My Bodyguard Chapter 24
A very special thanks to Ed for editing this chapter.
This story is not true.
This is a story of love, trust, hope, and commitment. It is not a sex story. However, this story deals with love between two teenagers. If you are offended by stories involving love between two teenage boys, please do not read this story. There will be some sex scenes in this story; however, sex is not the main theme. If you are under age 18 or 21 or it is illegal to read this story where you live, don't read it.
New Web Page: http://wpstories.tripod.com/
Thank you for all your e-mails. If I have missed answering you, I am truly sorry. I have tried to answer all of them. Please continue to send me your comments.
The events of the last several weeks have really brought Mark and me closer together. It has also brought our families closer together.
I got up with Mark and we went running together Monday. We showered and got ready for school. As we walked through the school everybody seemed to be saying hi to us. I have never been popular at school. I'm really not sure how to take all this attention. Mark just seems to let it roll off his shoulders. Of course he has such big shoulders. Ken came running up to us.
"Hi, guys, how was your weekend?"
"It's kind of a long story, Ken. For now let's just say we had a major loss and a major gain. We will explain it to you later. Right now we need to get to class."
"That's cool. I can come over after school today, if you don't mind? Then if you want to tell me about your weekend, that's fine. Or we can just hang out."
"That sounds like a plan, Ken, we will see you at lunch today."
"Okay, see you at lunch."
"Mike, it's going to be difficult for me to talk with anyone about my dad dying. My feelings toward my father are kind of complicated. I don't need the whole school knowing the story. I don't mind telling Ken because he's a friend. But I don't need everybody feeling sorry for me, so let's just keep it with him for now. If people ask where Jeff and Sally came from, we can just tell them your parents are their foster parents. They don't need to know that we are related."
"I understand where you're coming from, Mark, but it's a small town. News travels fast. And I don't think it's right to ask Jeff and Sally to withhold information about themselves. They're going to make friends and tell them where they came from and who their family is. I can't say I understand how you feel because I don't. I'm not even sure you understand how you feel. But think about it and we'll talk to Dad tonight. We also need to talk with Dad about how we are going to handle our relationship with them."
"I think you're right, Mike, it's not fair of me to ask Jeff and Sally to keep quiet about where they came from and how they came to be here. I just don't feel comfortable with people knowing my private information."
"Now you understand a little bit about what I've gone through the last two months with my life open for all to see. But we can talk later. Now we need to get to class."
We went to class and got back into the routine of school. At lunch our table was crowded and everyone wanted to know about our trip to Chicago. We told them about our plane ride and about the airports and about the city council meeting. We left out the parts about Mark's dad.
After school we went home and went to work out. Ken came with us. Jeff also followed us. Like I said, Jeff looks like a smaller version of Mark. He is about 5' tall, with brown hair. Geez, nine-years-old and he is almost as tall as I am.
"Can I work out with you guys?"
"Sure," Mark said.
"Thanks, I want to get as big as Mark. I'm starting school tomorrow. Mama Amy says I am going to your old school, Mike."
"That's right. I think you will find it smaller than your school in Chicago."
"How come I get my own room and you guys share the same room?"
"We're just really close friends and we share everything."
"I wanta share too. Can I move in with you guys?"
"NO," we both said.
"Why not?"
"There is not enough room," I replied.
"But you got that great big bed. There is enough room. Come on. Please."
"Perhaps later but not right now," Mark answered.
"You guys have a computer too. Can I play with your computer? I learned how to use it at school."
"If you are a good boy and don't ask too many questions, perhaps Santa will bring you one for Christmas."
"But I always ask lots of questions. How am I suppos'ta learn if I don't ask lots of questions?"
"Do you want to get big and strong like Mark?"
"Yep."
"Then let's work out."
That is one good thing about little kids. They have a short attention span. We worked out and Jeff could lift almost as much as I could. Ken worked out with Jeff and Mark and I worked out together.
We told Jeff that we needed to talk to Ken about something when we finished, and Jeff went upstairs.
"So who is the kid? He looks like you, Mark. Is he your brother?"
"Yes he is, Ken. I don't want anyone else to know but my dad died last weekend. Mike's parents took in Jeff and Sally, my stepbrother and sister. My dad and I have not been close since I was Jeff's age. I don't want a pity party over this, so if you could keep it to yourself, I would appreciate it."
"You can trust me. You know my secrets. He sure seems like a nice kid. Is there something going on between you guys? I won't tell anyone. I have seen how you look at each other and now I know that you are sleeping together. I know you said that you are in love with a girl in your hometown, Mark, but I can see that you two love each other. You can trust me, Mark."
"It's not that I don't trust you, Ken. I don't trust anyone from school. You don't know me. I want to be your friend but there are some things that are personal. You can think whatever you want but keep your thought to yourself. I do love Mike like a brother and we are together 24-7. I sleep with him in order to protect him."
Ken got a sad look on his face. I could tell he knew.
"I'm sorry for asking about your personal business, Mark. You have treated me like a friend. Thanks for not just telling me it's none of my business. I can understand why you don't trust anyone. It is because you love Mike. I will keep my thoughts to myself. I respect your privacy. Perhaps as we become better friends we can talk again. Until then I will not bring up the subject again."
