Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2021 22:02:20 +0000 (UTC) From: Albert Collins Subject: You were there - part 49 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! Sorry for a really long break, everybody! After a move to a new place it took me a while to settle down and then the start of the new academic year really overtook me. I took on a major new job responsibility at work and right now I am still rather swamped trying to learn the ropes. So I had to put writing on hold for a while and the new chapter converged very slowly. Hopefully as the semester progresses I'll get more time for writing but at the moment I don't want to make any definitive promises. Thank you to everyone who wrote and sorry if I didn't reply. I was really hoping to finish this chapter sooner. Of course, as usual, comments and constructive criticism are welcome! albert.c87@yahoo.com ****** You were there -- Part 49 When the boys got to their room, Luke put the picture he drew of Diego above Diego's bed. "Looks great right here, don't you think?" Luke winked at Diego with a playful smile. "Yeah," Diego agreed gazing at the picture keenly, "yeah, it does. Thanks, Luke." Diego gave Luke a quick peck on the cheek and Luke grinned wider. "Well, I'm beat!" Luke declared and pulled off his t-shirt. Luke jumped onto his bed and Diego headed to the bathroom. After taking a pee, Diego splashed some water onto his face and gazed into the mirror. He regarded his reflection pensively, trying to see the boy from Luke's sketch. With a start he realized that his reflection wasn't scary any more, not even a little. It was him. He recognized himself. He could even see glimpses of what Luke saw, but only a little. Diego smiled affectionately at his reflection and stuck his tongue out. Really, Luke was quite something! How did Diego get so lucky ... Diego reentered their room and saw that Luke was lying on the bed down on his belly, wearing only his undies. With a sly silent smile Diego quickly took off his shorts and his t-shirt and plopped on top of Luke. "Mmm, that's nice," Luke mumbled as Diego gently nibbled on Luke's ear. "No, strike that, that's very nice!" Diego pressed harder against Luke's warm body and started slowly humping his pelvis against Luke's butt, still covered by a pair of white briefs. He extended his hands forward and the boys locked their palms. Their breathing became more rugged. "Mmm, Diego, babe, are we having sex now?" Luke inquired from below. "I don't know, Luke, are we having sex?" Diego replied with a chuckle, stopping his movements momentarily. "It feels too good, it gotta be sex," Luke chuckled in response. Both boys giggled in recognition of an earlier memory. Luke turned around onto his back to face Diego. He reached forward and cupped Diego's cheek with his palm. Diego covered Luke's palm with his and smiled warmly. Luke's long fingers gently stroked Diego's smooth skin. "I still really love it when you touch me like that," Diego commented continuing to hold Luke's hand. Luke kept smiling at Diego silently. Suddenly something in Luke's glance changed. "You're still here," Luke's voice caught with emotion and his eyes watered. "I still got you." "And you're still here," Diego smiled back sweetly. Luke's chest rose and he exhaled deeply. "Oh, what am I gonna do with you!" Luke took Diego into his arms and held him close, stroking the small of Diego's back lightly. "Ah, I think I got an idea," Diego's hand reached down for Luke's white briefs. A playful green spark lit in Luke's eyes and he shacked down his briefs frantically while Diego did the same with his. Diego lay on top of Luke, their young quickly hardening dicks pressing together. "You think they missed each other?" Luke asked with a slight giggle, looking down. "Seems that way," Diego responded with a satisfied sigh. While peering Luke in the eyes, Diego started slowly grinding his pelvis into Luke's, whimpering gently. Luke run his fingers through Diego's hair and along the sides of Diego's face as Diego's movements were getting more urgent and frantic. Luke saw such need and longing in Diego's widely opened eyes that it almost sent him over the edge. "Wait, Diego, babe, wait," Luke stopped him gently. "Wait." Diego stopped moving and gazed at Luke quizzically. "Not just yet," Luke whispered with a half-guilty smile. "Not just yet." "Yeah, you're right," Diego whispered back. He reached down and gently grabbed Luke's dick, which was now fully erect and trembling with excitement. Diego