DISCLAIMER: This story will include scenes involving sex between young men and adult language. If you do not like or are offended by such things or are under age wherever you are reading this then please leave now.
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This is pure fiction. No one in this story is a real person, living or deceased, and any resemblance as such is purely coincidental.
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Tyler – Part 25
"Oh come on, Joe, you don't have to go," Tyler moaned.
"Yes I do, my mom is expecting me," Joe replied.
Tyler threw his head back against the pillow with a loud sigh and closed his eyes. His chest was still rising and falling rapidly, covered in a mixture of sweat and cum, both his and Joe's, and his dick was semi-hard, twitching as though Joe's tight ass was still wrapped around it, squeezing it, milking it, riding it like it had done for the previous fifteen minutes.
"You always jump up and leave," Tyler complained, pushing himself up onto his elbows so he could look over at Joe, who was already pulling on his clothes.
"We agreed that we needed to be quick. Do you want to get caught again?" Joe asked, pulling on his jacket and reaching down to tie his shoes.
"No," Tyler reluctantly agreed. "But we've had sex. We're done. No one caught us. Why can't you just stay and talk for a while? Lay on the bed with me."
The look on Joe's face made Tyler feel like he had just suggested that they murder someone or set something on fire.
"No," Joe snapped a little too quickly. "I need to go."
Before Tyler could reply, Joe ran out of the room with one of his shoelaces still untied, almost tripping down the stairs. He ran straight out of the front door, jumped into his car and sped off down the street.
Tyler collapsed back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. He didn't know what to do. As much as he loved being back with Joe he found himself wanting more. He knew he shouldn't, that what had happened with Michael had been a warning, and for the sake of his future career he should probably stop having sex with Joe altogether, but he couldn't stop, couldn't say no, even to the quick fucks that made him feel like a cheap whore, rented for nothing but his dick. Joe was his weakness.
"Fuck..." Tyler groaned as he pushed himself up, feeling the cum on his chest begin to run down over his abs as he walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower.
As he stepped under the hot water, letting it crash down over his head, he thought about how great things were with Joe in every other way. They were friends again, hanging out, watching movies, playing games and football with their buddies, chatting for hours, laughing and joking. Everything was perfect except for the fact that Joe wouldn't stick around after they had sex. He always wanted to leave. Was it because he regretted it as soon as he had shot his load? Was it because he was scared of being caught in a compromising position like he said? Or was it something else?
Tyler wasn't sure but he knew that it left him feeling hollow. He didn't expect Joe to act like they were in love or to cuddle and spoon afterwards, but he wanted more than just sex, he wanted a little bit of intimacy, to feel like they were connected, like it was more than just something physical they were doing to scratch an itch they couldn't reach without each other. Before with Joe it had been so much more and he wanted that again.
He had tried to compensate and to fill the void he felt by sleeping with two different girls, by bringing them back to the same bed, fucking them in much the same way, and then holding them afterwards, enjoying their warm, soft, naked flesh against his own, placing little kisses on the back of their necks as he whispered into their ears, talking about something insignificant that in that setting seemed important. But as hot as the girls were, as good as the sex was, and as nice as the conversation made him feel, he couldn't deny the fact or ignore the feeling that they weren't Joe and it wasn't the same.
As he moved his body so the water hit his chest, using his hands to wash away the sweat and cum, he thought about how close he had been to sleeping with Cody and he wondered what that would have been like. Would they have talked afterwards? Would they have touched each other? Kissed each other? Spoken until they were ready to go again?
For the briefest of moments he wished he could go back to find out, to see if he had made a mistake in choosing Joe. But Cody was at college now, he was gone. If they had fucked that is all it would have been; a fuck. There was no future there, no emotional attachment; it would have just been pure physical sex and that's what he was getting from Joe.
Satisfied that he was clean he turned the water off and reached out to grab a towel to dry himself. Once he was done and the towel was wrapped around his waist he stepped out and ran his hand through his hair as he checked himself in the mirror. He then walked back into his room where his eyes fell on his phone, the words of Cody's last text message the morning after their close call were burned into his memory so he didn't need to read it back.
"You don't know what you missed last night. Turns out you weren't the only guy in town who wanted to fuck me."
That text reminded Tyler that he had made the right decision, that he would have just been another name on Cody's list of conquests, but it had also given him so many hard-ons in the last few weeks he had lost count; thinking about Cody's muscular bubble butt getting fucked and wondering who had been on top of him, pumping their dick into his tight ass, making him scream their name. Who could it have been? Damien? Mr Brown? Was it another guy at school Tyler had no idea about or was it a complete stranger, a random hook-up?
He was tempted to pick up his phone to ask, to text Cody asking for the name, wondering if that same person could give him the answers he was looking for, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. As much as he would have loved to have been laid beside another man, holding his hard, muscular body, feeling the hair of the man's chest against his own, their thick legs intertwined, the image always shifted back to Joe beside him and he knew that for now whatever Joe was willing to give he was happy to take.
The school building looked so different as Tyler stepped out of his car. At first he couldn't understand why because nothing about it had changed from the previous semester, then, as a smile crept onto his face he realized it was him; he had changed.
Last year he was a junior, one of many, surrounded by seniors, by those above him in the pecking order. Now he WAS the senior, the top of the mountain, the starting quarterback, the guy everyone would look at with awe and respect and maybe even a little envy. It surprised him how different just seeing the school made him feel, how good, how strong, how powerful, as if for the last three years he had belonged to the school only for it now to belong to him. He was pretty sure that wasn't the way he was meant to feel but his ego had been given a boost and he felt like nothing could stop him.
He set off across the parking lot, a little swagger in his step, ready to take on the first practice of the season and show all of the boys why he deserved to be the captain. He had never felt so good about himself, so confident. He felt bigger, lighter, better. How could the guys not vote for him?
He walked around the corner and froze, his bravado stripped away in an instant. His stomach dropped into his shoes and he thought the breakfast his mom had made for him was going to end up on the pavement.
His eyes fell upon the entrance to the locker room as his mind seemingly left his body, floating above him somewhere, watching that same doorway as he staggered out of it three months earlier, barely able to hold himself up, his ribs bruised and throbbing, his lights dimmed but not quite out after Michael had almost killed him.
He hadn't been inside since that day but the memories were still fresh and raw. It really was like returning to the scene of a crime, a scene that could prove you guilty and commit you to a life sentence, wasting away with all of your hopes and dreams for any kind of a future trapped inside your head until they slowly drove you insane.
He wasn't sure he could take that step, to cross that threshold. As much as he wanted to be the big man, to act like nothing bothered him and no one could hurt him, Michael had. He had felt weak and helpless, small and pathetic as he lay on that tiled floor. Every ounce of confidence and charisma that he usually oozed out of him was gone. The walls might not be able to talk and there were no security cameras in the locker room, but what if someone knew? What if after all these months his secret wasn't safe? The entire team could be waiting inside for him, ready to ambush him, every guy, maybe even Joe, prepared to kick him in the ribs, off the team and into the gutter, his life destroyed and left in tatters in front of him.
"Hey Goodwin, what are you doing out here?" Coach's deep voice made Tyler jump as the giant of a man approached from behind.
"I erm... I was just..." Tyler stuttered, trying to find his words and his breath. His heart was pounding in his chest but his mind was back in the present.
