Date: Sat, 2 Oct 2010 01:47:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: J.P.G. <jacobmillertex@aol.com>
Subject: Regrets and Heartaches: Chapter 6

{Regrets and Heartaches is pure fiction. As I am writing this story, I am
above the age of 21. If you want a story with lots of sex, look
elsewhere. This is a love story. Seeing as it is a love story, sex is in
there, but it's in realistic balance in the characters' lives.

Any similarity to any real events, names, or life events is purely
accidental. If you are a underage, (according to your state laws as a
minor), if this literature is offensive to you or to anyone around your
viewing area, or it is illegal for you to view such content where you are
reading it, stop reading the story.

This story cannot be distributed in anyway, shape or form without my
expressed consent. I will like to give a shout out to a reader that has
helped me with ideas where the story is, thank you!}

Written by J.P.G.


Chapter 6

Once they arrived at school, they headed over to the cafeteria. As soon as
they grabbed their breakfast, Caleb found his friends. They went over and
sat with him and almost immediately, Joey felt as if he were not even
there.

Lonnie, Kurt, Ivan in a couple other guys that Joey hadn't met yet pulled
Caleb into there conversation. So Joey, Alan and Fran continue their
conversation they had before they picked up Caleb. As soon as they finished
eating, they got up and headed over to the register's office with out
telling Caleb. He was too involved with his friends from the football team
to really realize that Joey had left.

As they arrived at the register's office, Fran left Joey and Alan at the
door. They headed straight to the registrar clerk as soon as they walked
in. Joey lied to the clerk in order to get Alan registered. He told her
that he is a cousin that moved in from El Paso, and will be staying with
him for the remainder of the year.

Since Alan has a disability his classes are different than Joey's. They
knew that when they walked in that they will not have any classes
together. After getting his schedule, Alan and Joey headed off to find
Alan's locker.

The minute they found the locker the bell rang for the first period
class. Joey knows where his first period class is, so he helped Alan find
his. After Joey left Alan at his class he had to run to make it before the
tardy bell rang. He walked in the doors right as the bell rang. He looked
around and saw Caleb waiving him over.

Joey walked over to Caleb and sat down at the desk that he saved for
him. As soon as Joey sat down, the teacher started to take roll call and
than went right into the requirements of the class. Every now and then
Caleb tried to get Joey to talk to him, but Joey would act as if he is
writing something down or paying attention to what the teacher is saying at
the time.

The bell rang; they headed off to their second period class. Caleb had to
run to catch up to Joey in the hallway. Once he caught up to Joey, he
patted Joey on the shoulders to get his attention. Joey looked at Caleb as
they walked down the hall.

"What is wrong with you, Joey? You disappeared during breakfast, and you
refuse to talk with me during class. Then the bell rang, and you ran out of
there as if there were a fire in the classroom. I yelled for you and I had
to run in order to catch up. What is going on?"

"The minute we got to the table you started chatting with your friends and
ignored me. Your friends don't like me and you know that. They don't even
acknowledge my presence whenever I'm around. I'm fine with that, honestly,
I am. I don't need them or anyone like me to be my friends.

From now on we need to figure out a way that you can hang with your
friends, and I'm not a bother. So what we should do is during lunch and
breakfast. You sit with them, and I will either sit alone or with Alan if
he has the same lunch break."

Caleb was lost for words as they reached their second period
classroom. They sat down and he started to think on how it looked this
morning. He couldn't believe that Joey is actually right about what had
happened.

Not only had he ignored Joey. He actually moved completely across the
bench. He didn't even notice Joey was gone until the bell rang. He is
comfortable with Joey, so why didn't he pull Joey into his conversation
with his friends. This action makes them worse than his friends, because he
says one thing and does something else.

The rest the morning, Joey and Caleb talked during class, but never
mentioned what happened at breakfast. They acted as if what had happened in
the morning had actually not happened. Caleb felt guilty, but again Joey
didn't rub it in.

When the lunch bell rang, Joey told Caleb that he's going to go and get
Alan. They reached their lockers and put away the morning books. Joey went
to Alan's locker to get him for lunch. Caleb headed straight to the
cafeteria to get his tray and the table.

Joey didn't find Alan at his locker but he found him at the entrance of the
cafeteria. They walked in and found Caleb sitting at the table with his
friends. Joy put down his tray and pulled Alan out of the line.

"Why don't we go off campus and eat lunch instead of being in here? I
really don't feel like eating what they are serving for lunch today."

Alan just looked at Joey, but didn't say a word. They headed off campus and
grabbed lunch at the Subway a couple blocks away. As they ate. They chatted
about their morning classes on what they like and don't like so far. It
seemed like they both had the same complaints about their teachers and
their classes.

As they headed back to school. Joey noticed his uncle's car parked in the
street with his uncle and mother in it. He debated with himself on either
going up to see what they were doing or just calling the police. He decided
to be safe and to call the police. He doesn't know why they are there, and
if they have any weapons.

After he got off the pay phone with 911 Joey walked over to see if his
mother and uncle are still waiting in their car. To his surprise, he found
them still there. A few minutes later, the police drove up behind Dominic
and Beth. They started the car, but one of the officers got down and
stopped them in time.

"We got a phone call about a suspicious vehicle parked here at the
school. This vehicle matches the description and license plate number
given. Why are you parked out here on the side of the school?"

Dominic looked over to Beth and back over to the officer. "We are here to
speak with our son and daughter and make sure they're okay on their first
day of school." He answered the officer with a shaky voice.

"Let me see your driver's license and insurance please!" The officer asked
as the other officer walked up on the other side of the vehicle.

Dominic pulled out his driver's license and his insurance card to hand to
the officer. The officer walked back over to his patrol car and radioed
in. A few minutes later, he walked back up to the car and handed Dominic
back his proof of insurance and driver's license.

"You are not supposed to be here and you know that. There is a restraining
order on both of you. If you are caught at this school again, you will be
arrested. This is the only chance that we are going to give you. Do you
understand what I am telling you?"

Dominic and Beth both shook their heads in agreement to the officer. The
officer stepped back and let them leave. They headed over to their patrol
car as an undercover car drove up behind them. The detective that was
investigating the robbery at Joey's house stepped out of the vehicle and
walked up to the patrol car.

"Where are Dominic and Beth Alvarez? I understand that we got a call that
they were stalking Joey and his sister."

The officers looked at the detective not understanding why he came out on a
routine call. They got out of the patrol car to speak with detective.

