariner
The author's copyright © and all
provisions of the original disclaimer remain in force. All Rights
are Reserved.
This is a gay fantasy containing homosexual acts. If you are not
of legal age in your locality or should you not approve of such
material, please leave.
My friend, Dean, has edited this work. His invaluable assistance
is greatly appreciated.
All of my stories can be found in the Nifty Archives listing of
Prolific Author's by using this link:
prolific.html#leemariner
Readers wishing to be notified of future episodes to this and other
stories, can contact me at:
mariner23502@hotmail.com
Chapter #32
"Larry," Derek said as we struggled to position ourselves and several
full shopping bags in the truck's cab. "I know how much you love
your truck, but don't you think we should be looking at trading it in
on something a little roomier such as a sedan or a station-wagon?"
"I don't see why," I answered laughing as he and Morgan were struggling
to get seated. "I've got plenty of room."
"That you may have, Smart-ass; but you don't have your lap full of
shopping bags," he replied in a slightly exasperated tone.
"At least that is all you have in your lap for right now," I said,
jokingly without thinking about Morgan sitting between us.
"Why don't you let me sit in the back, Larry; and that way there will
be more room for you guys and this stuff," Morgan said innocently.
"Not on your life, Morgan. I don't need some cop stopping us and
giving me a ticket. It might be a little tight for a few minutes
until we can stop off at Dad's," I said quickly, hoping he had not
picked up on my risqué teasing of Derek. "We can drop this
stuff
off there, and then go on to Friendly's for something to eat."
"Oh, Lord, save me," Derek said as he pulled his door shut. "Once
again, words of wisdom from my logical lov.., friend."
I couldn't see the reaction on Derek's face at his near slip of the
tongue; and, glancing quickly at Morgan's face to see if he had picked
up on it, I started the engine hoping the roar had covered it.
Breathing in deeply, I shoved the gear shift forward and pulled out
into the traffic.
§
Nothing else was said until we pulled up to the curb in front of Dad's
office. He came outside with a look of amazement on his face; and
then grinning broadly, his eyes twinkling, he asked jokingly, "Does
Hoffmeyer's have anything left
to sell?"
"We left a few things behind, Dad," Derek said as he opened his
door.
"I wonder," Dad replied as he reached to help Derek with his shopping
bag.
Exiting on my side, I went around the front of the truck while Morgan
was sliding across the seat; and I said, "We had to leave the suit
Morgan
picked out so it could be altered."
"If the suit is still at Hoffmeyer's, what is all of this?" He asked,
nodding in the direction of the shopping bags still on Morgan's lap.
Seeing the inquisitive look on Dad's face, Derek glanced at me before
taking the bags Morgan was balancing on his lap as he scooted across
the seat. Turning toward Dad, Derek said, "Morgan has to return
to the store on Monday for a
fitting, but Micah assured us that they would have the suit ready in
time for Morgan's
graduation on Thursday."
Dad was looking into the bag he had taken from Derek and whistling
softly; then he looked at the other shopping bags, his eyes twinkling
with
amusement. "All of this and whatever else is in those bags is for
one suit? Remind me not to give you my credit card again when you go
shopping," he said chuckling softly.
Derek looked at me quickly before answering. "Don't blame Larry, Dad;
he didn't charge these things on your account. Larry and I bought
them for
Morgan as a graduation gift," he said, glancing at me. "While he
was in the fitting room with Micah trying on the suit, we talked about
what Morgan might need to go
with it."
"You both seemed to have covered everything except maybe underwear,"
Dad replied still grinning and chuckling.
"I don't need any underwear, Mr. Marks; I've got plenty," Morgan
suddenly
injected into the conversation.
"I was just kidding, Morgan, just kidding," Dad replied grinning at
Morgan as he continued asking, "Are you ready to go back to
work?"
Morgan looked at me, and then Derek. He had the look of a doe
caught in the bright headlamps of a night time hunter; and as he
started to speak, I cut him off.
"We haven't been to lunch yet, Dad," I said. "I didn't think we would
be so long at Hoffmeyer's so we went there first instead of having
lunch. We thought that we would go to Friendly's after we dropped
these things
off here, but maybe we can get a quick burger at Sonic's and then bring
Morgan back if that's
okay."
