Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:55:35 -0600 From: Joe Parker Subject: I Think I'm in Trouble Part I - Chapter 15 I THINK I'M IN TROUBLE PART I Chapter XV (Felix) It's a rainy night and I'm lyin here with my baby holding him in my arms, my nose nuzzling into his thick silky hair.., my senses drunk on his intimate mysterious scent. He's been rather subdued tonight, he wasn't at first though. He was so excited for havin me stay the night, like a lil kid more than the king jock he likes to portray at school. He showed me the gym and we had a sauna too. I needed it! When we went to my house to get a change of clothes for tomorra he made me bring my running gear. Now I like to run, I go jogging 2-3 times a week but I ain't runnin up that damn hill ever again! Y'alls couldn't pay me to run up the thang! I had to take rests in the end because I wasn't used to running straight up a steep hill for nearly 8 miles. He's used to it obviously but I did appreciate how he never ragged on me and how he kindly slowed the pace and waited for me. At one point he asked if I wanted him to hail a car to come down and pick me up but like HELL! No way was I gonna pussy out of this - even if I never do it again, I was gonna conquer this mountain. I was curious as to how he would go bout hailing security or whoever. Security had come down earlier to collect his truck and all of our gear including cellphones. I jez wish I hadn't agreed to this hair brained running adventure! He just told me that all you gotta do is stand in front of one of the security cameras (remember them) and signal them to pick you up. I waved the idea away and suffered on. Luckily it was rather cool, cold actually coz I was gettin steamy hot runnin up that hill. We finally made it, went straight to the gym, warmed down, drank this cool electrolyte mineral water stuff and then he showed me around the gym on our way to the sauna. Elroy was there working out as well as two other older guys I did not know but wouldn't wanna mess with. Jake being typical Jake did not even introduce me to them. Whoever they were they were hot! Ain't never had a sauna before but wow it was GREAT! At first I was kinda reticent to go in there on account of bein so hot as it was but it was awesome! There were these hot rock thangs that Jake kept pouring water over to create more steam and I couldn't see more than an arms length in front of me. We stripped and he threw our clothes down some chute in the wall. I cozied up on the bench lying between his legs. His manhood soft and tumescent at the same time letting my back regions know it was there. I loved the feeling. His arms went around me and we spent the time lazily kissing languidly in the steam. I was worried that somebody might barge in on us. He sensed this and told me that he switched the 'engaged' light on as we entered. I learned also that there is another sauna next door called the Japanese Atami Bath House. Apparently we were in the Scandinavian one. He left me momentarily and locked the door, I felt much better after that. I fell asleep for a while in his wonderful loving arms. Later on he took me into a tiled room and threw me into a frigid pool called a plunge pool. I came up swearin and cussin and got my face sprayed in the effort as he joined me in the pool with a mighty splash. After a few moments we exited and I must say my skin was tinglin all over! We showered and changed into big fluffy white bathrobes and loofah slippers before he took my hand and led me through a corridor and up the elevators to his quarters. We had dinner in a private dining room just down the hall from his bedroom. He told me before that everything in this part of the house is his, I guess that means the dining room too. The nice staff folks brought us up hot crusty rolls with herbed butter, tomato soup and peppered salmon steaks with sea salt and marjoram. Dessert was custard and rice. I've never had any of these thangs before, Jake released the staff to go and we served ourselves. We sat across from each other makin googly eyes and bein all giggly. He dolloped a spoonful of sour cream into my soup and gave thanks. Well I tell you - I will be havin that soup again and the salmon was wonderful, and the dessert was more-ish! We kept drinkin the mineral water stuff throughout. After dinner we roamed into his study and did our homework. I noticed that all our stuff from the truck had been brought up including my clothes for tonight and tomorra. How thoughtful they are, it's really like another world up here and it intrigues me how Jake takes it all for granted. I guess he would havin been raised like this. He's known nothin else. After our homework was completed mostly in silence and good order and except for a few stolen kisses we surfed the internet together and he chatted to Clarke on one computer while I IM'ed Junior and one of my old friends from KY called Brooke on Jake's laptop. My life has changed so much in the past few weeks and I struggle with trying to believe it. Here I am hooked up with a boy who is my cousin who lives in a massive mansion and he is hotter than sin and he's a BOY! And like he's my cousin - yeah I know I already said it but I can't quite get over it you know what I mean? What would my old friends think if they knew what the hell I was gettin up to? Here's Brooke talkin bout who is tryin to get his filthy mitts on my ex girlfriend Jenni-Lee (we decided to call it quits coz I were movin). Yeah and here he is sayin him and some of the boys wanna do a road trip out this way to catch up with me. I love the idea but I'm scared what they alls gonna think of where my life has gone since I last seen them? I ain't so afraid of the reaction from my family and new friends round here as I am bout the response from my old friends. The ones I growed up with all my life. Still it would be good to see them. Junior is talkin bout the Starlight Mountain Dance and although I think he knows Jake and I are doin the 'wild thang' he still don't miss a beat in tellin me all the stats on Betsy-Lee-Meredith. Yep those three names are her actual name and she insists on bein called that. There's no accountin for what names you gonna get way out here in these parts. Her last name is 'Lee' as well which gives her a full name of Betsy-Lee-Meredith Lee. Go figure... We got bored after a while and I could tell my baby was tired and maybe even a lil down. His Daddy called from some other part of the house and they spent some time talkin then Jake said goodnight to him and rang off. We peed, washed our hands brushed our teeth (me using my new electric toothbrush lol) and now here we are drowsily lying together on his big soft comfy bed. This time he is in my arms and we are listening to a cd of his Mom. The beautiful music is channelling many different feelings through him I can tell. Curiosity, wonder, deportment, sadness, loss and the bittersweet joy of recognition. Jake seems to have made a connection to that voice. It's more than just a singer who is long gone. That's his Mom and as he quietly begins to sob in my arms I start to croon along with the words, singin to my baby who misses a Momma he has never known. Singing and licking the tears away. 