"We gave them a warning and let them go. The call that we got was a
suspicious vehicle, not a stalking call. If we knew that it was a stalking
call we would have arrested them on the spot. This kind information needs
to be given to us when we call into dispatch."

"Dam it, now I can't even go to their house and arrest them. They have to
be arrested as they are breaking the restraining order. Now I will have to
go in front of a judge and let the judge know that they broke the
restraining order. More than likely the judge will just let it go. Like you
did, because you did not execute the restraining order."

The officers argued with detective about what leeway they have when it
comes to routine calls. Since they didn't execute restraining order and
cannot go back and correct it, the officers and the detective went on their
way.

Joey walked back into the building upset that nothing actually got done. As
he headed to his locker to get his note book and pencils, Cesar caught up
to him. Cesar started talking, but was out of breath and had to lean
against the wall.

"You completely ignored me during lunch. I thought we settled this issue
about my friends and you. Then you just completely spaced out and did not
even show up for lunch. That really sucks, you know, Joey."

"Look I did go to the lunch room, but again, you were with your friends. I
will not sit there at the same table and be ignored. I told you that
already. I have no problem with you wanting to hang out with your friends.

I am not one of those types of people that demand their significant other
to be with them all the time once they are together. Have fun with your
friends here at school. We work together and we see each other almost every
night."

Cesar just leaned against the wall looking at Joey trying to figure out
what is going through his mind. One thing is for sure. There is something
going on, and Joey doesn't want to tell him what it is. So he decided to
just leave it alone for now, and maybe later as well. Cesar can't figure
out a way to get his friends to hang with Joey as well.

Joey and Cesar headed different directions when the bell rang. This is the
only period during the day that Joey and Cesar don't have together. Cesar
has PE and Joey has his ROTC class.

The minute that Joey walked into the door, his instructor pulled him to the
side. "Joey I know that we told you that you're not going to be the company
commander for this company, but we need you in another slot. Our battalion
executive officer did not sign up for her final semester, which leaves us
in a bind.

A company commander slot is easier to fill than a battalion executive
officer. We can groom you for the battalion commander position for next
year as we were doing with the old executive officer. What do you think
Joey; can you help us out and pick up the ball?"

Joey just looked at Colonel Chandler. He saw what Jacob went through on
Battalion staff. He knows that most of that was probably caused by Major
Moore. Joey knows that he is ready, but that he also has enough problems on
his plate right now. He cannot afford or want anymore problems added to his
already confusing life.

"Colonel Chandler, I would really like to be on Battalion staff.  But in my
last school, my friend is the battalion commander and everyday he has to
worry about having the position. He does so much for that battalion and he
continues to get kicked back down."

"I have heard rumors about the senior army instructor down there. Let me
say this, I do not run my battalion that way. You guys know your positions,
and we are either going to succeed or not on you guys' leadership."

"I want to tell you the truth from the beginning. I have no plans on going
into the military after high school. They won't let me in because of my
lifestyle anyways. Maybe it will be best that you promote someone else that
is going to go into the military after graduation."

"Joey, I would not have offered this position to you if I did not know all
the facts. I have to call your battalion and ask why would a junior
transfer in the middle of his semester. I spoke with Major Moore, and he
told me a lot of things. Most of what he told me I am going to ignore.

He did tell me what a great shooter you are. He also told me about your
relationship with another cadet. I don't care anything about that. What I
care about is getting the right people in the right positions. No one else
in my battalion is ready for this position, except you. We can groom you
for battalion commander and maybe brigade staff next year."

Joey stood there in front of Colonel Chandler trying to see if he is a
'wolf in sheep clothing.'  He figured that he shouldn't judge the entire
ROTC program by the way Major Moore ran his program. That isn't right and
he is better than that.

"Okay, I will be proud to take that position. I know that I am up for the
task and I will not let you down." Joey finally spoke as he shook Colonel
Chandler's hand.

The rest of the day went by pretty quickly. Before Joey knew it, he found
himself walking to his locker to gather what homework he has to do. He and
Cesar have lockers next to each other. So they only have to find Fran and
Alan.

As they walked out to the truck, they found Fran and Alan standing there
waiting for Joey. He got to the truck and unlocked the doors. On the way
home, they chatted about their first day back to school. Alan had the
hardest time keeping up with the conversation because he couldn't see
Joey's and Cesar's lips as they talked.

Helen gave Joey and Cesar the day off because of it being their first day
back to school. Joey and Cesar planned to spend the evening together days
before school had started. Now Cesar is thinking it might not have been a
good idea doing so. Cesar doesn't know what is going on with Joey. He is
confused about his behavior to say the least.

Once they stepped into the house and deactivated the alarm. Joey wanted to
speak with Fran before she headed off to do her homework. He didn't care if
Cesar and Alan listened in on what he has to say to Fran.

"Before I start or say anything let me say this. I don't have any
answers. Alan and I went off campus for lunch today, and when we
returned. I spotted mom and Dominic parked on the side of the school. I
didn't want to take any chances on confronting them.

So, I called the police, and they came down. I didn't go over to find out
what was being discussed, but the police let them go. The reason I'm
telling you this, is there has to be a reason why they were there. You know
mom just as well as I do.  There is always a reason for what she does.

For now on, I want you to meet me at my locker after school, not the
truck. If you step outside of the school during the day and make sure you
are with somebody. Do not go near mom or Dominic if they show up again.

I am pretty sure they are not after me. They want you without question and
they are willing to do anything to make that happen.  I have always left it
up to you on who you want to live with. If you ever change your mind and
you want to go back to mom, just tell me. I will not be angry if that is
what you want to do."

"Joey, I have told you this since the day mom moved out of this house. I do
not want to live with her and Uncle Dominic. I want to live with you and
only you. I will never change my mind on that.

As far as leaving this school, I will not do that unless I'm with you or
you two." Fran pointed to Caleb and Alan. "While you're home alone I will
not answer the door to her or Uncle Dominic much less go to their car if
they call me over."

Joey felt satisfied with the answer he got from his sister. He let her go
back to her room to do her homework, or whatever she had planned to
do. Joey and Caleb walked over to Joey's room. Leaving Alan in the living
room to do what ever he wants to do.

Joey and Caleb quickly did their homework before anything else. They
finished at the same time and Caleb wanted to talk about breakfast and
lunch. He got up from the floor and sat on the bed next to Joey. He grabbed
Joey's hand into his.

