Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2021 01:00:00 -0700 From: John Henry Subject: Growing Up Charlie Chapter 9 (Gay/Incest) DONATION: Nifty is a not-for-profit organization that heavily relies on our donations to keep the site free and accessible. Your donations pay for web hosting fees and other day-to-day activities for the wonderful staff of editors/publishers. You can donate on the website at http://donate.nifty.org/ Every little bit counts. DISCLAIMER: This story is a work of fiction, and contains explicit, sexual content involving adults over the age of 21 and minors under the age of 16, and scenes of incest involving step-parents/step-children. If viewing this material is illegal where you live, OR you're a minor under the age of 18, please stop reading this. If you're not sure about this legatilty, please stop reading until you have looked into your own, local laws. Any likeness or similarity between persons, places, products or concepts are purely coincidental. If you would like to leave any positive feedback, please let me know. Thank you. Chapter 9 Brenda returned on Tuesday. She talked non-stop about how great Chicago was. Rick was the only one who seemed interested, though that waned by Friday after her fifth time talking about how great the view from Willis Tower was. Charlie did his best to avoid her, spending most of his time in his room or outside. For her part, Brenda made no extra effort to talk to him, either. Justin hadn't come around all that week. With each passing day, Billy got more and more annoyed by his absence. Charlie wondered if Justin was avoiding him after what happened between them. He and Ry didn't talk about Charlie's "friend" since that first night, but Charlie didn't forget his brother's advice. He wondered what it would be like to kiss Justin, but every time he seriously considered it, his brain would quickly change the subject. Rick woke everybody up early on Saturday morning. Will wanted everyone at his apartment by eight, and Rick didn't want to stop for anything. By the time Charlie made it to the kitchen, Ry had breakfast ready. Brenda was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee and very awake. Charlie hated mornings, and he found morning people particularly annoying, which only added one more strike against her. "Good morning, Charlie," She said with a smile. "Ready for the big day?" Charlie only groaned his response and pulled his bowl of oatmeal towards him. "Morning, everyone," Justin said, as he walked into the kitchen. Billy got up from the table, hugged and kissed his boyfriend. "I'm glad you could come, baby." "Yay," Ry muttered sardonically. Justin sat between Charlie and Billy. He leaned towards Charlie and said, "How are you?" "I'm okay," Charlie said. "Where have you been?" "My dad needed me at home, so I couldn't come over," Justin said. "But, I'm staying the night tonight. If that's okay with you?" Charlie didn't understand why Justin was asking for his permission, but he said he didn't mind. Justin squeezed Charlie's knee and turned his attention back to Billy. Charlie felt his stomach squirm a little at the touch. He couldn't figure out why Justin was making him feel nervous. He didn't know if it was a good or bad feeling, and it frustrated him a lot. Before everyone left, Justin caught Brenda making a fuss over how Charlie was dressed. "I really think you're making a bad decision," She said. You should put on pants and shoes." Charlie stood his ground, wearing shorts and sandals. "I'm not changing, and you're not my mom." "I know I'm not your mother, Charlie, but you're not wearing appropriate clothes for a move like this." "I think he's fine," Justin said. "If his dad had a problem with it, Rick would've said something, don't you think?" Brenda, realizing she was outnumbered, threw up her hands and walked away. "Thanks," Charlie said, giving Justin a hug. "You're welcome," Justin said, leaning down and returning the hug. Before letting go, Charlie kissed Justin on the cheek. Justin blushed and asked, "What was that for?" "I dunno," Charlie replied. "Because you helped me, I guess." Justin smiled and said, "If I would've known that's all I had to do to get a kiss from you, I would've done a lot sooner." This time, Charlie was the one who blushed. Rick drove with Brenda and Ry, while Justin took Billy and Charlie. Billy wasn't happy, wanting to spend some time alone with his boyfriend. Justin insisted on the