Nearly 5,000 words in part 1, and no sex. Unusual for me but I'm trying to make this more of a love story than I usually do, so the sex takes a secondary place. It comes in the second part though, but not a lot.
New Love, First Love
The Rainman
Part 1
Tom Husband had worked a double shift and had only one idea in his mind as he drove home through the torrential rain, a shower and a cold beer in front of a roaring log fire. Ok, he was going to have to light the fire, but he had left it ready to go when he left for work that morning. By the time he had showered it would be ready for his company. Living ten miles out of town had its advantages, but on a day like today he could have done without the drive. He had bought the cabin when he joined the army and had moved into it properly when he took his new job after mustering out. His parents had been killed in an accident while he was in Iraq and the army had been unable to get him home for the funeral. He had served his country and wanted no more of it. The GI bill was going to see him through college, but he was working as well to get the money to pay the mortgage on the cabin. He was a bachelor, and expected to stay that way. Tom was gay and realistically didn't expect to be lucky enough to find a soul mate, so he settled into a celibate life and steered his thinking in the direction of his education and a career. That's not to say that his thoughts never took the road to romance. At 23 he would have liked a friend who was a lover as well, he was a good looking guy, and friends convinced him of that fact, but in this neck of the woods there were no gay bars or clubs where he could have met like minded guys. Maybe after he had his degree he would move on.
Happy enough in his own little world, musing about what might be he didn't see the figure trudging through ankle deep water until he was almost on top of him. The next town was miles further on so Tom knew that whoever he was, a stranger to these parts he must be to be contemplating that walk in this weather. He pulled up alongside him and yelled over the noise of the rain and the engine.
"Hop in, you'll drown out there."
The sodden figure did, apologising for messing up the wagon even before he was in and the door closed. Tom looked at him before moving off and realised he was only a boy. Fifteen or sixteen maybe. What on earth was he doing out in this weather. He had a back pack with him, not very large so he wasn't on a planned holiday Tom guessed.
"Where are you going Youngster?"
The boy looked at Tom and replied.
"The next town."
"Have you any idea how far that is?"
The boy shook his head.
"Do you even know what the next town is?"
He shook his head again.
"Have you got anywhere to stay when you get there?"
Silly question if he didn't even know what the town was, but Tom didn't know what else to say.
Another shake of the head.
"I live just a half mile back from the main road about five miles further on, would you like to come home with me until this rain stops? We can probably dry you out as well."
The boy lay his head back and with a big sigh replied.
"Yes please Mr. I'd like that."
`Don't get into cars with strange men, ever,' was the advice he had been fed since he was old enough to go out by himself, but on a dark night on a lonely road, saturated and miserable, that advice went out the window.
Tom didn't say anymore, he got back on the road and fifteen or so minutes later he pulled up at the side of the cabin.
"Let me go first to get the door unlocked and then you follow."
Just the few yards to the cabin door were enough for him to be very wet, he daren't think how sodden the boy would be.
Once inside with the door closed on the weather Tom put some lights on and had a good look at the boy, stood by the door with a puddle forming at his feet.
"Stay where you are Boy or you'll have us floating around in here."
Tom ran into the utility room and pulled out the big plastic bowl he used to use to bath his dog in, before he went off to war.
"Stand in that Boy and start taking your clothes off. I'll get a bag for them and we'll throw them in the dryer after I've spun them. Leave your boots in the bowl we'll dry those by the fire when I've lit it. I'll get you something to wear at the same time."
Tom came back with a set of sweats. They would be too big but that didn't matter for now. The boy was down to his boxer shorts, shivering and looking nearly as sodden undressed as he had done clothed.
Tom thought the sweats would be a waste of time, they would be wet in seconds.
"I think it would be a bit pointless giving you these. Leave your clothes and come with me. A hot shower I think and then you can put these on."
Tom showed the boy how everything worked in the bathroom and left him a bath towel along with the sweats and a pair of thick woolly socks.
"Throw your boxers out and I'll dry those as well."
While the boy showered Tom lit the fire spun all the clothes before puting them in the dryer and then went to make soup which he thought would be good for the boy. He looked at the back pack and guessed that everything in there would be saturated as well but he didn't want to invade the boy's privacy, so that could wait.
Thawing out his body also thawed out his mind. Billy thought he must be mad. The guy was twice as big as him, could have eaten him alive and there he was stripping to order and surrendering his clothes. He was defenceless now, why had he done it? `Because I like him and feel I can trust him. But that's stupid, we've only exchanged a dozen words. Oh well, deed done all I can do is hope', he thought
Fifteen minutes later a completely different individual appeared in the lounge where Tom was sat with two steaming bowls of soup and chunks of farmhouse bread that his nearest neighbour brought him.
