After We Danced

Dear Reader: Well, once again your response has been fantastic. So once again, let me just say a big thank you to every one who has written me. It means so much to me that so many people are enjoying this story... and to all my new "e-friends", I'd like to say "HI".

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this continuation of the story. And I promise that you won't have to wait as long for Part 12 to get posted.

Legal Stuff: The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. Don't read this story if: You are not 18 or over, OR, if it is illegal to read this type of material where you live, OR, if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex.

The author retains copyright to this story. Placing this story on a web site or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's permission is a violation of that copyright. If you would like to respond to the story, make suggestions or other constructive' comments or advice may be sent to: mp_ponyboy@hotmail.com. All e-mails will be answered.

After We Danced - Part Eleven

by

Mark Peters

• Chapter One -

Dwayne walked in, right behind J.D. It was apparently almost lunch time.

"So, what have you guys been up to?", J.D. asked again.

"Not too much", I answered. "As a matter of fact we were still in bed, until we were woken up by dufus over here."

"Hey, don't call me that. Boxhead", Ox said.

Dwayne looked through into the bedroom and saw the clothes and sheets and blankets scattered everywhere, then just grinned at Matt and I.

I think I blushed. Matt just looked at his feet and shuffled from one foot to the other.

"OK, so how did you pair go with your exams?", J.D. asked.

Matt grinned at him, but just said "Alright I suppose. What about you?"

"Just scraped through. An 83", then said to me, "What about you genius?"

"92.5."

"Shit, you are a genius", he exclaimed.

I just shook my head.

"How about you Ox?", Matt asked. "How did you go?"

"75", he answered, but not too enthusiastically.

"Cool", Matt replied.

"So, you going to finish the car today, or what?", J.D. asked.

"Yeah, well at least I hope to get a bit more done. We were just going to go and get started. Want to help?"

"Sure", he answered.

"How about you guys go and do that, and I'll go get something for lunch", I said to them.

"Sure thing", Matt said. "You and Ox go, if you like."

Ox looked at me sideways, with his eyebrows raised slightly, then nodded and dug into his pockets, bringing out his car keys.

"Good idea", he said.

We left them then, still standing in the kitchen talking, and drove down to the shopping centre to pick up a barbeque chicken or something for lunch. Something that was nice and easy, and quick.

On our way down there we started talking again.

"So, how come you haven't said anything about this before?", I asked him, as we walked form the car to the shop. "I mean, even after Matt and I came out, you still haven't said anything."

Ox just shrugged his shoulders.

We placed our order and then went and sat in one of the booths.

"I guess that I wasn't really sure, before this", he said to me. "I mean, I didn't want to think that that was how I was. I guess that's partly why I kept hanging with Davo instead of you guys."

"You don't have to do it all alone, you know", I said, hoping that he would open up a little more.

"I know", he answered.

"Well?"

"It's just that it's not as easy as that."

"How so?"

"Well, I don't have a boyfriend for starters. So if anyone found out, or if I told them that I am gay, then they probably wouldn't believe me anyway. Given the fact that I'm mates with you guys, they would probably just think it was some sort of stunt. And if my parents found out, well, I don't even want to go there..."

I started laughing at him.

"What's so funny?", he said, his voice filled with indignation.

"You just said the magic words", I answered. He looked at me quizzically. "I am gay", I added.

He managed half a smile.

"Phil is pretty cute", I offered.

"And engaged", he replied.

"You can't win 'em all."

"No, you can't", he said with a grin.

Just then the girl from behind the counter called out, "Chicken, chips and salads?", and seeing as we were the only people who were actually in the shop at the time, I guess it was our order that was now ready.

We got up and paid for the food, then headed back to where we had parked the car.

When we got back to our flat, a little while later, it looked like there had been plenty of activity. The car was once again backed into the garage and was now half covered with paper, while the offending strip of grey primer had been sanded as smooth as a baby's backside.

"Nearly ready", Matt said, rather proudly, as we walked into the garage.

I stood and looked at the car, then grinned at him. "Pretty cool."

He came up from behind me and gave me a hug, not caring about the other guys that were around us.

"What was that for?", I asked.

"Do I need a reason?"

"Not at all, my love. Not at all", I answered.

Matt gave me a quick kiss on the side of the neck, to which J.D. responded by throwing a rag at us.

"Next time it will be a bucket of water", he added.

"What's wrong with you?", Dwayne asked him, grabbing him too from behind in a bear hug. "You afraid of a little fooling around?"

"Knock it off", J.D. tried to say, but Dwayne, who was bigger than him, held him easily. He even managed to spin J.D. around and pin him against the car, planting a kiss squarely on his lips.

J.D stopped struggling and kissed him back, then stopped. Suddenly, we all looked at Ox.

