True Blue

by Connie Bailey

  “And I can kick your ass if I want to.” Sloan moved closer, shoving Peyton back into a shrub.

  From the corner of his eye, Peyton saw Allerton King exit the locker room followed by Logan Newcombe and Heydn Case. “If you hit me again, I’ll go to one of the deans,” he said loudly.

  “Your word against mine.”

  “There are witnesses,” Peyton said, glancing to his right. Heydn’s gaze brushed his and then traveled on to Allerton who was in the middle of telling a joke that required humping motions.

  “I don’t see any witnesses. Do you see any witnesses, Cope?”

  Copeland shook his head. “I was never here.”

  “Now I’m going to have to repeat myself,” Sloan told Peyton. “I hate repeating myself.

  Peyton had an answer to that, but Sloan’s fingers around his neck cut off his air. He was propelled backward through the hedge and slammed against the wall.

  “If I ever see you here again, you’ll get more of the same,” Sloan said and let go of Peyton.

  Peyton slid down the wall, gasping for breath. It had happened so brutally fast that his head was reeling. Putting his hands on his knees, he fought the urge to retch.

  “Come on, Cope,” Sloan said. “I think he got the message.”

  “Fuckin’ A, Skip!” Copeland slapped the other young man on the shoulder and they sauntered off. When Peyton’s stomach stopped shaking, he came out of the bushes. Sloan and Copeland were just turning the corner of the building, headed in the direction of the cafeteria. Across the athletics quad, he could see Allerton, Logan, and Heydn ambling along. “Assholes,” Peyton whispered fiercely. He blinked furiously at the tears that scalded his eyelids, refusing to let them fall. A silver-spoon thug called Skip should not be able to make him cry. Maybe he didn’t have the muscle mass to retaliate in kind, but he ought to be able to think of a way to strike back.

  Chapter 5

  Heydnsurveyed Blue’s sleek frame decked out in the handmade Halloween costume and shook his head. “That is seriously sexy, but you’re not actually goin’ to wear it outside this room, are you?”

  “I spent way too much time on it not to show it off. Don’t get all torqued though; nobody from school will see me.”

  “Where are you going trick-or-treatin’?”

  “There’s this club in Eastburn, the next town over from Audley. They have this annual costume contest. Me and Peyton had a blast last year.”

  “And you think you’ll win wearin’ that?”

  “I don’t expect anyone to even recognize who I am. I don’t care. I’m doing this because it’s fun.”

  “I recognize you,” Heydn smirked. “You’re Kat Kaoru, the hero’s fox demon sidekick fromGoblin Market Patrol .”

  “How do they come up with those names?” Blue rolled his eyes.

  Heydn smiled and shook his head again. “Okay, the ears really are cute, but are you wearin’ a black sport bra?”

  “Also known as a uni-boob,” Blue answered. “It was the closest thing I could find to Kaoru’s top.”

  “Well, I can see your stomach all the way down to the top of your bush and every time you raise your arms your nipples show.”

  “And?” Blue said coyly.

  “I want to jump on you and fuck you through the mattress.”

  “What’s taking so long?”

  “I’m makin’ a point. Is this club you’re going to like a gay bar?”

  “Yeah. It’s fun.”

  “Look, if I feel the overwhelmin’ urge to pounce on you, I’ll bet a room full of horny old homos will feel the same way.”

  “It’s not that kind of place.”

  “Sure it isn’t,” Heydn scoffed. “Old queers prey on the kids just comin’ out, if you didn’t already know.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “Nobody had to tell me anything, okay? Let’s get back to your costume.”

  “I’m not sure the costume is the issue.”

  “Oh no,” Heydn said melodramatically. “Do we have issues?”

  “It sounds like it.”

  “All I’m sayin’ is that I don’t like the idea of you walkin’ around in public in a pair of black tights.” “They’re leggings and I’m wearing a jock strap.”

  “Yeah, but it’s on the outside and it’s painted silver.”

  “Pretty good, huh? I cut up different brands of soda cans and hot-glued the colored pieces on to make the dragon skin.”

  “Yeah, it’s really good, but it’s just a tad too much.”

