Almost everyone would like to wake up in the morning to the gentle sounds of leaves rustling, birds chirping and the breeze passing by. It was the perfect alarm clock, if one could actually wake up to those silent sounds. There was no need for a snooze button. You would just let the morning's song stir you awake. And Oli was one of those people who loved to have his mornings like that. But, this one particular day, he woke up to a much different sound.

`He snores?' Oli thought, his arms still hugging Dash by the waist. He moved closer, his lips inches away from the other boy's parted lips. He almost wanted to kiss Dash, but the little bit of drool stopped him. `Eewww.'

So instead, Oli released Dash from his embrace, making sure not to stir the sleeping...well, snoring boy. He carefully let himself out the sleeping bag they shared and looked over to his bed. The sun was shining through his window, but it was only barely past the treetops. He crawled over to his bed to see if Mattie was still sleeping. Once his eyes got over the edge, it widened in an instant and he felt his heart stop at what he was seeing.

"Dash..." he whispered. There was no answer from the still sleeping boy so he called again, a bit louder this time. "Dash, wake up!"

Dash stirred a bit and mumbled in his sleep, but he still didn't wake up. Oli looked over to him before going back to his side. Then, as gently as he could, he shook Dash awake. "Dash, c'mon. Wake up...It's Mattie!"

At the mention of the little boy's name, Dash opened his eyes quickly. Sleep still lingered in those clouded brown eyes, but they also looked worried. He got up as soon as Oli stopped shaking him before looking at the other boy questioningly. "Oli?" he asked.

"Dash, c'mon. You've got to see this," Oli said, making his way back to his bed.

Dash followed Oli, crawling the same way he did. When they were right beside the bed, Oli told him to keep quiet and just look over the edge. He did so, not sure where this was headed. But it did concern Mattie, didn't it? Well he should've just rushed toward the bed and right beside the little boy, but Oli's eager expression got him sneaking over his little brother.

"See?" Oli asked, tapping Dash's hand.

If there was anything Dash needed to see, it wasn't anywhere he wanted it to be. And all that his mind could process were the words, "What the fuck..."

Just then, Mattie rolled over on his belly, moving close to the side where Oli and Dash were. His one leg draped over the edge, and over Oli's shoulder. But, you should probably know one more tiny detail. The little boy was naked from the waist down.

"...fhshit," Oli mumbled, feeling the little boy's nuts against his cheeks.

"What the fuck, Oli!" Dash yelled, pushing Oli to the floor after lifting Mattie's leg back on the bed.

"Oww!" Oli shouted back, feeling the hardwood floor bruise his soft bum. "What was that for?"

"You were kissing my brother's dick!" Dash accused, his voice hushed, still aware that they had to keep quiet.

"Mattie moved on his own," Oli said, crawling back to Dash's side.

Both boys turned their attention back to Mattie. The little kid was starting to wake up, lying on his back again and rubbing his eyes before finally opening them. He looked to his side and saw his brother's red face and Oli's painful and curious expression. However, he was still oblivious to his lack of clothing.

"Morning, Dashu," he mumbled, smiling sweetly "...morning, Oli."

"Mattie," Dash whispered, with that quizzical look in his eyes. "...where's your pants?"

And, though a bit late, Mattie realized just how naked he was down there. The cool air must've brushed against his little pecker and his tight balls. His eyes widened, his lips pouted and his cheeks blushed. Well, he did the next logical thing. And that was to hide his predicament. But, the only problem was he hid the wrong thing. Instead of covering himself up, he was quick to reach for a pillow and hide his face. His dick was still left out in the open, alive as it was.

"Mattie," Dash uttered, kneeling and moving closer to his brother. "Did Oli do this?"

"What?" Oli said defensively.

And Mattie, shy and embarrassed as he was, shook his head under the pillow. He was holding onto it tightly, like almost wanting to suffocate himself. He felt himself tear up, his sobs gently pounding in his chest. Dash tried grabbing the pillow, but he just held onto it tighter. He didn't want to look at his big brother right now. It was far too humiliating for him.

"S'okay, Mattie. Dash's not mad or anything," Oli said, gently tugging at the pillow. Mattie still sniffled, but finally let the two boys see his miserable face. Oli just smiled at him, telling him that there was really no problem.

"Dashu?" he muttered.

