Taking a Stand Chapter 4

Taking a Stand

This story may occasionally include explicit depictions of sexual acts between consenting adult males.  If you are underage or it is illegal to view this for any reason, consider yourself warned.  If you find this material offensive, please leave.

This story is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to people, living or dead, is entire a coincidence. As the author, I keep all rights to this story, and it cannot be reproduced or published without explicit consent from me.  This work is copyright © 2017 by Steven Wells.

I love to hear any feedback you have, be it positive or negative.  Send me an email with any comments or questions at MaWriterBoy@yahoo.com.

This is a sequel to my original story on Nifty.org, Jeffery Comes Home. I have tried to make this a standalone story. I look forward to hearing from you.

Previously

We finished and gathered near our lockers. I stripped out of my gym clothes and dug through my bag before the shower. I turned to follow Rupert and the others to the shower when I bumped into a fully clothed blond kid.

"Trevor," the fully clothed blond guy began. "I'm Damian Haldeman. I write for the Daily Illini, but I also free-lance for the Chicago Tribune. Could I ask you a couple of questions about your father's run for House of Representatives?"

"Ahem," I stammered as I found him looking my body over. "Sure. Where?"

"Here's fine," Damian replied.

"I think I would feel a little odd talking about my Dad as I'm standing here in the gym locker room without clothes," I added.

"Oh!" Damian said as he backed away. "I'm sorry. I should have realized you might be uncomfortable. Sorry."

Damian dug out his card and handed it to me.

"Whenever you have time," Damian continued. "I'd be happy to meet you so we could talk. Again, I'm sorry about making you uncomfortable. But, you looked so relaxed standing naked with your friends."

Damian turned and walked away.

All eyes turned toward me.

"What?" I asked.

"Both reporters seemed taken with your naked body today, Trevor," Rob said to me. "Did you put something in the water?"

"Who could blame them," Rupert added. "Trevor is just so sexy naked."

Chapter 04: The Real Journey Begins

"What do you mean he wants to go to bed with us?" I exclaimed as Rupert and I sat in the student union sipping a Starbucks cold brew.

"He shocked me, too, Trev," Rupert explained. "I came out of the bathroom and was slipping out of my clothes. He pulled off his jeans as he sat on the edge of the bed. That's when he asked me."

"Can you give me the exact words he used?" I asked.

"I'll try," Rupert said. "He said, `Rupert? What would you say if I asked you and Trevor to... to... to go to bed with me?' I sat on the edge of my bed and just stared at him. By this time, I was naked. I didn't know what to say, and I didn't know what to do."

"What did Ryan say or do during your silence?" I asked.

"He pulled off his t-shirt," Rupert explained. "Did you know he doesn't wear underwear? I swear to God he had a hard dick! Finally, I said I'd need to speak with you."

"Let me get this straight, gay boy," I said. "You would consider actually asking me, your boyfriend, to join you and your roommate in bed for a sexual encounter?"

"It wouldn't be the first time I went to bed with two people," Rupert replied. "Are you shocked I would ask?"

"I'd never even thought about going to bed with two other people," I replied. "Doesn't it get a little awkward trying to please everyone?"

"I suppose it might," Rupert replied. "Everyone needs to want it if a threesome will work. Everyone needs to be into the others."

"How was it?" I asked.

"How was what?" Rupert asked in return.

"The threesome?" I asked.

"Ahem," Rupert struggled with his words. "It was... it was pretty hot!"

"How did you know who wanted what?" I asked.

"We just relaxed and had a good time," Rupert replied. "So, is this a `yes' or a `no'?"

"You're serious about this aren't you?" I finally asked when I realized Rupert wanted me to give this thoughtful consideration.

"It could be hot," Rupert replied. "Ryan has a smoking hot body, a big dick, and a lot of interest."

"I need to weigh my options here," I replied. "Wait! I thought Ryan was straight!"

"Maybe we turned him when he walked into the room while I screwed you," Rupert explained. "It turns out he's had experiences with other guys before. He thought he had just a fleeting interest in men. His former girlfriend had the last say it seems. She became overly vocal during a discussion in Starbucks. She threw her coffee at him and, at the top of her lungs, screamed something about how she always thought he was a faggot."