  “Too much for what?” “Well, when did you turn into such an exhibitionist? When I met you, you seemed like the kind of guy that spent all his time at the keyboard. Now you’re in the play and wearin’ a dress, makin’ out with Rhodes Vaughn, and goin’ to bars lookin’ like a slut.”

  “You take that back. Kat Kaoru is not a slut. He’s a fox demon.”

  “Who’ll have sex anytime, anywhere. He’s a slut.”

  “I’m sorry to hear you say that since you inspired the costume. That day by the lake, I thought you were comparing us to Kaoru and Hiro.”

  “What day by the lake?”

  It was a moment before Blue answered. “I guess that doesn’t matter. I thought you liked Kaoru and that’s why I made this costume.”

  “Well, I told you how much I like it. Wear it all you want in the room.”

  “I’m wearing it to Giddie’s tomorrow night.”

  “Why are you bein’ so stubborn? You know how I feel about stuff like that.”

  “What stuff?”

  “You know, gay stuff.”

  “I am gay, Heydn. Everything I do is gay stuff.”

  “No. We’re just messin’ around because there aren’t any girls here. When we graduate, we’ll be adults and we’ll stop doin’ kid stuff like this.”

  “Where is this coming from? I’ve never heard you say anything like that before.”

  “We never really talked about it.” Heydn shrugged. “I figured you felt the same way.”

  “Liar.” Blue felt like he was choking and barely got the word out.

  “I can see you’re gettin’ a little emotional. Maybe we should stop talkin’ and do what we do best.”

  Blue was chagrined by the wave of heat that melted his groin. “I don’t want to,” he heard himself say, his voice hollow and distant.

  “Bullshit.” Heydn grinned as he hooked a finger in the waistband of Blue’s leggings and pulled him closer. “You always want it.”

  “No, I really don’t.” Heydn’s mouth covered Blue’s, his tongue sliding between Blue’s lips. Blue whimpered as Heydn squeezed his ass cheeks, pulling them apart. There was no disguising how hard Blue’s cock was as Heydn pressed him against the closet door.

  “See, you want it as much as I do.”

  “Maybe, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to do it right now.”

  “You’re the one that got me hot with this costume.”

  “Seriously, Heydn. Get off me.”

  Heydn stepped back, holding up his hands. “Okay. Settle down. I’m not gonna rape you.”

  “That’s not remotely funny.”

  “You’re damn right it isn’t. What would you have done if it wasn’t me pawin’ at you? What if I was some nasty-ass child molester? You look about twelve in those ears.”

  “So now your excuse for being a dick is that you’re afraid I’ll get raped?”

  “This is useless,” Heydn sighed. “It’s like talkin’ to Mom when she’s on the rag. Nothin’ I say is right.”

  “You’re hanging out with those preppie jerks so much that you’re starting to think like them.”

  “Hey, the track team is my shot at a good college. Not everybody has an education handed to them on a silver platter, you know. I can’t afford to turn up my nose at an opportunity.”

  “You would sell your soul to be part of the country-club set? What a hypocrite.”

  “Look who’s talkin’. You hate bigots, but you are one. You’re pr
ejudiced against rich people.”

  “I’m prejudiced against a system that perpetuates a privileged lifestyle for a bunch of snobs that consider themselves anointed by God. I can’t believe you’d buy into that.”

  “It’s easy to reject somethin’ when you’ve had it all your life. You grew up with nannies and ponies and skiing in Switzerland. So I don’t think you have the right to judge me.”

  “I’m not…” Blue paused. “All right, maybe I am judging you a little.”

  “Maybe a little,” Heydn snorted. “Look, I don’t want to lose what we have, but I have to know that you won’t screw up my chances by flouncin’ around in a dress, or whatever. What do you say?”

  “How can I promise something like that? I have to keep my word to do the play, and any one of a million things could ruin your chances at a scholarship. You’re not being fair.” “Blue, I know you know that life isn’t fair. I don’t want to make this decision, but I can’t risk losin’ my spot on the team. And believe me; if Coach thought I was gettin’ it on with a dude, he’d kick me off so fast I’d be dizzy for a week.”

