FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

The final bell rang, and each of the boys hustled to the stage to meet up with the gang from LA set up their equipment for the show. Lars and the truck he'd rented were already waiting behind backstage when they arrived. The stage was erected in the end zone of the practice football field, next to the stadium. Behind the opposite goal post was the East Harbor pit, a gas fire pit they lit as a bon fire during home football games and events for alumni and special guests. Concessions of all varieties dotted the sideline opposite the stadium.

There was an energy in the air that excited the boys. The bonfire would be lit at 6:00, the band would play from a little after 6:00 until about 7:45. The crowd would enter the stands and watch the marching band and floats enter the stadium and parade around the field stadium before the 8:15 kickoff.

Equipment and instruments in place and their sound check over, the boys dug into some food Carol brought when she arrived with their outfits. The first part of the show would be Courage Game by themselves. Since this was their first real show, Carol insisted they dress for the occasion. After much debate, they agreed on matching outfits in school colors -- gun metal gray skinny pants and fitted dress shirts with lime green ties and tennis shoes dyed to match. To keep the ties out of the way, the Lukas and Simon tucked the ties into their dress shirts while Michael wore a bow tie. Dressed. Sleeves rolled up and shirts in various states of being untucked, the boys ate.

"Where have you been?" asked Simon when Gavin showed up just in time for the food. They'd expected Gavin to be there to help set up and for the sound check.

"I've been busy," was all Gavin got out before stuffing a sandwich in his mouth. For this weekend full of surprises, Gavin had one of his own. He'd worked hard behind the scenes to get a big audience for this event. His efforts went beyond the social media posts the boys knew about. He'd partnered with the alumni association and the officers of the classes celebrating to promote the event and to turn out their classmates for the lighting of the bonfire and show. He also managed to get some of the DJs in the greater San Diego area to talk about the band and tonight's free performance at East Harbor High School. He thought he was pretty slick letting the DJs think it was simply a free show for the community.

Gavin's work paid off. In addition to the higher than expected turn out of current East Harbor high school and middle school students excited to see their classmates' band, Gavin's efforts resulted in an audience of a couple thousand for the beginning of the show and the crowd grow as it got closer to game time.

Before going on stage, Michael peaked out. "Oh, my gawd! Look at all the people!!"

Lukas and Simon joined Michael and peered at the audience then looked at each other.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. I've been promoting the show, so you'd have a bigger audience," said Gavin, with a huge grin on his face.

Garrett, Zach, and Mason saw the boys staring out at the crowd and Garrett called them away. Stage fright was the last thing the boys needed tonight. "You boys are good and you're going to kick ass tonight. Each of us have played with different bands and a lot of different people. Few, if any of them, are as talented or as serious as you. We're proud to take the stage with you guys tonight. I can't speak for the other two, I don't think I've been more excited to take the stage for any other show because I know we are that good. You guys got this." Zach and Mason simply nodded in agreement and fists were bumped.

With those words of encouragement, it was time for the boys to take the stage. Lukas was first, staying back so the crowd wouldn't notice. He grabbed his drumsticks and made final adjustments to his stool. A few kicks of the bass and some riffs on the snare, Lukas was ready. The crowd heard Lukas and started to congregate towards the stage -- particularly the student body.

Without much fanfare, Simon and Michael walked out on stage, picked up their guitars from the stands by the drum kit and looked up at Lukas, then at each other.

"Let's fucking kick their asses!" shouted Simon to his two best friends. With a nod from Michael and Lukas, the boys turned and walked up to the microphones. Michael planned on introducing the band and talking to the audience before the first song, but then decided to let the music speak for itself. With a look back to Lukas and Simon, he counted off and ripped into the first song.

Courage Game started the show by blazing through six songs to get the crowd riled up.

• "Get Free" -- The Vines
• "Smells Like Teen Spirit" -- Nirvana
• "American Idiot" -- Green Day
• "All the Small Things" -- Blink-182
• "Fell in Love With a Girl" -- The White Stripes
• "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine" -- The White Stripes

With each note, the boys' nerves melted away -- particular Lukas'. The song selection engaged the audience demographics. The crowd sang and danced. The positive response from the audience energized the boy's performance. They were incredible.

To change things up, the band performed a song Michael enjoyed playing, but couldn't play and sing at the same time. Somehow, he managed to talk Simon into sing a song.

Michael stepped up to the mic. "Hey everyone!" The crowd shouted back. "I'm Michael Grant. I'm up here with my best friends Simon Novak over there on bass..." He had to pause as the students yelled for Simon. "And back there on the drums is Lukas Meijer." The students cheered for their other friend. "Now there's a song I really want to play, but I need some help on vocals. You guy's know Simon as one of our beset lacrosse players and he's kick-ass on bass, but I bet you didn't know he could sing too. Give it up for Simon Novak!"

Lukas counted off and they started playing "Rain" by Candlebox. Michael enjoyed focusing on his guitar work and playing to the crowd. The song really showed off the chemistry between Michael and Simon as they played off each other.

"Let's hear it again for Simon!" Michael encouraged the audience as Simon bowed and stepped off the stage to get a drink and grab his double bass.

Michael put his guitar down and grabbed the mic from the stand. "While Simon is taking a short break, I want to take a moment to introduce our drummer, Lukas Meijer." There was plenty more whooping and hollering for Lukas who looked embarrassed now that the spotlight was on him. "You guys know Lukas as a great friend and student. He's also a member of the lacrosse team. But you know... and I'm not the only one who thinks this... but Lukas is one of the best drummers around and I wanted to do a song tonight that featured Lukas." By the time Michael finished, he was standing beside Lukas and he started singing the next song -- "Punch In Punch Out" by Seven Mary Three.

At the end of that song, Lukas waved to the crowd and exited the stage while Michael walked over the school's grand piano that was moved to the stage for the evening's concert. Seeing Michael by himself on stage sitting at the piano, the crowd quieted down. Without any introduction, Michael started playing "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones. The crowd was transfixed.

During the applause, Simon came out with the double bass and Lukas stepped back behind the drum kit. The played a series of songs from different genre with Michael shifting from electric guitar, to acoustic, to piano.

• "Kiss and Tell" -- G. Love and Special Sauce
• "Shameless" -- Ani DiFranco
• "Brick" -- Ben Folds Five
• "The Denial Twist" -- The White Stripes

"We've got one more song for you before we take a quick break and return with a few East Harbor alum to help us out. During the intermission, I have something for you to think about." While Michael introduced the song, Simon grabbed a chair and his cello and took a seat beside the piano where Michael was seated. With a nod that he was ready, they played "Imagine" by John Lennon.

The boys walked off stage and Michael chugged some Gatorade.

"Dude! You guys are killing it!" shouted over Gavin over the noisy crowd. Even backstage, the cheering audience made it hard to hear. Michael nodded and caught his breath and Simon put away the double bass. The intermission passed quickly, and the crowd took notice when there was activity on the stage. This time there were six musicians on the stage.

"How's everyone doing tonight?" said Michael. "Are you enjoying the show?"

"For the second half of our show tonight, we've brought in some reinforcements. We've got Garrett Parker, class of 2014. Zach Schultz, class of 2011. And Mason Randolf, class of 2010." Each of the older boys waved to the audience when introduced.

