by Mark Roeder
“I’m not going to ask,” Tristan said as he sat down.
“You’re smarter than everyone else here,” Casey said.
“He’s not smarter,” Jon said. “It’s just the glasses; the glasses make him look smart.”
Tristan gave Shawn a significant look, but Shawn looked away. I wondered what that was about.
“Anyway…,” Casey said, “Dane is having a get-together at his place after school. We’re going to play…”
“Dodge ball!” Jon interrupted.
“Yes, dodge ball, and Brandon is going down,” Casey finished.
“On my…” Jon began, but I cut him off.
“You’re invited, of course.”
“Unless you’re scared,” Brandon said.
“Of you?” Tristan asked. “I don’t think so, straight boy.”
Brandon grinned.
“Okay, is everyone invited but me?” Shawn asked.
“Leave out my hero? No way! Of course, you’re invited,” I said. “Besides, we need a lot of people for dodge ball. If any of you want to bring a friend or two, go for it.”
“Oh, so I’m really just a filler,” Shawn said, unsuccessfully pretending to be hurt.
“I always thought so,” Brandon said.
Shawn flipped him off. I loved these guys.
“Damn, I’ve got work, but maybe I can get off early,” Shawn said.
“We have our usual stuff to do at the farm,” Ethan said. “What time were you thinking?”
“How about like…seven. Can everyone be done with whatever by then?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Shawn said.
Everyone else nodded their agreement.
Lunch period ended without Tim and me slipping away to get it on. We’d talked too much. There was more to life than sex, however, although sex was definitely my favorite! We couldn’t rush through lunch and disappear too often or Shawn might catch on. He’d probably crap his pants if he knew what Tim and I got up to in the auditorium. If we ever got caught by a teacher… I didn’t even want to think about it. The risk was worth it, however.
Tim and I walked home together. Since we were all getting together at seven to play dodge ball, it didn’t make much sense for him to go home only to come back. Shawn said it was cool. My parents were home, and besides, when we were at my place Shawn wasn’t responsible for us. I still wished he’d let Tim and me get it on in the loft. That would be perfect!
We didn’t really plan it, but when Tim and I reached my room we looked at each other, and that’s all it took. Our lips were locked together before our backpacks hit the floor. Our tongues were in each other’s mouth before our jackets were off. We didn’t dare get naked, but our hands were everywhere.
I thought my zipper might burst from the strain. Whenever I was with Tim, it was instant hardness. When Tim’s hand rubbed on the front of my jeans…damn.
I slipped my hand into Tim’s jeans as we made out, and his hand was down my pants in seconds, driving me crazy. I think we might have both lost control and made a mess in our jeans, but a knock at the door ended things way fast. Tim and I ripped apart. My hand was still caught in his jeans as Mom opened the door. I barely disentangled myself before she entered. As it was, I had to quickly sit down to hide my obvious erection. Tim dropped into a nearby chair to hide his own.
Mom looked at us suspiciously. Our rumpled clothing and the fact we were teenaged boys no doubt gave us away.
“I didn’t know you were bringing Tim home after school,” she said.
“Yeah. A bunch of the guys are coming over later to play dodge ball in the gym. It’s okay, isn’t it?”
“Of course.”
“Cool. Tim and I are going to study before they get here. Can Tim stay for supper? Everyone is coming over about seven.”
“Yes, he can. You’re always welcome, Tim.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Haakonson.”
“Why don’t you two get started on your homework. If your friends are coming over at seven, you don’t have much time.”
What she really meant was: “I want to see you studying instead of molesting each other.”
“Sure thing.”
Tim and I grabbed our backpacks and moved toward the library table. Mom lingered until we began pulling books out, then she left us in peace.
“Do you think she noticed?”
I gave Tim a look that said “duh,” and he laughed.
“We need some time alone, soon,” Tim said.
“Don’t I know it? Let’s hit the books. You know Mom will be up here checking on us in a few. It’s as certain as the setting of the sun.”
