Boys of Fall

Luka Horvat and Rey Dougherty pushed Keegan into going down to the basement. They wanted to play on the PS4. Keegan preferred to hang out in his sanctuary as far away from Rowan as he could. Rowan was on the game with a little scrapper named Zander. His girlfriend Hayden must have been busy somewhere. Rey started to chase the boys away, but Luka, who did not know what was going on, told Rowan and Zander to finish their race. Rey and Keegan took the couch while the other three sprawled on the floor.

There was no point in listening to the small talk, he focussed on the cars racing through some mountain snowscape, impatient for the moment he could chase Rowan out of the room. Rowan won the race, naturally. Luka took the controller from Zander and challenged Rowan to the next race. Luka lost and challenged Rowan to a rematch. “Should I switch to a bicycle to make it fair?” Rowan quipped.

“Suck my cock kid.” Luka taunted. Rowan grinned at the older boy, then caught Keegan’s eye. Keegan’s look drained the spirit right out of him. He turned back to the game silently, shifting nervously on the floor. Keegan stared at the stretch of fabric across Rowan’s ass. There was a glimpse of underwear along his hip. Luka had no idea what Rowan demanded from the older boys. Rey nudged him. When he glanced over, Rey stretched his arms toward Rowan’s cute ass and vigorously pumped his middle finger through a fist. Keegan rolled his eyes, reminded once again that Rowan had all of them trapped.

Rey caught his black mood and shrugged. “You seen Davon this week?”

“Yeah, at school.” Keegan answered guiltily. His new circle distracted him.

“How about you Rowan? Has Davon seen your little ass lately?” Rey’s irony was lost on Luka and Zander. Keegan did not appreciate the comment. Rowan ducked, then shook his head. Tuesday Rowan, you saw Davon Tuesday morning before breakfast. Rowan’s insatiable little ass shifted nervously on the carpet.

Rowan won the game again, and Luka managed to bring the smile back to his face by landing on him in a wrestling move. Rowan scrambled to his feet laughing and headed toward his room. Keegan watched Luka snag Rowan by the belt and yank him off his feet backward. They kept it up for a bit more. Finally, Luka mussed Rowan's hair and let him go. “Come on Zander, let’s get out of here and let them play.” He disappeared into his room and stepped out with Davon’s purse slung casually on his shoulder like it was a cool thing to do. “Later Luka.” Rowan tossed out as the boys sprang up the stairs.

Luka tossed the controllers their way and stretched out on carpet before them. “You have a neat little brother Keegan.”

“He’s a fucking vampire sucking the life out of everyone.” Keegan spat.

“Sure Keegan, your little brother sucks.” Rey added slyly.

“Shut the fuck up Rey!” Keegan did not like the high pitch of his voice. “He’s not my brother anyway.” He closed his eyes, trying to control his temper. His temper was his weakness, that was what all the coaches said. You are going to be an excellent athlete son, just don't fly off the handle. It's just a little hazing in the shower son. Shrug it off. Keegan was trying, but Rowan would not even let him get through a week.

“Well that is certainly a big relief to you, I'm sure.” Rey murmured innocently. “Don't have a cow dude. Well, maybe have a cow.”

“Shut the fuck up Rey!” Keegan repeated hysterically.

That brought a silence to the room. Luka looked back and forth between them. “I think Davon is hanging out with Lav before supper.” Keegan shook his head. “Are we gonna play, or what?”

“Screw this car stuff, I need to kill something, Dark Souls III or The Culling?”

Rowan and Keegan had not spoken more than five words in a row to each other since Keegan fucked the slut’s face on the previous Friday. Brooklyn kissed him Saturday right in front of Tessa. He could do this if Rowan would simply leave him alone.

*****

Hayden was a comforting presence beside him. He sat back on his elbows, one leg up on the picnic table, face raised to the September afternoon sun. Rowan glanced at Hayden’s beaded bag, curious to know what his best friend filled it with. Not sex toys, Rowan was fairly certain. Just the way Hayden had his legs gave Rowan a hint of his friend’s package beneath the faded jeans. He caught himself smiling.

“Feeling better?” Hayden scratched his back. His friend had caught the smile. Rowan met his eyes and shrugged. “You’ve stopped laughing Pen.”

“That's not true!” Rowan protested, looking up at the prairie sky. “I laugh a lot Rat.”

“You joke around with me when I distract you, then you don't. Something has been on your mind all summer.”

Rowan blushed. Hayden was admitting there was a problem between them. More than anything, Rowan could not handle a problem between them. His hand groped out to touch Hayden’s leg. He made contact and pulled away quickly again. He needed some courage and he did not know where to find it.

“I'm a coward.” Rowan admitted.

“Why, because you can't stop a bully twice your weight from punching you when he's mad?” Hayden asked impatiently. “Don't be so hard on yourself Pen.”

“I'm afraid. I can't tell mom, it would hurt her too much.” All he had to do was share it with Hayden. Two guns instead of one to fight their way through, only what would the telling do to them? “I'm scared Rat. It's all so scary.”

