This is Seth 18

Warning: This story doesn't contain any sex. It's the story of gay teens. None of the characters are based on real people, nor are they meant to resemble any living or dead people.

Let me know what you think of the story by emailing me at Hnstskr4@aol.com

I want to thank everyone who has emailed. It means a lot hearing from you. I also want to thank those who have read the story. Please continue reading! There is a lot more to come. I own all rights to this story.

Chuck B.

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This Is Seth

Chapter 18 – Mason's Surprise

Today starts out as any other day off from school. I get up around 8:00 in the morning and then get dressed for some exercise. On the days that I'm in school, I get up at 5:00 and do my run, but on the days that I'm off I do my mile to get my blood pumping. When I'm in school, I get up around 5:00 and do a two mile run. Today, Paul and Cathy are joining me for my jog so that's a bit out of the norm for me. It's going to be nice having them running with along with me. While I wait for Paul to get ready and for Cathy to arrive, I think I'll play a video game. I usually spend a little bit of time playing games, but I prefer working on other pursuits.

***

Cathy and Paul are ready to go running all they are waiting on now is me.

"How far are we running?"

Paul seems concerned for some reason, so I think I'll play a joke on him.

"How does 3 miles sound to you guys?"

Cathy's jaw just drops but I'm entirely sure that she has bought my little gag. Paul turns and grabs the storm door and opens it is ready to go back into the house.

"Paul stop, I was joking were only running around the block."

My brother does not look happy but he does close the storm door and rejoins us.

"Okay, I can do that but there is no way that I was running 3 miles."

We walk out to the road and from there we take off running. Usually I run fast when I jog but today I'm taking it slow since Paul and Cathy are with me. For most of our run, everyone is quiet, which isn't like us at all. It's fine by me because I prefer to run by myself. The silence lets me think about my day.

"Are you and Mason hanging out today?" Paul asks me as he moves up next to me during our run.

"I'm not sure if we're hanging out or not. Are you doing anything?"

"Nah, I just wanted to slow you down long enough to catch up?"

Paul does catch up with me and then smiles as if pulled a prank on me. By this time, Cathy who has passed us came back to jog with us.

"Are we talking or are we jogging?"

I didn't realize she was into running.

"We're running."

We speed up our pace and focus on the run. As we are coming up to my house, we slow down to walking speed.

***

I head up to my room, grab my clothes and head to the bathroom. I knock on the door and then wait for a reply. Not hearing anything, I open the door and then enter the bathroom. I start stripping off my running clothes then step into the shower. I turn on the water then the shower, and I start soaping up. It feels so good to be getting the funk off my body. I wash my hair, rinse, and get out of the shower. With my towel in hand, I dry off, put on my deodorant, and put on my cologne. I dress carefully to ensure that I look great, because I don't want anything out of place. Next, I move on to my hair and this is where I take my time, since it's important that I look good every single day. Once, my hair is combed, I walk out of the bathroom and head downstairs to find something to eat.

***

Just as I was done with breakfast my phone rings, so I glance down at the caller id display. It's Mason, which is nice since we weren't going to see each other today.

"Hey Babe, what's up?"

I want him to say that he is coming over but I will like him even more if he says, "I love you."

"I want to see you but Dad wants me working around the house today."

"I already knew that, but its nice hearing your voice."

"It's nice hearing your voice too."

His voice calms me and reminds me why I care about him the way I do.

"Any way Seth, I am going to let you go so I can get started and maybe I can come over to your house later."

I hate that word, "later"; it stings just a little bit, but we end our call and go to work on whatever the day has in store for us. Knowing my mom, she has chores planned for me, so I had better find her and see what she has in store for me.

***

Mom does have a chore for me to do before I see my boyfriend. All she is asking me to do is to pick up the branches and twigs that fell from the trees because of a storm that we had yesterday. It is amazing how four oak trees and two white pine trees can make such a mess of a backyard. Fifteen minutes later, my brothers come out of the house and start helping me out. I will have said this before but the bond we brothers have is tight and I love it. My friends sometimes comment on how they do not have this kind of relationship with their siblings. Twenty minutes later, the yard is all-clean and the debris is in the yard waste can.