I knew that I was sort of pushing the "envelope" a
little by leaving him there alone
with only his duty mechanic, but I figured from his jovial manner that
he wasn't really upset over what he may have considered our excesses,
or
he wouldn't have been joking with us the
way he had been.
We stood glancing sideways at each other, waiting with bated breath for
his response. Knowing him better then Derek or Morgan did, I knew
when he crossed his arms and lifted his hand to his chin that he was
savoring the moment and enjoying holding us in suspense. He had,
on many occasions, teased Paul and me in the same way when we had
asked for a favor. The outcome had usually been favorable;
but, I could see he was enjoying keeping us guessing much the same way
now as he had then.
Rubbing his chin as if he was pondering my explanation, he peered at
the three of us for a moment with a look of affection in his eyes and,
chuckling softly, said, "I guess I can handle things for a while longer
while you have lunch. But what are you going to do with all of
these packages when you get
back, or haven't you thought about that? Morgan doesn't have any way of
taking them home except on the bus. Doing that would be
cumbersome for him, but they shouldn't be left here at
the station."
"Jeez, Dad," I answered glancing quickly at, Derek. "We hadn't
thought about that."
"Just what I thought," he snorted glaring at us in exasperation, his
jovial mood suddenly evaporating. "Go ahead and put these things
in the office behind my desk, and while you're at lunch give it some
thought," he said, glancing at the pump islands at the sound of the
warning bell clanging as a customer drove in for service.
"Yes, Sir," we said as he left.
After gathering the shopping bags and taking them into the office as we
were instructed, we were getting into the truck when he called out, "Go
where you planned and not some hamburger joint. I don't need your
mother finding out that you had hamburgers and greasy french fries for
lunch."
There were several cars parked in the Friendly's parking lot when we
arrived, but there were only a few customers still lingering in the
restaurant when we entered. Most of them were men in business
suits who were probably stretching their lunch hours on the pretense
that they were discussing business.
The usual "please wait to be seated" sign had been removed; but, just
as
we started toward an empty booth, a dark haired, nice looking middle
aged man dressed in an open-throated white shirt, black trousers and an
almost ankle length white apron approached us. He was carrying
several plastic bound menus in the crook of his arm; and, smiling
brightly, he asked, "are you having lunch?"
"Yes, we are," I answered, noticing the way his dark eyes did a quick
cursory glance of all three of us. "We were going to sit in
one of the booths by the front window if that is all right."
"Right this way," he said, turning and proceeding to one of the
booths we
had indicated.
Derek glanced at me, his eyes twinkling; and he winked nodding his
head slightly in the direction of our attractive host. The
tightly
wrapped and tied apron around his narrow hips accentuated the smallness
of his waist and clearly defined the broadness of his shoulders and
back muscles. His dark hair was well-groomed and closely cropped
in a smooth taper conforming to the nape of his neck. His stride was
smooth, and his tight buttocks moved enticingly as he negotiated the
tables situated between us and the booth.
"He's nice," Derek whispered in my ear.
Turning my head slightly and glancing at Morgan who was following us, I
hissed, "Yes."
If Morgan was aware of Derek's audacious conduct, he gave no indication
of it; but I was a little irritated that Derek could be so bold in
public even though I was learning that he could be suprisingly
devilish when he wanted to be.
Our escort stood aside as we slid into the booth with Morgan opposite
us; and, placing a
menu in front of each of us, he said, "I'm, Dimeter, and I'll be your
server this afternoon. May I bring you something to drink while
you are going over the menu?"
"Just water for me, Larry," Derek said as he opened the menu.
"What about you, Morgan?" I asked, glancing across the table.
"I don't know, Larry," he answered hesitantly and glanced at us and
up at Dimeter before continuing. "Could I have a vanilla milk
shake? They make the best in the world here."
"I don't see why not," I replied, grinning broadly as I placed the
order. "Two waters for us and one thick vanilla milk shake."
"Two waters and a very thick milk shake," Dimeter said softly, smiling
at Morgan.
"He must be new. I haven't seen him when I've been here before; but he
seems like a pretty nice guy, doesn't he?" Morgan said, glancing at
Dimeter as he left us. "I'll bet he uses weights for bodybuilding
like we did, Larry, when we were in school."
