Counting

Chapter 17

by Tux

This is all fantasy fiction. None of the events are real.

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Proton Mail: Foxfire3730@proton.me

Edited by Andrew Thomas

This story is an original work of fiction ©Copyright 2022 Tux - Please do not copy or post without permission.

Hey guys it's Tux and I can't express the joy that I have that you all love reading my story. I wasn't really sure in the beginning but working with Andrew, he built my confidence and I wrote my story down. I'm so excited to keep writing the story and bringing you more emotional connection, drama, and victories for young AJ and Zack. After writing so far into the story, I've become very attached to AJ and Zack, more than I thought I was going to be able to, and I look forward to sharing the rest of his story with you.

I appreciate all the emails, suggestions, offers, and support that I get and for those who haven't emailed yet and are waiting or don't feel comfortable or safe emailing let me, let me express my gratitude for reading my story and tell you a little bit about my story. I've been reading nifty for many years about two months ago I just decided to start emailing people and let them know how much I appreciate their stories. I got replies almost instantly. The responses were supportive, encouraging, and some even held spoilers. I struck up a friendship with Andrew and it grew with my confidence and now Andrew is my most trusted editor. I cannot do this without him. Other authors like Lucas and Eric Murphy offer advice and support with my stories and it means the world to me. So, take a leap email an author and tell them how you feel, did you like the story did you not like it, all opinions matter to the author. Do you have suggestions on where you think the story could go, all suggestions interest the author. So take that leap and email your favorite author, you can change his day for the better, and might even influence or change the story. Thank you to all those that were supportive to me and I can't wait to show you the rest of... Counting.

Chapter 17 - Jealousy

AJ

"Mr. Docker, did you read the chapters I assigned while you were gone or not?" Mrs. Harpmen says, in a slightly louder voice than a few seconds ago. My knees begin to shake as I stand next to my desk. Giggles and whispers come from random places around the classroom, grabbing my attention. Finally, a student, a friend, and a brother, raises their hand, and Mrs. Harpmen gives up on me and calls out, "Yes, Mr. Garcia."

Checha Garcia, or what his friends call him-Chet, stands next to his desk and says, "This is the first time you're meeting AJ since you've been back? He won't answer you. It took Mr. Wolde a week, and he still whispers sometimes. May I go talk to him?"

"I highly think that is unnecessary. It is a yes-or-no question, isn't it?"

"Yes ma'am, to you or I, but AJ doesn't understand it that way," Chet walks himself over to me and some of the kids that are staring at him. "AJ, man, you're shaking like a leaf." He says and when he gets close, I wrap my arms around him with a sigh of relief. He pushes me off and looks uncomfortable, then whispers, as he digs in the front of my backpack's pocket, "You're safe here. I won't let anyone hurt you. The whispers you hear are just the other students, nothing to worry about."

He hands me a grey Rubics cube and my fingers go to work, earning me some oooo's and ah's. "Mr. Docker, have you or have you not read the chapters?"

Looking over his shoulder at Mrs. Harpmen, Chet answers, "I'm sure he did."

"How do I know unless he answers me?"

I finish the cube and hand it back to Chet as he hands me the second one, then answers her, "Because he's AJ, and he can't just read a chapter, he has to read the whole book. He can't just leave a page unread."

"Mr. Garcia, come up to the board and bring Mr. Docker with you." Chet whispers it will be okay and he waves for me to follow him to the front of the class. Once we get up there, I try to hide behind Chet as much as possible, but it's difficult and I can feel all the other kids staring. Their eyes bore into me and their whispers whittled away at my confidence. `Oh no! Not now!' I think as I place my hands over my crotch holding onto my penis.

"So, Mr. Garcia says you read the whole book, is this true?" She asks, and I nod sheepishly. Was I not supposed to? Why is she singling me out? Does she hate me already? " She flips through the chapters that were in the reading assignment while my eyes look around Chet and at the other students looking at me. I pinch my legs together and lean my head in the small of Chet's back.