'I will lick your tears away You don't need me you keep sayin To the wind blowin through your hair Ohhhh and the rain in your soul' 'I will keep your fears at bay I will wash away the pain Till you feel my love and care I will lick your tears away' He rolls over in my arms, "Felix?" he questions his voice hoarse and deep. "I need you Felix, don't let me go okay?" I am mystified as to where exactly this mood he is in has come from. Was it the music? I think it was but only partially. His eyes aren't dull or anything, they're quite bright tonight. Shining with an inner light of self discovery and something else, something I can't quite put my finger on. "Darlin whassamatter?" Our lips touch and kiss, eyes closed - soft skin gliding gently. When we are born our eyes are closed and we kiss our way t'wards our Momma's breast. I wonder if that primal instinct is somehow connected to the act of kissing that bring us so much joy and satisfaction? When I stop kissing Jake I just wanna go straight back there again. My hands undo his robe and come into contact with his silky skin. The great ridged plateau of his chest with the nipple peaked caps of his breasts. And down over his serrated stomach through the small silky patch of hair and around the most obvious evidence of his desire. His long truncated beam with its magnificent flanged head. Like satin over steel finger by finger I trace up and down like a centipede slowly creeping over every inch of his silky smooth penis. He leans back into me, his voice making an exquisite 'Mmmmmm' sound his eyes closed in delirium. My other hand digs underneath his body and comes out the other side right where his floppy fattened testicles hang over his legs. They quiver and jump at the sensuous attentions of my left hand. "Baby let me jack you" he says... But no, this is just for him, for him only. "No sweety I wanna make it like this, just for you" He groans and gives up, giving in to the ecstacy. A syrupy fluid flows freely from the rapidly filling head of his penis and I abandon it for now because I don't wish for it to erupt too soon. I scoot down and begin licking around his thighs, taking swipes at his two egg sized grapes as he flicks his head from side to side. His eyes open every now and then to look at me incredulously, lustily believing yet unbelieving. I lick at the clear serum pouring out of the wide open fissure at the tip of his cock. It twitches alarmingly and I grip it with one hand while licking deep into his open slit. His super stimulated scream reverberates with passion and pleasure - splitting the spaces between us. "Felix! - ohhh what are you doing baby?!?" 'I'm licking the tears away my love'... I respond in my mind. My other hand has travelled beneath his balls and they tickle at that wondrous spot between his hole and his copious sacs of skin encased sperm. His whole body jumps and shivers with delight. I bathe his balls with my mouth and tongue struggling mightily to get them into my mouth but I fail. I thrill at the effect I am having on him. His head thrashing, his breathing more ragged than what any up-hill run could cause. And I raise his legs and let my tongue lead me to the prize I've been thinkin bout for days. I glance upward and he is staring right at me. His amethyst eyes question and I nod once - Yes! He lays his head back, his face beatific in the knowledge of what I want to do. I chuckle and hear him grumble, "Shut up and lick that hole haha!" I smile in my heart, my Jake is coming back! I grab for some pillows and he raises his powerful thighs even further fully exposing his muscular glutes and his beautiful little bud flexing and quivering before me. I drink in it's slightly pink coloring. Delicate and a little darker than the perfectly tanned skin of his generous butt. Reminiscent of a tiny starfish with the little wrinkled lines and folds that lead out from its tremulous hidden depths. He smells of the walnut oil we used in the sauna and the CK One shower gel we washed with in the shower, just so perfect. He groans impatiently and shakes his legs and butt making me chuckle. "Alright already!" I laugh and he groans again... "Do it Felix" I lick from his ball sac all the way up the line of his ass until I hit the spot and he shivers and cries out. It feels like nothin I have ever traced my tongue over and it tastes like the most sinful honey. I start lapping at his hot little ass hole and he I can tell jez loooves it. I love it too. In my opinion I love it even more! I bathe and lick it with my tongue, while jacking his cock which is harder than I've ever felt before. I use my other hand to stroke his hole and open up its redder interior so I can inspect it with my tongue. He's full on screaming and yelping with pleasure and almost pain as I take him beyond anything that either of us has experienced before. My eyes feast on being able to see his face, his cock, his balls, his ass and his hole. He is stroking and pleasing his nipples with his fingers and even the nails of his fingers. I slowly insert one and then two fingers into his scorching rectum and slide them deeper and deeeper until they hit that special place. I work him for maybe a minute and then with the help of some lube which he has thrown down to me a third finger joins the other two. He is panting now and I slowly pull my fingers out of his distended hole which is now open a little wider than it was. I dive into the gap my hungry tongue getting as far in as it can and my fingers join it again. "Felix you, you CRAZY!" He's not really makin sense anymore lol. My three digits are deep inside him again and my mouth affixes itself to his cock which jerks once, twice and then totally explodes until I choke on the excess. It dribbles out of my mouth and he pulls me up along his body my