leaned closer to his prize, observing it closely. Luke's young hardness felt amazingly lovely in Diego's hand. Hot. Eager. Special. Very much at home. Diego squeezed Luke's shaft lightly, feeling it expand and pulsate in his hand, burning brighter and getting sleeker. Luke's body eagerly responded to Diego's loving touch and Luke's dick burrowed deeper into Diego's fist. Diego's eyes were locked with Luke's as Diego's hand continued lovingly caressing Luke's dick, pumping it ever harder. Luke's mouth opened and smoldering green fire blazed brighter and brighter in his eyes. His hands held Diego's delicate elfin honey-colored shoulders, stroking them lightly. The boys' faces slowly moved closer and closer together and their lips touched. Mmmm-mmph! Luke's body jerked wildly and he exploded into Diego's fist. Diego caught Luke's slumping torso and embraced him gently. "Oh, man, Diego," Luke chuckled into Diego's shoulder, "what are you doing to me, elf-boy? I swear with you, every time is like the first time!" Luke lifted his head and was met with Diego's warm smile. A broad sly grin spread on Luke's face and his eyes twinkled mischievously. "But you know, turnabout is fair play," Luke remarked and quickly slid down Diego's body, reaching his slim waist. Without any pause, Luke took Diego's hard dick, slick with pre-cum, into his mouth. Diego exhaled audibly. "Mmmm," Luke commented briefly, "you taste particularly fresh and delicious today, elfy!" He took Diego's brown boyhood into his mouth again. "Not fair!" Diego protested as he dug his fingers into Luke's damp brown locks. "I wanna taste you too!" Diego positioned his body opposite Luke's, facing Luke's groin, while Luke continued to work on Diego's member. Diego stared at Luke's dick, so close to his face now. He reached out and squeezed Luke's stalk between his fingers gently. It was so wonderful holding Luke like this. So wicked, so forbidden, so intimate, so magnetic. So right. Diego's mouth moved towards his prize and closed around it. Ah! Again, the feeling got even better. He had his Luke's most special, most intimate, most boyish part in his mouth. He was not going to let it go. Diego closed his eyes and concentrated on enjoying the sensation and trying to give Luke as much pleasure as he could with his tongue, his lips and his mouth. The boys moved their limber bodies in unison, their pelvises thrusting rhythmically, their hands on each other's hips, pulling each other closer, rolling together into a tighter and tighter ball, like twins in a womb. When their release came, it happened almost simultaneously too, first Luke and Diego a fraction of a second later. Diego held Luke in his mouth for a few moments longer, savoring the sweet and tangy taste. He opened his eyes and gently rolled Luke's moist balls with his palm. They still felt cool to touch and heavy. Amazing. Luke mumbled something at the other end. Diego shifted his body and turned around. He planted a row of soft tender kisses going from Luke's belly and moving towards his chest, feeling the warm taut muscles underneath skin, covered by a delicious sheen of fresh clean sweat. Luke's beautiful body felt so familiar now, so like home. Diego thought that he knew every curve, every tiny crevice and yet there was still so much to explore. The thrill, the excitement of touching Luke did not diminish. Diego's heart thumped wildly. Diego finally clamped his lips around Luke's left nipple. He heard Luke cooing softly and felt Luke's hand caress the sides of his face and his ears. Diego looked up and was met with Luke's playful smile and his green eyes shining with tender affection. "Diego, dude, that was ...," Luke whispered as he stroked Diego's bare shoulders. "Wow!" "Yeah!" Diego grinned back. "I think we deserved it." "But you know," Luke reached out with his long arm below Diego and took a gently hold of Diego's mostly deflated dick. "I still want this. I mean inside me. Please, elfy?" "Umm, Luke, come on, after what we just did?" Diego chuckled lightly. "I'm not Superman, you know." "Sure, you are!" Luke fondled Diego's boyhood again and peered him in the eyes with a pleading smile. "I know you can do it, babe. Please, Diego?" Luke cupped Diego's cheek with his left hand and Diego felt a cool touch of the promise ring on his skin. "You know I can never say 'no' to you," Diego swallowed hard and his eyelashes fluttered. "That's my boy!" Luke's grin grew wider and he turned on his side. Diego rolled over behind Luke and hugged