Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2004 16:12:44 -0800 (PST) From: JMH Subject: Circle the Noun chapter 15 Well it looks like we are on a roll... here is chp 15 JMH trandar2002@yahoo.com ****************************************************************************** Glenn and Kyle looked at Philip with a questioning look when he followed David in entering their house. "Glenn... Kyle I would like to introduce Philip... a friend," David said, stressing on the word "friend". "Oh... nice to meet you Philip," Glenn grinned with a knowing look. "It's not like that," David sighed. "Why... is he not your boyfriend?" Kyle asked almost with laughter. "I am!" Philip spoke up, loving the tortured look David had on his face. "Well let me congratulate you!" Glenn said as he gave Philip a pat on the back. "You are a very lucky man." "I know I am!" "So tell us, how did the two of you meet?" Kyle asked as he led the all to the living room. "Yeah... we want all the details," Glenn said as he took a seat. "He is not my boyfriend," David mumbled under his breath, not loud enough for anyone to really hear. "Well, we have a mutual friend... Nate." "You call him Nate too," Glenn smiled. "The only people we know who do that on a constant bases is his father and David here." "Well you can say that Nate and I have gotten close recently." "Well Nate is a great guy as well. Somewhat of a boy scout but that is what makes him charming," Glenn said. "He is not my boyfriend," David said a little clearer. "What was that David?" Kyle asked. "..." David remained silent. "What's up... are we embarrassing you?" Kyle laughed mistaking the red growing on David's face to be shyness not anger. "Uhmmm..." Philip groaned a little nervous. He knew that David was boiling up inside. "He is not my boyfriend," David said at the same time Philip said the same thing. "Ok... then why did you say you were?" Glenn asked seriously. He never liked being fooled. "Well... we are supposed to act like boyfriends to fool David's ex so both of us can date Nathan till he makes up his mind who he really wants to date," Philip explained a little too rapidly. "What!" Both Glenn and Kyle said at the same time. "Care to run that past us one more time?" Glenn asked. "What Philip tried to explain is that I dumped Thomas so I could date Nate. Thomas though, plans to out me... and any guy I date. I can't do that to Nate. People have noticed how much Nate loves his dad, always hugging and all. I know what people at school will think if Nate was outted." "That Josh had molested his son..." Glenn fumed. "Yes..." "If there was one thing that would drive Josh into rampage it would be the idea of someone molesting his child or any other child," Kyle said with dead seriousness. "I know... Josh took some time off to help me with a lawsuit against a child molester. The guy got off criminal prosecution from that case on a technicality but with all the research and investigating he did we won the case and found three other victims from which Josh helped the district attorney get a conviction," Glenn explained. "Josh finds nothing "gay" about a man being sexually attracted to a boy and neither do we," Kyle added. "I know... someone accusing uncle Josh of something like that would be the worst insult possible, but it is not uncle Josh that I am worried about, it is Nate. How could he continue going to school and not get into a fight with such accusations being whispered around him? Nate would beat up any guy or girl who said such a thing about his dad. He would beat them up and get expelled if not arrested. Thomas knows I have a crush on Nathan but as long as Thomas thinks he is straight and that I dumped him for Philip, I hope to keep such rumors from spreading," David explained. "I see... but is Nathan gay?" "He likes both of us," Philip spoke up. "That is why we are both willing to go through this charade... until Nate graduates that is." "So Nate is gay... but can't decide between two men. This has a familiar ring to it," Glenn laughed. "Like father like son," Kyle agreed. "I know... both Nate and I see the similarity between us and his dad, Robert, and Andrew. That is why Nate wants Philip and I to become friends," David said. "Good luck," Glenn laughed. "Two make a relationship... three is a bit of a crowd." "Yes..." David sighed. "We'll work things out. That is why we came here... to work how we are going to pull off the dating thing," Philip replied cheerfully. "Well... if you want my recommendation, come out first before this Thomas fellow writes his own headline for the two of you at school," Glenn suggested. "Ok... how would we do that?" Philip asked. "Oh... why not kiss each other in front of the school right before classes start," Glenn said. "Do the same at lunch," Kyle added. "Ok..." David said, unsure. "What you need to do is not hide the fact that the two of you are now boyfriends... sort of. That way it will be hard for Thomas to make up rumors about the two of you since both of you would be up front about everything," Glenn grinned. "Well sort of up