fingers vacating his fantastic hole. He hungrily sucks his cum out of my mouth which kinda shocks me and I dunno why I'm so shocked after what I jez been doin lol. He grabs me by the face and kisses the living daylights out of me, laving my tongue with his and thanking me with every delicious meeting of out mouths. Then he holds me away from him a lil and looks into my eyes. That sparkle is in his eyes again, I have got my baby back. He also has a hungry look in his eyes too and I can tell that my goose is cooked. It's my turn next. He hugs me to him, holding on to me with all he's got, and then he yawns long and loudly. Well my ass may be grass but he ain't gonna be mowin it tonight folks! We quickly clean up, drink water, I pee and so does he. We clean out teeth and use mouthwash and then back to bed. We cuddle and kiss for a few minutes our cocks and nuts all squished up against one another and I love it. His hand sneaks around to my ass and spreads my cheeks, he strokes my hole as we kiss tenderly good night. My hand finds his silky hole and two fingers slide right in and as far as I know they were still there when I fell asleep. (Jake) Last night was just out of this world. Felix did things to me that I have only dreamed of and even then he exceeded all expectations. I was feeling morose and more than a little down. I was mad at myself for feeling sad when I should have been glad to have my Felix with me. I tend to get in these funks from time to time and I don't really know why. I usually go find someone like Dad, Grandmother or Miss Carol to cuddle up to but with Felix here I did not want to do that and have him feel weird or bad that he could not help me. Worse than that I did not want him to feel like he should not be up here. I have noticed how attentive he is to me (boy have I noticed how attentive he is to me), but all joking aside.., I can tell that it means a lot to him to be able to read my thoughts and my moods. He was not happy at school yesterday when Clarke and Junior were able to read some of my signals but he couldn't, and that will only come with time - it goes both ways too. But what he needs to self realize is that he can already read things about me that nobody else has ever succeeded in deciphering. He is on a whole different level to the other people in my life, even Daddy. And so I stayed with him, we went to the sauna, did usual schoolwork stuff, ate dinner and as you know later on we had wild and crazy monkey sex.... well at least I did - he was the administrator of it. I kinda feel bad that I was too tired to reciprocate but the satisfied and proprietary look on his face afterward allayed some of my concerns. And yes, he successfully brought me way the hell out of my funk! Mission accomplished. I have never felt more sexual than I did last night and I just know that this is only the beginning of our sexual relationship. There are things we haven't done to each other yet that are gonna burn the house down and I can't wait! He ate me out, tossed my salad, did the dirty deed with the digits, not to mention his tongue! At school we all joke and laugh about anal sex and all that goes with it. Clarke cracks me up with his quest to find jez one girl who is willing to go there lol. Apparently his charms end at his asshole. Lenore by all accounts gives great head but she won't go much further below the nuts. I chuckle to myself because I have struck the goldmine. I have found the boy who loves every inch of my body and last night he left me in no doubt about that fact. He makes me feel so vulnerable, I can be so free around him and just let go. There is something incredibly sexual in being able to let go of all your inhibitions. I love the way his eyes drink me in and eat me up. I am quite used to being looked at by people. I know that I am attractive and my size always captures peoples attention. But from that fated/ill fated moment our eyes first met, I haven't been able to get enough of his inky blue gaze. I am conscious of the way I put myself out on display for him. I flex, preen and let him see as much of me in the way he wants to see me. Not just physically either but also emotionally, especially emotionally. It's like that old Bryan Adams song, everything I do, I do it for him. This morning I noticed him watching me getting dressed. I do have rather long routine, much longer than his. We grabbed a quick shower coz we woke up a little late. I was frustrated coz I wanted to have some of him in the shower but we slept like logs and I forgot to set my alarm. I quickly brushed my teeth, shaved, combed my hair and body sprayed all the while watching him perform his own morning duties. He told me he's lucky if he has to shave once every 9-10 days. I gotta shave every day. My mouth went dry when he dropped his towel and began slipping into a pair of stretchy charcoal gray boxer briefs that molded themselves to his package and ass like they were custom made. He added fitted dark Levi's a t-shirt and a dark blue cashmere sweater and I was totally gone. I wasn't hard but my dick had that churning feeling in the head and a tingly sensation in the nuts. The effect he has on me is some kind of powerful that's for sure! So there he was all ready except for his socks and shoes and I'm standing there like an idiot with only a towel wrapped around me. I looks at me with a frown, one of those 'Get your 'a' into 'g' frowns and my body starts working again. I'm about to fish around in my underwear drawer for a fresh pair when he stops me. "Please Jake, can I dress you today?" now he has the 'gaga look' that I myself wore only a few seconds ago. Intrigued by the proposition I concur, standing straight and placing my hands on my hips. "Knock yourself out sport" First he selects a slinky pair of black cotton lycra bikini briefs that I haven't worn in a while coz I have grown a bit. I tell him this. "Those are a little too small baby" "Good they will stay on y'alls mind throughout the day then won't they handsome?" I slip the tiny briefs on and slowly pull them up my eyes never leaving his. He smirks and selects a pair of the darkest chocolate almost black colored slacks and I slip into them too. The thin unlined material isn't gonna give me much protection in when I'm outside today. I step into them and try to look sexy as I zip up and fix the clasp. Damn this underwear is gonna make me hard today. Just the thought that he chose it is boning me up. He sidles up to me and whispers, "I know what your'e wearing under those