Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2024 16:20:25 -0400 From: James Heady Subject: The wounds Within My Heart--Book 4--Chapter 5 The Wounds Within My Heart By James Disclaimer If you're offended by sexual/romantic situations between consenting teenaged boys, then back out of this story now. If you're not of the legal age in your location to read this type of story then exit immediately. If you're disturbed by situations dealing with Racism, Anti-LGBT Bigotry, Ableism, Rape, child abuse and/or suicide, then don't read any further. Please remember to donate to Nifty, as it's your donations that keep this and other stories free to the public. Thanks once again to my editor K. for your wonderful editing you do on this story. It's always valued and appreciated. Thank you. Finally, if you like this story and haven't done this already, tell my E-mail address, jamesheady1985@gmail.com,that you'll take its car in to have the oil changed. Once you drive off with it though, take it back to your garage instead, and fill up the chamber with flat Pepsi instead. The Wounds Within My Heart Chapter Five Nohea Rain pounded down on the roof as I awoke that Valentine's Day. Shutting off my alarm, I texted Pietro Happy Valentine's Day with several Red Heart graphics. Placing my phone back on the bedside table, I got up and showered then, went into the kitchen to get coffee started. Dad was still asleep as was Triston, so I worked quietly so as not to wake them. While I waited for the coffee to get done, I checked the weather app on my phone. It was in the low twenties, and forecasted rain all day that possibly would turn to snow in the early evening if not sooner. I liked that idea, the cold weather and rain outside with Pietro and I cuddled up under the blankets, wrapped in each other's arms. Smiling to myself, I heard my phone chime. Pulling it out of my shirt pocket, I unlocked it and saw that I had a message from Pietro. It was his reply back to me in which he wished me a Happy Valentine's Day as well. He put about as many Red Heart graphics at the end of the text equal to the ones I put in the one I sent him. Double-tapping on the reply option, I typed how much I loved him, and that I couldn't wait to see him. He wrote back that he felt the same way. After a couple more texts, I closed the messages app, then placed the phone back in my pocket. At that point, the coffee was done, and as I got a cup from the dish drainer, I heard the door to Triston's room open. I also heard my dad walking through the hall, and soon he and my brother were headed downstairs. We all said good morning, and wished each other a Happy Valentine's Day. Soon we had breakfast on the table, once Dad got the food ready. It was really nice being there with my family as we ate and talked that morning. After breakfast, I spent a little time in my room looking through E-mails and other messages. Triston sat on my bed watching me from time to time. Mostly though, he was listening to the music I had on. I was listening to a random play list of a mixture of Classic Rock and Metal. I had played it before a few weeks ago when Triston was hanging out with me in my room, and he immediately loved it. Once I went through all my messages, I went over to where my brother sat. "Is it alright if I sit here next to you?" I asked. Triston tapped once on the bed beside him, and I joined him. We hugged for a moment, then he started talking about how school was going for him. Things were going a lot better for my brother once they had better instructors working with him. I was glad to see that Carla and Randy were no longer in his life, and hoped never to have to deal with them ever again. As we continued talking, Triston let me know that there was another boy in his class that just started a few days before. The boy's name was Jack, and he was 12. Triston's birthday would be in early March, so they were very similar in age. Triston went on to tell me that Jack's birthday was in May, and he would be 13 by that time. "Have you guys hung out a lot since he's started at your school?" I asked. "We have when we've had recess, and we've eaten lunch together every day," Triston replied. "That's really good to hear," I said. "I hope you and him become really best friends." "I think we will," Triston answered. "At least I hope we do. Also, he's Autistic like me. It's really cool to have that in common." "I'm sure it is," I said. "With him being Autistic like me, he's also non-speaking too," Triston went on. "He uses an AAC Device like I do, but they're still working with him on being able to type more words on it." "I hope they're able to help him with that," I said. "So do I," Triston responded. "He motions as a way to communicate for what he can't say in writing, so that's good that we have that." "It definitely is," I answered. Later that morning, I spent time in the living room with Dad and Triston. We were watching TV for a bit until it was time for the two of them to leave. They would be going out to visit Aunt Beth for the afternoon. They would be staying there until sometime that evening, and I thought to myself how perfectly that worked out. I'd have plenty of time to celebrate this special day between Pietro and I! After Dad and Triston left, I began getting our food started. It would basically be a late lunch/early dinner. I would be surprising my lover, and I really hoped he liked it. Going over to the stove, I checked the pots I had on the burners. They were cooking really well. I then checked everything else and saw that it was to my liking. As the food cooked, I went over to the counter and grabbed the candles. Setting them in the middle of the table, I lit all three of them, and smiled at the image of Pietro and I sitting across from each other, enjoying our food as well as each other's company. Sitting down the lighter, I walked