Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2022 12:35:20 -0400 From: James Heady Subject: Cole's Redemption--Chapter Nine Cole's Redemption By James Disclaimer This is a story which deals with sexual as well as romantic situations between consenting teenaged males. This story will also deal at times, with issues concerning rape, child abuse, Racism, Homophobia, other forms of hate speech, suicide and other serious issues. If you're offended by such material, or if you're not of the legal age to read this type of story, then please find something else to read. Also remember to donate to Nifty, as it's your donations that keep this story as well as other related materials on the site free to the public. Finally, if you like what I'm writing here, and if you haven't done this already. Let my e-mail address know that you wanted to tell it a really good story about a new song that just came out by the Symphonic Metal band Stratovarius, and after a minute-and-a half of leading up to it, get up and leave without finishing the story. Cole's Redemption Chapter Nine We're flying to another time Our lives they've been circled Been entwined Kiss my lips and take me there To heights unheard of Thoughts unreal You're so unreal Greyson Chance Meridians Kevin Birds chirped around me, and the air was cool, but I only noticed the warmth of the love of my life as I woke that Sunday morning. I lay there with my arm around Cole holding him close, and I could feel his warm back and shoulders against my torso as I held him against me. It was absolute Heaven, and it was truly a wonderful way to wake up that morning! When I looked at my phone's clock, I saw that it was a little after 8:00 A.M. in the morning, and I was awake, but definitely felt like I could lay there longer with Cole in my arms, but my bladder had other ideas. I gently extracted myself from my boyfriend, and went outside the tent. After I relieved myself, I returned to the tent, and my treasure held within, and I got back in the sleeping bag, and took Cole in my arms once more. He turned, and now he was facing me, and the warmth of his stomach and chest against mine was Heaven, pure Heaven and I could also feel his erection lightly pressing against my thigh. He pressed against me a little harder this time, and let out a soft moan, then relaxed in my arms with his head in the hollow of my neck. I then just lay there holding him in my arms as he slept. I lay there thinking about him, not just him as my boyfriend, but as the whole person of Cole Hoffman. I still could hardly believe all of what he had been through in his life. First being born to a family who didn't give a damn about him, then to him being taken in by a piece of shit who promised him a better life, then taught him to hate others, took advantage of his rage and anger to use to his own ends, then repeatedly raped him several times. It was horrible what Cole had gone through, and yet I was proud of him, and how he was turning his life around! I was going to be there for and with him all the way for the long-run, and I reaffirmed that promise that morning as I lay there with Cole sleeping in my arms! 0000 Cole As I woke that morning, I felt myself in the warmth of the boy I had grown to deeply love! His stomach and chest were warm against mine when I turned once he had returned to the tent. I awoke half-way when Kevin left the tent probably to use the rest room. Once he returned, I settled back in to his arms, and changed positions then fell back to sleep. It felt good being held by him all through the night. Even though I was asleep most of the night, I could sense Kevin with me while I slept. I didn't have any nightmares that night, and I remember fragments of a couple of dreams where Kevin and I lay naked in each other's arms deeply kissing and touching each other's bodies all over; that felt amazing, and felt so real! As I continued to lay in his arms as I watched him sleep while holding me, I thought about how lucky I felt to know him! I felt grateful as well that he chose me as a friend, and really happy that he made the choice to open himself up to me, and let me get to know him. I felt safe with Kevin, and I also felt pure joy when I was by his side. Also, when he hugged me, and held me in his arms, I felt like all was right with the world, as well as feeling like nothing bad would ever happen. When held in his arms, I felt like everything would be alright! While lying there, I also thought about how amazing it was how Kevin handled everything concerning what I told him about my past, especially with what I had done while in Edgar Bradly's group. Kevin still accepted me, and chose to keep being my friend anyway, and that's especially what made me fall in love with him! It was hard to put in to words just how deeply I loved him, but it was with a love like I had never known before, and I always wanted him in my life! As I thought about all that, I knew that I would always be by Kevin's side, and I would always be there for him. I then fell back a sleep for a little while longer, and it felt good being there held by him! When I woke up again, I noticed that Kevin was gone. When I looked at the clock on my phone, I saw that it was a little after 9:00 A.M. in the morning. I sat up, rubbed my eyes then stretched. After standing up, I exited the tent and looked around. Kevin was standing in front of the grill, and he was watching the surface of it. I stepped closer, and saw that he