Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2019 21:29:57 +0000 From: J. Forrester Subject: Do As You're Told - Chapter Twenty-Two Do As You're Told Chapter Twenty-Two: The Fat Lady Sings If you need permission to read this story (from a master, husband, partner, lodger, boss, next door neighbour, gardener) please obtain it first. This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real people, places and events is unintentional. This story is exclusively for entertainment purposes so please enjoy in safe and legal manner. WEDNESDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2019 "It ain't over until the fat lady sings is a colloquialism; an informal or common phrase that means one should not presume to know the outcome of a certain event while it is still in progress. It is often used when a situation is, or appears, to be at an end. Another phrase to bear in mind would be; they think it's all over..." Vincent said with a cheeky grin. "It is now," echoed everyone. "Exactly," Vincent laughed and the class smiled appreciatively. When the bell rang at the end of the lesson, the volume increased exponentially; chatting and shouting, name-calling and laughing, banter and complaining permeated the room. Carlos was sneering at a girl whose face was set like thunder but whose eyes were close to tears. "Have you noticed how much of a jerk Carlos has become?" Cameron asked Robin. "He's always been a jerk," Robin muttered back - careful not to be overheard and attract the attention of bullies himself. He'd had quite enough of bullies. Across the room Arthur had stepped in to stop Carlos saying anything else to the girl - the way she looked, spoke, dressed and behaved was supported by the school and most people in it. Carlos on the other hand thought it was hilarious (rather than ignorant, wicked or stupid) to mix up his gender pronouns and say things like "Is it Michael or Michelle? I forget." "He's right," Ben chipped in; "You just didn't notice it as much because Adam was an even bigger jerk." "And that's another weird thing," Cameron said as he rounded on Robin; "Adam hasn't said one ass-hole thing to you all year." Robin just shrugged, hoping they would give it no more thought. A few weeks ago, after Adam had tackled Carlos for verbally bullying Robin - both Ben and Cameron had been full of speculation as to why. Robin had suggested Adam was turning over a new leaf to which Cameron had laughed out loud. Yet it had been obvious for months that Adam had changed, he was no longer so aggressive when playing sports, short tempered when he lost; he was no longer offensive and caustic; most of all, Adam had started joining Arthur in neutralising the worst boys in the year. Like right now... "Why the fuck do you care who I call a sweet transvestite?" Carlos spat at Adam. "I'm taking a leaf out of Arthur's book and using my powers for good," Adam said as he stepped between Carlos and Michelle. "Also, the correct term is cross-dresser. And Michelle isn't one," Arthur contributed nonchalantly. Adam and Carlos remained in the same social circle but it was obvious there was bad blood between them; partly because they had nearly come to blows a few weeks ago and partly because Adam did not possess Arthur's easy, disarming charm. "Actually, I'm we're surprised you know the words to sweet transvestite," Arthur added. "Are you from transsexual Transylvania? Or the nineteen-seventies?" Carlos half sneered and half smiled at Arthur and accepted the disruption to his cruelty - if Arthur called a halt to things, the guys usually obliged. Adam always had and Carlos followed in those footsteps. Carlos grumpily left the room without responding, leaving Adam and Arthur to make small talk with Michelle, who tolerated insults to her transitioning with great resilience, as they too left the room. "See, it's not just me he's not insulting anymore," Robin said. "Yea, but why? When did Adam become a proper person?" Cameron asked worriedly. "Maybe Arthur told him to stop being such a..." Robin couldn't think of an insult but Cameron and Ben were happy to supply their own: "Dick." "Fanny." "Come on, let's go," Robin said. Ben and Cameron were ahead of him, giving Robin the opportunity to glance Adam's way. Adam caught his gaze and smiled shyly. Arthur spotted the exchange and narrowed his eyes, prompting Robin to avert his gaze and follow his friends more discreetly. "Do you mind if I ask you something?" Andy asked Vincent once his room had cleared. Vincent had been so distracted since watching Cameron's arse wriggle its way out of his room that it took him a moment to answer. "Sorry, what?" Vincent replied. "When you were at dinner with me and Malcolm the other night..." Andy started to say. It had been weeks since they'd all socialised and Vincent had rather enjoyed the opportunity to escape from thinking about Cameron - his teenage lover - and Charlie - the blast from his past with whom he'd had a second date despite the guilt he felt about it. It had been nice to escape and relax with his friends. On Saturday Vincent, Andy, Malcolm and Rhys had gone to The Fourth and on Sunday Andy and Malcolm had invited him over for Sunday dinner. "You know what? Never mind," Andy said dejectedly. It had taken Andy three days to work up the courage to come and talk to Vincent but now he wasn't sure he could ask his question. "Andy, what's wrong?" Vincent asked softly. "It's about Malcolm," Andy admitted. "Oh," Vincent had been so busy being egocentric he hadn't anticipated it being about someone else; "Well, what about him?" asked Vincent. "We've been together for over seven years and I feel like..." Andy shook his head at a loss to continue. "Like?" "Never mind," Andy said again; "Really, please... Just forget I said anything." Vincent watched Andy leave and was perturbed by his friend's miasma. It wasn't like him and Vincent wondered what it was that had caused Andy to worry. "Oh, Mr Wilson, I think I forgot my..." said Cameron as he entered the room just as Andy vacated it. Cameron looked back at Andy and when he turned back to Vincent, the teacher was grinning. "You just checked out his ass," Vincent commented. Cameron grinned too as he stalked forwards. "Are you jealous?" asked Cameron. "Not at all," Vincent said. Vincent remembered being seventeen - he fancied more guys than he had fingers for. That was poorly articulated. He meant that he fancied more than ten guys, not the anal-digital probing of ten guys... although that would be cool. Guilt was a strong motivating factor for some behaviours and Vincent's guilt about Charlie was about to overcompensate. "I was thinking you could spend the weekend with me... in my flat... I have plenty of lube," said Vincent seductively. Cameron had gotten close enough to fondle Vincent's balls, "Oh that does sound good. But I'm going to Glasgow this weekend. My dad's taking me to see the university campus. Did I mention I got a conditional offer?" The teacher gasped as Cameron caressed his testicles but also from the information presented to him. If Cameron got the A's he needed to Glasgow University he would leave and what would that mean for them? Actually, if he didn't get the A's he need and stayed - what would that mean for them? "Congratulations," Vincent replied. Cameron was too excited by his achievement and distracted by the cock growing inside Vincent's tight grey trousers to notice the conflict of pride and disappointment on Vincent's face. Vincent leaned against his desk as they locked eyes and Cameron slid the palm of his hand across the covered member. He licked his lips as he reached for the zipper. "I probably should have mentioned..." said Andy. Vincent's eyes snapped up to the open doorway - had they really been that careless - and saw Andy was back. Cameron was much cooler, slipping his hand from Vincent's penis to his own pocket as he turned so that by the time he was facing Andy - Mr Crane - he had his mobile phone in his hand. "Sorry about texting in class again, Mr