It is not my intention to offend anyone or to get you in trouble.

The author retains all rights to this original story. Please do not publish without explicit authorization from me.

Disclaimer:
This story is completely fictional. Most of the places mentioned, and none of the characters exist in real life. Some may possess physical or personality characteristics of people I know or have known. But if you see yourself in this story, your imagination is better than mine!

All best, Jon

If you like my story, drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you: seperatepiece@hotmail.com

Matt and Jon

Chapter 26

The next week was a full one for the boys. The teachers were starting to get serious as the semester moved on, and they all had quite a bit of work. Jamie had taken to doing his homework with the gang whenever he could. They let him use their computers, which was a luxury he wasn’t accustomed to. There were several old ones at his school, but there was always a long waiting list to use them. Jon had given him a little USB jump drive so he could transport his work wherever he went. Jamie didn’t want to accept it at first, until Jon assured him that he’d gotten it for free when his family signed up for cable vision and he never used it.

Jamie always seemed to be done with his homework first. Todd studied him as he put his books away.

“How come you always breeze through your homework while we’re still struggling?” He asked with a pout.

Jamie laughed. “They don’t expect much from us at my school, I guess. It’s pretty easy.”

Todd asked Jamie to show him, so Jamie dragged out his work and spread it on the table. Todd peered over his shoulder at the neatly written pages. He glanced at the math worksheets, and the take home quiz from social studies.

“Jamie, you’re on the same level as we are at Jefferson, only you do it in half the time...and it’s good!” Todd stared at Jamie in disbelief.

Jamie shrugged. “School work always came easy to me. Do you really think it’s good?”

“Jamie, you must be some kind of genius or something. You should be in all accelerated classes.” Todd remarked excitedly.

Jamie laughed. “Hey, hold on. I’m certainly not a genius, just good at school work. I don’t know, it just sort of comes naturally to me. Besides, there are no accelerated classes at South Side. It’s an okay school, I guess, but we don’t have anything but the basics.”

Trevor regarded him thoughtfully. “Jamie, your teachers must realize that you’ve got higher than average potential. Isn’t there something they can do?”

Jamie sighed. “There’s like 35 kids in each class. Most of the teachers’ time is taken up with the troublemakers. There are a bunch of us that just do our work and don’t cause problems. I guess they’re too busy trying to keep order.”

Matt thought about how he most surely would have fallen through the cracks in an environment like that without teachers like Miss Selwitz who didn’t give up on him.

“Mr. Doyle is cool.” Jamie pondered. “He gives me stuff to read.”

“Like what?” Stacey asked.

Todd rummaged in his back pack and produced a book and handed it to her. Stacey thumbed through the pages of Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant.

“I just finished this one, kind of dry, but I found it interesting. It made me think.” He fished in the well worn pack and produced another volume.

“This one is much more fun to read.” He said as he handed her a dog eared copy of Moby Dick.

Andy measured the thickness of the book with his fingers. “Wow!”

Everyone at the table laughed. They were all used to the way Andy judged which book to pick from the reading list.

Andy grinned around the table. “Hey, you guys think you’re so smart. You get the same credit for reading a short book as you do for a long one, you know.”

They all bent back over their work. Jamie picked up the book and read contentedly while he waited for his friends to finish. Andy threw his pen down in frustration.

“I just don’t get this. It’s so stupid. I’m never going to use algebra anyway. What’s the point?” He asked of no one in particular.

Marla put a soothing hand on his shoulder. Jamie put down his book and pulled the worksheet toward him. He studied it for a minute.

“Andy, why don’t we go into the kitchen so we won’t disturb the others? I think I can explain this to you so you understand it.”

Andy shrugged. “Beats me how you make sense out of all this X and Y bull.”

Jamie laughed. “Instead of X and Y, why not…a sandwich…and a sailboat? It’s really easy once you get the hang of it. You just have to remember that whatever you do to one side of the equation, you have to do to the other side. Come on, I’ll show you.”

Andy followed Jamie into the kitchen and closed the door. As the others worked, they heard occasional fits of laughter coming from behind the closed door. The two returned to the dining room just as the rest of them were putting away their books.

“Jamie’s right. This is really easy if you think about it in a different way.” Andy enthused.

Trevor snatched the piece of scrap paper out of Andy’s hand. He glanced at it before Andy was able to grab it back, and read: boob x pubic hair²

Trevor doubled over laughing while Andy blushed. “What happened to sandwiches and sailboats?”