Tim and I sat side by side, so close our arms were touching, but we did study. Yeah, we took frequent breaks for short make-out sessions, but we did our homework. Mom dropped in to check on us a couple of times, but I guess we looked innocent enough not to worry her too much. Our feigned innocence was all part of our evil plan to lure my parents into a false sense of security. Once that was accomplished, Tim and I could go at it, if we were careful. Until then, we’d get by with what we could. I was giving some thought to sneaking a mattress or something in the storage area under the bleachers in the gym. If Tim and I did it there, I wagered we wouldn’t be the first. I bet a lot of fooling around went on way back in the ‘50s and before, just like it does now.
When the appointed time was near, Tim and I walked downstairs and wandered around the entrance hallway. There was no way we’d hear anyone knocking on the front doors from my room.
“These old trophies are really cool,” Tim said.
“Yeah, it’s hard to believe they were just left here.”
“Same for all the team and club photos on the walls.”
“Stuff like that is everywhere here. I keep noticing photos, plaques, and trophies all over the place that I missed before.”
“You’d think they would have taken all this stuff to the new VHS when it was built.”
“Yeah, but there’s so much of it. VHS has stuff like this all over the place, too. Can you imagine what it would look like if all these pictures and trophies were there too?”
“I guess stuff kind of builds up over the decades.”
A knock on the glass of one of the front doors caught our attention. It was Shawn and Casey.
“Still pretending to be a straight boy?” Tim asked as he opened the door.
“Screw you, little brother.”
Tim arched an eyebrow, and I forced perverted thoughts from my mind.
In short order, Brandon and Jon arrived, then Ethan, Nathan, Brendan, Casper, and Dave, Nathan’s little brother. Dave was about eleven and looked like a miniature version of Nathan.
“I guess we’re just missing Tristan,” I said.
“Why don’t you take everyone to the gym,” Tim said. “I’ll wait here for Tristan. You can give them the tour. I’ve already seen it.”
“Are you talking about the gym, Tim, or something else?” Jon asked.
“You perv,” Brandon said. “Only you would make something sexual out of that.”
“Oh, like you weren’t thinking it, too.”
“No. I don’t fantasize about dick all the time like you do.”
“I think you have me confused with Shawn.”
“Hey!” Shawn said. “Leave me out of your verbal warfare. I’m just an innocent bystander.”
“Innocent, my ass,” Brandon said, gazing at Shawn. “You’ve had some dick recently. I can tell just by looking at you.”
“Yeah, you’d know all about the look guys get when they’ve had some dick, don’t you, Brandon?” Jon asked.
“Yeah, from looking at you.”
“I’m going to smack your heads together,” Casey said. She looked at Dave for a moment, probably thinking he shouldn’t hear such things. He lived in a house full of teenage boys, however, so I’m sure he was used to it. He was laughing, so I doubted it embarrassed him.
“Oh, yeah! I love it rough with a babe!” Brandon said.
>
“Just ignore them,” Nathan said. “Maybe they’ll go away.”
“Good luck with that. I’ve been trying to for years, and they haven’t gone away yet,” Ethan said.
“I’m feeling unappreciated,” Jon said. “What about you, Brandon?”
“I’m truly hurt,” Brandon said, pretending he was about to cry.
“You can forget an acting career,” Casper said.
“Let me show you guys the gym,” I said quickly. “Thanks, Tim.”
Tim and I grinned at each other, and then I led the little group down the hallway.
“Hey, look, if Brandon went to school way back, he’d be sitting there,” Jon said, pointing to a chair outside the old principal’s office.
“At least I didn’t get sent to the office for jerking off in the restroom,” Brandon said.
I wondered if that was true, but I wasn’t about to ask.
“Don’t you guys ever stop?” Casey asked.
“Stop what?” Brandon and Jon asked together.
“I think they’re twins who were separated at birth,” Ethan said.
“That’s a scary thought,” Brendan said.
“It must feel odd living here,” Casey said, no doubt to cut Brandon and Jon off. “I think it’s incredible, though.”
“Yeah, it’s cool,” Jon said, “but a little like getting life-time detention. Just think about it, Dane will never get out of school.”
“Look at it another way,” I said. “I rule this school.”