Wilson," Cameron said smoothly over his shoulder. Andy took a moment to eye them both suspiciously before clarity came across his face and it resembled his usual trusting and openly-friendly features. "You've been warned about that, Cameron," Mr Crane said blandly. Mobile phone use in the school was so rampant that teachers had gotten lazy about admonishing the pupils. They barely treated it as a misdemeanour - unless there was an exam going on or it was openly disrupting a class. Vincent had used the time to turn away and tuck his chair under his desk, trying to be cool and also hiding his erection. Cameron skipped out of the class, past Andy and out of sight, leaving Vincent to try and not look guilty of fucking around with a student. "What should you have mentioned?" asked Vincent - returning them to the purpose of Andy's return. "Oh, the inter-departmental meeting has been pushed back half an hour," Andy said; "Our esteemed leader is supposed to be sending around a memo but I thought I'd mention it anyway." "Ok," Vincent said. Andy eyed Vincent again, sensing something he couldn't put his finger on. Vincent practically had to bite his lip to avoid saying anything - a habit of the guilty is the tendency to try and fill a silence. At least according to crime shows that Vincent watched sometimes. Just then Vincent's phone announced the arrival of a message - saved by the bell. "Ha. Looks like the kids aren't the only ones who should be getting a row for using mobile phones in class," Andy said with an easy smile. Vincent grinned back but the grin fell when he read the message. "What's up?" Andy asked. "Oh, nothing," Vincent said - then, realising he sounded evasive, he added; "I've kinda been getting back in touch with an old friend." Wow, guilty people do talk. "What kind of friend are we talking here?" asked Andy with an exaggerated wink. "The complicated kind," Vincent replied. Maybe he wouldn't have replied the way he did if he hadn't been thinking about Cameron and the prospect of losing him; as it was Vincent found himself cultivating something with Charlie that was a dishonest betrayal of Cameron. Charlie: [How about dinner. Too soon to talk about dessert?] Vincent: [Are you saying I'm good enough to eat?] Adam wasn't sure what was causing such a stir but he'd seen three teachers in a flap and he was wondering if something awful had happened. "Did you see it?" asked Nasser. Adam didn't even know what he was being asked but Tomek, Carlos and Dominic were all sniggering about whatever "it" was. Adam had to remind himself that these were his friends, his entourage and (lately) the people from whom he had never felt more distant. "Seen what?" Adam asked. "It was sent to everyone in the school. They shut down the network but Carlos saw it too," Tomek said. Adam felt his gut begin to churn. "It was fuckin' filthy," commented Carlos. Tomek went on the describe a video clip was less than thirty seconds long but showed a cock being sucked by someone on their knees who also had a cock. The angle of the camera caught the top of a boy's head but not his face; the face however was clearly sucking a hard-on. Adam knew it was him and Micah and with fearful eyes he wondered if his friends knew it too. "Did you notice the school ties?" Tomek asked Nasser; "Our school ties." "Are you trying to tell us something, Tom?" Nasser joked as he slapped his friend on the back. "Gross! It's not me... I meant whoever they are, they go to our school. That's all," Tomek replied. Adam was barely listening to the banter and speculation; he listened just long enough to be sure he was not a suspect. Adam pulled out his phone and was unsurprised to see he had received and email to his personal account. He sneaked away and opened it and saw the video that had been sent to everyone in the school - who knew how many students and teachers actually saw it before the network was shut down to purge the offending footage? Adam was relieved that he was unidentifiable - so too was Micah's identity obfuscated - but Tomek was right, it was clearly their school tie. The threat was clear and this was a warning that Adam knew he would heed. Despite his distraction, Adam noticed an automatic acknowledgment of receipt of email had been sent; Mr Anonymous knew Adam had seen the email and the bastard would inevitably be in touch soon. The text had come less than ten minutes later. Mr Anonymous: [You are cordially invited to discuss your future.] Adam found Micah in a vacant classroom, immediately closing the door and locking it. "What the fuck was that video about?" Adam demanded; "Anyone could have seen that video." "Everyone could have seen that video," Micah replied maliciously. Adam was hot, angry, scared, frustrated, humiliated and was set to go full steam ahead with further objections when Micah cut across him. "You do as you're told. You do as you're told or there are consequences," Micah told him and Adam fell silent; "You've been warned before. You've been shown before that we have pictures, video's..." "Who the fuck is we? Tell me who we is," demanded Adam. "Do you really have any control over me or are you just a witless stooge of that bastard who's sending me messages, sending those emails, blackmailing me." Micah sneered and let out a snort of derision, "I'm not a stooge." "Do you really not know that what you're doing is wrong?" Adam asked, still hoping to appeal to Micah's humanity. "Come here. I want you to lick my dick like it's a melting ice cream, get that cream all over your face," Micah replied as he ignored Adam's plea. "You don't get it, do you? This is assault. This is ra- This is my life you're threatening," Adam pleaded. Micah's eyes hesitated for a moment as key words - especially at the unfinished 'R' word - in Adam's commentary seemed to hit Micah. But only for a moment. "No, Adam. You don't get it..." Micah replied. "I don't care." Adam felt desperate at the casual and cruel reply; Adam who had himself been casual cruel and was now being repaid in spades. As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, thought Adam as he watched Micah's hands reach for the flies of his trousers. Micah unzipped and pulled open his trousers and then pulled his hard dick out. He sat himself in a chair and stroked it leisurely, almost daring Adam to refuse. "You're fucked if you do and fucked if you don't, mate," Micah told him. "You can walk away like you did from Gymno-Mania, refuse to co-operate and accept we'll ruin your entire life... Or you can put those gorgeous lips of yours all over my dick and get sucking." Adam let out a ragged breath and ran frustrated and defeated hands though his hair. "Then you can start your new job," Micah added. "My new job?" Adam asked incredulously. "You didn't think that leaving Gymno-Mania would be the end of it, did you? It was a setback, sure but like I said, I'm not a stooge. Your new job was my idea. The email that conveniently cropped out our faces was my idea," Micah sounded really pleased with himself. "And FYI, I don't care if the uncensored version gets out. People already know I love the cock." "You can't possibly want people to see you getting your dick sucked," Adam replied. "It's no big deal to me," Micah shrugged; "It is a big deal to you. Besides, we have way more pictures of your solo adventures that don't have my knob in the frame. But don't let anyone tell you that you don't have a choice, Adam. You have a choice: obey or we'll destroy your life." Not much of a choice. "You're gay, Adam. You like dick. Just suck it, will you?" Micah asked. Being gay and liking dick does not make it ok to be forced, compelled or induced into the act. Didn't Micah understand that? Of course he understood - he just didn't care. And there's the rub, because Adam did care. It wasn't just that Adam didn't want to be outed, he didn't want naked pictures of himself online or distributed around the school; he didn't want his friends or enemies or classmates or teachers or his family to see him nude