"Joey I know you are very uncomfortable with the way my friends are with
you. I will talk with them and tell them that they have to include you in
the conversations. I want to spend every moment that I can with you. That
is the god honest truth Jacob!"

"I know you're not ready Caleb on coming out with your friends. I am not
willing to tell them about me. So I know you are even worse because of the
amount of time you have known them. I just want you to be comfortable with
your decision. If you know your friends will react badly about your
request, and then don't do it. I will just sit there at the table like a
bump on a log. I love you, and I'm willing to do that for you."

With that said, both of the boys got up to head to the kitchen to prepare
dinner. They both felt they made their feelings known on what they had told
one another. Joey started to prepare dinner as Caleb looked on.

Every so often, Caleb would get up and either pinch Joey on the butt or
grab his front end. Joey would not even slap away Caleb's hand. So by the
time Joey started to set the table, Caleb had his hands all over Joey.

After dinner, everyone helped with the clean up. After cleaning up, they
headed over to watch a movie. Caleb and Joey though had something else in
mind that they wanted to do instead of watching a movie. All through the
movie, Joey and Caleb couldn't keep their hands off of each other. At one
point, they had their hands on each others package.

Once the movie ended, Caleb had to go home. So Joey and Caleb jumped in the
truck and headed over on the short ride to Caleb's house. They parked in
the street and started making out. They had each other shirt off when they
heard a car backfire as it passed.

They got up and started laughing. Caleb put on his shirt before he got out
of the truck. He ran around to the driver's side as Joey rolled down the
window. Joey crawled halfway out of the window to reach Caleb in order for
them to kiss.

Joey watched Caleb walk into his house. He didn't leave until he saw that
Caleb got in and shut the door. Once he saw that Caleb shut the door, he
started his truck and headed off home. He couldn't stop thinking of
Caleb. At one point he almost drove off the road because he didn't pay
attention.

The next couple of days went by fast. The school day became routine for
them. Joey and Caleb also returned back to work. Nothing big or news worthy
happened. Joey started to learn his new position in ROTC as well rifle team
practice. Caleb would go to football practice while Joey was at rifle team
practice.

During lunch on Wednesday Joey wasn't paying attention to who is following
him. He walked into the guy's bathroom, and before he knew it. He went
sliding across the dirty wet floor. He quickly got up and turned around to
see Caleb's friends standing there.

Kurt stood guard at the door to make sure no one walked in. Ivan and Lonnie
walked towards Joey. Joey is not about to go down without a fight. One
thing he had learned is that he can no longer allow others to push him
around.

"What the hell are you guys doing? I thought that we are friends, but by
the looks of it. You guys have a totally different idea of what friends
are. If you think you're going to gang up on me and I am going let you beat
me up, you've got another think coming."

"We do not like your kind around here. This is a smaller town than where
you came from. Word gets around and it gets around fast. Everyone knows
about you, your family and how you lived in El Paso.

This is the only time that we are going to be nice about this with you. You
need to leave Caleb alone. Right now he is confused and he doesn't need you
confusing him even more. We are going to help him stay on the straight and
narrow. So you need to step off and go away. The next time we talk, it will
not be as nice as this talk."

All three of them walked out of the bathroom. Joey just stood there,
astonished on the backward thinking of these guys. They know about Caleb,
and they're not willing to let him live his life. This is backwards because
normally the family is the one that reacts like this, not the friends.

Joey walked over to the urinal and did his business. He cleaned himself up
and walked out of the bathroom. Joey didn't have another chance to speak
with Caleb until they headed to work. He decided to just drop it and not
make any waves.

Their shift flew by quickly. Before they knew it, they started cleaning up
the video store. Helen gave the boys permission to take home any videos
they wanted to watch, as long as the videos got back in the store within a
couple of days. As they were leaving, Joey got a couple videos for them to
watch.

Caleb noticed the tires are flat on his side as they walked to the
truck. They looked at the tire and you could see that the tires were
stabbed with a knife. Caleb thought it could only be Joey's mother and
uncle, but Joey now has a few other names to add to his list of
names. People that hate his guts!

Caleb took a ride home with his mother after Joey asked him to do so. Joey
waited for a local tire company to arrive and change out his tires for
him. Once they got them changed out, Joey did not get a home until a little
after midnight.

The next morning Caleb kept telling Joey to file a police report. The
problem with that is that Joey really doesn't know who did it. He could
have been his mother and uncle, but it could have been Caleb's friends as
well. Joey didn't want to tell Caleb about what had happened yesterday
between him and Caleb's friends in the bathroom.

Joey does know one thing for sure, and that is that he can no longer turn
his back on Caleb's friends. He also knows that he has to always be
checking on his truck. He cannot afford the expense on replacing his tires.

All day long between classes, Joey ran out to check on his truck. He kept
doing that as well at work that evening. The only place where the truck is
safe is at home because of the garage. They used it for storage, but the
minute that Joey got home. He cleared it out in order to park his truck in
it during the night.

Caleb started to get a weird feeling not only from Joey, but as well from
his friends. He knows there is something going on between Joey and his
friends, he just doesn't know what it is. Finally during football practice
on Friday, Caleb had enough of wondering.

As they changed out of practice gear, Joey walked up to his friends. He
found them together at Lonnie's locker whispering. Caleb looked at what
they were doing. He couldn't believe his eyes. They are watching a video of
them slashing Joey's tires.

Caleb turned around and walked away. How can he tell Joey that the ones
that slashed his tires weren't his mother and uncle. Instead the ones that
did it are his friends. Caleb cannot understand why his friends would even
do that to Joey. As far as Caleb knows, Joey has not done anything to his
friends.

Caleb finished getting dressed and started heading out of the locker
room. Caleb's friends approached him as he reached the door. It took every
ounce of power in his body to not go off on his friends. Caleb just wanted
to get out of the locker room before he lost complete control and does
something that he's going to regret.

"Your mother told us that you are off tomorrow. So we were wondering if you
wanted to hang with us and do something. We didn't hang that much during
the Christmas holidays, because you were working or with Joey."

"Yeah Lonnie, I am off tomorrow, but already had made plans to hang with
Joey. Why don't we all just do something together?"

All three of them just looked at each other. They thought for sure that
Joey would have told him about what they did to him the other day. They
started to rock back and forth trying to figure out what to say.

"Wait a minute, where are my manners? You guys normally only deal with Joey
if he is not around and slashing tires. Answer me this. What in the world
has Joey done to you guys to deserve this kind of treatment? As far as I
know he has tried everything to be you guys' friend, but you guys go and do
this."