"Mr Docker, explain the theme and it's meaning throughout Edgar Allen Poe's `Cast of Amontillado.'"

"He's not gonna be able to tell you that. The book we are reading is just short stories and poems. It didn't tell us how to do that." She looks really upset at Chet, and I pull on his shirt to get his attention. Chet turns around to see me almost hoping on one foot to keep myself from peeing my pants. "Dang AJ! Why didn't you say something. Do you need your bag?" I nod, and he quickly heads off to retrieve my backpack. "Sorry Mrs. Harpmen, but he..."

"Yes, I noticed Mr. Garcia. Hurry back."

"Yes ma'am," and he gets in front of me and leans down for me to hop on his back. We make it to the bathroom in time and I can tell he's really nervous as he fights with my belt on my jeans. "Shit, how does Zack undo this so fast?" He asks, and I just blush.

"I guess practice, hurry please," his eyes move up to mine and he smiles.

"Chico malo," he says with a giggle and spins me around at the toilet.

He yanks my jeans down and my briefs slide down also, putting my butt right in Chet's face. I can feel his hot breath on my exposed skin and manage to get a little stiff, "Ch-Ch-Chet, I got it fr-fr-from here." I take a breath, realizing that I had been holding it the whole time. I look down and make sure my penis is aiming correctly while the stream starts. Relief washes over me as I finish up and shake it three times. When I check my underwear, I notice that the outside is dry and the pad insert is all yellow. "I couldn't hold it," I say with a sigh.

"Oh, umm, how bad is it?" Chet asks with uncertainty in his voice. I turn around and face him with the pad in my hand.

"Not bad, the pad worked, so dry underwear."

Chet takes the pad with two fingers and dumps it into the trash. "Okay, let's get a new pee pad in, so we can get back." I know he's a little uncomfortable doing this for me, but he does it all the same. Zack showed the lunch-table boys a little class on me where they learned all about me and my... weirdness, including how to line these things up with my penis. It was just as embarrassing as you think.

"I'm sorry, Chet," I managed to say softly. "I don't think she likes me."

"Awe AJ, she just doesn't know you is all. Is that why you peed, cause she was getting after you like that?" I nod, and he finishes with my belt and gives my butt a playful swat. "She just doesn't know you yet, but she's going to love you." I give him a smile and he spins around for me to hop on his back, and we're off to the classroom. "So, I forgot to grab your crutches. The back ride express will have to do."

On the way back to class, I realize you must be pretty lost. Sorry, let me fill you in on the last three days...

Monday

Back to School (again)

Mom pulls the SUV in front of the school. Zeke jumps out of the front seat and opens the back door while Zack helps me out of my booster seat. Getting my arms into my crutches, I'm greeted by all my friends, welcoming me back. As I climb the front steps, Ms. Simpson, the vice principal, greets me at the top, "Welcome back, Mr. Docker."

"Good Morning, Ms. Simpson," I greet her just loud enough to be heard while rocking back and forth on my crutches.

"Please come to my office as soon as you get inside," then she continues, "Good Morning' to the students that herd past her. Zack looks at me, we both shrug, and Zeke gives my shoulder a little bro-punch as he opens the door. The twins take me to the office, and standing in the corner with Zeke shielding us from view, Zack kisses me on the lips.

"Try and enjoy your day. Don't sweat this. I doubt you're in trouble."

"Okay, I'll miss you. I'll see you at lunch, right?"

"Don't worry little bro, I'll see you then," Zack says as he lifts my chin and kisses me again.

Zeke tries to warn us, but he's not fast enough. "You will be eating lunch together in detention if I see you kissing like this in the halls again," Ms. Simpsons says while she scans the rest of the hall. Zeke hurries away, and Zack holds my hand as he walks away from me till our outer finger tips are touching, then hurries to catch up to his brother. Looking to my right, Ms. Simpsons looks down at me and smiles.