"Sshhh," Dash sounded, running his hand through Mattie's hair. "What happened?"

"I...I don't know," Mattie answered. The pillow still rested on his chest and he wished his little turtle was here right now.

"You really don't know?" Oli asked and the little boy just shook his head. `What was he dreaming about?' he thought.

"Well," Dash started, scanning over the bed. "I can't see your shorts or undies anywhere." He looked over the other side of the bed and found the lonesome clothes on the floor. He stood up and got them.

Oli took the pillow from Mattie and placed it over his little (or not?) boner. The little kid refused to look him in the eyes. Instead, Mattie held his hands to his face, still sobbing. Oli sat beside the crying boy and placed his hand over Mattie's chest as he tried to hush the tears that were barely visible.

"Y'know, Dash. You should really talk to Mattie `bout these things," Oli said, seeing Dash sit on the opposite side of the bed holding Mattie's underwear and shorts.

"bout what?" Mattie asked in between sniffles, his hands muffling the sounds.

Dash just stayed quiet, his hand resting on his younger brother's thigh. Gently, he pushed the pillow aside and Mattie's dick sprang up once again. He could see just how much Mattie has grown over the years. And he was sure that he would soon be surpassed when it came to dick sizes. He sighed before starting to get Mattie's legs through his undies.

"He'll only get older and you can't keep this stuff from him," Oli continued. "You're his big brother and he has no one else to ask questions and look up to."

"I know," Dash uttered, finally succeeding at dressing Mattie. The little kid even lifted his cute butt for his undies to snug back in place. "C'mon, Mattie. We still have school," he added.

Mattie peeked through his fingers and saw Dash's face returning to its fair complexion. He breathed in deep and got rid of the sniffles, but he did love Oli's hand on his chest chasing away the last bit of his worries. Finally, he removed his hands altogether from his face and stared up at Oli. "Thanks, Oli," he whispered.

"For what?" Oli asked, not sure what Mattie was thankful for. The little boy just smiled at him and despite the few tear streaks on his angelic face, he still looked so cute with that tiny blush refusing to leave his cheeks. He took his hand off Mattie's chest and helped the boy up on his bed.

"Let's go," Dash reminded again.

"Wait, Dash," Oli interrupted. "I know what we'll do today."

Dash just raised an eyebrow at him, doubting what Oli had in mind. As for Mattie, he totally forgot waking up naked in the morning on some other boy's bed and perked his ears at what Oli just said. Somehow, the little kid knew that they would embark on an adventure soon. And he didn't feel like going to school. Also, he wanted to ask Oli about his dream. He couldn't ask Dash, afraid of what he'd think.

"...go to school?" Dash asked.

"No," Oli said. "School's just so boring. I have a better idea. There's a trail not far from here that leads to a lake..."

"...swimming?" Mattie eagerly cut in.

Oli smiled at the little boy, ruffled his hair and asked, "You know how to swim, right?"

However, Mattie looked down at the pillow partly on his lap and shook his head, saddened by his inability to swim. Dash saw the sad look in Mattie's eyes just before his little brother hid them. He felt sorry for Mattie. As it was, their dad just wasn't able to teach the kid how to swim. And Dash was far too busy keeping him safe to ever let him dive into a deep pool.

"Hey, no worries," Oli said, seeing just how gloomy Mattie looked. "Your bro and I will teach you, right Dash?"

"Really?" Mattie's face instantly lit up. But, when he stole a glance at Dash, his eyes did flicker with uncertainty.

"You know how to swim, Oli?" Dash asked.

"You're looking at the next Michael Phelps," Oli proudly declared as he grinned widely.

"Oh yeah?" Dash sneered. "You don't look like you can swim. You don't even have any tan on you so I guess you haven't been `swimming' that much."

"Hey, just `coz I use sunblock doesn't mean I can't swim," Oli countered. "How `bout you, Dash? Can you swim?"

"A mile straight," Dash said with confidence.

And Mattie just cleared his throat, turning both boys' attention to him. "Uhm, shouldn't we bring some clothes to swim in?"

"Well," Oli thoughtfully said. "I don't think we need clothes to swim. Besides...we bathed together, right Dash?"

And just like that, a huge blush crept over Dash's face. He wasn't even aware that his lips pouted. All he cared about was trying to swipe that smirk off Oli's face. And, from the corner of his eyes, he saw Mattie look at him curiously.