"I hope she threw an iced coffee at him," I added. "Otherwise, he could have been seriously burned."

"He didn't give me those details, Trev. Let's take a step back. You're not saying `no,' right, Trev?" Rupert asked.

"No, I'm not saying `no,'" I replied. "But I'm also not saying `yes,' either."

"Ryan is just as nervous as you, Trev," Rupert added.

"You talk about this like it's a walk in the park," I added.

"It is, sort of," Rupert replied. "Except you're naked."

"How do you know he has a big dick?" I asked.

"Ah...," Rupert stammered. "I, ahem, saw him when we jerked off together."

"Makes sense," I replied as I handed Rupert my empty cup. "I could use another one of these."

~~~~~

"You're kidding me, right?" Christina asked.

I met Christina at one of my father's student rallies. She's a no-nonsense person who seems to be shocked by absolutely nothing. We've become good friends, and we were sitting in Starbucks having a heart to heart discussion about my love life.

"Kidding about what?" I asked.

"How many people have you had sex with in your life?" Christina asked. "And I'm not talking boys in the barn playing with themselves. I'm talking naked, intense, mind blowing sex."

"One," I admitted. "Rupert's the only person."

"I thought so," Christina continued. "Would you want to commit to a serious, monogamous relationship with Rupert without knowing what else or who else might be out there?"

"No," I replied. "Rupert and I can't be a seriously committed, monogamous couple. We have different life goals along with some issues we're both confronting."

"So, you've made your decision," Christina added. "You're having sex with someone you know won't be your partner eventually. Yea, you may love one another, but you're not in the relationship for love. You're in the relationship to satisfy a physical need."

"Well, yes, but...," I started to say before Christina cut me off.

"Cut the shit, Trevor," Christina exclaimed. "Let go and have a terrific time. You're young. You need to have experiences so you know if you've found the one. Otherwise, you'll always have doubts."

"Do I need to give you a full report?" I asked.

"Yup," Christina replied. "What's he like?"

"Who?" I asked.

"Ryan! Rupert's roommate," Christina added.

"He's slightly taller than Rupert, so he's probably six-one," I began. "His arms are massive, his legs like tree trunks, and his chest gigantic. Dark brown—almost black—hair cut moderately short. Deep, deep green eyes with long eye lashes calling attention to his beautiful eyes. Rupert said he had a big dick, too."

"How does Rupert know his roommate has a big dick?" Christina asked.

"They jerked off together on more than one occasion," I replied.

"Maybe the three of you could jerk off together and see how it works out before you get to the lying horizontal in a bed phase," Christina suggested. "The picture in my mind is pretty hot."

"Would you like to take pictures?" I asked. "The sales could help defray college expenses if we got famous."

"Somehow, I don't believe `porn star' would look good on your résumé," Christina continued. "How's Wyatt?"

"Today will be his first day back in classes," I said. "He's happy to return to, as he put it, a normal life. He's been in good spirits."

"Has he heard anything regarding the paternity test?" Christina asked.

"Not yet," I replied. "Probably next week. I'm not certain if he wants to know."

"He'll probably be disappointed if he isn't the father, and he'll be nervous if he is," Christina suggested. "How are the two of you doing during all of this?"

"We're good," I replied. "I'm not pushing him. And he's not talked about an `us' since he's been out of the hospital."

"You worried?" Christina asked.

"No," I replied. "I want him as a friend first. The rest will be a bonus if we get beyond being best friends."

"Why are you always so patient and can just let things happen around you?" Christina asked.

"My asshole ex-father, the ex-Congressman, almost fucking killed me while he worked off a drunken stupor," I explained. "My shrink tells me it's a cover for how I really feel, and I'm really a nervous mess on the inside. Maybe I freaked out when Rupert suggested we have sex with his roommate because I wanted a nice, peaceful, uncomplicated world around me. Having a threesome might pull me out of my shell."

"Are you afraid of someone else hurting you?" Christina asked.

"Yes," I replied. "I believe I wound up with Rupert because I didn't want to risk moving beyond my comfort zone, and he'd already penetrated it."

"And you're not asking Wyatt to make a decision about the two of you because you're afraid he'll hurt you emotionally," Christina suggested.

"Good explanation, Christina," I said with a smile. "You should be a shrink."

"An architect serves as a shrink at times because we need to draw the owner out of his shell to experience new emotions and connections with a house or a building," Christina replied. "We should write a self-help book, Trevor. We've practically written it during this conversation alone."

"I'll stick with my music," I replied. "I'm having second thoughts, you know."

"About Wyatt?" Christina asked.

"No," I replied with a big smile spreading across my face. "Having a threesome. I want to do it."

"Good for you, Trevor," Christina exclaimed. "You're moving out of your comfort zone and into the real world."

"I should ask my Dad if he's had a threesome," I replied.

"You'd really ask your Dad if he's had a fucking threesome?" Christina exclaimed.

"We've talked about some amazingly abnormal topics, especially considering he's my father," I explained. "Maybe I'll just let this one go."

"Good idea, Trevor," Christina replied. "As all good things, this discussion must come to an end. I'm meeting my boyfriend Dirksen in a few minutes. He's treating me to pizza tonight."

"I need to run, too," I replied. "I need to tell Rupert I'm in."