"Hope you guys got something to eat, 'cause you're gonna need all the energy you can get!" That was Zach's cue to start the first song. With the extra guitars and Michael as the front man, the band started off with "Hate to Say I Told You So" by The Hives followed by "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet.

Zach stepped over to his keyboard and Garrett grabbed his acoustic guitar for "She Talks to Angels" by The Black Crowes. Then, Michael and Zach sat together on the piano bench and slowed things down a bit more. While Zach and the band played, Michael sang "So Far Away" by Carole King.

Before winding up the show, they picked things up. The set continued with:

• "No One Knows" -- Queens of the Stone Age
• "All My Life" -- Foo Fighters
• "Everlong" -- Foo Fighters

"Join me in thanking our alumnus who helped us put this show together -- Zach, Garrett and Mason!" The crowd cheered as the guys took their bows and left the stage. Michael picked up his guitar and moved up to his mic again.

"We've got two final songs for you tonight, but we need your help. We want to dedicate these songs to the Saber football team and their victory tonight." Michael waited for the crowd to quiet down. "We want you to help us with these songs everyone over in the stadium can hear. Can you do that?"

The crowd cheered and Simon started the opening of "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes. Everybody knew the song and sang along getting the attention of the football team.

The song ended and Michael waved Garrett, Zach and Mason back out on stage for the last song. Simon put down his bass and Lukas came out and joined them down stage.

"We've got a message for Mission Hills, join in if you know this one. We want this message to be heard all the way to San Marcos."

*stomp* *stomp* *clap*

*stomp* *stomp* *clap*

"Everybody!"

*stomp* *stomp* *clap*

*stomp* *stomp* *clap*

Michael sang "We Will Rock You" by Queen while rest of the band stomped, clapped, and joined in on the chorus while they got the crowd to do the same. Michael ended the song with the guitar solo and a then simply said, "Thank you."

The boys waved and walked off the stage as Mrs. G directed the crowd into the stadium for the homecoming parade and kick off.

Backstage the boys accepted congratulations and attacked the leftovers from their makeshift dinner. Not that teen boys ever needed an excuse to eat but performing made them hungry. Eating turned to snacking while they tore down their equipment to move it to the gymnasium. The Homecoming Committee asked the boys to play some songs at the dance and they agreed, though there were some ulterior motives to this plan.

The stage was nearly cleared when Gavin realized he hadn't seen Michael in a while. He looked around and found the boy resting backstage. Gavin could tell the 11-year-old was exhausted. The teen approached the younger boy and took a seat beside him. Gently rubbing the smaller boy's back, he felt the boy shudder as he began to cry. Gavin pulled Michael into a hug and the boy broke down and sobbed.

Gavin had spent a lot of time trying to decipher Lars' hints about Michael's past and the bad thing that happened in his life before coming to East Harbor. Gavin couldn't imagine what could have caused his friend so much the pain and despair. He'd seen it in Michael's eyes before and tonight he held the boy as he exorcized some of those destructive emotions. A tear rolled down Gavin's cheek.

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The school's custodians stayed to move the piano back into the school at the end of the show. At the request of Mrs. G, they also helped the boys move their equipment too. With the help of the school employees and their lacrosse friends, the items were moved in not time. With the time saved, they decided to do a sound check.

While Simon, Lukas and the others performed their sound check, Gavin moved himself and Michael to the back of his brother's car. Michael poured his heart out to the older boy. Without revealing specifics about his trauma, Michael told about his relationship with his brother, how his brother had been sent away without them even being able to say goodbye and they haven't spoken since. He told about how he lost his friends, his family, everything, before moving to East Harbor and finding the best friends he'd ever had. He explained that his mother wasn't in Arizona for work, but he stayed with Lars because his mother was struggling with everything that'd happened to their family. Some of the songs from tonight's show, Michael explained, had some deep personal meaning for him which is why he wanted to sing them.

"You don't hate me now, do you?" asked Michael with eyes pleading for understanding.

"I could never hate you," replied Gavin. He pulled the boy's head to his chest and felt they smaller body relax into his.

Lukas and Simon performed a sound check and goofed off with their friends until the custodians told them it was time to lock up and head home.

"Oh man, that was fucking fantastic!" Lukas' excitement was barely contained. He talked about the show, the crowd, and anything else that crossed his mind, except Simon's surprise for him. His excitement about the surprise at Homecoming was growing and keeping his mouth shut about his knowledge of it was excruciating.

Simon simply nodded in agreement with his best friend. For Simon, there was something more about this evening, but he couldn't find the words. Up until tonight, his love for music was just that, the love of the music. But tonight... tonight was something different. There was a new burning deep in his soul and it was so strong it scared him.

Lukas, Simon, and their friends waved bye to Garrett. The school boys headed toward the stadium while Garrett walked around the school to retrieve his car. He was surprised to find his little brother and Michael inside. Gavin had his back against the door and his right leg up on the car seat with the left planted on the floor. Michael was curled up on Gavin's lap, held tightly in place by the teen -- both sound asleep.

Garrett drove the boys to Simon's house. The car pulling into the driveway woke the boys and once the car came to a stop, Michael and Gavin staggered up to Simon's room, undressed and crawled into bed together. They fell asleep facing each other, top arms draped over the other boy. Garrett grabbed blankets and pillows from the closet and crashed on the couch in the studio.

The lacrosse teammates entered the stadium to find the Sabers with a solid, 17-point lead in the fourth quarter. The bleachers were full, so the boys walked along the track in front of the stands to see if there were seats on the far end. They didn't expect the crowd to recognize them (it wasn't hard since they were still in their stage attire). Each time someone called one of their names, whooped and hollered, or yelled a compliment, Simon and Lukas got teased by their friends, but not in a mean way. Their friends had told them they were good. The teasing was simply their way of reminding the boys that the crowd validated everything they'd said over the last month.

By the end of the game, the boys had gotten permission to have Scott Schultz and Jordan King, members of Lukas' lunchtime gang, spend the night. After the Sabers' victory, the four boys headed back to Lukas' house where Lars was waiting up with snacks. The boys took over the family room and after Lukas and Simon made a quick change into shorts and t-shirts, the four friends watched movies and joked around until they dropped off to sleep.

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2017

Being homecoming weekend, the boys had enough forethought to move the weekend lacrosse practice to Sunday afternoon. This turned out to be a smart move since none of them woke in time to get to the field. The boys at the Meijer house had stayed up until the wee hours of the morning and didn't stir until around 10 am. Next door, Gavin woke up and peed, but crawled back into bed to watch Michael sleep. He didn't expect the boy to wake anytime soon. Michael was physically and emotionally exhausted and needed as much sleep as he could get this morning. Eventually, Gavin fell back to sleep too.

Garrett woke and put the bedding away before looking for his brother and Michael. Passing the kitchen, Carol said good morning and offered him a cup of coffee. They spent some time talking about the show and that evening's dance, before Garrett excused himself. Garrett explained that parents expected their sons home for the afternoon before they got ready for the dance. He also mentioned that since he, Zach and Mason were going to be playing with Courage Game that evening, they were invited to chaperone the dance.