front..." Kyle added. "Yeah... we both agree that Nate needs his space. Both of us have some experience with gay relationships but for Nate this is all new," Philip explained. "Yes... there is nothing like teenage confusion to make for weird relationships," Kyle laughed. "We never had any weird relationships," Glenn argued. "That made us weird in our own way... us being a couple since high school for nearly 40 years. We beat most straight people," Glenn defended himself. "And I have never gotten tired of your ass," Kyle laughed before giving his long-term lover a kiss. "I think we better leave the love birds alone," David recommended to Philip as he watched his "uncles" smile at each other. "Ok... nice to meet the two of you," Philip said excused himself. All he received from them was a wave before Glenn climbed on top of Kyle on the sofa. "Gosh they are scary..." Philip shuddered and entered David's room. "Scary that you want what they have?" David asked. "No... that guys there age still believe in love." "Well I think it is good that they still love each other with the same fervor as they had as kids." "Yeah... I guess it just looks weird... seeing old guys make out," Philip said while making a face. "You will be old one day." "Yeah, but that won't happen for decades, plenty of time to have fun." "Really..." David said his eyes showing no amusement. "Well... I would think just having one guy would be well... boring." "Then why do you want to date Nate?" "Because I like him. He is very cute, kind, and UNDERSTANDING," Philip emphasized. "You mean he is willing to put up with you sleeping with other men." "He knows I care about him." "Not enough to control your dick," David said getting angry. "Why... are you telling me that you have never slept with other men even while you were "in love" with Nate?" "I have slept with other guys... some from our own school but now that Nate knows how I feel and feels some of the same I don't plan on sleeping with anyone else." "Really... what about college? You graduate a year before Nate. Do you plan on spending you whole freshman year celibate?" David had not thought about that. "I think I can handle that." "You mean your new best friend will be your left hand," Philip snickered. "David you're hot... very hot. If guys won't be hitting on you, you can be sure that women will be." "And I can turn them down," David insisted. "Sure David... living away from home with no one to hold or kiss you, you won't get lonely." "..." David remained silent. "And what will you do if Nate goes to a different college then you." "I don't know. All I do know is that I want to spend the rest of my life with him always beside me. I don't want to be like most brothers who go their own separate ways after leaving home." "Well that is what I am doing by having an open relationship with Nate. I want to go to college next year but Nate will remain here. It might only be a year but a lot can happen. Just look at what happened this week." "Sorry, but unlike you I am willing to wait," David replied. "Fine, but don't blame me if Nate falls in love with another person while we are both gone... Or do you expect him to be the faithful wife waiting for her husband to return." "If I asked him to, he would." "Maybe, but is that fair to him? If some guy attracts his attention is he supposed to not fall in love with him? I'm the one who is being realistic. I think Nate and I can have a fun year together. Outside that, we will have to see." "So you never had any intention of spending the rest of your life with Nate?" "I'm not saying that it was my plan to dump Nate before I went to college. I just am not counting on Nate to always be with me. I love Nate, David. You might not believe it from what we are talking about but I do care about him. I'm just being realistic." "Does Nate know this is how you really feel?" "He knows that I want to be realistic about things. That I think both of us will meet men more important to each other later in our lives... no." "I think you should tell him that." "I think I did when I told him to date you." "You did?" David said surprised. "Yeah... you're the faithful type. A hot guy hits on me; I just want to fuck him. It's not that I fall in love easily. I'm just a very horny person." "Yeah, yeah... whatever," David said with some disgust. He could not believe his competition was a player. "Sorry... but this is how I want to live right now." "Well it is not what I think would be good for Nate... nor you." "It works for the short term... when I'm like the geriatrics in the living room I think it would be time for me to settle down." "Glenn and Kyle are not..." David started saying but was stopped by a shout of help from the living room." David and Philip ran out of the room and headed for the source of the yelling In the living room with their shirts off were Glenn and Kyle. Glenn was pale and on the floor while Kyle was on his cell phone yelling at whoever was on the other line to send help fast. "Get over here... he is having a heart attack!" Kyle said between tears. David went into