"Sit yourself down Boy and get this inside you to warm you up."
While he was speaking, Tom scoped the boy out. Five foot eight, maybe. Small build, but nice shape. Good looking kid with big soulful green eyes and a mop of light brown hair on top.
"I'm Tom Husband by the way."
"Hi Tom, I'm Billy Tindal, thanks for picking me up."
"No problem. Finish your soup then we can talk. I'm going for a quick shower as well while the soup cools. If you want a cold drink the kitchen is through there," pointing in the right direction, "and they are in the refrigerator."
Tom had his shower and dressed in sweats, finished his soup and bread before sitting back and looking at his house guest.
"Your back pack looks as soggy as the rest of you did, do you want to empty it and dry the contents of that as well?"
"Thanks Tom, yes please."
The contents didn't amount to much, some underwear, shorts and a couple of T shirts plus some personal bits and pieces. Tom felt uncomfortable, this looked like a runaway. Were there parents out there worrying themselves sick at a missing son?
"Billy, how old are you?"
The boy looked frightened now.
"It doesn't matter, I'm not going to make you go home or wherever. I would just like to know so that I have some idea of what I'm dealing with here."
"I'm fifteen Tom."
Tom smiled, "That's what I pegged you as. Like to tell me why you are walking on a strange road in torrential rain with very little personal stuff with you?"
"I'm hiking to California."
"Ok, that's quite a ways. What are you going there for?"
"I'm going to get a job."
"At fifteen."
"Yeah, I'll get fake ID until I'm sixteen, that's only a few months away."
"I know I'm prying, but are you a runaway?"
Tom didn't need an answer, the eyes told him.
"Ok, so who is going to be worried sick that you are missing, and how long have you been missing?"
"No one, and about a week I guess. I've steered clear of major roads because of Highway Patrol's that's why it's taken me so long to get here."
"Who are you running from?"
"Promise you won't turn me in."
Tom looked at this kid again and thought. 'You are going to be eaten alive wherever you end up, street smart you definitely aren't.'
"Promise, just level with me."
"Home, my dad was unbearable, I couldn't stand him sniping at me anymore."
"What about your mum?"
Tears in the eyes. This was serious, definitely beyond Tom's experience to deal with.
"She'll be worried sick."
So the `no one' was untrue.
"Ok, here's the deal. I help you sort something out, but you `phone home now and tell your Mum you are ok."
He looked scared again.
"You can use my cell and we'll block the number."
I went into the kitchen while he called but listened to everything he said. He told her about me picking him up after details of the last week.
"Mum would like to talk to you Tom."
"Hi Mrs. Tindal."
"Tom, I am sure you won't tell me where you are, but thank you for making Billy call. I've been worried sick."
"No problem. It's raining cats and dogs here, he looked so bedraggled I had to pick him up and bring him to my home."
"Tom, how old are you?"
"I'm 23 Ma'am, I've just mustered out of the army."
"I know this is asking an awful lot of you, but will you try to sort something out for Billy that will keep him safe. He ought to finish his education as well. I will quite happily pay someone to keep him, I know he won't come home, my husband has been too hard on the boy."
`Christ what have I let myself in for,' was Tom's thought.
"I can't promise anything Ma'am, but I`ll think about it and I promise I'll phone you again to let you know what's happening."
"Thank you Tom, you sound like a good man. Look after my son and tell him I love him very much."
Huh, no pressure there then!
"Yes Ma'am, goodnight."
Tom looked at Billy after he switched the phone off.
"I don't know what we are going to do with you Billy. I have college all day tomorrow, and I need to go to bed now, I've just done a double shift at work. Do you want to stay the night and we'll talk in the morning before I go to college?"
"Thanks Tom, yes please."
Tom dug out spare bedding and made up the bed in the second bedroom. He added a couple of extra blankets.
"The cabin gets a little chilly by the morning in this weather, I guess the rain sucks all the heat out of it. I'll put some more logs on the fire to warm it up more for you now though."
Goodnight's were exchanged and despite his worries about the situation Tom was asleep in no time. Up at seven and busying himself in the kitchen, Tom wondered again what he was going to do with the boy. A few minutes later Billy wandered in in the sweats Tom had loaned him the night before.
"Morning Billy, did you sleep well?"