Luke's torso that was still breathing out the heat of their mutual oral adventure. Luke turned his head and reached back with his hand, feeling Diego's face. "Come on, babe," Luke whispered huskily. "You shouldn't keep your audience waiting." "Sorry," Diego kissed Luke's cheek and wiggled his body in position. "Ah, Diego, I'm only joking," Luke giggled slyly. "I know," Diego kissed Luke again. Diego spread Luke's butt-cheeks and located the entrance. He again marveled how wonderful Luke's skin felt there, so satin smooth and tender yet with firm muscles underneath. Diego's weapon was still covered in Luke's saliva and as most previous times he was able to enter Luke quickly and easily. Still, Luke's body tensed up momentarily and he grabbed Diego's hand that was holding his hip. Both boys took a silent pause, catching their breath. Then Diego felt Luke push back into him and he met Luke's movement with a push of his own. Slowly at first, but gradually faster and faster, Diego started moving inside Luke, thrusting deeper, holding Luke tighter. Diego's arm wrapped around Luke's torso, caressing his powerful chest, feeling the strong muscles underneath the smooth skin covered by a delicious sheen of sweat. Luke grabbed Diego's hand and pressed it closer. The feeling of being inside Luke, Diego could never get use to it. It was still absolutely amazing, the heat, the wetness, the pull, the closeness and intimacy of Luke's young lean beautiful body. Luke's sweet boy smell was everywhere, almost overwhelming. Diego leaned and kissed Luke's shoulder without ceasing his thrusting movements. Luke turned his head back and Diego covered his cheek with urgent passionate kisses. Diego's palm stopped above Luke's heart feeling his heartbeat. It still amazed Diego that this wonderful boy, so full of beauty and strength, even let him touch him, let alone be inside him. No, didn't let him, wanted him. Yes, Diego could feel Luke's need and desire, feel it in the beating of Luke's heart, in singing and melting of Luke's body under Diego's touch, in heady smell coming off Luke's skin, in desperate backwards thrusts of Luke's hips and soft whimpering noises coming from his lips. Luke wanted him, Luke really truly wanted him. His Luke wanted him. Diego's mind reeled and lit with wild fire. His hand moved down Luke's muscular stomach and cupped Luke's fully erect dick, covered in fresh pre-cum. Luke's body writhed and he pressed harder into Diego, moaning audibly. Diego's fingers brushed Luke's heavy moist balls, still cool to the touch. That was all it took. Luke's body tensed and then sprung like a fine bow being released, and he melted into Diego's embrace. Diego caressed Luke's chest tenderly as both boys basked in the glow of their lovemaking and slowly tried to steady their breath. Diego moved forward and placed his cheek on top of Luke's. "Oo-ooof!" Luke chuckled. "Three times! I donno if I'm gonna make it to dinner tonight! And it's all your evil doing, Diego, babe. Thanks!" Luke reached back with his hand and stroked Diego's face, hair and his delicate elfin ear. "You're welcome," Diego's breath tickled Luke's cheek. Luke started turning around towards Diego. "Wait, Luke, wait," Diego tried to stop him but not in time. Luke turned on his side, facing Diego and smiled at him warmly. "I wanted to ... stay in you a little longer," Diego admitted shyly. "I know," Luke reached out and cupped Diego's cheek, stroking it lightly with his fingers. "Next time, okay?" "Okay," Diego agreed, his brown eyes shining brightly. "Okay," Luke kissed Diego's nose and pulled Diego on top of himself, embracing him tightly. Diego wriggled his body with a soft sigh, grinding his pelvis against Luke's. "Ah, Diego, dude, what are you trying to do to me?" Luke laughed. "Are you not done yet?" "No I'm done," Diego whispered in Luke's shoulder. "I was just ... adjusting." "Well, quit it," Luke giggled again, nonetheless buckling his own hips upward slightly. "With your ... adjusting we're never gonna make it to dinner." "Okay," Diego lifted his smiling face. "What are you thinking?" Diego asked as he kissed Luke's palm softly. "How lucky I am to be with you," Luke answered gently brushing a damp lock of hair off Diego's face. "So fucking incredibly lucky. To have found you. And thanking our supernova or your god or the universe or whatever for making it happen." "Yeah?" Diego queried with an affectionate grin. "But maybe it was me who found you." "Yeah, maybe it was," Luke agreed as he run his