"We did not to anything to his truck or tires. If he has told you that he
is flat out lying to you. You do not want or need a friend like that around
you."

Caleb just stared at his friends. He couldn't believe that Ivan would
actually stand there in front of him and lie like that. Caleb started to
gather his thoughts in order to not say the wrong thing to his friends.

"Joey never said a word to me that he thought it was you guys that slashed
his tires. I got dressed and walked over to you guys to see what your
problem is with Joey. When I walked up, you guys were looking at the video
you had taken that night. It wasn't Joey that said a word, it was you guys
bringing the video here and watching it.

You guys are my best friends, and Joey is also my friend. I have tried
everything to get you guys to get along with Joey. It isn't Joey that
refuses to get along with you guys. It's you guys that refuse get along
with him.

What you guys did to his truck that night cost him in the hundreds of
dollars to replace those tires. Hell, you guys don't care, because if you
did, you would have not done it in the first place. You took away money
that he uses to keep the bills paid in his house and that is not right at
all."

Caleb walked passed his friends into the hallway. As he reached the
entrance to the building, his friends ran up to him and stopped him at the
door. Caleb turned around to see them out of breath, breathing hard.

"Here you are defending a guy that you have only known for a month. Do you
even know anything about him? We had found out a lot about him and didn't
want to tell you. We tried to deal with Joey on our own, but it looks like
that is not working.

We warned him to stay away from you..."

"Wait a fucking minute. You warned Joey to stay away from me. Who in the
hell do you guys think you are? I decide who I hang with and who I
don't. No one, I mean no one makes those decisions for me."

Caleb pushed through his friends and walked out of the building. His
friends followed him out and ran in front of him. They stopped him once
again as he walked towards the parking lot to meet Joey.

"Look you guys are going to make me run late for work. Plus, right now I am
not in the mood to speak with any of you. If I say what is on mind right
now, you guys will regret it. Let's all just take a step back for now."

"No, we are tired of you thinking that Joey is this good person when he is
not. We found out a lot about him. The whole school knows basically
everything that we know, except you it seems. Get your head out of the dirt
and open you fucking eyes Caleb. Joey is no good and he is nothing but bad
trouble."

Lonnie interrupted Ivan and took over. "There are things that you need to
know before you get tied into it. Joey is not the person that he presents
himself to be. He left El Paso under specious circumstances to say the
least.

I don't even know where to start, but I'll just throw it all out for you to
see. First Joey is not straight, and you do not need to get tied into
that. You already know that people are looking at you and thinking that you
are gay. We have defended you every time the rumor starts about you being a
fairy.

Second, he had a boyfriend over there and something happened. What ever
happened is not good. It got so bad that he had to leave in the middle of
the night like a criminal. You know that when a person moves out in the
middle of the night, that is not good.

Third, don't get me started about his mother. Come on Caleb, you have hung
around him enough to know there is something going on there. The other day
when the police were here at the school, they were here because of his
mother. You cannot..."

"ENOUGH DAM IT! I should not have aloud you to go this dam far. Everything
you have told me I know already. Joey has told me and why it happened. He
has not hidden a thing from me. If you would have given him a chance he
would have cleared all this up with you as well."

Caleb started to walk away and turned back around. "Oh one more thing and I
do not care who you tell. The rumors that you guys have been fighting on
behalf, well, you guys have been on the wrong side. I am gay and Joey and I
are together. If you cannot handle that, than I do not want you as
friends."

Caleb's friends just stood there shocked at what the last thing Caleb just
said. They watched their best friend walk away from them. He just threw out
a bomb and didn't wait to see what it had done.

Caleb reached the truck and jumped in. Joey had already been waiting for
him for a little while. Joey looked over at Caleb and saw that he is
shaking. He put the truck into drive and drove out of the school parking
lot. The entire way to work, neither of them said a word to each other.

They walked into work right in time. After clocking in, they walked over
and took over the video store. Being that it is Friday evening; the store
is packed with customers wanting to get the new releases to watch.

Once to settle down, Caleb and Joey started walking around the video store,
straightening out the mess the customers had left. Joey noticed that Caleb
wasn't himself. He wanted to ask what was going on, but he doesn't want to
overstep his bounds.

Just then, Caleb's friends walked into the video store. They walked over to
Caleb and didn't even notice Joey. Joey had been kneeling behind the
counter getting the videos out of the return box when they walked in.

Moments later, Caleb walked up to Joey and told him that he's taking his
break. Caleb walked out of the video store and out of Albertsons all
together. Joey put one and one together and figured out what ever is
bothering Caleb. It has to do with his friends.

As soon as Joey finished checking in the videos he put them back on to the
shelves. After he finished that up, he pulled out the vacuum cleaner and
started to vacuum the store. They are going to have one more rush, but
after that it is going to slow down.

Joey didn't even notice Caleb when he walked back into the store. He felt
someone patting him on the shoulder as his back was turned to the door. As
Joey turned off the vacuum cleaner he turned around to see who needed his
attention. To his surprise he found Caleb's friends standing behind him.

"We know that you are working and you really cannot talk. We spoke with
Caleb, earlier today, and he told us everything. It took us by surprise,
but deep down inside us. We knew that Caleb is gay.

All of us grew up together and almost are like brothers. We love Caleb and
we only want the best for him. He loves you and he is willing to do
anything to keep you. That includes losing us as his friends.

If any of us leave this group, it would be as if we had an arm or leg cut
off. What I guess I am trying to say is that we don't want to lose
Caleb. He is part of us and we really don't care about what he had told us.

Please take our apology on acting like dicks to you. There is no excuse for
what we have done to you the other day in the bathroom and that night. Let
us know how much it cost you to replace your tires and we will give you
back your money. You will not have anything to worry from us anymore. We
would like it if you would give us another chance and hopefully this time
we can become friends, and not enemies."

Joey couldn't believe that Caleb actually took this step with his
friends. That had to take a lot of guts on his part to come out to his
friends. Joey sees that Caleb is going faster than he did when he came out.

When it comes down to the truck, he wants to be a bigger person and not ask
for the money. Joey knows that he really doesn't need the money, but it's
the principle of the thing. If he lets them get away with it this time,
they might try it again on someone else that cannot afford replacing their
tires.

"Caleb is a very good guy, and I am so lucky that he and I met. I promise
you guys that I will do everything to make him happy and not hurt him. I
know if I do that you guys be back and I don't want that. As far as the
cost of the tires, I will go ahead and bring the receipt to school on
Monday."