"Get your ass inside boy," Coach commanded. "It's nice to see you but if you want to be the captain I expect you to lead by example. I want you to be the first one here and the last to leave. You're not the only one looking for that spot you know..."
Coach patted Tyler on the back and walked past him into the locker room. Tyler stared at the man's huge back, watching him walk away, wondering what he meant by that last comment. Tyler was certain he would be captain of the team this year. Who would stand in his way?
With his defences back up, Tyler took a deep breath, closed his eyes and marched into the locker room determined to find out what was going on. When his eyes opened it took him a moment to understand what he was seeing; his teammates were gathered in the middle of the locker room, arranged in a circle around someone who was giving some kind of speech.
Immediately Tyler felt his back stiffen. His whole body tensed and the hairs along his limbs tingled. He was like a wild animal getting ready to fight, getting ready to defend its territory.
When the circle parted slightly and he saw who was standing in the middle he gasped. Brandon Garcia was one of last year's seniors, a starting player for the football team and one of Cody's best friends. He was tall, handsome and built, with dark hair, light olive skin, dazzling green eyes and an attitude that commanded attention, both intimidating and somehow soothing at the same time. People gravitated towards him and even now Tyler could tell that his teammates were already hanging on his every word.
"Hey Goodwin, come in here a second," Coach called from his office, drawing Tyler's attention from the scene in front of him.
Tyler took one last look toward Brandon, their eyes locking as a smile spread across the older boy's face. He then turned to walk into Coach's office.
"What's he doing here?" Tyler asked the moment the door was closed behind him.
Coach smirked and barely suppressed a laugh. "He's here to play."
"What? How? He should have graduated last year," Tyler replied.
"You're right, he should have," Coach said, looking at Tyler for a long moment until he saw that Tyler understood.
"You mean he didn't?" Tyler asked, surprised.
"No," Coach confirmed, "which means he's here for another year. It also means he's eligible to play another season. That kind of experience can be invaluable to the team."
"Wait, but... I'm still the starting quarterback, right?" Tyler asked, feeling the fear and panic start to creep in.
Coach chuckled, "Unless you screw up, yes. Brandon's not changing positions, Tyler, so you shouldn't have anything to worry about on that front. Some of your teammates might not be too happy about the competition though. Not that he automatically gets to play in his previous position. That's what we're here to figure out this week. No one's place on the team is safe. Not even yours."
"What?" Tyler gasped.
"You know how this week works. You were here last year," Coach said. "I gave the others the same speech before you arrived. I need to see that you all still have it. You would be amazed by what a little bit of time off or a sudden growth spurt or muscle gain can do to an athlete's body, timing and conditioning. You can go from great to useless pretty damn quickly. Just because you've been here for the last three years doesn't guarantee you anything. Go out there and show me what you deserve, show the boys who they need to follow this season. By the end of today you will either be captain or you'll be expected to fall in line behind him, whoever he is."
The look Coach gave him let Tyler know that he expected either Tyler or Brandon to be his captain. The fact that he even had competition for the spot made Tyler feel both queasy and annoyed as he turned around and headed back out of the door. He had to become captain. He had to. His whole life so far had been building to this moment. His future depended on it. There was no other option.
"Alright, that's enough boys. Hit the showers." Coach called out across the field, almost instantly seeing most of his players relax and some even fall to the ground, exhausted. The only two that didn't seemed phased were Tyler and Luke who continued to pass the ball back and forth as they jogged toward the older man. "Okay you two, what gives?"
"What do you mean, Coach?" Tyler asked, stopping just a few feet in front of him, the ball in hand.
"I have never seen the two of you play like that before. Together I mean," Coach said. "It's like you can read each other's minds out there."
"We just make a good team," Tyler said.
"Bullshit," Coach scoffed. He looked at Luke, "I don't know what you've done but that was incredible. Your speed, your precision, your vertical leap... You've never moved like that before. Hell, I used to think you were afraid of the damn ball."
Luke laughed, "I was. I guess Tyler changed that."
"What do you mean?" Coach asked.
"He's been training with me all summer. Almost every day we had. He saw something in me that no one else did," Luke replied, looking Coach in the eye as he said the last sentence. "His confidence in me made me more confident in myself and I guess I started to get better."
Coach coughed, Luke's dig hit deep. He nodded, "Well, I'm impressed. With you on one side and Damien on the other I think the play-offs are a real possibility this year."
"What?" Luke gasped. "You're gonna play me?"
Coach chuckled, "If you keep playing like you did today you're not just going to play, you're going to start. Well done for proving me wrong."
Luke's jaw dropped, his eyes widened and then a huge grin lit up his face. Before he knew what he was doing he leaped up into Tyler's arms and hugged him. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
Tyler was stunned, not knowing what to do. He looked around and then slowly wrapped his arms around his buddy, returning the hug, patting him on the back.
When they broke apart Luke tried to brush himself off like nothing had happened even though his face was bright red with embarrassment after realizing what he had done. It didn't matter how good he got he was still a nerd inside.
Tyler saw Coach staring at him.
"What?" Tyler asked as Luke headed for the locker room with the rest of the guys.
"You really taught him how to play like that?" Coach asked.
"Well he didn't learn it online," Tyler quipped.
"You're a fucking little smartass," Coach chuckled. "But if you can get results like that out of the rest of the team this season then you're going to make a damn fine captain. That is if the rest of the boys vote for you."
"You don't think they will?" Tyler asked, his heart beating a little faster.
"I think you've still got competition. Let's wait and see," Coach said. He waited for a moment, watching the expression on Tyler's face change, and then burst into a deep, roaring laugh. "Not so cocky now, are you?"
Tyler knocked on Coach's door but waited outside for the sign that he could enter. No one stepped into Coach's office unless they were invited in.
"Come on in, Captain," Coach smiled from his seat behind his desk.
A huge smile lit up Tyler's face as he walked into the room.
"Take a seat," Coach said, motioning to the chair opposite him. "So, how does it feel?"
"Pretty damn good," Tyler continued to smile.
"Did you really think they weren't going to choose you?" Coach asked.
"I wasn't sure," Tyler admitted. "Not with Brandon here. He's got more experience than I do. He's been to the play-offs before. And let's be honest he's got those guys wrapped around his finger. You saw how they were hanging off his every word."
"That he does," Coach nodded. "And they do listen. He's got charisma. He's got that indefinable something that draws people to him. But that's not always a good thing."
"No?" Tyler asked.
"No," Coach smiled. "Why do you think he's here? He let himself get distracted last year. He wanted to have fun more than he wanted to win or to pass his classes. He got cocky thinking he could just coast along and everything would be fine. It cost him. Yes, those boys look up to him, they're in awe of him, but do you know what else?"
"What?" Tyler asked when Coach didn't finish.
"They know he failed," Coach said. "Whether consciously or not they knew he wasn't the right guy to lead them where they want to go. For that they need someone dedicated, they need someone hungry, they need someone determined. They need you. That's why they voted for you."
"You really think that?" Tyler asked.
"Yes, I do," Coach said. "But a lot of that is up to you. I was wrong about Luke's potential. Look at him now. Don't make me wrong about you."
"I won't," Tyler promised. "Thanks Coach."
He put his hands on the arms of the chair and began to push himself up until he saw something on Coach's desk that made him stop. It was a picture of Jake with the school logo printed above him. He lunged for it.
"What the hell are you doing?" Coach barked as Tyler grabbed the picture off the desk and held it up, realizing it was the cover of a brochure.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Tyler screamed. "Tell me this isn't what I think it is."