hands over Diego's slender shoulder blades and the sides of Diego's arms. "But now we really need to get up and hit the shower. And hey, maybe as we wash up, I can still help you out a but with that ... adjusting." "Sounds good!" Diego replied cheekily, quickly getting up. "Or, you're bad!" Luke exclaimed as he followed him. The boys headed to the bathroom together. - To Luke's surprise and something of a relief nobody noticed the promise rings during the dinner. However, that changed when the kids moved to the common room after the meal. As was his custom, Toby settled in Luke's lap in one of the chairs while Diego sat bow-legged on the carpet in front of them. Toby picked up Luke's left arm and stared at his palm. "Hey, what's this?" he pointed at the ring on Luke's finger. Luke and Diego exchanged quick half-worried glances. "Oh, that," Luke replied. "That's a present from Diego. He gave it to me today." "Looks pretty!" Toby remarked, holding Luke's hand against the light. "Yeah, it is. See, Toby, buddy, ..." Luke started explaining slowly. "Hey, Toby, do you wanna see a new magic card trick?" Diego interrupted. "I learned one yesterday and nobody has seen it yet. Not even Luke." "A new magic card trick?!" Toby's eyes lit up. "Yes, Diego, please! I wanna see it!" Toby dropped Luke's hand and jumped up from Luke's lap. Luke grinned at Diego broadly. "Okay, Toby, please bring me a card deck," Diego requested getting up from the floor. "Yay!" Toby run to one of the bookshelves and got a deck of cards. "Hey, Yasha, come here, Diego is gonna show us a new card trick!" Toby called excitedly to Yasha who was sitting a few chairs away, staring intently at a chessboard. Luke pulled one of the tables closer to his chair and gave his seat to Diego. Toby, Yasha, followed by all of the other kids gathered around Diego. "Okay, Toby," Diego started explaining, "this trick requires 21 cards. Doesn't matter which ones." Diego counted out 21 cards, separated them into a smaller deck and shuffled it. "All right, Toby," Diego continued with a smile, "pick any card from the deck and show it to everybody except me." Toby pulled out a card and showed it to the others. It was ten of clubs. "Okay, put it back into the deck." Toby did as instructed and Diego shuffled the deck. "All right," Diego continued, smiling at the audience slyly, "now I'll deal the cards into three piles, faces up. And Toby, buddy, you'll need to tell me in which pile your card was, when I am done, so pay attention as I am dealing. But don't tell me which card it is." Diego dealt the cards into three 7-card piles. "Okay, Toby, which pile has your card?" he asked. "The left one," Toby pointed. "The left one? Okay great! Now we are gonna do it again." Diego collected the cards into a single pile again, dealt them into three piles and again asked Toby where his card was. This time it was in the middle pile. Diego repeated the process one more time and the third time Toby pointed to the left pile, like the first time. "Okay, Toby," Diego declared with a wide grin, "we are gonna do this one more time. And this time I'll magically sense which card is yours, okay?" "Okay," Toby replied, sounding dubious. Diego shifted his glance to Luke who also looked perplexed. Diego winked at him and started slowly dealing the cards into three piles again. When ten of clubs was dealt, Diego stopped, looked up at Toby and asked: "Is that your card?" "Yes, yes, it is!" Toby shouted delightedly. There was wild applause and whistling. Luke gave Diego silent thumbs up and Diego smiled back. "Wow, Diego, how did you do that?" Toby inquired, wide-eyed. "I'll teach you later, Toby, buddy," Diego replied gently. "For tonight it's gonna be magic, okay?" "Okay," Toby agreed. Ritchie insisted that Diego do the card trick again and Diego was happy to oblige. This time Frank, who stopped by the common room to check on the kids in the evening, joined everybody to watch it. "Well, Diego, that was quite an effective performance," Frank complimented afterwards as he, Luke and Diego stood by one of the columns in the clubhouse. "I gotta say I still don't understand how you did it." "It's a simple counting trick, Mr Frank," Diego replied modestly. "There's very little skill involved." "Well, I sure liked it!" Luke interjected loyally. "Yeah, me too," Frank concurred. "But I did notice something else, during the trick. On the finger of your left hand. I think Luke got one too." "Oh," Diego blushed. "I guess the trick didn't really work