Lonnie and the guys agreed and shook Joey's hand as they walked back to the
counter to Caleb. They talked for couple minutes to Caleb before leaving
the store. They had noticed that we were about to get into our second rush
of the evening.

Caleb couldn't help but smile, all through the rush. He feels as if he won
a football game all on his own. Caleb finally came out to his friends, and
he didn't lose them. Plus his boyfriend and his friends are going to be
able to try and become friends. That is an accomplishment all on its own.

As soon as the rush ended, Joey and Caleb quickly went to work to clean up
the video store. They want to get out right at closing time not wasting
anytime on cleaning when they can do that right now. Caleb finished
cleaning his part of the store, before Joey did. So instead of just sitting
around, Caleb helped Joey finish cleaning his part of the store.

Once they finished Caleb left to go and get permission from his mother to
stay the night with Joey. He had already got permission to go and watch
movies with him. Now he wants to stay the night with Joey.

It took a little digging on Caleb's part, but his mother finally caved
in. She gave Caleb permission to stay the night. Just as Caleb started to
walk out the door of his mother's office, she called him back in. He turned
around, closed the door behind him and sat back down in the chair.

"I know you and your sister are never going to always tell me the truth on
what you guys do with your boyfriends. With your sister I always have to
worry about her getting pregnant, but with you that is a worry I don't
have. Instead I have a different worry and as a mother I need to ask.

Joey came off a relationship of several years in which they lived together
through all that time. You cannot tell me that Joey and his ex-boyfriend
didn't have relations. I don't think Joey is the type of person that is
going to rush you into something that you are not ready for. Still I am
wondering if you and he have had relations."

"I haven't heard it called that mom. Whenever my friends and I talk about
that, we just call it what it is, sex. You are right that Joey isn't
pressuring me on having sex with him. I have always told your mom that I
will be honest with you about everything. And that has to include this
conversation as well.

Joey and I have kissed a lot, and on New Year's Eve. We went a little
further than just kissing. We didn't have complete sex, but we, you know. I
really don't know how to say it to you mom. I think you know what I am
saying though."

Helen walked around the desk and leaned against it facing Caleb. "You don't
have to finish that statement. I thought you guys did something in your
room that evening. You guys came out way too happy and giggly as if you
guys went a little further.

I cannot keep you from having sex. I want you to always come to me, when
ever you feel the need to. If I continue to pressure you on not having sex
you may not come to me. Just do your father and me a favor. Be safe when
you guys do have sex. I know that you both love each other very much. Just
do your father and me that favor."

Caleb got up from his chair and promised his mother to be safe. He hugged
her, kissed her on the cheek and left the office. Caleb almost ran back to
the video store to give Joey the good news. He has gotten permission to
stay at Joey's house for the night.

Joey finished up with the last customer as Caleb pulled out the videos they
stashed. The only things they have left to do are close off the registers,
and wait for Helen to pick up the money. She makes sure that the draws are
not short.

Helen counted out the drawers and made sure they were not short. Once she
completed counting both draws, the boys were almost out the door. Helen
called them back into the video store. They walked in to see what she
wanted.

"Don't you boys stay up all night watching those movies and eating nothing
but junk food. I want to see all of you guys for breakfast tomorrow morning
at the house. After that, you guys can take off and do whatever you want to
do."

Helen walked around the counter as the boys walked towards the door. "Oh, I
know Joey that you don't have a spare room anymore with Alan living with
you. I also know that neither of you will stay on the couch. Just take care
of my son, and please understand that he is my only son. Excuse me, that
you two are my only sons!"

"Helen I promise to always keep Caleb safe. He means a lot to me. There is
nothing in this world that will hurt him, if I can help it!"

Joey and Caleb waited for Helen at the entrance of the video store. They
both kissed Helen as she passed them. They pulled down the gate and Helen
locked it up. Before leaving, they gave Helen one last hug and walked out
the door.

All the way to Joey's house, they talked about what had happened earlier at
school. Over and over again Caleb kept saying he couldn't believe he
actually came out. He also made it clear to Joey that he does not regret
coming out. He felt it was past due and needed to be done with his friends.

As soon as they walked into the house, Fran and Alan met them at the door
for the videos. They grabbed them and ran into the living room. Joey looked
at Caleb trying to figure out what is going on between his sister and
Alan. They walked into the living room to find them sitting already on the
couch really close to each other.

"I am way too tired to cook anything for dinner. Why don't we just order
pizza or I can go out and get hamburgers from McDonald's or Sonic? I leave
the food choice up to you guys, just as long as I don't have to cook
tonight."

Everyone started talking all at once about what to eat. They all have one
thing in agreement and that is no pizza. Now they have to decide what they
are going to eat instead of pizza. They started going down the list of fast
food restaurants and landed up with choosing McDonald's because of its
variety of choices.

Alan turned off the TV as they all got up and headed out the door. About
five minutes later, they drove into the drive-through of McDonald's. They
quickly ordered, got their food and drinks and headed back home. As they
sat back down in their seats they found that the seats are actually still
warm.

Joey turned off the lights as Alan started the movie. Half way through the
first movie, they all finished eating. Caleb sat down on the floor
stretching on his legs where Joey could lay down on them.

All through the movie, Joey lay down on Caleb's legs and Caleb brushed his
fingers through Joey's hair. Both of them got hard the minute that Joey
laid down. Not once did their hard ons go down during the movie.

At the end of the movie, Joey and Caleb got up from the floor. Caleb
wrapped his arms around Joey as they walked down the hallway to his
room. They said their good nights to Fran and Alan as they closed the door.

Caleb let go of Joey and turned him around. He started to kiss Joey as he
guided him over to the bed. Neither of them even bothered to turn on the
lights. As the fell onto the bed, they both kicked off their shoes.

Caleb looked down at Joey, rubbing his fingers across the side of his
face. He leaned in and started to kiss the side of Joey's neck. Caleb
nibbled on Joey's ear lobe as he kissed his way around to Joey's lips and
than to his other ear lobe.

Caleb got up and pulled Joey up to the sitting position. He pulled off
Joey's shirt and pushed him back down. Caleb un-did Joey's belt, the
buttons to his jeans and pulled them off. Leaving Joey in just his
underwear and white socks laying on the bed.

Caleb went between Joey's legs and started to play with Joey's dick through
his underwear. "I have wanted this in my mouth ever since New Years Eve. I
cannot tell you how many times I woke up dreaming of you and me having
sex. It has made me do a lot of laundry I can tell you that much."