Coach stared at Tyler for a long moment and then rose from his chair until he was standing, looking down into Tyler's eyes. "It's the new booklet for the athletics department."
"With him on the cover?" Tyler growled, waving the pamphlet around in the air.
Coach took a deep breath. "He's our most successful athlete."
"Fuck that!" Tyler spat, clutching the leaflet so hard his fingernails were digging into his palm even through the paper.
"Watch your mouth in here, boy," Coach warned.
"I'm the quarterback, the captain of the goddamn football team. That's the biggest sport we play. Thousands of people come to watch us. Who the fuck cares about wrestling?"
"Tyler..." Coach warned again.
"Why him?" Tyler asked. "Of all the athletes you had to choose from, why him?"
Coach glared at Tyler as their eyes locked. He answered bluntly, "Because he's the best we have."
Tyler looked like he was about to explode.
"Listen, I'm not going to do this with you," Coach said. "Whatever issues you have with Jake are yours. My job is to sell people on wanting to come here. I have to show them how successful our sports programs are. You might be the captain, the quarterback, the star of the team, have the handsome face and the great body, but he's got the trophies. His name has been in the paper. There are photos of him getting his hand raised, with a medal around his neck. I can't fight that visual. The rest of the coaches wanted Jake on the cover and I agreed. If you have a problem with it, don't bitch and whine like a fucking baby, do something about it. Go out on that field and show us that it should have been you."
Tyler nodded, enraged, fire burning behind his eyes. He turned around and stormed out of Coach's office, grabbing Joe by the arm and dragging him out of the locker room.
"Uh... Uh... Uh... Oh fuck... Oh Ty... Oh God..." Joe cried as Tyler drove his dick into his ass repeatedly.
"Yeah, take my fucking cock," Tyler growled, plunging in deep and then immediately pulling back, picking up the pace so he was hammering Joe's ass.
"What... Oh God!" Joe moaned as his eyes rolled into the back of his head.
Tyler had Joe on his back in the middle of his bed, Joe's legs pushed up and held back by Tyler's big arms, raising Joe's ass off the mattress to give him maximum leverage as he pushed his hips forward to drill his dick deeper.
"Oh fuck, Ty! Oh shit! What's happened to you?" Joe panted, his mouth open, his eyes wide, staring up at Tyler above him, both of them covered in sweat as they fucked hard.
"I needed your sexy fucking ass on my cock," Tyler groaned, pushing in deep and bending down to bite on Joe's neck.
"Oh shit..." Joe gasped, throwing his arms around Tyler's big body, his own cock jumping and throbbing between them. "Fuck me."
"Yeah, you like it when I fuck you hard, don't you?" Tyler whispered into Joe's ear as he continued to ram his cock into his friend's ass.
"Oh God, yes..." Joe whimpered. "Yes. Yes. Harder. Oh fuck yes, right there. That's it. Oh shit! Ty!"
Joe wrapped his arms and legs around Tyler's body and thrust his ass back to meet Tyler's invading cock, fucking his own ass even harder if that was possible. He was past the point of caring what it meant and just wanted as much of that dick in his ass as he could get. Whatever had happened to Tyler to make him fuck him so hard and fast was working for Joe, driving him crazy as he raced towards his orgasm.
Tyler could sense Joe's urgency but he wasn't quite ready to cum. He pushed himself up, breaking out of Joe's arms and pulled his cock out of Joe's ass. Joe stared up at him, pleading with him to put it back in. Tyler looked down at his pulsing cock, slick with precum and lube, and then shoved it back in Joe's ass in a single movement, slicing straight through into his depths.
Joe screamed and threw his head back, thrashing about on the bed in both pain and sheer ecstasy. When Tyler did it again, pulling out completely and then ramming it back in, Joe was ready for it but it still lit his ass and body on fire.
Joe was nearly delirious, babbling in words that Tyler couldn't understand as the pace of his thrusts picked up again and he hammered him with everything he had until they both screamed and Joe's big cock jumped up away from his belly, spraying cum in every direction, as his ass tightened around Tyler's cock, triggering the explosion that sent Tyler's cum racing into it, flooding his insides with more cream than it could take.
"Holy shit," Joe gasped when they finally caught their breath and Tyler slipped out of him. "It needs to be like that every time. God, that was good."
Tyler collapsed onto the bed beside Joe, exhausted. All of the anger and aggression he had felt after seeing Jake on the cover of that leaflet had gone into fucking Joe's ass and he felt like he had nothing left.
"Well, I'd better go," Joe said, pushing himself up, his own cum running between his abs as Tyler's began to run down the back of his leg.
Tyler said nothing, knowing his words wouldn't make Joe stay, and this time he didn't know if he wanted him to. He had got what he wanted too. So he simply watched as Joe used a pair of his boxers to wipe the cum off his body and then tossed them on the floor. Joe pulled on his clothes and then smiled as he looked down at Tyler, still lying on the bed.
"See you at practice tomorrow," Joe smiled before walking out.
Tyler still couldn't believe how casual Joe could act after they had just fucked. He was walking down the stairs with an ass full of cum. It would still be leaking out of him as he sat at the dinner table with his parents and his brothers and he acted like it was nothing. Surely that wasn't normal?
It was the first time they hadn't used a condom in weeks but Tyler had been too caught up in his emotions to even think about it as he took the lead for the first time since they had started fucking around again, giving Joe little choice but to just go with it. Seeing Jake on that cover had worked him up into a frenzy and it was better that he fuck it out rather than doing something he would regret later.
Rolling over, he reached out to the bedside table and picked up the leaflet, staring at the photo of Jake, dressed in nothing but his tight singlet, the material hugging his muscles, his nipples clear on his huge pecs, each abs poking through, the bulge between his legs... was that the outline of his...
Tyler felt his dick begin to harden again as he studied the image, reaching full mast when he got back up to Jake's handsome face, staring at the brown eyes that appeared to be looking back at him.
"Fuck..." Tyler gasped. He dropped the leaflet, closed his eyes and reached for his slick cock.
Tyler knocked on the door to the office.
"Coach? You wanted to see me?" he asked.
"Ah yes," the big man stood up, clapping his hands together. He walked around from behind his desk and leaned back against the front of it, looking at Tyler. "How are you settling in as captain?"
"Pretty good," Tyler nodded, stepping into the room. "I think we're starting to find our groove now we have everyone in the right positions."
"I think so too," Coach agreed. "No trouble with Brandon?"
"No," Tyler replied. "Were you expecting a problem?"
"Not really, but professional jealousy does come into play sometimes when you have two guys as confident as the two of you and only one place at the top," Coach said.
"No issues so far," Tyler said.
"Good. Let's keep it that way," Coach said, "especially with the younger guys coming in today. I expect all of you seniors to lead by example, to show them how things are done, and more importantly, to not be hostile towards them. They're not here to take anyone's spot. They're here to learn, to get better and to be ready to step up to replace you when you're gone."
"Okay," Tyler nodded.
"You're each going to be paired with someone, just like you were with Alex two years ago," Coach explained. "You're going to mentor them, guide them and counsel them. Everything that Alex did for you, you now need to do for the guy I pair you with."
Tyler had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing. Even so a smirk did creep up onto his face as the image of Alex bent over, bracing himself against the shower wall, pushing his ass back as Tyler sank his cock into it and pounded away came into his mind. That was one thing he wouldn't be doing for his protégé.