then. See, I was kinda trying to distract Toby who noticed it also when Luke held him ... It's a promise ring, Mr Frank. I gave one to Luke today, and this one is for me." "Well, well," Frank chuckled bemusedly, "I figured it was something like that. Congratulations, boys. That was quite a gift, Diego. " "Yeah, it was!" Luke agreed, beaming proudly as he wrapped his arm around Diego's shoulders. "I still can't quite believe it!" "But I guess you realize that Toby and me aren't gonna be the only ones to notice these rings," Frank added. "The other kids, here and at school, are gonna notice them too. You got a plan for that?" "Yeah, we kinda do," Diego confirmed. "Me and Luke, we talked it over today. And we decided to tell the kids at school about us. Not to wait any longer." "We don't wanna hide anymore, Mr Frank," Luke confirmed. "And we can handle whatever shi... whatever happens." "Well, all righty then," Frank gave the boys a pensive look. "I hope you're right. Either way, please keep me in the loop on how things go at school, okay?" "Sure thing, Mr Frank," Luke nodded. "But you really don't have to worry about us. We're gonna be okay!" "I always worry about you boys," Frank chuckled mildly. "I think you ought to know that by now." As they walked back to their room from the clubhouse, Luke tugged on Diego's arm: "So, Diego, dude, do we have a plan? For coming out at school I mean?" "Yeah, I was thinking that maybe we do it tomorrow?" Diego suggested. "We have a history class together for the second period and a project report due. Maybe we could do it then? I kinda have an idea how." Diego proceeded to explain the details of his idea to Luke. When they got to their room, Diego and Luke spent some time preparing their presentation before going to bed. As they turned off the lights and snuggled together in Diego's bed, Luke settled behind Diego, hugged Diego tightly and rubbed their cheeks together. "Thanks for today, elf-boy," Luke whispered as he chewed Diego's earlobe gently, "and for tomorrow." "You're welcome," Diego smiled in the dark and clasped Luke's hand to his chest. "Wow, it's been a really long day," Luke whispered again stretching his long body and pressing closer to Diego. "Can't believe it's finally over." "Yeah," Diego whispered back, "but it was good. Really good." -- He was back on the planet with two suns, standing on a blue-sanded beach in front of a vast purple ocean. A light breeze caressed his moist green skin. He flicked his tail again and reached with his paw towards the water. Whoa! The warm ocean wave brought with it an overpowering feeling of life. Energy of a myriad of living ocean creatures, tiny and large, touching him, reaching to him through his skin. He moved his paw away and stepped back. "Nice day for a swim, isn't it?" a voice sounded next to him. Only it wasn't really a sound and not next to him. The voice sounded in his mind. He turned and saw another creature, just like him, but a little smaller, standing on the sand a couple of steps away. Two vertical rows of bright inquisitive eyes. Eight flaring nostrils. Somehow he knew that this was a kid. And somehow he knew that the kid was smiling. "Sorry, what?" "I said it was a great day for a swim," the alien kid repeated. "Wanna join me?" "Umm, I'm not sure ..." "Oh we could play tail-hook," the kid suggested. "What?" "Tail-hook, silly!" the kid laughed. "We hook our tails and pull. Whoever manages to knock down the other, wins. Hey, you've got a nice one!" The kid pointed at his tail. "Umm, I really did think about going for a swim." "Okay!" the kid run towards the ocean and with a large leap jumped into the water. "Coming?" he called while splashing in the waves. "I only got a little bit of time before my Elders come looking for me. They'll want me for the blue sundown ceremony." He slowly approached the water and gingerly touched it with his three-fingered foot again. Whoa! The same rush of life energy nearly overwhelmed him. "What is it?" the kid called from the waves. "You look almost like you've never had communing before." "It just feels so ... What do I do?" "What you always do! You open your mind. And let it go!" -- During breakfast on Monday morning none of the other kids still noticed Luke and Diego's promise rings. Luke was getting a little annoyed but Diego calmed him down. "Look," he whispered, pointing at widely yawning Ritchie, "they're still half asleep. We'll tell them later." "Okay," Luke whispered back, patting Diego's knee under the table. When