  “You’re better than this.”

  “No, I’m not. This is who I am. If I’m not good enough for you…”

  “I love you,” Blue blurted out. Heydn’s shoulders slumped. “I was afraid of that, but it makes this a little easier, since I’m doin’ it for your good too. I’ll grab my gym bag and sleep on Allie and Logan’s floor tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll ask to be moved.”

  Blue remembered vividly the day he’d opened the door to find Heydn standing there. He recalled how annoyed he’d been that he wasn’t going to have a private room. “You don’t have to do that.”

  “Yeah, I do. I can’t stay here with you knowin’ how you feel. That’d just be mean.” Heydn stuffed a sweatshirt into his bag and zipped it up. “Well…I guess I’ll see you around. The door opened and closed before Blue’s paralysis broke. He ran into the hall as Heydn started down the stairs. Heydn’s name rose to his lips, but he heard voices downstairs and didn’t call out. He watched as Heydn descended until the other young man was out of his sight, a stray beam of light glinting off his dark blond hair as he disappeared. Numbly, Blue went back to the room.

  The room looked completely normal. There was no sign at all of the tragedy that had just occurred. If Blue sat down on the bed, he could pretend that Heydn hadn’t come home yet. He could do it over and somehow keep Heydn from leaving this time. Pulling the headband with attached ears from his head, he turned it in his hands as he replayed the argument repeatedly trying to figure out how things had gone so wrong, so fast.

  Allerton Kingswung open the door of his dorm room. “Case,” he said. “What are you doing here? Wow, that was rude. Come on in and tell me what brings you to my den of iniquity.”

  Heydn held up his gym bag. “I was hoping you and Logan would let me crash here tonight.” “Logan’s not here. Bennington Kaplan’s staying at her dad’s place and he called her up. She drove down and he sneaked out to meet her at the highway. I figure right about now, Bennie’s playing a solo on Logan’s skin flute. So why do you need a place to stay?”

  “I don’t really want to get into it.”

  “Hey, no prob. Anyway, I think I have a pretty good idea why.”

  Heydn swallowed. “You do?”

  “It’s Barclay, right? The little fag tried to grab your package or something.” “Um, something like that.”

  “Gross! Did you wake up and find him sucking your dick?”

  “No!”

  “Chill, bro. You don’t need to say anything more. I’m just glad you got out of there. Listen, Logan won’t be back before morning so you can take his bed tonight.”

  “Thanks, Allie,” Heydn said, as he stretched out on top of the covers. “No sweat. Fey little fags like Barclay make me want to puke. Why the hell would anyone dye their hair jet black and wear eyeliner at this school? You know what I think? I think queers like him want to get beat down. Why else would they advertise what they are?”

  “I don’t know.” “I’m no prude. I know things happen when you pen up a bunch of horny young guys. I’ve got nothing against whacking off with a best bud while you’re watching a little tasty porn, but guys like Barclay like that shit. They get off on sucking dick. I bet Barclay would take it up the ass and beg for more dick.” Allerton chuckled as he turned off the light. “Maybe we should pull a double shift on him before you move your things out. Bet he’d love to have a dick in his ass and one in his mouth.”

  “I’m really tired,” Heydn said.

  “I’ll let you get to sleep then, but I have to ask one question just to satisfy my mind. You let him blow you, didn’t you?”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “He’s got those sweet dick-sucking lips. I bet they look really good wrapped around a fat cock. Hell, I might even let him blow me if he was blindfolded.”

  “Blindfolded?”

  “Well, I don’t want him getting a good look at my junk.”

  Heydn smiled into the darkness. “Go to sleep, Allie.”

  “I’ll try, but now I’ve got a hard-on from talking about blow jobs.”

  “Then get Logan to take care of it when he gets back.”