~~~~~

I walked into my dorm room to find Grayson laying on his bed in his briefs. His telephone rested on the bed beside him. He stared blankly at the ceiling above him.

"How it going, Grayson," I asked as I dropped my back pack on my desk.

"I'm seriously screwed," Grayson said without moving his eyes from the ceiling.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"My little brothers have decided to come out to my parents this weekend," Grayson explained.

"Why is this a problem?" I asked.

"I've been living with this for two years," Grayson explained. "I've been looking for just the right moment to come out. It hasn't happened. Now, my little brothers will spill the beans to my parents before I get a chance to reveal my secret. It's not fair!"

"Maybe you should join them this weekend and make it a family affair," I suggested.

"They will come out of this unscathed," Grayson suggested. "I'm the one my father has his sights on to uphold the family reputation. I'm the one he expects to follow in his footsteps. I'm the one he's planned using to get into his biggest client's daughter's pants so he can claim a huge boat load of business. It isn't happening, Trevor. I'm screwed."

"Why is it okay for your brothers to be gay and not you?" I asked.

"They've already pissed him off by refusing to be the stud jocks he planned for all his sons," Grayson added.

"How does your situation with the girl you father wants you to be with?" I asked.

"I told her yesterday it would be a cold day in hell before I went on a date with her," Grayson explained. "I'm praying she doesn't mention my outburst to her father. If she does, I'll be seriously fucked."

Grayson's phone rang just as he finished his last sentence.

"Fuck!" Grayson said as he looked at the screen. "I'm seriously fucked, Trevor. Will you be at my funeral?"

"Sure," I replied as Grayson answered the call on speakerphone.

"What's up, Dad?" Grayson said excitedly into the phone."

"What the fuck did you say to Desera?" Grayson's father asked.

"Ahem...," Graysen stammered. "What did I say?"

"Her father said you called her a desperate, whiny pig," Grayson's dad exclaimed. "Is it true? Did you call her a whiny pig?"

"Yea, but she is a whiny pig," Grayson exclaimed.

"Grayson," his father said somewhat calmly. "Need I remind you her father is an important client of mine? I'm certain she has a lot of men who want to date her. Why can't you keep your fucking mouth shut?"

"Dad," Grayson began. "I've told you over and over again, I'm not interested in her. She's... she's... she's just not my type."

"Not your type!" Grayson' father screamed. "What the fuck is your type, Grayson? Does your type have a dick between their legs?"

"Listen to me, Dad," Grayson screamed back. "I've been trying all of my life not to disappoint you. Like a good little boy, I obeyed your every command to play the right sport, to become friendly with the right people, to date the right girls. You know what, Dad? I'm tired to following you around like the good little boy you thought you'd raised."

Both Grayson and his dad paused for a moment.

"Don't tell me you're a faggot!" Grayson's Dad screamed. "You can't be a faggot! I raised you better than to be a faggot. Tell me you're not a faggot."

"I'm not a faggot, Dad," Grayson said calmly. "I'm gay, but I'm not a faggot. I like men, Dad. I want to sleep with men and not women. But, I am not a faggot. Don't ever use the term around me. I'm gay. I'm queer. I'm a homosexual. I am not, however, and never will be, a faggot!"