***

As we were heading towards the house, movement on the left side of the house catches my attention. Turning towards it, I see Mason's cat, Ginger, in my mom's iris patch.

"What's that on her collar Seth?" Paul asks me, pointing to a piece of paper rolled up and tied to her collar.

Very carefully, I get close to her and remove the paper from her collar. As I unfold the paper, I can see Mason's handwriting on it. I can't help but smile at his creativity using the cat as a means to send me a note, but he could have simply called me or texted me. As I'm reading his note, I get a warm feeling in my chest and at the same time, I can't help but smile.

"Sorry I can't see you right now. I thought if Ginger got away that Mom and Dad might let me escape long enough to catch her. Keep her there with you and I'll come out and get her."

Have to admit, I have never heard of anyone using their cat to send messages. I have heard stories of messenger pigeons but not messenger cats. Paul is looking at me as if I'm crazy for hanging onto the cat and reading the note.

"What is going on with the cat?"

"Mason sent his cat over with a note tied to the collar."

Paul gave me a silly face showing his lips all puckered up to kiss the air.

"Paul, give it up."

I picked Ginger up and sat down on our porch while Ryan gathered acorns in the front yard.

***

Three minutes later, Mason runs across the street with a smile on his face. His silly little plan seems to be working and I cannot believe it. Only my boyfriend could come up with a scheme like this one, and I wonder if he does this sort of thing often, because if he does I am in for it.

"There you are Ginger. How did you get out of the house?"

He smiles slyly as he pretends to thank me for capturing his escaped cat. He's reaching out for Ginger so I give the cat to him. Out of nowhere, Ryan starts pelting Mason with the acorns he gathered. Luckily, Ryan was not aiming for his chest instead, he's hitting his backside.

"Ouch dude, Ryan knock it off."

I move towards Ryan, who is still throwing acorns at Mason.

"Ryan, you need to stop."

I did not raise my voice but I did make sure that it carried my displeasure. My little brother hates when I come across as if I am mad. Ryan drops all the acorns that he's holding in his hands, and then he turns towards Mason with this scared look in his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

My little brother is looking down at the ground, and my boyfriend is trying to hold back a smile.

"It's okay Little Man."

It is all it takes for Ryan to be his normal self again, and I am glad to see him being himself.

"I love you Seth, but I better get this cat back home. Want me to come back over?"

Why is he asking me that question, when he already knows the answer to it?

"You had better come over Babe."

He smiles and turns his back to me and walks home with Ginger in his arms.

***

My brothers and I enter the house and I find our mother in the kitchen.

"Pancakes sound good?"

"Yeah, is it okay if Mason joins us?"

She does not even think about the question before answering.

"Honey, it's a given and you know that, he's always welcome over to eat."

Sometimes, I forget how lucky I am to have a family like mine. I turn to leave the kitchen but as I do, I look at my mom and the words "Thank you" leave my mouth.

***

As the last of the pancakes are cooking, someone knocks on the front door. It isn't long before Mason is standing in the kitchen with the rest of my family.

"Hey Seth, what's for breakfast?"

"Pancakes and orange juice, you might even be able to ask my mom for some bacon."

My mom pulled the bacon out of the refrigerator and starts to fry it.

"Mrs. Thompson, you didn't have to cook the bacon for me."

Mom grins as she gives the bacon a quick check before looking back at Mason.

"When Seth said bacon it brought on a craving, so that's why I started cooking it."

Mason has no clue how sneaky and kind my mother can be at times.

"Paul and Sam, I need you to set the table. You need to set a place for Mason."

Without a single argument, they immediately get busy doing what Mom asked them to do.

"Seth, I love being at your house, there is such a feeling of peace here."

I never thought about it before but there is a sense of security in my house. Mom and Dad do their best to keep contention out of the house by making us talk out our problems.

"Thanks, I'm glad you like it here."

I find myself wanting to kiss him, but I'm nervous to kiss him in front of my mom.

"Table is set, Mom, can we eat now?"