pants..." I gulp. He throws me a plain white t-shirt and then a smart rich moss green dress shirt, finished with a heavy black half length coat. We both admire his handiwork in the mirror and I am impressed. I look hella sexay today haha! He throws me a red scarf and takes a blue one for himself we put on socks, shoes, lace up and we're off. I grab him in the elevator and we begin kissing. His hand sneaks around to find my ass and he traces the outline of my underwear over my rump, my brief line. "Better not bend over in front of folks today baby" he says. "Others will be able to guess what you got on" "I have got quite an exhibitionist streak anyway Felix baby" I answer and his eyes widen... "Yeah Felix, I think I'm gonna be dropping pens all day long" "..., ..." DING! - we arrive at the ground floor, disengage and head to the conservatory for breakfast. *** "Boy where yall's mind at?" Miss Carol interrupts my dirty thoughts. I smile guiltily and respond, "Errr I'm just thinking about the day ahead Miss Carol" "You better be youngun, you jeez better be!" she's ultra suspicious. Felix and I exchange a look... Dad is in a meeting with Grandpa and Grandma right now, they're taking breakfast in Grandpa and Grandma's quarters. Later on today they will be meeting Grandpa and Granny Jarrow with their lawyers to formalize all the money and land stuff Dad has organized for Felix' family. I return to matters at hand and Miss Carol is fawning all over Felix. "My darlin Felix" she looks upon him as if he's some kind of innocent angel even though he's the devil in disguise. "Yalls rested well last night or did this lil hellion sturb yalls all-a-night along?" she points at me all the while smiling at him. "Well I did try to sleep Mam but Jake kept fidgetin, Only the good Lawd knows jez what he were up to?" His huge eyes flicker and flutter in a pose that even Princess Di would have envied. I immediately turn red and look as guilty as sin even though I am mostly innocent as you can attest. She looks at me and waggles her fingers in my face. "I got some mighty fine sleepy tonics that knock this here boy clean out lil darlin Felix, Or I can instruct de staff to prepare you y'alls own quarters an all" "Awww that so kind an all Mam but I'll take my chances with Jake, I think I can handle him" We stare at each other, the double meaning bringing another flush to my face. His own remains guileless as ever.., I seethe inside as I shiver outside. Miss Carol keeps looking between me and him rapidly so I distract her as best I can. "Oh no not the nasty sleeping tonics again!" I cry out, holding my palms out in front of her. She spends the next 5 minutes discussing homemade recipes for different tonics and cure-alls with Felix who surprisingly is quite interested in such things. I just play along and feign interest, not that she's fooled of course. She's not fooled by anything we have been trying to pull on her. She just chooses to overlook them. I keep sneaking food from his plate and running my foot up and down his foot as he chatters away with Miss Carol. He's remarkably collected until I get my foot in his crotch causing him to nearly up end the table. Miss Carol ignores this and suddenly raises her hands, she's having a 'moment'. She's been having many of these lately... "As long as y'alls stay right close y'alls will be safe boys" I wonder if she knows just how closely connected Felix and I are right now, my foot lodged in his lap. "Don't be tempted by de offerings of de Devil!" That's kinda freaking me out now and Felix also, he shoves my foot out of his lap. Does she mean our sexual explorations? "There be two devils runnin round down there boys and y'alls must be careful for y'alls souls.., Jez know that I am watchin and scoutin for yalls. Miz Carol lurve you both" We nod, scared and confused but also heartened because she has got our backs. "Go go go!" she says and I quickly collect Felix, kiss her cheek and leave. When Miss Carol says go, you better go there and then. We rush over to the mezzanine restroom and clean our teeth. From there it's off to school and not a word is mentioned about what Miss Carol just told us. With the benefit of our youth we are distracted quickly enough from the previous happening becoming embroiled in our own self important teenage world again. *** (Ryan) It feels so good to finally have everything up and running. It also feel so good that the Jarrow's actually trust us implicitly and seem happy for my legal team and financial advisors to become their legal representatives also, with some provisions. They arrived promptly at 10. O'clock and we got straight down to business. Gary is a smart man, he is happy to utilize the skills of my team until such a time as the Jarrow's can discover and then transition over to their own separate firms of advisors, accountants and solicitors, which is fine by me. He also wishes to seek counsel from certain of his brothers and other family members - also fine with me. In fact it's really got little to do with me what they decide to do. I'm just glad it's done now and my lung capacity has increased because a mammoth weight has been lifted from on top of me. Gary has been on the phone to other senior members of his family and they have all agreed that he should steer things for them in the interim and on behalf of John-James Jarrow who really does not understand these processes and to be honest is rather suspicious of them. It is noticeable that Gary's most immediate concern is for the welfare of John-James and Clara. Plans are being made for them both to get medical attention for various ailments which will include a cataract operation for the old woman and a better wheelchair for the old man among other things. But all this is just details in light of what they will now be able to achieve for their whole family. I think of what Shonta had wanted for them and I smile at how their own thoughts are in complete convergence with her wishes. Within ten short minutes of hearing them speak, they completely ticked off her own checklist without even knowing it. I have always been blown away by just how in sync this family is and the way they go about taking care of each other with 'a lot' is just the same as how they have cared about one another with 'a little'. They do it very well indeed. They are not going to collectively sell up and head for Beverly Hills (although they could if they wanted to). They are not going to throw money at each other and their various problems. They