He was the odd man out. And we could tell by the look on his face that he felt it.

• Chapter Two -

We carried our table from the kitchen out into the sun, and sat around it to eat. The meal wasn't quite as fancy as what we had had at Dwayne's place through the week, but it did the job and left us satisfied.

After we had finished and were just sitting there, basking in the sun, the conversation turned towards what the future was going to hold, as it so often did these days.

Somebody said something about the times of old, when everyone was pretty much guaranteed a job after they left school.

"That's just it", Dwayne offered. "There are just no guarantees anymore."

"What do you mean?", I asked him.

"Well", he responded. "I just mean that it's not like it was fifty years ago. There are no guarantees when it comes to getting a job, or even receiving an education, these days. You are among the lucky ones, Luke. You know what it is you want to do and are going to do it, but not everyone has the luxury of being able to make the choices you do."

I nodded and took a sip of the Coca-Cola that was in front of me, and then started thinking about the guys who were sitting around the table right at this moment.

Matt had a job, but if we left here together and both moved away to wherever I ended up going to university, he might not find one there. While J.D. had Dwayne to work for, and keep an eye on him.

Out of all of us, Ox was the only one amongst us who didn't seem to have any real direction mapped out for his life. I suddenly feared for his future, and thought about who to blame.

"Who's fault is that then?", I finally asked.

Dwayne just shook his head. "It's really no ones fault. It's simply a combination of too much unemployment and the lack of opportunities for people to further their education. I know guys who have been on social security pretty much ever since they left school, but it's not because they are dead heads, some of them even managed to put themselves through university and have degrees. But now, they are out there every day of the week trying to get a job. There just aren't enough to go around. Especially out here in the country."

It was a sobering thought.

I realized then, that even if I did manage to graduate and finish the course I was hoping to do, there was still a chance that I wouldn't get a decent job anyway.

"OK. Time to change the subject", Matt suddenly said. "This is getting too depressing."

"Too right", Ox added.

We all laughed, but deep down I was still fearful about what the future would hold for Matt and I, and for our friends.

"So, Matt, have you seen Phil lately?", J.D. asked.

"Nope. I was hoping he might call around some time though, so I could ask him a few things about finishing the car off."

I looked at Ox after Phil's name had been mentioned, and thought I noticed him snap to attention. I smiled to myself and just then he looked at me, and smiled back.

"Speaking of the car, are we going to hit it with a coat of paint today, or what?", J.D. asked.

"Yeah. Now is as good a time as any, I suppose. You going to come and help?", Matt asked as he got up from his chair.

"Sure."

We all got up and while Matt, J.D. and Dwayne started off towards the garage, Ox and I picked up the plates from the table and started to carry them inside.

"We'll be over in a few minutes", I said to Matt.

"OK", he answered.

As we were carrying the table back inside, it was on the tip of my tongue to ask Ox what he really thought about Phil, but finally I decided against it. I would talk to him about it later, I thought.

When we joined the others in the garage a little while later, after we had packed all the plates into the sink and thrown the scraps into the garbage, the guys were just getting ready to give the car it's first coat of paint.

We watched for a couple of minutes, as they filled the bowl of spray gun, then Ox said, "Well guys, I'm going to have to run, but I'll call back over later on this afternoon, alright?"

"Maybe Phil, will be here then?", J.D. teased.

"Yeah, whatever", Ox said.

We all said, goodbye and then he left us.

"You just can't help yourself, can you?", Dwayne said to J.D., giving him a clip up the back of the head as he said it.

He just grinned, while the rest of us simply shook our heads.

Matt quickly turned his attention back to the spray gun he was holding, and finished attaching the nozzle and bowl of paint.

"Pass me that piece of board, will you Luke?", he said to me, pointing at a scrap of timber leaning against the wall near to where I was standing.

It was about six inches wide and about two feet long, and I picked it up and handed it to him.

He gave the spray gun a couple of test fires, then sprayed one side of the timber, applying short bursts of spray while moving the gun smoothly from one side to the other.

He glanced up at me and must have seen the quizzical expression I had on my face.

"Just practicing", he said to me, then, after putting a face mask on, he turned his attention to the car.

We all watched as he easily covered the grey primer with the black acrylic paint, using those same smooth strokes that he had used on the practice strip.

Within a couple of minutes the first coat was done, and Matt pulled off his face mask and stood back, admiring his handy work.

"Looks good", I said to him.

He just looked up and grinned.

• Chapter Three -

Phil and his fiancee, Candice, arrived just as we had finished cleaning up and had packed away most of the gear that Matt had used.

"Good job", Phil said, as he took a closer look at the car.