"Who am I paired with?" Tyler asked.
"That's why I asked you here," Coach smiled, "To meet him."
Coach pushed himself off the desk and walked to the door, calling to someone outside in the locker room. Tyler didn't hear the name because when Coach got close, literally inches away from him, he caught the scent of Coach's cologne and a warm feeling spread through his stomach. He stared at Coach's chest, at the huge pecs of the older man stretching the fabric of his shirt, and he almost leaned in to take a deeper sniff when he felt the presence of someone beside him.
"This is Gabriel," Coach said.
Tyler swallowed hard and turned his head to look at the guy he was going to mentor for the next year. The moment their eyes met the warm feeling inside him was replaced by the stone cold chill of fear. Michael's eyes were staring back at him. He took a step back.
"Tyler?" Coach asked. "Are you okay?"
Tyler looked around for a moment, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. He then looked into Coach's blue eyes, which were studying him, before turning back to look at the guy Coach had called Gabriel.
"I'm okay," Tyler squeaked. He felt stupid when he heard his own voice but seeing the boy in front of him had truly shaken him. With every ounce of strength inside him he managed to say, "Nice to meet you, Gabriel."
He held out his hand, noticing that it was trembling, before he was shaking hands with the kid in front of him.
"Thanks," Gabriel replied. "You can call me Gabe. Only my mom calls me Gabriel. She named me after the archangel and she thinks it's blasphemous to shorten it. It's the same with my brother, Michael."
Tyler exhaled loudly. He was glad that his eyes hadn't deceived him and that he wasn't going crazy. The boy standing in front of him wasn't Michael, he wasn't the guy who had beaten the shit out of him, who would have likely killed him, but he was a near spitting image of him, almost a replica, his youth and size about the only noticeable differences setting the two apart.
Tyler's heart pounded in his chest as he continued to look at Gabriel. The resemblance genuinely freaked him out even though he had started to see the differences. Gabriel looked younger, had longer, slightly darker hair, and was smaller than his brother, not just in height but in terms of his facial features and muscles; everything on Michael was over-sized whereas Gabriel was more compact.
Still, Tyler couldn't fight the nervous feeling inside him as he continued to shake the kid's hand, not letting go. As hard as he had tried to forget about what had happened with Michael, less than fifty feet away in that locker room, it still haunted him, and now every time he saw Gabriel's face he would be reminded of it, would fear it happening again.
And what if Gabriel knew? What if his brother had gone home and let it be known what he saw? What if the innocent looking guy in front of him knew his secret, holding onto it until the time was right and then dropping it like a bomb, destroying everything Tyler had worked for?
"Okay, you two, that's enough hand holding for now," Coach said, breaking Tyler out of his thoughts. "Let's get out there and see what you're made of."
"Awesome," Gabriel smiled. He turned and headed into the locker room to change.
Tyler didn't move. He was still shaken.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Coach asked.
Tyler turned his head to see a concerned look on Coach's face.
"Yes," he replied.
As Tyler turned to walk out of the office, Coach's eyes followed him. He wasn't sure what had just happened but there was something Tyler wasn't telling him. He decided not to push the issue but he was going to keep a close eye on him.
"Damn, Gabe," Tyler said, patting the younger guy's back as they walked off the field. "I'm impressed. You kept up with us."
Gabe was panting hard and was covered in sweat but there was a massive smile on his face as he walked beside Tyler and a few of the other players.
"Thanks," Gabe beamed. "It's easy to follow your lead. I see why you're the captain."
"Yeah, buddy, you stick with Tyler and learn everything you can from him and maybe one day you'll be as good as him," Kyle said as he walked behind them. "He's gonna be the poster boy for the NFL one day."
Tyler laughed and shook his head. "Don't get ahead of yourself there, Kyle. That's a long way off. We need to concentrate on this season and kicking some ass. I want to win this league, for us and for Coach. Then no one can deny how good we are."
"YEAH!" a bunch of the guys all screamed together.
Tyler chuckled and fell back slightly, watching Gabriel walk in front of him. He truly was impressed. As much as he looked like Michael, the two were completely different. Gabriel was quick and agile. He had spring in his step and an eye for spotting opportunities. He was also easy going and had charisma that would take him far if he kept improving his skills. The more they trained and played together the better Tyler felt and the more his fear slipped away.
As they all walked into the locker room, splitting off as they headed for their lockers, one of the boys said, "I can't wait to shower and wash all this damn grass off me. It's stuck everywhere."
"That's because you sweat like a hog at a roast," Kyle shot back.
"Yeah and you were on your back more than Kyle's girlfriend," another guy quipped.
"Fuck you asshole," Kyle tried to shout but he barely got the words out as his serious face was broken by laughter.
"Just get in the damn shower, guys," Tyler grinned.
He got his own things out of his locker as the others headed off into the shower. The only one left behind was Gabriel.
"You going to shower, Gabe?" Tyler asked.
"Erm... Yeah... I guess..." Gabe stuttered as he glanced at Tyler nervously, avoiding eye contact.
"What's up?" Tyler asked.
"Oh nothing," Gabe waved him off. "I guess I'm just nervous."
"Of what?" Tyler asked.
"Well... you're all so built," Gabe replied.
Tyler chuckled, "Are you worried about how you'll look naked?"
Gabe blushed. "Something like that."
"You're, what, fifteen?" Tyler asked. "No one is going to judge, bro. You'll get there. You're as built as I was at your age."
"Thanks," Gabe smiled. He then sighed heavily.
"Okay, come on," Tyler said, motioning for Gabe to join him. "I'm your mentor. I'll stop all of those big boys from bullying you."
Gabe laughed but started to follow Tyler, "Just don't try anything."
Tyler froze in his tracks. If it was possible for the brain and heart to explode at the same time he was pretty sure that had just happened to him.
"What?" Tyler asked, feeling himself shake as the words left his lips.
"It was a joke," Gabe said, apologetically. "Isn't that what all guys say before they shower with other guys?"
"Oh, yeah," Tyler force a laugh.
"Okay," Gabe said, walking past Tyler into the showers.
Tyler stood still for a moment, letting his heartbeat slow down. For a brief moment he was sure that Gabe knew something, but he had to trust that he didn't. It was the only way he would avoid going insane.
As more guys started to come in from the field he shook it off and walked into the shower, hoping he could wash away the uneasy feeling that Gabe was a timebomb waiting to go off.
Tyler closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against Joe's. They were wrapped around each other on the bed, Tyler slowly sliding his dick back and forth through Joe's clenching hole.
Joe was moaning, biting his lip, tightening his grip on Tyler's body with every deep thrust into him. His legs were around Tyler's waist, moving in time with him, in perfect rhythm, working together to increase the penetration and heighten the sensations that flooded their bodies.
"Fuck Joe..." Tyler whispered, holding the back of Joe's head in his hand. He opened his eyes and looked down into Joe's, which were staring up at him.
They held eye contact for a long moment, Tyler's slow thrusts not once changing pace. He watched the expression on Joe's face change as he slid in and out of him, easing in and then gliding back, taking his time, letting Joe feel every inch of him.
Joe's cock was throbbing between their bodies. Every time Tyler pushed in deep, grazing his prostate, Joe's dick would jump up and slap against Tyler's abs, coating them with precum, before crashing down against his own stomach, a puddle forming from the constant stream.