Caleb pulled out Joey's hard cock through the fly of Joey's
underwear. Caleb wrapped his big hands around Joey's dick. With his thumb,
Caleb rubbed Joey's dick head. Causing Joey to shiver each time Caleb's
finger went across the head of Joey's dick.

Without warning, Caleb went down on Joey. This time he didn't gag. He deep
throated Joey's dick, throwing Joey into another world. As Caleb sucked
Joey's dick, he started playing with Joey's balls.

Joey knew if Caleb kept doing this to him, it would not take much more to
make him cum. He pulled Caleb off of his dick and up to his face. Joey
wrapped his hands around the back of Caleb's head and pulled him towards
his face. Their lips touched and they started kissing. Joey could taste his
pre-cum in Caleb's mouth.

He flipped Caleb to his back and got up. Caleb looked up at his boyfriend
with his dick sticking straight out of his underwear. He reached out to
grab Joey's dick, but Joey gently slapped his hand away.

Joey pulled off Caleb's shirt and threw it on the pile with his
clothes. Caleb isn't wearing a belt, so Joey only had to undo Caleb's
buttons to his jeans. He pulled them off with his underwear. Joey quickly
fell to his knees between Caleb's legs.

He grabbed Caleb's dick and put it right into his mouth. Caleb immediately
started to moan the minute Joey started to go up and down on him. He
reached out and grabbed hold of Joey's hair. Caleb started to control the
speed in which Joey is going.

Joey let Caleb's dick slip out of his mouth. He looked up at Caleb and saw
that he has his eyes closed. He reached up and started to play with Caleb's
tits. Caleb started moaning even louder as Joey gently squeezed Caleb's
tit.

Joey let go of Caleb's chest and got up from his knees. He lay down on
Caleb and started kissing him on the lips. Caleb opened his mouth and let
Joey's tongue in. A few minutes later, Joey let Caleb's tongue into his
mouth. They did this for a while until Joey broke the kiss. He looked down
into Caleb's open eyes.

"I really want you inside me Caleb. I have wanted you inside me the day I
saw you. If you are not ready, just say so and I will let it be. If though
you are ready, I really would love it if you would do it."

Caleb just looked at Joey. He reached out and put his hands through Joey's
hair. "I really want to do that for you. I just don't know how to do it
though. Please walk me through it and I will do my best."

Joey shook his head as he got off of Caleb. As he walked over to the
closet, he pulled off his under and threw it on the pile of the rest of the
clothes. He came back with lube and several condoms for Caleb.

"I have been only with Jacob, and we are both clean. But to make you more
comfortable, I bought these condoms for us to use. That way you do not have
to worry about anything while we have sex."

Joey kneeled down between Caleb's legs again. He unwrapped a condom and put
it on Caleb's dick. Joey grabbed the lube, squeezed some on Caleb's dick
and some on his hand. Joey reached around and started to lube up his butt
as he spread the lube around Caleb's dick. Caleb just sat there looking at
what Joey is doing.

"Okay you are going to go really slow at first Caleb. You got to let me
adjust to your huge dick in me!" Caleb started laughing at what Joey
said. "That isn't funny Caleb. You are huge and I love it, but I need to
get use to it.

Now what I am going to do is lay on the bed. You are going to get between
my legs. Put each leg over your shoulder. I will direct your dick to my
hole, you are going to press slowly until you penetrate. Once that happens
go slowly until you are completely in. Rest and then I will take it from
there. Once you get into the groove, I will let you drive."

Caleb got off the bed with his dick sticking straight up. Joey got back on
the bed, on his back. Caleb did as Joey explained to him and crawled
between his legs. Joey lifted his legs, as Caleb placed them over his
shoulders.

Joey grabbed a hold of Caleb's dick, guided it to his hole. Caleb gently
pressed against Joey's hole until his dick broke through. Just as he was
instructed, he slowly, as gently as he could, continued pushing forward.

Caleb has never felt what he is feeling right now. Joey is so tight; Caleb
felt at times that he couldn't push any further.  His dick is so snug
inside Joey; he also didn't think that he could last. He stopped pushing
forward and leaned in to Joey.

"Joey you are so tight, my dick could barely move forward. I am afraid that
if I don't stop pushing, I am going to cum. Man Joey, this feels so dam
awesome. I have never felt this way before. You are showing me feelings I
never knew I had."

"When ever you feel that you are about to cum, stop. Don't move any further
and let yourself fall back from your climax. It will take you several times
to learn how to keep yourself from blowing your load too fast."

Caleb shook his head as he started to kiss Joey. Joey gave Caleb complete
control over their kiss. Caleb didn't even feel when Joey wrapped his hands
around his butt and started pulling him towards Joey.

Caleb hit Joey's prostate, throwing him into another universe. He broke the
kiss and started to moan. Caleb looked down and saw that he is actually
completely inside Joey. He didn't know what to do from there until Joey put
his hands on his hips and started to push him up, which caused Caleb's dick
to exit out of Joey.

Caleb started to moan along with Joey. They started to get so loud; Fran
with Alan could actually hear them in the living room. She knew the minute
she heard their moans what Joey and Caleb were doing.

Caleb felt his dick going back into Joey right as it was about to
completely come out. Joey controlled the flow for a few minutes, and before
Caleb knew it. He started controlling the flow. He got into a rhythm that
satisfied both of them.

It few minutes of Caleb being in control, he reached his climax. Without
warning, Caleb started shooting inside the condom. The reason Joey knew
that Caleb was actually shooting, was because Caleb grabbed a hold of
Joey's shoulders really tight with both hands.

As soon as Caleb finished unloading inside his condom, he fell onto
Joey. Trying to catch his breath, Joey started rubbing his back. Caleb
started to mumble to Joey as he came down from his high.

"Man-o-man, that felt awesome. I have never felt like that before. You are
one awesome love-maker Joey. I can never get tired of making love with
you. I love you Joey, I really, really love you. You make me feel so
alive!"

Caleb rested a few more minutes before he realized that Joey had not gotten
off yet. He rolled off of Joey and pulled off his condom. He threw it in
the waste basket as he stood on the bed and walked behind Joey. Caleb sat
down behind Joey, putting his back against the head board. He pulled Joey
towards him until Joey's back rested on his chest.

"Let me bring you to your climax Joey. I want to return a little of what
you made me feel today." Caleb whispered as he grabbed Joey's dick.

