Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:49:45 -0700 (PDT) From: Sebastian Fforde Subject: Jonathan Casts a Spell Chapter 5 Jonathan Casts a Spell Copyright 2008 Sebastian Fforde (BB, teen, high school, romance) This story is completely fiction. Well, most of it is, anyway. If you aren't interested in reading sexually explicit love stories about high school age boys, then you can stop right now. But if you ARE interested, then read on. A note to my readers: Jonathan and Alex would like to wish you all a happy Halloween! Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. Jonathan Casts a Spell Chapter 5 *** It was an old graveyard, dating back to colonial times. Alex had known about this place all his life, since it was near the woods where he used to play when he was little. It was a place that had always frightened him. But now he was standing in the middle of the graveyard with Jonathan. The two boys had been making gravestone rubbings all afternoon. Now the sun was beginning to set and the trees cast long shadows over the graves. Alex turned to Jonathan. "I feel a presence here," he said nervously. "Something is watching us." "I wouldn't worry about that, Alex. Cemeteries are rarely haunted. This is just a place to put the bodies. The spirits are tied to places where they once lived and worked. Houses, schools, buildings, mostly. There is nothing here, Alex. It's just your imagination." "Still, I'm a little scared. It's kind of spooky to be in a graveyard, you know, when it's starting to get dark and all." "Nothing to be frightened of, really," Jonathan shrugged. "That was what you said when we went to the old orphanage." "Jonathan," Alex asked urgently, "I'm starting to get scared again. Can you hold my hand? Please?" Jonathan took Alex gently by the hand. "Don't be scared, Alex. I'm with you. I will always be here to protect you. I want you to know that you are very special to me." "Thanks, Jonathan." "Here, let's sit down." "I don't wanna sit on anyone's grave. Let's sit over there," Alex said, pointing to the low stone wall that enclosed the old cemetery. The two boys walked across the cemetery, hand in hand, until they got to the stone wall. The two boys sat very close together on top of the wall. A chill wind had stirred up the air, and they both felt the cold down to their bones. The two boys huddled together for warmth, companionship, and love. "Jonathan," Alex said, urgently, "I love you so much! I want to be with you forever. Will you be my boyfriend?" There, he said it. His stomach was twisted in knots. How would the older boy react? But Jonathan smiled, a smile that made his whole face glow, placed his hands on Alex's cheeks, and kissed him so gently, so lovingly that the words suddenly felt very appropriate. Alex bit back a moan and closed his eyes once more, frantic not to do or say anything embarrassing. Jonathan reached out and pulled Alex into his arms. The older boy placed a light kiss on his neck and held him close, but several minutes passed before Alex began to relax. "Please...kiss me again," Alex whispered finally. Shudders convulsed his body; in truth he could not have said whether he was on the edge or simply terrified. But Jonathan eagerly granted his request, parting Alex's lips and wrapping their tongues together. He ran his fingers through Alex's hair and kissed him just below the ear. Then he traced a line of tiny kisses along his jaw; and then, becoming bolder and more determined he sucked gently on Alex's neck, leaving a faint mark. Alex sighed. Slowly, Alex opened his eyes in order to gaze at the face of his beloved. Instead, all he could see was the faint glow of Jonathan's clock radio. It was 6:23 AM. Alex was completely disoriented for a few moments. Eventually, he remembered that he was spending the night at Jonathan's house. In Jonathan's bed. Alex was lying next to the older boy, who had rolled over in his sleep and taken most of the covers. What had been real and what had been a dream? He was pretty sure he did see the chair move by itself in the guest bedroom. The experience was very disturbing, and had left a strong impression on the boy. But what had happened when the two boys were in bed together? Anything? Nothing? Jonathan was still asleep. Alex gently moved closer to the sleeping boy, trying to get a sniff of the musky scent of the boy's armpits. Of course, the scent of the mysterious cologne was also present -- Jonathan's pillows and sheets smelled strongly of the boy. Alex had an erection, partly from the arousing dream and partly from having to pee. Carefully, he got out of bed, trying not to wake Jonathan. He got up and went to the bathroom, waiting for his hardon to go down before he could urinate. Alex went back to Jonathan's room and put his clothes on. He was awake now, and didn't want to go back to bed. He was hungry. He wandered into the kitchen. It was awkward, being the only person awake on a Saturday morning in someone else's house. He wanted to make some coffee and eat something, but he didn't feel right about taking the liberty. Instead, he went outside and wandered in Jonathan's little garden, lost in thought. He thought about Jonathan, about how intrigued he was by this spooky and mysterious boy. He thought about what had brought the two boys together -- his foolish crush on a girl in his trigonometry class. The more time he spent with Jonathan, the less time he spent thinking about Katie. But now his feelings for Jonathan were getting more and more intense. The dream really shook him up. Is this what I really want, he wondered, to fall in love with a boy? With Jonathan? Alex looked at the beautiful plants in Jonathan's well-tended part