and or erect; he didn't want to be embarrassed or shamed. The price of the secret was... Adam stepped towards Micah and sank to his knees, he put one hand on Micah's thigh for balance and wrapped the other around the shaft of Micah's erection. His lips slipped over the head of the cock and began to work on getting to the creamy centre. Micah smiled and chuckled softly in appreciation of Adam's decision. "Good lad," Micah complimented. He closed his eyes while Adam worked - licking, sucking and slurping on the slippery pole. Adam felt worse for not hating the experience more, he felt guilty for not being more repulsed, he felt guilty for the throb he felt in his own trousers that he hoped Micah wouldn't notice. "Just lick it for a bit. Like that ice cream I mentioned," Micah prompted. Adam obliged, licking around the head of Micah's cock and then up and down its length. Adam paid particular attention to the frenulum where the penis was very sensitive and generous with its pleasure impulses. Micah moaned and put his hands on Adam's head to prompt him to take the cock back in his mouth. As Adam lowered his face, taking the dick deep into his mouth, he felt Micah begin to buck his hips. Adam lifted his head an inch or two and Micah gave several little thrusts to face fuck Adam. Micah's interest in humiliating and controlling Adam were limited by his schoolboy libido; Adam could feel Micah approaching climax with merciful ease and if the malevolent little beast had any compunction to prolong Adam's discomfort, it was lost in the desire to shoot his load. Adam licked, deep-throated and sucked on Micah's cock with Micah continued with half-hearted thrusts into Adam's face. When the boy shot himself to climax, cum came in surprisingly pathetic spurts - Micah had clearly not been saving up his load. "Clean me up. Don't make a mess," Micah ordered. When Adam was finished, Micah told him to stand up. Adam's crotch was at eye-level and he grabbed at Adam's semi-hard cock with a wicked grin. "I know your heart wasn't in it, but one of your heads enjoyed it," Micah teased. "Can I go now?" Adam asked miserably as Micah yielded grip of his not-flaccid penis. Micah tutted at the lack of response he got from his teasing; "Not just yet. You were told we'd discuss your future. Tomorrow night is in the future and you're going to go to work at Boy Appétit." Adam had heard of the place - it served gourmet food to an exclusively male clientele and the boys who worked there were a part of the menu. All the front room staff were scantily clad - Adam had heard tale of nothing but swimming trunks and a bowtie. "I'll give you the address and a phone number. You start tomorrow night," Micah told him. When Adam did not reply, Micah sneered at him and added: "If anyone asks, tell them your eighteen." Adam was left along with his deflating cock and the taste of cum in his mouth. If Adam had hoped that defecting from Gymno-Mania was the beginning of the end, he was sorely mistaken. The hold Mr Anonymous and Micah had over him was as strong as ever; clearly, it ain't over until... MEANWHILE Schools are supposed to be a seat of leaning but everyone seemed more interested in their social lives today. Or someone else's social life; hence, Robin found himself cornered by Arthur in the library during a free period. "Can we talk?" Arthur asked as he sat down before Robin could answer. Robin mutely pointed to the wall and when Arthur looked he turned back smiling. On the wall, a sign read: NO TALKING IN THE LIBRARY. Robin's smile twitched again. "Very funny," Arthur said; "I can see why he likes you." Robin grew very still and his smile was gone, "I don't think this is a good idea." "You do know how he feels about you? He told me that he told you," Arthur persisted. Robin wasn't sure if he was surprised by this information or not. He had started keeping things from Cameron years ago: his dad, not seeing his mum for years, stripping at The Fourth, falling for Adam... From the outside, Robin and Cameron appeared to have a typical BFF friendship but Robin knew that wasn't entirely true; not just because he kept secrets but because Cameron was keeping secrets too. Yet Arthur and Adam seemed to share their secrets and had the kind of closeness that two best-buds should have. Whether Robin was surprised or not, he was certainly a little jealous. "Yea. But. It's..." Robin started to say. "Complicated?" finished Arthur. "Yea, Adam's kinda implied that too. I'll tell you the same thing I told him: you guys are fucked up." Arthur said it in such a way that it didn't sound judgemental, rather observational. "I've not even... I've never said I'm..." Robin protested. Arthur rolled his eyes theatrically and his meaning was clear - Robin didn't need to deny or evade (or confirm) the gay question because Arthur knew the answer. "Adam wants to be your friend. More than you friend, of course. But at least your friend," Arthur said. Then, paraphrasing Adam he added: "If you want that too, you're going to have to actually talk at school or at least acknowledge each other's existence." "He spent so many years bullying me..." Robin said wearily. "Now he's stopped..." "And I forgive him..." Robin said with an inevitable "but." "He's trying really hard to be a better person..." "But I can't just forget all the things he did and said, Arthur. It's asking too much to expect me to just shrug that off. And other things have happened in my life," Robin said. His mum, his dad, The Fourth, Ben, leaving home. "Believe it or not, I want you to be happy," Arthur admitted; "We're not exactly friends. You and Cameron and Micah have always kept to yourselves. But I like you, I think you probably a way cooler guy than people realise." "You'll make me blush," Robin said dryly. "I want you to be happy and I want Adam to be happy and I think you'd be happy together," Arthur insisted. "That's sweet but it's not that simple. You know that," Robin said with a weary sigh. "Because of what Adam's done?" Art asked. Robin just nodded. "Even though you know why? Even though you know he was terrified to come out? Even though you know about his mum? He was just in pain, you know," Arthur said sympathetically. "Yea, I know he was," Robin said but he couldn't help but think it was a shit excuse. Robin had been in pain too and he hadn't been a total jerk about it. He had wallowed in his own misery and the misery piled upon him by a malicious bully for more than five years. Arthur leaned forward and asked gently, "How would you behave if his pain was your pain?" "Not like that," Robin replied. "That's because you're thinking about his pain," Arthur suggested; "But not really feeling it." "I wasn't punishing Adam by saying no to him. The way I feel..." Robin stopped taking that thought any farther - he had a boyfriend and he had turned Adam down because of the past. "He asked me out and I said no," Robin said frankly; "Not to punish him but because I'm not ready. When we were together, when we had sex..." Arthur practically leaped at him. "You had sex?" Arthur said in a whisper that intoned like a shout. "Umm..." Robin suddenly realised that Adam hadn't shared quite everything with Arthur. Apparently what happens at The Fourth, stays at The Fourth. "Umm..." "I should probably go ask Adam, yea?" Arthur asked. "I think I said too much," Robin admitted. "I really don't know what the fuck is going on with you guys, do I?" Arthur asked. "I guess not," Robin acknowledged. "Do you know?" Art asked but waited for no reply; "You know what I know? People are going to get hurt because you and Adam are going to try to move on with other people - Ben for example - and it won't work." For some reason Robin wasn't surprised that Art seemed to know about Ben - he was very observant. "And why's that?" Robin asked fearfully. "Because Ben's not Adam," Arthur replied; "And the other guy isn't you." Robin didn't know who "the other guy" was, though he recalled Adam saying he'd met someone. Robin had someone too and he