Joey completely rested against Caleb's chest as he started to jerk him
off. Joey's dick never went down, and it didn't take long for him to blow
his load. As Joey started to shoot, the first couple shots hit on the wall
behind them. The next couple actually hit Caleb in the face. Eventually
Joey's shots of cum started hitting him on neck and chest!

Once Caleb drained every drop of cum out of Joey, he let go of his
dick. Joey rested his head on Caleb's chest. Caleb looked down at Joey,
with his right hand. Caleb reached over to Joey's chin and lifted Joey's
face up. Caleb leaned in and started kissing Joey. They kept switching
their tongues back and forth. Neither of them fought for control.

Caleb kept rubbing Joey's chest until he fell asleep. Once Caleb realized
that Joey had fallen asleep, he gently lifted Joey's upper body in order to
crawl out from behind him. Caleb gently laid Joey's head down on the
pillow.

He got off the bed and headed to the bathroom. Caleb returned with several
wash clothes and a dry towel. He started to clean up Joey from his face, to
his chest and finally his dick. The minute Caleb touched Joey's dick, it
got hard instantly again.

He thought about relieving Joey, but decided against it. Caleb finished
cleaning Joey's dick before lifting his balls. He did his best to clean
Joey's crack. After he finished sponge bathing Joey, he dried him
up. Through all this, Joey did not wake up.

Caleb took the wash cloths back to the bathroom before he cleaned himself
up. He returned to the bed, gently pulled the covers from underneath
Joey. He got on the bed and stepped over Joey. Caleb lay down, pulled the
covers over them.

As soon as Caleb settled in, he crawled up to Joey and wrapped his arms
around him. Caleb couldn't stop thinking about how Joey got hard the minute
he touched his dick. He slowly moved his hands down to Joey's dick. He
wrapped his hand around it, and just like before, Joey's dick got hard
instantly. That caused Caleb to get hard as well.

Caleb finally went to sleep with his dick hard as a rock, holding onto
Joey's hard dick. All night long, both boys had sex dreams about each
other, causing their dicks to stay hard. Even at times, Caleb would
actually rub against Joey as they slept.

The next morning they got woken up with loud banging coming from the front
door and then the burglar alarm going off. Joey jumped out of bedding
faster then he has ever done. He ran to his closet and quickly put on some
running pants. Grabbing a bat on the way out of his room, Joey walked up to
the front of the house.

As he passed Fran's room, she started to open the door. Joey whispered to
her to stay in the room and closed the door. He slowly walked down the
hallway until he reached the living room. He peaked around the corner and
saw nothing. He started walking around the living room, kitchen and back to
the living room.

The phone started to ring, causing Joey to jump. As he answered the phone,
he walked over to shut off the alarm in order to hear the person on the
other end. It is the alarm company trying to find out if everyone is okay
and that they have already dispatched the police to their residence.

After answering a few questions, Joey noticed the back door open. He walked
over to see the door had been kicked in. He quickly walked back to the
living room letting the alarm company know what he just saw. They
instructed Joey to not look around the house, just get everyone out of the
house.

Just as Joey started his way down the hall to get the others, a masked
person jumped Joey from behind. Before Joey could react, the guy flipped
Joey around and started hitting him in the face. Joey raised his arms in
order to defend off the attack.

Joey didn't even see Caleb coming out of the room, but neither did the
attacker. Caleb kicked the attacker in the face. He grabbed the bat on the
ground and started to hit the intruder several times as he made a run for
the back door. Caleb continued to chase him, hitting him several more
times. Caleb watched the intruder limping and holding his right arm as he
ran and jumped the fence.

Caleb ran back into the house and straight over to Joey. He fell to the
floor and grabbed a hold of him. "Are you okay Joey, are you okay? You
should have never left the room like you did. That crazy fuck looked like
he wanted to kill you."

"I know it did look like he wanted to kill me. That means it is someone I
know that wants to do me harm. That leaves only two people with that much
hate. Look over there..." Joey pointed to a knife on the ground. "If you
didn't come out when you did, he would have stabbed me with that knife."

Just then, they heard knocking in the door and than the person yelling that
they are the police. Caleb got up, pulling Joey up with him. They walked
over to the front door and opened it, letting the police in. They searched
the house and the back yard before sitting down with Joey and Caleb to get
their statements.

They told the police what they saw each. Joey explained all the way to the
attack. Caleb took over when he came out of the room and until he chased
the intruder out the back door and over the fence. After taking their
statements, the police promised to have a patrol car pass every fifteen
minutes for the next forty eight hours.

After the police left, Joey and Caleb put on their shoes and went to the
back door. The two of them quickly removed the door and threw it on the
side. Joey didn't want to leave his sister alone, so they took the door off
the wood shed in the back yard. They measured and found it fitted the back
door, so they hung it for now.

Joey tried to make everyone promise not to tell Helen or anyone about what
had happened this morning. He tried to explain that if Helen found out that
someone broke in the house, she will not let Caleb stay over anymore. But
Caleb had a problem lying to his mother though. He has never lied to her
before and he will not start now.

"Joey, I am not going to lie to my mother. We will tell her the truth and
she will see that I am safe. Look how fast the alarm company got the police
to respond. After explaining all what had happened, she will be thankful
you have so much security. In return she will not have a problem with me
staying over."

They walked into Joey's room. When Joey turned to close the door, Caleb
squeezed Joey's butt through his sweats. Joey turned around and started
chasing Caleb around the room. He tackled Caleb on the bed and started
ticking him.

Through laughs, Caleb spoke. "You think I want to give up that nice piece
of ass. No one will ever take your ass away from me. What we did last night
had to break some kind of record. I know I have never felt anything like
that before in my life."

Joey stopped tickling Caleb and pulled him up from the bed. They walked
into the bathroom together. They stripped and jumped into the shower. After
cleaning each other, they got out, dried and got dressed.

By the time they finished getting ready and got up front to the living
room, Fran and Alan are waiting for them. Joey checked the house one more
time to make sure every window and door is locked before setting the alarm.

They drove down to Caleb's house. The minute they walked in the door, Helen
knew something went wrong. She quickly walked up to Caleb and checked him
out. After checking him out, she checked Joey out.

"What happened to you Joey? These are fresh..." Helen pointing to Joey's
face and arms. "And you didn't have these yesterday. I got a bad feeling in
my gut this morning that something happened. Mothers are tied into their
kids and know when their kids are afraid or hurting."

