Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2020 00:24:45 +0000 (UTC) From: Albert Collins Subject: You were there - part 23 Disclaimer: This is a romantic love story about love between young adolescent boys. There are some explicit sex scenes in the story but they are not the main focus of the story. So if you are looking for a story with a lot of explicit sex action, you are in the wrong place. If you like to read a sappy romantic tory with occasional kinky sex scenes, then please sit back and enjoy! Thanks again to all those who wrote with comments and feedback! This chapter is rather shortish, so it might well disappoint the readers. I have been quite overloaded with work in real life this past week -- still am as a matter of fact -- and had little time for working on the Diego and Luke story. I decided to post what I have now, rather than wait until I have more time, which could easily turn out to be another week. So please be patient and don't judge too harshly -:) In any case, if you are still reading -- thank you. Of course, as usual, comments and constructive criticism are welcome! albert.c87@yahoo.com Oh, yeah, and please, donate to Nifty: donate.nifty.org ************************ You were there -- Part 23 When Luke woke up the next morning, Diego had already gotten out of bed. Luke heard him moving around in the bathroom. Luke stretched out on the mattress and flexed his shoulders. "Wow," he thought back to the night before, "that was some night ..." He felt the sheets next to him which were still warm with the heat of Diego's body. Luke smiled happily and jumped up. Still naked, with an impish grin on his face, Luke walked into the bathroom. Diego, also naked, was standing next to the sink peering into the mirror. "Now, that's a sight that's never going to get old," Luke remarked to himself mentally, as he looked at Diego's smooth dimpled olive-colored butt. He slowly approached Diego and embraced him from the back gently, resting his chin on Diego's shoulder. "That was quite a night yesterday, eh, elf-boy?" Luke said softly. "Yeah, yeah, it was," Diego smiled at Luke in the mirror. "I'll never forget it." Luke stared forward at Diego's reflection: "Feel like getting clean, Diego?" "Definitely!" Diego agreed. "For real this time, no sexy games this morning, okay, Luke?" "Okay, Diego," Luke sighed lightly. "You're right. We already stink like a couple of pigs." Luke stepped into the shower and turned on the water. "Ah, nice!" he exclaimed. "Definitely feels cleansing." Diego smiled and stepped in under the shower stream next to Luke. The boys quietly soaped themselves and occasionally gently soaped each other with light, delicate caresses. Diego and Luke then stood under the hot stream of water, facing each other, looking down, their foreheads touching lightly. Diego's eyes focused on their feet. Water bubbling around them, circling, flowing into the sink-hole, washing away the sweat, the grime, the tears, the traces of dry sticky cum that remained from their night of lovemaking, washing them clean. He touched Luke's chest gently. It felt soft and silky again, pure, tender, sweet. Luke's fingers caressing his neck, delicately, lightly, almost not touching at all. Diego sighed deeply. The water, it felt really good. He needed it. They needed it. Diego realized that Luke had turned off the water. "Diego, babe, you good?" Luke whispered. "Yeah," Diego replied with another satisfied sigh. "Yeah, I'm good. This was good. Thanks, Luke." Luke embraced Diego gently. Their chests touched. Luke's hands caressed Diego's wet honey-colored back softly. Diego raised his hands and held them on Luke's shoulder blades. The boys stood together for about a minute, breathing quietly. Luke raised his head and kissed Diego's forehead. They smiled at each other and Diego breathed out again. He stepped out of the bathtub silently and Luke followed him. "Well, that was certainly nice and cleansing," Luke mused, glancing at Diego, as he was drying off his lean muscular frame. "Yeah, yeah, it was," Diego smiled at Luke sweetly. "I think we needed it." Luke winked at Diego and continued drying his hair. A few minutes later the boys, feeling and looking clean, got out of the bathroom and started getting dressed for the day, before going to breakfast. "Hey, Diego," Luke