I'm so embarrassed, I'm frozen in place. "Mr. Docker, wait for me in my office, please." She holds the door open for me and I crutch inside, taking a seat. I feel so small in this big chair. Her office had lots of pictures hanging on the wall; fifteen pictures, and one name plate on his desk. There are seven pencils, four chairs, five plants, and ten flowers spread around her office.

The vice principal walks in and shuts the door, startling me. One of my crutches slips from my hand and as she walks by she catches it. "This is yours, is it not?" She asked while handing it back to me.

"Yes... ma'am"

Ms. Simpson sits down and opens up a folder. I fidget with my crutch as she stares at me, "You know, I was told you were in eighth grade in New York?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She gets up and begins to walk around the table. "I was hesitant to put you fully into eighth grade here, not because I didn't think you were advanced enough, but I wasn't sure you could handle it in a new school."

She lays a folder in front of me and goes back to sit down in her chair, "I'm sorry ma'am, I'll try and work harder."

She looks at me and asks if I'm going to talk to her to please look at her. "It's a nasty habit you have. Be confident in yourself, and your answers to people's questions. As far as you working harder, I don't see how that is possible. In the folder in front of you is letters from ten teachers asking me to move you to the eighth grade, including your third grade teachers and your geometry teacher." I look through them and my expression changes to shock. Ms. Simpson smiles and says, "That's not what changed my mind. The second letter is a petition from your classmates trying to convince me that they will protect you from any students that are against having a nine-year-old classmate, as you can see there are 50 of them. The office people and I have worked together to make sure that every class has at least two or three of the students in every one of your new classes."

"...my new classes? I'm sorry ma'am, I don't understand."

"The third paper is your new classes," she clicks a button on the desk and says, "Send him in please." Her door opens and Zack walks in and shuts the door behind him. I give him a little smile. "Zack and AJ, before I have Zack here take you around the second floor and show you where your new classes are, I want to talk to you about you two being an outed couple." The horror of her knowing that we are boyfriends slams into me, and I look at her as Zack comes up behind me and lays his hands on my shoulders.

I lay my hand on his and he whispers, "There, there, her knowing doesn't change how I feel about you."

"I think you two are very brave, and the news of you two being boyfriends has gone through the school like wildfire while you've been gone. So I just want you two to know that and be prepared for students to say rude and disrespectful things. Zack, I can't have you fighting, even if it's to stand up for AJ's honor. No fighting understand?"

Zack said he understood and then showed me where my classrooms are. That was Monday and now it's Wednesday. Chet took me back to class and Mrs. Harpmen has Chet drop me off in front of everyone. He does so and goes to get my crutches, brings them to me, and then returns to his seat.

Mrs. Harpmen asks if I'm good after I wrestle with getting my forearms in the crutches. I give her a nod and wonder what she wants me to do now. "Mr. Docker, recite the `Cask of Amontillado', please."

My eyes shift from person to person as they lean over their desk to hear what I have to say, knowing it will come from me as quietly as I can. I say softly, "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult..."

"Mr. Docker," says the teacher from the back of the room. I didn't even realize she moved back there. "The students and I can't hear you back here, please start over."

I swallow hard and brace myself on my crutches. I close my eyes and think of Zack. His soft brown hair, with the gentle curls that get out of hand when he lets it get too long, his blue eyes piercing through me, and his soft gentle voice telling me `It's okay to talk to people. You'll have to get used to it in eighth grade.' I opened my eyes and said in my full voice, "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat..." I kept recalling it and telling the story as loud as I could without yelling. Mrs. Harpmen let me continue till I ended the story by Edger Allen Poe.

Once I was done, the class erupted in applause. Even Mrs. Hartman clapped for me, as she walked towards the front of the room. "Well done, Mr. Docker. Well done. Please take your seat."

I passed a girl that sits in front of me, and she raised her hand to get the teacher's attention. When she is called on, she turns and asks, kind of shyly, "How did you memorize that whole story?"