They walked into the dining room explaining to Helen and Harold on what
happened. Caleb's parents didn't interrupt Joey or Caleb as they talked
about the events earlier in the morning. Both of the boys saw that Helen
and Harold didn't look too happy on what they were hearing from them.

"Why didn't any of you boys call us and let us know what had happened. Your
mother and I would have jumped into the car and headed straight over. You
boys are not alone and should not have to deal with this alone."

Joey and Caleb shook their heads up and down. The parents said, "There is
no need to kick a dead horse. From now on you need to call us on anything
that happens, both of you. Joey, you, your sister and Alan are part of this
family. Stop acting as you are not and trust us. Now enough said! Let's
have breakfast and then go over to your house and fix that door right."

Harold looked at Helen and she got the message. She got up and went to the
kitchen to finish cooking breakfast. Harold doesn't like the idea that
Joey, his sister and Alan are minors and living on their own. When the time
is right, he is going to ask them to move in with them. That is the only
way he can rest at night.

After breakfast, Harold, Joey and Caleb jumped into Joey's truck and headed
to the Home-Depo. They bought a new door and door frame for the back
door. They loaded it in the truck and headed back to Joey's house.

Between the three of them, they put up the new frame and door and put the
door back on the shed in little less then two hours. They sat in the back
yard relaxing. None of them was saying a word to the other as the just sat
there.

They might not be saying a word, but they were thinking. Caleb couldn't get
out of his mind on what he and Joey did last night. He is hungry for some
more and doesn't know if he could wait. If he could, he would pull Joey up
and carry him to the Joey's room in order to have his way with him.

Harold watched the boys as they looked at each other. He knows the look in
their face. He has had that look before in his face. His boy and his
boyfriend had sex. Not only did they have sex, they enjoyed being with each
other.

Joey though on the other hand isn't thinking about sex. He is thinking how
lucky he is on finding as person like Caleb. He is moving along so
quickly. Getting comfortable in his own skin a lot faster than he and Jacob
ever did!

Joey kept hoping that Caleb's parents don't take Caleb away from
him. Things are getting a lot better, except for this morning. Caleb did a
number on that guy, which will make it easier for the police to get who
ever it was that broke into the house. Although Joey hopes it had nothing
to do with his mother and Dominic, but he knows more than likely it was
them. Joey started to wonder what else are his mother and Dominic going to
do in order to get what they want.

TO BE CONTINUED...

WRITER'S CORNER:

Hello to all you readers out there, Thank you for coming back and reading
the sixth chapter of Regrets and Heartaches. I know it started out slow,
but as my other stories, it is developing and starting to move along.

This is the first chapter of Regrets and Heartaches that Jacob really
didn't get mentioned. You will see more and more this story first moves
away from Jacob and then moves back to Jacob. I know it doesn't make sense,
but as it gets developed, it will.

I like how this chapter unfolded. As I started writing it, it was not
coming out fast. At one point I was going to put it away and start on
another one of my other stories, but it started moving along. I like all
the new twist and turns in this story.

First I like what I did with Caleb's friends. At the beginning of the
chapter, I made it look like they were going to be gay bashers. Then in the
middle, I turned that around. They showed how close they are to Caleb; they
don't want to mess that up. Also I have told you readers, I don't like
repeating story lines.

In three of my stories I have mothers as evil. Trust me my real mother is
nothing like the evil mothers in my stories. She was strict when I was
growing up, but in the last several years she has really mellowed out. That
is why I am trying to move Jacob's mom that way. Martha doesn't look like
she is going to have much more of a future. So there is going to be only
one evil mo left and that is Beth.

Talking about Beth, what is up with her? In Jacob, she was the nice
mother. All of a sudden, like a light switch, she changed. Is it the love
she has for Dominic that is changing her? If so, what power does Dominic
have over her that made her change? She used to love her son and
daughter. Something else is behind the scene, or could it be love.

Caleb and Joey are getting to know one another in many ways than one. Joey
walked Caleb through their actual first full sex. Caleb enjoyed it so much;
he cannot wait until he and Joey go at it again.

Joey is also showing another side of himself that he never showed in
Jacob. He is being as patient as possible with Caleb. At the beginning of
the chapter he didn't want to force Caleb to go somewhere he isn't ready to
go yet. Caleb is the one that decided to come out to his friends. Let's not
forget Joey walking Caleb through their first full sex. Joey has now become
the teacher and Caleb the student.

Fran and Alan--what is going on there? Throughout the chapter I threw out
suttle hints about them. Do you think they are going to be more than
friends? If so, how do you think Joey is going to react when he really
finds out his suspicions are right?

I am opening a lot of plots and still a lot to come. There is still Beth
and Dominic's plans on getting a hold of Joey's money. The detective that
is after Beth and Dominic, what is up with that? Who broke into Joey's
house at the end of the chapter? Are Caleb's friends actually accepting
Caleb and Joey, or is it just a lie? Joey getting promoted to executive
officer of the battalion, is that going too go far? Like I said, so many
open plots and a lot more to come. Don't give up on this story, it is just
beginning.

I do not want to say too much more and spoil the future chapters to come,
so I won't. I warn you though! Do not skip a chapter, or you will be
lost. There is a so much to answer in the chapters to come. Keep reading
the future chapters, and enjoy! Please email me and let me know how I am
doing at jacobmillertex@aol.com, Thanks!}

EDITOR'S CORNER:

I am much enjoying this story. As in real life, our characters have their
ups and downs.  Relationships of any kind usually have highs and lows. For
me the interesting element is how our author builds bridges to bring these
fluctuations to a level where future growth is possible.  But can there be
a better future relationship between Joey and Fran with Beth and "Uncle"?
I am curious as to how our author approaches this human problem.

I am so proud of Caleb's football friends as they have shown growth in
their ability to accept diversity as they value long-time friendship.  This
personal movement on their part is a clear sign of emotional growth and
maturity!  They have given us a "how-to" lesson which we can share with
others.

I do have some key questions that I want answered in future chapters.  Will
Joey find real personal success in the ROTC program?  Will the program
leaders continue to lead in ways that Major Moore did not?  Might Joey and
Jacob find ROTC competitions and meetings as a way to 'reconnect' in some
way?  If so, how will that happen and what will be the results?

Joey's financial assets seem to be the target of him mother and uncle. Is
there any way they can be totally kept out of their hands?  Even if the
regain custody of Joey?  What lengths will they go to in order to "capture"
Joey?

The next chapter(s) may have some answers for us but you and I will have to
read it/them ourselves to find out I guess.  Best wishes!

Kent D. (sw Ohio area)