by John Michael
In this chapter:
Page: 16, 11th Grade
Dawson: 17, 12th Grade
Ashley: 17, High School Graduate
Micah: 16, 12th Grade
Paris: 13, 8th Grade
Sidney: 9, 5th Grade
Kai: 9, 5th Grade
Zach: 26, John’s Assistant
John & Dustin: 47 & 46, Parents
Part One: A Page’s Life – Chapter 12
Summer 2033
After growing annoyed by the continued ringing of Page’s cell phone, Ashley walked across the pool house living room and shut it off completely.
“Who was it,” Page asked his brother, in an almost half-caring statement.
“You know.”
Page sighed and looked away from the TV and toward his brother. He smiled and said, “At least I know he’s hurting; hopefully as much as I am.”
Ashley moved across the room and sat next to his brother, putting his arm around Page and pulling him into a tight hug.
“Do you want to go on a vacation,” Ashley asked his brother, with newfound exuberance. “You know, just the two of us. It’s my last summer before I move out for school.”
Page looked at his brother and best friend with an ear-to-ear smile and said, “That sounds awesome; where do you want to go?”
“I was going to ask you that; but wherever you choose, make sure it’s outside of this country.”
“Well; it’ll be a toss-up between France and Italy.”
“Let’s do both.”
“Really?”
“Really; it’ll be a lot of fun. We can stay there for a few weeks, maybe even a month.”
“Just you and me!”
“Just you and me,” Ashley echoed.
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“Zach, I need you to help me find a sitter for the boys,” John instructed his assistant. “Micah is at that tech camp in Cupertino and Ashley and Page are backpacking across Europe. Whomever you find let them know that it’ll likely only be for the weekends for the next four weeks.”
Without missing a beat, Zach replied, “Sir, I’ve already found someone for the job.”
“Oh, really; do you know telepathy, or have you some other form of non-verbal communication that I’m not aware of, and if so, why wasn’t this information in your resume, I assume it would be a career booster.”
“Sir, I’m talking about myself. I can do it; I’ll watch Paris and Sidney.”
“Zach, are you sure?”
“Yes, sir; I’m very sure. I’ll even do it for free.”
“Wow; I really can’t beat that. Oh, you’ll be watching three boys; Kai, Sidney’s friend will be tagging along, will that be a problem?”
“No sir, I love kids.”
“Okay, then it’s settled; you’ll start this weekend.”
“Awesome; I won’t let you down.”
“Zach, it’s not about me, it’s about the boys. Don’t let them down,” John ended with a smile.
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Over the next couple of weekends, Zach discovered many fun things to do with the boys. They learned to surf, went paintballing, scuba diving, and rock wall climbing. Next week, Micah would be returning from his camp; realizing this could be he and Paris’ last weekend together, Zach decided that it was time to make his move.
Zach and the boys were hiking the San Vincente trails when Zach stopped Paris. Sidney and Kai stopped as well, but after being shooed away by Paris, they went over a mound, staying close enough to eavesdrop.
Zach and Paris sat down next to each other, watching the sunset together. While still looking forward at the sunset, Zach said, “Paris, I really, really like you and I’ve been thinking about what you said the first night you were at my place. I would like you to be my boyfriend.”
Zach was now looking at Paris, awaiting his reaction. Paris looked at Zach, rolled over onto his knees and planted what became a deep passionate kiss on Zach’s lips. Zach responded by opening his mouth and allowing the boy’s tongue to enter. Zach and Paris explored each other’s mouths for a little over a minute before they heard Sidney and Kai whistling and making catcalls. As if carrying out a coordinated attack, Zach and Paris leapt from their position and toward the boys just who were lying on their stomachs beyond the mound. Sidney and Kai tried to outrun Zach and Pars, but they were no match and were overtaken easily. The Zach took the boys to Tony Maroni’s where they devoured their defenseless pies. Paris, who was sitting next to Zach, allowed his entire side of his body to touch Zach’s and even subconsciously rubbed his hands across Zach’s arm throughout the meal. Zach decided that he had to make this official, he had to ask John and Dustin for permission to date Paris; which is much easier said than done.
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John and Dustin were still trying to mentally process Zach’s request as the setting sun was cutting through the glass of the office at the LeFleur-Winfield house.
“You want be Paris’ boyfriend,” Dustin asked in disbelief.
Before Zach could respond, John added, “How long have you been infatuated with our son?”
“Since I met him, sir; and yes, I would like him to be my boyfriend.”
“And how do you plan to explain to people why you’re showing affection toward a thirteen-year-old boy,” Dustin asked.
“We’ll be careful.”
John turned to his husband and responded, “See honey, I told you there was nothing between Zach and I; I’m not even his type.”
Zach was now blushing for, surprisingly, the first time tonight. “You thought your husband and I were having an affair?”
“Well, Zach, now he knows the truth.”
“John, we don’t have time for jokes!”
“Zach, can you give us a moment, please,” John asked.
When Zach closed the door, Dustin dug in, asking, “What the hell was that?”
“I was just trying to lighten the mood.”
“There is no way to lighten the mood; honey this is serious. That man wants to plow our teenage son!”
“Honey, he never ever said anything about sex, much less used the word ‘plow.’”
“You’re starting to sound like you’re planning to side with him!”
“I’m not siding with Zach; I’m siding with our son.”
“As am I, by not allowing a pedophile to prey on him!”
“We’ll give them reasonable boundaries; Zach works very closely with me, I know he’ll follow them. Paris is very mature for his age, from what I’ve seen.”
John and Dustin continued their conversation with Zach waiting in the master suite foyer, wondering what would be the outcome. After waiting for nearly thirty minutes, Paris poked his head into the foyer and saw who he hoped would be his boyfriend after this ordeal was finished.
