Date: Thu, 01 Jul 1999 21:38:49 MDT
From: Jason & Jesse <lizard_tales@hotmail.com>
Subject: Strawberry Boy chapter 9

Hello, update time again (yeah I can hear you all saying 'about time!!'). I
hope it's been worth the wait. And to give you an idea of what awaits (if
you're even bothering to read this) this chapter is entitled "Changes". The
website has been updated too so check it out
http://members.tripod.com/lizard_tales.  Any and all comments, critisms,
questions, ramblings, etc. are welcome at lizard_tales@hotmail.com.  Laters
=)

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the strawberry boy
Chapter 9

By Jason Trower

   I laid on my bed softly strumming my guitar, hadn't even bothered to
plug it in. I wasn't really playing anything, my mind was definitely
elsewhere. Yesterday's incident with Alex had helped me relax a little bit
but it was kind of awkward. I mean there I was munching pizza and hanging
out with my best friend, who I had just kissed, who now knew I was gay and
in love with Aaron, and yet he acted as if nothing had changed. Had
anything changed? I'm still the same old me, he's still Alex, and I'm still
lonely without Aaron. But there was one significant change that I'd
noticed, for some odd reason I was no longer infatuated with Alex. Almost
as if the thrill of the chase was over, the games that I thought I despised
I now missed. Alex knew my secret and now I know that he isn't in love with
me, game over. There was only one question that still lingered on my mind,
does Alex like guys too?

"Who cares," I thought to myself. My crush on Alex had already caused
enough problems. I'd had the most beautiful boy in the world in my heart
and in my bed and I was stupid enough to let my dreams of Alex ruin
everything. I didn't know if he would ever forgive me and take me back but
his confession that he had loved me all his life gave me hope. I'd already
been scheming of ways to win back Aaron's heart, a romantic plan that would
take place at my house during the day when nobody was home. My parents
would be at work and I could easily tell Matt what I was doing and ask him
to leave. It would be perfect -- too perfect. My mom had come home today to
give me the "good news".  She had quit her job to go back to school, night
school. Now she could stay home during the day. And that was why I was
there in my bedroom, absent mindedly strumming my guitar, trying to think
of a new way to get Aaron back.

   Of course there was the obvious solution, just talk to him. But I was
too ashamed to just walk up and say "I'm sorry". I needed more then that, I
needed some kind of heartfelt gift that would show him I was truly
shattered and not just sorry.

   Matt came into the room and sat down in my desk chair across from the
bed. I waited for him to say something but except for a quiet chord now and
then the room was silent. I finally raised myself up onto m elbows to look
at him, but he was already looking at me.

   "You said I could talk to you about anything right?" he asked
uncertainly.

   "Of course, what's wrong, bro?" I asked as I sat up and rested my guitar
on the floor between my feet..

   "I'm--I'm kinda scared. There's a guy I like, and I think he really likes
me. I think he was trying to tell me," he explained gingerly.

   "Like how?"

   "Well, I noticed he's been looking at me a lot, he asks a lot of
questions about if I've ever done stuff, like messed around with
girls. He even asked me if I jack off in the shower," Matt's voice was
getting progressively quieter and he was looking at my feet. I could tell
there was something else to this story. I waited for a few seconds and just
as I was about to ask he started again with a deep breath.

   "We were playing a video game, and teasing each other. I told him to
'bite me' and--and--" he took another deep breath to gather his confidence,
"he leaned over and whispered in my ear that he'd rather ... suck me."

   My jaw dropped, I was totally stunned. He had to be talking about Corey.

   "So? What happened then?" I asked cautiously.

   "Um, well, we played the game some more and he kept moving closer to me,
and ... I got scared and said I had to leave."

   "You mean a guy you like wanted to give you a blow job and you turned it
down!?!?" I asked stunned.

   "I was scared, OK?" he said a little heated at first. "I don't know what
to do, what if it turns out bad? What if he's just joking?"

   I took him by the hand and pulled him over to the bed to sit next to me.

   "It's OK dude," I said hugging him. "You just have to take it slow,
don't do anything that you don't want. But if he does like you, and you
like him, then don't let him slip away. Besides, that blond hair of his is
just so cute."

   "You knew it was Corey, huh?" he asked finally smiling.

   "Yeah, it was easy to tell, I'm pretty sure he really likes you, and he
seems like a cool kid. You're lucky to have an opportunity like this. Don't
screw it up like I did."

   "You didn't screw up so bad," he said picking up my guitar. "You hurt
his feelings, but I know you guys are really in love. Just let him know how
sorry you are, he'll take you back."

   "I wish it were that simple," I said lowering my head.

   "Dude, it is, just go talk to him," Matt insisted.

