Disclaimer: This story is totally fiction. All characters were made up and any similarities are just coincidental. This is gay erotica between teenage boys so if that offends you, please discontinue reading. Also, if it is illegal for you to read such material, you have been warned. Continual reading could cause a knock at your door. If you like this story, I also have the series "Josh: sex slave" continuing to run. And you can always contact me at mailto:zarek@roadrunner.com zarek@roadrunner.com with suggestions or concerns. Suggestion are always welcomed and may or may not be implemented. Concerns will be considered and addressed as much as possible.
This chapter second part of an introduction and the main character doesn't have anyone 'special" in his life yet. That might or might not happen in the next chapter, but it will happen. I know, but you'll have to continue reading to find out. My original draft was 8 pages. I took the next 2 pages of that and fluffed it out a bit.
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Another Chance
Chapter 2
Summer had ended and school was starting. Mrs. Bolt knew Jim would at least meet kids in his class, but she was worried. Jim had always been so outgoing; now he just seemed so withdrawn and depressed. They both had been to counselling after the death of her husband, and that helped at first. But with this move, Jim seems to be pulling further and further away.
What Mrs. Bolt wasn't aware of was Jim wasn't putting his best effort in school. This was the fourth week of school and on Tuesday they had a test in algebra. The paper was handed back on Wednesday. Math always seemed to come easy to him, but when Jim got his paper back, he had gotten the first F he had ever seen. Dusty Bear came over to Jim's desk. Jim could tell from his complexion that Dusty was a Native American, probably from a local tribe. Dusty had long black hair that reached halfway down his back. His eyes were dark but kind. "That grade sucks. If you would like, I got a perfect score and would be happy to help you?"
"Appreciate the offer, but I don't care." Jim said.
"Fine, dude, but if you ever change your mind, all you have to do is ask. My name is Dusty, by the way."
"Thanks, it's not like I don't know this stuff, I just don't care," Jim said.
Dusty looked at Jim, sadness was in his eyes, "Whatever, dude. You keep pushing everyone away, you'll be all alone. I don't know what happened to cause this, and if you don't want to tell me, it's none of my business. But when you're ready for a friend, several of us are here waiting."
"You're right, it is none of your business, but fact is, I lost my dad and had to move away from my friends. I don't want to make new friends and end up having to leave them, too." Jim said.
"That's so sad, dude. I can understand your feelings. Plan to have lunch with me tomorrow and we can talk." Dusty offered. "Even if something happens where you do move away, there's this new technology called the internet and we can stay in touch."
Jim actually smiled a little. "Alright, we can do lunch. Maybe it'll help the pain start going away."
"Now, about that test?" Dusty smiled.
"I should have gotten an A, but I didn't even try. I don't need help with math, but it couldn't hurt."
Every night since school started, she would ask about his classmates. That night was no different but again Jim didn't seem interested in talking about any of them. "There's not a pretty girl or a cute guy in your class?" she asked.
"Why do you keep asking me that?" Jim asked. "I'm not interested in anybody in that school like that. There is one guy who wants to talk about my problems and we're having lunch together tomorrow. Aside from that, everyone treats me like I'm a freak."
"I'm sure they don't think that. You just need to get to know them. You are a very handsome young man. If anything, they are in awe of your beauty." Jim was handsome, too. He stood five foot nine inches and weighed around 140 pounds. He had dark brown hair and the prettiest blue eyes. When Jim smiled, he lit up the room.
"You're just saying that because you're my mom. Back in Montana I was practically a celebrity. I could be with anybody, but here, I'm nobody."
"Because you're not allowing anybody in. Jim, I wish you'd just give this place a chance. I have to take off work for a meeting with your principal tomorrow. Any idea why?"
"What? I swear, I didn't do anything? Why would he want to see you and not even talk to me?" Jim was surprised. Jim thought it might have been about the F, but didn't want to say anything.
"He didn't say why, but I could hear concern in his voice when he called me. Maybe it's because you're not socializing?"
"Honest Mom, I haven't a clue. Maybe that is it, but it's not entirely my fault."
"Well, I guess I'll find out tomorrow."
The next day, Mrs. Bolt went to her meeting with Principal Duncan. "Is everything alright at home?" he asked.
"That depends on your definition of 'alright'." Mrs. Bolt started, "We moved to a new home and Jim lost his father about ten months ago. When we moved, we had to put Jim's dog down and he left all his friends. Under the circumstances, our home is about as right as it can be. I wish I could change what has happened, but we have to deal with what we can."