are going sit down and have a family pow wow about what can be done to advantage everyone without disadvantaging or FURTHER disadvantaging anyone. That last point is important, money does not solve problems. But the correct use of it can provide better, more well constructed and longer lasting answers. Money is not power but it can empower. They told me of the drug and alcohol problems several members of their family face and I liked the way they wish to use their new found wealth to help those unfortunates among them in this respect - if they so wish it. In the days before I was stupid and took their farm away from them, the home place was a major source of produce, beef and crops for their wider family. This will become so again. I still feel very guilty about my role in their worsened situation and I think I always will. The thought that Shonta's spirit, presence - call it what you will, stayed with me all the years intervening even after what I did to her family is humbling. They are still very shy and reserved about this windfall that has finally found it's way to them. Yet as much as they are still shy and reserved about it, they are determined to let it benefit their future as a family and that's the key. John James may profess not to know much but one thing he said was very profound. "This money should boon us as a family always and forever, and if it don't do that, then we ain't no family and it jez become as snake money" Miss Carol heartily agreed and called out her support to Pa Jarrow. "Yes sirree, an may it be de same for these Maxsons and their alls money too I say!" "Here here!" called Father, with Mother and I just nodding politely. Kathleen is looking at me with those shining beautiful lilac colored eyes and I take her hand in mine. I get that fiery feeling in my nose as I look at her bare ring finger and imagine a huge diamond ring there. For my Shonta there were amethysts and sapphires (purchased on Mothers AMEX card). For Kathleen, if she will allow me there will be diamonds, the forever stones of love. The others have noticed our linked hands but they choose not to mention it. I check the expressions on various faces. Father unconcerned and encouraging, Mother I think can see the ring already and she loves the idea and Miss Carol openly supportive of us all the way remains so. The Jarrow's bless their souls seem careful but willing to let another of their daughters try her luck with a Maxson. A part of me wonders if they will let one of their sons try his luck with a Maxson son, and vice versa. It impresses upon me the promise I made to myself that I would never imposition my son the way I myself was imposed upon when I chose my lover. Miss Carol has made it crystal clear that she won't stand for me being a hypocrite by denying my own son his right to seek happiness and fulfillment. I think about any chance of a future I might have with Kathleen. I've been wanting to talk seriously with her about the direction of our friendship/companionship call it what you will. She has indicated to me that we are going to do this the old fashioned way and although I would question what the 'old fashioned' way actually entails, I'm not going to push her. I've gone this long without feminine charms, I'm sure I can wait a little longer but she's got to give me something to hope for. A reason to believe that there will be an us. I certainly believe there will be but I still need to hear it. The lawyers (who have missed all the underlying currents) neatly wrap everything up and we move on to lunch. I've been thinking about Felix' need for a car and so has Gary. The boy got his license before they moved out here, he just lacks a car of his own. "Now Ryan, that Junior, the Sherriffs boy, well he's taking Felix out to earmark a car today but does he know what he's doin?" "Yeah Gary, Junior really knows his cars, my question would be - How much are you willing to spend on the youngster?" Gary shares a look with Kathleen who does not look completely in agreeance with whatever it is that Gary has decided. She shrugs and he smiles. "Whatever the boy decides he wants, he gets" "Fair enough then" I reply. "But did you tell him that?" "Of course not" we all laugh at that one. *** (Felix) "Aaaaah Felix there you are boy!" says Ms Lewis. I cringe as I feel her come up beside me, what have I done this time? Jake growls low in his throat - he really doesn't like her. Sometimes he acts like such an animal and I love it lol. "I want you to come to my office next period, don't worry you're not in trouble it's a good thing!" The expression on my face eases... "Your teacher next period knows where you will be so don't bother checking in. Besides I know you've already collected enough credits in that class anyway.., you're just making up the numbers there aren't you?" She attempts to smile but her face is kinda frozen by the rumored botox after effects. I can only agree with Jake and the others, she looks kinda 'melted'. "Uhhh yes Mam I will see you then" I reply warily. "Good boy, now on to class you go, you too Maxson" She scurries off in a cloud of cloying french perfume and scarlet red power suit. Jake grabs me by the arm and drags me off towards the next class. "What the hell was all that about dude?" he questions, his deep voice rumbling. "I don't know, got no clue what she could want me for unless it's somin I done wrong an all? But she said I ain't in trouble" I reply, like Jake wondering what that was all about. "Yeah well be careful, I don't trust her and I don't like her" Jake warns, his voice low and urgent. "Like what's she gonna do baby, inject me with botox and infect me with her bad fashion sense? - Hahaha" He's smiling but I think it's coz I said the word 'Baby' - not from my lame jokin. "That's the problem, 'baby' - I just don't know" We separate from there coz his next class is biology and mine is english. *** "Hey Felixster, howzit goin dude?" It's Mark whom I must admit is looking particularly hot in khakis and a powder blue wool cable knit that really makes his baby blues pop. We got the next class together and we have been sitting paired up for the past couple of weeks. I appreciate Mark, he really is the sweetest guy and he's gone out of his way to include me in everythang. It's not easy to do things apart from Jake coz Jake is very proprietary and yes I do love that. But Mark has welcomed me into the basketball circle and introduced me to some new buddies as well and I am real grateful for that. "So how's life with