"And Mattie here just showed us he knew how to skinny dip," Oli continued, giggling. "...the skinny part, I guess."

"You fuckin' kissed his..." Dash stopped midsentence seeing Mattie look so confused with his head tilted to the side. He just sighed and cleared his thoughts. "How `bout your mom or dad finding out that you skipped school?"

"Don't worry. I'll leave them a note telling them I need some more time alone," Oli answered. "They'll understand..."

"What about our uncle?" Mattie asked Dash.

Dash knew that they'd be dead if their uncle found out that they sneaked out at night and even slept over at another house. As for going to school, the man didn't care if Dash or Mattie skipped classes. However, school did provide an escape for the two brothers during the day. And seeing Mattie's eagerness at the prospect of learning how to swim made Dash want to risk maybe a couple of hard beatings and...some other nasty stuff. Moreover, he wanted to spend some time with Oli. He just missed going on adventures with the other boy. `I'll make up an excuse later,' he thought.

"He won't find out," Dash told Mattie, smiling at him. "...just be sure to keep your mouth shut this time."

Mattie suddenly felt guilty for blurting out his brother's secret to Oli. He didn't know if Dash forgave him or not. As far as he can remember, Dash said that he wasn't mad at him. But that didn't mean that his big bro let him off the hook just as easily. Without even realizing it, his eyes turned to those big puppy ones and a pout made its way on his pink lips. "Sorry," he whispered as he looked to his big brother.

"I'm not mad, Mattie," Dash said. "...and I forgive for you. I know you only wanted to help me, but you shouldn't just go out and tell everyone about it. Why would we keep it a secret in the first place if you do just that..."

"Dash, don't make Mattie cry again," Oli butt in. He hugged the little boy's back, feeling the light hiccups once more. "...and he didn't just tell anyone. He told me, Dash. And I really do want to help."

Dash knew that Oli was probably right. And he just can't stay mad at Mattie for so long. The little kid was the only family he had left and he couldn't risk losing Mattie to something the kid did out of love for him. Besides, he just knew that he could trust Oli. He just needed to help the other boy remember all those things that were never meant to be forgotten in the first place.

"I'm sorry," Dash told Mattie and gestured for the boy to come closer to him.

And for the first time since last night, Mattie hugged his big bro so tight that he almost broke down crying on Dash's chest again. But he didn't cry. Instead, a warm and sweet smile crept on his lips. "I love you, Dashu," he mumbled.

"Me, too," Dash said, rubbing his brother's back. "Now get your shorts on so we can get going. And Oli, I'm not going to swim naked."

"You're no fun, Dash! We've known each other since we were kids and I think I'm starting to remember just how you look...," Oli paused, settling his eyes on Dash's crotch. "...down there."

"Still not swimming naked," Dash repeated.

"I'm going to make you swim naked," Oli declared with so much confidence and a little smirk on his lips. "And Mattie's going to help me."

Withdrawing from the hug, Mattie looked at Oli incredulously. Seeing Oli wink at him just made him giggle and nod his head in earnest. "You bet!" he shouted which made Oli remind him to keep quiet.

"About that note?" Dash reminded.

"Just...let me" Oli said, reaching underneath his bed. "...here."

"Is that a diary?" Dash asked, leaning closer over the bed and to Oli.

"No, silly. It's a notebook," Oli answered while flipping through the pages.

"A notebook with dates written on almost every page? And cool drawings, by the way," Dash said.

"I can write anything I want in it, can't I?" Oli said. "...and thanks."

Just before Oli got to the blank page, Dash saw the lines of what clearly was a poem on the previous one. He couldn't make out a single line on that prose, but he did read something about taking measurements and love. `Measuring...what?' he asked himself.

"There," Oli said, going over what he'd written. It just said `Went out. Be back later.'

Mattie finally got his shorts on and jumped off the bed. His little feet landing on the floor caught the other two boys' attention. He grinned widely before saying, "I'm all set!"

Oli grinned at Mattie before turning to Dash and saying, "Ready to go?"

"Still not swimming naked," Dash answered as he stood up and went to Mattie, taming the little boy's curls.

"We'll see," Oli gleefully said as he also stood up and went to his closet. "Let me change my clothes first. Oh, you better change, too, Dash. There's some drool on your shirt."

