The Lament of the Tortured Soul

By
Jay

Authors Note: This story is completely fiction. It is not based in anyway on actual events. Any resemblence the characters have to any living person is completely accidential. Saying that though many of the characters share traits with one person (it was completely unintentional) who unfortunately left us at the end of January 2002. Shadow as he was known to the people he called friend, the people who loved him and the people he left behind miss him greatly.

This story is dedicated to him. Rest easy my love we’ll be together again soon.

Chapter 7

Nick couldn’t help but simile as he spotted Josh talking to John and Blake the next day at school. Nick could tell that Josh wasn’t exactly comfortable talking to them as he struggled with an overfilled backpack. Nick walked up to them fighting the urge to put his arm around Josh. “What are you two doing hassling my uh...friend.” Nick said catching himself just.

“We were just discussing why anyone would want you as an uh…friend little brother.” John taunted with out missing a beat.

“I can think of several reasons.” Josh said honestly causing everyone to laugh.

“Is that your stuff for this weekend?” Blake asked indicating at Josh’s backpack. Josh nodded.

“Give it here and I’ll throw it in my car. That way you don’t have to find a place to stash it.”

“Thanks Johnny.” Josh said handing him his backpack. Instead of taking the backpack John grabbed Josh and started running his knuckles through his hair.

“Anything for my little brother’s uh friend.”

“Oh you just wait for tonight big brother you’re gonna get it big time.”

“Oh yeah,” John said releasing Josh and eyeing Nick, Blake and Josh separately, “I can’t wait.” He picked up Josh’s bag and with a wink wandered off toward the student car park with Blake in tow.

Nick took a sideways glance at Josh who he could tell was on some level struggling with what just went on. It was new for Josh having people who cared for him, having friends, he was still trying to make sense of it all. Nick guided Josh into the empty corridor that led to the Janitor’s office and after a very quick check to make sure they were alone he leaned in and gave Josh a quick but gentle kiss.

They stood there for a few moments looking into each other’s eyes but quickly separated and took off down the corridor when they heard the creak of a door opening.

“Do you think he saw us?” Josh asked with more than a little concern in his voice.

“Who?”

“The Janitor.”

“Old Pete…Na I don’t think so and even if he did he wouldn’t nark on us.”

Before either of them knew it the time had come for them to part and head off to class. It was a sad moment though they arranged to meet for lunch and again right after the final bell by John’s car.

Time seemed to stand still for Nick that day. Seconds felt like minutes, minutes felt like years and each class was more boring than the last. The last minute of the last class was the worst; the clock just didn’t want to move. Nick had to force himself to stop looking at it and the moment he did the bell sounded.

Nick quickly packed his things and made his way to the car park. When he got there he saw Robby climbing into Eric’s car. They had planned on spending the night together. It had been Nick’s idea partly to get Robby out of the way so they could prepare for his party and partly because he knew both of them wanted to but were too shy to ask one another so with a little help from Robby’s mother in her subtle as a sledgehammer way Robby and Eric were to spend the night together.

The trip to John’s house was full of talk of what had to be done that day and of the party the next day. To quote Josh’s favorite book it was going to be a party of some magnificence. In many ways he felt like Sam following his best friend on a great adventure. John was Aragon, Blake was Legolas and Robby and the band were the Elves that Josh desperately wanted to see but never thought he would. He was nervous, scared and excited all at once and the only thing that kept him from running away was the calming influence of Nick his Frodo next to him.

Josh was a little nervous meeting John’s mother but taking the lead from the rest of the boys quickly warmed to her and like the others started to call her mom. At first it was to fit in but with in a very short period of time he saw what the others saw and calling her mom just seemed right.

After raiding both the fridge and the cupboards all four boys headed to the rec room in the basement. Nick sensed some reluctance by Josh to go down there but all it took was for Nick to wrap his arms around Josh and guide him down the stairs.

As soon as they got to the bottom of the stairs John picked Nick up and dumped him on an old couch next to Blake who grabbed him before he could move and started to tickle him.

“Hey what was that for?” Nick gasped when the tickling storm finally slowed.

“For the way you introduced us.” John said surveying the scene with Josh standing next to him giggling. John picked Josh up and dumped him next to Nick then proceeded to tickle him while Blake started another barrage on Nick.

“Why me?” Josh asked trying his best to get away from John but not succeeding.

“Blame him.” John answered reaching over Josh to help Blake tickle Nick before returning to Josh.

For what felt like hours but in reality was mere minutes Nick and Josh endured the barrage of ticking, each squirming and turning trying to get away from their torturers but at the same time enjoying every minute of it.

Finally much to Nick’s and Josh’s relief it was time to go help set up for Robby’s party. Normally for this type of thing there wouldn’t be too much to do except block off the street and start the party but in this case there was a bit of construction needed. A stage needed to be erected in the park at the end of the street. The construction was slow but steady and with all the men in the neighborhood within a couple of hours it was up ready and waiting for Robby and the rest of the band.

That night Nick and Josh had a room to themselves. There was only one bed in the room and when they were shown it by John’s mom she pointed out “Even if there were two beds I’d still only need to change the sheets on one of them.” That made both of them blush but it was the truth.

Neither one of them had ever shared a bed with someone else and it was a little awkward at first but they soon found it natural with Josh’s head resting on Nicks chest just below his chin and Nick’s arms wrapped around Josh. They were talking quietly.

“I used to hate you. You had the perfect life. Friends, a family who loved you but then I realized that I didn’t hate you I wanted to be you.” Josh said quietly. For a few moments Nick didn’t quite know what to say. He held Josh a little tighter.

“My life isn’t all that good.”

“I know but…”

“It’s still better than yours.” Nick finished for him. “From now on all the good stuff we’re going to do together and the bad stuff just won’t exist anymore.”

It wasn’t the most elegant thing he had ever said but it seemed to do the trick because Josh turned around and gave Nick a bone crushing hug. The hug led to kissing that led to the same grunting noises they had been hearing from the next room for quite some time.

Big thanks to Oldie for proof reading this story.

Any comments welcome though if you have a flame please keep it to youself as this story is of a personel nature jaysm42@dragonslore.com