Grayson shut down the call.

"Look on the bright side, Grayson," I said. "You told him before your brothers did. I don't believe it went as well as you had expected, though."

~~~~~

"Hello, men," Rupert said as he and Ryan approached the gym gang. "This is my roommate, Ryan."

"Welcome to the gang of thugs, Ryan," Harry said to the newcomer.

"Why do you insist on being so sunny and bright in the morning, Rupert?" Jackson asked. "You're making me look bad, boy!"

"Sorry I've rocked your boat, Jackson," Rupert responded. "I'll try to tone it down so you won't be blinded by the light. Ryan, let me introduce you. From left to right, Harry, Jackson, Wyatt, Trevor, and Grayson."

"We're missing a few this morning," I explained. "Rob and Makato needed to skip today's workout session. Landry is just MIA."

"Let's move it, boys!" Jackson exclaimed once we'd finished our introductions.

We followed Jackson to a bank of unused lockers. Ryan dropped his bag beside mine and slipped his t-shirt over his head.

`I want to put my lips on those nipples,' I said to myself as I turned my head away from Ryan's magnificently sculpted body.

Ryan pulled his walking shorts off with one tug. `God! He's going commando,' I thought.

I felt like everyone around me disappeared except Ryan and me. Even soft, his uncut cock looked huge. He started digging through his gym bag to find his gym clothes as I pulled off my underwear and tossed it into my empty locker.

"Rupert said you wanted to get together with the two of us," Ryan said to me as he pulled out his gym shorts and a tank. He still stirred through his bag in search of something.

"Ah...," I stammered. "Yes. I'm looking forward to it. Thanks for suggesting the idea."

I managed to pull on my jock before my dick stirred too much. Ryan still sifted through his gym bag. Still naked.

"Damn," Ryan hissed as he finally looked at me. "I didn't bring a jock. It's commando for me, it seems."

I quickly pulled on my gym shorts over my jock as I watched Ryan slowly pull on his gym shorts. The too small shorts highlighted his still soft cock and delicious balls.

It suddenly hit me. Ryan, except for the hair on his head and a patch of neatly trimmed pubic hair, stood in the middle of the locker room next to me; his extraordinary, completely hairless body made me stare.

"You're moving a little slowly today, Trevor," Grayson said to me as he stood fully clothed in his gym clothes and ready to hit the weights. "Is something distracting you?"

"Cool it, Grayson," I grumbled.

Grayson turned his attention to Ryan. "Congratulations on being named captain of the junior varsity lacrosse team, Ryan! You must be stoked."

"Thanks," Ryan said to Grayson. "I didn't expect it. I'm honored the team picked me."

The gang finally made it into the weight room. I couldn't tell if Ryan's presence gave me extra energy or distracted me from my concentration. The mouth dropping highlight came as I noticed Ryan bench pressing twice the weight I used.

Our workout ended as we straggled into the locker room. I pulled off my tank top and slipped my gym shorts and jock off and hurled them into my gym bag.

"Trevor!" a voice said.

As I looked up, I saw in was Remington Mortimore. Naked. A towel draped over his shoulders. "Oh! Hi, Remington."

"Thanks for the interview," Remington said as he looked at my naked body from head to toe.

"You're welcome, Remington," I replied.

"The article came out today. It made front page with a terrific photo of you and your Dad at the latest student rally."

"I'm looking forward to reading it," added.

"Remington," Rupert said to our naked friend. "I'm Rupert, a friend of Trevor's. We'd be delighted if you want to join us for lunch at the pasta place next to campus."

"I'd be honored to join you," Remington replied. "I hope you don't mind, Trevor."

"Of course, I don't mind," I lied. "The more the merrier!"

"Good," Remington replied. "I'll finish getting dressed. Let me know when you're ready to leave."

I grabbed a towel and followed the group into the shower. I flipped on the water and grabbed the bar of soap. I turned away from the shower head and realized Ryan stood under a shower head on my left, Rupert on my right, and Remington across the room in a bank of shower head on another wall. I suddenly became conscious of the openness of the group shower facilities.

Remington joined us as we walked to the pasta place. I managed to be sandwiched between Remington and Ryan.

"Where did you grow up, Remington?" Ryan asked.

"Upper East Side in Manhattan," Remington explained. "My Dad encourage me to go to school at UIUC because it's his alma mater. He was a reporter for the New York Times, and now he's an author."

"Do you want to become a journalist, too?" I asked.

"I do," Remington explained. "I watched my Dad break some major, major stories over the years. He made me excited about writing. He links his success as a writer to being a diligent spy."

"I know about Trev's background, but what about you, Ryan?" Remington asked. "Where did you grow up?"

"Chicago," Ryan replied. "My Dad's a physician. My Mom is an architect. I grew up in the Lakeview area of Chicago's north side."

"Are you headed to med school," I asked.

"Nope," Ryan replied. "My field of study focuses on digital media and cinema."

"Outstanding!" Remington replied as we slipped into line at the pasta place.

We talked and laughed all through lunch. Remington and Ryan fit into the group like long lost brothers. We dumped our trash and fanned out to our respective destinations. I walked toward my next class, and Remington joined me.

"Trevor," Remington said as he stepped along beside me. "I thought we might get together for dinner to talk and get to know one another better. I really enjoyed the time we spent while I wrote the piece about your father."

"I'd enjoy getting to know you, too, Remington," I replied. I must admit I seemed both stunned and delighted at the same time. "Weekends usually work best for me, but I can also carve out some time on a week day."

"This coming Saturday evening?" Remington asked. "I know a really nice, quiet restaurant I think you'd enjoy."

"What time?" I asked.

"Seven?" Remington asked. "I can pick you up in front of your dorm."

"Sure," I replied. "What does one wear to this `nice, quiet restaurant'?"

"Something sexy," Remington suggested. "Nice jeans. Nice shirt. Casual, but not trashy!"

"You mean I can't wear the jeans with the ripped knees and ass?" I said with a smile.

"You can model them for me later," Remington said. "I'll send you the link to the restaurant's website so you know more about the place. I'm looking forward to this!"

"Me, too, Remington," I replied before we went our separate ways.