Looking around the room, all the eyes are back on me and I look at Chet. He's smiling and shrugs his shoulders and nods. I stare at my desk and say, as loud and clear as I can, "I remember everything I read. I have a photo-matic memory." I sigh, glad it's over, and I slink behind my desk as quietly as I can to fall out of sight.

"I think what you're trying to say is photographic memory. That is interesting, very interesting," Mrs. Harpmen says, and then changes the subject and asks everyone to face forward. Once I know not everyone is looking at me, I come out from behind my desk to find the girl in front of my desk is still looking at me. She has strawberry red hair and hazel eyes. Her skin looks really soft, and she's wearing a white and red checkered sleeveless dress.

She reaches over and lays her hand on mine and whispers, "Hi, my name is Suzie..." but before I could respond, Mrs. Harpmen interrupts her and asks her by name to look at the chalkboard. She pulls her soft hand from mine and-for a split second, I miss the touch of her hand.

Twins

Lunch Time

" I can't believe they went through all our schedules and changed everybody around," complains Alex. " You know, I have to take gym the first period now. It sucks. I used to have it at last period and didn't have to shower. I could just go home."

I sit down and set my tray on the table. I take my pudding and my fruit roll up off my tray and set it next to me. After overhearing Alex complain, I responded, "Look, we all signed the petition agreement to have our schedules moved around to accommodate AJ. There's nothing we can do about it now if you don't like where your classes ended up. Oh, and by the way, not showering after gym class, dude, that's gross!" And everyone got a good laugh from the joke, and the conversation changed the tension in the room. Instead of worrying about what the new order of our classes is, we are now laughing about Alex being afraid to show his dick and why; Was it too small? Is it a weird shape? Or maybe he's permanently hard and doesn't want to excite the rest of us. As we laughed, my biggest concern is that I have to take a music class now. I don't know anything about music. But Mr. Simons says that if I'm not in music class, he's not gonna be able to get AJ to play the piano. The things I do for my boyfriend. At least he has me playing percussion; I'm told any idiot can play the triangle; and it's worth it to hear AJ play the piano.

AJ shows up last at the table with Chet, his crutches slowing him down a little. He works himself over to me, and I help him sit down. AJ smiles at me and I mess up his hair. He sets my pudding and fruit roll-up on his tray and says, "Thanks."

"Yup, no problem, little bro," I tell him, and watch him enjoy my pudding before he even eats his sandwich. I'm lost in his smile, his laugh, his happy face, and I didn't even notice the trouble walking towards AJ.

"Hi AJ," greets Suzie, and she makes Zeke scoot over so she can sit next to AJ. Zeke's a little shocked and leans forward to look at me. I shrug at him and decide to watch the show.

"Oh, hi Suzie. You...umm, like lunch?" He asks her, and I have to giggle a little at his discomfort. Suzie is a nice girl and all, but it's odd that she is giving AJ attention. He's blushing like crazy and hasn't taken his eyes off her since she sat down. Then to my surprise, he hands her his two fruit roll-ups.

My mouth falls open, and my face must look hurt because Chet across from me leans over and whispers, "Hey, earth to Zack... are you okay?"

"Umm yeah, I ah... I'll see you guys later," and before I could think about my actions or their consequences, I picked up my tray, my trash, and left the lunch table, hurrying out of the room. I didn't turn around, not even when AJ called out my name. Once I get out of the room, I wipe the tear that has fallen down my left cheek and curse myself for being an emotional child.

AJ

I watch as my boyfriend leaves the lunch room unexpectedly. He didn't say `bye' or `talk to you later.' He just got up and hurried off. "Hey Zeke, what's wrong with him?"

"Well AJ, little bro, I don't think it's my place. I think you need to talk to Zack."

I'm not sure what he's talking about. Did I do something wrong? Then Brian speaks up from down by Zeke and asks, "Hey Zeke, are you okay? Why are you crying?"