"Well that's nice. I'll see you there. Lars and I are going to help chaperone too," stated Carol.

Heading up the stairs, Gavin spied only one shut bedroom door and correctly surmised that's where he'd find his brother. He gently opened the door and followed the trail of clothes that led from the door to the bed. With the sheets pushed down to their waist, for a moment, Garrett thought the two boys were naked. Gavin was asleep on his back and the thin sheet didn't do much to hide his semi-hard dick. Michael laid with is head on Gavin's chest. The young boy was awake, gently tracing lines from mole to mole on Gavin's stomach. Garrett watched as Gavin stirred, moving his arm around the younger boy who lifted his head to see if Gavin was awake. Seeing his older friend still sleeping, Michael wrapped his arm around Gavin's chest and closed his eyes.

Garrett closed the door then knocked quietly. He heard Gavin's voice, "Garrett?"

Garret started to open the door but changed his mind. He answered through the door. "Yeah, bro, we got to get going. Mom and dad want us home for lunch."

"Okay, I'll be down in a minute."

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Because dressing up wasn't something the boys did on a regular basis, all of their nice clothes were at their respective homes. Each boy went his own way to prepare for an evening full of surprises.

Simon walked in and yelled, "Mom!"nCarol was sitting right there in the kitchen laughed and surprised Simon.

"Is it ready?" he asked in anxious anticipation.

"Yes honey. I hung it up on your closet door."

"And the boutonnière?"

"In the refrigerator."

"You checked with Lars to make sure the flower matches what Lukas is wearing, right?"

"Yes honey."

"And you and Lars are going to be there for this, right?"

"Simon, it's all taken care of. The question is, are you ready?"

"I don't know if I'm nervous or just excited."

"Go change!" said Carol as she shooed her son out of the kitchen.

Simon showered and donned his new outfit. After one last inspection in the full-length mirror, he descended the stairs and was greeted by his mother. Carol looked stunning in a short, maroon dress and heels with her hair up for the evening.

"Wow! Mom, you look beautiful tonight." Simon was used to seeing her mom dressed for the office, not an evening out. He wondered if she was trying to attract Lars' attention.

"Oh Simon, you look so handsome."

Her eyes traveled up and down her handsome teen son and appraised his choice of outfit for the evening. He was wearing a fitted, purple tuxedo jacket with a black lapel. His white dress shirt had the sleeves rolled up and cuffed on the outside of the jacket, so the jacket's sleeves appeared to be three-quarter length. He had on a black tie, black skinny pants, and black tennis shoes. With the jacket buttoned, the looked sharp, stylish, and grown up. Carol's lips quivered as she gave her baby a hug.

"Lars texted and said Lukas is ready, waiting, and clueless about the evening. Go get the boutonnière and let's head over."

Simon removed the yellow rose from its plastic container and joined his mother at the door. He took a deep breath and they headed next door.

Lukas was talking Lars' ear off in nervous excitement. Lars mistook Lukas' giddiness for excitement over the band playing a set for the students at the dance. Lukas, however, had the same butterflies he used to have on Christmas morning. There was a surprise for him tonight and he couldn't wait. In the 15 minutes he'd waited for Simon's arrival, he'd already checked himself three more times in the mirror. Each time he looked impeccable. From his slim fit tan plaid sports coat with a short, untucked, light blue dress shirt, and a yellow tie, to his dark, stonewashed skinny jeans and a pair of brown lux leather Vans.

On his fourth trip to the mirror the doorbell rang, much to Lars' relief, and Lukas ran to the door. He opened the door and the sight of Simon took his breath away.

Lars walked up behind his son as Simon and Lukas stood there unsure of what to do.

"You, umm... wow, you look awesome tonight, Lukas," said Simon with a blush. He nervously fumbled with his hands before he remembered the boutonnière. Simon reached out and pinned the yellow rose to Lukas' collar. It matched the bow tie perfectly. Then Simon held out his hand for Lukas.

"Shall we head to the dance?" asked Simon.

Lukas looked from Simon's face to his extended hand and back again. He checked the faces of Carol and his father to see if this was a joke. 'Is this my surprise?' thought Lukas. He was too stunned to move.

"Are you taking me to homecoming as your date?" asked Lukas, afraid he wouldn't hear the answer he hoped for. Simon's grin lit up the foyer and he nodded his head. Lukas' heart raced as he placed his hand in Simon's.

Lars and Carol followed their boys as they walked hand in hand down the street. Both parents thought about the number of times they'd lived this exact same scenario out when the boys were little. It was clear to them, and to everyone who witnessed the two handsome teens, that this time there was a deeper meaning.

Lukas was still in shock. He kept looking at his hand to make sure it was Simon's he was holding. He couldn't recall ever being happier, or prouder, in all his life. But then again, at that moment, he probably couldn't recall any other moment of his life.

They arrived at Michael's front door still holding hands and Simon rang the doorbell. Michael answered and saw the boys holding hands. The twinkle in each boy's eyes spoke volumes about the love they felt for each other. Knowing more was to come, Michal tried to keep his own excitement under wraps.

"I love you guys," spoke the youngest of the boys, giving each of his friends a hug. Lukas threw his free arm around Michael and continued to clutch Simon's hand as they returned to the sidewalk to join Carol and Lars.

"Michael, you look very handsome tonight," said Carol, admiring the boy's outfit. He was dressed in a smart looking buttoned vest. The front of the vest was dark gray wool plaid, with the plaid being a light gray, black and a dark burgundy. The back of the vest was a charcoal gray satin with an adjustable buckle that made the vest fit perfectly. Under the vest he had on pink floral-patterned shirt with a burgundy bow tie and skinny jeans. He finished off his outfit by rolling up his sleeves and black sneakers. Carol reached out and took Michael's hand. It was a subtle request for him to walk with her and Lars, giving Lukas and Simon the space to enjoy their moment together.

When they arrived at the dance, the boys were amazed at the transformation of the gymnasium. Even with some of the decorations up the night before, they couldn't believe how much the homecoming committee accomplished in one day. Michael found it magical. Being the high school dance, both Michael and Lukas felt a little out of their element, but they soon found two tables pushed together where many of their friends from lacrosse were seated with their dates.

Lukas and Simon holding hands started a buzz around the dance. For most of those who knew the two boys outside of school, they already assumed they were couple. Others, mainly girls, were disappointed that Simon arrived at the dance with a date, and particularly disappointed the date was another boy. Many of those disappointed that Simon was with Lukas, were excited when Gavin showed up to the dance alone and joined his lacrosse buddies.

The first hour of the dance was rather uneventful. The DJ played some decent music and some of the couples at the table got up to slow dance. Other couples, including Simon and Lukas, remained seated and just visited with their friends. Garrett, Mason, and Zach each stopped by periodically to check on the boys, but Carol and Lars kept their distance, not wanting to crowd their sons.

It was getting close to the time for the string section to perform their song for homecoming. Michael excused himself to go to the bathroom and Chloe showed up to gather Simon.

