TJ's alarm blared at seven o'clock the next morning. That left him just enough time to shower quickly, dress and wolf down breakfast before catching the bus to school at ten before the hour. He often jerked off in the shower. That made him late for his morning meal, but he still had time to gobble down his oatmeal, toast, and juice before racing out the door just in time to catch the bus. Both his mother and Isabel had long since given up reminding him of the importance of a good meal in the morning.
However, on this particular day, he didn't take the time to play with his `monkey'. He rushed downstairs to find out if his mother had won approval from his father concerning the Saturday night sleepover. The boy dressed quickly, grabbed his backpack and hurried downstairs. As usual, Mr. Ryerson had already left for work. The lady of the house still sat at the kitchen table reading the morning paper while she drank a second cup of coffee.
Isabel, setting a bowl of hot cereal at his place, remarked, "You're early today! I'll have the rest of your meal ready in a minute."
"Good morning!" his mother said as she continued reading the paper.
That was not what TJ hoped to hear. While his mother's greeting was cheerful, as usual, it was routine. The remark gave no indication that she had persuaded his father to let him stay Saturday night with Neil. Despite his overwhelming desire to ask, the boy remembered his mother had said that she might need a little time.
Forgetting that he had more time than usual, he silently gulped down his oatmeal out of habit. While he ached to hear whether the woman had talked to her husband, he ate his toast and drank his juice. With breakfast finished, the dejected teen started walking to the door.
"By the way, TJ," his mother said nonchalantly. Your father agreed to the stay over Saturday night".
The fifteen-year-old's smile could not have been broader. Isabel's expression was one of surprise, because she hadn't known about the second night with Neil. However, her facial features blossomed into a broad smile as she realized what the two boys had in mind and, that her beloved little charge would have a wonderful time.
"Thanks, a million!" the delighted boy effused as he hurried to catch the bus.
When the front door closed behind her son, the lady said to her housekeeper, "TJ will be spending Friday and Saturday with Neil. Mr. Ryerson and I will be going out to eat Friday night. If you want, why don't you start your weekend early?"
"Thank you, Ma'am!"
It was not uncommon for her to get a day or two off, now and again. The additional free time was one of the perks that made her happy to work for the Ryersons. She had weekends to herself, unless her employers hosted a dinner party. However, on those occasions when her services were needed on a Saturday, she would receive at least one workday off in compensation.
The bus arrived at school fifteen minutes before his first class. The exuberant teen was about to call Neil with the good news but then realized that he might still be asleep. So, he dejectedly postponed their conversation until his lunch period.
TJ had two problems during the day. First, his mind was continually distracted from the lectures, because the upcoming weekend dominated his thoughts. Second, he periodically sprouted a boner. This happened twice just as a period ended, forcing him to walk in extreme embarrassment and discomfort to his next class.
Wolfing down lunch in the school cafeteria he quickly stepped outside the building to contact his friend. Unfortunately, heard a recorded voice, "The party you are calling is unavailable. You may leave a message after the beep."
"Shit!" the teen said out loud concluding that the cell phone was turned off.
Since he wanted to hear Neil's reaction to the news, the boy simply left a few words: "It's me! I'll catch you after school."
Two hours later, Neil checked his messages. While his boy friend's statement was friendly enough, it was short, almost curt, and left him thinking that TJ was worried or upset. What could be the matter? Was TJ all right? Were their plans for the weekend in jeopardy?
Neil grew more concerned as he sat in his dorm room and waited for TJ to phone him again. His increasing apprehension triggered another thought: Why am I worrying so much?' The answer to that question was as obvious as it was surprising. YES! TJ means more to me than I have been willing to admit to myself! I now think that love after only a few meetings is not impossible: It's just like the little guy said: "Improbable but not impossible!" Perhaps he was right!'
He continued to watch the clock impatiently but didn't know when TJ arrived home and could call him. Finally, he heard the welcomed ring-tone, grabbed his cellular, pressed the answer button aggressively and yelled, "It's me!"
The young man immediately fired off the questions that had been bothering him. "Are you all right? Is anything wrong? I've been worried about you, my friend! What's the matter?"
"I'm fine, Neil. Why were you concerned?"
"Your message! You sounded upset."
"I did? Oh, I guess I was! But just because your phone was off and I wanted to talk to you. I only had a few minutes after lunch and had to get back to class. I've got some great news! My parents have agreed to let me stay over Saturday night."
"Wonderful! Now I can stop worrying about you!"
"I'm sorry I upset you! But I'm touched. Does that maybe mean that you..." TJ paused to reconsider what he had intended to ask. "Ahh, that you feel about me the way I do about you?!"
"YES! Improbable as it is, I think I might. I'm just not ready to use the "L" word, my friend. Please be patient with me! You need to understand that I miss you when we're apart, and I look forward to us being together!"
"I'll be patient, Neil. If you understand my need to tell you that I love you, then I'll give you slack."