“Hey Zach,” Page whispered to him, “what’s going on?”
“I don’t know,” Zach whispered back. “They’ve been talking amongst themselves for the past half-hour!”
Just as Zach finished that statement, the door to the office swung open, John stepping out to call Zach back into the office. Just as Paris was slowly closing the door, John called out, “You can come in, too, Paris.” Paris came from behind the door, blushing because he had been caught.
Zach and Paris sat side-by-side across from John and Dustin. Paris reached out and grabbed hold of Zach’s hand, an effort to show his parents that he really wanted to be in this relationship.
John spoke first, saying, “We thought about letting this drag on and keeping you two in suspense, but, while that would be fun, let’s just cut to the chase. Your father and I, Paris, have decided to give you and Zach our blessing.”
Dustin spoke next, adding, “We have some ground rules for you two to follow, due to the nature of this relationship. Zach, you are twenty-six, our son is thirteen. We expect you to follow the law and our rules.”
“Failure to follow the rules will force us to end the relationship,” John added. “And Paris, don’t try to run away, we have all of you guys, with the exception of Micah, chipped with GPS locaters.”
Paris’ face turned to horror after hearing this from his father. “Are you serious,” he asked.
John chuckled at his son’s comment and lied, “No; of course not! That would be psychotic and stalkerish!”
“Okay,” Dustin interrupted, “back to the topic at hand! Absolutely no sex! No oral, no intercourse of any type. And Zach, treat Paris with respect; if he doesn’t want to do something, then don’t do it, okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Paris,” John added, “sex does not equate love. You can love someone and not have sex with that person. The true measure of the love you have for Zach will come from your willingness to wait and stay him while you wait. Zach, the same goes for you.”
The boys answered, “yes, sir,” in unison.
“Don’t make us regret this decision,” John said before standing up. Zach, Paris, and Dustin stood up next.
Zach answered, “You won’t.”
It was done; Zach and Paris were officially a couple. After Dustin and John left to the kitchen to prepare dinner, Zach and Paris stayed behind, making out, hugging, and enjoying their celebratory mood with each other.
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As Paris’ relationship with Zach strengthened, so did his relationship with Micah. After every date, Micah was the first person that knew every detail. Today was no different; after talking at length with Micah about his date, Micah began getting ready for bed. When Micah took his shirt off, he heard an audible gasp from Paris. Micah knew exactly to which that gasp was pertaining; he had taken care to keep this part of himself a secret from everybody in his new life.
Micah was standing up facing away from Paris, wondering what to say next when he felt Paris touch the large scar on his back. Paris noticed how upset his brother had become over this and decided to try to comfort him. Micah felt Paris wrap his arms around Micah’s torso; when this happened, the floodgates opened. When Micah started crying, Paris held onto him much tighter, trying to give his older brother some sense of security.
Somehow, the boys made it to Micah’s bed; Micah and Paris were now sitting side-by-side, Paris holding Micah’s hand, trying to calm him down.
“It’s okay, Micah, you’re safe now!”
Micah looked at his little brother and saw nothing but concern and love in his eyes; this caused Micah to have an uncontrollably happy reaction. Micah smiled the largest smile he had ever in his life.
“I love you, little man!” Micah embraced Page, enjoying the feeling of being loved.
The boys continued talking about anything other than Micah’s past life, before he was adopted. At sometime during the conversation, clad only in their underwear, both boys were on the bed, Micah on his back and Paris laying on his stomach, on top of Micah, talking and tracing circles across Micah’s chest. Eventually, Paris fell asleep on top his brother, and soon after, Micah fell asleep, as well.
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“Page,” Dawson questioned the microphone on his phone.
“I forgive you,” Page’s voice said from the other end.
“Can I come over?”
“Yes.”
Within minutes, Dawson was at the front door, luckily, it was Page who answered.
Dawson stood in the doorway, staring at Page, before saying, “Hey.”
“Hey,” Page responded before moving to the side. “Come in.”
Page led Dawson to his room in the pool house. Page sat on the bed and Dawson sat across from him in a chair. Page purposely picked a chair with no arms so that Dawson would have to fold his hands in his lap.
Page stared Dawson down for a few minutes before Dawson finally broke and said, “Jesus, I am so sorry! I never…I…I just don’t know what to say!”
“Say you’ll never betray my trust again! Say you’ll never hurt me again! Say you’ll protect me from harm! Say you’ll start respecting my decisions affecting our relationship! Say you’ll stop being friends with Tyler! Say something or this relationship is over and I will never speak to you again!”
Dawson swallowed the lump in his throat and responded, “Okay-”
“Okay, what!”
“Okay; I won’t hurt you again and I’ll protect you and respect you. Tyler and I are no longer friends as of this very moment. I’m sorry and I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I don’t deserve you.”
“No you don’t!”
Dawson’s head was hanging low, his face practically in his lap, when he finished. His head snapped up when he heard Page say, “Look at me! You are forgiven.”
“Does this mean you’ll be my boyfriend again?”
“Yes; that’s what this means. Now leave back the way you came; I want my entire family to see you with your tail between your legs!”
As Dawson went through the foyer, it was as if Page had called the house to let everyone know he was passing through. All the boys had their arms crossed and were shooting daggers as he walked passed them. He passed Sidney, then Paris and Micah, and finally, he stopped once he came to Ashley, who was standing in front of the door.
“If you hurt my brother, I’m not going to stop kickin’ your ass, even if the ‘rents walk in!” After he said that, he moved to the side, staring Dawson down as Dawson walked out the front door.
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End of Chapter 12
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