"Morning Tom, yeah, thanks, the bed felt great."
"Would you like some breakfast?"
"Mmm, please. I normally just have cereals and juice."
"No problem help yourself."
Tom showed him where everything was.
"I have college all day today. If you want to stay here for another day and night I don't have a problem with that. We can have a long talk when I get home and decide what to do with you. Your mum is worried about you being out here by yourself, but I don't know what I can do to help."
"Won't you mind me being here by myself all day? I could steal lots of your stuff and be long gone before you get home."
Tom looked at the boy, seriously for a minute before replying.
"Yes, you could, but I don't think you will."
"Ok, I'd like that. My plans aren't cast in stone."
He sniggered and Tom laughed as well.
"OK, see you about four. There isn't a lot of food in the house but you are welcome to what there is and I will bring back pizzas or something for supper tonight. Oh, Billy, do you have a cell?"
"Yeah, but it's out of credit."
"Give me the number and the provider and I'll put $10 on it to tide you over."
"Thanks Tom, that's very generous of you." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Before lectures, Tom nipped into the shop to put money on Billy's `phone and then called him to let him know.
He found it difficult to concentrate during lectures, thinking about Billy. The kid was quite cute and Tom realised it had been quite comforting to have someone else in the cabin with him. The reality now though was that to keep him there was pretty well impossibly complicated. He did some shopping to carry them over the next 24 hours knowing that he had two days off and could shop properly the next day.
Home just after four and Tom was surprised how neat and clean everything looked.
"I thought I'd clean up the mess I made last night Tom, I hope you don't mind."
Tom grinned at him.
"Not at all. I can't pay you very much to be my housekeeper, but the positions open if you would like it."
Billy relaxed then and let Tom go for his shower. The weather had improved and the temperature didn't warrant the fire.
When he came back from his shower, Tom grabbed a beer and went into the lounge to drink it.
"Ok Billy, what are we going to do with you?"
Billy sat opposite Tom and just shrugged.
"Ok, what do you want to do, long term?"
"I don't know really. I'd like to finish my education but I don't see how. I'll probably end up doing something like you, join the army and then finish my education on the GI bill. But that would make me a gazillion years old before I could do anything really useful."
"So California isn't really your aim, it's just a destination away from your dad?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"He was that bad was he?"
Tears in the eyes again and Tom realised this boy was running close to empty on emotional control.
"Yeah, he was always sniping at me because I wasn't a jock. I love the sciences and music and literature. To him that made me a sissy. I guess I'm too much like my mum. I sometimes think he only married her because her family had money."
"Haven't you got any family you could stay with?"
"No, dad's family wouldn't cross him and mum's family are all dead."
"You could stay here Billy and do all that you want except that we are too far away from town for you to be able to go to school. There is no public transport so you would be tied to my schedule which is ok if I only do a regular day at work and college, but I work extra for the money because I do college three days a week as well."
Tom saw the boy's eyes light up.
"Would you really let me stay with you if we could work something out?"
"Sure, I like company, but I couldn't keep you Billy. I only have enough money to keep myself until I finish college, and transport would be a real problem."
Billy nodded but Tom could see him thinking. He looked at his watch before speaking again.
"I need to talk to Mum again Tom, I'll go outside to do it."
Private discussion Tom thought. He nodded and got up to go and sort the kitchen ready for supper. The pizzas would go into the oven and be ready quite quickly.
When he came back in Billy was smiling.
"Tom, if my mother paid for all my keep and paid you for the money you lost in overtime if you just worked a regular day could I stay? I would come in with you every day and come home with you the same. I could stay at school doing assignments, or whatever until you picked me up each day, and when I'm sixteen Mum would buy me a car as soon as I have a driver's permit."
Tom was surprised that Billy had worked all that out.
"Phew, hang on youngster, that's a lot of responsibility for me, and what happens if we don't get on?"
"We will Tom. I'm not a rebel, I'll respect your home and I'll keep out of the way if you want solitude any time. I can cook and clean so I'll help around the cabin."
Tom noticed then that Billy's clothes were all neat and had been ironed.
"I'll need to think about this and have a long talk with your Mum."
"She said for you to call her in the morning after ten. Dad will be gone to play golf so she will be free to talk for as long as you like, and she says you are to reverse charges for the call."
He was grinning as he said it and Tom realised this boy was a step ahead every time.
Tom moved over to where Billy was sat, pulled him to his feet and gripped both shoulders as he looked into the boy's eyes.
"Are you sure about this Billy? This is a big commitment on both our parts if we go ahead with this."