"I'd rather be wearing this than be seen in your clothes," Dash said, absentmindedly wiping a non-existent drool on his face – or maybe a drool stain.

"Probably," Oli mumbled, searching still for something cooler to change into. He finally settled for a bluish tank top and also picked one out for Dash. He wanted to offer Mattie a change of clothes, too, but he just didn't have a smaller shirt anywhere. "Here. Wear this."

"I told you, Oli. I'm not wearing your clothes," Dash said, but he took the shirt from Oli. Well, Oli shoved it in his hands.

"Why do you have to be so difficult, Dash? It's just a change of clothes," Oli said as he started taking his shirt off. He was right in front of Dash and Mattie, but he didn't mind the audience. He was only changing his shirt, for chrissake. But if he was to change his undies, well, he wouldn't be so shy either.

`Smooth...porcelain...fuckin' smooth,' Dash's mind went on. As far as he can remember, Oli's skin was as flawless as the last time he saw him...naked. And staring at Oli's bare chest, with his pinkish nipples almost looking hard, made something inside his pants...quite rigid as well. He didn't mind the blush on his cheeks, or he just wasn't aware of that entirely. It was rude to stare, but he can't seem to look away.

And Mattie, as innocent and young as he might seem, stared at the older boy's body, too. He didn't know it, but his little dick was still as hard as earlier. Well, it might have softened earlier, but it sure went hard again. And like his big brother, that cute little blush never left his face.

As for Oli, he was far too oblivious with how Dash and Mattie looked at him so intently. But he could almost feel the lingering stares on his body as the shirt went over his head and finally covered his chest. He almost laughed out loud when he saw Dash looking away quickly with his face so flushed. What he didn't expect to see was the exact same expression on Mattie. However, the little kid still had his soulful eyes on him.

"Uhh, did I miss something?" Oli asked.

"You look so cool, Oli!" Mattie exclaimed, beaming up once more.

"Still not changing," Dash muttered.

Oli sighed, closed his eyes, clearly devising some sort of plan, and looked at Mattie. He said, "Mattie. Wanna help me change your brother's shirt?"

Mattie mostly looked unsure and somehow...afraid. But before he could say anything, Oli tackled Dash on his bed and started pulling up the other boy's shirt. Slowly, it went over Dash's waist, tummy and ...

"Get off!" Dash yelled, unmindful to the rule on `keeping quiet' anymore.

"Dash..." Oli almost stuttered. He gently pushed himself off Dash, but he was still straddling the other boy by the hips. "Oh, god...Dash..."

"Get off..." Dash angrily said, pulling his shirt back down to cover his chest and torso.

Oli did as he was told, but he still couldn't believe what his eyes saw. Scratches, bruises and scars everywhere. There were no fresh...wounds or anything, but the sheer area of blues and black on Dash's fair skin was just unbelievable.

Mattie looked over to his brother who now sat on the bed. He was worried with how Dash's eyes started to change colour once more. But there was something different in them. Usually, when his brother loses control of his temper, his eyes would change into a different hue so flawlessly. But, right now, they were very much clouded. It looked as if the change in colour was due to something reflected off them and not from within. However, he still didn't know what else to do than to just stand there, unmoving and his heart aching from once again being reminded of how much his brother was going through for him.

"Dash..." Oli sounded, still in disbelief.

"Hn," Dash scoffed, refusing to look at the other boy. He was really upset right now, but somehow, his anger just didn't get the best of him this time.

Swiftly, yet hesitantly, Oli launched himself onto Dash, almost pushing the other boy down on his bed again. But this time, he had no intention of tackling the other boy. Instead, his arms reached over Dash's shoulders and wrapped around his neck, gently and tightly.

"I'm so sorry, Dash," Oli cried. His tears just fell so helplessly from his eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"Get off," Dash said, although without venom this time. "Oli, please..."

"Dash," Oli said, withdrawing from the hug and staring deep into Dash's eyes. Mattie was right, he thought. Dash's eyes did change colour. "This has to stop..."

"I told you, Oli," Dash started. "I want to do this my own way... If you want to help, just trust me."

"I trust you, but I don't trust him," Oli said, referring to Dash's uncle. "We need to tell my dad now..."

"Oli, please," Mattie whispered after he got closer to the two boys. "Dashu's strong. I believe him."