arrangement, and when Billy started to get angry about it, Justin said, "Then ride with your dad, but Charlie is riding with me." Justin rarely ever put his foot down when it came to Billy, so Billy knew his boyfriend was serious. Both cars arrived at Will's apartment just before nine. "Glad you could make it," Will said with a smile. "There's coffee, juice and donuts in the kitchen. Everything is packed, and I've already had the larger furniture moved yesterday, so it's mostly just boxes. "Thanks, Dad," Billy said, hugging his father, before walking into the kitchen. Will greeted everyone individually. When it came to Brenda, he made an effort, but she ignored him. Will knew Brenda hated him, but like with everyone like her, he didn't care; in fact, he took extra care to be even more friendly. "Brenda, may I pour you a cup of coffee? I found this lovely blonde roast." "No thanks," she said curtly. "Can I have a donut, Uncle Will?" Charlie asked. Before Will could respond, Brenda said, "You had breakfast a few hours ago. How could you still be hungry?" "What kind do you want, Charlie?" Justin said. "I asked your dad, and he said it was fine with him." To Brenda, Will said, "And I believe he asked me and not you." Charlie gave Brenda a scathing look and took a jelly filled. "Alright, Will," Rick said. "Where are we taking your things?" "To my new house, of course," Will said, cryptically, taking a chocolate cake donut for himself. "Damn it, Will," Rick said. "I'm not in the mood for these games." "Oh, you want the address," Will said, feigning ignorance. "Why didn't you ask?" Before Rick could explode, Will gave him and Justin each a piece of paper with Will's new address. "Washington," Rick said, flatly. "You're moving to Washington." "I knew it," Billy exclaimed. "I swear I mentioned it before." "You know damned well you didn't," Rick swore. "Maybe I should get my memory checked." Billy took the paper from Justin and said, "You're moving like a mile from our high school." "Yes," Will said. "I wanted to be closer for you and your brothers, without feeling like I was crowding your other father." "Maybe you should've found a new place here, instead," Brenda said. She poorly tried covering her irritation with humor. Everyone, except Charlie, ignored her. Charlie looked at Brenda and said, "This place is open, maybe you should move here." "Charlie, that's enough," Rick said. Moving was tough. Brenda tried micromanaging everyone. Rick tried to be supportive and get the boys to follow her plan, but it fell apart quickly. Ry wasn't a lot of help, since he could only kick light boxes across the floor, and Billy was more interested in distracting Justin than actually helping. At one point, Brenda tried getting everyone to form a line, similar to that of a bucket brigade, but Ry was paired with Justin and refused to be cooperative, and Charlie couldn't lift the heavy boxes. Brenda also kept criticizing the way Charlie was lifting boxes. "Lift with your knees and not your back," She said. "I am," Charlie growled, though he wasn't doing a good job at it. "Here, Charlie, you're going to hurt yourself," Brenda said, almost shoving the small boy out of the way. "Knock it off!" Charlie bellowed. "You're going to thank me when you're older," She said. "Over my dead body," Charlie snapped. "What is your problem?" Brenda demanded. "You," he said. "You are my problem. I'm sick of you talking to me like I'm a little kid." "You are a little kid." "He means like a toddler," Justin interjected. "You're talking down to him instead of talking to him." "Mind your own business," Brenda said. "I am minding my business," Justin said patiently, yet with a noticible defiance. "He's my business, and you've been riding his ass before we even left the house. You've spent more time bossing us around than actually moving boxes. Hell, Charlie has moved more boxes than you have and he's easily half your size. So, how about you leave him alone and do what you're supposed to be doing. There's a stack of boxes with your name on it right over there," Justin said, pointing to a pile of boxes in the living room. "How dare you talk to me like that," Brenda said, angrily. "I can talk to you however I want. You're my boyfriend's dad's girlfriend. In the end, you mean nothing more to me than that. All you're doing is stressing Charlie out, which then stresses Rick out, so how about you act like the adult you're supposed to be and walk away." Brenda