"Make me cum," Joe moaned.
Tyler gazed into his eyes and nodded. He leaned down, pressing his body against Joe's; making sure Joe's dick was trapped between them, sliding back and forth. He picked up the pace a little, driving his dick that little bit harder into Joe's ass. The expression on his face then changed as he began to feel his climax coming on and he ducked his head down, capturing Joe's lips with his own.
Joe screamed as Tyler's tongue entered his mouth. His arms and legs tightened around Tyler, his back arched, his hole clenched and his dick exploded, firing shot after shot of hot cum from the tip all over their pecs and abs.
At the same time Tyler pushed in as far as he could go and unloaded into the condom, shooting so hard he thought the material would break. He almost hadn't used one but it didn't lessen the intensity of the orgasm or the pleasure that surged through him when Joe's ass clamped down his cock while the two made out.
It wasn't until they had both stopped cumming, the final drop having fallen from both cocks, when Joe shoved Tyler away.
"Fuck, Ty, I told you not to kiss me," Joe complained.
Tyler's cock was ripped from Joe's ass as Joe sat up and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"What the fuck?" Tyler asked. "You kissed me too. It's not like I forced you."
"That was just in the moment," Joe replied, moving to the edge of the bed. "I told you we shouldn't do it."
"As foreplay," Tyler defended. "You said we shouldn't waste time. Just get to it. We were going at it. I was balls deep inside you. How the fuck is a kiss gonna change anything?"
"It just does!" Joe snapped, standing up.
"Why?" Tyler asked. "You loved it. You came when I kissed you."
"It's too fucking much, okay?" Joe glared at Tyler. "I can't do it."
Tyler watched on as Joe once again gathered his clothes up and started to get dressed. He was about to say something when the sound of a car door shutting outside drew their attention toward the window.
Tyler jumped off the bed and looked down to see his mother heading toward the house. He told Joe who it was as he turned around to see Joe wiping the cum off his chest before pulling his shirt on.
"I'm gonna say hi to your mom on my way out," Joe said, heading for the door. "You might want to get dressed and open the window."
Tyler stared at the doorway, dumbfounded, as Joe left through it and headed down the stairs. What the fuck had just happened? He was so confused.
As he heard Joe talking to his mother, like he hadn't just been fucked by her son, Tyler wondered what he was going to do because as much as he loved fucking Joe, and as good as it felt, he was starting to need more. They had just made love, there was no other way to describe it, but instead of being there with him afterwards, holding each, Joe was gone again and Tyler felt empty.
Tyler stepped out of his car on the final day of pre-season training before school would start the following Monday. He was pumped and ready. The sun was bright, the sky was clear, the air was warm. His body looked and felt as good as it ever had before and he had settled into his role as captain of the team, assembling a great group of guys around him, including the kids who were going to be the team's future.
He walked toward the locker room, seeing some of those younger guys already milling around, eager to get going with another day of practice and improve their chances of a successful career. It made him smile to see their enthusiasm, knowing that they shared his passion for the game and would give everything they possessed in order to accomplish their goals.
He was almost at the locker room when he heard a very loud "fuck you" from inside, which stopped him in his tracks. The voice sounded familiar and it took him a few moments to put a face to it. When he did he felt his breakfast churn in his stomach and his heart almost stopped beating. Not knowing what else to do, but feeling exposed out in the open, he ducked into the doorway of a utility entrance and pressed himself against the wall.
Sure enough just seconds later he saw Michael storm past, stomping his feet like he was on a mission. What the fuck was he doing there?
Tyler's throat was dry and his stomach was clenching, his chest heaving. He threw his head back and moaned, almost in pleasure, when it hit the brick wall. He balled his hands up into fists and squeezed hard, digging his nails into his palms. The fear he had first felt from hearing Michael's voice had been replaced by anger. He was pissed off with himself for being such a coward, annoyed that his body reacted the way it did instead of being strong and standing up for itself. He couldn't let Michael continue to have that effect on him, he couldn't. He was the captain of the damn football team, he needed to stand up, proud, and issue his own fuck you, not just to Michael but to everyone who doubted him or didn't think he was the best.
Pushing himself away from the wall, he stood upright, took a deep breath and stepped out into the light. Michael was long gone but part of him wished he was still there so he would at least have a chance to confront him, if for nothing other than to prove that he could.
Wanting to put the experience behind him and use the anger still zipping around inside him to fuel his training, he walked into the locker room and tossed his bag down onto one of the benches.
"GOODWIN!" Coach's voice boomed. "Get your ass in here now."
Tyler trembled at the use of his last name and the tone of Coach's voice. He swallowed hard. What had he done to piss Coach off so much?
Walking slowly, wanting to take as long as possible before having to face the huge muscular man who could intimidate anyone even when he wasn't angry, Tyler made his way to the office and gingerly knocked on the door.
"I told you to get your ass in here," Coach snapped, seeing him. "You don't need to knock. Now sit the fuck down."
Tyler moved into the room and took the seat across from Coach, feeling like a sniper had his sights set on him the whole time and was just waiting for the right moment to take the shot.
Coach looked at Tyler with what could only be described as disappointment in his eyes. Tyler felt like tears were about to fall from his. Nothing could ever be worse than seeing that look on Coach's face.
"What have you done?" Coach growled.
"What?" Tyler gasped. "Nothing."
"Then why was Michael Rowan just in here spouting his fucking mouth off?" Coach snapped.
"I... I don't know?" Tyler stuttered, fearing the worst.
"That look on your face tells me you do," Coach shot back.
Tyler swallowed hard again, "I don't."
"Well something has happened," Coach barked. "That big useless motherfucker doesn't charge into my office telling me his brother is going to quit the team if I don't pair him up with someone else for nothing. Does he?"
Tyler just stared, speechless, at the older man.
"So I am asking you again..." Coach said. "Coach to captain... What did you do?"
"Nothing Coach, I promise," Tyler replied, his voice higher in pitch than normal.
"Don't lie to me Tyler," Coach demanded. "A kid like Gabriel doesn't threaten to quit the team unless you did something to him."
"I didn't do anything, Coach, I swear," Tyler said, holding up his hands. "Gabe is awesome. I've loved showing him the ropes this week. He's got loads of potential. He's got everything you need if he keeps training. There's no way we can let him go."
"Then what the fuck was that about?" Coach asked. "Why is Michael coming in here, screaming at me, telling me to keep you away from his brother?"
"I don't..." Tyler started.
"Don't tell me you don't know," Coach snarled. "I don't buy that bullshit for a second. That guy doesn't charge in here and talk like you fucked his mother up the ass for no reason. You've done something that has made him so angry he doesn't want his brother anywhere near you. So tell me... what is it?"
Tyler looked everywhere but at Coach. Words still escaped him.
"Look at me," Coach said. He waited until Tyler's eyes met his. "I need to be able to trust you. Our success this season depends on you and I having complete faith in each other. Keeping secrets isn't part of that. If there is something going on that could affect your performance on that field I need to know about it. I don't care what it is. Nothing is too big for you to share. Anything you tell me in this office will go to the grave with me. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Tyler nodded.
"So is there anything you want to tell me?" Coach asked.
Tyler looked at the man, debating whether or not he could tell him the truth. He wanted to, he really did, but when he opened his mouth it just hung open, no words coming from it.
"I can't, Coach, I'm sorry," Tyler said, looking down.