action and went to the bathroom. He went through the medicine cabinet and took out two aspirins. He filled the cup that held the toothbrushes with water and raced back to the living room. "Philip, go wait outside for the ambulance," David told his stunned companion while he tried to get the aspirin down Glenn's throat. "Should we just take Glenn to the hospital?" Kyle said a little panicked. "No... there is a fire station near by here and the paramedics can help if his heart stops." "Ok..." Kyle said as he began to pace the room. "I knew I should not had made him that barbeque sandwich!" "Kyle... a single meal does not make a heart attack," David quickly said. "I know but everyone has been on our case about our health. We just thought..." "Don't worry about that right now. What is in the past is in the past. Glenn is going to need your help." "I know but I feel so helpless," Kyle moaned. "Kyle... David is right... no reason to worry right now," Glenn stuttered triggering Kyle to quickly return by his side. "The ambulance is here," Philip barged in. "Ok. Glenn you stay here. Let them come to you." Soon the paramedics had Glenn on a stretcher and were taking him out of the house. David took a still stunned Kyle to his Jeep as he felt that Kyle was in no shape to drive. Philip wanted to come along, but David as him to stay and call Terry, Ashley's biological mother, with whom Ashley had gone with for some mother daughter time. He also wanted Robert and Josh, Glenn and Kyle's best friends. While Kyle was filling out the forms, David called up Nathan. "Nate, are ya'll on the way?" "Yes... we should be there in 15 minutes. Robert is at the wheel." "Ok... just make sure he gets ya'll here safe." "We will. How are Kyle and Glenn?" "The doctors are already working on him. Kyle is a mess but they are keeping him busy with the paper work." "Well, I called your dad," Nate began to explain to David. "He is already talking to the hospital administration. There won't be any problems for Kyle to see Glenn." "Great... thanks. Philip is keeping an eye on the house and is calling your mom." "Ok... what about Ashley?" "She is with your mom." "Alright." "How are Robert and Josh doing?" David asked. "Dad is very calm but uncle Robert is a mess. Dad should be the one driving but Robert would not hear of it. Uncle Glenn and Kyle were always his closest friends." "I know... well you should almost be here so I will get off the phone. I love you Nate," David signed off." "I love you too David," Nathan replied before ending the call. David then went and got Kyle a drink of water while the two of them waited for the doctors to tell them what was happening. Robert, Josh, and Nathan showed up, Kyle ran right to Robert and hugged him before hugging Josh. Nathan stood by their side but outside what was going on with the adults. David looked and Nathan and had his stare returned. Soon the two of them walked over to each other and embraced. "It must have been a shock... you being there will all that happening," Nathan said to David while they rocked in each other's arms. "Well working in the hospital during the summer helped," David tried to grin. "Tough guy," Nathan chuckled. It was all so perfect for David until the conversation he had with Philip popped in his head. "Nate... I want you to break up with Philip." "Why?" "He's not interested in you... for a relationship." "What do you mean?" Nathan said as he pushed himself away. "You are a short term relationship... after he goes off to college he doesn't feel like he has to stay with you." "Well... doesn't that happen to most high school relationships?" "Yes, but... I... I... I want to offer you more," David struggled to say. "I thought we were just talking about dating each other?" "Nate... dating is nice but what I'm really interested in is marrying you." "Marrying me?" "Nate... it is not like we have just met. We have been living together for years. Besides your dad I know you better then anyone and I feel you know me better then my own father." "Except knowing how you feel about me," Nathan added. "Yes... but now you know." "David, if you are asking me to commit the rest of my life to you I'm not ready for that." "I know... I know Nate. I just want you to know where I am coming from and where I want both of us to head." "Can we talk about this some other time... just too much is happening at the moment." "Yeah..." David said a little sad. The remained silent for a while till Nathan changed the topic. "Have you called Greg?" "No... no I haven't," David admitted. "Well, I think he has a right to know." "Yeah sorry... it just slipped my mind. Do you want me to call him?" "Yes..." David took out his cell phone and called Greg up. Nathan went over to see how the grownups were doing. Kyle was resting his head on Robert who was rocking him in his arms. His father was on the phone... taking to his ex wife Terry, Nathan's mother. She should be bringing her daughter, Nathan's half sister, over soon. The doctor had just called on Kyle's name when David came up from behind and handed Nathan his