Out of nowhere, Garrett showed up and suggested that everyone at the table head up to the stage to support Simon for his performance. Zach and Mason helped wrangle the group as the members of the string section found their places on stage, including one of the senior drummers and Mrs. Calvin, the music teacher, on harp. Carol and Lars also moved into position so they could witness what was about to happen.

The crowd waited as everyone made final adjustments to their instruments. Simon was seated so he appeared to be the featured musician. Just when it appeared the song was ready to start, Michael walked out on stage and took his seat at the piano. Since he had a microphone, he spoke for the group.

"We'd like to thank Mrs. Gutierrez and Mrs. Martinez for allowing us to perform tonight. However, what they did not know is this song is a special request," Michael stated, searching the audience. Finding Lukas, he continued, "As friends of Simon Novak, we all wanted to pitch in to help him with this special dedication to someone who is incredibly important to him." It took a moment for Lukas realized that the song was being dedicated to him. He felt a couple of hand pat him on the back, but all he could do was stare at the boy he'd loved for years staring back at him from the stage.

The students played Elton John's "Your Song", with Michael singing and playing piano. Carol and Lars made their way over to Lukas and Carol wrapped her arms around the boy from behind.

"I hope you don't mind,
I hope you don't mind,
That I put down in words.
How wonderful life is, while you're in the world."

When the song ended, Simon stood up and walked to one of the microphones the band would use later. Everyone got quiet and Simon's friends on stage didn't know what was happening -- this wasn't planned.

Simon tapped the mic to make sure it was on and then spoke with a quivering voice. "I've been stupid the last year or so. I took a friend for granted. I never said the things that I should have -- the things I felt. After I realized how dumb I've been, I wanted to find a special way to tell him. So here it is, Isaac Lukas von Meijer. I love you. I want to make it official. Will you be my boyfriend?"

Lukas felt Carol's arms tighten around his body and tears blurred his vision. All he could do was nod 'yes' to which Simon gave him the biggest grin. Their friends applauded as well as other students who appreciated the romantic gesture. Then there was another tap on a microphone.

The orchestra students had left the stage and Zach and Mason had taken their place. Zach sat with his acoustic guitar and Mason stood behind the bongo drums. Michael stood at the microphone.

"Since moving here, you guys have made me feel like part of the school. I've made the best friends anyone could ever have. I wanted to do something special for them, and for you. It's this song, for their first dance together as a couple."

Michael looked around the audience and saw Garrett give the signal from behind Gavin. With a nod to Zach, they performed "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper. When they got to the chorus, Michael locked eyes with Gavin and sang directly to him. "...and that's why I love you, so don't be afraid, to let them show, your true colors..."

Garrett put his hands on his brother's shoulders and whispered in his ear. "He picked this song for you. Stop being stupid and don't worry about other people. Follow your heart." Then Garrett gave him a soft push towards the stage, following as Gavin made his way to the front of the crowd. Weaving in and out of dancing couples, maneuvering around groups of friends standing together chatting, Gavin dodged them all while keeping his eyes on Michael. The song ended and Gavin motioned for Michael to come to the edge of the stage. Michael walked to here Gavin stood and kneeled down so they were closer to the same level. Gavin reached up and took the boy's head in his hands and pulled him closer. "I love you, too." Then he kissed Michael on the lips in front of everyone.

Michael fell into his arms, returning the kiss. The DJ cued up the next song. Lady Gaga's "Born this Way" started and the crowd started to dance. Lukas and Simon found their way to Michael and Gavin. Michael was dancing and singing to the song without a care in the world. The other three boys joined him.

After a few songs, it was time for Courage Game to play, as well as Zach, Mason, and Garrett when needed. With no set list in mind, they devised a fun way to determine what they would play. During the dance, the students were invited to look over a list of songs the boys could play and vote on the songs they'd like to hear. The boys left the dance floor to afford themselves enough time to look at the list of requested songs and build their set list. They were given only 30 minutes to play, but it was a fun 30 minutes:

• "Smells Like Teen Spirit" -- Nirvana
• "Welcome to Paradise" -- Green Day
• "Everlong" -- Foo Fighters
• "Long View" -- Green Day
• "All My Life" -- Foo Fighters
• "Seven Nation Army" -- The White Stripes
• "Hate to Say I Told You So" -- The Hives

After the set, the DJ took over for the rest of the evening.

Gavin spoke to Lars during the boys' set and asked if he could take Michael home to meet his parents. Lars gave permission with the stipulation that Michael be back at the house by 10:00. Lars also invited Gavin to spend the night if his parents were okay. Lars planned on having pizzas delivered around that time as an after-homecoming party for Lukas, Simon, and some of the other couples.

Coming off the stage, Michael took a moment to wash his face and catch his breath then emerged from the locker room with Simon and Lukas. All three boys were glowing with excitement from the evening.

"Michael, would it be okay if we skip the rest of the dance? I want you to come home with me to meet my parents." Michael was concerned. This was a new experience for him. He'd met the parents of many of his friends, but he'd never met them as their son's boyfriend. "It'll be fine. They are going to love you as much as I do. Then we'll go back to Lukas' -- his dad is ordering pizzas tonight and said I could spend the night."

"Okay," said Michael, putting his trust in the boy he loved -- the boy that loved him. Gavin took Michael's hand and they walked home to meet Mr. and Mrs. Parker.

Towards the end of the dance, the crowd thinned, and Carol and Lars were ready to call it a night. They looked for their boys but couldn't immediately find them. Then Lars got Carol's attention and she joined him. Lars caught sight of the boys in a hallway around the corner from the dance, apparently trying to have a moment of privacy. Carol knew what was coming so she and Lars found a place where they could watch without being obvious.

The boys stood facing each other -- Lukas with his back against the wall, and Simon staring directly into his eyes. Neither boy said anything for a few moments.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," said Simon. "And I'm sorry you thought I liked someone else. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Michael told you?"

"Yes, he was in on the surprise from the very beginning, so he let me know what you thought about me and Chloe."

"It's alright. You've told me now," Lukas gave Simon a huge smile.

"There's one more thing Lukas," added Simon. "I want to be very clear about how I feel about you and my commitment to you as your boyfriend." He pulled a box from his pocket. Opening it, he pulled out a chain looped through a titanium and black tungsten wedding band.

Lukas looked at Simon with a bit of confusion. Simon opened the clasped and placed the chain around Lukas' neck and explained, "This was my father's wedding band. My mom and I want you to wear it on this chain until the day I put it on your finger when we get married."

Lukas was speechless so Simon took action. Placing his hand on Lukas' cheek, he leaned in and lovingly kissed the boy he planned to spend the rest of his life. After the long, tongue-filled kiss, each boy's erection was as unmistakable as their love for each other. Lukas took a moment to tuck the ring and chain under his shirt collar before he and Simon rejoined the dance.

"Finally," sighed Carol.

"Yes," agreed Lars. "Now that Lukas know where he stands with Simon, he won't be so wound up all the time. They can really enjoy being with each other again." Lars was relieved he'd been correct that Simon would find his way to Lukas. He couldn't imagine how he would have dealt with a broken-hearted son.