"But..." Oli mumbled. He was confused with how Mattie somehow changed his mind. Just last night, the kid practically begged for him to help Dash. But now, Mattie didn't want Oli to interfere with Dash's...plan.

"You said you trust me, right?" Dash asked. "So, please, just leave this one to me."

Oli tried to breathe in deep as he closed his eyes... he tried to calm himself. After a few seconds, he locked eyes with Dash once more, saying, "Promise me one thing."

"Oli, I can't..."

"Dash! Promise me one thing, please?" Oli begged.

"...okay. What is it?" Dash asked.

"If I ever see one more bruise on you, I'm going to tell my dad whether or not you want me to," Oli said, his voice stern.

"I won't pro..." Dash was cut off.

"Damn it, Dash. Just promise me that," Oli demanded, his hands gripping Dash's shoulder tightly. "If you want to be quiet about all this, don't expect me to do the same. I want to help you and if it means breaking your trust, I won't ever have any second thoughts."

Dash didn't know how to respond. He could only look at those fiery blue eyes staring at him. And he saw that Oli meant every word he said. Finally, he conceded, saying, "Do whatever you want..."

It wasn't the same as making a promise, but Oli was happy that Dash accepted his offer. He smiled sadly and hugged the other boy once more, still sniffling a bit.

While Mattie mostly remained quiet, he admired Oli's persistence and courage to help his brother in any way he can, even if it meant going against what Dash wanted. And that comforted him somehow, knowing that he did the right thing when he confessed to Oli.

"We're still going swimming," Oli said, his voice muffled by the few strands of hair that brushed against his face. "...and you can wear anything you want."

Before anything could get any more complicated, with Oli's mom and dad finding out just why there was so much noise from his bedroom, the three boys sneaked out through the window again and down the ladder. They kept their heads low and steps light as they moved past the porch and into the driveway. Once they were on the sidewalk, they switched their stealth mode off and hurried toward the trail that was almost two miles away and the lake half a mile from there. Along the journey on foot, the embarrassment, tension and disagreements from earlier tapered off. And Mattie, inquisitive as he was, kept asking, `Are we there yet?'

When, finally, the smell of fresh air and the sounds of nature invaded their senses, Mattie dragged Oli toward the edge of the lake, while Dash followed not far behind. The little kid was jumping so carelessly, even letting out a few giggles when he saw his reflection off the water's surface. He thought his hair looked like a mess or like some bird's nest, but Oli told him that he looked really cute with those few curls falling down his face.

Dash, on the other hand, was quick to spot a shaded area on some patch of grass and went there. He was now wearing Oli's shirt, at the other boy's insistence and the fact that he saw the drool stain on his own clothes. Besides, Oli saw what he...didn't need to see, but that didn't mean that he felt comfortable changing his shirt in front of Oli's who just looked very concerned and apologetic.

"Dash, c'mon!" Oli called out by the water's edge. "The water's really great this time of year."

"Oli!" Mattie shouted. "...let's go, let's go!"

Dash just sighed at the two boys not far away from him. They were practically taking their clothes off at the speed of light, leaving only their underwear...boxer briefs for Oli and tighty whities for Mattie. Seeing Oli with just that piece of clothing made him gulp and feel his dick twitch in anticipation. It looked as if Oli was just about to pull down his undies...finally revealing what needed so much to be...uhm...measured.

While Oli paid close attention to Mattie's eagerness, he saw from the corner of his eyes just how longingly Dash looked over his body. And, by narrowing his eyes, he saw how that tiny bulge on Dash's pants get bigger almost at the same time his heart skipped a couple beats. He placed his hands on the hem of his undies, making it look as if he was about to pull down that nasty thing. And surely, he saw that spark of growing interest in Dash's eyes. Oh, and you should probably know that he found it easier now to read Dash's thoughts when he finally figured out how those hazelnut eyes changed colour.

Turning his back toward Dash, he pulled down the back of his undies and showed just an inch or two of his buttcrack before pulling them up again, slightly wiggling his bum and saying, "Since Dash can't swim naked, we should keep our clothes on, too, Mattie."

"Aww," Mattie whined. "But it's so much more fun without my undies." Truth be told, he wanted to see Oli naked.

"You can if you want to, but just ask your brother first," Oli said. "He might think I ripped off your undies against your will."