of the garden. He bent over to smell the beautiful datura flowers. "Oh, there you are," Jonathan called from the kitchen. "I'm making coffee. Do you want any?" Alex went back into the kitchen. "Yeah, thanks. What are we going to have for breakfast?" Jonathan looked around the kitchen, then picked up a box of pastries and put it on the table. "I don't know what these are called, but my mom gets them from this Filipino bakery. They're pretty good," Jonathan said, putting a few rolls on a plate and handing them to Alex. Then he poured two cups of coffee. "How do you like your coffee?" "Light and sweet," Alex said. He bit into a roll. "Hey, these are really tasty!" Jonathan took some rolls and sat down next to Alex. "Your hair's kinda cute when it's all messed up like that," he said. "How did you sleep?" "I didn't sleep that good last night," Alex admitted. "I'm not used to, you know, sleeping with someone. I mean in the same bed. And the chair thing freaked me out. And I kept having these weird dreams." "Well, I slept pretty well," Jonathan said. "You know, it is nice sometimes to sleep with someone, once you get used to it. Feeling a warm body next to yours, knowing that someone is there close to you." "I know what you mean," Alex said. "Sometimes I wake up at night and I'm scared cuz I'm all alone in my room. It happened a lot when I was a kid, but it happens a lot less now. But it was nice to have you holding me." *** "I really think we should stop seeing each other for a while," Jonathan told Alex over the phone. "What do you mean, stop seeing each other?" Alex exclaimed. What was wrong, he wondered. He and Jonathan had been getting along so well. And now this, right out of the blue! What had he done to make Jonathan stop liking him? "Well," Jonathan explained, "it's just that it's pretty clear that you're starting to have feelings for me." Jonathan paused, waiting for Alex to say something. Alex became very quiet. "Okay, I admit it," Alex said. "Yes, Jonathan, I do have feelings for you." "So what are we going to do about this?" "Do you want to come over to my house? We could maybe take a walk and talk things over. There's this cool cemetery near the woods we could check out. Maybe we could even do some gravestone rubbings." "I don't know, Alex. I've been kind of busy these days. And I really do think we should stop spending so much time with each other. I don't want to get your hopes up." Alex was starting to get upset. "What do you mean, get my hopes up?" "Well, for one thing, you're a bit too young for me. I'm looking for someone a bit more, um, mature." Alex started to get even more agitated. "What do you mean, more mature? I thought we made a good team! And there were some times, uh, when we were together, when I felt that you were like my soul mate or something. I've never felt that with anyone else before! Not even with a girl!" "I dunno, Alex. I like you as a friend, but if you want something more, I don't know if I can give it to you. Like I said, you're too young, and you're not exactly my type." "What do you mean, not your type? You let me kiss you, and you weren't complaining I wasn't your type then! I've never kissed a boy like that before -- or anyone for that matter!" "Well, Alex, it's just that you're kind of, well, I hate to say it - goofy looking. Don't take it personally. We don't have to be lovers. We can still just be friends." Alex was quiet again. "I called you cuz I wanted to invite you to a Halloween party at my school. But I guess there's no point in inviting you now, is there?" "Alex! Calm down! Please don't get upset with me!" Alex hung up the phone. He sat on his bed. Tears were slowly trickling down his cheeks. How did he let this happen? How did he let himself fall in love with a boy? He slumped down with his head in his hands. He didn't know what to do. His heart ached. Meanwhile, on the other end, Jonathan was feeling a little guilty about being so manipulative. He knew that Alex would have refused him if he had told the boy directly about his feelings when they had first met. Jonathan wished he didn't have to use magic and reverse psychology, but he knew in his heart that his intentions were good. He knew he wanted Alex from the moment he laid eyes on the boy. He also knew that as a lover he would be kind and gentle to Alex. He also knew that the two of them were going to be very happy together. A tarot reading had confirmed this. It was in the cards. *** Alex waited around the corner until he saw Jonathan leave the Chrystall Dragon Bookshop. Jonathan usually left around the same time on Fridays to make the weekly bank deposit. Once Jonathan was gone, Alex entered the bookstore. Ms. Findhorn was there. "Can I help you find anything, young man?" Alex looked embarrassed. But the bookstore owner seemed very nice. She seemed like a very understanding, motherly type. Alex felt he could trust her. "Yeah," Alex blushed. "I'm looking for a book on love spells." Ms. Findhorn pulled a book from one of the shelves. "You might want to try this one," she said. She handed Alex a copy of The Magic Spellcaster. It was, in fact, the same copy that Alex had returned a week before. "This book has some very simple love spells in it. They're almost foolproof." Alex made a face. "Could you recommend something, more, uh, advanced? But not too advanced." Ms. Findhorn put The Magic Spellcaster back on the shelf and handed Alex another book -- Love Charms and Spells Demystified. Alex took a look at the book. "I think I'll take it." Ms. Findhorn looked at the boy. "Those spells are also pretty foolproof." Then she smiled at him. "Although I can't imagine a handsome boy like you needing a book on love