Hayden sat up. Rowan pointed across the field to where five boys straggled toward them, tossing a football amongst them. Hayden grabbed his outstretched hand and brought it down beside his own. “Don't be scared of me Pen. You can tell.” They looked at the twin scars together.

Rowan blushed. It was suddenly too serious for a couple of seventh graders. They were acting like whispering BFF girls on the playground. He laughed. “See I do still laugh Rat.” Maybe they were not alone. Davon liked him. Davon understood how he felt. There had to be some way around Keegan.

“You take Zander, Mark, and Paul. I’ll take Turner and Keon.” Hayden suggested.

Rowan nodded. Zander always wanted to be quarterback. Mark was a chubby kid, destined to sit on the sidelines. Paul tried so hard to be the wide receiver. Hayden ran. Rowan stood up signalling to Zander. Zander waved and launched the heavy football in a wobbling spiral. It landed in the grass three metres short of Rowan. Hayden scooped it up and turned back to Rowan smiling hopefully. He grinned back, letting his problems slip away.

Hayden ran, but Rowan ran faster. He launched himself off the picnic table in a flying tackle. Hayden twisted free and ran lightly away as Rowan rolled back onto his feet. His heartbeat quickened. The game had not yet started for the other boys. They cheered Hayden on or called for Rowan to run faster. Hayden’s tight blue jeans twisted against his body as Rowan chased him down. There was no end zone, simply the moment when Hayden would fall down in Rowan’s arms. It was as close as Rowan could bring himself to telling Hayden. A few more steps, Rowan’s arms reached out.

*****

“Were we ever that pathetic guys?” Rey asked.

“Not a chance.” Davon answered for them all. They were wandering slowly toward Luka and Lav’s house. Keegan was anxious to keep moving. He stopped when Davon sat down on the Picnic table. Frustrated, he watched as Lav and Luka joined him.

Rey spoke his thought. “What gives?”

The answer was pretty clear to Keegan. He punted Rowan’s stupid purse and tee-shirt away from the table and watched his stepbrother chase after Hayden. Neither had their shirts on. Davon was taking a moment to bone over the half dressed little boys as they scrimmaged in the late afternoon sun. Put out with Davon, Keegan settled on a bench and leaned back against the table.

Rey and Luka began exchanging colour commentary of the young boy’s game. The one boy’s passes lacked the strength to reach the other boy’s ambitious patterns. It was a disorganized game. Rey and Luka were breaking up together. Keegan watched a pitch to Hayden. He slipped past one boy and then Rowan was chasing him toward some imaginary goal line. He took Hayden down from the waist and they slid into a happy heap.

The other players turned toward each other laughing. One boy waved at Lav. He forgot he was with the older boys and they talked back and forth waiting for Rowan and Hayden to untangle themselves. Keegan did not listen, he stared across the field to where Rowan and his little friend strolled slowly toward them. Rowan stopped walking and Hayden put an arm about his shoulder. After a brief exchange and a nod, Rowan continued toward the picnic bench. None of these guys have a clue how to play football. He thought.

“Toss the ball here kid.” Hayden hesitated, then sent a decent spiral Keegan’s way. He did not have to move off the bench to catch it. “What say we give you guys a game?” That stirred the pot. Keegan met Rowan’s eyes.

“No way! You guys would kill us!” Someone complained. They wanted it fair. Someone else piped up to say he probably had to go home anyway.

“What do you say guys?” Keegan turned to his companions. “Just a quick game? “Rey and I can join Zander’s team. You three go with Rowan?” Rowan stood behind his friends, biting his lip.

“Give us Rey and you take Lav.” Davon countered. Everyone looked at Davon. “Well, you’re the only one who plays football Keegan. It’s only fair.”

Rowan walked over to his shirt and pulled it on slowly, while his friends tried to explain the lines. It was all vague and it did not matter to Keegan. He caught Rey’s arm before the teams split up. “Keep giving the ball to Rowan.”

The first wobbly kick went to to Lav. He went down under a pack of seventh graders before Davon could reach him. Rowan was watching the tackle when Keegan took his first shot. After that, Rowan was more careful. Keegan played the line, unless Rowan ran a pattern. Keegan clotheslined him the first time he carried the ball. It left him on his back stunned. That’s what it is going to be like when I’m a senior. Keegan helped him up and walked away smiling to himself.

Rowan was not in a mood to give up. Each time Keegan got to Rowan, he picked himself up and shot Keegan a determined look. The little pussy really thought he could beat Keegan at his own game. The ball flew over their heads toward the receiver. Lav intercepted and started back toward them. Rowan’s guard was down. At the last moment, he caught a movement and pivoted like a cat to take Keegan’s bent knee on his hip. Keegan laughed and pushed him away. Rowan limped away, head bent.

The game went on that way. Keegan smiled and joked. He was proud when even the seventh graders on his side joined in effort to drag him down. They admired his strength, all of them, except Rowan and his girlfriend. Hayden started trying to get to Rowan before he could. It was easy to push the shrimp aside and punish Rowan if he could not twist past him.

