The Barrier

By Wes Leigh

 

This is a work of fiction intended solely for the entertainment of my readers; any resemblance to any real people or places is purely coincidental. Readers who would like to chat are encouraged to contact me at weston.leigh@protonmail.com.

This story is the property of the author and is protected by copyright laws. The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent.

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Chapter Six

 

I never thought I'd say this, Micah, but I'm going to start checking ID's on every guy I date.

HAHAHA, OMG, Jack. That's great! You absolutely should. If nothing else, it will start the date off with a HUGE laugh!

I'm serious Micah. It was a horrible feeling. Thinking he was trying to trick me into dating him. Knowing he was too old for me.

I know you may not want to hear this ...

What is it? Go ahead and say it cause I know you will sooner or later.

I don't have to say it. I don't want to upset you even more, but I think it helps if I ask you questions that make you think with a more ... balanced point of view.

Micah sometimes you make me uncomfortable but in a good way. You know?

I'm not sure I understand, Jack. What do you mean?

It's like a mental workout. You force me to use brain muscles I'm not using and it hurts at first but I learn from it and get better. I may be uncomfortable but it's good for me. So you can stop dancing around stuff and just tell me.

Okay, Jack. Here's what I want to know? Why was this guy too old for you?

Jack didn't reply right away. He gave Micah's question serious consideration, then typed his reply into the chat session window.

Actually he wasn't too old. I enjoyed both our dates. He was attractive, in great shape, and funny. He had a lot going for him and if he had posted his age on the dating profile, I would have been surprised at first and wondered how a guy his age could look so young but it wouldn't have mattered to me. I think I would have been able to develop a friendship with him that could have turned into something deeper. Does that answer your question?

Yes, it does. You and I have a powerful friendship, even though I'm 48 and you're 15. So I know age is not something you have a hang-up over. It seems to me that age isn't really the important issue here.

It isn't Micah. I didn't mean to make it sound that way. The only reason I was joking about seeing an ID was because it pissed me off that he was lying to me.

From his point-of-view, it wasn't a major deception, just a small omission. I'm not defending him, Jack, so don't think I am. My question for you is: was it just a small omission?

Jack thought carefully about Micah's question, then typed his reply.

In a way it was no big deal but in another way it really mattered to me. Yes it was just one little detail about his life that he failed to mention. No biggie. But if I'm going to have a relationship with someone, I don't want to start it off lying to each other. Even a little lie.

That satisfies me, Jack. It sounds like you're looking at this with a mature and responsible perspective. It was the last thing you said that was the most important to me.

About it being a relationship?

Exactly. Some people look at dating as a prelude to sex. Others look at it as just hanging out for fun. I suppose dating is both of those things, but it is also a job interview.

LOL okay you've lost me.

I don't suppose you've ever gone on a job interview, but when you do, keep this in mind. A job interview is for a potential employer to decide if you're right for the job, but it's also for you to decide if the job is right for you.

Haha I never thought of that. Makes sense.

The same is true for dating. You're checking out the other guy to see if he's right for you, and he should be doing the same thing. Every date has the potential to lead to a relationship, and that means it's more than a fun time or a prelude to sex. Or it should be, anyway.

I don't think all guys look at dating that way.

I'm sure some guys don't, and if they don't, do you want anything to do with them?

Are you asking if I'm okay with dating someone who just wants to have sex?

Yep.

No not really. That's why I got so mad at Ian from school. That's why I ignored all the guys who sent me dick pics on the dating site.

What about the guy who wants to date just to have fun? Nothing serious, just hanging out and enjoying spending time with you.

I guess that would be okay cause it could turn into something more if we have a really good time together.

So I think we have a checklist for you when it comes to dating. Pushy, sex-crazed maniacs? Absolutely not! Laid back dudes just looking for a fun time? Sure, give it a try.

Guys who are seriously looking for a relationship? Definitely.

You drive a hard bargain, Jack!

Haha anyone who wants to date me had better step up their game!!

Good for you, Jack. I'm proud of you.

Micah, am I asking too much?

I don't think so. I think you're asking for just exactly enough.

What if I never find a boyfriend?

You will. And when you do, he'll be perfect for you.

͠ ͠ ͠

One day later ...

Hey Micah what are you doing?

Outlining the chapters on my new book.

You make it sound like hard work.

Actually, I'm making my job easier by outlining it first. It gives me a clear idea of where the book is headed, so I don't have to change as much later on when I actually start writing.

I guess that's something I never really thought about. You should teach English at school. All my teachers ever worry about is how many times I forget to use commas and stuff.

I've noticed you seem to have a fear of commas.

ROFLMAO I'm not afraid, of commas, at all, because commas, are fun, when you use, them, in, a, sentence. HAHAHA

You're such a goofball!

Does it bother you when I forget commas and stuff?

Why would it bother me?

You write for a living. You have all those novels you published. Does it make you crazy when I type stuff you know is wrong?

Well, first of all, this is a chat session, not a novel. If you're missing a bit of punctuation here and there, it's not quite as serious as me writing a novel containing grammatical errors. And, second of all, and more importantly, I'm your friend, not your English teacher. It's my job to do "friend" stuff, not "teacher" stuff.

But everything you type has commas and all that other stuff in it.

Force of habit, Jack. I've been doing this so long, it's just second nature to me. My fingers automatically drop a comma between compound sentences without my brain's permission!

What's a compound sentence? Just kidding. I know what it is, but I get lazy. See. That was a compound sentence, and I put a comma in like I should. That was one, too, HAHA! Oops. I'm not sure those last two commas were needed.