"Mrs. Bolt, I'm sure under the circumstances, you are right and this may seem trivial, but I'm a little concerned about Jim. I've seen Jim's transcripts from Montana. Jim was a straight A student. Now, I don't think we're any tougher than Montana, and like I said, this may seem trivial, but in algebra, Jim's only getting a B. Any other student and I would think that was great, but for a student who always got straight A's, that sends off a warning bell."
"Math was always Jim's favorite subject and he's getting a B? How are the rest of his classes?"
"Well, it was his algebra teacher that brought this to my attention, so I talked with his other teachers. Most of them say he's just barely doing enough work to maintain an A. They also said that he's quiet and withdrawn. Whenever another student approaches him, he seems to either shut down or push them away. Jim seems like a good kid, but he's definitely still troubled over his losses."
"He's been to counselling after he lost his father and that seemed to help. We've been discussing that maybe we should see another counsellor. I just don't know where to begin." Mrs. Bolt offered.
"Perhaps that would help, but unless Jim is willing to open up, I don't know. I do have a list of a few that you may be interested in trying. There's still time for him to maintain his straight A status, but that's not as important as Jim himself."
"Please, I would love that list. Any suggestions that would help are also appreciated."
"Well, I'm sure you're doing what you can. We all need some help sometimes. I'll have my secretary get the list for you and if there is anything that I can do to help, just let me know. You are a lovely lady, Mrs. Bolt. Thank you for caring enough about your son."
That night at supper, they were having chicken breast served over rice with broccoli on the side. Jim was picking at his food. "How was lunch today?"
"It was alright. Dusty and I talked about what happened to Dad. I told him about Shadow, and told me that he lost his Mom when he was born." Jim stated. "He wants to have lunch with me every day for a while. He thinks it'll help."
"It couldn't hurt. How are you doing in algebra?" Mrs. Bolt asked out of the blue.
"I think I'm doing alright. I know I'm not failing." Jim said. Then he thought for a second. "Is that why Mr. Duncan wanted to see you? I swear I'm not failing algebra, Mom."
"No, you're not failing any of your classes, but from what Mr. Duncan tells me, you're not putting your best effort in, either."
"I got an F on one test, otherwise I'm getting mainly A's and a few B's." Jim said defensively.
"He didn't even tell me about the F. What happened? Math has always been your best subject."
"I don't want to talk about it. I just hate this school and other than Dusty, no one there likes me."
"Maybe that's because you keep pushing them away. I know that other students have tried being your friend, but Mr. Duncan says that you just shut down or push them away. I'm glad that you finally opened to Dusty, maybe you can others? Mr. Duncan gave me a list of counsellors. Would you like to talk to one of them? I know you're hurting, and that hurts me. If you want to go back, we can live on the street so you can be with your old friends, I'll do that. Problem is, I don't know how we would eat and winter isn't that far away."
Jim bowed his head and started to cry. Amongst his sobs, he said "I'm sorry, Mom. I never wanted to hurt you." She got up and walked over to him and placed her arms around him pulling him close.
"I know Jim, so want to look and see if there is a counsellor you might be interested in?"
"If it'll help. I'm tired of feeling this pain all the time. And I'm tired of hurting you." Jim said. "I literally feel like my hearts been ripped from my chest."
"I know you do. I miss Shadow, too. She wouldn't want you to keep hurting. Let her go and just remember the good times she brought into your life. On the plus side, I got a promotion at work. This Saturday I'll be looking at houses to buy. If you want to help me pick out the perfect house for us, you're more than welcome to join me."
"Can I think about it?" Jim asked.
"Sure, honey, you don't have to decide until I pull out of the driveway. I would like for you to go, though."
Friday at lunch Jim and Dusty talked. He told Dusty about the conversation with his Mom. "I think my dad might be on the list of counsellors the school has. He's a great counsellor."
"Well, that explains you." Jim said and actually laughed.
"What's THAT supposed to mean?" Dusty asked.
"Look what you've done for me already. What's your dad's name? I'll tell Mom that I'd like to see him. I'd also like for you to go with me as a friend."
"Dad may want to see you by yourself the first time. If he does, I'll wait in the lobby for you, otherwise, I'd be happy to sit with you."
A girl from Jim's science class walked over. "You're the new guy, aren't you? You name is Jim, right?"
"Yeah, that's me." Jim said.
"This is Cheyenne. She's my girlfriend." Dusty offered.
"Jim and I have science together." She said looking at Dusty. She turned to Jim, "Some of the kids say that you're standoffish. You don't seem that way to me."
"Thank Dusty for that. I was pushing people away and he wouldn't have any of that. We've been talking and I'm starting to feel better."
"Feel better about what?" Cheyenne asked.
"Lunch is almost over so we don't have time to talk about it now, but Dusty has my permission to tell you everything. Not sure I'm really ready, but maybe I should start getting to know my class mates."