“Maybe your parents will buy an old school, Jon,” Brandon said. “Then you’d have a chance to rule at school, too. It sure isn’t going to happen at VHS.”
“Bite me, Brandon.”
“Don’t say it!” Casey ordered as Brandon opened his mouth.
“You like to order people around, don’t you?” Brandon asked. “If we were the Peanuts gang, you’d be Lucy.”
“You’d be Pigpen,” Casey retorted.
“Hey!”
“In all fairness, Brandon spends more time on his personal appearance than most girls, not that it helps much,” Jon said.
“I do hope you’re on the opposite team,” Brandon said meaningfully.
We entered the gym. Since we’d be using it (and I’d finally figured out where the light switches were), I turned on the overhead lights.
“Now, this is seriously cool,” Ethan said.
“Brings back fond memories of molesting all those boys, huh?” Brandon said. “I mean wrestling—wrestling all those boys.”
“You want to wrestle now, Brandon?” Ethan growled.
“And make Nathan jealous?”
“Okay!” I said. “While we’re waiting on Tim and Tristan, what about teams?”
“How about team captains choosing?” Brandon asked.
“Oh, I hate that,” Jon said. “That always sucked in gym class. And don’t even say it, Hanson.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything about sucking. You sound kind of bitter, though. Always picked last, Jon?”
“No, but someone is always picked last. It’s so cruel.”
“Let’s just put names in a hat,” Casey said. “I’ll write down everyone’s name and then one of you can draw for teams.”
She pulled a piece of paper and a pen out of her pocket, walked to the bleachers, sat down, and began writing. Soon, she stood.
“Can I borrow your cap, Jon?” Casey asked.
Jon handed it to her.
“Okay, so who picks?”
“Not Jon,” Brandon said. “He’s too sneaky.”
Casey glared at Jon to keep him from retorting.
“How about Casper? You trust Casper, don’t you?”
“Well, outside the shower room, yeah, but I wouldn’t want to drop my…”
“Shut up, Brandon,” said several of us at the same time. Brandon laughed.
“Okay, Casper, you pick.”
“If we end up with an odd number, Jon can be the extra. He throws like a girl,” Brandon said.
“You know I’m going to kick your ass, don’t you, Brandon?” Casey said.
Jon laughed.
“Okay, I’ll just pick out names, and that will be one team. Whatever names I don’t draw out will be the other team,” Casper said.
“Sounds good,” Ethan said.
“Okay, here goes,” Casper said as he began pulling out names. “Ethan. Dane. Brandon. Nathan. Brendan. Me.”
“Who’s me?” Brandon asked.
“I am,” Jon said.
“No, I am,” I said.
“You can’t be me. I’m me. Besides, that would mean you were picked twice,” Jon said.
“I’m me!” Casper said loudly. “Casper. The last name is Casper!”
“You could have just said so,” Brandon said.
Casper growled in frustration.
“I’m so glad you’re on the other team, Brandon. I’m taking you out,” Casey said.
“On a date? Don’t you like girls?”
“Even if I did like guys I wouldn’t go out with you, Brandon Hanson. You are so going down.”
Brandon started to open his mouth.
“Don’t say it!” Casey said.
Dave laughed.
“Okay, now we just have to wait for Tim and Tristan,” Casey said.
We hadn’t long to wait, but Tim and Tristan weren’t alone. Nate London was with them. Shawn didn’t look too happy about that.
“Who gets Nate?” Brandon asked.
“I bet you want him—bad,” Jon said.
“If I want your opinion, Deerfield, I’ll…”
“We’ll flip a coin. Call it in the air, Jon,” Casey said.
“Tails,” Jon said as the quarter sailed into the air and came back down.
Casey uncovered the coin.
“Heads. Nate is on the other team.”
“No fair,” Jon said. “They have all the big guys.”
“Yeah,” Brandon said, grabbing his crotch.
“Big guys?” Casper asked. “Have you looked at me lately?”
I laughed. I wasn’t especially tall or muscular myself.
“Bigger isn’t always better,” Casey said. “Especially in dodge ball.”