The adults gathered up the couples and headed back to the Meijer household for the after-party. In addition to Simon and Lukas, they were joined by Luke from Geometry and lacrosse and his girlfriend Carly, a junior from the lacrosse team, Freddie, and his girlfriend Serena, Chloe and her homecoming date, Richard, and Zoe, a sophomore member of the string section and her date, Ben.

Because the after party was at Lars' house, the parents allowed their children an 11 o'clock curfew. It also helped that Carol or Lars would be driving the teens home ensuring their safety and that none of the couples would escape adult supervision.

"Hey, where's Gavin? I thought he was coming too," asked Lukas.

"He'll be there in a bit. He had to run home first." That was all Lars let on. He wasn't going to start anything about Gavin and Michael's relationship. It would be up to the boys to share with their friends if they chose to.

----------------------     

Gavin and Michael arrived at the Parker residence hand in hand. Before going in, each boy took a deep breath. Michael was nervous about meeting Gavin's parents. Meeting a friend's parents had never been this important before. Back in Oregon, a lot of the parents turned on Michael and wouldn't let their children be his friend anymore.

Gavin was nervous because he and his parents understood what a bit step this was. He'd texted his parents earlier saying that he wanted to bring someone home for them to meet. They realized if Gavin was bringing someone home to meet them, that meant he's probably used the "L" word and he is VERY serious. Even though he didn't say who, Brian and Abby would have been surprised if it wasn't this Michael that Gavin and Garrett talked about all the time. They'd seen the change in their son's behavior, and it all seemed positive.

Abby always believed difficult situations were made easier with food. It was an ice breaker, a topic of conversation, something to share, and a starting point for common ground. Besides, everything seemed easier and better on a full stomach. With so little time, Abby couldn't prepare the food in time, so she ordered out and spent the time straightening the house and sent Brian to pick up the food. When he returned, Brian helped Abby set out the food and dishes. Gavin and Michael walked in a short while later.

"We're in the kitchen," said Abby, wiping her hands and preparing to meet her son's first boyfriend. Brian got up from the table and stood by his wife to meet this boy together.

Pulling Michael along by the hand, Gavin presented the young boy. "Mom, dad, this is my boyfriend, Michael Grant."

There was an awkward pause as the parents assessed the young boy. Is this the right Michael? He doesn't look like an eighth grader?

Michael took the silence as disapproval. "I... I... I'm sorry," he stammered and turned to leave but Gavin had a tight grip on his hand and wouldn't let go.

"Oh, no, Michael, no," Abby rushed over and gave the shaking boy a hug. "I'm sorry honey, Gavin's talked so much about you, but he didn't mention you looking so young. For a moment, we weren't sure we were meeting the same Michael we thought we were meeting." Brian, however, was still standing by the counter looking at his son in disbelief.

Carol continued her attempt at recovery, "My, you are really handsome. No wonder Gavin adores you so much." Michael looked up at Gavin for reassurance, but the older boy was locked in his father's stare.

"Abby, why don't you help Michael get some food. I want to talk to Gavin for a minute," said Brian. He motioned for Gavin to follow and he did, but not before squeezing Michael's hand and giving him a half smile.

"Do you like Indian food?" she asked. "We have some vegetable samosas, chicken pakora, aloo tikki, and papardam. You can dip those in the mint or onion chutney. We also have some tandoori chicken."

"I don't know. I've never had anything like this before, but it looks delicious. Thank you, Mrs. Parker," said Michael, using all of his best manners to try to win over his boyfriend's mother. Carol could still feel the boy's body tremble with fear of being rejected.

In the other room, Brian quickly asked the question that was on his mind. "He's in the eighth grade? He looks like he is only 12!"

"He's 11."

"WHAT!?!" said Brian in his loudest whisper. "You do realize that the two of you having sexual contact is statutory rape? You would be classified as a sex offender for the rest of your life."

Now Gavin started to tremble. He hadn't thought about his parents being angry about the age difference and now he was worried that everything was turning into a disaster. Gavin tried unsuccessfully to get his father's attention. Brian was running down a rabbit hole of all the possible terrible outcomes and consequences Gavin could face if things went south.

"DAD!" Gavin screamed at his father for the first time in his life. Brian was shocked by Gavin's outburst and went silent.

"Dad, I'm sorry. But have I ever done anything to disappoint you?" Gavin's voice was quivering and still slightly raised as he took his turn to talk.

"No, but..."

"Have I EVER gone off half-cocked and done something that I hadn't thought through a million times?"

"No, but..."

"Dad, why are you assuming I haven't this time?"

"Well..."

"Yes, I know Michael is young in years, but not intellectually and certainly not emotionally. I've been over and over this every day since I met him. Until tonight, I've fought my feelings for him. But Dr. Meijer, Mrs. Grant, and even Simon's mother, Mrs. Novak, could all see how much Michael and I mean to each other. Michael's mother gave me her blessing to be in a relationship with her son before I ever asked or even decided it was the right decision. Dr. Meijer gave his permission and said he would keep an eye on both Michael and I to help guides us through anything that comes our way." Gavin had tears streaming down his face now as he pleaded for understanding from his father. Brian scratched the back of his head, not sure where to begin his rebuttal.

"Dad, Garrett has seen us together and he told me I was being stupid for trying to deny what Michael and I have together. I was the one that reasoned against," said Gavin before he needed another deep breath. "And I was the one that was wrong. Dad, you always told me I got to have one 'trust me' moment."

"Well, yeah, but..."

"I'm using it now. Get to know Michael before you jump to any conclusions. Spend time with him -- with us. Talk to Dr. Meijer. Trust me."

Brian walked over and gave his son a huge bear hug. "You know I love you. I just don't want anything bad to happen to you, or Michael."

"I know dad."

"Now, you stay here. I'm going to go talk to your mother for a minute."

Gavin began to protest then realized how much ground his father had given him. This one request wasn't the end of the world. "Okay."

"Abby?" Brian entered the kitchen, but no one was there. "Abby?"

"In the front room dear," called Abby.

When Brian entered the room, he found Abby sitting on the couch beside Michael who held Brian's guitar. Abby jumped before Brian could continue down a rabbit hole like he so frequently did. She indulges him most of the time, but when she doesn't, Brian had learned to shut up and listen.

"Michael and I have been having a very pleasant conversation," began Abby, trying to set the tone for her husband to follow. "I asked him to tell about how he feels about Gavin and he told me that he's really good with math and science and computers, but sometimes he has trouble putting his thoughts into words. He said it would be easier to tell me through a song. Come join me. Let's sit here on the sofa. Michael, you can start anytime."

Gavin was being as still as he could, trying to catch as much of the conversation as he could. He was able to hear enough to know what was going on. 'I can't imagine how nervous Michael must be,' thought Gavin, just before he heard the guitar. He remembered Michael performing the song during the homecoming dance. He remembered his brother's words, "He picked this song for you."

"...I see your true colors, And that's why I love you, So don't be afraid, To let them show..."

The Michael's song choice and performance brought tears to Abby's eyes, even if Brian wouldn't admit to the same reaction. They began to see Michael as more than an 11-year-old. He was more complex, more mature, and more in love, than they had expected him to be. When he ended the song, he used his sleeve to wipe his eyes and Abby sat down beside him and pulled him into an embrace.