Candice, who even I have to admit was a real knockout, remained at the doorway. She smiled and waved and said, "Hi", and gave me the impression that she didn't want to enter this boys world. She was more like a Barbie Doll than any other girl that I can remember having met; tall, blonde, kind of fragile looking but with just the prettiest eyes.

But I wasn't interested in her. I wasn't even interested in her boyfriend any more. But I knew who was, and when he got back, I guessed that he wouldn't be able to take his eyes off him.

I almost laughed at that thought. But didn't.

Dwayne, who hadn't met Candice before, walked over and introduced himself to her. They talked briefly, while Phil was still taking a look at the car, but after only a few minutes I could see that Candice was growing impatient.

"Phil, are you going to be long?", she asked, in this whiney little voice that really didn't suit her. "You know I wanted to go and see mother today."

"Just hang on a minute, will you?", he answered.

Candice just stood there with her arms crossed, glaring at him.

"Here, how about you take the car and go around to your parents house, and I'll get one of the boys to give me a lift around there later", Phil said, walking over to her and handing her the keys to his own car.

She took the keys from him and marched off down the driveway, and as Phil turned back around to face us he let out a huge sigh.

"Women", he simply said.

We all laughed.

"So, Phil", Matt asked him. "When are you and Candy getting hitched?"

He shrugged, before finally saying, "Who knows?"

"Oh", Matt replied. "Trouble in paradise?"

"So, how many coats is this?", Phil asked, quickly changing the subject.

"That's only the first coat of the acrylic, and there were two coats of primer under that. But that was on top of what was already there, 'cause I didn't take it back to bare metal."

Phil just nodded.

"Now all I've got to do is wait 'til this dries, then smooth it back, before I hit it with the final coat of acrylic. Then after that it just needs a couple of coats of 'clear' to give it a bit of finish."

"You're doing a good job Matt. Get any help from all of your apprentices?", he said, jerking his head in the general direction of where Dwayne and J.D. and I were standing.

"Naaww. Not much", Matt answered, with a grin.

"Hey, Phil", J.D. suddenly asked. "Has Matt told you that you have an admirer?"

"Shut up, dick brain", Matt hissed at him.

"Yeah?", Phil enquired. "Who is it?"

"Nobody", Matt answered. "It's nobody."

Phil looked from one of us to the other, then just shrugged his shoulders and went back to looking at the car.

• Chapter Four -

Ox returned later that afternoon, carrying with him half a carton of cold beer.

"You little ripper", Phil said, as he noticed Ox walk into the shed. "Just what the doctor ordered on a day like this."

Ox grinned at him. "Thought you guys could do with some refreshments."

He sat the beer down on the work bench and soon opened the carton, handing a bottle to each of us.

"Thanks...nobody", J.D. said as Ox passed him a beer.

"Fuck you too", Ox replied. "What's his problem?", he asked me as he passed me a bottle.

"Don't worry about him", I answered. "You know what he can be like sometimes."

The exchange didn't go un-noticed however, and a few moments later I glanced at Phil. He was eyeing Ox off with that predatory look a fox might have when he is about to pounce on a rabbit, and then, moments later he started walking over towards him.

I walked over and stood beside Matt, placing my hand on his shoulder.

"I don't think it's a very good idea", I whispered to him.

"Nothing will happen. He's engaged remember?", he answered. "And besides, even if it does, they're big kids and they'll be able to sort it out for themselves."

"I hope you are right. I just wouldn't want to see Ox get hurt, that's all", I replied.

"Neither would I", he answered. "Neither would I."

We all sat outside the garage for the next couple of hours, talking, telling jokes and drinking beer. We'd only had half of one carton to share between the six of us, which was only a couple of bottles each anyway. Even then however, Dwayne and Ox and I only had one bottle each, which left a few others for the boys to fight over.

Still, it was hardly enough for anyone to get pissed on, but we had an enjoyable afternoon.

Without realizing it, I had apparently spent most of the afternoon watching Phil and Ox. It wasn't until Matt whispered something into my ear that I even knew I had been doing it.

"What?", I said to him, not fully having heard what he had said.

"I said, they will be alright. They can look after themselves", he repeated.

I managed a smile and said, "I hope so."

"At least they get on well together."

"Yeah, they do. Are they flirting with each other?"

"Quite probably", he answered, with a grin.

A short while after that Dwayne and J.D. decided that it was time they shouldn't be there.

"We'll see you guys tomorrow", J.D. asked, as he got up to leave, also dragging Dwayne to his feet.

"I want to try and finish the car off tomorrow", Matt answered. "Call around if you like."

"OK", Dwayne answered. "We'll do that."

Then they said their goodbyes and went home.

Matt and I went into the garage to finish some tidying up after Dwayne and J.D. had left, leaving Ox and Phil outside in the sun, still chatting.