Zeke touches his cheek and pulls his fingers away to see the unknown tear. "This isn't my tear," and he looks at me really sad. I sit back as Suzie is talking about something, but I'm not really paying attention. He said, `It's not my tear,' that means it's Zack's and he must be really hurting if Zeke is feeling his pain. What did I do?

Grabbing my things on my tray, I begin to try and balance my tray and crutches until Zeke sees me having trouble and offers to take my tray back. I thank him and get my crutches under me. I spent the rest of the forty minutes of lunch looking for Zack up and down the halls. I never find him and start to worry, but the bell rings, ending lunch, so I just head to the music room.

I got there first, I was pretty close when the bell rang, and I sat on my piano bench. My legs swing back and forth as I wait and one by one, the eighth graders file in, unpack their instruments, and take their seats. I eagerly watch the front door looking for a glimpse, a piece of clothing, or even a kid with his hair color, anything that might let me know he's here, but yet no Zack. Finally, within seconds, Zack slips into the room, hurries to his position, and picks up his music, putting it on the stand. He never looked at me. Did I say something wrong? Was I not supposed to eat his pudding? He always gives me his pudding.

Music class went as usual, but my heart isn't in it. Mr. Simons has to stop the song many times because I either miss my cue or play the wrong part. I am doing terrible fingering and I don't even care; all I care about is that throughout the forty minute class, Zack didn't even smile, make a silly face at me, or even look at me. Suddenly, the ring that hangs around my neck feels twenty pounds heavier.

As soon as the bell rang, all the kids jumped up and ran to the cubbies where their cases are stored. I tried to fight my way through the crowd to get to Zack, but Zack left without me. Standing at the door, I'm not sure what to do.

"Hey AJ, why are you standing there?" Asks Suzie as she walks by.

"My umm, my boyfriend didn't wait for me. I don't have anyone to carry my bag to the gym class," I tell her while trying to hold back how upset I really was.

She picks up my bag and says, "I'll walk with you. You have a boyfriend? That's cool. Why didn't he wait?"

I walk along side her and respond, "I'm not sure. I must have said or done something wrong. I've never seen him mad at me before."

"Wow, sucks. Want me to ask around? I'm pretty good at finding things out," she offers.

"That would be great," I tell her and wipe a tear away, trying to act as cool as I can. She gives me a smile and hands me my bag. I take my bag and set it on the floor. When I look up, she kisses me on the cheek.

My hand goes to my cheek as if I'm trying to hold that soft, warm, tingling feeling on my cheek. I watch her walk down the hall and can feel my face turn red when she turns back to see me staring, "Don't worry little AJ, I'm sure your boyfriend isn't mad at you." Then she turns and mixes with the other students. I must have stood there for the whole time students changed classes, because the next thing I know, Coach is standing next to me.

"You plan on coming to the gym any time soon?" He asks, and I give my head a little shake. Looking up at him, he's got my backpack over one of his shoulders.

"Umm yeah sure, sorry Coach," I whisper and hurry in.

I work my way to the bleachers and sit next to the coaches' stuff. He sets my bag next to me and we chit-chat about when I get my leg brace off. Soon the kids from the locker rooms join us, and I sit and watch while the coach runs them through some warm-ups. My thoughts about Zack begin to drive me crazy, and I look around the room for something to count. Sticking out of the coach's bag is a grey binder that says soccer on the end.

I pulled it from his bag and opened it to see pages and pages of X's and O's arranged in lines with arrows. After a few pages, I realize this is his playbook. The pages are in plastic sleeves, and all these plays are wrong. They are clumsy, and the geometric angles are off. I get a marker from my bag and begin to correct the plays. I get most of them done before the bell rings, and when it does, I set it next to Coach's stuff, put my marker back in my bag, just in time for Wild to rush out of the boys locker room.

"Hey mate, you ready to go home?" I give him a quick nod and he slings my backpack over his shoulder. "We've got that massive, nasty geometry test on Friday, can I come over tonight or tomorrow to go over it?"