  “Fuck you.” Allerton threw a sneaker across the room. Feelinglike a complete coward, Heydn waited until he knew Blue was at rehearsal before he went to collect his things from the room. He moved in with a junior named Judson Lenoir who was on the second-string track team. Jud idolized Heydn and the rest of the starters so when Allerton told him to give Heydn his privacy, Jud spent as much time as he could away from the room. It was easy for Heydn to avoid Blue, to keep his head down over his books and his eyes on the finish line. It was harder to keep thoughts of Blue from creeping into his head. He often had to put a hand down his pants and beat off just to relieve the pressure. His body missed Blue’s the way grass misses rain. That’s all it was, he told himself. He was having some kind of withdrawal. That’s what made his guts ache like he’d been scooped hollow with a giant melon baller. He’d never had sex that good in his life and naturally, he missed it and craved it, but he wasn’t going to give in to it. His mom couldn’t support him forever. He was eighteen and it was time he started taking care of himself. It would be a proud moment when he could look her in the face and tell her she didn’t have to worry about his college tuition. As he headed for track practice, he reminded himself to call her that evening when it would be morning in Tokyo.

  Heydn jogged to the gym, meeting Allerton and Logan out front before continuing on the eleven-mile run around the lake. They returned to their starting point and went inside to get some water. Across from the water fountains, a group of art students was painting banners for the weekend meet. Among them, Heydn saw Blue’s shaggy head and he quickly looked away. Logan noticed and nudged Allerton surreptitiously.

  Allerton spotted Blue and made a point of strolling past the painters on the way out.

  “Great work, guys,” Allerton said. “Thanks for showing your school spirit.”

  “Yeah, this is really pretty,” Logan added. “You used lots of colors.”

  Heydn looked straight ahead as they passed by, flinching when Allerton touched his elbow.

  “Barclay’s really talented. That’s why we let homos enroll at Acton. Some things just need a woman’s touch, you know?” Allerton said loudly enough for everyone to overhear.

  Logan laughed loudly and hurried to catch up with the other two. Heydn pretended he hadn’t heard and walked faster, almost jogging by the time he reached the door.

  “Hey, what are you running away from?” Allerton asked as he followed Heydn outside.

  “You. That was really rude. Those kids painted that banner for us and you spit in their faces.”

  “Wow, did it really come across like that?” Heydn turned to stare at Allerton’s boyishly handsome face, dropping his gaze from the vivid blue-green eyes to the saddle of freckles across the bridge of his nose. “
Don’t play innocent. You know what you did.”

  “Oh, so what. So I cracked on a couple of art geeks. They practically invite that kind of thing.”

  “What’s up your butt, Case?” Logan asked as he joined them.

  “He’s afraid we hurt the delicate feelings of the art club.”

  Logan laughed. “Maybe he still has feelings for his old boyfriend.”

  Allerton chuckled. “Is Logan right? Are you mad at me for talkin’ trash ’bout your woman?” Heydn tried a smile, hoping it didn’t look as false as it felt. “Yeah, that’s right,” he said. “Don’t make me bust a cap in ya.”

  Logan and Allerton cracked up, and the three of them walked away together. The tense moment passed, but the roiling in Heydn’s stomach didn’t. He begged off having dinner at Coach’s with the rest of the team and went to the school physician for some antacid. After taking the tablets he was given, he got horizontal and tried to sleep, but it was a long time before he could clear his mind.

  “Whata complete and total dick,” Peyton said.

  Rollins Morehouse nodded. “I wish I had the guts to say something at the time, but I just sat there like everyone else and kept painting.”

  “Don’t be too hard on yourself, Rolly. The implied threat of physical pain is a powerful deterrent. And thanks for telling me.”

  “Well, you and Blue don’t seem so close these days, but I thought you’d like to know.”

  “You did well, dear boy. Blue’s pissed and will only talk to me about official play business, but I’m not going to let him be destroyed by a bunch of junior frat boys.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Hell if I know, but I’m going to do something. Those preppie assholes get away with everything and I’m tired of it.”

  “We can’t go against the natural order.”

  “Why not? And what’s so natural about it?”

  Rolly shrugged pudgy shoulders. “It’s just the way it’s always been.”

  “I’m tired of that too.”

  “I think the power of being student director has gone to your head.”

  “Don’t be absurd; that’s my style. Why do you keep fidgeting?”

  “I got a piercing and it still feels weird.”