cell phone. "He wants to talk to you," He frowned. "Ok... you holding up Greg?" Nathan said as he picked up the phone. "Hey... why didn't you call me?" Greg's slightly miffed voice came from the other end. "I didn't know that you hadn't been called till just a few minutes ago." "Still... why did David call me instead of you." "Greg... I'm sorry. Would you have preferred that I was the one calling you?" Nathan said very gently. "Yes! Nathan... you are the one I'm close to, not David. Getting the news from him is like getting it from a distant cousin." "But we are brothers!" Nathan yelled into the phone not understanding. To him both David and Greg were his brothers. "I know you are close to David and me both but the same feelings don't existent between him and I. Do you know how many times he has talked to me since I left home...zero! If you had not asked him to call me we still would not have talked to each other." Nathan moaned... between David proposing marriage, Greg getting pissy, and not to forget uncle Glen having a heart attack, Nathan was a little stressed. "Greg, I'm sorry I didn't call you, but can we put that aside for uncle Glenn's sake? How soon can you get here?" "I still don't know my way around the neighborhood so I have to bring someone along for help." "Can't your dad bring you?" "Well between leaving your dad and quitting the firm my father does not think he is really welcomed. What is he to say... Hi Glenn, I took 20% of the business with me but I hope you get better soon?" "Yeah I guess... Greg are you ok?" Nathan said noticing the bitterness coming from him. "I'm alright... I'm just a little mad. If my dad had not left I would already be at the hospital instead of looking for a ride. I'm also annoyed at David. It took uncle Glenn having a heart attack for him to talk to me." "Ok... well the doc just finished talking to Kyle so I'm going to go find out what is happening. Want me to give you an update?" "Yeah... I hope to be on the road soon." "Ok... take care, bro." "You too, bro." As soon as he turned the cell phone off, Nathan went looking for David among the adults who were circled together talking. It turned out though that instead of going to see what was happening David had waited right behind Nathan with a guilty looks on his face. "I messed up..." David sighed as he took the phone form Nathan. "He is mad, David. I didn't know you hadn't talked to him." "I'm sorry... with everything else that's been happening it did not occur to me." "To see how your other brother was doing?" "Yeah... I thought about it the first night he was gone, but I was not sure what to say. One day became two, then three. I knew he had to be wondering why I was not talking to him. Knowing that just made me not want to talk to him even more. It was guilt I guess." "Guilt about what?" "Well... I have never felt as close to Greg as I have you. I feel like I have not treated him like a brother. When he talked to you about his being gay and not me, I was hurt. I reacted by giving him the cold shoulder for months. When I finally came to my senses his feelings toward me changed. He would no longer talk to me much beyond yes and no answers. So yes, I screwed up with Greg, but it is not like he ever called me up." "This is something the two of you need to work out cause I'm not going to play the middle man." "Ok... I'll talk with him." "Fine... but right now I'd like to know what is happening." Nathan said as he walked over to his father. ***************************************************** "Hmmmmm... it might not be to a romantic location but so far our date is going well," Scott grinned as he drove Greg to the hospital. "For you horn dog, but I have to go face David when I get there." "You were a little harsh," Scott winced remembering the names Greg had called his "brother". "Well he deserved it... calling me only because Nathan made him." "Ok... so the two of you don't have a close brotherly relationship. You would be surprised how common that is in families." "Well it is not how he treats me that gets on my nerves but how he is always trying to get Nathan to love him." "Well you did tell me that David has been in love with Nathan for years." "Yeah... but I'm his brother too. Why couldn't he have been loving toward me?" "Do you have a crush on him?" Scott's eyebrows rose. "Hell no..." Greg said using Scott's signature line. It must be catching. "Well it would have been nice if when we met in the halls he gave me a hug." "Or introduce you to some of his jock friends?" "Yeah... Nathan always included me in his group but David kept his friends away from me like the plague. But you know what really burns me up?" "No... but I think you are going to tell me," Scott laughed. "He stopped talking to me when I finally told the family I was gay. I knew he would react that way. That is why I only told Nathan. Yet... and here is the kicker... he turns out to be as big of a fag as I am!" "Hey... no one here is a fag. Not you, not me, not your brothers. We are men who happen to fall in love with only one half of the human