called quietly, while sitting on his bed. "Yeah, Luke?" Diego looked up, as he was putting his shorts on. "I think I wanna talk to Mr Frank today," Luke said looking at Diego earnestly. "Like I promised. About what happened back then ... " Diego's eyes grew wider: "Luke, you sure? You don't wanna wait?" "No, I don't wanna wait," Luke answered with certainty, "not anymore. I want to get it over with. I think I can handle it now." Diego finished putting on his shorts, waked over to Luke and sat next to him. He wrapped his arm around Luke's shoulder: "Well, if you're sure then you should do it. We'll go together, after breakfast. Okay?" "Yeah," Luke sighed slightly and squeezed Diego's hand, "yeah." He smiled at Diego gratefully. "You are a good boyfriend, Diego, you know that, right?" "Yes, I know," Diego kissed Luke's lips softly. "And it's my pleasure." Luke chuckled and pulled on his shorts. "I'm still one lucky bastard!" he remarked. Diego and Luke were quiet and a little edgy during breakfast, occasionally exchanging knowing glances. The atmosphere was still somber after Rafiq's departure, and with Luke being more subdued than usual, things seemed positively gloomy. Right after the meal was over, Diego and Luke made their way to Frank's office. The door was open, as usual. Frank was sitting behind his large disorderly desk, again, as usual, trying to look for something in a large pile of papers. "Yes, boys?" Frank looked up. "Umm, Mr Frank," Diego started hesitantly, his glance shifting between Luke and Frank, "there's something that Luke needs to talk to you about. Something he needs to tell you." "Oh? Luke, son, is that true?" Frank put down the papers and looked at Luke quizzically. Luke had been looking down and holding Diego's hand. He slowly raised his eyes: "Yes, Mr Frank, it's true. It's something that happened to me way back. Two years ago, just before I got here." Frank's expression got more serious: "All right, please sit down, boys. Diego, please close the door first." Luke sat in a big chair opposite Frank's table. Diego closed the room door and moved another chair next to Luke's. He sat down and took Luke's hand again. "Go ahead, Luke," Diego uttered softly, staring into Luke's eyes, "tell Mr Frank what happened. I'm here. I'll be with you." Diego gave Luke a quick peck on the cheek and Luke returned Diego a weak smile. Frank also smiled a little as he observed Luke and Diego bemusedly. "Diego is right, Luke, please go ahead," Frank confirmed. "Whatever it is, you can tell me, I am here to listen. And your boyfriend will stay and help you too." Luke nodded slowly and gave Frank a tiny smile. He sighed and looked down between his knees. Luke started speaking in a flat detached tone of voice: "It happened about two years ago, in Pennsylvania, somewhere near Altoona, not long before I got here in fact. Got myself busted by the cops, trying to break into a dumb vending machine ... The judge sent me to this juvie type place called St Anthony's that was run by some catholic monks." Luke spoke quietly, unemotionally, without looking up, almost with no breaks, recounting the story of what happened to him at St Anthony's. Frank and Diego remained silent. Frank poured himself some water and sipped it carefully as he listened to Luke. When Luke got to the part about the boiler room and Brother Peter, Diego was weeping wordlessly, still holding Luke's hand. Luke looked up at Diego briefly a few times and stared back at the floor again. "After about five days in that fuck... in that damned infirmary I was back on my feet," Luke continued his story, "stopped pooping blood like a hemorrhoidal old geezer, felt basically okay again." Luke chuckled slightly for the first time while he spoke. "Then I scrammed from there in a hurry, and started running, as fast as I could as far as I could," Luke explained, getting close to the end. "Been running until I run into you, Mr Frank. When you caught me trying to bust up your car in that parking lot. When my luck finally changed and I ended up here, at Green Oaks. Well, you know the rest ..." Luke stopped and chuckled again, looking up at Diego briefly: "Now I'm telling you all this, Mr Frank, 'cause I made a promise to Diego. Because we figured there're still kids at St Anthony's that Brother Peter might be ... Well, I've got to try to help them if I can. Don't wanna be a damn coward." Luke finally finished talking. He was still looking down, between his knees. A long silent pause followed. At last Frank spoke: "Luke, son, what you just told me, it's a terrible thing, a real awful thing. A thing that never should have happened to you, to any kid." Frank got up from his chair, walked up to Luke, gave him a hug and kissed the top of his head. Luke tensed up at first but then relaxed. Frank returned to his seat. "Of course, I knew that you spent some time in the streets before coming here, that you've had it real rough," he continued. "But this ... This, I had no idea. Couldn't imagine." Frank scratched his chin and looked at Luke and Diego wistfully. "I know you probably don't won't to hear it now and I know it won't fix anything but I'm really sorry it happened to you, Luke. Real sorry." Frank paused again. Luke, who still had been looking down, slowly raised his head and looked at Frank with weary watchful eyes. Frank smiled at him gently. "I am also real glad that you told me," Frank added. "And grateful, too, as it was a brave thing to do. A very brave thing to do, Luke. I'm glad Diego helped you do it. Because he was right. Now we got a chance to help those other kids at St Anthony's who might still be in danger." Frank paused again. "And as far as Brother Peter is concerned," Frank continued slowly, "we will try to get some justice for you, Luke. Even if you think it doesn't matter now. I believe that it does. I believe that it matters." Luke raised his eyes and again fixed a watchful gaze on Frank. He shook his head skeptically but remained silent. "So, what happens now?" Diego asked as he looked at Frank anxiously. "Now, I've got to do a few things," Frank chuckled gently, "as they say make a few arrangements." "Cops?" Luke asked with disdain in his voice. "Eventually, yes, among other things," Frank replied flatly, "but that's not my immediate priority right now." "It's not?" Luke looked up in surprise. "No," Frank countered. "There are a couple of other things that need doing first. First, Luke, I'll have you talk to a social worker. Tell them what you just told me. It's required in these situations." Luke grimaced in disgust: "Oh, great, more fu... more damned CPS suits. Never cared a thing for me before ..." "Don't worry, I promise I'll get you somebody really nice," Frank assured. "Second, we've got to get you checked out by a doctor. To make sure you are really okay. And there's no lasting damage." Luke groaned and covered his face with his hands: "Oh, this is just getting better and better. The damned doctors are gonna poke my butt now ... To check for lasting damage ..." "Yes, son, I'm afraid so," Frank confirmed. "Again, I'll try to find somebody nice and to make it quick, but it has to be done. We've got to make sure you're really okay. And to fix you up if anything still needs fixing." Luke groaned again. Diego kissed his cheek. "It's all right, Luke," Diego said softly, "it's gonna be all right. I'll go with you. It's gonna be all right." Luke took Diego's hand and squeezed it. Frank looked at the boys with a small bemused smile. "Diego's right, Luke," Frank added with a warm smile, "it'll be all right ... Now, boys, you've given me a bundle of things to do ..." Diego began so stand up but Luke remained seated. "Luke, something else, son?" Frank inquired. "Yeah, Mr Frank, I need a few more minutes with you, alone," Luke spoke quietly. "Diego, babe, could you wait for me in the common room? I'll be down there in a few." "Luke, you sure?" Diego stroked Luke's palm gently. "Yeah, Diego, I'm sure," Luke confirmed with finality. "Don't worry, I'm fine. It'll just be a few minutes, okay?" "Okay," Diego agreed reluctantly, releasing Luke's hand. Diego exited the room and the door closed behind him. Frank regarded Luke in silence with a long penetrating glance. Luke was again looking down between his knees. He gradually raised his eyes and looked straight at Frank. "A few more things that I wanna say, Mr Frank, now that Diego's not here," Luke spoke slowly and deliberately. "I told you about what happened because I made a promise to Diego. And he's right. We can still help those kids. And I wanna do my part. Don't wanna be a stinking coward." Luke