As I've mentioned before, with great frequency, you—my young friend—are seriously goofy! And I like it!!

Thanks Micah. I guess I could start trying to write better when we chat.

Don't do it for my sake, but I will mention that it's good practice for you. If you use sloppy English in chat, you might develop a habit of it that overflows into your schoolwork and your career later in life.

I guess. You might be right about that, so I'm gonna try to do better. I mean ... I am going to try to do better. How's that?

Haha, sounds good. But don't forget to be yourself. That's important too. If you try to write like someone you aren't, your writing will come across stiff and phony. You don't want that either.

I guess that's why I like your books so much. They feel comfortable to me. The guys are so real. Does that make sense?

It does. It's something I try to do when I write. I want the readers to get to know the characters, even if it means letting you know their weaknesses and faults. We all have flaws, so it would be silly to pretend my characters are perfect. Besides all that, I want you to like the guys in my stories. Then when something happens to them, you'll sympathize with their situation.

I never really thought about all that. I just like the way you describe them and make me want to be their boyfriend. HAHA!

Well, there is that, too. I guess that's also important, considering I'm writing romance novels.

Micah, is any of the stuff in your novels from your own life?

Bits and pieces, here and there. It would be hard to write about two guys falling in love if I had never done it myself.

Do you miss Jacob?

Yes. I still do. Not as much as the year after he died, because that was a very hard time for me. I'm so glad I had you to talk to back then. It's better now, even though I occasionally run into something that reminds me of him.

I'm sorry I brought it up.

Don't be, Jack. You're my friend, and you and I can talk about anything and everything.

We have. Talked about anything and everything.

Yes, we have. It's one thing I enjoy about our friendship.

Does it ever make you uncomfortable, knowing that someone knows all those things about you?

No. Because I trust you. Are you uncomfortable knowing that I know when your first pubes grew in?

HAHAHA no, I don't mind. I was proud of those pubes when they finally started growing!

But sending me a picture of them might have been taking it a bit too far.

I kept my cock hidden!

Haha, yes you did.

I really have told you a lot of personal stuff about me.

Yes, you have. And I hope you understand how special that makes me feel.

I do. I've told you stuff I never told my parents.

Like how long your cock was every month from your twelfth birthday until your thirteenth?

LOL I don't remember telling you that!

You did. It was usually just a passing comment, but for a while there, you were fascinated by how fast it was growing.

Well, for the record, it's finally slowing down. It's just under six inches long now. And I jack off twice a day, three times on the weekend. I like to tickle my balls when I jack off, but I cum really hard when I stick a soapy finger in my butt.

OMG, JACK! TMI, bro, TMI!

Haha, now you have something new for your book!

I would never do that.

Do what?

Put personal information you shared with me into one of my books.

I wouldn't care as long as you didn't say, "Jack Christianson shoved his hairbrush handle inside his ass while stroking his long, hard, six inch cock!"

I wouldn't say that. I would say, "Jack Christianson shoved the well-lubed handle of his hairbrush deep, deep inside his ass, groaning with intense pleasure as he stroked his long, throbbing, six-inch shaft!" You see, it's necessary to hyphenate the phrase "six-inch" because it's a descriptive phrase, not a measurement.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

I thought you'd enjoy that.

And you say I'm the one that's goofy!

I guess we're a matched pair, you and I.

Do you think I've told you too much?

About yourself?

Yeah. Have I told you stuff I should have kept to myself?

No. Not really. Sure, it was personal, but friends share personal details about their lives. You know a lot about me, too.

I guess. I don't think you ever told me how long your dick is.

Haha, well, it's about the same as yours. Without a foreskin, so mine probably looks a little more naked than yours.

I told you I have a foreskin?

Several times. Usually when you were talking about a new way you found for jacking off.

Oh yeah. Haha. I guess I do tell you a lot of stuff.

You do, but as I said before, I don't mind. We're friends.

I know a lot about you too.

Anything you could use to blackmail me?

Maybe. I know you live downtown in a penthouse apartment. You hate to clean, but you're not a messy guy. You have a maid who cleans your apartment every week. You like boxer briefs that are soft and stretchy so they don't squeeze your junk when you get a boner while writing a sexy part in one of your stories. Oh! And you like to write late at night in just your underwear.

Wow, you do know a lot about me.

I know you don't jack off that much anymore, because it makes your writing even hotter if you're super horny. You like almost every kind of food, but your favorite is Chinese takeout. You have two cars. A Jaguar and an Audi. You drive the Jaguar for fun. You drive the Audi to get Chinese takeout.

Okay. Anything else you know about me?

Yeah. Just one more thing. You've been my friend for three years. You've been there for me whenever I needed someone to talk to.

Oh, Jack ...

And that's the best thing I know about you. The other stuff is fun, but I know you are a friend I can trust completely.

I'm having a little trouble typing right now.

Why?

Tears are making it hard for me to see.

I made you cry?

You know how emotional I am. I think you said that because you wanted me to cry.

You caught me. But it's true, Micah. Maybe I should stop trying to find a boyfriend and just have you as my best friend.

I don't want you to give up on the boyfriend, Jack. But you can be sure that your best friend will always be there for you, any time you need him.

Thanks, Micah.

You're welcome, Jack. And I'm really proud of you.

Why?

You're using commas so much better now!

I wish this chat program used emojis.

Why?

I'd be sending you "eyes rolling"!

Haha, I'd deserve it. You feeling better now?

Lots better. But I'm kind of tired. Going to call it a night.

Good night, Jack.

Good night, Micah, my best friend.

 

The end of THE BARRIER, Chapter Six