The boy nodded.
"Yes Tom, I know I am going to like living with you. You are really good to me already and you hardly know me. You trusted me with your home despite the fact that I'm a stranger. You've been so supportive already even though I know I am going to turn your life upside down if we go ahead with this plan. Please let's give this a try."
That appeared to be it. Tom had no serious issues with the arrangement. He felt that transport would be restrictive for Billy but that was only for a few months.
"How many months is a few months Billy?"
"Only two and a bit Tom actually."
"Oh, here's the deal. Monday I'll see what school you could get into. I'll talk to the head teacher and see if they will take you straight away. We'll call your mum and see if she can send all your stuff and also get your school stats so that we have something for the new one."
Telephone call was difficult because Tom knew he now had to give a postal address. It was only a box number because he didn't have mail delivered, but it would localise the area. He told Billy's Mum how much he would lose not doing extra shifts and he gave her his bank details. The last reluctantly. Billy then got on the call and made Tom crease up with laughter detailing everything he wanted sent. It sounded as though Tom would need another house to put it all in.
"That's not too much is it Tom?" said rather sheepishly.
"No, you and I can always camp out in the yard to make room for it all."
That comment brought a broad grin to Billy's face.
"Oh good, I love camping."
The atmosphere between these two young men was getting more relaxed all the time. Tom was a sporty guy but had no problem with Billy being more academic.
With everything settled the boys went into town to do a big food shop and for Tom to show Billy round. They took a look at the two high schools deciding which one Tom would try first.
"The one with the best science facilities really Tom. If it has a good literature department as well that's a bonus."
Tom would ask around college on Monday before making a move. Hopefully Tuesday he would have Billy's school stats and could see a headmaster during his lunch break from work.
Back at the cabin and Billy stripped down to just the shorts he had in his backpack. Tom did the same and they settled in to be couch potatoes and watch some football.
That was the start of Tom's problem. He now had all the time in the world to scope out this boy, and what he saw gave him a tingle between his legs. Definitely cute, easy to be with now that he was sorted, intelligent and a good sense of humour. No annoying habits yet. Eight years difference in their ages was only a problem for another couple of months really because at sixteen he would be legal, if he was gay! Now that was the $64,000 question.
`Control your urges Tom, he's only a kid', was the thought that made Tom slow down.
They had a pleasant weekend. Billy helped Tom work in the yard and clean the Jeep. He was a help in the kitchen, very quickly taking over everything because he was a better cook than Tom.
"Hey, this is great, where did you get so good?"
"Oh, I was always helping Mum in the kitchen and it kind of rubbed off."
Tom clicked where Billy's Dad was coming from.
"What else did you do that pissed off your dad?"
Billy blushed almost purple and Tom thought he was going to faint. He quickly took the boy in his arms to stop him falling. He stroked his back and whispered.
"It's ok youngster, you can tell me, it won't change anything."
Eyes brimming with tears he looked up at Tom.
"Yes it will. I can't tell you Tom. I don't want you to throw me out."
"Doubtful that's going to happen. Just tell me when you're ready."
Billy nodded, breathed a sigh of relief and got on with the cooking, while Tom wondered what was so awful. Dad knew, but he wasn't allowed to yet.
Monday and Tom did his college stint, checked his mail box, nothing. Pleasant evening with Billy, eating one of the best meals he'd had for ages.
"Wow Youngster, you'll make someone a great wife one day."
Tom said it with a grin on his face meaning it to be a joke. Billy looked absolutely devastated, and it clicked immediately. Round the table and one very tearful boy found himself in a bear hug.
"Fuck I'm sorry Billy. I get it now. Anything you did that wasn't considered macho enough got you shit from your Dad."
The boy nodded.
"He never stopped Tom. As soon as he came in the house each day he would start. Most Dads would be proud of a son that was a straight 4.0 GPA. I headed the debating society. I was a good musician. I love the piano and we had a baby grand at the house. I love the romantic composers so I played a lot of Chopin and Grieg. Dad used to tell me that was music for little faggots, the same as being a good cook. I tried playing sport to please him, I even made the junior swim team, but that was another faggot sport. I could never win Tom and he never got tired of sniping at me. Then he caught a mate and me having a jack off session and he moved up a gear, gradually introducing physical abuse. The final time he made me take my clothes off in front of my mother and then he spanked me like a little boy. That was last week and I left the next day when he went to work."
Tom lifted Billy's chin and using his other hand wiped away the tears.