   "Wait a minute, you're the one who ran out on an offer for a blow job,
and you're telling me to just go talk to Aaron?" I managed to crack a small
grin at the irony in my shy brother giving me romance advice.

   "Yeah, well, sometimes it's hard to take your own advice," he said
blushing slightly and strumming a single chord on my guitar. That chord
echoed in my mind and I quickly connected it to a song I knew. That was
it!! The way to show Aaron how I felt!! I didn't need to fumble with my own
inadequate words, the words and the music had already been written for me.

   "Matt, you are a genius," I said standing up and leaning over to kiss
him on the forehead. His expression was one of complete confusion and he
sat there silently as I took my guitar from him, put it in it's case,
pulled on my Airwalks and left.

    My stomach was in knots on the way to Aaron's house. I was excited but
I was more nervous that he wouldn't accept my apology. What if he turned me
away, deciding that I'd hurt him too deeply to be forgiven? That was a
possibility, but the idea of going on without Aaron was even more painful
to me. It was do or die. I took a deep breath and walked up his front
steps, standing at the front door for a moment, gathering my strength. I
took another deep breath and rang the door bell. Aaron answered the door
and seemed surprised to see me.

   "Jay, what are you--" he started to ask hesitantly, but I raised my
hand to stop him.

   "Don't say anything, just hear me out, I've only got one thing to say,"
I said as I walked past him to the living room. Aaron followed and watched
as I sat down, taking my guitar from its case. I cleared my throat,
breathed deeply and began strumming. Aaron sat across from me and I looked
directly into his baby browns as I started to sing:


I may not be the man I wanted to I may not be the king of wit I may not
know the things you need to know I may not measure up quite yet

I may not have the grace of Fred Astaire I may not have the mind of Jung I
cannot buy the things you need to have But there's something you can't
forget

I love you. I love you through the fires and all the hell It's something
I cant stop I love you


   I would have continued but by then Aaron was crying. I put my guitar
aside and walked over to him, taking his hand in mine and standing him
up. He wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug and sobbed on my shoulder.

   "I love you Aaron," I whispered to him while rubbing his back. "Even if
I could have Alex I'd choose you, you're the only one I want."

   After a few minutes his sobbing began to slow and he released his
embrace on me. I brushed his hair away from his eyes as he looked into
mine.

   "But, why did you yell his name when you were with me?" he asked still
sounding crestfallen.

   "Well, there's something I never told you," I began, "Alex was my first
crush. I used to be in love with him, but that's over now. It was over long
before that first night with you. But then he started making all kinds of
hints and I guess some of my old feelings came back. It was a mistake, it
hurt you, and that's the last thing I'd ever want to do. Not to the boy who
has loved me all his life."

   A few more tears rolled down Aaron's smooth cheeks as he smiled and he
kissed me softly on the lips before giving me another tight hug.

    "You remember when we were friends years ago?" he said, taking a breath
before continuing. "The reason I stopped hanging around you ... is because I
was in love with you. But I didn't think I could ever have you and it hurt
too much to just be friends. But I'd still watch you in school, or when I'd
see you and Alex riding your bikes around town. And then we ended up
working together. That night when you let me hug you, and the way you
watched me that first night at my house, I just decided to take a chance,
and it worked. I was so happy to have the guy I've always loved. I was so
hurt when you said Alex's name, I thought you were leaving me for him."

   "Never," I said softly, looking into his eyes, "You're the only one for
me. I love every beautiful detail about you. Your kind heart and gentle
touch, your deep brown eyes, your smooth tanned skin, that red hair,
you're--you're my strawberry boy."

   Aaron cracked up laughing at my last remark, wiping his eyes.

   "Strawberry boy? How corny is that? "he asked wryly.

   I laughed at his sarcasm, then looked at him seriously, our brown eyes
locking on each other. He leaned forward, tilting his head as I gave him a
passionate tongue kiss. For a moment I was in heaven again, complete in
every way, physically, emotionally and spiritually. For a moment
anyway. Our kiss ended as his mom's car pulled into the driveway. Aaron
relaxed in my arms and rested his head on my shoulder sighing.

   "De ja vu, huh?" he said quietly.

   "Yeah really," I agreed with a smirk. "What ya say we get outta here, go
have some fun downtown, maybe cause some trouble at the Dairy Mart?" Aaron
agreed with a smile and we escaped out the front door holding hands.