"I'll ask mom, but I don't see why not, I'll text you."

"Too right! Thanks little bro," says Wild, and he messes up my hair. We get to my locker and neither of the twins are there. That is odd. Wild bumps fists with me and heads to his locker. I swap out the books I'll need for homework and the ones I need to help Wild with. I'm waiting long enough to begin thinking of `How I'm supposed to get this backpack on my back and crutch out at the same time,' when Zeke comes running up.

"Im so sorry AJ, I had to stay after class. Apparently Mrs. Dobbs took my farting to be horseplay instead of bad cafeteria food," he says while laughing at his memories of the event. "Anyway, let's get you out on the bus."

I get on the bus and I search the faces looking for my boyfriend. The driver closes the door and yells for me and Zeke to sit down. I frantically look for Zack and can't find him. The bus lurches forward, and the driver yells at me again to sit down. I gave up and sit in the empty seat near me. To my surprise, I hear, "Why AJ Docker, are you stalking me?"

Suzie! I look up and she turns around and looks over the seat back in front of me. "Did you find out why he's so mad at me?"

Suzie looks like she doesn't want to say what she knows, "I can confirm he's mad. He's more pissed than mad."

"What did I do?" I ask and slump in my bus bench as if all the air has gone out of my body.

She shrugs, "He's not telling anyone, but my sources say it might be something you did."

I pull my backpack onto the seat and open it. Digging through it, I mutter, "Where is it...it's got to be here." Books and folders litter my seat as the search continues.

Suzie makes sure the bus driver can't see her, and she swings out and changes to my seat. "AJ, calm down. You're going to get yourself worked up. What are you looking for? Maybe I can help?"

Reaching deep into my bag, I find what I'm looking for, pulling out the large hoop of rope with 537 washers on it. I immediately count the washers as I rock back and forth. Eleven- twelve- thirteen- fourteen... My mind slips into its comfort zone as my fingers smoothly slide through the homemade counting machine. My eyelids grow heavy and the sounds of the chaotic bus begin to fade. I can hear Suzie shouting, but her words are muted and I don't have the strength to turn and look at her. Seventy-six... Seventy-seven... seventy-eight... seventy-nine...

Twins

I'm not sure what feels worse: being jealous of a girl or that I can't stop myself from feeling it. I'm being stupid by sitting all by myself at the back of the bus. I hid from AJ when he got on. I just need time to think this through. I watch him through the cracks people leave me as they lean up and laugh with their friends and move about. He looks upset looking around for me, but the bus driver makes him sit in an empty seat and he's so small I lose sight of him.

Soon I realize I'm being a dumbass and stand up to switch seats at the next stop. When I see Suzie's head pop over the seat-damn it! Doesn't she realize he's nine? She's macking on essentially a third-grader. What is she up to? I can kind of make out that she is talking about me. Then her face changes and she goes serious. She looks around to see if anyone is paying attention, causing me to duck around my seat. When I look over, I see that she is in AJ's seat now and I can only see the top of her head.

I sit back in a huff and wonder if I'm being too judgmental that that hussy is hitting on my boyfriend. Suddenly, she stands up and looks around at the back of the bus... her face. I recognize that look, the look of being afraid and not knowing what to do!

"Zeke! Zack!" She yells.

"Sit down back there!" Shouts the bus driver.

"Zack!" I stand up along with Zeke, "Zack help!" She can't even form complete sentences because she is so fearful. I head that direction, and Zeke matches my pace but goes over the seats, startling the kids. Suzie moves out of the way, and the bus swerves to the shoulder, coming to a stop with the brakes screaching.

Entering AJ's seat, I knock his books off the seat and Zeke lands on the other side of him, doing the same. AJ is shaking mildly, and his hands are tightly gripped around his counting rope. Between the two of us, we flip him over and I pull up his shirt.