Mom looks at Paul and gives him the "Don't Rush Me" look, and it only meant trouble for Paul.

"It will be on the table in a couple minutes, maybe faster if your brother helps."

Yup, that is how my mom operates sometimes, she can throw you a curve ball from a mile away. I grab the bacon and take in its wonderful aroma. Without being asked, Mason even pitches in and helps by putting the pancakes on the table. Mom walks over with the maple syrup and she sits down ready at her seat.

"Okay, food is on the table, so if you're hungry get your hands washed."

In a few minutes, there is a line to get into the bathroom. Within five minutes, our crew is seated ready to dig into the food before us. Mom says Grace then the eating starts and we eat until we are stuffed.

***

Breakfast is over and Mason and I have moved up to my bedroom. He watches as I replenish water for my pets, and doesn't seem to mind the fact that I'm getting chores done, while he waits. There is a quiet knock at my door and in walks my little brother, and he has a smile on his face.

"Seth, watch Mouse with me?" Ryan asks.

"You want to watch the Mouse with us Mason?"

Mason smiles and grabs the beanbag chairs from the corner of my room. It doesn't take long for me to get the movie playing.

***

After we watched the cartoons, we moved downstairs to play a board game. While Ryan is occupied with his toys Paul, Mason, Sam, and I are playing a game when there is a knock at the door. Mom answers the door leaving us to continue our game. The door closes and Mom enters the room once more, and I can tell she going to ruin our fun.

"Mason's dad just gave us an invitation to join their family for a barbecue tonight."

Mason seems a little bit surprised by my mom's announcement.

"Any idea what's going on that they're inviting us over for barbecue?"

"No, as far as I know there is nothing going on at my house."

It sounds like a nice way to spend the evening. When the game is over, Mason and I decide to sit outside and talk.

***

As we're enjoying our conversation, Mom walks out of the house with her purse.

"Where are you going?"

"I am getting my hair done. Watch your little brother for me."

"No problem, Mom."

I expected her to send Mason home but much to my surprise, she didn't. Opening our front door, I look to see where Ryan is hanging out. Not seeing him in the living room, I know that I have no choice but to look for him.

"Where are you going?"

"I have to find Ryan."

Mason stands up and comes inside with me to help me look for my brother. I'm sure that he's upstairs in his room or hanging out with Paul and or Sam. As I move up the stairs, I hear his voice coming from his bedroom, and knowing where he's at, I relax just a little bit. Peeking my head into his room, I see him playing with his cars.

"Hey Ryan, Mom went to the store, so I am watching you."

He doesn't stop playing but he does clear a spot on the floor for me and for Mason.

"I'll be right back; Mason is downstairs waiting on me."

Walking out of the room, I run downstairs to get Mason and then we walk back up the stairs.

"Mason, I have silly request."

He looks at me with a curious look on his face, and I can see that he really wants to know what's up.

"Huh?"

"Ryan wants us to play with him, are you up for it?"

Taking my hand, Mason leads me up the stairs to Ryan's room, and we find Ryan building a tower.

"Hey little man, you want us to play blocks with you?"

Ryan's face lights up when he hears Mason's voice, and it is cool to see him so excited to see my boyfriend.

"Yeah, play blocks with me."

For fifteen minutes, the two of us play blocks with my brother, we build towers and castles and we even had a tower come crashing down thanks to Ryan. Eventually, he grew tired of blocks and moved on to coloring in the living room.

***

Mason and I are talking in the living room as we look at images from his hometown in Arizona on my laptop. Ryan comes over to see what we are looking at on the computer. A picture of a rattlesnake is now on the screen and that really captures his attention.

"You see rattlesnake?"

Mason thought about it for a second as he looks at the picture.

"I did see one once while on a field trip. It was a science trip to see the desert, and there was one resting on a rock. He was rattling for a little bit and then he stopped."

"Did he bite you?"

I can see that Ryan is a bit worried about the whole rattlesnake thing.

"No, he didn't bite me. The snake was just letting us know he was there."

"Good."