Andy shrugged. “Hey, he said to pick something I can relate to.”

Trevor looked at Marla and Stacey. “Trust me, you DON’T want to know.”

Marla shook her head. “I have a pretty good idea.” A sly smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Andy put his arm around Jamie and gave him a squeeze. “Thanks man. I never could have done this without your help.”

Jamie beamed from ear to ear. He was so pleased to have something to contribute to the gang that had helped him so much.

When Ann arrived home from shopping, there was a bucket brigade of enthusiastic teens to get the groceries into the kitchen. Jon and Matt helped her put things away while the others sat around the kitchen table, sipping sodas and chatting. The conversation turned to the upcoming Fall Fair at the church.

“I’m manning the spin art booth.” Jon interjected. “Matt wouldn’t let me do cotton candy, too much temptation.” He added with a chuckle.

They all planned to go and enjoy the day.

Jamie seemed lost in thought. LittleTom jogged him back to the present. “Hey Jamie, you going?”

Jamie smiled. “Saturday is the day my brother is coming. I guess I’ll have to miss the fair. What time does it end? Alan wants to take us for pizza, so we could meet up with you afterwards. That way we could spend the day together and get to know each other again.”

They all agreed that it was a good plan. Ann offered Bill’s services as chauffer for the outing, although she expected that the Kents would want to go along as well, so there would be ample transportation available for all of them.

One by one, they all headed for home, except for Jon. Eric had invited Ryan for dinner, and LittleTom asked if he could come too. Eric gave him a knowing smile and extended the invitation to include him. He made a mental note to have that talk with his sister.

Ann went downtown to meet Bill, Dan and Shelley for an early dinner and a movie. She left money for the boys to order Chinese. It was a school night, so Jon couldn’t sleep over, but they were thrilled to have even a few hours alone. His parents had arranged to pick him up after the movie.

Matt went to the kitchen drawer where they kept the take-out menus and began leafing through them. Jon came up behind him and wrapped his arms around him and leaned his head on Matt’s shoulder.

“Ummmm, what I want isn’t on the menu.” He purred softly in Matt’s ear.

Matt dropped the paper back into the drawer and turned to face Jon. They began to kiss, pressing their lips together. Eventually, their tongues were sensuously invading each other’s mouths. When they broke the kiss, Matt whispered, “I missed you.”

“Yeah, I missed you too.” Jon replied breathily.

“Jon, let’s go upstairs. I really want to make love to you right now.”

Jon undid his belt buckle and let his pants fall to his ankles. “I can’t wait. Let’s do it here.” He whispered as he stepped out of his pants.

Matt grinned as Jon began stripping him as well. He moaned when Jon pressed his brief covered crotch against his own and ground into him while sharing a wet and sloppy kiss.

“Matt! Don’t you dare cum yet.” Jon panted in Matt’s ear.

“Then you’d better stop what you’re doing RIGHT NOW!” Matt hissed through gritted teeth.

Jon pulled back and both boys relieved each other of their remaining clothing in a desperate tangle of arms and legs. Matt sunk to his knees and took Jon’s cock into his mouth and swirled his tongue around the head. He worked his lips up and down the length of Jon’s shaft while delicately playing with his balls. When he felt Jon’s scrotum tighten, he abruptly ceased his oral ministrations, causing Jon to practically scream. He pushed Jon down onto the kitchen table and put his legs over his shoulders. He glanced around and saw the salad oil cruet on the lazy susan and lubed himself and his eager partner with the slimy stuff.

Matt entered Jon slowly and sensuously. He was totally devoted to giving him the ride of his life. Jon gasped and moaned as Matt slid in to the hilt and slowly pulled back. He increased his pace as Jon bucked and squirmed with delight. Matt was amazed that he held off as long as he did, but eventually, the familiar sensation began building to a crescendo. He grabbed Jon’s dick in his oily hand and began to pump it. Jon squealed as the first spurt jetted out of him, catching Matt on the chin. The contractions on Matt’s cock from Jon’s inner muscles sent him into blissful orgasm deep inside Jon’s body.

Jon pulled Matt down onto him and hugged him tightly. “It just keeps getting better.” He whispered between kisses.

“Yeah.” Matt barely managed to respond.