"You are our friend now, Ken, and I have just shared something private with you. I trust you and only you to know the truth about Jeff and Sally. I trust you to an extent but I'm not ready for you to know everything about me. If you do a good job keeping this secret, perhaps I will share more with you later. Relationships are built on trust. I do trust you but only to a point. If we keep building on that trust as we get to know each other better, I will add to that foundation. I realize you have shared your deepest secret with me but I'm just not ready yet."
We took Ken home and, when we got back, dinner was ready.
Dad had a couple we had not seen before with him.
"Boys, I would like to introduce you to the Pastor and Mrs. Bradley. We have rented the old VFW hall to have services until we can break ground on the new church next spring. They are full gospel, nondenominational. Pastor Bradley comes from Detroit and teaches a message of Faith, Love, and Hope. We have talked and they are tolerant of those who are different."
We shook hands with Pastor Bradley and his wife. They looked like they were about 30.
"Are we going to go to church? I've never been to church before," Jeff said.
"Yep. We are going to go to church."
We talked throughout dinner and they seemed like a really nice couple. After dinner Dad led Mark, Pastor Bradley, and me into his study.
"Boys, I have told Pastor Bradley about your relationship and I thought he should talk to you."
"Mark, Mike, I believe that the Bible is not a book on what you can't do. But rather it is a book about what you can do. I don't teach a message of hate. I don't believe that love in any form is a sin. But we all make mistakes. I have studied the Bible and have a good understanding of dispensations. There are many laws in the Old Testament that don't apply in the New Testament. I will not treat your relationship any differently than I would a teenage boy and girl. I do believe that there needs to be a greater commitment before a couple has sex. When you are ready I would be happy to have a commitment ceremony for you. It can be done in private or public. It is up to you. Until then I would ask that you keep your activities to making out. Your dad has told me that is all you are doing. I was 16 once too and I understand that you are going to get off but do it in a way that is comfortable and safe for both of you. I will never tell anyone about your relationship and if you need someone to talk to, I am always available."
"Thank you, Pastor Bradley. I have done lots of Bible research myself and I do have some questions that I will ask you later."
"I think that is great, Mike. And, Mark, you also feel free to come see me too."
"I'm really not that religious but I'll keep it in mind."
"I'm not that religious either, Mark. Like the Governor of Minnesota said, 'religion is for weak-minded people.' Serving God is for strong-minded people. God is not looking for religious hypocrites. He is looking for those who care more about spiritual things than material things. Things like friends and family and love. Not how much money you have or what kind of car you drive or how many times a month you go to church. It takes a strong-minded person to love your enemies and a weak-minded person to hate your neighbor. I'm sorry to hear about your father, Mark. If you need someone to talk to, I'm available."
"I do need to talk to Papa Greg about that. Mike and I were talking and I would rather people don't know about my dad. I guess I don't want people's pity. My relationship with my father is a complicated one and I'm not sure how to deal with my feelings. Do you understand where I am coming from, Papa Greg?"
"I sure can, Mark. After my parents died and I finished school I moved back to this town and took over the store. I already told you I felt responsible for their death. Every five minutes someone would say something to me. I was constantly reminded that my parents had died. Finally I put a jar [] at the front of the store with my parents' picture. Every time someone would say something to me about my parents I would ask them to contribute to their Memorial Fund. I used the money to buy a plaque to hang in the doorway of the store. I don't think that it will be a problem, Mark, unless you tell someone."
"What about Jeff and Sally?"
"The kids at their school don't know Mark, except the twins. I will call Sam and talk to him. I will also talk to Jeff and Sally and tell them not to bring up Mark. They can say that they have come to live with us because we were looking to adopt some kids."
"How are we going to handle our relationship around? Jeff is already asking questions."
"We will cross that bridge when we get to it. Sally is way too young to understand and Jeff might understand but I feel he is too young to have to deal with your relationship. Don't lie to him but don't tell him the whole truth either."
"You guys might not need my advice. It sounds to me like you already have a good source of advice."
"Dad is the best. When you need advice, Pastor, I suggest that you come to him."
"I will keep that in mind."
We talked some more, just getting to know Pastor Bradley better. Then we went up to do our homework. We had lots of homework to do to make up for missing school Friday. Before we went to bed we talked.
"Are you really okay, Mark?"
"As long as I have you and your parents, I am. And we can share the best part of my dad, Sally and Jeff. I don't blame myself for my dad's death like your dad did. I think that it was meant to be."
"What do you think about Jeff?"
"I think we need to wait and see. He might get pissed off at us for some reason and decide to cause problems for us. What he doesn't know can't hurt us. I'm not ready to come out yet. Perhaps next year when we graduate I will come out. I sure would like to take my boyfriend to the prom."
"What do you think about having a commitment ceremony?"
"I think it is a great idea and the sooner, the better. I have been thinking about trying oral sex with you but I want it to be special. I was thinking that we could have a ceremony with our families and then go somewhere special together, like a honeymoon. I would like that very much. Perhaps we could plan something around the Christmas and New Year's holiday. What do you think of that?"
"I love you so much, Mark. How was I so lucky to find you?"
"You didn't clear out your history folder. Also, with Jeff here, we had better clean up our PCs. Kids today are not dumb when it comes to computers."
"That a good idea."
Mark cleared out his laptop and I cleared out my desktop. We got ready for bed and I crawled into his arms. I felt so safe and warm. I drifted off to sleep in no time.