Luke and Diego got to school, Luke pulled Diego aside and looked at him seriously: "So, Diego, dude, are we still doing this? I mean what we talked about yesterday evening?" "Yeah, absolutely," Diego replied firmly as he squeezed Luke's hand and lightly rotated the ring on Luke's finger. "We're ready!" "All righty then!" Luke chuckled. "Shit, it's gonna be good! They're gonna get one history lesson to remember!" Luke giggled mischievously again. "Just stick to the plan, okay?" Diego reminded him. "Okay, okay," Luke acknowledged. History was their second period and Luke and Diego took their seats early, somewhat nervously waiting for the bell to mark the start of the class. Mr Tolbert, a tall gangly teacher in his early thirties, who reminded Diego a bit of Gregg, started calling the kids to present their projects. Although Diego really liked history he found it increasingly difficult to concentrate and was growing more and more nervous. He didn't realize that his foot was anxiously tapping on the floor until he felt Luke's hand gently cover his. "Relax, Diego, relax," Luke whispered, "I promise you, we'll be fine. Just breathe, dude!" Luke gave Diego a bright reassuring smile and Diego gradually felt himself relaxing, although his fingers continued touching Luke's hand. In a few minutes the previous presentation finished and Mr Tolbert checked his list and called: "All right, Mr Larsdale, Mr Torres, it's your turn. Step forward, please." "Ready?" Luke whispered. "Yeah," Diego confirmed. "You?" "Absolutely!" Luke grinned confidently. Luke and Diego got up from their desk, proceeded to the front of the class and turned around. "Diego and Luke will give a presentation on Alexander the Great," Mr Tolbert announced. "Oh, cool!" there came a comment from Riley, a short freckled red-headed kid in the front row. "It's about battles and swords and stuff, right?" "Yes, Riley, but let's hear Diego and Luke tell us, okay?" Mr Tolbert chided. "You're right, Riley, Alexander of Macedon who became known as Alexander the Great was an Ancient Macedonian king in the fourth century B.C. and a great military commander," Diego started. "Yeah, the dude really knew how to fight!" Luke joined. "He conquered half the known world: Greece, Persia, Egypt, Assyria, even parts of India. Nobody could stop Alexander and his Macedonian phalanxes." Lukę made a swooshing sword gesture. "But Alexander the Great wasn't a bloodthirsty conquerer," Diego continued. "He spared the cities and empires he conquered and even the families of their former rulers. He learned from their cultures and wanted to unite the world in a global Hellenistic empire. Alexander even moved his capital from Greece to Babylon." Diego put the map of Alexander's empire on the wall behind him and showed its contour to the class. "By the time he was thirty Alexander conquered most of the known world," Diego finished. "Right, the guy was seriously cool," Luke added. "But Alexander didn't do all this stuff alone." Luke turned to Diego and winked at him. "Alexander had a childhood friend named Hephaestion," Luke continued. "They grew up as kids together and were inseparable. Hephaestion became one of Alexander's generals and closest companions. They even died just eight months apart." "Yes, Alexander and Hephaestion were great friends," Diego continued, "they did everything together." He smiled at Luke and nodded slightly. "Kind of like me and Diego," Luke interjected, stepping closer to Diego and taking his hand. "Right," Diego smiled again and continued: "But many scholars and historians now believe that Alexander and Hephaestion were way more than friends." Diego paused for a moment. "That they really loved each other. And that they were boyfriends." "Like me and Diego," Luke repeated with a wide grin. Luke wrapped his arm around Diego's waist, leaned Diego over and planted a long tender kiss on Diego's lips. A series of loud gasps sounded from the room as Luke and Diego stood up, holding hands, and faced the classroom, smiling broadly. After an uncertain pause, several kids started clapping and then the applause grew louder. Luke, still displaying a wolfish smile, bowed theatrically and made Diego bow with him. The boys then headed back to their seats. Luke gave a high-five to Riley who was still staring at them bug-eyed with a shocked expression on his face. "Well, thank you, Diego and Luke for this rather dramatic presentation," Mr Tolbert spoke evenly with a mild enigmatic mile. "Please stop by my desk after the