Brian headed back to the other room to speak to Gavin who tried to look as innocent as possible.

"Isn't that the boy that just moved here from Oregon?" asked Brian.

"Uh, yeah." That wasn't what Gavin had expected. "Why?"

"Do you know what happened and why he moved here?" Brian asked.

"No, Lars said that it was up to Michael to tell me when he was ready," said Gavin. "Do you know something?"

"No, but his name has come up around the station enough that most of us know of him." Brian thought for a minute. "Gavin, just like with Lars, if ANYTHING comes up, no matter how insignificant you think it is, I want you to promise that you will keep me in the loop. Okay?"

"Uhm... yeah dad. But what..." started Gavin, a bit confused by his dad's request.

Brian's detective instincts were trying to tell him something, but he didn't know what. "I just want to make sure you guys are safe," was all Brian offered before he turned and headed back to join Abby and Michael. Simon quickly followed.

When they arrived at the kitchen, Michael was standing there, shaking with tears streaming down his face. "Please sir, if you don't want me to be friends with Gavin anymore, just tell me now."

Gavin rushed over and picked Michael up off the ground. "It's okay Michael. We're good. Everything's okay." Michael hugged Gavin with all his might.

"I'm so sorry," apologized Brian. He moved over to the boys and rubbed Michael's back. "I over reacted. Gavin spoke about his friend 'Michael' but we didn't know that the Michael he told us about was you. It was a surprise." Brian looked over at Abby for help with his 'I did it again' look.

"Let's all sit down, have something to eat and get to know our son's boyfriend better," said Abby, choosing her words carefully to help diffuse the situation. Both Michael and Gavin noticed that she called them boyfriends. Gavin gave the boy a tight squeeze and then set him down. They moved chairs so they could sit side by side while Abby sat at the end of the table next to her son, and Brian sat adjacent to Michael.

At first, the boys didn't have an appetite, but Michael tried some papardam with the mint chutney and was surprised how tasty it was. He decided on a samosa and found that to be even more enjoyable. The conversation became more pleasant and filled with laughter. As the earlier stumbles were forgotten, Gavin's parents started to see the Michael everyone else had gotten to know.

"Dad, I have to get Michael to Dr. Meijer's. We need to get going," said Gavin, noticing the time.

"You're spending the night there tonight, right?" asked Abby.

"Yeah, we'll either be at Lukas' or Simon's tonight," said Gavin has he wiped his hands and got up from the table. Michael took his cue.

"Thank you for introducing me to Indian food. I think it is one of my favorites now," said Michael as he rose from the table.

"Michael," Brian said as a grabbed the boy's hand. "I'm really glad I got to know you better tonight and I'm happy that you and Gavin found each other." He gave Michael's hand a squeeze. "But that doesn't mean I'm not concerned. Concern can come for a good place."

Michael nodded that he understood what Gavin's father was saying.

"Again, I'm sorry for the way I acted when you arrived and making you feel unwelcome here and in our son's life," Brian continued.

Before Michael even thought about what he was doing, he hugged Brian, "I understand." Brian hugged the boy back.

"Come here Michael. I want a hug too," said Abby, smiling at her husband and their son's boyfriend hugging. The evening had been a roller coaster ride but ended on a high note. Abby hugged Michael and gave him a kiss on the forehead. "Michael, would you please wait by the front door for Gavin. We want to talk to him for a minute."

"I'll be there in a sec," said Gavin.

"Gavin," started Brian, "son, I'm not completely happy with Michael being so young, but I completely understand what you see in him. He's really special. Cherish that. But be careful."

"I will dad," said Gavin as he hugged his dad.

"I really like him," said Abby. "He's welcome here any time and I hope we see him a lot." She gave Gavin a hug and a kiss. Then he turned to join Michael for the walk to Lukas' house.

"One more thing Gavin," said Abby.

Gavin turned to face his parents. "Yeah, mom?"

Abby asked, "Do you have condoms?"

"MOM!! Seriously?" Gavin was mortified. The look of horror on his face at the mention of sex by his parents within ear shot of his boyfriend. He rushed to gather Michael and head to Lars' as Brian and Abby burst out laughing at their son's embarrassment.

When Gavin came around the corner to the foyer, Michael was standing their laughing. "Oh, so you thought that was funny too?" But seeing Michael laugh was infections and Gavin joined in. "Let's get going, lover boy," and they headed out the door.

When the door closed, the laughter in the kitchen died down. "Oh my, I needed that. Whew! Those boys are certainly in love with each other. What a special connection they have," Abby pondered out loud.

"Yes, they are," replied Brian. "But something tells me this relationship could be more dangerous than anyone realizes."

----------------------     

The fall evening in Southern California turned much cooler after the sun set hours earlier. Neither boy noticed. "I'm glad we left a bit early," stated Michael. "We can take our time walking home." Holding Gavin's right hand, Michael placed his right hand on Gavin's arm and leaned his head on the older boy's bicep. The boys chose a slightly longer route to the Meijer house. This route kept them on quieter residential streets. It also gave them the illusion of privacy.

"I am too," said Gavin as he gave Michael's hand a squeeze. They walked a few blocks in silence, enjoying each other's company.

"Michael," started Gavin, "you told me the meaning of some of the songs you picked for the home coming concert. Did you pick 'Come Away With Me' to sing about you and me?" Gavin felt the head resting on his arm nod in the affirmative.

"Thank you," said Gavin, tearing up a bit. He never realized how such a romantic gesture would touch him. "I loved it. And I especially love you singing 'True Colors' tonight at the dance, and for my parents." Michael squeezed Gavin's hand.

At the homecoming bonfire, Gavin heard Michael sing the song with the hope that Gavin might someday feel the same way. Tonight, he sang a song to tell the story of his love for the boy of his dreams, even if it is was full of fear and trepidation that their love would be forbidden. This time, he was going to sing for an audience of one -- and he sang with passion and confidence.

Standing up straight, Michael took a deep breath, squeezed Gavin's hand again and began singing softly. As the song progressed, Michael's heart felt like it was going to burst with love and happiness. To keep it from reaching critical mass, he sang louder and with more passion. Not caring who heard, he sang out loud, "...And I want to wake up with the rain, Falling on a tin roof, While I'm safe there in your arms..." Michael stopped walking and Gavin turned to him.

Michael finished the song looking into Gavin's eyes. "...So all I ask is for you, To come away with me in the night, Come away with me." When the song ended, Gavin leaned down and give Michael a passionate, heartfelt kiss.

----------------------     

When Gavin and Michael arrived at the Meijer residence, the party was in full swing. Well, I should clarify that. The party was as wild a teen party gets when two watchful parents are present. The plan was to have pizza and watch a movie, but if you asked anyone at the party, they probably wouldn't be able to tell you what movie they watched because they mostly talked and laughed the entire time. It only seemed like minutes before the party ended. Lars and Carol loaded up their vehicles with the teen couples and headed out leaving the boys at home.

The boys pitched in. They worked as a team to clean up before heading to bed. When they finished, Simon stated, "We're going to sleep at my house tonight. You guys can take Lukas' bedroom. See you guys in the morning." With that, Simon and Lukas went out the back door leaving Gavin and Michael alone.