looked like she was ready to fight but chose differently. She went outside instead of to the boxes Justin pointed out. Charlie was in tears and said, "Thank you. She's been so mean." "I know," Justin said, squatting down and pulling Charlie into him. "Nobody believes me." "I believe you." "You're the only one." "Everyone will come around, I promise." "When?" Charlie asked desperately. "I don't know," Justin said, hugging Charlie tighter. "But, I promise you're not alone." Will walked in, and in a somber voice asked, "Is everything alright?" Charlie pulled away from Justin, who did his best to wipe Charlie's face clean. Justin replied, "I think we're just needing an emotional break." "Yeah," Charlie agreed, wiping the last of his tears away. He kissed Justin on the cheek again, before grabbing his box and walking outside. It was nearly two in the afternoon when the last of the boxes was packed in a van Will rented. Justin, Billy and Charlie had already left, while Brenda and Ry were waiting for Rick to secure the van. "Can I have a second?" Will asked Rick. "What's up?" Ricked asked. "It's about Charlie." Will explained what he saw between Justin and Charlie, and told Rick everything Justin had explained about how Brenda was treating Charlie. "I don't want to get involved in your relationship, as that's not my place, and we've already established my place in Charlie's life; however, I feel that you really need to have a talk with Brenda about how she talks to and treats Charlie." "I'm sure Justin must have misunderstood what was going on," Rick said dismissively. "It didn't seem like it. I may not have spent as much time with Justin as you have, but I've never known him to exaggerate or lie." "I guess not," Rick agreed. "I'll have a talk with Brenda and get her side." Will just nodded. Rick turned away, and Will added, "Remember our conversation from four years ago? About not neglecting Charlie in favor of Billy? That advice still applies in this situation, too." Annoyed, Rick said, "I'm not neglecting my son, Will." "I'm not saying anything of the sort," Will deflected. "I'm only advising that you pay closer attention to Charlie, so you don't miss something important." Tired of his co-parent's enigmatic word stylings, Rick got into his car and drove back to Washington. On the drive home, Charlie tried explaining to Billy what Brenda had done, but Billy dismissed it. Even Justin couldn't convince Billy, which left Justin to believe that Billy was still angry about Charlie going with them. Unpacking went a little easier. There were fewer boxes and there were no stairs, while most of the boxes went into the garage. Brenda tried giving orders, but only with half the effort she had earlier. Every time she approached Charlie, Justin would appear and head her off by asking Charlie to help him instead. Will bought everyone Chinese take-out as a thank you. At dinner, Charlie and Ry sat with each other. Charlie tried and failed to explain what happened with Brenda. Ry said that he didn't think the advice she was giving was bad, but she probably could've done a better job at explaining. Charlie gave up trying to convince his brothers how horrible Brenda was, but he did take comfort in Justin believing him. Thinking of Justin reminded Charlie that he had kissed him twice...and Justin liked it. Kissing the young man wasn't as scary or as bad as he thought. Thinking about kissing Justin on lips was still unnerving, however. Justin drove Charlie home. Billy was staying the night at Will's to help unpack and set up his room. Rick had already left with Ry and Brenda, so she could get her car. Justin pulled up behind Rick's truck and turned off his car. "Thanks again for today," Charlie said to Justin, as he unbuckled his seat belt. "Anytime," Justin said, unbuckling his own. "I'm glad you let me help you. I know it wasn't easy, but you're not alone; not anymore." "I know," Charlie said, blushing a little. Justin turned in his seat, opened his arms and moved in to give Charlie a hug. Charlie turned as well, but leaned in and kissed Justin on the lips. Justin didn't back away but held the kiss. He gently touched Charlie's cheek, lightly caressing it. Charlie pulled away and said, "I'm sorry." "Why? I'm not," Justin said, almost breathlessly. "I gotta go," Charlie said, opening the car door. "Charlie, wait," Justin called out, but it was too late. Charlie was already rushing into the house. ***Coming Soon, Chapter 10***