WARNING: 
This is a story of friendship, commitment, love, and trust. It is not a sex story. However, this story deals with love between two male teenagers. If you are offended by stories involving love between two teenage boys, please do not read this story. There may be some sex scenes in this story; however, sex is not the main theme. 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.

Just A Ghost's Story - Chapter 5


Charlie's POV

After the mall I invited Lucas over for dinner. I invited Coogie over too but she declined. So, Luke drove us to his place where we dropped off Coogie, she lives next door. He wanted to wash up, but I begged him to wait till he got to my place because he had to experience the shower.

Surprisingly Mom opened the door, and laughed at the sight of Luke and myself. Well, we were still pretty sticky and our clothes a mess. We told Mom what had happened which she thought was hilarious. I think she liked Lucas. I know she was happy to see me happy.

And I was happy; for the first time in months. And yet I don't know why except that I knew Lucas liked me and Paul seemed to like him too.

Lucas was blown out about the shower and the blow room. He has a nice body. He's a little taller than Paul and little Lucas isn't so little, I mean he's not huge, but just right. I think he was a little shy about his body to begin with, but I told him he had nothing to be shy about.

"I hate being cut," he said as we stood in the shower.

"Yeah, it's a bummer, especially when you get in the shower!"

"Get in the shower? Yeah, I guess"

"Well, you know it stings when the water hits it," I said.

"Mine doesn't."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah, well, I think if you're uncut, you get more feeling than if you're cut."

"How do you figure that? What you're saying just doesn't make sense. I mean if I were cut I'd want someone to blow on it."

"Well, I would definitely help you out there, I'd blow on it, cut or uncut," said Lucas with a really sexy look on his face.

"Well, I'd do the same for you. I did it for Jordan once. I poured alcohol on it and then blew and he was jumping around going ow,ow, ow! So I blew on it and he calmed right down and said it felt much better."

"You did it to Jordan! What did Sam say?"

"Sam just laughed and said that Jordan was such a woos. He was. It was only a tiny scratch, with the way he was acting you'd think he was cut bad."

"A scratch? You're talking about a scratch?"

"Yeah, weren't you?"

"No. I was talking about circumcision," laughed Luke.

"I thought you were talking about being cut."

Luke laughed, "Cut is slang for being circumcised."

"Oh!" I said, thinking over what I'd been saying. "Oh, well, it was just a scratch on Jordan's finger. I didn't blow on his, uh, dick."

"You are priceless!" he said as he reached over and took my hand and pulled me into an embrace. We like instantly hardened and began to kiss passionately.

It was all I could do not to just let go and make love to him, but I kept thinking about Paul.

"Luke, I can't do this; I can't make love to you. Not yet."

He had such a look of disappointment.

"It just doesn't seem right. I want to more than anything I'm so horny I can't stand it, but I mean I just met you! We don't know anything about each other."

"Maybe, I should go then. I just thought...never mind," he said as he started to put on his underwear.

"Yeah, I guess if you want..." I felt so confused. I wanted him to stay; I wanted to find out everything about him. Just the idea of him leaving right now filled me with such a feeling of loneliness. But maybe he was pissed at me. Maybe I'd been a prick teaser. Maybe he just wanted sex and not friendship, but I don't think so.

"I don't want...but I will if you want me to; if you think it's best...best for you...for us," he said. "Charlie, when I first saw you, I fell in love with you. There was just something about you that is so...so magical!" He smiled. "Despite your attacks, all I wanted was to be with you, to be your friend, I guess I'm horny too! But you're right, we don't know each other and that's my new quest, to know everything about Charlie Harrington-Ford, even if it takes me a lifetime."

Lucas was different from Paul and yet they both seemed so similar, both kind and caring about my feelings and me. We stayed up talking until about 3:30 am. We were lying on my bed with my head on his chest and his arm around me. He was telling me something about his childhood and stopped mid-sentence. I glanced up at him and he was sound asleep. So I covered him with the bedclothes; I kissed him on the cheek – a gentle smile appeared on his face as he slept. I turned out the lights and cuddled up next to him and in a matter of moments I was asleep.

****
Lucas' POV

We were nearly to Gary, Indiana. Paul and I had exchanged few words since we left, just sort of polite conversation, but that was to end.

"You've been doing it with Charlie, right?"

"I wish," I said, "but we didn't. We made out a couple of times and came very close, but we decided not to because Charlie still loves you and he didn't think it would be right to do anything now."