paused. Frank still remained silent. "But now you're gonna have to do your part too, Mr Frank," Luke continued. "And it's not quite what you think. You've gotta have our back now, mine and Diego's. No matter what ..." Luke gave Frank a hard steely stare. His voice became harder and steelier too: "The cops, the lawyers, the judges, the shrinks, the child protective services, the 'system', I don't fucking trust them. All they ever done is screw me over. And now that this thing ... this thing is out in the open, they might do it again. Or try to. So if the dumb cops in Altoona still want me because of some cars that I busted up there two years ago, and if the judges there want me too ..." Luke stopped and shook his head. Anger and bitterness flashed in his green eyes. Frank leaned back in his chair as he listened to Luke but he still didn't interrupt. "Well, Mr Frank, you've gotta stop them," Luke carried on, his voice getting louder, edgier. "I don't care how. Lie, cheat, bribe, blackmail, whatever. Do what you gotta do. That's you job now. Because if you don't ... If they take me away ... or try to and I run, which is much the same thing ... It'll kill him. It'll kill Diego. I know it. I think you know it too. I can't let it happen. We can't let it happen. You can't let it happen, Mr Frank ..." Tears welled in Luke's eyes and he looked down again. He breathed heavily and clutched his fists hard. Frank leaned forward and opened his mouth as if to say something but Luke started talking again: "I just want you to think about all of this, Mr Frank, when you make all those calls. All those arrangements and preparations you mentioned. With the coppers and the lawyers and the judges and the doctors." At last Luke finished, still looking down. Frank cleared his throat. "Well, Luke, you've said your piece, and I'm glad you have," Frank took a sip of water. "I won't say you're right but I won't say you're wrong either." Luke looked up at Frank sharply. "Fact is, there's a lot of truth to what you said," Frank added pensively, "although of course I'd not have put it the same way myself." Frank chuckled lightly. "Other things, you're wrong about. There're ways of bending the system without breaking it," Frank mused, "but we won't go into that now. What saddens me is that this awful situation has brought out so much anger in you, Luke, so much bitterness. You were a happy kid. You found love. And now ..." Frank paused. "I'm real sorry about that, Luke, real sorry," Frank continued. "Didn't want to see that happen. We are gonna have to work on that, somehow. Diego, he doesn't need to see this side of you. You don't need this side of you." Luke raised his eyes. "You're probably right, Mr Frank," he said quietly, "but I think I'm right too. Thank you for helping us. For helping me." He got up from the chair. "You are welcome, Luke," Frank answered warmly, "I promise you, we will get through this. I will help you get through this. Diego will help you get through this. It'll be all right. Now go give your boyfriend a hug. I think he deserves it." Luke nodded silently, gave Frank a small smile and left the room. He found Diego in the common room, curled in a ball in one of the big chairs. Diego jumped up when he saw Luke enter. "Well?!" Diego asked worriedly, "What happened?" "Nothing, Diego, babe," Luke reassured him as he hugged Diego and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Nothing, everything's fine, I promise!" Diego blushed as he looked at Rafael who was sitting across the room. "Luke, you sure?" Diego pressed, still not convinced. "What did Mr Frank say?" "He told me to give you a hug!" Luke giggled and gave Diego another hug. "Really?" Diego blushed harder and eyed Luke suspiciously. "Really really!" Luke laughed. "Um, okay, then," Diego sat down in the chair. Luke settled in another chair next to him. Diego cocked his head and stared at Luke attentively. "What, have I got something on my face?" Luke giggled again. "I'm just real glad you told Mr Frank what happened," Diego said softly. "I'm very proud of you, Luke!" Diego extended his arm and caressed Luke's hand. Luke sighed with satisfaction. "Thanks, Diego, babe," he smiled back. "Couldn't have done it without you. Really! I think it'll be okay ..." Luke relaxed back in his chair and closed his eyes. "Yeah, I