couldn't help but wonder if Ben was a fat lady - metaphorically speaking - providing an apparent end to the will-they-won't-they saga of Robin and Adam. But appearances can be deceiving and it ain't over until... LATER As much as Vincent enjoyed having sex with his teenaged lover, there was something very rewarding about being with Charlie again. A man his own age, a man who he once loved, a man with whom he could go to a restaurant and order Chicken Milanese followed by Red Berry Cheesecake. Vincent couldn't have that with Cameron. He couldn't take a seventeen year old to dinner - theirs was not that kind of relationship (even without the taboo) and the risk would be too great. Over the last hour or two Vincent nearly forgot that he and Charlie had been estranged and that he was supposed to be romantically unavailable. Vincent and Charlie had been flirting throughout the meal and his old friend was now running a foot up his leg. "Do you ever wonder what might have happened if we hadn't lost touch?" Charlie asked. "Lost touch" being a euphemism for "stopped being friends because I was a bad friend and you told me to go away." "Recently I have," admitted Vincent. "I can't stop," Vincent paused and chuckled to himself; "I don't want you to take this the wrong way but... I can't stop thinking about you." Charlie smiled his easy smile and leaned across the table to take Vincent's hand. "I've regretted certain things. I regret that I wasn't there for you when Jake was dying but even before that..." Charlie had never been like this when they were in high school or university, Vincent wondered what had inspired that change; "I wish it had been me." "How do you mean?" Vincent asked sheepishly because he thought he knew but didn't dare to hope. "Remember how I used to come over at the weekend? I'd stay over we'd have a house party and stay up all night? About six months before Jake got his diagnosis, you fell asleep so me and Jake got to talking..." Charlie told him. "About?" Vincent asked uneasily, taking his hand back. "About you. Jake loved you so much. That night he was drunk and he told me he had been scared I'd take you away... because of how you felt about me," Charlie said with an inflection that turned it into a question. Vincent took his time before replying. Because what he had to say was important. Jake was gone and Charlie was here, but Vincent would not dishonour Jake now or ever. "Jake loved me and I loved Jake back," Vincent replied serenely. "He asked me to love him for the rest of his life and I told him I'd love him for the rest of mine." Charlie smiled with understanding and his eyes slid away, almost embarrassedly. "But before him there was you and a teenage dream that maybe we..." Vincent blushed and Charlie looked at him again. "It's weird talking about it. It's weird admitting that I thought I was in love with you back then." "And now?" Charlie asked. "And now we've only met three times this year and we're both different people with different lives and different loves between then and now," Vincent spoke quietly and without judgement. Vincent was desperate to not be asked if he was still single. Perhaps Charlie had just assumed he was in much the same way as he assumed Charlie was single. He would never be able to admit he was fucking one of his pupils anyway. Vincent supposed that if he was asked "are you single" he would answer like a politician and answer a different question: "I'm not dating anyone." That would be a good answer. Vincent and Cameron weren't dating - how could they without being caught? They didn't go to the movies or walk in the park holding hands, they didn't go shopping or go for lunch or a nice dinner - Vincent tried not to think about how shallow their relationship was. Vincent knew he felt something for Cameron - he would never have fucked around with the boy if he didn't but what kind of future did they have? Really, what kind of future did a teacher and his boy have? "Seeing you again has been unexpectedly hard for me," Charlie admitted; "I've missed you and I realise now what I should have all those years ago." "And what is that?" Vincent dared to ask. "Why Jake fell in love with you. I should have seen it... I understand why now. I get it and I want it," Charlie said and he knew he was taking a risk of being turned down. "Jake never had to worry that you'd steal me because I loved him," Vincent said; "But now he's gone and I'm ready to be taken." There was a moment during which neither of the men spoke and they simply gazed at each other. It was broken by Charlie who looked away and contemplated something else. "There's one more thing. When we first met again, I said I was back in the area but it was a long story. Do you remember?" asked Charlie who was surely going somewhere with this so Vincent nodded. "Well I came back because I was broke. As in, I literally had no money." "Oh," replied Vincent. "When I first came home I had the shirt on my back and I had to move back in with mum and dad," Charlie admitted embarrassedly. Hurriedly, he added: "I've got my own place now." "What happened?" Vincent asked. "I met a guy at work. I thought we were in a really good place. Then one day I came back to an empty flat and my bank account had been cleaned out. And so had an account or two at work and the finger pointed at me," Charlie admitted. "He framed you?" Vincent asked. "We both had access to the account and he wasn't there to blame. I was. And it didn't matter that I protested or that I told them the truth; it didn't matter that I didn't have the money, they blamed me. They knew it was him and they blamed me anyway," Charlie said. "Bad things happened to you. And bad things happened to me. I used to be vain and selfish and now I've grown up and I've realised that when shit happens, you move on. It's hard, but you move on. I'm really happy you got in touch again," said Charlie. Charlie really had grown up. He never used to be so articulate nor so open about his feelings. It came as quite a surprise to Vincent that Charlie had matured "You said back on Groundhog Day, you wished you could have made me happy. Do you wanna get out of here and do that?" Vincent asked. "I've already had dessert but I'm up for seconds. Do you wanna come back to my place?" Charlie asked. They paid the bill and got a taxi back to Charlie's modest flat. It was two streets over from the good part of town which made it desirable but affordable. It's amazing the difference a postcode boundary can make. After all the talk, all the heartfelt reminiscences' and lamentations there was a sudden surrender. For Charlie it was a surrender to feelings he was only beginning to realise and for Vincent it was a reawakening of feelings he had lost. They stumbled into Charlie's flat and fell onto the bed in a mess of arms and legs and tangled jackets. With unspoken co-ordination, they detached and began to undress. Jackets, shirts, trousers, shoes, socks and underwear were discarded between the front door and the bedroom. It had been years since they last saw each other naked; they were both older but some things had not changed. Vincent remained several inches under six feet tall but slim with sandy brown hair and healthy body; Charlie was taller, just a few inches under six feet with fair skin and straw brown hair. The nipple piercing was new. There was no awkwardness in their briefs encounter - they were both wearing briefs but not for long - it felt familiar and comfortable. They came together and pressed close as arms wrapped. There was no space between them as their chests and crotches and legs entwined - every centimetre of skin was in contact and singing with sensation. They were still standing and enveloped in each other's arms when the kissing started. Vincent was the first to notice the twitch between his legs - cocks grew, swelling within the briefs until there was no space left. The waistband of Vincent's briefs peeked open and the left leg of Charlie's briefs was being similarly tested. They