"I promise I'll never abuse you and I'll try not to make another comment like I did just now. Just know though that if I do I'll mean it in fun. I think it's great that you can look after yourself. I can too, but I'm nowhere near as good at it as you are."
His face lit up.
"Really Tom, you think it's good I can do these things that women do?"
"Yeah of course. Ever been to a bachelor's home where he doesn't look after himself? They usually stink and look like a bomb site. That shows lack of respect for yourself as far as I'm concerned."
Billy put his arms round Tom then and hugged him back.
"I think I'm going to love being here Tom, you are so good to me."
Tom laughed and hugged back harder.
"And I know I am going to enjoy you being here. I've got a new best friend and he's living with me, that's cool."
The tingle was there again but Tom thought. 'I don't have to hurry this I can explore gently, I have all the time in the world.'
The next lunch time he checked his mail. There were a couple of large crates for him and some mail. The mail was Billy's school stats. He knew which school he was going to try and took them with him.
"I'll call back for the crates later."
It was so easy Tom was amazed. The stats were good, the covering letters from headmaster and Billy's Mum got an odd look but the result was Billy would start in the senior science class the next day and his roster would also include music and literature.
Tom picked up the crates after work and took them home. Billy danced round them like a little boy and started emptying them into his bedroom.
"I won't clutter up anywhere else Tom."
Tom laughed, he didn't mind. This boy was like a ray of sunshine in his life, so he was really surprised to see him suddenly burst into tears.
"What is it Billy, what's the matter?"
"Look Tom, Mum's bought me a new electronic keyboard with amplifier and echo chamber. I'll be able to play here as well as at school."
Tom hugged him and calmed him down.
"I'm going to be very pleased to listen to you play, I bet you'll be really good."
Billy looked up at Tom through his tears.
"I will be for you Tom, I love you."
More tears and he buried his face in Tom's chest.
Jesus, some parents were crazy. This boy was giving Tom pleasure in quotients he couldn't even come close to thinking about four days ago. Friend, son, younger brother, lover. Tom didn't mind how many or how few of those come true, one would be ample, the remainder would be a bonus.
Tom did supper and after it Billy showed off his bedroom. Everything was stowed neatly and there was still plenty of space to live in.
"Ok, where have you hidden it all. It's no good bringing it back in after I've gone, I'm bound to see it sometime."
Billy looked at Tom, realised he was joking and once again gave this new friend and mentor a big hug. School the next day and Billy was over the moon.
"Oh Tom, the science department is out of this world. I think I might live there if you ever get tired of me. How does a little town like this afford that level of equipment?"
Tom was so pleased.
"My company pays for it all. They sponsor the sciences at both high schools, but yours gets the lions share. They will also guarantee you a job if you get a science degree."
"Wow, that's fantastic. What do you do there?"
"I'm a lab assistant until I get my degree and then I'll do research, with them of course."
Billy was amazed.
"Gosh, I'm living with a science genius, that's great."
Both boys fell about laughing and ended up on the couch with their faces almost touching. Tom looked deep into Billy's eyes and moved his head forward slowly until their lips touched, just a gentle touch and Tom pulled away.
"I love you Little Man."
A so quiet, "Honestly", was said so that Tom barely heard.
"Yes Billy, honestly. You light up my life, I'm so glad I found you."
"I am too Tom, because you light up mine as well."
They pulled further apart and stood up. Both young men looked embarrassed and busied themselves with other things while they calmed down.
Supper was a quiet affair with Billy casting frequent glances at Tom but not letting their eyes meet.
"I haven't screwed things up have I Billy?"
He shook his head.
"No Tom, but the kiss was unexpected. Are you gay Tom?"
Tom's turn to lose his voice. He nodded.
"And you love me, properly love me?"
Another nod and Billy was in Tom's arms before he had time to draw another breath.
"Oh Tom, I love you too, so much. Almost from the moment I saw you, I didn't dare to hope you would feel the same about me. Can I sleep with you tonight?"
Billy was laughing and crying at the same time.
Tom held the boy away from him and shook his head.
"I don't think so. I want to make love to you but you're under age. That would make me a sex offender."
"I won't tell Tom, I swear I won't."
It was more difficult not to give in so.
"You can sleep with me, but no sex, not until you're sixteen."
You want it, you have to find a way round the obstacles until you get it. Billy was going to do that. Sleeping in the same bed with Tom would be the first step, then he would gradually seduce him.
"Ok."
Too easy, Tom was now on his guard. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Billy uses some feminine wiles to get his way in part 2