   It was already getting late in the evening, the sun beginning to slip
towards the horizon, but it was summer and there would be plenty going on
downtown. We walked along Liberty Avenue, past all the shops, most of which
were already closed. But on hot summer nights like these the marina was the
place to be. Beach parties, all the skater boys hanging out on the
boardwalk, rowdy boaters, it could quite a fun place. Normally Aaron and I
would be goofing off, laughing like children and poking fun at each other,
but that evening it was different. We walked along smiling but there was
other feelings there, in both of us. We had been to the edge, we'd glimpsed
life without each other, and it scared us. Although we were out in public
and couldn't display our affection, on the inside we were clinging to each
other, desperate to make sure that we never let anything come between us
again. It scared me that I had let my thoughts of somebody else cause
trouble at all. How could I do such a thing? Everything I could possible
hope and dream of I had in Aaron. He was my angel, my love, my soul
mate. And even though I didn't have his beauty or his gorgeous body or his
mesmerizing aura, he still saw perfection in me! The only explanation: he
was a gift from above and I decided it was best not to question it. I'd
just accept this incredible boy that had changed my life and hope to
someday be deserving of his love. As we continued walking past the rows of
boats docked in the river I put my arm around Aaron's shoulders and pulled
him closer to me and giving him a squeeze. If I was ever going to be worthy
of him I would have to stand up to anything that threatened to pull us
apart. What other people thought wasn't important anymore. I pulled the
necklace out of my shirt and let Aaron's gold ring hang in front of me
proudly.

   The sun was sinking beyond the horizon, turning the lake and sky a whole
spectrum of fiery colors. The scents of the harbor drifted on the wind and
the sounds of summer surrounded us. But I barely noticed any of it, my
heart was beating with a love so overwhelming that the whole world could
melt away and I wouldn't care. And then, as we rounded a corner of the
boardwalk. BAM! Aaron ran directly into somebody, knocking himself to the
ground. I looked up and realized it was Chad. My fists clenched and I was
ready to step towards him but he didn't move. He stood looking at Aaron for
a moment then moved his eyes to his feet, almost as if filled with remorse.

   "I'm sorry," he said extending his hand to Aaron, who seemed somewhat
baffled by Chad's sudden apologetic attitude.

  "You should watch where you're going," Chad said partially returning to
his arrogant self.

   "Maybe you need to watch where you're going," I said still ready to put
him to the ground if necessary.

   "Damn Trower you don't make it any easier do ya?" he snapped.

   "Why should I?" I said becoming more incensed, "seems like it's been
pretty easy for you to beat up on my boyfriend."

   "You think I enjoyed that?" he yelled in my face.

   "Well didn't you? Bragging to everyone at the party about how you beat
his little bitch ass. Made you feel like a big man didn't it? So why didn't
you enjoy it? ," I stared into his eyes, refusing to back down. But the
longer I stared the less hostility I saw, until something happened that
shocked me. I actually saw his blue eyes well up, a tear streaked down his
face, and in a voice filled with tension, fear and anger he quickly spoke.

   "Because I love him." Chad's expression faded, his eyes grew wide with
astonishment and then dropped to his feet. He was both surprised and
ashamed that he'd said it out loud, but he couldn't possibly be half as
shocked as Aaron or me. We both stared at him not believing what we'd just
heard. The rage I'd felt towards him began to subside, being replaced by
sympathy, maybe even pity. Chad loved another boy, but his fear and
insecurity were so powerful he'd lashed out, hurting the object of his
love, blaming Aaron for the way he felt inside himself.

   "Chad," I started slowly, reaching my hand towards him hoping to give
him some comfort.

   "Fuck off," he said through his tears before turning and storming away.

   My mind was reeling from the whole encounter. It happened so fast but it
changed so much in that instant. I turned back to Aaron who was still
sitting on the ground in shock. I helped him up but we didn't say anything,
just looked at each other, agreeing silently. We didn't even have a chance
to speak.

   "Hey guys, how's it goin?" I looked up to see Alex walking towards us, a
giant grin on his face that told me how pleased he was to see Aaron and I
back together. But we were both still dazed by what just took place and
could barely say hello. Alex suddenly seemed uncomfortable, sensing
something wrong. He licked his lips nervously and looked down at his foot
as he kicked a pebble aside.

   "I, um, I'm goin up to the arcade, I'll see ya guys around, hopefully,"
he said uneasily before leaving.

   "Alex," I called to him as he walked down the boardwalk. He turned to
look back and I smiled as I put my arm around Aaron. Alex smiled back,
almost blushing before continuing on his way happily.

   "What the hell just happened?" Aaron said with a tone of utter
confusion.

   "I'm not sure I know myself," I said. "Things are changing fast."