Mattie giggled before shouting to Dash, "Dashu! I'm swimming naked, `kay?" He didn't wait for his brother's reply and just took off his undies, setting it down beside his other clothes on the wooden platform that overlooked the mirroring lake. In his own little head, he had some sort of devilish plan brewing. Well, it wasn't all that evil anyway. He was just curious and wanted to see how it felt being held naked by...Oli.

"You won't see me naked Dash!" Oli shouted and grinned before mumbling the last words to himself. "...not just yet."

The water was not that much cold, but it was really refreshing. It wasn't that much deep where they were either, only able to reach Oli's chest halfway. However, it went over Mattie's eyes so the little boy had to be held...so close by Oli. And that's when Mattie's little plan came into motion.

Oli's bare skin, submerged under water, was so good to feel against Mattie's little pecker. He was hard, no doubt, but the older boy didn't mind. He had his arms around Oli's neck and every time he squirmed, his pink lips almost brushed against Oli's. His heart was racing and he just didn't know why. Instead, the only thing he knew was that he loved how safe and secure he felt in Oli's embrace. It was like Dash's, but different. It was so much more...exhilarating and just felt so fucking good. He even wrapped his legs tight `round Oli's waist and finally rested his head on Oli's shoulder.

"I...like you, Oli," Mattie whispered.

"I like you, too, Mattie," Oli said, rubbing the boy's back.

"No," Mattie corrected. "I mean..."

"Oli!" Dash suddenly called out, seeing just how close Oli held his little brother. It just didn't look like a friend's embrace anymore.

"Finally joining us Dash?" Oli asked as he began moving closer to the platform. He forgot that Mattie still had something to tell him.

"No, idiot," Dash answered. "We didn't have breakfast and I'm sure Mattie's hungry." Just then, as comical as it seemed, the three boys' stomachs growled at the thought of food.

"Oh, right..." Oli said, letting Mattie climb out of the water before him. "...hmm, we can go look for something to eat here like some fruit, maybe..."

"...or a fish," Mattie offered which made Oli smile at him sweetly.

"...or cookies," Dash said, taking out six chocolate chip cookies from his pocket, wrapped in a piece of paper.

"Where'd you get that?" Oli asked.

"The ones your mom baked last night," Dash answered. "And you didn't even drink your milk."

"Hey! You stole my cookies!" Oli said.

"I brought us something to eat," Dash told him, dividing the treat among them. "Mattie, put your undies on."

Mattie nodded, although a bit disappointed at his failed attempt of telling Oli just what he wanted to really say earlier. Well, the day's still not over and he could just find another opportunity later. He can't just ignore the confusing questions in his head. And that dream he had last night...

After breakfast, or some snacks, Mattie proposed a game that would hopefully bring him closer to Oli. Well, he didn't expect it to backfire when he was chosen...

"...it. Count to ten, Mattie," Oli said. "...and no peeking."

And that marked the start of their little game of hide-and-seek. Mattie felt disappointed that he can't go hide together with Oli. However, for Oli's part, he was overjoyed to have Dash tagging along him. Or him tagging along Dash.

"Find your own hiding place," Dash said. He wasn't in the mood to play hide-and-seek and was somewhat annoyed at a grinning Oli following him wherever he went. When he would hide behind a bush or a tree or just anywhere, Oli's arm would brush against his and he could feel how much the boy held down his giggles. And Mattie wasn't even finished counting to ten.

"Hey, Dash," Oli whispered, hearing Mattie get to ten. "How long do you think he'll find us?"

"Just keep quiet," Dash whispered back.

Several minutes have passed and still no sign of Mattie finding both of them. They could see the little boy in the distance trying so hard to find them. Seeing that this would probably take longer than needed, Dash faced Oli and asked him something.

"Just what are you up to with Mattie?"

"What do you mean?" Oli asked, genuinely confused.

"I see him sneaking into your room last night and how he's gotten so close to you," Dash said. "And you getting all cozy with him."

"Huh? I don't see anything wrong..."

"He likes you Oli," Dash cut in. "...and you should know what I mean."

Oli thought hard on what Dash said. Yes, he knew that Mattie liked him. The kid even told him. But, like him? Since when did Mattie like him? From what he could see, Mattie just needed another big brother to look out for him. He was a sweet and affectionate boy. And Oli was sure of that. Yet, from what Dash was telling him, Mattie held a deeper affection for him. However, another thought came to his mind.