"But I want you to know that I don't think I've ever been so happy in my life. Look, Paul, I love Charlie and he loves me...but he `s never going to love me like he loves you. You were and are his first love and nothing will ever change that. For the last week we've talked and made out some too – just kissing, nothing else. After the mall we stayed up all night talking mainly about me, my life, and we fell asleep in each other's arms. We skipped school the next day because we didn't wake until noon!"

"How much do you love him?" asked Paul.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with him."

"Even if I stay around?"

I didn't expect that, but I knew my answer. "Yes, even if you stay around. If I have to share his love for you and you get sixty percent and I get forty percent of his love, because right now it's more like seventy-thirty."

"But I know you more than you think, at least from Charlie's viewpoint. I can understand the love you two have for each other, especially his love for you. I wish I had known you in life, because you are awesome. It's not just Charlie who said that. It was Sam and Jordan and your mom. I love your mom!

"You met my mom?"

"Yes. I had to know who you were, what you were like. In the beginning it was because I had to know who and what my competition was like, and the more I found out, the less I was willing to compete...there were so many people who loved you that I found myself crying because I never got to know you myself. I know that's silly and stupid but then that's me...I'm the one who had a crush on the cartoon character Aladdin."

"Really?" asked Sam, "So did I!"

"You guys are weird!" said Jordan.

"So, why did he go to Chicago?" asked Paul.

"Because you were gone."

"So. I phased out! It doesn't make sense!"

"Paul! That's where it all happened!"

"WHAT ALL HAPPENED?"

I realized he'd forgotten!  And for some reason the realization hit me hard, I mean he'd forgotten the happiest day of their life! Was that going to happen to me when I died? And I realized it probably would, after all, I didn't remember anything from any previous life I may have had.

"How could you forget?" I said.

"Forget what!"

"You and Charlie said your wedding vows and then when you all were going to celebrate, you got killed!"

"Really?" he queried. "Oh, yeah, yeah, I sort of remember we were in a building...hmmm. You know Lucas, I think I know why Charlie loves you. You are kind and considerate of others...I like that...I think I like you too."

"Thanks," I said.

"I must go...I can go...later, dudes!"

"No! Wait! Paul!" He was gone.

"Shit!" exclaimed Sam. "We're an hour from downtown Chicago and he leaves!"

"Just your luck," laughed Jordan.

"We can't stop and go back!" I said.

"Why? Paul is gone! I know it and you know it!" said Jordan.

"I have to find Charlie!" I said somewhat emotionally.

"So where is he going to be? It's a big city," said Sam. " I was counting on the ghost!"

"Sears Tower," I said. "Charlie is there and I think that's where Paul is. That's where they were last happiest."

****

Charlie's POV

I knew somehow Paul would meet me here. It had to be here. I knew he'd return at least one more time. I had to be here for him and for myself. I guess I'm selfish because I know it's really more for me...I need his approval or at least to let him know what has happened between Lucas and me.

I find myself standing here atop the highest building in Chicago, forcing myself to think about Paul, but my thoughts drift to Lucas. I was deep in thought, staring out over the city when I was startled by Paul's voice.

"You really love him, don't you? So do I. It's okay, ya know, and life does have to go on...I know what's happening to me...and I'm not afraid...I'm beginning to forget...it's sort of the way things are supposed to be, I guess...but there will always be the love...I won't lose that because that is a part of me and you...all of us...we never lose the love...I'm going now...consider adoption..."

It was that quick and he was gone, but not his love. I would have that for eternity.

"Charlie," Lucas whispered.

I turned and he took me in his arms and held me close.

"He's okay now. He's gone," I said in a whisper.

"I know...I saw..." We stood there for a while longer, a new life was starting somewhere and my life with Lucas was starting too. I knew we'd be together for a lifetime and into old age. I knew I'd see Paul again but as a child...I was happy...we were happy.

Hey, guys,

Okay. That's it for a while. Mandatory overtime at work and a new business to help run sort of pushes writing to the back burner and then there's Quire my sci-fi/fantasy novel that's begging to be written...Who knows maybe some wild creative thought will spring forward and Ibe compelled to tell you another story. To all those who have found love cherish it! To those who haven't found it - keep looking because it's there and it's the most fantastic ingredient of life!

Love Always and Forever,

Sam Lakes

sam_lakes@hotmail.com