spells!" Alex looked down at his shoes as Ms. Findhorn rang up the book. She put the book in a bag and handed him a receipt. He wanted to get out of there before Jonathan returned. "You should have no problem getting any girl you want," Ms. Findhorn reassured him. Finally Alex looked up at her. "I don't want a girl -- I want a boy. Will these spells work if I'm trying to put a love spell on another boy?" he asked nervously. Ms. Findhorn smiled. "Oh, I see! I suppose your love spell could work on a boy -- that is, if the boy is already somewhat receptive to you." Alex was relieved with the answer the bookstore owner had given him. Maybe there was a chance that this spell would work! Unlike with Katie MacMillan, Alex had even gotten so far as kissing this particular boy. So he imagined that a spell on this boy would probably have an even better chance of working. "Too bad you didn't come in a few minutes earlier!" Ms. Findhorn continued. "You could have asked my assistant about that. He's very knowledgeable about love spells, and he might have been able to give you a better answer than I can. His name is Jonathan. Very smart boy. He's only a few years older than you. But he's definitely an expert on love spells. At least, they always seem to work for him!" she laughed. "Well, I guess he's not here. Too bad," Alex said, desperately wanting to get out of the bookstore before Jonathan got back. "If you wait around a few minutes, he should be back soon. He's a very nice boy; I think you'd like him." "Oh, I'm sure I would like him," Alex said anxiously, making his way to the door. "But I'm kinda in a hurry right now. Well, I gotta go now! Bye!" *** The three boys lingered nervously around the punch bowl, eyeing the scene in the John W. Parsons High School gym. The annual Halloween party was in full swing. "I'm not gonna talk to her!" Oscar exclaimed. "Why don't you ask her, Hugh?" "I think Alex should be the one to ask Katie to dance," Hugh said. Then he turned to Alex. "You even told us you like her. Didn't you, Alex?" Alex shrugged, looking into his cup of punch. "Nah. I think Oscar should ask her." "You don't got the balls!" Oscar laughed. "C'mon, Alex! Everyone knows you have the hots for Katie MacMillan. Go ask her to dance!" "I'd prefer not to." Hugh was exasperated. "Alex! You've been acting so weird, lately. What the hell has gotten into you? `I'd prefer not to.' You've been moping around and saying that all night! What's up with that?" "Bartleby," Alex answered quietly. "Who the fuck is Bartleby?" Oscar asked. "Herman Melville story," Alex replied. "Since when do you read Melville?" Oscar asked. "Since when did you even read?" Hugh laughed. "My friend Jonathan and I watched the movie version together. Crispin Glover was in it," Alex said simply. "Isn't he that creepy goth dude you met at that new age bookstore?" Hugh asked. "The one you said had the black nail polish?" Alex became agitated. "He's not creepy!" "You sure made him sound creepy," Hugh retorted. "All that stuff about haunted orphanages and things like that." "That was before I really got to know him. He's like super smart. I think he's like my best friend now. I wish I was hanging out with him instead of you idiots!" Oscar gave his friend a cold, hard look. "Alex, you've really changed since you met that guy. You never hang around with us anymore." "So what? I can have other friends, can't I?" "Yeah, but what about us?" Hugh interjected. "We've been like best friends since third grade! We were like the three musketeers!" "More like the three stooges!" Oscar grinned. Just then Katie MacMillan walked up to the punch bowl. "Sorry to interrupt you guys," she said, filling a cup with punch. "What were you all talking about?" "You know, guy stuff," Hugh answered. "Sports and cars and stuff like that," he laughed. "That's all guys ever talk about!" Katie turned to Alex and gave him a shy smile. "Hey Alex?" "Yeah?" "I was wondering, uh, if maybe you would like to dance with me." Alex hung his head low, refusing to look at Katie. "I'd prefer not to." "Oh well, suit yourself." Katie took her punch and flounced off into the crowd. "You idiot!" Oscar shouted. "Alex! I can't believe you totally blew it! Katie MacMillan just fuckin' asked you to dance and you gave here that `I'd prefer not to' shit! Dude, I give up! You're totally hopeless! You're so never gonna get laid!" "I think I'm gonna go home," Alex mumbled. "There's something I really gotta do." *** Alex prepared the circle and lit the candles. In the center of the little makeshift altar was a photograph, a snapshot of Jonathan that Alex had secretly stolen the night he had slept over the older boy's house. He thought back on the two spells he tried to cast on Katie MacMillan. Looking back, Alex couldn't even remember why he had bothered trying to put a spell on her in the first place. But he knew that this spell was going to be different. This spell HAD to work. Alex began to realize that his feelings for Katie had just been silly puppy love. He now understood that Milo, the spirit of the Ouija board, was right. It was his destiny to fall in love with a boy. Now if he could only make that boy fall in love with him! To Be Continued Are you enjoying my story? I hope you are. If you like, you can check out my other stories on Nifty: Tanner's Talent in the Adult/Youth section, Where's Willy? in the Encounters section, Smelly Sneakers for Skyler in the Young Friends section and Skyler Gives a Foot Rub in the Adult/Youth section. If you want to get to know me a little better, feel free to email or chat with me, or check out my MySpace page, which is http://www.myspace.com/sebastianfforde. My Yahoo ID is sebastianfforde.