"Dash," he started. "Are you...jealous?"

"This isn't about me," Dash answered. "You know that."

"What is this about?" Oli asked. "I don't get it."

"He likes you, Oli," Dash repeated. "And I know that you only look out for him like a big brother should. You even looked out for him when he was just three years old and we were six."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Oli asked.

"No," Dash said. "coz I know how much it hurts to be...ignored."

"I didn't ignore you," Oli said. "I told you, I can't remember a thing! If I knew we were friends back then, I would've looked all over for you. I would've never left you in the first place..."

"That's not it," Dash mumbled, looking down. "I...I was the one who ignored you. I remembered all of it, but didn't do anything...I'm a coward..."

"But you looked out for me even when I didn't know. You're my stalker, remember?" Oli pointed out and he was not joking.

"You...you know one more thing you forgot?" Dash asked, still refusing to look at Oli.

"What?" Oli whispered.

"It's stupid, really. It's just that..." Dash trailed off.

"What is it?" Oli urged.

"Oli...are you...gay?" Dash asked, finally staring back at Oli's confused eyes.

"Dash..."

"Hn," Dash scoffed. "Of course you are. You told me when we were..."

Dash didn't finish when Oli attacked his lips, forcing him on the ground. And he can't do anything to stop the feelings rushing back like little fragments of memory that lingered for far too long to even be forgotten. He needed this kiss and he wasn't as hesitant as last night to share it with Oli.

And Oli didn't need to be reminded just how much he liked boys. However, Dash was on top of all of them. He just felt it, like some relatively strong impulse that didn't even wait for any reason to hold back. He might not be able to remember every little truth of his childhood, but Dash was far too strong of a proof that he did have a wonderful life back then.

Their kiss turned into a more heated and desperate passion; a battle between tongues in which no one was the true winner. It was nibble per nibble, bite per bite and moan per moan that allowed them to get to know each other...not for the better, but all over again. And although Dash still had some doubts, his hands were no longer connected to his brain when he finally felt the familiar curve of Oli's bare back and even reached farther down to stop at the elastic of Oli's underwear.

"Mmm," Oli moaned when he felt something warm brush against his buttcrack. Being on top of Dash, he didn't need to think twice before grinding into the boy. His dick was hard, and so was the `ginormous' member under it, separated by fabric.

"...Oli," Dash mumbled into Oli, feeling the insatiable need to taste the boy like he never did before.

Still, Dash didn't want to be under Oli's hold for much longer. Consequently, he rolled both their bodies and had himself on top of Oli. It was his time to grind into the boy. And the lustful moans finally echoed all around.

Dash finally broke the kiss and reason still hasn't got to him when he trailed down Oli's smooth chest and belly. His hands were still moving on their own, settling once more on Oli's underwear, just above the boy's groin. His tongue licked `round Oli's innie and he even nibbled on it. Gawd, he missed having Oli like this.

"Hah...Dash...mmph," Oli moaned, gripping on Dash's soft curls.

What came after was quite unexpected. Dash's hand pulled down Oli's boxers, slowly releasing the hard shaft inside it. If one would take measurements, Oli's dick crept out of its prison inch by inch by inch...until Dash's warm breath settled on its raw, uncut head.

"Fuuuuck!" Oli groaned louder than before. Luckily, the patch of grass underneath him cushioned his bare back when he writhed almost uncontrollably.

Dash finally succeeded in pulling Oli's boxer's halfway down his thighs. And Oli was still the very beautiful boy he remembered – those soft curves `round the waist, that soft and smooth skin with just a few and barely visible hair now, those cute butt cheeks that his hand brushed against with earlier, that wonderfully hard and uncut flesh and the tightening balls underneath and even the intoxicating smell that never left his mind. Oli was pretty much perfect in his eyes. And so fucking delicious. Yes, he was sure of that as his tongue ran down Oli's length and his lips nibbled on the boy's nuts.

He was almost going to lick the tip of Oli's dick when he heard a loud gasp and some branch snapping just nearby. And that was when reason stopped his hands from pushing in between Oli's bum. The clouds in his eyes had left the instant it fell on a certain little boy.

"Mattie..." he breathed out, disgusted with himself all of a sudden.