Michael suddenly felt nervous to be alone with Gavin. He didn't realize Gavin was feeling the same butterflies. 'What now?' thought the older boy. He bit his upper lip and searched the room with his eyes as he contemplated everything he knew and loved about the boy standing before him. He had a desire to make this evening special and to finally express how much he loved Michael. However, his thoughts were also shadowed by the apprehension and concern the adults around them felt about their relationship and Michael's past -- a past about which he knew little. Gavin looked back to Michael and saw the boy tremble with fear and desire. The teen had to take action.

Stepping up to the boy, Gavin leaned down and kissed Michael in an attempt to express the entirety of his all-encompassing love for the boy. "Michael," Gavin began nervously, uncertain of the words that would spill from his lips, "I love you. I don't know what you've been through and no matter what it is, it will never change the way I feel about you." Michael started trembling harder. "Tonight, all I want to do is to make you understand that love." Then he leaned down and they kissed again.

Michael felt a sense of relief. Only hours earlier, he and Gavin had become a couple and essentially came out at the homecoming dance. This evening he'd met Gavin's parents. What started out looking like a complete disaster ended up being a nice evening, though he still feared Brian, Gavin's father, who seemed to not approve of their relationship. From what Michael observed, Brian wasn't the only one who was unsettled by their budding relationship. Some of the other kids at the party acted weird around the two boys. Gavin hadn't noticed, but Michael quietly observed the looks and quiet comments exchanged by their supposed friends. It had been a whirlwind of an evening, especially emotionally, and now he and Gavin were alone. The young boy was tired - his emotions raw.

To be honest, he wasn't certain if he was ready to have sex again. He knew he wanted to have sex with Gavin. Until he met Gavin, he hadn't thought much about or had any desire for sex. He hadn't even jacking-off. However, lately he'd been so focused on finding a way to express his feelings to Gavin, he hadn't thought about what would happen after. Now, here they were alone for the night in Lukas' bedroom and he was a jumble of emotions.

Gavin sensed Michael's relief, "Let's get ready and go to bed." That idea was rewarded with a nod from Michael. Gavin brushed his teeth while Michael undressed to the pink boxer briefs he'd picked because they matched his dress shirt. Michael joined Gavin in the bathroom as the teen rinsed and spit. Gavin wiped his face on a towel and then kissed Michael on top of the head before returning to the bedroom. When Michael finished with his teeth, he entered the bedroom and found Gavin standing there in his green plaid boxers, folding his pants and placing them on the desk chair. Michael walked over to the bed and turned down the covers. He turned to face Gavin who was staring. Each boy admired the body of the other and couldn't imagine finding anyone more perfect. When their eyes met, and they looked deeply into each other's soul. Michael broke eye contact in order to strip off his boxer briefs. He stood naked before his boyfriend and looked him in the eyes.

Gavin stepped forward and taking Michael's head in his hands, he leaned down kissed him passionately. Michael opened his mouth to accept Gavin's tongue as he reached for the waist band of the teen's boxers. He tugged them down until the fell to the floor. Gavin stepped to free his feet from the garment and then lifted Michael into a hug. Michael wrapped his legs around Gavin's waist. Their kissing intensified and they fell onto the bed.

Time slipped away unnoticed as the boys wrestled on the bed kissing and caressing each other. They broke their kiss in order to replenish the oxygen their bodies were so desperately needing. Michael was on his knees straddling Gavin's waist, eyes locked with the other boy. The young boy was filled with passion -- his face, ears, neck and upper chest were flushed. Gavin could feel Michael's fat three-inch boner and taunt nut sack pressed against him just below his navel.

Sitting up straighter, Michael felt Gavin's erection slide against his ass crack and back. He smiled at Gavin and rubbed his ass against the older boy's rod of steel. The younger boy bent forward, kissing Gavin's neck, then his collar bone, and then began to slide down his body so he could plant kisses on Gavin's chest and suck his nipples.

Gavin knew where this was going and wanted it badly. But more so, he wanted to prove that his love for Michael transcended the physical. Grabbing Michael under the arms, he pulled the boy back up, face-to-face, and kissed him again.

"Michael, I want you so badly, but more than that, I want to prove to you that my love for you isn't about sex," whispered Gavin in Michael's ear.

Michael pulled his head back to look at Gavin's face to see if he was for real. Seeing the sincerity in Gavin's eyes, Michael smiled and slid to Gavin's side. The younger boy relaxed contently with his head on Gavin's shoulder and his left hand on the teen's defined chest.

Gavin wrapped his right arm around the boy and held him tight. With his left hand, he was unconsciously playing with Michael's hair. In a whisper meant only for the two of them, he told Michael all the things he loved about him. It was a long list.

At first, it was overwhelming for Michael. Gavin felt the tears wet his chest but continued. Michael shifted his position and buried his face into Gavin's neck while he clutched his older friend.

Gavin pulled the covers up all the way to Michael's neck. He continued telling Michael the things he loved about him and started running his fingertips up and down the boy's back from his shoulders down to his firm ass and back again. While Gavin continued to tell Michael all the reasons he loved him, he knew the boy's periodic squeezes and kisses were Michael's ways of saying "I love you, too." They continued until both boys were sound asleep.

----------------------     

Without any fanfare, Simon hurried to the bathroom to brush his teeth, while Lukas undressed. He rushed to finish his tasks so he would have enough time to put the rest of his plans into motion.

As Simon rushed to prepare for the next, Lukas leisurely went about his evening routine as he relished in his memories of the evening. It was every dream he'd ever had come true, and more. He only managed to get his jacket and shirt off before he lost himself in the memories of the evening. Simon's surprise of the song dedication. Simon's profession of his love for Lukas and request to be boyfriends in front of everyone at the dance. And the ring Lukas unconsciously played with - Simon's father's wedding band Simon planned to one day place on his finger when they married. Lukas decided his life was now perfect before Simon's return from the bathroom interrupted Lukas' thoughts.

"Hey sweetie," Simon said with a knowing smile.

Hearing the term of endearment, Lukas smiled brightly and remembered to continue to undress - all the down to his tight, black bikini briefs. Still in his dreamy state, Lukas finally made his way to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Once the blond head disappeared around the corner, Simon hurriedly finished undressing and to the closet. He pulled out the box his mother left for him and smiled at the note she added to tell him how happy she was for him and Lukas.

Lukas returned to the bedroom and found the lights off. As his eyes adjusted, he saw a naked Simon sitting on his heels in a room filled with lit candles. The skinny blonde was in awe that Simon had transformed the bedroom so quickly. "What's this?" he asked. He loved candlelight and these candles were lilac - his favorite.

"Come here," said Simon as he reached out and beckoned Lukas to approach. Lukas slowly made his way to his boyfriend as he wondered what this was all about. Gavin took him by the hips and looked up into Lukas' eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Please forgive me."

"You already apologized," said Lukas, smiling down at Simon. "Besides, there's nothing to apologize for."

"Just like I said at the dance," stated Simon. "I'm sorry that I wasted time by being stupid and not realizing that I was in love with you. And I'm sorry that I didn't say it when I realized it instead of waiting until tonight. It seemed romantic at the time, but each day I waited was a day you didn't know. That was wrong of me."