~~~~~

I settled into my favorite chair in my shrink's office on Tuesday late afternoon. My mind still swirled while I tried to put today's pieces in place.

"How have you been since our last visit?" Dr. Basheer Ahmad asked.

"It's been a strange week, Dr. A," I replied. "Lots has happened in the past week. Let me do this chronologically so I don't forget events, places, or people."

"Does this involve your friend Wyatt?" Dr. A. asked.

"Not so much, no," I began. "I told you about the guy who wrote the article about my father."

"Remington, correct?" Dr. A. asked.

"Yes," I replied. "Remington Mortimore. "Much has happened involving nakedness. Specifically, me and a few other guys who have found their way into my life."

"I do remember the incident when you first met Mr. Mortimore," Dr. A. added.

"It gets stranger as the time progresses," I continued. "My friend Rupert and I retired to his dorm room one afternoon. One thing led to another, and we ended up in bed with Rupert on top and me on the bottom. We had just experienced a mind blowing sexual romp when we noticed Rupert's roommate, Ryan, standing motionless in front of the closed door. He had his clothes on. We did not."

"Did you have a reasonable expectation of privacy?" Dr. A. asked.

"We usually used Rupert's room when his roommate would be gone for the weekend," I explained.

"How did the roommate react?" Dr. A. asked.

"We discovered Ryan was gayer than we thought," I replied.

"What do you mean, `gayer than we thought'?" Dr. A. asked.

"A few days later, while Rupert and Ryan were getting ready for bed, Ryan suggested he'd like to have a threesome with Rupert and me," I explained. I stopped to watch Dr. A's reaction.

Dr. A looked up from his notes. He looked over his glasses at me before he spoke.

"What was your reaction to this suggestion from Ryan?" Dr. A asked.

"At first, I hesitated to even think about it," I began. "Then, the afternoon after Rupert explained Ryan's offer I sat with my friend Christina at Starbucks. I told her about Rupert and Ryan. I expected her to be shocked. She wasn't."

"What conclusions did you make after or during your conversation with Christina?" Dr. A asked.