I am literally ecstatic about the way Mason is interacting with my little brother; he must think the world of Ryan. After the rattlesnake discussion, we watch another kid-friendly movie.

***

Paul and Sam take Ryan outside to play while Mason and I a chance to talk.

"Do you think it's weird that my dad invited your family over for the evening?"

"No, I think it's nice of him to have us over."

His head nods affirmatively as he continues to think about the invite given to my family.

"My parents have been acting weird for the last couple days. I think they're hiding something from me."

I know that they are wonderful people and there is no way that they're hiding something from him.

"Do you think that I'm right?"

"Mason, I think you're being a bit paranoid, your parents are awesome. They aren't going to hide anything from you."

This time he does not smile at my comment, so maybe he is mad at me, I'm not entirely sure.

"You know they love you, and I know it too."

"You're right, Seth, but I still think they're keeping something from me."

`Why won't he just let it go?'

I want him to relax and enjoy our time together, even if I am watching my little brother at the same time. He does not need to be worrying about his parents while he's here with me. My siblings come into the house at the same time that Mom pulls into the driveway.

***

As we were hanging out in my room, Mason's phone rings, and it surprised us just a little bit.

"Hi Dad, I'm still over at Seth's house."

He looks a little agitated and I am guessing it has to do with his dad.

"Okay, I'll be home in a few minutes."

One thing about my boyfriend that I've learned is that he hates goodbyes.

"Dad wants me to come home and do some work in our backyard."

I don't want him to go yet, I need to prolong our visit any way I can.

"Can I come over and help you out?"

"I'll ask if he'll let you."

Mason calls his dad to see if it's okay for me to go with him to help in their yard.

"Dad, is it okay if Seth comes over to help me?"

The phone call didn't last long and I could tell by the look on his face that his dad didn't want me over during the time that Mason was working. Maybe, he's afraid that I'll be a distraction for his son.

"Sorry my friend, Dad wants me to do the work myself.

"Then, I guess you to leave?"

"Yeah, I need to go."

We kiss and then Mason heads downstairs with me right behind him. I watch from my front door as he leaves but I'm not sad about it, I just wanted to spend more time with him. Now, I need to find something to do since Mason and I are not hanging out.

***

Having already said our goodbyes, I decide to head upstairs to my room. As I enter, I notice that the tanks are in the need of a little spot cleaning, and my room could use a spot cleaning itself. My monitor lizard's tank is not super dirty, but he has molted and the bits of shed need to be removed. Poor guy doesn't deserve to live in a dirty tank. A few pieces of dirty laundry are laying on the floor, but it's soon picked up and put in the hamper. I rearranged a few decorations and moved a couple things around on my desk. The room looks good so now I can relax until my parents need me, Ryan wants me to do something, or it's time to go over Mason's house.

***

I've been up in my room enjoying some quiet, when I can hear someone coming up the stairs.

"Seth, we need to head over to Mason's house."

"I'll be right down Mom."

She didn't respond to me, but there isn't any real reason for her to respond. I don't know why but I expected my boyfriend to call me so I knew to come over to the house. My whole family walks across the street to the Ortiz house. Dad knocks at the door and Mason opens the door and welcomes us into their house.

***

We are lead to the backyard where Mr. and Mrs. Ortiz are still putting the food out.

"So have you found out why your parents are doing this barbecue?"

Mason frowns and shakes his head, and doesn't respond vocally at all.

"It's okay because I get to spend time with you."

I hug my guy and he hugs me right there in front of everyone, and it feels great.

"Are you hungry? My parents have been cooking all day. Mom made her grandma's tres leche cake."

"Mason, you know me enough to know that I'm always ready to eat."

He smiles and then pats my belly to confirm that I do like to consume food.

"You and me can eat our families to the brink of bankruptcy."

My boyfriend is right, we tend to gobble food down, quite a bit of food, but luckily we have high metabolisms. Seeing all the food is really making my stomach scream out to be full. We find a spot in the backyard where we can sit, and listen to everyone and still have a conversation. Pulling Mason in close, I give him a quick peck on his right cheek, his skin feels so good, and in return, he gives me a kiss on the lips.