Matt had asked, "Come and give me a hand moving some stuff will you?", so I had obliged.

We busied ourselves with what we were doing, but I think it was more to give them some time alone than because there was cleaning up that needed to be done.

"You are enjoying this, aren't you?", I asked him quietly.

"What?"

"Playing cupid."

He just grinned at me, and I shook my head at him.

"I just hope Ox knows what he's doing", I said.

"You worry too much. That's what your problem is."

About half an hour later we were still inside the garage, pretending to still be cleaning it up. At least the work bench was the cleanest it had ever been, and all the tools were now hanging in the correct places, but in actual fact I think we were simply moving things around for the sake of it.

We didn't hear the car pull up and it wasn't until we heard the footsteps behind us and we turned to see who it was, that we realised that Candice had returned.

"Hi", Matt said to her when he saw her at the doorway of the garage, with her arms folded across her chest. I gave her a little wave.

She looked around the garage for a moment, then said, "Has he gone already?"

"No, I don't think so. He and Ox were there a few minutes ago", Matt answered.

Without saying a word she turned and left us. By the time we got to the door of the garage, she was walking into our flat.

Matt looked at me for a moment, horrified, and then simply said, "Shit!"

• Chapter Five -

We didn't know what it was the Candice saw, but when she came running past us, looking pale and shaky, we knew it couldn't have been good.

Seconds later, Phil came running out the door after her, catching up with her just as she reached the car.

"Can...", I heard him start to say. But he was cut short by the palm of her hand connecting with his face.

"You dirty bastard", she hissed at him. "How could you?"

"But...", he started to say.

SLAP!

Turning back towards the door of the flat, I noticed Ox standing there. He too, looked like the blood had drained from his face, and he also looked as though he was about to cry.

I noticed that he was fully dressed at least, so that was something I suppose. I mean, at least they weren't caught with their pants down.

And poor Matt. He didn't know which way to turn.

Then, leaving Phil and Candice to work things out for themselves, still screaming at each other, I walked over to Ox.

"Are you alright?", I asked him.

"I don't know", he answered.

"What did she see?"

"He kissed me. That was all", he said. He was emotional and nervous, and was almost crying.

It was more than enough though, I thought. I reached out and gently rubbed his arm.

"It will be alright", I said to him.

"You think so?"

"I know so. This isn't anything. Really. When you've had to go through what Matt and I went though, then you will know you've been through the wringer."

"I guess that's what will come next. What if they split up? It will be all my fault."

"No. It won't be. And you make sure you remember that. If they were that happy together he wouldn't have even wanted to fool around with you."

Just then we heard the car start up and leave, then after that Matt joined us.

"You alright?", he asked.

Ox just shrugged his shoulders.

"Candy has gone", he said. "But Phil is still out there, just leaning against the garage."

"What happened?", I asked.

"They screamed at each other for a bit, then after that, she just left. Oh, and she threw his engagement ring at him."

• Chapter Six -

They finally left us shortly after dark, which was at about eight o'clock, with Ox offering to give Phil a lift home. We weren't sure if that was such a good idea or not, but in the end what could we do about it?

They were still talking, and neither of them appeared any the worse for wear for the afternoon's events. I had honestly expected Phil to be at least a little bit upset about his argument with Candice, but there was nothing. After a shaky start, he ended up chatting with Ox all afternoon, as if nothing had ever happened.

In the end we waved them goodbye and retreated into our own little world, wondering just what the attraction was between the pair of them.

Matt and I ate the left over chicken for dinner, then stripped off and lay down on the bed and started to watch a video, not that either of us managed to be able to concentrate on it very well. In the end we switched it off, turned out the lights and snuggled up close together, his chest to my back and with his manhood prodding into the small of my back.

"Well, that was an exciting afternoon", Matt whispered into my ear.

"You think so?", I answered. "Poor Ox, for a while there, he didn't know what to do or which way to turn."

"Mmmm."

"Do you think they will get together? You know, as an item."

"Do you want them to?", he asked.

"I don't really know. I do know that I just want Ox to, well, not be lonely", I answered. "You should have seen the look on his face when we all turned and looked at him in the garage earlier today. I mean, we all knew that he was on his own, and he knew it too. It was like he was the only person in the world who was alone. I could see the sadness that was in him."

"I think they like each other. That's a start at least."

"But is it enough?", I replied.

"Only time will tell."

I rolled over and kissed him. "At least we don't have to worry about loneliness any more", I said to him after our lips parted.

"No, never again", he whispered. Then he kissed me back.

We clung to each other like that for ages, each of us desperate not to let go of the other.

I could feel his firmness rubbing against me and so I slid my hand down and took hold of him. Gently, I ran my finger over the end of his shaft, feeling the pre-cum that was leaking generously from him.