Derek coughed lightly at Morgan's unexpected comment; and I was
caught completely off-guard that he, as well as we, had been observing
Dimeter. For a moment we were confused and were at a loss as
to just how we should respond. The unexpected comments had
momentarily left us speechless until Morgan, grinned broadly and his
blue eyes twinkling brightly, leaned over the table and looked around
almost
furtively before he said quietly almost whispering, "Hey, I know you
guys are gay or at
least I am pretty sure you are, and that does not bother me at all. If
I were worried about it, I'd have said something before this; and I
would
have objected about the way Micah was hitting on me when we were at the
store. Jesus, fellas, a guy doesn't have to be gay to admire
another
good-looking guy; and, besides that, it makes me feel pretty good when
I see some guy checking me out; but that's as far as it has ever
gone," he said, breathing in deeply and continuing before we could say
anything. "I heard Derek whisper 'he's nice,' and I think I know
what that means, but I like women, and admiring another good looking
well built-man doesn't mean I want to have sex with him. If I were
interested in that, I think Larry and I might have made it together
when we were in high school," he said, grinning broadly, his eyes
shining with amusement.
I heard Derek stifle a gasp, and I was on the verge of verbally
exploding in amazement at Morgan's
frankness when Derek pushed his leg against mine and nudged me in the
ribs with his elbow. Glancing quickly to my right, I saw Dimeter
approaching with a tray of drinks. Breathing in deeply and
gulping the words back, I leaned
against the
backrest of the booth as he set the glasses on the table and asked if
we were ready to
order.
"I guess we are, Dimeter," Derek said, "I think I'll have a tuna fish
on toasted rye with a side of potato salad, and that shake that Morgan
ordered looks so good that I think maybe my diet will allow one if you
have
strawberry?"
There was an amused tone in Derek's voice, and I was afraid that the
latent
devilish streak in him was about to come to the fore. It was an
opportunity that I was realizing he could not resist; and, for a
moment,
I thought he had resisted until he said, "What are you going to have,
Larry, a
hot dog or maybe the german sausage plate that is on special."
"No...," I said, detecting the innuendo and glancing across the table
at Morgan who was
studiously studying the menu. "Hot dogs or sausage aren't very
appealing right now, so I think I'll have the same as you with cole
slaw instead of potato salad. What about you, Morgan, have you
made up your mind?"
"Yeah," he replied, closing the menu. "I'm gonna have a super
burger with onion, mustard and french fries."
"Would you like cheese on the burger and catsup with your french
fries?" Dimeter asked without looking up
as he was jotting our orders on his pad. "Perhaps another shake as
well, you've almost finished the one you have."
"Nope, thanks anyway; but one is enough, and I don't like catsup."
"Are you sure, Morgan? You polished that one off pretty quickly,"
Derek injected before Dimeter left.
"I know, but I'll have some water instead," Morgan replied, handing his
menu to Dimeter.
"It should only be a few minutes," Dimeter said gathering the other
menus and tucking them under his arm as he left.
For several minutes after Dimeter left, there was an uncomfortable
silence. Derek was playing with his knife and fork, but I could tell
from the way he would look at Morgan and then at me that he was about
to burst wide open but was struggling to restrain himself. I
was still at a loss for words and unsure
exactly what I could or should say that would not sound foolish or
sound like a put down of Morgan for his unexpected revelation about
when we were in high school and his suspicions.
Derek solved the dilemma by placing his hand on mine; and, softly
saying, "How long have you
known or suspected about us, Morgan?"
Morgan's face flushed crimson and for a second he looked away before
stammering, "I...,I, oh shit, ever since I saw you and Larry in his
truck behind the station. I was cleaning up on the other side of
the trash bin, and you didn't see me, but I didn't hang around to
watch."
Leaning back and, withdrawing my hand, I breathed in deeply and
groaned, "Oh, Jesus, I never thought about anyone being behind the
tires and trash bin."
"You don't have to worry, Larry, I would never say anything to anyone,"
Morgan said quickly. "I'd never do that."
A sense of relief swept over me when Morgan said that, and I was about
to thank him when I heard Derek chuckling softly under his breath.