When their passion subsided, both boys felt a little foolish being naked in the kitchen, so they hurriedly wiped themselves off with paper towels and dressed.

Matt picked up the discarded menu. “What do you want to eat?”

Jon thought a minute. “Uh, how about beef with broccoli?”

Matt ran his finger down the list and laughed. “One order of “69” coming up!”

Jon looked puzzled, so Matt showed him the menu, pointing to the column of numbers corresponding to the different dishes.

Jon winked. “Maybe for dessert.”

When the food arrived, they settled in the living room and watched TV as they ate. When they finished, Jon glanced at his watch.

“We have about half an hour before their movie lets out. Ready for dessert?”

Matt laughed. “Okay, but let’s go upstairs. I won’t be able to face my mom over the kitchen table as it is.”

They both chuckled as they bounded up the stairs.

The next morning as Jon came down to breakfast, Shelley handed him a check.

“This is for your yearbook voucher. Today is the deadline.” She explained.

Jon pocketed the check. “I don’t know why we have to pay in advance. Why can’t we just buy them when they’re ready?”

“They have to know how many to have printed. Not all the kids buy them.” She told him.

Jon shrugged as he flipped through the morning paper. On his way to school, he met up with Matt and they walked the rest of the way together. They saw Todd and Joel as they rounded the corner of School St., and picked up their pace a little to catch up to them.

“Hey!” Matt called out. “Wait up.”

Joel stopped, but Todd kept on going until Joel playfully grabbed the hood on his sweat shirt, pulling him up short. Todd spun around. His face lit up when he saw his friends. When they caught up, Todd enthusiastically hugged them both.

“Guys, Joel came out to his parents last night!” He blurted excitedly.

Matt threw out his arm and pulled Joel into the embrace. “I guess it went well or Todd wouldn’t be so happy.”

For the rest of the walk, Joel told them all about it.

“It’s funny. I didn’t really mean to tell them just then, but it just kind of came out of my mouth.” He began.

“They were asking about school and scouts and how everything was going when all of a sudden my dad asked if I had my eye on any of the girls. Without even thinking, I just blurted out that Todd is my boyfriend. Dad almost choked on his roast beef, and mom started to cry. At first I was really scared, but dad managed to swallow, and asked me if I was kidding. I said I was serious, and that had known I was gay for awhile now.”

“What did he say?” Jon asked.

“Well, he said that he was glad I told them, and if I wanted to talk to someone about it, he’d send me to a therapist.”

Matt laughed. “Ry told me that Eric’s folks wanted to send him to a shrink too. He told them he was gay, not crazy.”

It was Joel’s turn to laugh. “I wish I’d thought of that one. Anyway, I tried to explain that I didn’t have a problem with it, it’s just the way I am. In fact, I’m happier now than I’ve ever been. Mom finally said that if I had to be ‘that way,’ why couldn’t I have at least found a nice Jewish boyfriend.”

Todd laughed. “Maybe I’ll convert, only I don’t know if I could learn to read lips in Hebrew.”

Joel hugged him briefly and went on with the story. “Anyway, that really cracked up my father, and pretty soon we were all laughing. They both told me that they loved me and that they’d support me in any way I chose to live my life. My folks are pretty liberal people. They just have to adjust to the idea. It doesn’t hurt that they really like Todd.”

They walked up the steps and entered the lobby where the yearbook staff had set up a table. They waited on line and handed over their checks and received their vouchers that entitled them to one of the books at the end of the year.

Matt and Todd were involved in an animated conversation, and Joel went to get something from his locker. Jon’s gaze wandered around the lobby and landed on Shade. He saw him through the window, sitting on the front steps moving in rhythm to whatever was being pumped through the earbuds that he was wired to. Jon slipped away unnoticed and made his way outside and approached Shade. He knew Matt would be angry at him for going alone, but he had to do it.

Shade looked up at Jon standing before him, his hand outstretched, offering him his voucher. “What the hell is this?” He asked, looking suspiciously at Jon.

“It’s a yearbook voucher. Take it. I don’t need it. Matt and I only need one for the two of us.” Jon said, smiling down at his sworn enemy.

Shade scowled at him. “What makes you think I’d want to remember this dump?”

Jon laughed nervously. “Come on Shade, you must have had some good times here. You’re a senior. You’ll be leaving at the end of the year. Go on, take it.”