Coach sat back in his chair and let out a huge sigh. "Are we going to have to rethink this whole situation?"
"No!" Tyler cried. "No! I promise you, Coach, it's not something that will affect the team in any way. It's personal."
"That's what worries me," Coach said. "Your petty jealousy shit with Jake, that I can handle, hell, I can understand it. But this... I don't like not knowing what's going on."
Tyler nodded but remained silent.
"I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now," Coach said. "Gabe will stay with you because that's the best thing for him. But if I hear anything else, any complaint, if he comes to me himself, or if things start changing out on that field then you're gone. I won't have whatever this is jeopardising this team. No one is bigger than the team."
"Thank you, Coach," Tyler nodded, standing up. He walked toward the door.
"I meant what I said, Tyler," Coach said just as the boy reached the doorway. When Tyler turned to meet his eye he continued. "My door is always open for you. Any problem you have, come to me, I'll do what I can to solve it."
Tyler turned around and walked out of the door. Coach sat back in his chair, putting his arms behind his head as he stared at the doorway, trying to figure out what was going on.
Tyler caught the ball and surveyed the field. Joe was being blocked on one side and Damien was out of position on the other. There was just one option left. He rocked back onto one foot, brought the other slightly off the ground, swung his arm back and then in one smooth, swift motion, every limb moving together, he moved forward, released the ball, sending it sailing through the air, over everyone's head, until it landed in the waiting arms of Luke who took off into the end zone, completing the touchdown.
Coach's whistle sounded. "Well I'll be damned. That was as close to perfect as we're ever gonna get. You guys pull that kind of play off against our opponents and we'll be champions for sure."
The guys all cheered, many of them patting Luke on the back and shoulders.
"I think that's a good note to end it on," Coach said. "You've been great this week boys. Take everything you have learnt this week and continue to use it going forward. Classes start on Monday but we will be training before and after school most days. This is a process that never stops. You have all shown me this week that you are dedicated. Keep it up and make me proud. Now go get showered, you all stink."
The guys laughed and began to head toward the locker room to shower and get changed before heading home to enjoy a much needed rest over the weekend.
Tyler hung back for a moment and made a point of pulling Gabe aside, noting that Coach was watching them.
"You're doing really well," Tyler said. "I know it's hard sometimes watching someone else do what you want to be doing, but that's the best way to learn. Watch me. And don't be afraid to criticise me. You might spot mistakes I'm making that I don't. You might see ways I can improve on something to get even better. We never stop learning and we never stop striving to be the best. It's not just my job to help you get better, it's yours to help me too, okay?"
"Yeah," Gabe smiled. "But I haven't seen anything bad yet."
"Don't expect to either," Tyler laughed.
"Not bad," Coach said, appearing behind Tyler after Gabe walked off in front. "You were right. I don't think Gabe is the problem. You work well together. You work well with everyone. What you've done with Luke is crazy. But the stuff with Michael still worries me."
"I know..." Tyler sighed. "Me too."
"Where do you think you're going?" Coach called out to Tyler, Toby and Kyle as they headed toward the locker room.
"To shower..." Kyle said.
"Wrong," Coach smiled. "You're gonna help me gather up all this crap and take it back to the store room."
The older man tossed a football at Kyle that crashed against his chest, knocking him backwards a step.
"You get all the footballs, Kyle. Toby, can you get the cones? Tyler, you help me collect the rest."
None of the boys could ever say no to Coach so they silenced their protests and did as the man asked, collecting everything up, leaving the field looking like it had never been played on.
They carried the gear through the locker room, which was buzzing after such a good session. Some of the guys were already in the showers, while others stood around chatting as they got undressed. The equipment storage room was in a hallway that led to the main school building. To get to it they had to go through a door at the far end of the locker room. Tyler paid no attention to anything else as he hauled his bag through the door and down to the room, tossing it into a corner with the rest of the equipment. He expected Toby and Kyle to be right behind him but as he walked back out into the hall he saw that they had stopped and were looking at something.
"Damn, can you believe that?" Kyle gasped.
"What are you guys looking at?" Tyler called out, walking toward them.
"Oh, erm, nothing," Toby quickly said, appearing nervous as he spotted Tyler and started to walk down the hall towards him.
"What is it?" Tyler asked, getting closer. Toby wouldn't look him in the eye.
Tyler moved around Toby, hearing the bigger guy sigh as he did. He continued down the hall, sensing that Toby was following him, until he stopped beside Kyle and turned to see what his friend was looking at.
Tyler's eyes went wide and his breath caught in his throat. Through the huge glass window that made up almost half of the wall, he gazed at the very familiar sight of the gym. He had spent so much time in that room that he knew every inch of it, every piece of equipment, every machine, as if they were his own. It was no surprise then that his eyes went immediately to the new lat pulldown machine set back against the far wall, which hadn't been there the day before. But the device itself wasn't what had caused the reaction. It was the guy using it; Jake.
The wrestler sat with his thick legs spread on either side of the bench, his huge arms above his head, his hands gripping the bar as he pulled it down almost to his shoulders and then eased it back up. His shirt lay on the floor next to him, exposing tanned skin that shone with the sweat that poured down over his muscles. His biceps bulged with every rep, flexing and tensing, the veins popping out of the skin. His shoulders and traps looked like little mountains of flesh, framed perfectly by the huge pecs beneath them that rose with every inhaled breath. Every exhale tightened the eight abs that jumped out from his stomach, each one more defined than the one before.
The emotions that suddenly flooded Tyler's brain were too confusing to process. He was jealous, wishing his own body looked that good, angry, because he felt inferior, defensive, because he felt like he had competition who was straying into his territory, and most annoyingly, lust, because he wanted to go in there and lick every inch of that body, to push it down onto the bench, suck the cock between those big thighs that he would then have on his shoulders as he nailed what was no doubt an amazing ass.
"Fuck..." Tyler muttered, not aware that he had said the word out loud.
"Damn, that's impressive," Kyle said beside Tyler. "Look how much weight he's lifting."
Tyler snapped out of his daze hearing the awe in Kyle's voice. "It's not that much."
"Oh please, you think you could lift that?" Kyle asked, immediately seeing fear in Toby's eyes.
"You bet your fucking ass I could," Tyler declared.
"Tyler..." Toby started but Tyler pushed him away.
Kyle and Toby watched helplessly as Tyler kicked off his cleats, stripped off his shirt and walked into the gym. They looked on through the glass as he moved toward Jake, thinking there might be a fight. Instead they saw the two athletes lock eyes, their expressions hardening, issuing a silent challenge to each other that they both accepted.
"Come on, bro, they're gonna be in there all night now," Kyle said, walking away. Toby reluctantly agreed and followed him down the hall.
Inside the gym Tyler stood over Jake, staring down at his face, into his eyes, irritated that his presence didn't cause Jake to falter in his movements even for a second. As Jake continued to work out, Tyler's eyes moved down over Jake's body, watching his muscles flex and bulge as they worked, appreciating their form and feeling his own muscles twitch, wanting to prove they were superior.
He turned away and walked to the leg press machine a few feet away, knowing that they would be facing each other and Jake would have no choice but to look at him. He loaded up the weights, more than he usually worked with, and then climbed on, pressing his back against the rest for support. He started to power away with his legs, pushing the weight up and down as he saw Jake trying to look away before finally gritting his teeth and looking forward, their eyes meeting again.