He shuddered, as I squeezed him, trying to extract more of the magical fluid, then moaned, as my fingers ran around the end of his penis, sliding easily with the aid of the lubricant. I then thrust my hand between his legs, probing for his pleasure hole, and when I found it I gently probed inwards with my index finger, which was already well lubed with his own juices.

Sliding down along his body I teased his nipples with my tongue, which sent another shudder through him.

"You've learnt so much in the past few months", he whispered to me.

"I've had a good teacher", I answered.

He chuckled quietly in the darkness, but when my mouth took all of him inside it, running my lips loosely along his shaft before plunging him deep into my mouth again, the chuckles changed to deep, rhythmical breaths.

I worked him like that for a few minutes, with my fingers also gently probing and teasing his tender butt hole, and after a short time I felt his body tense up.

I relaxed and let go of him, and his body relaxed as well. Then I swallowed him again and thrust my fingers deeper.

He tensed, and I relaxed.

"Ooh, don't do that", he pleaded.

"Why not?", I asked, just before I took him inside my mouth again.

I didn't hear him answer. I only heard him moan. And this time, when I felt him tense, I didn't relax. And neither did he. Then, just as fast as his penis could spew his hot juices into my mouth, I was swallowing them.

"Thank you", he whispered into the darkness, when I finally lay my head back down on the pillow beside his and all was done.

"Any time", I answered, and cuddled up closer beside him.

We lay there like that for what seemed like an eternity, just listening to each other breath.

"What are you thinking about?", he asked me after a while.

"A guy, named Matthew", I answered, truthfully.

He reached down and kissed me on the forehead, and a few moments after that we were both asleep.

• Chapter Seven -

At precisely twelve fifteen, according to the illuminated numbers on the clock radio that we had in our room, our peaceful slumber was shattered, by the piercing ring of Matt's mobile phone.

"Christ. Who the hell could that be?", I heard him say, as he sat up and fumbled for the bedside lamp and then the phone, both of which were sitting on the small table beside our bed.

"Hello", he said.

He looked across at me, and just shook his head.

"Just who the fuck is this?", he demanded.

He shook his head once more, then passed the phone to me.

"I have absolutely no idea who it is", he said to me. "But there is someone there. I can hear them breathing."

I took the phone from him and listened for a few seconds. I too, could hear someone breathing on the other end of the line.

"Hello", I said. "Who is this?"

Suddenly, the breathing stopped. And in the background, faintly, I could hear music playing.

I tried again. "Hello."

I heard a sob, like someone was crying.

"I'm...", someone said. But that was all.

"Is that you Tony?", I suddenly asked. I wasn't sure if I was right or not, but it was the first thing that came to mind.

Matt suddenly just glared at me, his face filled with hatred. Then the phone went dead, and I handed it back to him.

"You've got to be fucking joking?", Matt asked.

"I don't know. Someone was definitely there, and it was like they were crying. And I could hear music playing somewhere. Then whoever it was said, 'I'm', and that was it. The phone went dead after that."

"Hasn't that little prick done enough already?"

"I don't know if it was him, Matt", I stressed. "I was only guessing. It was just the first thing that came into my head, after whoever it was spoke."

He closed the phone and put it back on the table, then just lay back against his pillow.

"I'll tell Harry about it first thing Monday", he finally said.

"That's a good idea", I answered. "Now turn the light off and lets go back to sleep."

He managed a small smile, then reached over and turned the light out.

I pulled him to me, and somewhere deep in the night, we managed to go back to sleep.

• Chapter Eight -

Sometime through the night a storm blew up, and when we awoke on Sunday morning it was raining.

We lay there for ages just listening to the rhythmic sound of the light rain falling on our roof and breathing in it's freshness, which drifted in through our open windows.

"Are you awake?", Matt asked me after a while.

"Yeah", I answered, rolling over to face him.

"Well, this fucks my plans for the day", he said.

"Hmmm. What time is it?"

"About nine", he answered. "No need to get out just yet is there? I mean I can't go and do any painting in this weather. We may as well just stay here and cuddle up and stay cosy."

"I like that idea", I said to him, as I curled up close and lay my head on his smooth chest.

He brought his hand up and ran his fingers gently through my hair, and all of a sudden it felt just so wonderful to be loved.

We stayed like that for quite a while, with neither of us wanting to get out of bed.

"Do you think it was Tony, who called?", he asked me after a while.

"I really don't know", I answered. "It could have been, but like I said, that was just the first thing that came into my mind when he, whoever it was, actually spoke."

"If it was Tony, why would he be calling, I wonder?"

"An attack of the guilts, maybe? Who knows?"