"I don't think we
will be doing that again will we, Larry?"
"Christ, no," I almost exploded. "I'm only glad it was Morgan and
not Dad."
Derek looked at me quizzically for a moment before saying, "Why not? He
knows we are lovers."
It was Morgan's turn to be surprised, and he blurted out a little too
loudly, "He does; your Dad knows that you and Derek are gay?"
"Easy, Morgan, not so loud," I said glancing around to see if we were
being overheard. "Mom and Dad both know, I told them right after
I met Derek; but I don't think they would appreciate knowing we had
sex behind Dad's gas station."
"Noooo, Larry, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't appreciate hearing that.
Knowing and seeing are very
different," Derek said, still chuckling and grinning impishly as he
took a drink from his
water glass.
"Do your parents know, Derek?" Morgan asked a little nervously.
Considering what had only recently transpired, I couldn't help but
smile at Morgans directness in asking Derek if his
parents did or did not know about his sexuality. Derek didn't
hedge or hesitate in
answering Morgan, but he gave me a momentarily pained look before he
did.
"Oh, yes," Derek answered in a subdued tone. "They know, but I'm afraid
that they aren't as accepting as Larry's parents are."
§
It was obvious that Morgan had other questions; but fortunately,
Dimeter brought our
lunch before he could ask them. I was still a little upset by his
revelation that he had seen Derek and me making out, but while we were
eating the conversation turned to more general things such as the
return to Hoffmeyer's for the fitting of Morgan's suit and the upcoming
graduation. I had a few questions that I would have liked to ask
about
his sexuality but held them back for a time and place where we could
talk a little more freely.
Dimeter returned two or three times asking the usual questions about
our needs. He was a very attractive
person, and I'm sure that Derek was thinking the same from the way he
would occasionally glance at him while he was eating.
Morgan devoured his lunch with the usual gusto of a normal healthy
teenager and made
no further comments until we were in the truck.
"Larry." he said as we were pulling out into traffic. "Would you
guys do me a big favor?"
"Certainly, if we can," I answered, glancing quickly at him and Derek
as I maneuvered to make a right hand turn.
Breathing in deeply and looking quickly at Derek, he said, "I hate to
ask you and Larry, but it might be better if you would take the
things you bought for me to his Dad's house until after the suit is
ready. I don't want to take them home right now."
For a brief moment, his request surprised me; but then I recalled what
I
knew about his family. I realized why he was asking it and
looked at Derek; but, before I could answer, Derek spoke as if he had
been
reading my mind.
"What you mean, Morgan, is that your father might not appreciate it if
you brought new clothing home."
"Yeah..., he would have a fit and want to know where I got the
money," he said quietly, in an embarrassed tone, twisting his
fingers in his lap and not looking at either one of us.
"De'ja' vu all over again,"I thought to myself. "Another
misguided
father. The only difference is that one is a drunkard and the
other is selfish."
Derek leaned his head back to look over at me; and, seeing my nod of
approval, he said, "When your suit is finished, would you want us to
hold it until the graduation?"
"Would you guys do that?"
"Sure, and then you can stay overnight with us if you want to, and you
can get ready at our place," I answered without considering that Derek
might not approve. Derek dispelled the concern when he said, "We
would kill two birds with one stone, and it would probably
be better for you, Morgan, if you did. You wouldn't have to ride
the bus and, then have to rush getting ready."
"Gosh, I'd like that," Morgan said excitedly. "That would be
great if it would be all right with Larry's mom and dad; I wouldn't
want
to put them out."
"I don't think they will object if you stay with us in our
apartment," I said, glancing at Derek and grinning as I
responded to Morgan's concern.
"You have your own apartment?" Morgan said, violently twisting his
head
back and forth to look at us. "I thought you lived with your parents."
"We do live with them, sort of," I replied, laughing and, grinning at
Derek as I continued trying to explain my cryptic comment. "Paul
and Dad built an apartment over the garage, but Paul got to use it
for only a short time before he died. After Derek and I decided
to live together, we moved
into it instead of sharing the bedroom Paul and I shared in Mom and
Dad's house. We have only one bedroom, and you'll have to sleep
on the couch, but I don't think it is too uncomfortable."