"Okay! Now, what's the news you wanted to tell me?"
Summarizing the conversation with his mother and her offer to convince his father, the teen described how he thought his mother used her body to arouse her husband and then won the man's approval when his mind was preoccupied.
That made Neil laugh.
"Do you think they continue to have sex at their age?"
"Why not! She is still fairly attractive, and he, ... well,... he's a man! He has a cock like any other male."
"Doesn't it bother you that they're having sex?"
"Not in the least! More power to them! But, it's not what I want to do with my cock!"
"I know where I want your dick right now, TJ."
"Well, we'll have to wait until the weekend ... which can't come soon enough!"
"Just see how many times I make you `cum!' And I'll swallow all of it!"
Both boys laughed heartily. Before TJ said, "I love you, Neil Bailey!"
He immediately disconnected before Neil could object to another use of the "L" word.
The college student put away his cell phone, relieved that his boy was all right and extraordinarily pleased that the two of them would be together over the weekend.
Then, he thought, "My friend is constantly expressing his love for me. How can that be? We've known each other for less than a week. How do I really feel about TJ? In my first relationship Tom used me for sex. The bastard nearly broke my heart!. Should I risk exposing myself to the same pain if I were to lose this young man? He continually says he adores me, but is it genuine? Is he confusing love with lust -- the exhilaration of experiencing gay sex for the first time? After all, the kid is not yet sixteen. While, he might be mature for his age he is, by no means, an adult. For that matter, neither am I! I may be two years older than TJ, but I am also inexperienced. Perhaps, we both are too juvenile to fully understand our own reactions: too adolescent to appreciate the true meaning of passion. Is it just hormones influencing our emotions and reason?"
After considerable thought, Neil concluded, "One, I am strongly attracted to this boy. And not just for the sex. There is no detectable difference in my feelings for TJ and those for Tom. Two, I deceived myself by denying that I loved him. Was it really impossible to feel such deep affection so soon? No. Improbable? Yes. And, three, I'm scared! I'm afraid of being burned, again!
Over the next few days, the boys talked on the phone frequently about what had happened since their last chat and about how they missed each other. TJ would invariably end each conversation with "I love you!". Neil no longer corrected him because of the informal agreement the two had reached.
Both grew increasingly impatient and excited as their sleepover approached. The designated pickup time was four in the afternoon, with the two planning to dine on the way back to campus. The concert was at seven in the evening. And, then ... they would finally be alone ... together ... for the entire night.
TJ had packed all his things on Thursday including the pajamas that Neil had wisely suggested. The choice of clothing was a no brainer, except for the concert. What does one wear to a concert? He didn't want to embarrass Neil by showing up in baggy cargo pants and a Hard Rock Cafe tee but a shirt and tie seemed inappropriate. Frustrated, he called Neil for guidance, who laughed and said, "Whatever you wear to school will be fine."
The youngster's sleeping bag and overnight case were all ready and so was he. The teen kept thinking about being with Neil in bed for two whole nights! That sometimes gave him a firm hard-on. But, the almost-sixteen-year-old didn't do anything about it, because he wanted to save his "love juice" for his partner.
Isabel and the unusually energetic teen's parents noticed the increase in excitement as Friday drew near. The boy's father was tolerant, for which his son was grateful. His mother was amused and teased him about acting like a child the day before Christmas. Despite being unable to acknowledge what would be happening, the family housekeeper was pleased that her `not-so-little-one' would be enjoying his sleepover.
Being eager to start the weekend early, Neil arrived almost half an hour ahead of the designated four o'clock hour. TJ's mother answered the door and invited the young man in before calling her son on the intercom.
"Thank you for inviting TJ! He's been looking forward to it. I'm sure it's not the concert that he's excited about, but the sleepover. There only have been a few and none were for a whole weekend."
"I just hope he enjoys it! I'm sure the music will not be as nice as when you play, but it should be interesting."
"Your flattery is appreciated!"
Suddenly, an animated and joyful boy bounded down the stairs and ran into the foyer with his overnight bag. "I'm ready!" he exclaimed.
"See what I mean?" the lady of the house drolly remarked to the young visitor with a grin.
"WHAT?" the exuberant youngster asked with a puzzled expression.
"I was just telling Neil how excited you've been about the weekend."
"Oh! ... Yeah!" he exclaimed in a less-than-successful attempt to contain his enthusiasm. "It should be fun!"
"You two boys enjoy yourselves!" Mrs. Ryerson commented pleasantly as she escorted them to the door.
Neither youngster had any doubts about that.
As his lover pulled out of the driveway, TJ stated, "I wanted to kiss you back there, you know!"
"So did I. We'll just have to wait, which will make it all the more enjoyable."
(My thanks to Baruch for his valuable advice and suggestions on this chapter. I accept responsibility for any remaining flaws or deficiencies. --Morris)