“Your nose is bleeding Pen.” Rowan irritably shrugged Hayden off. He wiped his face with his shirt, began to walk away, then stopped.

“Sorry Rat, I’m okay.” It was a low exchange only Keegan caught. Hayden turned a baleful glare Keegan’s way. Keegan gave him the finger and dismissed him.

Rey had forgot to keep giving Rowan the ball, so Keegan settled into the game for a bit. It was frustrating playing with armatures, but he watched the antics with a benign goodwill. Some girls were walking along the road. They paused, curiously sorting out the boys they liked. Keegan tackled Davon for their benefit.

It was a pass to the quick black boy so Keegan faded back. Rey hesitated. For once, he seemed to notice the gap in the makeshift line. Keegan nodded to him so he passed the ball to Rowan. All Rowan could see was the space between his friends. When Keegan blindsided him, Rowan was lifted high into the air. The ball came loose and the slender body seemed to pinwheel in the air before it crashed into the turf behind him. The game could end right there as far as Keegan was concerned.

“You son of a bitch! Leave Rowan alone!” The little shit hit him in the kidney. Hayden danced away when Keegan tried to backhand him. Everyone was watching him, even the girls by the road.  He could not let the disrespect go unchallenged. The boy was wild. He tried to punch Keegan a second time. Keegan hammered the Indian in the side of his silly little head. That was the end of it. Keegan turned to his friends, ready to suggest they take off. He was still in control of his temper. He was smiling at Davon and Rey when someone landed on his back.

Keegan stumbled forward as he struggled for balance. Rowan’s forearm was dangerously locked across his throat. “Don’t you ever touch Hayden. This is between us you psycho bastard, us. Do you understand?” Rowan had his legs wrapped around Keegan’s waist. Thin arms strained to choke him. The voice was low and urgent, just for Keegan’s ears. “You can do what you like to me, but you leave Hayden out of this.” The faggot was crying. Everyone waited to see what he would do. It was getting hard to breath.

Keegan turned around, clawing alternately at the legs locked around his waist and the arm choking his windpipe. The Horvat brothers stood close to each other, a sober look on their faces. The little boys were clustered around Hayden. Keegan had to end this before the little pricks found the courage to pile on him again. This humiliation was bad enough. Always Rowan, he could not even play a game of football without Rowan. Keegan fell back on the grass squashing the roach with his strong back.

Pounding that pretty face brought so much satisfaction. He barely noticed the blows aimed back at him. Mostly, he enjoyed the pain and fear he could see in Rowan’s swollen face. Keegan peeled Hayden off his back, but he could not stop Davon and Luka from dragging him off Rowan. The fist Keegan drilled into Davon’s soft belly sent him to his knees. Luka stepped warily back, not really wanting any part of Keegan’s murderous rage.

Rowan had moved away. Keegan shook his head slowly at the boy. Rowan was still Rowan, no matter what he did to the boy. You could never change the equation between them. Rowan still owned him. An odd calmness came over Keegan. His friends took Rowan’s side in this. Keegan was the only one who saw how little asshole treated him. Rowan watched him, defiance and fear flickering across his features. The boy read something in Keegan’s eyes as he started to move in on him. The defiance held a moment longer while his chest began to heave. “Run Pen! Just run for God’s sake!” The defiance collapsed and that left only the gratifying fear.

Rowan vaulted onto the picnic table and snatched at his bike as he came down the other side. Keegan watched him drag it several steps before he managed to climb on. Keegan almost had him, but he pulled away. All Keegan could do was watch Rowan’s tight little ass bobbing up and down as he glided away across the field toward home. He took a few deep breaths while the rage subsided. He had a hard on, so he slipped his fists casually into his pockets before turning to his friends.

“I guess we dropped the gloves.” Keegan smiled and shrugged. “You okay Davon, Hayden?” Hayden did not buy it, so he dropped the attempt with a sneer. Davon got it. He played the sport.

“Well that got intense.” Rey suggested. “I think you’re going to get three minutes in the penalty box for that, Keegan.” That lightened the mood. The little boys even giggled, glad to see the tension ease. Keegan needed to win them over. He assayed a laugh and confessed Rowan fought well. He gagged on that, but it worked. Davon was walking away with Lav toward his house. Keegan would phone him later about sorting Rowan out.

Keegan saw Brooklyn with the girls. Younger brothers always made you look bad. He remembered their kiss on Saturday. One more school day and then the weekend. Maybe there was another party. He waved at Rey and Luka to join him and thanked the elementary school boys for a good game. “Maybe that penalty should be for high sticking.” Rey laughed.

“Shut up Rey.” He was still sort of hard. That damn Rowan, fucking with his head again. They were walking toward Brooklyn and the girls. Luka could imagine Rey was talking about them. Keegan pushed the image of Rowan’s parted lips and the memory of his frantically heaving body beneath him back somewhere safe. Brooklyn took his arm possessively for a moment when they met. Chicks dig jocks. She got it too. Guys fight.