"Someone call 911!" Zeke stands and shouts then squats down. "This is your fault!" Accuses Zeke as he holds AJ's legs so he doesn't get kicked in the face.

"My fault? It's not my fault, it's her's," I yell back, flipping my thumb at Suzie.

"My fault?" She shouts.

Looking at AJ's lower back I can see his injector is empty, "How can this be empty?"

"Didn't you fill it this morning?"

Did I forget? It was our first day back, and it took everything I had to keep AJ on target this morning. Did I forget? No, I couldn't have. I always do it after he pees. "No! Of course I didn't forget," I'm not completely sure of that fact. "I need my bag, hurry!"

"Here," yells Brian. "Heads up!"

Zeke stands up and catches it, then squats down, and begins to sift through it as I hold AJ's small body. Soon I see small puddles on the back of his neck and realize I'm crying. "Hold on, lover, just a little longer." Zeke finds the object I am looking for. I take the small black box and unzip it to reveal a syringe and two small bottles. I rip open the plastic and fill the first bottle.

AJ jerks, almost kicking Zeke off the seat and headbutts me in the nuts. My eyes cross and I think I'm blacking out. A group of hands catch me and hold me up in the seat.

"Zack! Zack!" Shouts Brian and I shake my head, grabbing the second bottle and drawing it through the needle into the syringe. Once I get what I need, I shake my hand, mixing up the two medicines, and insert the odd-looking syringe into AJ's injector. The liquid fills the boxes' reservoirs and the small red light turns green. Pulling his shirt down, I flip him back over, with Zeke's help, and cradle his head to my chest.

I can't stop crying, and eventually Zeke breaks up the crowd to give me my quiet moment alone. By the time the ambulance arrives, I've apologized twenty-six times and promised thirteen times that I'll never leave his side again. The paramedics remove the rope hoop, still gripped in his little hands, and lift him out of the bus. Zeke and I are allowed to go with him in the ambulance after I make a scene. I hold AJ's hand, reassuring him that I'm here by his side while the paramedics take his vitals. Zeke is on his cell calling mom, filling her in on what's happened.

Later that night, the door opens and our family enters the house. Coming up in the rear is me with a sleeping AJ on my back.

"Zack, be a dear and take AJ to bed," mom asks me after helping AJ off with his jacket.

AJ stands on wobbly legs as he protests going to bed so early, but he almost falls asleep standing there and I have to catch him. Laughing, dad hikes him on my back, and I reach back to hold onto his legs. "You okay, Zack? Want me to carry him up?"

"No, I'm okay. I deserve this."

I see mom and dad exchange looks, and then dad messes up my hair. "Alright, but once he falls asleep, and make sure he goes right to bed-no sex fun tonight? Make sure you come down for a talk."

"Well, that's my cue. I'll be in my room," says Zeke as he climbs off the couch, heading for the basement.

"Sit down young man, this will include you," mom says while she heads to the kitchen to get some wine, I'm guessing.

On my way up the stairs, I get a look from Zeke and I receive a feeling of fear. What would he be afraid of?

I sit AJ on the bed, undress him, take off his glasses and hearing aid, place the pee alarm over his dick, and tuck him under the covers. I really must be feeling guilty, I don't want to strip him and have sex with him. He moans a little and mumbles to me, so I sit down, rub his back, and repeatedly tell him, "I'm here" and "I love you too, it's okay." After a few seconds, the soft sounds of repeating breaths come, and I get up slowly and softly close the door.

Heading down to the first floor, I go to sit next to mom on the couch. "No, you sit down with your brother," says dad as he comes in holding a cup of coffee.

I get up, trudging my way over to the loveseat to sit down next to Zeke. I push his leg over on his side, he pushes my shoulder, and dad tells us both to stop. He leans on the archway trim and takes a deep sigh, giving us `that look' we both know so well, the kind that makes us feel guilty even if we don't know why. But this time... we both had plenty of reasons to feel guilty about.

End of Counting - Chapter 17 - Tux

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