think so too ...," Diego agreed wistfully. He continued quietly watching Luke's face. Diego heard light footsteps approach from behind. He glanced back and saw Toby. "Hey, Toby, buddy, how are you?" Diego smiled warmly. "I'm okay," Toby settled into a chair next to Diego, on the other side from Luke. "I miss Rafiq ..." "I know, I know, Toby, I miss him too," Diego reached out and took Toby's hand, "But I'm real glad Rafiq's got a new family now ... And you'll be getting a new roommate soon, his name's Yasha. I think he's coming tomorrow ... Could be fun, getting to know a new kid!" "Yeah ...," Toby agreed. "But what if he doesn't like me? What if he's not nice?" "Oh, I'm sure he's nice," Diego reassured, "and we'll help smooth things over if there're any bumps, right, Luke?" "Ah, what?" Luke opened his eyes and looked up. "What bumps?" "Wake up, Sleeping Beauty," Diego giggled, "I mean we're gonna help Toby with Yasha, you know, if there're any bumps. Rough edges." "Oh, right, sure thing, Toby, my man!" Luke grinned broadly, "don't you worry about nothing!" Luke motioned to Toby to come over. Toby moved to Luke's chair and settled in Luke's lap. "Hey Toby, I'm sure Yasha is a good kid," Luke affirmed emphatically, "and of course Diego and me will help you if something comes up." Luke grinned at Diego impishly. "Diego, he recently's become a real expert at handling ... bumps of any kind." Diego's face reddened and he shook his head disapprovingly but said nothing. Toby remained oblivious to this silent exchange of glances. "Thank you, Luke," he uttered softly, "thank you." Toby continued after a pause: "Um, Diego, please sing us a song! Please!" "Ah, what?" Diego replied, startled. "Sing us a song," Toby repeated, "to cheer us up! Please!" "Now, Toby, that sounds like a grand idea!" Luke laughed as he grinned at Diego widely. "Yeah, sign us a song Diego! Please!" "Um, okay...," Diego replied uncertainly. "What shall I sing ..." He closed his eyes and concentrated in thought. "Okay, I think I got it!" Diego looked at Luke and Toby again, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He went to the corner of the room, got the guitar that was sitting inclined there, and brought it back to his chair. "It's not completely a kids song, Toby, but it is pretty fun," Diego explained as he grinned at Luke. Luke furrowed his brow and grinned back. "Okay, here it goes," Diego declared. He struck the strings and started singing, looking mostly at Luke: "If I was a flower growing wild and free All I'd want is you to be my sweet honey bee. And if I was a tree growing tall and green All I'd want is you to shade me and be my leaves All I want is you, will you be my bride Take me by the hand and stand by my side All I want is you, will you stay with me? Hold me in your arms and sway me like a sea." Luke grinned wider and started tapping his foot following the song's rhythm. Toby began clapping rhythmically as well. Rafael moved from the other side of the room and joined the group at an adjacent chair. "If you were the wood, I'd be the fire. If you were the love, I'd be the desire. If you were a castle, I'd be your moat, And if you were an ocean, I'd learn to float. All I want is you, will you be my bride Take me by the hand and stand by my side All I want is you, will you stay with me? Hold me in your arms and sway me like a sea," Diego finished the song and the kids clapped. "Now, Diego, that was a proper fun song, I grant you that," Luke admitted with a giggle, "wasn't it, Toby?" "Yes, Diego, thank you!" Toby agreed sincerely. "You're welcome, buddy!" Diego ruffled Toby's hair gently. Luke got up, flexing his shoulders, and Diego followed him. They waved Toby and Rafael goodbye and headed out of the clubhouse. As the boys walked back towards their room, Luke punched Diego's shoulder gently: "So, Diego, babe, which one of us is the bride, he-he?" "I donno," Diego countered with a smile, "might depend on the day. If you really behave yourself, I might let you be one tonight!" "Ouch!" Luke chuckled. "I gotta start watching myself when we make love, Diego, since your tongue is getting sharper!" They both laughed as they continued along the footpath. After they got back, Diego and Luke, did the laundry, following the plan they discussed the night before, and spent some