Shade stood up, towering over Jon and snatched the slip of paper out of his hand. He started to walk away and stopped at the entrance and mumbled without turning, “Thanks,” and continued on into the building.

Jon looked up into the clouds. “Thanks God. It’s a start anyway.”

Jon’s absence was barely missed when he rejoined the others as they made their way to homeroom. The morning classes went by quickly, and soon they were in the cafeteria having their lunch. The usual banter floated around the table, but Todd seemed to be in a world of his own.

Several of them had things to do before the next classes, and they all started to drift off. Todd put a hand on Jon’s shoulder.

“Jon, do you have a minute? I have something I really need to ask you. In private.”

Jon could tell it was important and readily agreed. He led Todd down the hall to one of the piano practice rooms. Usually students had to get a key from the music department to use them, but Jon had been given his own. Once they were seated in the little soundproof room, Jon smiled at Todd.

“What’s on your mind?” He asked encouragingly.

“Jon…this isn’t easy…you see…Joel and I have never…you know…we both decided to wait…and I was just wondering what it’s like with you and Matt.”

Jon smiled. “What Matt and I have is very special, but we’ve known each other all our lives. When we got together, it just seemed so natural. When we’re…together…it’s like we’re one person. It’s incredible. You and Joel will know when it’s right for you. No need to rush anything. When it happens, it should be special.”

Todd smiled weakly. “When we kiss, I have that same feeling. I just think I’m ready to go further; it’s just that I don’t want to freak him out. How can I tell?”

“Take it slow. The next time you kiss, try touching him a little through his pants and see how he reacts. If he doesn’t like it, talk to him about it. You have to be honest with him about how you feel. Tell him what you just told me.”

Todd considered what Jon said. “I could do that, I guess. It’s just that I love what we have now, and I don’t want to do anything to screw it up.”

“If you really love each other, and I think you do, you won’t screw anything up.” Jon grinned wickedly and pointed at his friend’s distended lap. “If Mr. Happy there is any indication, I’d say you’re ready to take the next step.”

Todd blushed and giggled as he rearranged himself in his jeans. “Yeah, it gets like that a lot lately.”

Todd hesitated for a moment. “Jon…there’s something else. I can tell when we kiss that Joel has a real big one. I’ve felt it on my leg. Mine’s kind of…well…on the small side of average. Do you think he’ll be disappointed?”

Jon couldn’t help but find it ironic that Joel had been the one who thought he wasn’t good enough for Todd, and now Todd was the one feeling inadequate.

“Todd, that’s not going to matter to him in the least. He loves you. Besides, there are some advantages to not being hung like a horse. Believe me. Joel is the unusual one in that regard. I’ll bet you measure up just fine.”

Todd stood up without warning, and unzipped his fly, freeing his erection. “What do you think, honestly?”

Jon was startled by the candid display. “It’s uh…fine Todd. It’s about the same size as Matt’s, and that’s plenty for me. I never thought I’d be saying this, but you have a very nice penis. Certainly nothing to be ashamed of.”

Todd grinned. “You really think so?”

Jon nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure Joel will love it.” Jon glanced at his watch. “We have about 10 minutes until class, so, uh, I think I should leave you alone with your…thoughts.” He said as he rummaged in his bag and tossed a pocket sized pack of tissues on the piano.

Todd blushed to the very roots of his hair as Jon headed for the door. “Just be sure to lock the door when you’re finished…practicing.” Jon said with a wink as he stepped into the hall and closed the practice room door behind him. He shook his head and laughed to himself as he headed to his locker.

After school, they all met at the sweet shop. Once seated around the table, they chatted excitedly about their weekend plans. They decided to see if they could have a sleepover so they could all go to the church fair together on Saturday. Jon called Shelley at work and got the go ahead and they all headed for home to get permission and collect what they’d need for the night.

Jamie wheeled up to them on the sidewalk, and Jon asked him if he wanted to sleep over.

“Yeah, sure,” he began enthusiastically, “but…could I borrow some p,j,’s? I usually just sleep in my underwear.” He said somewhat bashfully.

They all laughed. “Don’t worry, you’ll fit right in.” Matt assured him, and filled him in on the history of the “underwear avengers.”

Jamie shrugged his shoulders. “Cool with me, just don’t try anything.” He said with a wink, which brought laughter from his friends.