over to the fridge and got out two bottles of non-alcohol sparkling cider. One of the bottles was strawberry, and the other was apple. My dad had stuck the Braille label on each one with its corresponding name the night before, and it definitely helped having them labeled like that. I then got out glasses, and sat them on the kitchen table where each one of us would be sitting. Once I placed the bottles down on the table near where the glasses were, I heard my phone chime. Going over to check it, I saw that it was a text from Pietro. He was letting me know that he was about four minutes away from the house. I texted back letting him know that I couldn't wait to see him. Placing my phone back down on the table, I sat for a few minutes to rest. As I sat there, I thought about how amazing our time together would be. For dinner, we would be having Lemon-Pepper Chicken, baked potatoes and corn. Dessert would be a cherry pie, and I had it in the fridge keeping cool. There was also ice-cream in the freezer in case Pietro wanted it on top of the pie. I was then yanked from my thoughts when I heard a knock on the door. My phone chimed, and it was Pietro letting me know that he was at the door. I went over and answered it, greeting him and his parents and sister. Pietro entered the house after we shared a hug, and he went into the living room to set his bag down on the couch. As he did that, I talked with his family for a few moments, and was glad to hear that everything was going well with all three of them. Once Pietro returned, he and his family hugged, and I hugged them as well. After they left, Pietro and I shared a long hug, and an equally long and deep kiss. "Happy Valentine's Day my love," I said as I rested my forehead against his. "Happy Valentine's Day to you too sweetheart," he answered, then gently pushed aside my hair, kissing me tenderly on the forehead. I did the same, then I stood there as he looked around the kitchen. "This looks so romantic!" he said. "I love how warm and cozy it is!" "I'm so happy you like it!" I responded. Pietro's joy only grew when I told him what we were having for dinner. I was so glad to see how surprised he was, and we hugged tightly for a moment while sharing several tender kisses. "I'm so glad I could make you happy," I said. "Me too," he answered. "This is perfect!" "Absolutely," I agreed. After checking the food once more, I went into the living room where Pietro had sat down on the couch. He was leaning back against the cushions, totally relaxed. "Would you like something to drink?" I asked holding him close for a moment. "That would be really nice," he answered. "Good," I said. "I have a surprise for you. I think you're really going to love what I come back with for you to drink." Returning to the living room, I had a glass in each hand. Pietro made a joyful sound when he saw what I had. In each hand, I had a glass of the apple cider, and I was truly glad to see how happy and surprised the love of my life was. "This is for you," I said as I held out the glass that was in my left hand. Pietro reached out and took it, and I sat my glass on the coffee table. Joining my lover on the couch, we tapped glasses and toasted to our love and how we had hoped that it would only grow deeper. We both took a drink, then cuddled after placing our glasses on the table. "It feels so good to be with you like this," I said resting my head on Pietro's shoulder. "I love you very much sweetheart." "I feel the same way, and I love you too Nohea, so very much," Pietro responded. "It's truly amazing," I said. "My love for you is so deep, and just when I think it's gotten as deep as it can go, it only gets even more so. There's no one else for me but you. There never will be, and never could be." "I know what you mean my love," he answered. "I'm always truly surprised when I see that my love for you only gets even more deep and strong. Your kindness and caring is so wonderful, and I love how you're always there for me, and so supportive of me and what I do in my life." "Thanks," I said. "You're always good at being supportive of me in my life as well, and you have a lot of kindness within you too. My life feels complete with you by my side." "My life feels the same too when you're with me," he replied as we kissed tenderly for a moment. After we finished our drinks, I got us refills when Pietro asked. Both of us took our time with the second glass, and mostly sat there leaned against the couch with our arms around each other as we talked. It was really nice, and I wished it could go on forever! Soon the timer in the kitchen was sounding. I got up and checked everything, and it was ready. I called out for Pietro, and he came into the kitchen and helped me bring serving plates to the table. Soon we were sitting across from each other eating and enjoying the food I made. Pietro let me know a couple of times how amazing it was, and I was so glad that he loved it! Once we finished with dinner and dessert, I took Pietro to our room. We exchanged Valentine's Day cards, and we both really loved the words of love each of us wrote to the other within. Pietro then kissed me deeply, and I returned the kiss after we read the cards. Soon it was time for us to enjoy each other behind closed doors. Author's Notes I hope all of you really enjoyed the time Nohea and Pietro had with each other starting out in this chapter. I'll be continuing on with the rest of their Valentine's Day celebration in the next chapter, so keep an eye out for that. As for Triston, I think you all might be seeing where that's going with his new friend Jack. You'll get to meet Jack here soon, and will get to see what happens between the two friends. I hope you all like where things lead between the two of them. All that being said, I hope you're all doing good, and having a good evening. I'll see you guys in Chapter Six.