"Hmmm. Well, I hope the little shit comes clean on this whole thing."

"I'm sure that he will", I answered.

Eventually we dragged ourselves out of bed and headed for the shower, which soon brought us to life, in more ways than one.

There was nothing that I liked more, these days, than having Matt scrub my back, rubbing his hands over me, massaging me, just like he was doing now.

When he spun me around and playfully pushed me against the wall however, I have to admit that I was taken a little by surprise, but then, when he dropped to his knees and I figured out what his intentions were, I relaxed, closed my eyes, and just enjoyed the ride.

An hour or so later it had stopped raining and we ventured outside. Sitting on the lone step outside our flat, we were enjoying a cup of coffee, while looking up at infrequent slivers of blue sky in the masses of grey overhead, when we heard the familiar crunch of footsteps on the gravel driveway.

We looked up to see Phil and Ox walking towards us. They were both smiling and were obviously happy.

"Looks like somebody got lucky last night", I said to Matt.

He just looked at me and simply shook his head.

"Morning, boys", Phil said to us as he propped himself up against a post.

"Hi", Ox added, rather sheepishly.

"What's up guys?", Matt asked them.

"Not too much", Phil answered. "You?"

"Pretty much the same. Shit of a day", Matt answered.

"That depends on where you woke up", Phil replied.

I looked up at Ox, who simply blushed.

"I don't want to know", Matt said. "But just be careful. Both of you."

"And Phil, don't you hurt him. OK?", I added.

Phil and Ox glanced at each other, then smiled.

"I told you they'd be cool", Phil said to him.

Ox blushed.

"So, did you talk to Candice last night?", Matt asked Phil.

Grimly, he nodded. "It's over."

"Sorry."

"Hey, don't be. Life goes on."

"So I see."

An uncomfortable silence stretched out between us, which was broken only by the arrival of Dwayne and J.D., thankfully.

"Hey, girls", J.D. chirped as he joined us.

"Hey, yourself", Matt answered.

J.D. stood beside Dwayne, with his arm draped over his shoulder. He was wearing a skin tight, v-necked t-shirt that was bright red, and really said, "Take a look at me."

This was a new J.D., one which I had noticed had been evolving over the past few months, basically ever since we had all stepped out like we did, and as far as I was concerned, the jury was still out, with respect to my liking the new him, or not.

He had always been a fairly reserved person, but now, well let's just say he was an 'out there' kind of guy. What you saw was what you got. As demonstrated by what he was wearing today, even his clothes were becoming more colourful and daring, and I couldn't help but wonder where it would end.

I glanced at Matt, and noticed that he was also looking J.D. up and down, trying to decide something.

I leaned across and whispered into his ear. "He's gay, and he's letting the world know it. Starting with us."

It was like a light bulb came on inside Matt's head, as he recognized what it was that he had been wondering about.

"Yeah, that's it. Why didn't I see it earlier?"

"I only just figured it out myself."

"Hey, what are you pair whispering about?", J.D. demanded.

"Only you", we both said.

• Chapter Nine -

The guys didn't stay long, seeing as we weren't able to get any more work done on the car, due to the weather, and they left us before lunch.

Nothing was said to J.D. or Dwayne about Phil and Ox, although I did notice J.D. watching them both very carefully, especially when they left together. He gave Matt and I an inquiring sort of look as they walked down the driveway, no doubt hoping that we would tell him something, but we both remained silent.

"Well, I think we might get going too", Dwayne said after that. "We've got some work that we might as well try and get finished."

J.D. threw him a look of exasperation, as if to say, "What, on a Sunday?", but he didn't say anything.

"Alright then", Matt said. "We might see you a bit later on, then."

"We'll give you a call", J.D. said.

"Okay, that would be good", I answered him.

They left us then, and we went back inside, where we spent the next hour doing those mundane domestic chores that always seemed to need doing, like washing up and cleaning kitchens and sweeping floors and making the bed.

When we were finally satisfied with our handywork, there was a basket of laundry sitting just inside the back door, ready to be taken up to the house to be washed. Then we sat down for a cup of coffee, and talked about the things that were going on in our lives. Things like work, like Phil and Ox and J.D. and Dwayne, and like my looking for a university at which to study.

"I'm not too worried about where we go", Matt told me. "Just so long as we do go."

"I didn't realise that you wanted to get out of this place so badly", I said to him.

"It's not that, really, it's just that I want US to make a life together, without having to worry about what people we know, might be thinking, or might do. Does that sound crazy?"

I smiled, then said, "No, not at all. Every time we turn around in this town lately it is like we are strangers. There have been people who we have known for years, who now, it seems, all of a sudden walk across the street to avoid me. And that is starting to really bug me."