was fixing what obviously was going to be our breakfast. "Good morning," I said as I stepped up to where he was standing. He turned, and after setting down his utensils, he took me in his arms. He was dressed just in his boxers as was I, and his skin felt nice and warm against mine! "Good morning," he answered then kissed me on my forehead, then I returned the kiss on his cheek. After brushing my teeth, and relieving myself I joined him at the grill, and saw that he was grilling sausage, and he was making French Toast in a pan beside it. Breakfast was really good, and I was truly impressed with Kevin's cooking skills. I hoped that I could make something that good for him at some point fairly soon, and I complemented him on how good of a job he did with everything. "I'm really glad you liked it," he answered as we cleaned up, then got washed up. "I definitely want to make you something just as good sometime," I added. "I'm looking forward to that!" he responded as we worked on packing everything up. "Me too," I replied. Once back home, we visited with Kevin's parents for a bit, and after agreeing to stay for lunch when Carlie asked if I wanted to, I checked with Daniel and after he agreed I sat down at the table they had set up out on the back deck. We had pizza that Bradly had ordered once I let them know that Daniel was fine with me staying for lunch. We got one pizza with everything on it, then another that was a Meat Lovers, and Kevin and I definitely put away a lot more of that one. "Thanks for inviting me to stay for lunch Carlie," I said after finishing the last slice of pizza that was on my plate. "You're welcome Cole," she replied. "Bradly and I have really been enjoying spending time with you when you come over to see Kevin, and this was our way of thanking you for sharing your time with us." "We're always happy to have you here," Bradly added. "I know that Kevin really enjoys your company, and you clearly make him really happy. I'm so glad to see that." "I'm glad to see it as well," Carlie said in agreement. "You've been a really good friend to our son, and I'm always glad to have you over here!" "I feel the same way!" Bradly responded. "Thanks," I answered hugging them each. "That really means a lot to me!" "You're welcome," Carlie said. "No problem," Bradly answered. After helping them clean up, Kevin and I hugged, then shared a couple of kisses once back in his room. "I'll never forget this weekend!" I said as we held each other. "I'll always remember it as well!" Kevin answered. "I really enjoyed everything we did Yesterday, and holding you in my arms was amazing last night!" "Yeah, that was the best part!" I said. "I hope we can spend this up-coming weekend together as well." "I'd love that too!" he answered. We said goodbye then, and I got in Carlie's car so she could drive me back to my house. While driving home, we talked, and she asked about what I had going on this up-coming weekend. "I don't think I have anything going on," I answered. "What do you guys have going on?" "Aside from church on Sunday," she replied. "We don't have much going on. I was asking, because I wanted to see if you wanted to stay over Friday and Saturday with Kevin." "I'd love that!" I answered. "I can talk to Daniel, and see what he thinks!" "That sounds good!" she said. "I really enjoy spending time with Kevin," I said as I looked over at her. I wondered if she suspected how deeply I felt for Kevin, and I wondered what she would do if she knew, as well as how she and Bradly would react when I told them about my past. I hoped that they still would be willing to give me a chance. "I know you really care deeply for my son," she replied. "He feels really deeply for you as well, and I'm really glad that you guys have become such good friends!" "Me too," I answered. "Also, Daniel seems really nice," she went on. "I'm glad that he took you in, and got you out of whatever the situation was that you had been in before. I know you said that your family didn't treat you very good that you were living with before, and I won't ask you to go in to it right now, but I just wanted to say that I'm glad that you're living in a home where you're safe, loved and happy." "Thanks," I responded. "I appreciate you giving me a chance to talk about my situation at my own pace. I'm also glad that I'm in a better home now, and you're right about Daniel, he really is nice, and I feel completely safe and loved by him." "I'm really glad to hear that!" she answered. We pulled in to the driveway of my house, and after getting out of the car, I closed the door, and Carlie got out of her side. She came around to where I was, and I let her hug me, and I hugged back. I felt the love she clearly had for me in that embrace, and I held on enjoying the warmth that came from her personality. We separated then, and after saying goodbye, I went in to the house and I looked for Daniel. He called out at that point letting me know that he was in his office, and then once I got there I entered the room, and sat down on the couch he had in there. "Did you have a good time?" he asked coming over and sitting down beside me. "It was a really amazing time!" I answered. