Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2010 07:38:45 -0600 From: Jason Gordon Subject: Things That Go Bump, Ch. 7 Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction which will include t/t and m/m relationships, and probably some sex too. If it is illegal in your area to read this, or if you are not old enough to read this (you know who you are), stop here. Otherwise, please enjoy. Things That Go Bump, Chapter 7 "Death, Unexpected" As Steve and his date walked into the yard, James' back was to the door so he didn't see, but he saw the mouths of all the guys on the other side fall open. One guy mouthed, "No shit?!" Pete's face was priceless, a mixture of surprise and absolute confusion, as he stood. James turned and saw Steve walking toward the table with his arm around Chris. James was on his feet in a flash as Pete walked over to Steve. "You two, too?" Chris looked terrified as his oldest friend walked toward him with an unreadable look. Pete frowned at the boy and said, "You should have told me," as he wrapped his arms around his friend, whispering "Steve's a good guy...." Chris nodded and his eyes teared up. James shook hands with Steve and Chris and then had them sit so that Chris was between Steve and him. Pete got things going then to take all the attention off of Chris, who was glowing red. James leaned over and whispered something to him to make him smile, making Pete feel better. The coaches said a few words and gave out letters to the active team members, then gave out various awards to players for their accomplishments. Dinner was served and everybody ate and talked and had a generally good time, and a lot of the guys really did warm up to Sebastian and even Chris, who they all knew as positively as Pete's 'little bro' or negatively as his 'pet'. In any case, nobody would be messing with him. A little after nine, the meal and dessert were finished, and Sebastian escorted the adults to the front and thanked them all for coming. Pete ushered everybody inside and they turned up the music and brought out the beer. Some people were dancing, other people were socializing. Some people played pool upstairs. James sort of milled around with Sebastian, and the guys all expressed their thanks for him hosting at such a nice place. "These guys like you," James said, making Sebastian smile. He thought it was true. By midnight the guys started to clear out, probably to spend some private time with their dates, and the hired servers started to clean up, and soon it was just Pete and his date, Steve and Chris, and Sebastian and James. Pete excused himself, saying he needed to get his date home but would come back to 'help.' Rather than tell him not to bother, Sebastian nodded with a smile. "So how did Steve convince you do come with him, Chris?" Chris smiled, and said, "I've been made fun of for years, so what's to be afraid of. And nobody's seriously going to mess with me because of Pete.... Why hide? Especially with you big athletes coming out of the woodwork...." James smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "How do your families feel about it all?" Chris said, "It's just me and mom, and she's known since I was like eleven.... She caught me in the bedroom with a men's catalogue...." They all giggled at that and ruffled his hair. "My dad was a hippie," Steve said, "so when I told him, he just asked me if I had tried girls.... I said they never did it for me, so he shrugged and went back to reading the paper.... My mom got a little weepy about not having any grandkids, so I told her I could always knock up a cheerleader if it would make her feel better.... She just gave me a look and waved me off.... But we're okay...." "I'm glad it was nothing like my dad.... You know he left, and my mom's divorcing him?" In short order, Pete was back, but he was out in the garage like a flash, leaving James and Sebastian smiling at one another. "What's that all about," Chris asked, and James just shook his head. "Let's go see," he suggested. So they all walked to the garage door and opened it, catching Pete kissing Richard. Pete looked mortified, but realized his audience was all close friends. "What," he asked, shrugging exaggeratedly. Chris, however, got a little snippy. "All those years I follow you around, and here?" Pete looked at him apologetically. "I'm bi, Chris, and it's not that you aren't cute, but my taste in men runs a little ... older...." Now it was Richard's turn to look embarrassed. "Besides, you got Steve, and that's a catch...." Soon there was blushing all around. All friends again, Chris and Steve took their leave for private time, and James and Sebastian left Pete and Richard to their ... whatever.... By lunch time the next day, the house was back in order and James and Sebastian were all clean from a morning's lovemaking, so they hopped in the BMW and drove to James' house so James could report the evening's events to his mom. They pulled up in front of the house and approached the door, but it was ajar. "Something's wrong," Sebastian said stepping in front of James. "I smell blood...." He entered the house first and he could see Maureen's feet sticking out of the living room in a pool of blood. He started to tell him not to look, but he heard a bang, followed by two more. He felt the trickle of blood from his own arm, a mere inconvenience -- less. But he turned to find James bleeding on the porch, Phil standing dumbly with his pistol. With inhuman speed, Sebastian was at James' side, cradling his head in his lap watching the light in his eye weakening. "Sebastian," James struggled to reach up and touch his face. "I ... love...." The effort was too much, however, and his breathing was labored. Despite his years, Sebastian's mind went numb and he just rocked the boy in his arms, crying for help. He looked and Phil was gone, and he just cried out again. A neighbor had called for help, but it would be far too late. James was going to die.