Mattie didn't stay for long as he ran back to the lakeside with tears in his eyes while his hurried steps made him stumble several times. He didn't even hear his brother calling out and running after him. He just wanted to run away. His little heart ached and he was really annoyed `coz he didn't know why. Seeing Oli like that made him feel sick.

"Mattie!" Oli called out, running after Dash with his boxers where they should be.

"No, Mattie!" Dash yelled and he feared for his life when Mattie finally jumped off the platform and into the still water – it didn't stay so calm for so long.

Oli managed to outrun Dash and didn't even look back when he plunged into where the water began to really get deep. Mattie just had to jump that far. He sliced through the deep pool and when his eyes finally settled on an unmoving and submerged figure, his arms were quick to reach out and grab Mattie. And it seemed ironic that while water surrounded them, he could make out the tears that the little boy cried.

He finally broke through the water's surface with Mattie right under his arm. Dash helped him get the boy on the platform and he got up as fast as when he dove in, just to kneel beside the still body.

"Oh god..." Oli cried out. "Mattie...please..."

"CPR!" Dash shouted. "Do CPR!"

And Oli did, to the best of his ability. It took him longer than he wanted to, but finally, Mattie choked out the last drops of water. He didn't even wait for the kid to open his eyes before pulling him up and into a tight hug. Mattie just coughed over Oli's shoulder.

The first thing Mattie saw was Dash's blurry face. He could see the hurt in his brother's eyes...and guilt. But he didn't know what to feel himself. Instead, Oli's warm embrace soothed how his body rocked with sobs again.

"Mattie," Oli mumbled, crying himself as he released the boy from the hug and looked at those pitiful eyes. "...don't ever do that...you...I...we almost lost you..."

"O-oli?" Mattie stuttered, still coughing a bit.

"Sssshhh," Oli hushed, hugging Mattie once more. "I'm sorry..."

"No, Oli," Dash cut, gently holding Mattie by the shoulders. "It's my fault...I'm really sorry..."

"D-dashu...s-sorry," Mattie mumbled, looking at his brother's eyes. It was amazing how both pairs of hazelnuts mirrored each other.

"It's not your fault," Dash said. He was crying himself, almost losing the little brother he loved and care for so much. "I...I shouldn't have done that..."

"But..." Mattie whispered. "But you like Oli..."

"I..." Dash trailed off.

"It doesn't mean I love you less, Mattie," Oli filled in. "I love you so much...Remember when we were kids? I used to be your second big brother, too. I...I still want to be that."

"P-promise?" Mattie asked weakly.

"Promise," Oli said. "When you need anything or have something to ask...we're here for you, Mattie. Dash and I. And...and even if we like each other, it doesn't mean we'll forget about you...what we did earlier...we weren't thinking straight...it's our fault."

Although Mattie still felt so weak, his tight hug on Oli said so much about how strong he really was. What he did earlier was out of confusing and bewilderment. He didn't even get to say that he liked Oli before finding his brother on top of the other boy...doing things that he...

"Oli," Mattie whispered. "I remember my dream."

"What was it?" Oli asked, withdrawing from the embrace.

"Dashu...and you," Mattie murmured. `...and me,' he thought to himself, leaving that part out.

"What do you mean?" Dash asked.

"You...you like each other..." Mattie answered.

"Mattie, do you know what like means?" Oli asked and Mattie just looked at him questioningly. "It means so much more than just liking...so how `bout we use love starting right now?"

"Yes, Mattie," Dash said. "If Oli's to be your second big bro, you should love him and not just like him."

"I love you, Mattie," Oli said sweetly, forming a beautiful smile on his lips.

"I...love you, too, Oli," Mattie said in his much sweeter voice and even cuter smile. "...and Dashu, too," he added, looking at his big brother.

"I love you, too," Dash said, in as much as his voice sounded sweet and his little smile forming `round the contours of his hearty lips. "...I always do."

When Mattie sighed and closed his eyes briefly, still sporting that cute smile, Oli and Dash exchanged glances. Somehow, they knew just what the other said. Mostly, they were asking, `So, what now?' And the answer to that was still very much unspoken, but more strongly expressed.

And, in the distance, as if we were watching those three sweet boys, we would know how much they've grown to know each other once again. What has been forgotten can be reignited by something as simple as a kiss...and Oli still has lots to count...

However, back at Oli's house, another shadowy figure has come into light. He's not much of a mystery, but he's brought lots of trouble...dragging someone along with him.