the Jakester?" he half smiles... It's difficult to know just how far to take things with Mark. He gives you this feeling of wanting to tell him everything - I can't explain it but he just does. I also know that he's okay with what's goin on tween me and Jake - more than okay. "Hehe, it's goin better than you and Jessica" I reply He grins, "Ohhhhh hooo, don't you be worrying bout lil ole Jessica now my friend. It's just a matter of time, you'll see - I got plans!" he waggles his eyebrows and I laugh. "Maybe I don't wanna see, like ewww!" "Ha! well some of the displays you and Jake have been putting on have been rather - shall we say.., overt?" I blush and we take our seats. We share this class with Junior and I'll tell you now he HATE HATE HATES english! He has no real problem with it cept spelling. He jez cannot get the gist of spelling words but what's interesting is he can spell technical and difficult words fine. It's the simple words he cannot spell - and according to Mark, even if he figures a troublesome word out, he forgets it in time for the next time he has to remember it again! The teacher Mrs Cosgrove is mercifully understanding but I can see in her eyes that she feels like Junior has been let down somewhere by the system. She's a good teacher. He's definitely no dummy, he waltzes through his other classes it's jez this one that gets him every time. "Hey Felix buddy, we still on for the great car hunt today?" Did I tell you we're gonna go find me a set of wheels today? I'm so excited! Jake wanted to come along but he's got wrestling practice again which sucks but in some ways it's good coz I fear Jake might try to dominate proceedings and choose my car for me. That's why I like Junior coz all he's gonna do is tell me whether I'm bein ripped off or not, nothin more. It's gonna be a second hand car of course but Uncle Gary told me to don't be afraid of what price my choices might be. I gotta take him back a list of 3 cars that I would really like. I already got an idea of what I am lookin for. I love pick up's but I ain't gonna be buyin a truck. I don't have a part time job yet so I cannot afford to maintain a truck and all that goes with it. I don't wanna buy somin that is cheap and nasty and will eat up all my dollars (which are currently non existent), in repairs and maintenance. I want somin that is small, economical and easy to service. "Junior remember to take him over to that new Japanese dealership on the way out of town" Mark says. Junior frowns, not being a fan of non US car makes, "Yeah I hear ya, I was planning to take him there" He looks at me sideways.., I ain't sure if he was gonna after all hehe. The bell rings and I tell Mark and Junior that I won't be in class with Old Droner today on account of goin to see the Principal. "You watch that old gal dude, she's got it in for you" Mark warns. "Ha! - last time I looked it was YOU she had the knives out for Marky Mark!" He startles me by grabbing my arm, he smells so fresh and clean... "Listen to me Felix, somethings not right about her and I think that anybody who gets too close to her needs to watch out!" He looks at me earnestly and I wonder to myself 'How the hell does Jessica resist this guy?'. He's like some kind of golden blonde knight. "Hehe okay dude you are kind of freaking me out here" I am all squirmy now. "Good be freaked out and stay freaked out, it might save your life one day..." he releases my arm and I begin to walk office-wards. "Hehe you ain't related to Miss Carol are ya?" I look back down the hall. "Dude do not go there!" he looks at me real serious. "She talks to the angels!" "Thought yalls dint believe in angels an all?" the distance now between us makes my voice echo. "Hmmm maybe not but I DO believe in her.., See you Felix, wouldn't wanna be you!" Mmmmm I remember saying that myself to Jake jez yesterday. *** (Jessica) So it's me, Felix and my good friend Kim sitting there chattering away, waiting to be summoned into the presence of her majesty. All I know is that we somehow fit the prerequisites to be able to do some bonus program which will look good on our college applications. I wonder why I have not heard of this before but I don't get far because Dr. Lewis is ready to see us now. You can't help but like Felix, he's just a real sweetheart, you take one look at him and you either want to be ravished by him or you want to mother him. In my case it's definitely the latter. I still get an awful pain in my heart when I'm with him but it does not last long and if anybody is to blame it's Jake not Felix. But I am determined not to play the blame game, that would be foolish and would accomplish me little. He's such a wonderful boy and all the girls are having little love conniptions about him. He is so quintessentially paradoxical to Jake that I am left shaking my head trying to figure out how they haven't destroyed each other yet.., yet... "Come in children!" Dr. Lewis literally shouts at us as if we are dumb or a football fields distance away. I just love the patronizing 'children' quip too and I am sure she deliberately meant to say it that way. I maintain my mask of polite interest and take the proffered seat. "Next Wednesday a good friend of mine will be visiting our area on business. She is a prominent freelance photo-journalist in New York City and has graciously offered her services to a small group of promising students! Isn't that exciting!!!" she squeals. We all make the appropriate sounds, Kim in particular is all ears since she is seeking to work within the medium of journalism and broadcasting. But to be honest I am also quite interested because photography is a hobby of mine. Felix just looks nonplussed, he certainly is adorable with his purple puppy dog eyes and his wholesome blonde looks. It's no wonder Jake is sold on him, Jake has always loved blondes... My attention returns to Dr. Lewis.., "Now the details aren't finalized yet but she is offering to conduct a series of workshops with a focus on event photography, interview technique, source gathering, reconnaissance, block article presentation and image selection" "We need to think ourselves very grateful for this wonderful opportunity and make the most of it!" Felix shuffles in his seat. "Mr Jarrow you are probably wondering what you are doing here with two girls who are possibly more well suited to this venture than you?" It's hard to know whether she's insulting him or not... I would say that she is. He opens his mouth to speak but Dr. Lewis silences him