"It isn't," Derek snickered, chuckling as we pulled into the station.
§
As soon as Derek had gotten out, Morgan jumped out of the truck and
disappeared into the station. Dad walked out of the office;
and glancing at Morgan as he rushed into the end automotive bay
where the employee's lockers were, he said, "Where's he going?"
"Probably to change into his work clothes, Dad," I said as I walked
around the front of the truck to where he and Derek were standing.
"There is no need for him to do that now," Dad said. "He only has
about an hour left on his shift, and I can handle that until his relief
gets here. Run and tell him, Larry; and you can leave your truck
here while you and Derek use my car to take those things you bought
home for him and come on back."
"We've already solved that problem, Dad. We're going to take them home
with us, and after his suit is ready, he is going to stay over the
night before graduation with us; and we all can go together to his and
Derek's
graduations."
"It will be a lot easier for him, Dad," Derek chimed in. "He was
worried about taking them home."
"I guess that will be okay; but did he say what he will tell his
parents?" Dad asked, crossing his arms and
rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
I suddenly realized that, in Morgan's excitement over staying overnight
with us, we had not discussed that problem. When, Dad saw Derek
and me looking at each other blankly, neither one of us answering his
question, he chuckled saying, "I thought not. Well, I don't see
anything wrong with your plan, but you better straighten it out with
him. I don't want any trouble for Morgan with his parents," he said,
turning around as Morgan came out of the office door smiling broadly
and carrying the loaded shopping bags.
"I don't think he has thought about it either, Larry," Derek said.
Stopping abruptly, Morgan said, "Thought about what?"
Before I could say anything, Dad interceded for me.
"What you will tell your parents about staying with Larry and Derek."
"Nothing really, Mr. Marks," he answered. "I won't lie to them;
I'll tell them I'm gonna be staying with friends, and I will be."
"And what about your clothes? Won't they expect you to dress at home
and then go to your graduation with you?" Dad persisted without waiting
for us to say anything.
"No, Sir, I don't think they care," Morgan answered in a hushed tone
setting the shopping back against the office front wall as he
continued. "I told them about the graduation ceremonies and how
all of the students' parents would be there, but my Dad told me that
I'd
have to buy my clothes if I needed any and not to expect them to be
there because they didn't have the
time."
For a few moments nothing was said, and then Dad exclaimed, "Damn, I
thought I knew Melvin Padgett better than that, but this is beyond
comprehension.
His only son is graduating from high school, and he does not have the
time
to be there. I can't believe that; no sir, I can't believe that he has
become...," he started to say, stopping before saying something he
would regret. He breathed in angrily
attempting to control his anger before he continued. "Morgan,
don't defy your parents or lie to them, but don't allow them to stop
you from
staying with Derek and Larry or anyone else that you want to. I
know your Dad; we went to school together. I know something of
the situation he is in, and I won't say anything against him. While he
may object, you are past eighteen years of age; and he cannot stop you
from doing what you want. You boys, go ahead and do what you think is
right, and
that's all I have to say," he finished, turning on his
heels and going back inside leaving us standing with our mouths
open.
§
"Damn," I exhaled explosively not realizing that I had been hardly
breathing during Dad's angry tirade. "I never have heard him get that
angry," I said, almost whispering and looking at Derek and Morgan.
"Me either, Larry. I hope he isn't mad at me," Morgan said.
"I don't believe he is, Morgan; but it did sound familiar didn't it,
Larry," Derek said as we recovered from our astonishment.
"Yeah...," I said softly, glancing at him and, remembering the night
that I had listened to his father. "It did, but it solved the problem;
or, at least, I think it did; didn't it, Morgan?"
"Yeah, I think so; but I'd hate to do anything to upset your Dad; he
has been good to me," he said as I opened the truck door and stood
waiting while Derek took the shopping bags from Morgan and placed them
in the middle of the seat. As Derek got into the truck and closed
the door,
Morgan looked through the open window and, hesitating for a moment,
said, "I really appreciate all that you guys have done; I really do."
"Hey, that's what friends are for, Morgan," I said as I started the
engine. "Just remember what Dad said."
"I will," he answered, stepping back as I put the truck in gear.
§