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself with Kevin this weekend," Daniel replied as he put his arm around me, and I scooted closer to him. "Me too," I said. I told him at that point about Carlie and Bradly asking about me spending the weekend that up-coming weekend at Kevin's house, and I waited for his answer. "We don't have anything going on," Daniel began. "So I think that will work out really well. I can call Carlie and Bradly right now, and see what time they would want us to drop you off over there." "That sounds good," I answered. After he hung up with them, Daniel let me know that it was set. After he put his phone back down on the desk, he rejoined me on the couch. He put his arm back around me, and I scooted against him, and enjoyed how safe I felt with him there with me like that. I turned to him, and draped my arm across his torso, then looked up at him. I had wanted to tell him how I felt about him for a while, and had trouble finding a way to do it, but at that moment, I felt like I could tell him at that point. "I wanted to tell you something," I began. "You can tell me anything," Daniel answered as he put his other arm around me, and held me close. "I haven't said anything about it yet, because I was trying to figure out the right words I guess you could say," I went on. "I had to take a little time to get to know you when I first met you, and then when I came here to live with you and Justin, I started getting to know you a little more, then a lot more the more we spent time together. I might not show it that much in ways that you or others can understand, but I really am glad that you and I have come in to each other's lives, as well as the fact that I think of you as being like the father I wish I could have had all my life." He didn't say anything for a minute, and I could see that he was over-joyed, and he seemed to be looking for the perfect thing to say. "That means the world to me to hear you say that!" he said smiling, then he kissed me on the cheek, and I returned it. "I've come to care for and love you deeply Cole. When you and I first met, I could see the hardness that you had within you, and within your eyes, and yet I could sense the kindness that I was sure was within you, or at least the chance for you to be taught how to have kindness for others. I'm glad I took a chance on you, and you've brought a lot of joy to our household. I love you Cole, and I always will!" "I love you too Daniel!" I said as I sat there in his arms feeling deeply loved and truly safe for the first time in my life. After a few minutes of him holding me, I motioned for him to let me go, and he did. I sat there looking at him, then I spoke again. "I just wanted to tell you all that," I said. "I'm glad you did," he answered, then we hugged again before I went to say hi to Justin, then to my room. I then remembered the first time I met Daniel at the foster center I was staying at when he had been repairing some shelves in one of the storage buildings next to the center. 0000 Daniel stood there on the latter as his music player played through the blue-tooth speaker he had it connected to. He had a playlist which was a mixture of various Metal groups and Classic Rock groups playing as he worked on putting up a couple of the new shelves, and he was about done with it. He had worked on repairing the other row of shelves, and now he was putting up two shelves that no one could get anyone out there to put up until they found Daniel. As he worked, he was fitting in the next row of screws in to the last bracket on which the shelf rested. He began turning the screw driver as Lust of Decay's When Anesthesia Fails started up, and as the vocals started up, he heard foot steps nearing the door to the building, and then he heard a voice coming from the doorway. "What the hell are you listening to!" the voice asked as if they had never heard any Death Metal before, and he figured that it was possible that they hadn't. Daniel turned, then stepped off the latter and looked towards the doorway. A small boy with brown curly hair stood there, and from what Daniel could see of him, he had the look of a street thug with the cocky expression, as well as the tensed-up posture with which he carried himself, and yet Daniel could see that there was a slight softness and kindness about him that most guys like him didn't have. He also saw the boy's eyes, and they were a deep intense grey as they studied him. The boy then stepped in to the building, and sat on one of the up-side-down crates that they kept in there from time to time, and he then staired hard at Daniel. "Also, what are you giving me that long look for?" he asked trying to sound tough, but more curious. "I mean, if you're some queer guy or something like that fine, but I'm not like that." "I'm not a "Queer guy" as you call it, and I didn't mean to stair," Daniel said taking one of the other crates and sitting it down across from the boy a little further away than most people would. He figured that the boy didn't want him getting too physically close to him. "That's cool," he said. "Sorry I called you Queer, it's only within the last few weeks that I've stopped calling gay guys Fags and stuff like that. Isn't Queer something that most people use these days?" "Yeah, and the LGBT Community does use that as one of the terms for themselves," Daniel said. "They've reclaimed it as they say." "You sound like you don't agree with them using that term," he said. "I think the idea of reclaiming bigoted words is the biggest load of Horse Shit I've heard of. What's next, Auschwitz having the shower heads remodeled so that it's now a fucking luxurious pampering spa? Give me a fucking break." The boy started laughing hard, and then he got