   We moved down the boardwalk in silence, my arm still over Aaron's
shoulders, his arm around my waist. We were both deep in thought as we
admired the last rays of the setting sun. We walked to the end of the
marina and kept going until I finally looked back, surprised at how far
we'd gone. The marina's lights twinkled in the distance and the sounds of
the parties there had faded to a whisper. Cars drifted along the road a
short distance from the hill above the beach, but for the most part we were
completely alone. I sat down against a fallen tree, pulling Aaron with
me. The soft sand was still warm under us and there was a faint breeze
blowing off the lake. The stars shined brightly above us in the dark,
cloudless sky. It was a beautiful view, romantic and awe inspiring. Aaron
leaned against me resting his head on my shoulder moving his hand in small
circles around my stomach and chest.

   "Jay," he said. "promise me we'll always be together."

   "I promise Aaron, forever," I said as my heart swelled. Aaron tilted his
head up and our mouths met in a kiss. I leaned in a little too far and
Aaron fell over onto his back laughing. I hovered over him and kissed his
sweet lips again, slipping my tongue between them. His hands rubbed up and
down my sides, tickling my ribs slightly. I held myself up on one elbow as
my other hand began to unbutton his shirt, pulling it open so I could feel
his smooth chest. I began to sit up again, our mouths still locked, and
Aaron rose up with me. I finally broke our kiss and looked into Aaron's
deep brown eyes as my hand slid down his chest and stomach to the top of
his shorts. I carefully unbuttoned and lowered them as he watched with
anticipation. He kicked off his shoes so I could remove his shorts
completely, then we both took off our shirts. Aaron straddled my lap on his
knees bringing his chest level with my face, moaning sweetly as I began
sucking his nipples. My right hand grasped his already hard cock and
squeezed it, forcing him to moan louder. He was trying so hard to go slow
but I could tell he wanted to just explode with passion and have wild
sex. I gave him a slow stroke and it was almost too much. He stood up and
leaned over me, his hands on the log behind me, his gorgeous circumcised
cock pointing at my face. My hands struggled with the button on my Levi's
shorts as Aaron moved his hips closer. He moved his cock head back and
forth over my lips, coating them with his precum. I held my lips tight
until he finally forced the tip of his member between them and slid his
warm meat all the way in. It tasted so good, so warm and firm. I started
sucking immediately as Aaron skillfully moved his hips, sliding his
hardness in and out of my mouth.

   By now I'd managed to kick my shoes away and get my socks off. My shorts
were open at the front and I was about to slide them off when Aaron
suddenly pulled his delicious cock from my mouth and looked down at me. He
pulled me up by my arms, sat me on the log and then gave me the deepest
kiss of my life.  He removed his tongue from my mouth and then licked my
ear before whispering to me.

   "I want to make love to you Jay."

   He pulled my shorts and boxers down together, slipping them off my feet
and dropping them in the sand among our other clothes. We stood there
together, naked under the moonlight before Aaron directed me to turn
around. His hands guided my body into position, on my knees, leaning over
the log we'd been sitting on. Aaron stood behind me, kissing the back of my
neck. He stopped and I felt his balls and the underside of his hard cock
glide down my back before nestling into my crack. He leaned over me placing
his hands next to mine, his bare chest against my back as he began
thrusting his hips, sliding his hard six inches between my cheeks. I moaned
and whimpered, almost begging him to enter me. Aaron let his head find its
way to my hole and pushed against it. I gasped loudly as the tip of his
cock popped inside followed by his entire length. Within seconds I was
filled with him.

   His graceful hips took over, pumping away at me quickly but
passionately. He wrapped one arm around my chest to hold our bodies
together. His thrusts stopped and he pulled me away from the log, rolling
me over and laying me on my back in the sand, all with his cock still
buried inside me. I looked up at him silhouetted against the night sky, my
legs twisted around his lower back He stayed motionless for a minute,
except for his hand which slid down to stroke my dripping cock.

   "Aaron...uh...uh...please," I begged him breathlessly.

   He bent over and kissed me softly just as he began thrusting into me,
harder then before. It was all I could stand. My hole tightened around him
as my arms and legs clutched his body. I cried out in loud moans as I felt
streams of semen rush from my balls, out my sensitive cock and between our
bodies. Aaron's face winced with overwhelming pleasure as I felt his first
shot fill me. He bucked his hips against mine until every drop had been
emptied from him, then he collapsed over me and we held each other.

   We kissed tenderly, nuzzling together until we found the strength to get
up and wash ourselves in the cool water. We walked along the beach that
night, barefoot and shirtless, holding hands and looking at the stars
above. We barely said a word, not because there was nothing to say but
because it didn't need to be spoken. We walked home together, parting with
a sweet kiss outside my house. A kiss that sealed our promise.

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Ready for chapter 10? Well you'll have to give me a couple weeks at least,
sorry. Until then I'll see you at the website or the inbox. Thanks

http://members.tripod.com/lizard_tales

lizard_tales@hotmail.com