They made their way to the Kent’s house. No one was home yet, so they set up in the dining room and did their homework in companionable silence. They were just finishing when Shelley arrived home. They greeted her in the kitchen, as she began to take things out of the refrigerator and begin her dinner preparations.

Jamie put on his jacket and asked Jon what time he should come back for the sleepover. Jon shrugged.

“Why don’t you stay and eat with us? That’s okay, isn’t it mom?” He added as an afterthought.

Shelley agreed absently, while cutting onions for the pot roast she was working on.

Jamie looked uncomfortable. “I don’t want to be any trouble…”

Shelley put down her Chinese cleaver and smiled at him. “All of Sam and Jon’s friends know they are welcome in our home and at our table anytime. All I ask is a little warning if it’s going to be a mob.” She smiled as she playfully rolled her eyes at Jon.

Jamie grinned. He could feel the warmth in her eyes spread through his body. “Thanks Mrs. Kent, but you have to let me help. I do most of the cooking in my family, so I know what I’m doing.” He offered.

Shelley regarded him thoughtfully. “It’s a deal, I’ll put you on salad detail. Help yourself to the phone if you have to call home.”

Jamie colored slightly. “Um…we don’t have a phone.”

It embarrassed him that his family didn’t have something so basic that most people took it for granted, but he’d promised himself that day at the Barker’s cook out, that he’d never lie to his new friends.

Shelley didn’t turn a hair. She just went back to her slicing. “I guess you could run home real quick and tell them. I wouldn’t want them to worry.”

“It’s okay. They pretty much let me go my own way as long as I help out around the house and they don’t get any bad news from school. They pretty much trust me to do what I have to do.”

“Well, it seems they’re raised a very independent young man.”

Jon got out the salad ingredients while Jamie washed his hands. Shelley made him some room at the counter and he got to work on his masterpiece. He even mixed up his special vinaigrette dressing to top it off.

Dan’s car pulled in the driveway. He came through the kitchen door to the peaceful domestic scene. He looked over at Jon and Matt, sitting at the table sipping sodas.

“It looks like these two are doing all the work here. What are you two good-for-nothings contributing to the proceedings, your sparkling wit?” He commented with a smirk.

Jon pretended to be offended. “Hey! We’re doing cleanup.”

Dan came over and messed up his son’s hair. “I knew there was a reason we kept you around.”

He’d used that same line many times with both his boys over the years, but now he realized that Jamie might not find it so funny because of what his father had done to his brother.

“Jamie, I’m sorry…I didn’t mean…”

“It’s okay Mr. Kent. It didn’t bother me. Alan’s coming tomorrow. That’s all that matters.” His smile lit up the room, as he went back to work on the salad.

After dinner, the boys, true to their word, cleared the table and did the dishes. Jamie pitched in, and they finished just as Andy came through the kitchen door. Ryan, LittleTom and Eric arrived next from their dinner at Eric’s. Tom had taken Jane and Todd to dinner at Pizza Hut, so he brought him home with him after he dropped Jane off. Joel walked up the driveway just as they were pulling in. Trevor was coming a little later after a movie date with Stacey.

They all congregated in the den and watched a movie. Shelley brought them popcorn halfway through the film, warning them that she’d just vacuumed, and there’d better not be “one crumb” when they were done.

After the movie finished, they played a few hands of cards, but no one was really in to it. It had been a long week and they all felt tired. They talked for awhile about the fair and things in general. One by one they fell asleep. Jamie was the last one awake, so he turned off the lamp and settled in among the bodies.

He felt warm and content listening to the gentle breathing around him. He smiled in the darkness. For the first time since his brother left, he felt truly safe and loved. In his mind he replayed for the millionth time the last time he’d seen Alan. He’d been asleep in the room they shared when he heard his father shouting in the kitchen. A few minutes later, Alan came in and stuffed some clothes in his backpack. He sat on the edge of Jamie’s bed and hugged him.

He held Jamie at arm’s length. “Don’t ever forget you have a brother who loves you.”

Then he was gone. Jamie opened his eyes in the den and stared out at the darkness. He began to sob softly when he felt a hand smaller than his own take his hand in the darkness.

LittleTom whispered, “are you okay?”

Jamie squeezed his hand in the dark. “Yeah. I think I finally am.”

Well, that's it for chapter 26. As always, thank you to all who wrote this time. I have lot's of ideas for future chapters. All I need is the time to get to it. Let me know what you think.

All best, Jon