parted and looked down at their respective predicaments - they knew that sex was coming but there was something seductive in the window shopping. They grinned at each other when their eyes met again. "I've not seen you naked since you were a teenage boy," said Charlie. Vincent tried to put thoughts of Cameron out of his head; although, thoughts of his boy lover did make his cock leak pre-cum as it twitched before Vincent redirect his interests to the man in front of him. "I'm not naked yet," commented Vincent. Vincent then slipped his hands into the briefs and slid them down to his bare feet and then flicked them off. Charlie wasted no time in dropping to his knees and taking Vincent into his mouth, making him gasp and thrust deeper. Charlie didn't gag as the full cock entered his mouth - he looked up with his mouth full and smiled with his eyes. Charlie happily sucked and slurped and licked for several minutes before resting his tongue and jaw. "Were you always this big?" Charlie asked. Vincent shrugged so Charlie gripped the spit-covered cock and jerked it with delight. Passion, excitement and pleasure were the motivating factors in the room and both men were fit to burst. "Ok. Ok, take your pants off," Vincent said. "Not yet," replied Charlie. Vincent smiled - there was a playfulness in Charlie's eyes; he remembered that Vincent was malleable and submissive and Charlie was teasing Vincent by denying him what he wanted. Charlie's message was clear - he was in charge. "Sit on the bed and jerk it for yourself," Charlie said; "But don't cum. I want to watch." Vincent obeyed - as he always did - as if in a spotlight. He felt even harder now that he was the centre of attention - it wasn't that he wanted to be the centre of attention but it was a turn on to know he was being emphasised and exhibited even if it was only to an audience of one. While Vincent jerked off, Charlie slowly slipped off his briefs and the stepped out of them too. Vincent had to control himself while watching Charlie's full naked body revel itself for the first time in half a decade. Charlie began to stroke himself with slow caution while he approached the bed. "Kiss it," said Charlie. Vincent bent his head forward and kissed the head of Charlie's cock. "Now lick it," Charlie demanded. Vincent's tongue played across the weeping slit which yielded pre-cum as a reward. "Lick all the way around the head," Charlie ordered. Vincent's lolling tongue spiralled around the shiny head, catching dribbles of pre-cum on every circuit. "Good," said Charlie. "Do you... do you still like... being a good boy?" Charlie asked between pulses of pleasure. "Woof," joked Vincent. Charlie chuckled as he got an idea; "Get on all fours." Vincent slid off the bed and onto the floor. Charlie took a few steps back to make room and Vincent scuttled forward to follow his master. "Ok, puppy," said Charlie; "Take me in your mouth. Make me cum." On his hands and knees, Vincent had to raise himself up - like a dog begging for treats - to reach Charlie's cock. Then, with the full and fat cock in his mouth he began to suck and lick. Without his hands to steady Charlie's dick it slipped out of his mouth several times and made slippery and messy streaks across Vincent's face. Charlie liked this and gripped the root of his dick to smear the head across Vincent's lips; he knocked his cock against Vincent's cheeks; he waved it 'threateningly' in Vincent's eyes and drew it down Vincent's nose as he stroked it to the point of climax. Another man might have felt degraded to have a cock smeared across every inch of their face but Vincent loved it. Finally ready for the finale, Charlie pushed his cock back into Vincent's mouth. "Make me cum, boy. Make me cum," Charlie said as he scratched Vincent behind the ears. Vincent's expert tongue control and sucking power quickly drew out a deluge of sweet cum which filled his mouth. Cum and dribble spilled over Vincent's satisfied lips. "Drink it all, boy. Good boy," said Charlie in an affectionate tone. Vincent took his time licking his lips and cleaning up his old friends cock before sitting back on his haunches like a puppy waiting for another treat. "Do you want to cum too?" asked Charlie. "Woof, I've been a very good boy," replied Vincent. Charlie chuckled; "Jerk it for me then. I like to watch." Vincent sat back and jerked his cock while Charlie stroked his own spent balls and squeezed dribbles from his cock. Charlie extended his hand and pushed the thumb he'd been using to mop up sweat from his balls and cum from his cock into Vincent's mouth. While Vincent suckled on Charlie's sloppy thumb, he thought about being under the gaze of his friend. Vincent was amazed at how much he enjoyed being watched by Charlie - it wasn't something he really thought about be it made him wonder how hot it would be to be watched doing other things? Vincent's dick spurted cum onto the floor and all over the fist in which it was wrapped. Charlie liked to be in control as much as Vincent liked to be submissive, but he wasn't cruel - he didn't ask Vincent to lick it up off the floor but he did tell Vincent to lick it off his hand. "What do you think... time for walkies?" asked Charlie. At this Vincent reacted with horror at the thought of going along the street naked, ass in the air, on his hands and knees. "I'm only kidding," added Charlie. "Actually, I was thinking it was nap time." "Nap time sounds nice," replied Vincent. They climbed into bed together and cuddled. It wasn't the same as when Vincent embraced Cameron, but the teacher couldn't help but think about his young lover. He couldn't help but think he had crossed a line and betrayed Cameron and Charlie and himself. He was a better man than this. But then, he thought he was a better man than the kind of person who would fuck a teenaged pupil. Vincent lay awake in bed thinking alternately of Cameron and Charlie, who was breathing softly beside him. Five years ago things seemed to be over for his friendship with Charlie, but now it was something much more so clearly appearances can be deceiving. Then Vincent thought, by rights he should never have cultivated a relationship with Cameron and he should end it now that the end was looming anyway. But things were not that simple and it ain't over until... THURSDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2019 Arthur had been mulling over what he'd learned from his conversation with Robin. It was nearly twenty-four hours since that conversation and he had so many questions they nearly made him burst. Arthur knew he had to ask his best friend and tried to approach it carefully. "I really have no way of asking this other than to just ask," said Arthur once he and Adam were sat down in the cafeteria at lunchtime. "For the last time, that blazer does not make you look fat," joked Adam. Art laughed but the smile dropped as he realised he still had a serious question to ask. "Don't be mad, ok?" Arthur said. "Why? What? No promises," Adam replied half in jest and half serious. "I talked to Robin yesterday," Arthur admitted. "Art... no. Please, just leave it alone, will you?" pleaded Adam. "Robin kind of, accidentally, he thought you'd told me..." Arthur stumbled, then whispering; "That you guys have had sex." "Oh fuck," replied Adam expletively in an equally sotto voice. "We can call it that if you'd prefer," Arthur added lightly. "Shut up," Adam replied with a grin; "It's not what you think." "I don't know what to think anymore," Arthur admitted. "I want to tell you but I can't. It's one thing for me to tell you my own secrets but I can't tell you his, that wouldn't be fair," Adam said with a maturity that was entirely unlike him. "Ok. Do you have other secrets?" Arthur asked. Adam had come out and also told his best friend about Shiro but he kept some things close to the chest: Micah and Mr Anonymous; Gymno-Mania and the times he'd been exposed at school; his impending new employment. "Just leave it alone, will you?" Adam replied, repeating his earlier