"I am so glad that I moved in across the street from you, and that Paul and Sam brought us together."

`I really need to thank Paul and Sam for going sort of behind my back and giving me my angel.'

I know that I thanked them a couple times for putting us together, but I walk around every day with gratitude in my heart. Mason makes so happy that I continually feel that. As we get up from seats, we join hands and grab our food; after loading our plates we return to our seats. Everything feels so perfect at this time.

***

Mr. Ortiz gets up as most of us are about done with our meals, and walks up onto the deck.

"Everyone, I want to talk you for just a second."

He pauses for a second to make sure that he has everyone's attention.

"What's going on Mason?"

"No clue."

Mason is still a little surprised by his dad's action.

"First off thanks for coming over to our house, tonight's meal is our way of thanking your family for being so kind to Mason."

Surely his speech isn't about thanking my family for being kind to my boyfriend.

"It's been a rough two years for my family. Two years ago, Mason officially came out to the world and us. We already knew that he was gay but for him his coming out allowed him to blossom. Unfortunately, he suffered endless torment at school. We ended up moving to Indiana when a position opened up in my company and that opened the door for a fresh start. Thanks to Paul, Sam, and especially Seth, Mason has found a place in this world and I need to thank Seth for giving Mason a new lease on life. Mason, we love you and we will for the rest of our lives and beyond, and we will love Seth or whoever else is in your life. Mason, you are the light in our lives. I know that here in Indiana, your life is going to blossom even more. Mom and I will be here when you need us."

Mason is smiling and tearing up at the same time, and it is clear that the tears are happy tears. I can't describe how it feels to hear his father say that he loves me, and likewise how it feels to hear him that I helping Mason get a new lease on life. Mason has been quiet about his time in Arizona, and I hope he talks more about it with me at some point. As I sat there alongside Mason, his face lights up. He stands up and moves towards his dad and mom.

***

Mason hugs his mom and dad and as he does, he says something to them that no one else could hear. He turns around and looks at each of my family members, especially me. As he goes to talk, he chokes up a bit but he manages to pull himself together and begins to speak.

"I just want to thank the entire Thompson family for their love and support. Seth, you are truly amazing and I love you. Thanks everyone."

When Mason finished speaking, his parents gave him a large box. I am not sure why he isn't opening it, but I do know that if I got the box that it would already be opened by now.

***

Mason leaves the deck and returns to his seat and at the same time to me. Handing me the box, he gives me a warm smile, and at the same time, I gave him a confused look because I thought the box belong to him.

"Open it." He says with a very warm smile on his face, and still do not get what is going on with this packet.

The box lacks any wrapping but still bears the shipping labels. I tear the packing tape off the cardboard container and then I open the box. Inside the box, I can clearly see another box of one hundred and fifty colored pencils and not the cheap kind either, four mandala-coloring books and a beautiful picture frame.

"Thanks Mason."

"Sorry man, but my parents bought this stuff for you, but I do have a small something for you. You'll have to come with me to get it though."

"Okay, but shouldn't I say thank you to your parents first?"

"Yeah, you need to be polite."

I chuckled as I walked over to his parents with Mason right behind me.

"Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Ortiz for the present."

"You're most welcome Seth."

Mrs. Ortiz smiles as she looks at Mason and me. Mr. Ortiz then looks at us and smiles as he glances at us.

"Mason have you given Seth his present yet?"

Mr. Ortiz points to a box sitting by the patio doors. My boyfriend moves towards it and when he's within reach, he picks it up and moves towards me. He's smiling as he comes closer, it's not as big of a box as the one that Seth's parents gave me. Handing me the box, he smiles as he waits for me to open it. In opening the box, I find a wrapped present inside of it, and when the present is opened, I find a ring made from Titanium with some sort of wood used as an inlay. It looks nice, maybe too nice for a guy my age to have from another guy my age. Still, it's very nice and it is a gift from my guy, so I'll accept it as long as I get a kiss from my man. I slip on the ring and it goes on amazingly. I lean in and kiss Mason tenderly on the lips thanking him for the evening and more importantly for the ring.

***

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