himself under control. "I love how you seem to have no problem speaking your mind," he said. "By the way, my name is Cole." "I'm Daniel," he said then they shook hands. "I think I get your point though," Cole said. "I haven't had a very good outlook about different kinds of people, and I'm trying to change. That's basically why I'm here at this place. It was either that, or go to jail. This place is helping, but it's definitely hard trying to change, and stop behaving as I had been." "I can imagine that it is," Daniel said as he put a hand on Cole's arm which Cole hesitantly accepted. "I think as you keep at it, you'll find that it'll get easier to live in a new way as you go forward." "Thanks," Cole said looking at Daniel, and he seemed to really be taking in everything about this man that he was starting to like as possibly a good friend. 0000 Cole That had began what I had since come to think of as a really wonderful friendship, and now it seemed a father/son relationship between Daniel and I. After he had said what he said to me, he and I went to get food from one of the restaurants, and we talked a little more, then he had to get back home. He told me about his son Justin, and I could tell that he really loved him. That was a really amazing day, and I would always treasure the memories of that day when we met on that cold December afternoon back in 2020! After we left the storage building, he told me that he had been listening to the Death Metal group Lust of Decay when I had come in the building and asked what he was listening to. I told him that I actually liked the sound, but just hadn't really heard Metal like that before. I would grow to really enjoy it as I listened to it more. It was now Friday of that up-coming weekend, and Carlie picked me up to take me over to their house for the weekend. I was really excited, and I couldn't wait to get there to see Kevin again! Finally we pulled in to the driveway of their house, and I got out then walked up to the door, and Carlie unlocked it. Once in the house, I greeted Bradly, then after he and Carlie sat down in the living room to visit for a while since she had come straight from work to come and get me, I went back to Kevin's room. He stood up when he saw me, and we hugged, then shared a couple of kisses then we sat down on the edge of his bed. "I'm so glad to see you!" I said as we hugged again. "I'm glad to see you as well!" Kevin answered. "I couldn't wait for today to get here, and it felt like it wouldn't ever come!" "Yeah, I felt the same way all week too!" I replied. After we separated from our embrace, Kevin went over to where his music player sat hooked up to its speakers, and after I accepted his offer for some music, he started up the playlist, and the first song that came on when I looked at the screen was a song titled Meridians by the singer Greyson Chance. I listened for a moment, and then Kevin looked at me as he stood in front of me as I backed up towards the edge of the bed again. He came over to me, and I looked at him longer this time as the song played and I heard some of the words to it,. I stepped closer to Kevin, and I held out my hand to him. I hadn't ever danced with anyone before, and I really wanted to have Kevin be the first person, and the first guy I would have my first dance with! "Would you like to dance?" I asked feeling nervous at that point as well as excited. "I'd love that!" Kevin answered. Kevin took me in his arms, and I rested my head against his chest as I held him. We swayed to the music, and danced, taking our time and just being in the moment with each other. It was magical, as well as heavenly! 0000 "Okay," Bradly said as he stood up from where he and Carlie had been sitting on the couch discussing what to do for dinner for that evening. "I'll ask the boys what they want to do, or if they like a couple of the ideas we discussed." "Thanks," Carlie replied as he walked out of the living room. "You're welcome," he answered as he exited the room. Nearing Kevin's room now, he heard music playing, and when he slowed, and was close enough so he could see slightly in to the room, he paused for a long moment. He thought he could see what appeared to be Kevin and Cole slow-dancing with each other. He stepped closer, and now he could see all the way in to the room, and sure enough they were standing there with their arms around each other, and with Cole's head resting against Kevin's chest. He figured that they hadn't seen him, and he backed quietly away, then got Carlie, and showed her, but mouthed the word "Look", so as not to disturb them. Then he and Carlie stood there at an angle so that they could see the boys, but the boys wouldn't be disturbed by them, and they watched as the boys had their first dance together. Author's Notes I had been meaning to talk more about how Daniel and Cole first met, and I had wanted to bring them closer as friends, as well as father and son, so I decided to do that in this chapter. I also wanted to shift things towards the beginning of Kevin's parents coming to know more about Cole, as well as the fact that Kevin is dating Cole, and I figured that here in this chapter would be a good place to begin those events. I hope you like how I handled all of that. I'll be continuing on with the closing events of this chapter in the next chapter, and I hope you enjoy that as well. Having said all that, I hope everyone is staying safe, doing well and I'll see all of you in Chapter Ten.