“You hear that, Hanson. Bigger isn’t always better. There’s hope for you yet.”
“I’ve got more than you’ve got, Deerfield.”
“Anyone have a measuring tape?” Casey asked.
“Why?” I asked. I’m a little slow on the uptake sometimes, okay?
“So we can get this over with. Just pull them out, Brandon and Jon, and we’ll measure. We can settle this once and for all.”
“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you, Casey?” Brandon said.
“Lame comeback, Brandon. You do understand the concept of lesbian, right?” Jon asked.
Brandon stuck out his tongue.
“The last thing I’m interested in is what you have in your pants,” Casey said.
“Let’s just play. We’ll flip for who gets the ball first,” I said.
Brandon grabbed Dave and lifted him off the floor.
“Okay, heads or tails.”
Dave giggled.
“Let’s use a quarter,” Casey said. “Call it in the air, Brandon.”
She flipped the quarter up in the air.
“Tails,” Brandon said. “Always tails…”
Jon rolled his eyes at Brandon.
“It’s tails. Your ball.”
Our team took the end of the basketball court in front of the stage. Brandon tossed the ball up in the air with one hand and caught it while selecting his first target. Brandon eyed Casey and then made a lightning-fast throw towards Jon. The ball smacked the wooden floor hard, barely missing Jon. Shawn captured the ball and rifled it at Nate. Another miss. I caught the ball after it bounced off the floor.
“Let’s make this more interesting,” I said, walking toward the stage. I pulled another ball out of the box I’d set there earlier.
“Yeah!” ye
lled Brandon.
I tossed the extra ball to Casper, and we stepped toward the line together. I hurled my ball toward Tristan, and Casper went for Casey. Two misses. Tristan was a lot faster than I’d imagined he’d be. He also caught the ball after it bounced and rocketed it straight back at me. If I hadn’t ducked, it would’ve nailed me. The other ball came close to getting Nate.
It was mayhem after that. The balls flew back and forth with lightning speed. I just barely dodged out of the way three times.
“You throw like a girl!” Brandon yelled at Casey across the court.
“If only you threw that well!” she yelled back.
That was the start of some major insults on the part of Brandon. He taunted Casey every time one of her throws missed the mark. Casey tossed back a few witty remarks, but mainly just grinned at Brandon, the way you’d imagine the Cheshire Cat might grin at a mouse.
“Is that all you’ve got?” Casey asked after Brandon had hurled the ball toward her with every ounce of his strength.
“Oh, I’ve got a lot more,” Brandon said, grabbing his crotch, again.
“Speaking for those of us who’ve seen what you’ve got…,” Jon said, and then slowly shook his head.
“Yeah, you’ve seen it. Right after you… Damn!”
Both balls smacked into Brandon at once; one nailed him in the chest and the other in the left shoulder. Casey and Tristan gave each other a high five and then Jon joined their celebration.
“I told you your mouth would get you in trouble someday,” Casey said.
Brandon crossed his arms, glared at them, and growled, but then he grinned and laughed.
“My teammates will avenge me,” he said, then walked over and took a seat on the bleachers.
The balls sailed back and forth. Nathan was eliminated next. It wasn’t looking so good for our team. We’d lost two players, and the other team hadn’t lost any. We had the biggest guys, but this was a game of speed.
I nailed Jon on the shoulder as he dodged a ball hurled at him by Ethan. Brandon howled with delight.
“Way to go, Dane! Yeah!”
Jon gave us both the finger with a double flip-off, but he was grinning as he did it.
“You wish, Deerfield! You wish!” Brandon yelled from across the court.
I began to notice that Shawn was taking special aim at Nate. He tried to hit others, but he went after Nate more than anyone else and tried to nail him hard. There was a look of focused concentration on Shawn’s face whenever he stalked Nate. There was a certain amount of anger in his eyes, too. I wondered if there was some history between those two. Shawn was obviously not happy when Nate had arrived with Tristan. Could it be as simple as jealousy? Tristan and Nate had been spending quite a bit of time together. Maybe there was something going on between them more than friendship. If so, I could see where it would piss Shawn off.