"You too, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Well, at least if we go some place and start afresh, and we are open about ourselves and our relationship right from the start, we shouldn't have that problem. I mean nobody there will know us, right, and even though there will probably still be some people who won't like the fact that two guys can live like we do, nobody should care. And if they do, well, as far as I'm concerned, they can go to hell."

I nodded, in complete agreement, and just then there was a knock at the door.

"Are you boys in there?", Matt's mother called from outside.

"Yeah, come in mum", Matt called back.

She came into the room, glancing furtively from side to side, as if she was looking for something. Waltzing around the room, she subtly glanced into both our bedroom and the bathroom, before almost tripping over our laundry basket.

It was plain to see that we were being checked up on. Or should I say, she was making sure that we were being good little housekeepers. Anyway, I almost laughed, but soon refrained, after being deftly kicked in the shins, under the table, by a grinning Matt.

"Well boys", she said, once she had finished her inspection. "I just came down to see if you would like to come up to the house for lunch."

"That would be great, mum", Matt answered. "We were going to come up and put the washing through anyway."

"Good. Your father has got the barbeque bug again, and he's about to fire it up. You might like to give him a hand cooking."

"Alright then, we'll be up soon. Thanks", Matt answered, after which his mother simply nodded and walked outside.

Half an hour later we were all seated around the table on their back verandah, enjoying lunch, when the telephone rang.

Matt's father went inside and answered it. We couldn't hear what it was that was being said, however when he returned to the table several minutes later he wore an expression of deep concern.

"What's wrong, dear?", his wife asked him.

"That was Natalie,", he said, the added, "She was in a right old state. It seems that young Phil, has just given them parents some news, well, two bits of news actually, and they are in a bit of a mess over there. I told them we would be over after lunch."

Matt and I glanced at each other. We both knew what was coming.

"I don't suppose you guys knew anything about this?", he asked us, while casting a worried look in the direction of Matt and myself.

"Ummm...", Matt started to say, but he got suddenly tongue tied.

"He was over here this morning and told us", I said, coming to Matt's rescue.

"What is going on?", Matt's mother demanded.

"I'll tell you on the way over there. There's nothing for you to worry about, just now."

She looked anxiously around the table at us all, then returned her attention to her plate.

We continued eating in silence, then, when lunch was finished, Matt and I volunteered to clean up, so they left it to us and went off on their mission of mercy.

"I'll bet that the shit hit the fan over at Phil's place, then", Matt said as we piled the dirty plates into the dishwasher.

I nodded. "It had to come out sooner or later, I suppose."

"It always does."

We finished the cleaning up, and then put our load of laundry on. Thankfully, by the time we had finished that and had hung the clothes on the line, the weather had cleared up and summer had returned.

The day was starting to get better again.

• Chapter Ten -

"Anything special that you want to do this afternoon?", Matt asked me, after we got back to the flat and lay down on our bed, for want of any better place to relax.

"Not really", I answered. "Although I did think about firing up the computer and checking out the web sites of some of the universities, to see what they had to offer, seeing as the applications are due in soon. Why, what did you have in mind?"

"Nothing much, but seeing as it was fine and hot again, I thought I might hit the car with another coat of paint, while I had the chance."

"Need any help?"

"Not really. You stay and do what you were going to do, and I'll yell at you if I need anything."

He sat back up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

"Going so soon?", I asked him, reaching out and running my hand down his strong back.

He turned and grinned at me, then lay back down, facing me.

"Well, I possibly could spare a little time", he whispered, then he leant across and kissed me.

It was another hour before we left the bed, and with it being such a warm afternoon we had both ended up working up quite a good sweat, even before we had made it outside.

I went across to the garage with him, to where his hulking black vehicle was waiting. Luckily he hadn't done anything about taking the newspaper covering off the back of the car, so when Matt reached the garage he was able to pretty much go straight back to work, once he had gotten everything ready again.

I watched him work for a little while, then left him to it and went back to the flat, when he was ready to actually start painting.

When I had first moved in, we had set up my computer in one corner of our bedroom, sitting it on my old desk, which I had also brought with me. I liked the feel of having some of my old gear, like my desk and my bookcase, with me. I guess it made me feel a little more comfortable and gave it a sense of being home.

After pouring myself a cool drink, I sat down and fired the old machine up, for what was the first time that it had even been turned on for quite probably a couple of months.

It beeped at me and then the familiar messages started coming up, and then chugged away for a bit longer while it loaded.

Being a very early model 486 it was as slow as all hell with some of the newer programs, but until I could afford a new one, it would have to do. Hell, it was still running Windows 3.1 until not so long ago, so it was little wonder that it struggled and strained like it did.