words; "I'm not to talk about other things yet. And do me a favour? Stop trying to help me-and-Robin, ok?" "Ok," agreed Arthur; "Hey Robin, over here. Do you want to join us?" Adam thumped him. Robin sheepishly approached with Ben, Micah and Cameron in tow. "You guys should sit with us," Arthur offered the group. "Why?" asked Cameron slowly as if suspecting a trap, though he knew Arthur better than that - Adam on the other hand was an unknown element now. "Because we're being nice, aren't we Adam?" replied Arthur. "Yup, that's us. Just being nice. Do you want to sit?" Adam asked, trying not to look directly at Robin and also trying not to look cross-eyed as he avoided looking at Robin. "Maybe another time," Cameron replied as he pushed the group onwards. "I'd love to join you. Everything at the table looks good enough to eat," Micah said as he locked eyes on Adam. Arthur was too busy trying to get Robin's attention to notice Micah's attention was on Adam; meanwhile Ben was too busy thinking of anything to say to notice the direction of Arthur's attention. Cameron had moved on so didn't notice anything. "What's happened to you, Adam. Not that we're complaining but you're..." Ben started to say. Across the room Stephen Wylie had entered the room; all too often now he was joined by Carlos and others of the mindless make-people-feel-shit brigade. Stephen et al pushed a few people around to skip the queue and sneered at the lack of protest. King of the world. Everyone had turned to see the bully throw his weight about. "But you're not like them anymore," Ben finished, nodding in Stephen's direction. "It's an interesting but surprising change for you." When Adam replied quietly he gave Ben, Cameron, Robin, Micah and Arthur something to think about. "I wouldn't expect you to understand the choices I've had to make," Adam said. "What does that mean?" muttered Cameron - who until now had been more concerned about his chips & curry sauce getting cold. "It means I'm sorry for the things I've said and done," Adam admitted loud enough only for them to hear. Robin already knew this but was amazed that Adam had extended his contrition to others. Micah saw blood in the water - his prey weaker than ever. Ben had not been friends with Adam before high school - like Cameron and Robin had been - but was still struck by the admission. Cameron was most surprised of all - the boy who had been their friend, who had betrayed them; who had been spiteful and hurtful; vain and callous and cruel; this boy had just apologised. Robin, Ben, Cameron and Micah moved on and found seats two tables away. The moment Ben sat down he took out his camera and took a candid photo of Adam and Arthur. He caught the side of their faces, expressions a hodgepodge of emotions. "What're you doing?" asked Robin slightly irritably. He was irritable because of the seemingly inevitable and potentially impending collision of his two worlds: the secret one that only Adam knew and the other that he shared with his friends. Ben was a little taken aback by Robin's tone but replied quietly; "Taking a picture. I want to remember the moment that Adam Mansouri surprised me." "Maybe he's dying," commented Cameron facetiously. "Just leave him alone," Robin muttered. No-one else seemed to notice the defence Robin had given towards Adam, but Ben filed away it away for later pondering. Cameron lifted his gaze to Robin - who, more than any of them had been the victim of Adam's bullying - and thought about their friendship. Cameron was glad that through everything their friendship had endured - he loved Robin like a brother. "Adam deserves to suffer if you ask me," Micah mumbled; "Why shouldn't he suffer like we have?" "Maybe he's just sorry," Robin muttered above his untouched lunch. This was the first time anyone else had had the chance to glimpse the Adam who he... "Maybe he made a mistake and he's sorry." LATER "Starting a new job is always slightly stressful," said the chirpy and sweet boy who welcomed Adam to Boy Appétit. 'The boy' was probably in his early twenties but with blue eyes and blonde spiky hair and a baby face, he looked five or even ten years younger. Adam wondered if the clientele liked him that way. His voice was light and even his name sounded young - Teddy "We got your CV. Have you just turned eighteen?" Teddy asked, looking him up and down with doubt and glee. "You could say that," Adam said ambiguously. Given that Teddy looked about sixteen - maybe - it was ironic to have his age questioned. The way Teddy spoke made him think Teddy was closer to twenty-one. "...and your reference spoke of your excitement to join our team," Teddy continued. "Really?" replied Adam, trying not to sound surprised. "Oh sure, sure," said Teddy. "What's he an investor of?" "Sorry?" replied Adam. "On your CV, your reference's profession is listed as investor. I'm just being nosy," Teddy said. Teddy spoke with an excited rush to his light voice. Adam realised that Mr Anonymous must have completed the CV for him and spoke as a reference but he was at a loss as to what the investor crap really meant. "He's an investor in information and technology," Adam replied ironically. Mr Anonymous' favourite project was gathering information to humiliate Adam and he must have some technical acumen to access the entire school email database. Unbeknown to Adam, Mr Anonymous - Rhys Jones - was an investor in Synergy Studios, the local production company that Cameron's brother Kieran was involved in - making adult movies. Boy Appétit was but a prelude to Rhys' next scenario - soon he would push Adam towards being a star in the pornographic studio and his revenge would be complete. "Cool," replied Teddy who shot off on a new conversation; "Anyway, you came in via the main entrance so you know what the restaurant floor looks like. All the tables have numbers to make them easy to identify and wait for. Depending on how many boys there are on each night, we'll divide duties according to tables. So tonight, you'll take tables nine to twelve. Tables are by booking only so we have a good idea of who is coming and how many." Adam had arrived shortly after school so he could have his orientation and a crash course in being a waiter before Boy Appétit opened to the diners. The job itself was not a worry - talk to people and ask them what they want off the reasonably-priced menu and then bring that stuff to their table. What bothered Adam was the rumours about this place, rumours that seemed to be supported by the tinted windows so people couldn't see in from the street outside. The rumours were supported by the bookings-only policy and the fact that it cost to even take a table. The rumours were that the waiters were half-naked. "This is Logan, Brodie and Dean. Guys, this is Adam," introduced Teddy. The boys chorused their welcome. They were all late teens or early twenties and were the final confirmation of the night Adam was about to face. Logan was topless and wearing tight black trousers with shiny shoes; his chest was toned and his armpits shaved. Brodie was wearing short black shorts and a short-sleeved white shirt with black tie; the shirt was a muscle-fit that made Adam wish to see the boy topless. Dean's shorts were also tight and black but slightly longer - though still above the knee; he was shirtless and his caramel skin and brown nipples were invitingly sweet. Teddy had left the room while Adam made polite conversation with the handsome boys - instinctively he knew they were gay and his reverse gaydar told him they thought he was gay too. Adam kept waiting for one of them to ask and wasn't sure how he'd answer - he didn't want to come out here anymore than he did at school. However, it surely said something about him that he was happy to be partially naked in a restaurant full of men who paid to be served by partially naked boys? When Teddy stepped back into the room, he had changed into his outfit for the night and Adam's jaw almost dropped. Teddy had fair skin, and was as skinny