time tidying ups their room. Diego was feeling noticeably happier. In the evening as the boys got back from dinner, Diego tugged on Luke's hand: "Ah, Luke, I think tonight is definitely the cuddling night, don't you think?" "Yeah, I figure you're right," Luke nodded in agreement as he looked at his bed. "I mean we just did the laundry, he-he!" Luke's glance traveled back to Diego again. "Hey, Diego, I got an idea," Luke continued. "How about we switch to your bed tonight?" "Really?" Diego's eyebrows arched up in surprise. "Yeah," Luke chuckled, "I think I wanna come for a visit, he-he!" Diego's big brown eyes twinkled and grew wider: "Ah, sure, Luke, I think I'd like that ... That sorta sounds like fun ..." Diego smiled back at Luke sweetly. "Nothing 'sorta' about it!" Luke declared, "It is gonna be fun!" He winked at Diego and giggled wickedly. Luke sat down on Diego's bed and patted it lightly. "And you know what else," Luke continued, "I wanna make another switch. You are gonna cuddle me tonight! I think it's high time you started pulling your scrawny weight around here!" Luke giggled and grinned at Diego impishly. Diego grinned back: "Okay! Now that definitely sounds like fun!" "Yeah!" Luke repeated emphatically. The boys slowly changed into their PJs while continuing to smile at each other and giggle occasionally. When he was done, Diego climbed into his bed and pulled back the top sheet. He looked at Luke expectantly, with a shy smile. Luke's grin grew bigger. He hopped in next to Diego and nestled back into him. Diego threw his arm around Luke's chest gently and Luke pulled it tight, holding it close. "A-a-a-h!" Luke sighed with satisfaction, "this is way too nice!" Diego rolled closer to Luke and rested his face on Luke's neck. Luke wiggled his toes and stretched his feet out. "Oh, my god, Diego," he breathed out, "I'm never switchin' back after this!" Diego giggled gently into Luke's neck: "Aha, look who likes being cuddled now!" "Yep!" Luke agreed with a laugh. "And I think I'll also start saying 'Oh my god!' from now on. I get it now! Oh my god!" Luke pushed back harder into Diego. They both laughed. Diego nuzzled Luke's neck and chewed gently on his earlobe. "Ah, now you're just not playing fair, elf-boy!" Luke whispered. "No, I'm not," Diego whispered back. Seconds ticked by in silence as Diego's sweet breath warmed Luke's cheek. "Diego, babe," Luke whispered softly, "thank you for today. Thank you." Luke paused. "My stupid fucking head ... I'm still not over this thing, with Brother Peter ... I'm still gonna need your help ..." Diego pulled Luke closer. "Hey, that's what boyfriends are for, right?" "Right," Luke agreed and kissed Diego's palm, "among other things. Anyway, thanks, Diego ... I'm probably gonna be a pain ... more anal than usual before this is over ..." "It's okay," Diego kissed the back of Luke's neck. "I can handle you being anal now." "Not sure how to take that," Luke chuckled. He patted Diego's palm. "'Night Diego." "Good night, Luke." ------------------------ He was walking through a fantastic forest. Magical trees, flowers all around him, unimaginably beautiful, sweet, ethereal. Fantastical creatures, birds, insects, brightly colored, moving all around him. So much life, exploding everywhere. Suddenly a cold wind blowing in his face, a dark black cloud, shooting hard cruel darts of lightning at the forest, quickly covering the sky. With a start, he realized who he was and what he had to do. He was the Protector. He had to save the forest from the dark deadly menace. That was his job, his sole purpose. He unbuttoned his shirt. Steeled his thumping heart, looked at the cloud with determination. Another bolt of lightning. It was time. A bright beam of light leaped from his chest towards the black cloud, hitting it right in the center. A terrible, angry, deafening scream split the sky, carrying death, hatred, pain and destruction. But it worked! The dark cloud boiled at the edges and started receding, getting smaller and smaller. He fell to his knees. He was getting weaker too, his life force ebbing quickly. He strained to put more power into the beam of light emanating from his chest. The dark cloud was almost gone now. And so was he. It was almost over. It was worth it. The magical forest was worth saving. Just one more ...