end of the class for a quick word." Mr Tolbert waited until all the other kids left the room and then turned to Luke and Diego who were waiting patiently by his desk. "Now, boys, like, I said, that was quite a dramatic presentation," he adjusted his glasses and gave the boys a pensive look. "What you did certainly took some guts. I just wish you had given me some advanced warning." "Sorry, Mr Tolbert, it was almost a spur of the moment thing," Diego explained. "We only decided to do this yesterday evening." "And we were both okay with it," Luke added. "I am sure you were," Mr Tolbert replied, "and you handled it quite well." His small smile grew wider. "But it could have gone badly. It would have been better if both you and I had been prepared." "But it went really well," Luke countered taking Diego's hand again. "And I'm glad it did," Mr Tolbert agreed, "but that was today. For boys your age being out in school is not an easy proposition. I think you know that." "We do," Diego acknowledged, exchanging glances with Luke. "I think we are ready for it." "Well, if something ... not as smooth as today's class happens later," Mr Tolbert continued, "I want you to tell me, okay? Don't keep it to yourselves." "Really, Mr Tolbert, we can handle this stuff," Luke started replying confidently, "you don't have to worry about us. I can ..." "Yes, sure, Mr Tolbert, we'll tell you," Diego cut him off. "And thank you." "Good," the teacher smiled at them reassuringly. "Now run along, you don't want to be late for your next class. And I really did like your presentation today!" The boys left the room and hurried to their next class. At lunch Luke and Diego met up with Archie and Sam in the cafeteria at their usual table. Luke and Sam sat next to each other, and Diego and Archie sat opposite them at the other side of the table. Luke was grinning particularly widely which quickly drew Sam's attention. "You're in an awfully good mood today," she remarked, giving Luke a penetrating look. "Yep," Luke grinned even wider. "I am." "What gives?" Sam inquired suspiciously. "Well ...," Luke paused for dramatic suspense. "Me and Diego ... came out today! During the history class!" "What?!" Archie stared at Luke in disbelief. "No shit!" Sam's eyes grew wide. "During the history class?!" "It's true," Diego confirmed with a smile, "as we were giving a presentation about Alexander the Great and Hephaestion." "I kissed Diego," Luke giggled proudly. "No shit!" Sam repeated. "That was ballsy. And what happened?" "Believe it or not, everybody clapped," Diego replied. "W-wow," Archie commented. "Wow indeed," Sam seconded. "Well, good for you, guys! Although I'm not sure everyone will be clapping. We still got some jerks around here." "Yes, we know," Diego replied quietly. "We can handle them." "That's right, we can handle them!" Luke defiantly raised his fist and Sam and Archie laughed. "And you know what else," Luke continued with a glee, "Diego gave me a promise ring!" Luke put his hand on the table and spread his fingers. "How great is that, right?!" "Man, you guys really had a busy weekend," Sam remarked causing Diego to blush suddenly. "Yeah, the ring is really cool," she added and Luke winked at Diego with satisfaction. "Diego's got one too!" Luke uttered excitedly. "Come on, dude, show them!" Diego put his open palm on the table next to Luke's. "Very cool, guys!" Sam reiterated her approval. "And really nice design, Diego, I like it!" "Yeah, m-me too!" Archie joined in. "Thanks," Diego replied modestly. Luke sat back and spread his shoulders, beaming happily. Sam looked at the boys around the table and grinned conspiratorially. "Hey, guys, you know what?" she asked. "I got some news too!" "What?" Luke turned to her. "I've got a skating competition this Saturday," Sam announced proudly. "In Boston!" "Wow, congratulations, Sam!" Diego complimented. "That's awesome!" "Yep," Sam beamed at the group. "The first skating competition I got invited to! Just one problem, though. Still need to figure out how to get there. My parents are gonna be away again. I'll have to try to convince Kevin to take me but I'm not sure it's gonna work ..." "I c-could ask my d-dad to d-drive you," Archie spoke up shyly from the other side of the table. "Oh, my god, Archie, man, are you serious?!" Sam exclaimed excitedly. "I could probably kiss you right now!" "No b-biggie," Archie blushed and looked down into the table. "He c-can probably d-drive all of us." "Yeah, Archie, buddy, great idea!" Diego squeezed Archie's