population, no different then from straight folk. It just happens that that one half is all male... that's all." "Hehehehehe... I guess you're right," Greg chuckled. "Hell... I know I'm right. So big bro likes big dick... what a family you come from," Scott laughed. "Well I don't know about big dick but he wants Nathan's dick," Greg said with some disgust. "Hey... nothing wrong with that!" Scott chided. "They are brothers!" Greg said as if the fact was as clear as day. "Well if you think about it... we are too," Scott said. "Well your dad is sleeping in my dad's bed. Both of us are being raised together under the same roof." "But we just met?" Greg pouted. "Oh you look so cute when you do that, but I think you need to get over it. Yes, David and Nathan have lived together under the same roof for years but why should that prevent them from falling in love. They are not blood. If David had lived just one address away you would not have a problem with it." "I guess. It just makes me feel..." "What?" "Unwanted," Greg finally said. "Because David did not fall in love with the openly gay guy?" "Yeah..." "Well there is nothing you can do but get over it. You can't pick who other people fall for. You already have said that you're not in love with David." "I know... I'm just taking it personal." "Well you shouldn't... You've got me now Gregy-poo." "Hey... don't call me that." "Sorry couldn't help myself," Scott laughed as he ruffled Greg's hair. "And don't do that," Greg blushed. "Awwww... come on Greg, you are the type of person that needs someone to make a fuss about. I just so happen to be a person that loves making a fuss." "I think you like embarrassing me." "Hey... I didn't tell you that red is my favorite color," Scott winked as he looked at Greg's red face. "You are too much," Greg laughed. "I know I am but I think that is what you need... a guy to overwhelm you with charm." "I don't know how charming you are," Greg snickered. "Oh..." Scott said as they stopped at a red light. Scott turned his face to stare at Greg. He kept on staring at Greg with a growing smile. Soon Greg could not hold back his own smile, growing till his lips parted. When that happened, Scott dove in with a kiss. Scott slipped his tongue into Greg's mouth. The kiss would have lasted longer but the changing of the light and a car horn broke it. "I'm charming!" Scott declared with a wide grin as he turned his eyes back to the road." "I never said that!" Greg protested. "You didn't have to!" Scott said as if declaring victory. "The fact that I could smile you into a kiss proves it." "Whatever," Greg tried to shrug off. "I also think you are falling for me," Scott said as he turned his eyes away form the road to look at Greg for a second. "I AM NOT!" "Yes you are... I think you might even love me a little." "I've known you for less then 24 hours." "Yeah and in that time we have told each other our history, snuggled in bed and even kissed," Scott listed. "Ok... I like you. It's not like you have been giving me much of a choice." "Oh... you always have a choice. It's just I'm not giving you much to complain about unless you don't like tall, handsome, charming men?" "...Who so happens to be full of himself," Greg added. "Hey... everyone needs a little ego especially you." "Me?" Greg said surprised. "Well am I wrong that you tend to doubt yourself a lot and that is where your shyness comes from." "Are your going psychoanalytical on me?" "Hey for two years now I've been Vale's pet project. It's about time I got to use some of what I learned on another person," Scott explained. "Ok... so I'm a shy, nervous kid." "Well I'm the cure for that! Nothing like a boyfriend hunk to boost a person's ego!" "Is that why you are interested in me?" "Hell no... you are cute. You don't like the shit going on at home so that puts us in the same boat. You have dyslexia like I do so I feel we can relate. Finally I like the idea that you turned me down last night." "You like the idea that I turned you down for sex?" Greg asked confused. "Yeah I do. It got me thinking on why all the other guys I've been sucking off have not turned into relationships... it was all about the sex. We never got to know each other really. Even with Kirk we had not really know each other before doing it. This way I hope that the sex might actually mean something when we really do it." "You are already planning us having sex?" "Is that still a question in your mind?" Scott said while moving his eyebrows up and down. "Uhhhhh..." Greg said uncertainly. "Greg, I wont push you, but I'm going to do everything I can to get you to see me as your boyfriend. It means that I will have to earn your trust... and seduce you like crazy," Scott grinned as he took hold of Greg's leg. "Oh boy..." "Don't worry, you will love every minute of it." ***************************************************************************** Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adultwritingworkshop/ Published story: http://www.keepitcoming.net/centurion.html Free chapter: http://www.keepitcoming.net/free/centurion.html