with a raised finger. I can't help but notice how long her blood red lacquered nails are. They are real too. "I know that you did well at your last school. Moving schools in Senior year is not ideal, therefore in order to give some extra sparkle to your college prospects I am giving you this opportunity for your resume" He gulps and nods.., "Uh thank you Mam, I am uh just thank you" he shrugs. She sniffs clearly not impressed with his delivery but she lets it go for now. "Excellent, beginning next Wednesday you will be spending every 2nd period and end of the day study period with Ms. Khol for the next 12 of those periods total. The final 2 periods you spend with her will be used to make a presentation to the school and then to the PTA Committee" Felix looks a little green around the gills about the presentation part but Kim and I are quite excited by the prospect. Now that I know what's involved I am quite ready to get down to it. I address Dr. Lewis. "Principal Lewis I am very thankful to you and Ms. Khol for this fantastic opportunity you are providing the three of us, thank you very much!" I stand up and we shake hands. "Yes thank you soooo much Dr. Lewis!" Kim gushes, she can't wait to get started too. Felix stands and mutters his thanks. He reaches out to shake her hand but she grabs it and pats his hand in a 'There, there' fashion. "Do not be afraid little boy, you will just looove Aimee Khol. Trust me you will absolutely adore her!" After that we are summarily dismissed and chased out of the office by Mrs Hinkle. Kim begins talking immediately, "Like wow wow wow wow and did I saw WOW!?!" Felix rolls his eyes but I can understand her excitement, I am excited as well. "I'm so glad Jessica!" she grabs my arm. "She works in New York City like WOW HOW GLAMOROUS! Who does she contribute to???? -- People?, Vogue?, Cosmopolitan???" "I am sure we will find out Kim-Marie" I respond trying to calm her down. Felix takes this opportunity to escape. "Uh yeah I'm excited too haha, anyway gotta go guys, I'll see you at lunch!" "Okay okay honey, see you at lunchtime" Kim giggles looking him up and down, liking what she sees. "Uh yeah bye" he half waves and skips round the corner. "Wow he's a dreamboat ain't he Jess!" Kim slaps her hand over her heart and swoons leaning against me and I laugh. "Yeah he sure is a honey isn't he" I shake my head not really knowing why. "Do you think he'd go to the Starlight Mountain Dance with me?" Kim is a pretty girl, brunette with big dark eyes. "Sorry Kim but I think he's already been snagged by Betsy-Lee-Meredith" I reply sagely. "That utter bitch got my man!" Kim places her hands on her hips making me giggle at her dramatic technique. "Oh I'm sorry Jess I should not be talkin bout who got who's man in front of you now should I" Kim is good at putting her foot in her mouth but I'm easy about it. Finishing up with Jake still hurts but I'll get over it. Betsy-Lee-Meredith has been nicknamed 'BLAM' by the boys. She does the rounds so quickly that they call it being 'Blammed'. She has worshiped at the temple of Lenore for years and is now the current high priestess of it. As Jake says.., 'Slam Blam thank you Man'... accurate even if a little uncouth. My train of thought is broken by the sudden appearance of Mark Fisher. He's been popping up all over the place lately and I know why... He's looking rather dashing today actually and I do approve of his powder blue jersey. It makes his eyes flash electric neon blue. "Excuse me Jessica, may I borrow Kim-Marie away from you please?" I am startled by this and so is Kim, he wants to speak with her and not me? "By all means Mark, have a good morning guys see you at lunch if not before" I take my leave of them and walk quickly away towards the library but not before I hear Kim-Marie scream... "Of course I'll go to the dance with you Mark oh wow, wow, wow and did I say WOW!?!" For some strange reason my step falters and my heart shudders for a few heartbeats. I quickly recover myself and continue on to the library trying hard not to run. What on earth is wrong with me? I force the question from my mind, the answer to that question is untenable. *** (Felix) "I want that one!" I point at it. "Naw that ain't even cool lookin man!" Junior looks horrified. "I don't care, that's the one!" I rush over and hold on to the thing for dear life. "But it's Japanese dude! You cannot be serious!" "Okay 'Johnny Mac Junior,' you said you weren't gonna do this!" "Aight aight - whatever but why this one?" "Because she told me so" I smile at his reaction, he thinks I'm nuts but oh well - he ain't the only one. "Felix we gotta discuss all those other cars" He points back down the road to the American dealerships. I am as patriotic as all get out but I jez like this car. I jez know he wants to rush out of the yard. When we first got here he did not want anybody to see him sniffin round a 'Damn foreign yard'. He hid his truck round the back even and he's been lookin round checkin to see if any familiar cars were comin down the road since we got here. I called him on it and he denied it, so I tested him. "Hey it's Clarke!" I called. "What!?! - Where?!?" he made a neat dive behind the nearest corolla all the while tryin not to touch it as if it had fleas or somin. "Jeeez Junior you sure are a big fat liar!" His big green cats eyes looked up at me, he'd been snapped. He stood up guiltily and shrugged. It was at that point that I discovered my baby! She's a 2003 metallic blue Echo hatch and I don't need to look no further. The sales dude told me later that her owner was some lil ole lady who only drove her for a year before her eye sight forced her to quit drivin altogether. My lil blue baby sat in a garage for a few years and after the old lady died they tuned her up and well here she is! "I don't wanna hear bout those other cars Junior lets go to the office and tell the guy and I will call Uncle Gary now" So we went to the office and the dude came and chatted with Junior as he inspected the car. I just stood back and watched, especially their hot butts as they looked under the hood hehe. I was gonna get a pix of that but Uncle Gary called back. I could not get Uncle Gary immediately so I left a message but he called back pretty quickly. I gave my phone to the salesman and waited anxiously, hoping the price would not be too high for whatever Uncle Gary was prepared to spend. Shortly after that the sexy salesman handed the phone over to Junior and the most amazin thang happened! Juniors' eyes