Jake knew what Tyler was doing. They would never face each other on the mat or on the field so they had no way of competing in their chosen sports, but they could compete in the gym, even if they weren't using the same machine; it was about endurance and stamina, it was about who could lift the most weight the most times. Tyler wanted to prove that he was bigger, stronger, better, the alpha, number one in the school. Jake glared at him, thinking about how stupid, how pathetic that was, feeling the hatred ooze out of his pores, and yet he began to pull harder on the bar in his hands, moving faster, matching Tyler rep for rep, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing him slow down or stop. He wanted the exact same thing Tyler did.
When they both realized that the other wasn't going to give up easily, they glanced at each other and stopped at the exact same moment, letting their weights crash to the floor.
The sound of their panting breaths filled the room as they waited for the other to make the first move, watching, waiting for what came next.
Tyler stared at Jake's chest as it rose up and down, sweat trickling over the muscles, matting the little bit of dark hair that fell between the two huge mounds, and ran down to the abs that were tight and defined, squeezing tighter with every breath. He looked incredible and Tyler felt a pang of jealousy since the only way he could ever get that kind of definition was after an insane cut.
Jake meanwhile was watching Tyler's own abs as they tensed with each breath, every single one looked like a rock that had been encased in skin. His eyes then moved up to Tyler's chest, so big and broad, wishing he could gain the extra mass that Tyler carried so well.
When their eyes met again and they realized what they were doing they were both embarrassed at having been caught admiring the other and immediately turned away in different directions, wanting to shake off the uncomfortable feeling inside as they stood up from their machines.
Tyler knew he couldn't stop, couldn't let whatever that fuzzy feeling he had just felt get the better of him. The only way to prove he was better than Jake was to do what Jake had just done. He spun around and took a step forward only to find that Jake had done the same thing. They crashed into each other, their big chests colliding. Both grunted at the impact and from the jolt of electricity that passed through their bodies as their sweaty pecs brushed against each other, their nipples catching.
Neither one wanted to give an inch, to be pushed backwards or be seen as the one stepping away. They held their ground, the only distance between them created by the recoil. They were so close to each other they could feel each other's body heat, could feel the other's breath on their face, could have rubbed noses if they had just turned their heads slightly. They stared into each other's eyes, waiting for one to weaken, to blink or look away. Neither did.
Tyler almost forgot what he was doing, why he was there. He got lost in Jake's eyes and suddenly felt the urge to reach up, to place his hand on Jake's chest and run his hands over his pecs, to feel the muscles that he had been staring at for the last few minutes. No! He wouldn't allow himself to do that. He had to be strong. Besides, this wasn't about lust or sex or how much he wanted to grab Jake and throw him down on the floor so they could wrestle and fuck until neither had anything left in them. It was about proving he was the top athlete, the one who should be on the cover of that pamphlet, who should adored and worshipped by the rest of the school. He couldn't let Jake win.
Jake himself didn't know what he was feeling. He felt like he should push Tyler away, should wipe away the sweat that had transferred from Tyler's chest to his own but he couldn't bring himself to move. He couldn't take a step back, couldn't let Tyler think he was backing off. Enough people already considered Tyler superior just because he was on the football team. No matter how many competitions Jake won football was always king and Tyler would be the bigger star. It annoyed him and made him more determined, knowing he measured up to Tyler in every way. He had to prove it.
When the silence became too much and they realized they were stood barely an inch apart staring into each other's eyes, they stepped aside, somehow knowing which way the other was going to go, and marched to the machine the other had just vacated. They sat down; Jake on the leg press and Tyler on the lat pull, ready to prove they could handle the weights the other had been lifting.
Locking eyes again they went to work, this time with Jake's huge legs bulging as he powered away on his machine, while Tyler's massive arms pulsed with every rep on the lat pull, both unwilling to change the weight on the machine or admit that it was a struggle, refusing to show any kind of weakness.
As the reps continued, sweat was literally pouring off them, pooling up under them on the benches. Seeing that Jake was glancing over at him again, Tyler decided to give him a show, flexing his arms every time he brought the bar down to his shoulders so Jake had no choice but to see how big his biceps were. He knew the sight had gotten to Jake when the wrestler hunkered down in the seat and began to kick his legs even harder, feeling the need to up the ante.
It was only when they both knew they couldn't continue that they looked at each other and again stopped, sitting up as they panted for breath, their chests heaving from the exertion.
Jake asked himself what he was doing. His muscles burned from how hard he was pushing them, knowing that his body was conditioned to go fast and hard, his wrestling matches relatively short, whereas Tyler was built to last an entire game on the field if necessary, but he just couldn't stop. Letting Tyler win would be like getting pinned on the mat and that wasn't something he was willing to experience again in a hurry. He would go as long as Tyler did, even if it meant pushing his muscles until they were bulging like Tyler's, the veins on his arms like rivers on a map.
Tyler almost spoke, almost put words to the tiny bit of respect he had gained for Jake after seeing the way he moved and what he could do, but when he saw that Jake was looking at him again, admiring his body whether he would admit to it or not, it made him beam with pride and he knew he had to go on. Jake might be an incredible specimen, every muscle hard and defined, perfect for a wrestler, but he still wanted to prove that he was better.
Jake's hair had fallen down across his forehead so it was almost in his eyes. He reached up and pushed it back. As he did his bicep flexed and Tyler had to suppress a gasp seeing how big the muscle was. He also caught a glimpse of the dark hair under Jake's arms, a tiny thing that sent a tremor to his core. He needed to move.
Standing up from the lat press, Tyler saw that Jake's shirt was still lying on the ground beside the machine. With Jake still seated, he reached down and scooped it up, thinking he might have seen Jake looking at his ass as he bent over. That wasn't enough to deter him as he brought the shirt up and used it to wipe his brow. When he saw Jake stiffen he smiled and rubbed the shirt across his chest and then tossed it across the room, aiming for Jake's face.
Jake snatched the top out of mid-air, feeling the moisture from Tyler's sweat beneath his fingers. He glared at Tyler and threw the shirt aside, standing up from his machine and closing the gap between them until once again they were stood face-to-face, both pushing their chests out, stretching their backs and bodies, trying to be as big as possible to psyche the other out, not actually touching this time.
Tyler was convinced that they were going to fight and he was ready for the first punch to be thrown. Their eyes bored into each other but then Jake stepped back, dropping to the floor until he was in press-up position. He looked up at Tyler with a grin, waiting for him to accept the challenge.
A growl rumbled in Tyler's throat as he shook his head, not quite believing Jake had the balls to challenge him so brazenly. He wasn't going to back down. He dropped into position, held himself up and looked into Jake's eyes as they lowered at the same time and then pushed themselves back up, matching the other so that every time one of them tried to up the pace the other went with them and retaliated.
A bead of sweat dropped from the tip of Jake's nose and Tyler didn't know whether to smile, seeing how physically drained Jake was getting, or to moan, because try as he might the sight of Jake sweating was hot, or it would have been if they were making each other sweat under different circumstances. Suddenly he pictured himself lying under Jake as that sweat fell onto his own chest. He moaned but once again needed something to distract him from the thoughts that threatened to derail him so he shifted his weight and lifted one arm, continuing his push-ups one-handed.
Jake grunted in response and rose up onto one hand, lowering down as he glared at Tyler. Knowing what the football jock was trying to do, Jake decided to test him, so despite being exhausted he started hopping from one hand to the next, alternating as he went down into the press-up.