One of the guys I went to school had told me that he could get hold of some later model machines, even Pentiums, for only a few hundred dollars, so I guess that before I head off into the big wide world with Matt, I should invest in one. I doubt if I would ever be able to afford anything brand new, but it would be nice.

After the machine had booted up, I plugged the modem into the wall socket, which in itself was funny, as we didn't even have a telephone for it and only relied on Matt's mobile, then turned it on and logged into my ISP.

The machines chugged away for a while, then I finally got the message saying that I was connected.

My first stop, was my Hotmail account.

Chug, chug, chug.

When I finally got in there, there were about sixty messages waiting for me, so as quickly as I could I sorted through them and deleted all the crap. That brought it down to about twenty messages that I actually needed to read.

Most of our class mates had their own email accounts, either free accounts with Hotmail, or paid accounts with local service providers, so I recognized that some of my emails were from school friends, obviously written before our news had broken.

There were also others that it was obvious had been written after our news had broken.

Chug, chug, chug.

For the most part, they were fine, but there were a few there that were pretty weird. As it turned out, I was glad that this was the first time that I had logged in for ages. If I had have done it while Matt and I were going through the problems that we had had, who knows what may have happened.

After I deleted a few of the nasty ones I came across one that caught me eye, but it was from someone who was unknown to me.

What caught my eye was the subject of the email. It read "Good for you and Matt."

Cautiously, I clicked on the message, and brought it up. It read . . .

Hi Luke,

You know me, but I would rather not tell you who I am, if that is alright. I just wanted to say that I admire both you and Matt for what you have done, and I wish both of you nothing but the best for the future.

Your courage and love for each other is to be commended.

I have watched you both at school over the years and had envied the fact that you were always such great friends. I know now that there was more to it than friendship, and when I see you downtown now, together, it gives me hope that there is someone who is just like one of you guys out there for me as well. Someone who will love me and hold me and care for me, like Matt does for you.

For so long I have hidden my true self deep within me, hoping like crazy that no one would ever find out about me. It has driven me to the edge of despair at times, but now, seeing you and Matt like you are, it has given me a new hope. Thank you.

One day I will be brave and let the world know that I am gay too. And when that day comes, you will be the first to know.

Best wishes,

Someone from the class of 1990.

When I had finished I hit the 'print' button, then just sat back in my chair and stared at the ceiling. I had no idea who the mystery writer was, but it was obviously someone who knew us both well.

With the back of my hand, I wiped away a tear that had formed in my eye, then I swallowed the last of my Coca-Cola.

When I had gathered my composure, I finished reading the rest of my emails, and replied to those I needed to, then went in search of Universities on the world wide web.

There were quite a few that I liked the look of, but most of them were in the main cities, and I didn't really want to go there unless I had to.

Then I discovered a little jewel by the sea. And the more I read, the more I knew that this was the place for Matt and I to make our future at.

The courses they offered were just what I wanted. And the location was great. And what's more, it was about half an hours drive from Thompsonville, that little paradise that Matt and I had fallen in love with during our schoolies break.

Southern Star University. Macquarie Harbour.

Even the names sounded perfect. And only about three hours away from home.

Hurriedly I printed off some of the application forms and details of the university. I couldn't wait to show them to Matt. I reckoned he would be in absolute raptures.

• Chapter Eleven -

When I went outside to tell Matt the good news, I found that it was getting late. The sky was bathed in those beautiful shades of orange and scarlet, casting a golden summer glow over the remains of the day.

I also found that Matt had a visitor. Ox was propped up against the doorway of the garage, talking to Matt, who was sitting on the hood of his car.

"Hi, Ox", I said to him. "How are things?"

He gave me a look that said things could be better.

"What's happened?", I asked.

"Phil told his parents today, that he had split up with Candice."

"Yeah, we heard", I answered.

"Did you also hear that he did it while I was there with him, and he introduced me as his new boyfriend?"

My mouth must have hit the ground.

"Seriously?", I asked. "What happened?"

He nodded.

"So, I got screamed at too."

"What did you do?"

"I left. I don't need that sort of crap."

"You will always get it though", I said to him.

"Maybe."

"So, where is Phil?", Matt asked him.

"Who knows. Who cares", he answered.

"Aren't you going to talk to him about it?", I asked.

He simply shrugged. "Anyway, I've got to get home. I'll see you guys later."

"Sure", I answered him, then watched him slouch along down the driveway, kicking the occasional stone out of his way.

"When did our lives get this complicated?", I asked Matt, after Ox had disappeared.

"I think it happened just after the night of our formal", he answered, with a grin.

To be continued .....

(c) 2001 Mark Peters. All rights reserved.

Well, dear reader, once again it's now your turn! Please let me know what you think by e-mailing me at mp_ponyboy@hotmail.com

I would love to hear from you, and all messages will be answered.