arm and exchanged knowing grins with Luke. "I'm sure Mr Frank would be okay with that." "Really, Archie, thanks!" Sam repeated standing up and picking up her tray. "I'd much rather go with you guys than with Kevin. He's a bit of a dick. No wonder he and Courtney are related." "Right," Luke smirked. "And Luke, Diego," Sam added. "What you did today - you guys have really got balls. But you gotta watch your backs now." "We know," Diego replied earnestly. "But I think it's gonna be okay." Sam waved at the boys and left the table. "Hey, Archie, you spoke to Sam!" Luke giggled exuberantly, reached over the table and grabbed Archie's hand. "Great job, dude!" "I d-didn't, not r-really," Archie protested, blushing again. "No, Archie, Luke's right," Diego smiled and patted Archie's shoulder. "You showed initiative just at the right moment. And it'll be fun to go to Sam's skating competition together. Right?" "Yeah, I g-guess it would," Archie looked up at Luke and Diego bashfully and the three of them laughed. The boys collected their trays and headed out from the cafeteria. As they exited the cafeteria doors, Diego suddenly stopped and turned slightly pale. Luke caught his arm and looked at Diego with concern: "Diego, dude, what is it? Are you okay?" "I'm fine," Diego replied quietly. "Hey Archie, when was the last time you talked to your dad?" "This m-morning, why?" Archie answered in surprise. "I think you should call him. Now. Just to check up on him, okay?" Diego suggested in an even tone of voice. "Ok-kay," Archie agreed, still looking puzzled. He stepped away and pulled out his phone. Luke gave Diego a worried questioning glance. "I think it's starting again," Diego whispered. "Oh, man!" Luke groaned. "That's just not fair!" They both looked in Archie's direction as he was talking on his phone. "No, it's not," Diego agreed. "But we kinda knew it was coming." "Hey, guys, sorry I missed you at lunch," Jayron greeted Luke and Diego as he run up to them. "And you both are looking kinda weird. Is everything all right? Did I miss something?" "Something," Luke replied cryptically still looking towards Archie who just finished his phone call and was putting the phone away. "Hold on, Jayron, we'll explain later," Diego spoke quietly. Archie slowly walked back to them. "D-dad got called in for more t-tests," Archie shifted his glance between Luke and Diego. "They saw s-something on the l-last x-ray." "Shit!" Luke stomped his foot. "How d-did you know?" Archie stared at Diego searchingly. "I didn't, really," Diego replied gently. "It was just a feeling." Diego took Archie's arm and squeezed it. "Sorry, Archie, buddy," Diego added. "This really sucks." Luke stepped closer and gave Archie a quick warm hug. "Yeah, Archie, man, sorry 'bout this," Luke continued with a reassuring smile. "When is the test?" "T-this afternoon," Archie answered taking off his glasses and wiping the lenses. "An M-MRI. I t-talked d-dad into letting m-me come with him." "Wow," Diego commented, "that's fast. Is he taking you from school?" "Y-yeah," Archie confirmed. "In ab-bout fifteen m-minutes." "Well, Archie, buddy, you know you can count on us, right?" Luke gave Archie another hug. "Please text us how it goes. We'll stop by your house after school today if you're at home then." "Thanks, g-guys," Archie nodded and headed towards the staircase. Jayron, who had been observing the scene silently, finally spoke: "Okay, what just happened here? What's up with Archie's dad?" Luke and Diego exchanged quick glances and small nods. "Archie's dad had cancer last year," Diego explained. "It was pretty bad. Some kind of a bone cancer. Chemo therapy, radiation, the whole package." "Damn!" Jayron exclaimed sympathetically. "Yeah," Luke joined in. "He's been in remission for a while. But now it sounds like it may have returned." "Damn!" Jayron repeated. "Poor Archie!" "Yeah," Luke sighed. "This shit is really unfair." "I noticed you didn't tell him that it's gonna be okay," Jayron turned Diego. "No, I didn't," Diego replied earnestly. "I see," Jayron frowned and gave Diego a long penetrating look. "Yeah," Luke sighed again and scratched his forehead. Jayron shifted his glance to Luke. "Hey, Luke, buddy, what's that I see on your finger?!" Jayron queried sharply. "Ah, that's another thing we need to tell you about," Diego answered. "Come on, we have to get going. We've only got a few minutes before the next period. We'll tell you on the way." The boys hurried together towards the staircase. **********