narrowed and he may as well have been speaking in tongues for all I knew. I thought he was entirely too aggressive as he and the salesman appeared to go toe to toe, cutting and weaving, too-ing and fro-ing. They fought over the price mostly, that much I could understand but there was lots of other stuff they haggled over that went whoooosh way over my head! After about 10 minutes of gesticulating, whining and growling they finally quit and shook hands, smiling broadly. The salesman actually offered Junior a job but he staunchly refused lol. The salesman whose name is Pete jez smiled and said, "You remind me of myself dude" They shook again and almost on second thought remembered that I was there, like HELLO! They both shook hands with me and I was given some papers to sign and he threw me the keys which I dropped lol... I was surprised he let me take the car even though it hadn't been paid for as yet. When I queried this Pete jez pointed at Junior and said, "That there is the Sherriff's son if I'm not mistaken. I'll take my chances but if you ain't real the next fleet of police vehicles are gonna be Toyota's hehehe" I smiled and we exited the office to find my lil blue baby had been driven by a mechanic to the roadside. I gave Junior a hug (which embarrassed him) and invited him round to supper some time next week (which excited him). Junior jumped into his truck and roared off down the road leaving me to drive around in a dream learning the feel of my car. "Car, my name is Felix and I am gonna treat you like a princess" That would be my name for her from this day forward. 'Princess'. ************************************************************** And so he drove his little car home, excited and contented and with that first thrill of independence that comes with the possession of ones first car. Meanwhile Felix' cousin Jake is also driving, up the mountain road that leads home. His mind on his lover, wondering what kind of truck he had settled on. In Jake's mind Felix was definitely going to choose a truck. There is still so much that both boys have to learn about one another, so much they still don't know. Across town Mark Fisher punches the alarm code into the key pad of the Forkridge branch of Fisher Furniture. His mind swirling with anxiety over whether his plan to win Jessica's attention will succeed. He just hopes it won't backfire. He has started praying recently for the first time in his life. As for the object of his affections and prayers, she is busy searching the net for more information about Amy Khol and she is slightly concerned about the media field Ms. Khol has made her name in. Tabloid journalism? Expose' photography? She frowns and creates a new file. She names it ' Who is Amy Khol?' Down on Cross Street Kathleen Jarrow is taking a break from cooking dinner. She felt guilty about quiting her job today but with the elder Jarrow's to think about she had little choice. They asked if she knew of anyone else who might be interested and she nominated her son. He will need money now and has been talking about getting a job for a while. She starts practicing a new signature on a napkin with a pen. The initials K.M. - she laughs at her scrawlings reminiscent of adolescent daydreams about what boy she wanted to marry. 'Oh well at least ONE person will be happy I'm no longer working'. She gets back to fixing dinner. Lenore Rivera stands shivering in the late afternoon cold on a dark unlit back street on the bad side of town. She awaits the the familiar roar of her brother Matthew's noisy truck. She taps her foot and once again curses the fact that her license has been revoked. Her little drink driving episodes did not please her father too much. She thinks back on the hot sex she just had with 'Builder Brad' in his trailor. The sex was indeed fantastic as it always is with him. But something he said earlier really piqued her interest. He told her that he had been over to the principals' house just the other day to do a job. Nothing unusual about that except for two things. He had to soundproof a room and place bars over the lone window of that room. Of course he was paid to keep quiet because many precious things were going to be stored in that room. But soundproofing? - Actually thinking isn't one of Brad's forte's but he makes up for it in other ways. Lenore sees a chance here to play her favorite game. 'Super Sleuth' She looks up suddenly as headlights shine across her way. From the thunderous sound of the engine and the rattle of the noisy vehicle suspension chains in the utility box in the back of the truck she knows it's her brother. "It's about time Matthew! - I was only waiting half an hour!" the sarcasm goes over his head and she rolls her eyes and slams the door before belting up like a good Sherriffs child. "When are you gonna take those damned chains out and leave them in the garage? I hate that damn noise they make rattling around like that!" "Shut up, those were Grandpa's lucky chains now hear?" Junior replies sullenly his mind on meeting up with his girlfriend Beth in a little while. "Grandpa carted them chains round everywhere and used them to help all sorts of folks out" "Yeah but he operated a TOW TRUCK Matthew like HELLO!?!" Matthew ignores his older sisters last comment and keeps driving down the road. "Soooo a lil bird told me that Brad Campbell's got the clap" "Oh just SHUT UP you little brat!" "You shut up! - I'm tellin Mom where you been!" They argue all the way into the night just like millions of brothers and sisters all over America are doing right now. But the wind doesn't argue, it just blows, The sun doesn't complain it just shines, The ocean doesn't cry it just rolls, The spirit doesn't question, it just knows. The rhythm of life is a powerful beat... ************************************************************** Please join me again for the next chapter~ *** SPECIAL NOTICE *** Due to technical problems on the old site I have decided to recreate my story portal at the following address... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jjptex/ To ensure that you can keep in touch with me if there are future problems with this site - please copy the following information.., Alternative e-mails and messenger service identification. jjptex@yahoo.com or, jjptex@hotmail.com This will keep you in the loop if something should befall AMYTHERALD. Also - If for any reason you fail to access the web group page I will leave a message right here on NIFTY ARCHIVES Sincerely - Joey~