Lukas let Simon's words sink in. He remembered lying in bed wondering how Simon felt about him. His jealousy of Chloe because he thought Simon and Chloe were an item. The times he cried because the thought he would someday lose his best friend. But tonight, he didn't care. He thought, just maybe, those moments were worth it. Those moments made tonight even more special. But Lukas wisely decided he didn't need to let Simon know that.

"Simon, you know I've loved you for years and have waited for you to find your way to loving me back," said Lukas, getting very emotional. "But tonight, you've made me so happy. I never thought I could feel like this."

"Well tonight, I don't want you to just feel happy. I want you to know exactly how I feel about you. My love for you is so powerful, it scares me sometimes. I can't find words adequate to express how I feel, so I planned this evening to show you how much I love you. That includes tonight. Tonight, is all about you." With that he pulled Lukas closer. Simon rose to his knees and slid his hands down into the back of Lukas' briefs and guided the briefs to the floor. Simon drew his hand back up Lukas' thighs, as he stood to face his lover. He cupped Lukas' firm ass cheeks and pressed their bodies together. Simon kissed and licking Lukas' neck. Lukas immediately sprang a boner. He loved his neck being kissed and lifted his chin and tilted his head to give Simon better access. He wrapped his arms around the older boy's neck to prevent him from pulling away too soon.

Simon let his passion guide him. Tonight, there would be no holding back, no doubts. He'd expressed his love for Lukas verbally and openly. Now was the time to express it physically and privately.

Working his way down the smooth torso, he reached Lukas' right nipple. He knew how sensitive they were. After two years of exploring each other's bodies, Simon knew exactly what Lukas liked and planned to put his knowledge to good use before they fell to sleep.

Lukas' body shook and shivered through the erotic ministrations of his love, his boyfriend. When Simon finally disengaged for a moment, they looked into each other's eyes. Tonight, Lukas saw something in Simon's eyes that he'd never seen before. Tonight, there was a desperation or a hunger. It wasn't something he quite understood. Lukas was certain of only one thing. Whatever it was he saw in Simon's eyes, it stemmed from his love for Lukas and that was all Lukas needed to know.

Having finally revealed what was in his heart, Simon felt vulnerable. His emotions ran rampant. He needed Lukas like he needed oxygen. It was overwhelming. He attacked Lukas' body with a hunger neither boy had ever experienced. Simon gripped Lukas as he traced his tongue in and around Lukas' bellybutton as the blond boy panted and squirmed, unable to escape his attacker (not that he really wanted to).

Licking and kissing his way down to the boy's pubic mound, Simon elicited whines as he drove the younger boy towards a sexual peak. He remembered when Lukas was perfectly smooth down here. Now, the younger boy's patch of silky blond hairs may have be hard to see, but they were definitely there. Now, Lukas no longer shot blanks. Simon took the rigid four inches to the base and rubbed his nose in the boy's pubes and inhaled his scent. No playing. No messing around. He wanted Lukas to experience his first orgasm of the night quickly to take the edge off before the main event.

"Uh... uh... Simon... oh... uh... Si... Simon..." Lukas volume increased as he got closer and closer to blowing. That only made Simon worked harder.

Carol arrived home in time to hear Lukas scream while he unloaded down her son's throat. 'Now I know what Lars puts up with,' she thought, smiling at the thought of those two one day getting married. She knew her boy had finally realized what everyone else seemed to already know. The two boys were deeply in love and perfect for each other.

Lukas shuttered through perhaps the most intense orgasm of his life, then fell limp onto Simon's shoulder. Simon released the softening penis and carefully stood up. He lifted Lukas and carried him to the bed. He laid the post-orgasmic boy on the bed before he climbed in and engulfed the boy in a full-body hug.

It took Lukas a bit to regain his senses. When he did, he turned to Simon bit could only manage to utter, "Wow."

"That was nothing," replied Simon. He leaned in and kissed Lukas on the mouth. The longer the kiss lasted, the greater its passion and intensity. Without breaking the kiss, Simon moved over Lukas and began to grind his leaking manhood against the Lukas' newly rejuvenated boner. Simon reached under the pillow and pulled out the lube. He gentle prepared them both then entered Lukas slowly. Fully embedded, he gently cradled each of Lukas' knees in the crook of his arms and tilted his boyfriend's hips to the perfect angle for making love.

The boys had fucked numerous times in the last couple years. Since they were 12 years old, the two had explored and experimented to learn what they liked and didn't like. In the process, they'd acquired the knowledge and skills to please the other. In spite of all their practice and the many hours they'd spent burning off their adolescent sexual energy, they both felt like tonight was a first.

Simon began his slow dance. He steadily rocked his manhood in and out of Lukas' tight, teen hole. Each cycle ground against the Lukas' boy's place causing his entire body to tingle. Simon leaned down and lovingly kissed Lukas on the lips.

"I think I've always loved you," confessed Simon. "There was no falling in love with you. I think that's why I didn't understand. It's how I've always felt about you."

This time Lukas wrapped his arms around Simon's neck and pulled himself up so their lips could meet. They continued to kiss and profess their love for one another as Simon maintained the rhythm of his pelvis thumping against Lukas' rump.

Simon continued to manipulated Lukas' position to optimize his stimulation of Lukas' prostate. This constant refinement ensured he slowly took the younger boy to greater and greater heights. Lukas needed to come so he reached for his dripping cock. Simon slapped his hand away. off, Simon slapped his hand away and increased his speed.

"Tonight, I'm doing all the work," panted Simon, speeding up his thrusts. Each time Lukas reached down to jerk his dick, Simon knocked the boy's hand away and shifted into a higher gear.

For the finale, Simon grabbed both of Lukas' wrists and pinned the boy's arms above his head while he attacked Lukas' neck. Simon shifted into overdrive causing Lukas to become louder and more vocal.

Lukas sputtered, "Simon... I love you... Oh god... I love you... I love you..." between gasps for air. Simon snorted and grunted from the physical exertion as he continued the assault on Lukas' neck and climbed closer to his own orgasm.

"Uh... uh... Simon!" squealed Lukas as the first jet of boy's cream splattered under Lukas' chin. Simon responded with a series of grunts and hard thrusts to force his rigid cock into the spasming rectum of his lover.

Before Lukas' orgasm subsided, Simon blasted the largest load of his life in the depths of Lukas' bowels. "Oh, fuck, fuck yes! Oh yes!" yelled Simon has his body shook. He nearly fainted from the experience.

Both boys shed tears of joy as their love for each other burst forth. Simon kissed Lukas' tears away saying, "I love you," between each kiss.

Moving to the side of the bed away from the sweaty spot on the sheets, the boys cuddled and fell asleep.

Carol, ready for bed herself, heard the climax to their love making and then quiet. Assuming the boys had fallen to sleep, she checked in to make sure the candles were out. She quietly opened the door to see them lovingly wrapped around each other. They hadn't bothered to pull up the sheets giving her an unfiltered view of Lukas' beautiful body while their more embarrassing parts were hidden from her view. She admired how beautiful they were together before placing the lid on each candle to extinguish the light in the room.