as an adolescent; yet the bulge in his briefs showed he was no juvenile. Briefs! All the skinny boy was wearing was a pair of black briefs. "Why don't you strip off and we can decide what kind of outfit would best suit you?" suggested Teddy. Maybe he wasn't as harmless and meek as he looked because that was a nicely subtle manipulation. Adam's experience with Micah and Mr Anonymous meant that he never knew who was involved in their plots, how much they knew and how much was improvised by people who were taking advantage of the opportunity to see more of his body. Adam sat down to pull off his shoes and socks and lifted his bum to pull off his jeans. The clothes lay in pile at his bare feet while Adam pulled his jumper up and off, dropping it to the floor too. Then Adam stood - bare foot and wearing only boxers in front of the four boys who he'd only just met. "Give us a twirl?" asked Brodie. Adam turned on the spot, feeling their eyes on his arse. When he turned back they were all smiling. "So we defiantly need something to show off that ass, right?" asked Logan to murmurs of agreement. Teddy opened a locker and took out a few items and then returned to Adam. "There's a changing room through that door. I've given you briefs like the one's I'm wearing," Teddy said. "Oh yes please," interrupted Brodie. Dean wolfwhistled. Logan winked. "But I've also given you some shorts like Brodie is wearing. The shoes are just shoes," Teddy added helpfully. Adam took the items to the changing room and dropped his boxers. He stood naked for a moment and wondered why the hell he was doing this. Then he remembered that a video of him - although he could not be identified - had been emailed to every teacher and pupil at Coalwater High School. There had been a special assembly addressing the cyber attack and how it had been dealt with and the file purged from all email accounts - but Adam knew at least two of his friends had seen it and apparently a few had downloaded the file to share with the underground yearbook. Adam knew it would be oh so easy for Micah or Mr Anonymous to share something worse. Adam pulled on the briefs - he looked great in them, obviously - but then also pulled on the shorts. They were tight - showing his ass and emphasising the bulge inside, in fact the bulge nestled nicely thanks to the containment efforts of the briefs. The shorts themselves coved only the top quarter of his thigh - finishing just a few centimetres below his testicles. In short, they were short. The shoes slipped on, and exposed his ankle bone - not that that bothered Adam, not with everything else he had on show. When Adam emerged, the four boys were very pleased but their admiration was short-lived because they had work to do. Adam was the centre of attention - more than half the tables were obviously catering to regular customers and the remaining customers were not first-timers. Adam felt himself more exposed than he had felt when he was naked at Gymno-Mania. Perhaps it was the venue - at a gym, one can expect to see skin and nudity but he was in a restaurant and somehow the spotlight shone brighter here. Or he imagined it did; again the spotlight effect was in full force. "Adam, you're certainly a very welcome addition to the team here," said one man at the table which was reaching the third course. "Thanks," Adam replied. He had relaxed now after spending the first few hours with a racing heart. "Nice legs, buddy. Do you run?" asked another at the table. "I play a lot of sport," Adam replied vaguely and modestly. "It shows." "You should show some more..." another started to say. Then, whether by accident or graceful mistake, the man knocked his just-delivered desert off the table. Unfortunately Adam was still close to the table so the fresh cream trifle landed on the crotch of his shorts and spilled down his legs. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry." As many hands as could manage began trying to help, applying napkins to Adam's shorts and then brazen bare hands up and down his sallow-brown legs. "It's fine. It's ok," Adam said as he stepped out of their reach. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up," said Teddy who had materialised behind him. Adam found himself in an anteroom next to the kitchen where Teddy took a damp cloth to Adam's bare legs to mop up the cream. Adam felt like a child being bathed but the clean-up was over so fast he didn't even get the chance to object. "Those shorts are ruined, take them off," Teddy said as he turned to dispose of the damp cloth. "Here?" Adam asked. "Are you wearing the briefs I gave you?" Teddy asked and Adam nodded; "Then yes, here." Adam unbuttoned and unzipped and then dropped the shorts. "Right, let's go back to work," Teddy said - making for the door without a second's thought. "Like this?" Adam retorted. "Yea, like that," Teddy replied with a grin. Like that! "You know what kind of place this is. This is how we roll. This isn't a Michelin star restaurant, it's an above average restaurant where gay guys come for the eye candy. So get your perfect bum out there," Teddy said. Teddy sauntered out - swaggered - wriggling his ass as he walked. Teddy was so used to strutting his stuff that he didn't seem to appreciate that Adam was terrified. However, Adam knew he'd done worse so he gently pressed back into the main room and returned to the table where his shorts had been ruined. The young men there ogled him with hungry eyes as he approached. "Let me get you another desert," Adam offered the man whose trifle had been cleaned off the floor while Adam was taking off his shorts. Adam's long bare legs, naked torso, bare back and arse wrapped in black material continued its duties without further incident. "I'm tempted to spill my desert to see what else he'll take off," said one customer who may or may not have realised Adam could hear him. Although the restaurant was far from closing time, Adam was allowed to finish early. Service was running down as customers dwindled and it was his first day so Teddy cut him a break. Adam was happy to pull his proper clothes back on but lamented Teddy's parting message. "See you for your next shift." It was a reminder that this was his first night. It was a reminder that this place had been chosen to humiliate Adam. It was a reminder that things can get worse than serving beef stroganoff in your underpants. Adam was glad the night was over but deep down he knew it was not the end but only the beginning. It ain't over until... EARLIER Robin had gone to the library with Cameron after school but it had been a little depressing. Firstly Cameron was interested in talking about Adam's apology but Robin didn't want to talk about Adam Mansouri and eventually his monosyllabic replies dissuaded further conversation. Secondly, Cameron seemed to breeze through his homework where Robin always felt like he was working twice as hard for half the result. Cameron was excited about visiting Glasgow with his dad at the weekend and only served to remind Robin that he had made no plans for the future. Uni, work, apprenticeship... Robin had no idea. Was he destined to strip and tease men with his body forever? Surely he could achieve more than stripping or prostituting his body to strangers? Robin got home and put on the kettle, took off his jacket and sat down on the sofa. His bottom had barely hit the cushion when the doorbell rang, sending a digital jingle through the small flat. He hoisted himself up and went to the door - only a few people knew he lived here and he would have expected them to call first. A thrill ran though his mind that perhaps Adam was paying him a surprise visit. Ben. Robin meant that he hoped Ben was paying a surprise visit. Instead he opened the door to two police officers. "Good evening. Are you Robin Haldane?" the female officer asked. Robin had tensed and looked like a deer in the headlights. "It's ok. You're not in trouble, son," said the man. The policewoman had smiled politely and while the man spoke gently, his