With their battle still raging, their bodies screaming and burning as the lactic acid built up inside them, they began to moan, every up and down movement accompanied by a noise that the other echoed, grunting and groaning almost in response to each other as they pushed harder and harder, both refusing to stop before the other.
The door to the gym suddenly crashed open.
"Cut it out now," Coach shouted, glaring at them. "Do you know how fucking stupid you both are?"
Jake and Tyler immediately stopped and turned their heads to see the older man scowling at them. Their exhausted bodies gave out and they collapsed to the floor in two crumpled heaps.
"What the fuck were you thinking?" Coach growled. "You could injure yourself pulling this shit. What would you do then, huh? What would your coach say, Jake?"
"Sorry Coach," Tyler muttered, trying to push himself up; only managing to get himself into a sitting position, the heat in the room suddenly hit him and he was worried he was going to pass out.
"I'm sorry," Jake croaked, doing and feeling the same.
Coach sighed loudly, glancing at Mr Brown who was standing beside him. He turned back to the boys. "I don't understand you two. You're not in direct competition, why are you so hell bent on proving that you're better than the other?"
Neither boy answered.
"Clean your damn sweat off my machines and the floor and then get the fuck out of here. I don't want to see either of you again before Monday," Coach barked.
The older man walked out of the room but watched the two boys through the window as they struggled to get up.
"Are they always like that?" Mr Brown asked, joining him at the window.
"Competitive? Yes. It's the first time I've seen it physically manifest itself though," Coach said. "I'm glad you walked past and saw them."
"They put on quite a show," Mr Brown said.
Coach shook his head. "They're a couple of fucking idiots."
"They're teenagers," Mr Brown defended. "You remember what that was like."
"They could have got hurt," Coach said. "They're too talented to throw away their senior year on this kind of crap."
"Like you said they're competitive. I would have thought you liked that," Mr Brown replied.
Coach chuckled, surprising Mr Brown. "That's not what this is about."
"Then why do you think they're doing it?" Mr Brown asked.
"I always thought they didn't like each other because they're so different," Coach said. "But that's not true. They don't get on because they're so similar. Their minds work the same way, both striving to be number one, and until they get over that and realize they're not competing for the same thing they're gonna continue to butt heads."
Mr Brown nodded. "True... There is a lot of tension there. Although..."
Coach turned to look at his friend. "Although what?"
"They barely took their eyes off each other," Mr Brown stated.
"So?" Coach asked.
"You're telling me you've never had a guy watch you working out in the gym wishing he could shower with you afterwards?" Mr Brown asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Besides you?" Coach replied instantly, regretting the words the second they left his lips.
Mr Brown took a step back.
"I'm sorry," Coach said, softly. "That was uncalled for."
"You... You know?" Mr Brown asked, his heart pounding in his chest.
"That you like me?" Coach asked. "Yes. But it doesn't change anything. Hell, it's flattering. It makes me feel like less of an old man around all of these kids."
"You're not an old man," Mr Brown murmured, looking up at Coach.
"Thanks," Coach chuckled. He patted his buddy on the back and looked in through the window. "Damn, you really think there might be something between those two?"
"Maybe," Mr Brown said, "although they might not know it yet."
Coach was silent for a long moment, watching the two boys clear up their mess. He hadn't even considered it before but now that he thought about it he couldn't deny that there were signs and things were beginning to make a whole lot more sense.
Tyler's hair was still wet from his shower when he walked out into the parking lot, the disappointment in Coach's voice still lingering in his head. He hated that he had made the man mad but Jake always pushed his buttons and he couldn't stop himself. He should know better by now, especially after Jake put him on his ass, twice, but he couldn't accept that Jake was better than him at anything and he knew it wasn't the last time they would compete over something.
The warm sun felt good on his skin as he made his way toward his car. The lot was almost empty, only a few of the teacher's vehicles remained. He pressed the button to unlock the doors and pulled the driver's door open, tossing his gym bag onto the passenger seat. He was about to hop up into his own seat when he felt a huge hand grab the collar of his shirt and yank him backwards, catching him off guard so he crashed to the floor.
"What the fuck?" Tyler screamed, quickly jumping to his feet.
He spun around, ready to fight, and froze.
This time he wasn't seeing things. Michael stood in front of him, towering over him, the same snarl on his face that Tyler had seen before the first boot had landed to his ribs. The memory was still as fresh as the day it had happened.
Tyler felt as if his entire core collapsed, fearing that he would just crumple to the ground so that Michael could finish what he had started back in the locker room. Instead, with his heart hammering in his chest so hard he thought he could hear it, Tyler pushed his shoulders back, his chest out and stood up straight, needing to prove himself now after things with Jake ended in a no contest.
"Stay away from my brother you fucking faggot," Michael barked.
Tyler saw red. He hated that word, despised it with as much venom as there was in Michael's voice. And it had actually been directed at him.
Suddenly any hint of fear disappeared. He was no longer afraid of the giant in front of him. Michael might have been bigger than ever, tall, wide, built like a mach truck, but that only made Tyler feel more powerful. The beating he had taken hadn't come from a smaller, weaker guy, it had come from the monster in front of him, and now it was time to get revenge by slaying it.
With speed gained from doing so many drills, Tyler sprinted forward and imagined he was kicking the Superbowl winning field goal, booting Michael so hard in the crotch it made him think he might have broken his foot from the impact.
Michael gasped for breath, unable to even scream, as he clutched his balls and fell to the ground like a tree that had been felled in the woods.
Tyler stepped up and looked down at Michael, seeing the same ghostly look on his face that Michael must have seen on Tyler's when he was curled up on the locker room floor, the most intense pain he had ever felt surging through his body making him want to throw up. He smiled, knowing Michael was getting to experience the same thing.
For a moment Tyler thought about recreating the whole scene, stepping back to take another kick, this time to Michael's ribs, but as he glanced down at the whimpering giant, who was drooling onto the asphalt, he knew that if he did that he would be no better than him and if there was anything Tyler lived for it was proving that he was the better man.
Instead, he squatted down and grabbed Michael by the hair, turning his head so he had no choice but to look at him though his watering eyes.
"If you ever call me that again I won't just kick you in the balls, I'll rip them off," Tyler growled, yanking on the hair.
Michael tried to push him away but he had no power in his limbs. He managed to gasp, "Cocksucker..."
Tyler chuckled, "Yeah, I am. What the fuck are you going to do about it, huh?"
"I'll... I'll..." Michael wheezed.
"You won't do anything," Tyler stated. "We both know why. Cody told me your little secret."
Michael's eyes went wide and he whimpered, trying to turn away from Tyler, who grinned at the reaction to his lie.
"Look at me!" Tyler shouted, pulling on Michael's hair. "You're gonna leave me alone. You're gonna leave your brother alone and let him play with me because I can make him into the kind of player you can only dream of being. You're gonna sit on your unemployed ass watching as your brother and I play in the NFL, make millions, fuck all the girls and GUYS we want. And if you so much as breathe a word about me to anyone I'll tell your brother everything Cody told me."
Tyler let go of Michael's hair and shoved him away. Michael crumpled to the ground, clearly weeping, but Tyler just stood up, brushed himself off and walked away, feeling a sense of power he had never experienced before. It gave him a rush and sent a little tremor down his spine. He liked it.
With a smile on his face he hopped into his car and sped off, wondering what Monday and the new school year would bring.
To be continued...