reassuring smile was not very reassuring. Robin nodded. "I'm sergeant Farland, this is constable Hike. Can we come in?" asked sergeant Farland. Robin stepped back and opened the door wider. "You can call me Sophie. And you can call him Bill," said constable Hike. Bill stepped inside first while Sophie remained standing and hovered informally, her jacket had drops of rain on it and Robin wondered if he should have offered to take her coat. "Have you lived here long Mr Haldane?" the question sounded like something a sergeant Farland would ask rather than something Bill would say. "A few weeks," Robin answered. "You're young to be living alone..." sergeant Farland started to say. "Have I done something wrong?" Robin asked fearfully. Shit, is stripping a crime in Scotland? Robin didn't know. Sophie jumped in, "No. Not at all." She didn't look at her superior but he got the impression they were a tag team. She was good cop. "Then why are you here?" Robin asked her. "Why don't you sit down, Robin. Can we call you Robin?" "What's going on?" Robin repeated fearfully. Now she looked at her superior officer who nodded - passing the buck to her. "Sir, I'm sorry to have to inform you but this morning your father was found dead at his home..." Very slowly, Robin sat down. He said nothing. He asked nothing. He barely breathed. "Robin? Are you... were you close to your dad?" asked Sophie. "No. Not close," Robin answered - probably answering the aborted question too. "Can I make you a cuppa or something?" she asked. "What happened?" Robin asked. "A colleague of your dad's became concerned when he didn't show for work yesterday," said sergeant Farland who was all business - though spoke sympathetically enough. "They called his home with no response but were not unduly concerned." No, Robin thought - they wouldn't be. Every now and then his dad was so drunk or stoned he didn't make it in to work. Not often, but every now and then. The last time had been a few months ago. "When your dad didn't show today, his friend and colleague went to the house. He found the door unlocked and your dad was on the floor," sergeant Farland revealed the details slowly and was clearly waiting for some kind of emotional reaction. "Robin, do you understand what we're telling you?" Sophie asked softly. When had she moved so close? She was taking his hand. "When did he die?" Robin asked. "He had been there for some time," the sergeant said, not really answering the question. Robin's numbness anaesthetized him to time; only snatches of the conversation survived in his memory. "Did your dad have a problem with drugs and alcohol?" "Because of how he was found, his death is being treated as unexplained." "We found alcohol and drug paraphernalia in the house." "The case has been referred to the PF, that's the procurator fiscal... do you know what that means?" "His death is not being treated as suspicious." "It took time to bring you this news because we had to contact the school for your details." "Robin? Do you want us to call someone for you?" Sophie said. Robin looked up to see them both on their feet. "No. Thank you. Thank you for telling me," Robin said vaguely. Sophie gave his arm a reassuring squeeze and smiled sympathetically. "There is one more thing, Robin. Do you know where your mother is?" asked sergeant Farland. "No." "She was still married to him. We'll need to get in touch. You don't have any way to make that easier for us, do you?" he persisted. "Maybe my gran knows but, no. I'm all alone," Robin answered. Robin looked at the man and then around the small flat. He felt the need to offer some kind of explanation for living alone at the age of seventeen, not even finished high school. "I have friends who take care of me," Robin offered. Sergeant Farland seemed to think about whether this was a good enough answer, but it was none of his business and his information told him the boy was legally renting the flat. Besides, it was not a conversation for a newly bereaved family member. "Ok, Robin. I'm very sorry for your loss." At the door, constable Sophie Hike turned back to him; "I'd really rather you let me call someone for you." "No, it's fine." They had offered a family liaison officer but Robin balked at the very idea. "You shouldn't be alone here tonight," Sophie said; "You weren't close to your dad?" "He died like he lived," Robin said and he saw in her eyes that she took his meaning. "You should call someone who loves you," she said kindly. Robin felt... He wanted to. Sleep. Cry. Shout. No, not cry. Laugh. Breathe. Just need to breathe. He didn't know why he was crying. Robin wanted to... Puke. Bile. Green. Acrid. Someone who loves you. Robin was so very tempted to call Adam. The boy who had hurt him almost as much as his dad? No, not Adam. But Adam was more than that bully. He had been ever since that night in the parlour at The Fourth all those months ago. Adam would understand - he had helped to get Robin away from his dad. If Robin had still been at home, maybe his father would still be alive. Good thing he wasn't home then. That's a horrible thing to think. Good riddance. Robin felt great guilt. Adam would understand because he had all but lost his mum. He knew how hard it was. Did Robin really blame himself? His father died from dedication to a lifetime of wickedness. He blamed Adam. Robin would have been at home but for Adam. It's not Adam's fault. He helped. Why was Robin even thinking about this? Someone who loves you. Robin called his boyfriend. Ben was kind and compassionate and he tried so hard. Despite Robin's persistent insistence that he didn't want to talk about his dad, he continued to press the subject. Robin hated that. Didn't he understand that he didn't want to talk about it? Ben cared about him. Ben's way of dealing with Robin's pain was clouded by his own woolly-headed experiences of life. But he cared, Ben truly cared about Robin... The line rang. And rang. And rang until voicemail picked up the call and Robin hung up. Someone who loves you. Robin called his best friend. "Hey. If you still need help with Maths, it's kicking my ass too," said Cameron. Silence. "Do you like scary movies?" Cameron said facetiously. Silence. Then... "Robin?" Cameron asked, sounding unsure if the line was still connected. "My dad died," Robin croaked. "What! Robin?! Are... Holy shit, are you ok?" Cameron asked, his voice panicked and struggling to silence itself long enough for Robin to respond. "I just... need... can you come over?" "I'm coming. Robin? I'm coming now, ok?" Cameron replied. "I'll be there soon." "Yea, thanks, ok," Robin said - whether the words were intelligible or not he didn't know. "I love you," Cameron said. Someone who loves you. "I love you too." Robin didn't know why he was crying. Not for his dad. Not for love or loss. Why was he crying for the loss of something (someone) he hated so much? After that Robin went to his bedroom. He opened the door and felt cold, a draft disturbing the room from the open window. The air was an aria that carried the voice of his neighbour, the large woman named Clarice whose voice was melodic and beautiful. As Robin lay down on his bed he knew it was over because she was singing. And it ain't over until... It's awesome hearing from so many satisfied readers; I hope you've enjoyed this chapter too. If you fancy emailing me: niftyencomiums@gmail.com If you love the stories Nifty has to offer, remember to donate: http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html Visit my blogspot - https://niftyencomiums.blogspot.com - for updates including chapter synopses and excerpts. If you are enjoying this story, I have also written: School Exhibitionism - http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/highschool/school-exhibitionism The Symposium - http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/authoritarian/the-symposium/ The Embarrassment of Riches - http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/highschool/the-embarrassment-of-riches/