"Remember how you told me my proclivity to not make decisions about relationships may be a cover for how I really feel," I began. "You suggested I'm really a nervous mess on the inside. This whole episode convinced me you're correct in your assessment."

"Explain how you reached this decision, Trevor," Dr. A suggested.

"I now believe I freaked out when Rupert suggested we have sex with his roommate because I wanted a nice, peaceful, uncomplicated world around me. Having a threesome might pull me out of my shell."

"Why are you concerned about something pulling you out of your shell, Trevor?" Christina asked.

"My logic may be flawed, but I believe I wound up with Rupert because I didn't want to risk moving beyond my comfort zone, and he'd already penetrated it," I continued. "I'm not asking Wyatt to make a decision about the two of us because I'm afraid he'll hurt me emotionally."

"Good for you, Trevor," Dr. A said. "You're working through your trauma. Your father hurt you physically and emotionally. You've put up a wall around other people in your life because you don't want to experience the physical or emotional turmoil again. You've made a big step discussing these issues in such a logical manner. Now, you mentioned other naked men have confused you. Tell me about the others."

"We might not get through the explanation before our time is up," I suggested. "However, I can start. I went to the gym this morning with my regular gym group. Rupert invited his roommate Ryan to join us. He put me under his supervision while we were getting dressed for our workout. Something about his naked body sent me into a tailspin for the rest of the workout. I also discovered he bench presses twice as much weight as I can. He also forgot his jock strap so he went commando during our workout."

"Did his gym outfit make you more interested in pursuing Ryan sexually?" Dr. A asked.

"I want him, Dr. A," I admitted. "There's more."

"Okay," Dr. A said. "Continue."?

"We finished our workout, and stripped in the locker room as we prepared to shower. My friend Remington stopped by while I attempted to find my towel."

"Let me guess," Dr. A began. "He was naked with a towel slung over his shoulders when he stopped by."

"Yes," I explained. "He accompanied our entire group into the shower after Rupert invited him to join us for lunch at our usual pasta place. I found an empty shower head. Ryan and Rupert landed on either side of me. Remington found a shower head on the opposite wall. I almost freaked out when I realized these three naked men stood in a public shower while they washed their private parts and the rest of their extremely well-defined bodies. It didn't faze them in the least."

"We are almost out of time, Trevor," Dr. A said. "What else concerned you?"

"After we finished lunch, Remington asked me out. He's taking me to a nice restaurant for dinner on Saturday."

"How do you feel about this date with Remington?" Dr. A asked.

"I want him, too," I replied just before our session ended.

~~~~~

"Let me get this straight, gay boy," Christina said after I explained my visit with Dr. Ahmad. "You explained all of this in fifty minutes?"

"Yes," I replied. "Why?"

"A lot of information passed between you in a very fleeting time," Christina replied. "What does all this mean to you, Trev?"

"It means, I believe, I'm finding my groove," I replied. "I can't be waiting around for people in my life to make decisions we should be making together. It means I'm going on a date with Remington and will enjoy myself. It means I've sent a text to Ryan asking him to meet me at Starbucks on Sunday. It means I need to speak with Wyatt about his timeframe for making room for us if he wants to pursue us. It means I need to tell Rupert I'm not waiting around for him to decide if he'll ever be ready to accept my chosen profession and be in a relationship with me. Any questions, Christina?"

"Is this the new you?" Christina asked.

"Yes," I replied. "At least until all of my friends abandon me because I've become an asshole."

"Why would they think you're an asshole?" Christina asked.

"I have this feeling I'm not going to be the compliant Trevor everyone expects me to be," I replied.

"You'll find where you stand in everyone's life, Trevor," Christina replied. "If they get angry at you for doing what you want with your life, then they aren't really your friends. You shouldn't need to wait around beside the phone until someone calls you and asks you out on a date. You're responsible for you. Until the `you' in you takes responsibility for being you, then you're not real. If you're not real, you can't help others who need help. Take Wyatt for example. If you can't be honest with yourself and take responsibility for your actions, you can't help others like Wyatt. You need to be well before you can help others get well. Now, I'm done with my sermon for today. I could use another macchiato. Your treat."

I returned to our table with on medium macchiato and one large latte with two extra shots of espresso.

"I need more information to process some of your revelations," Christina said after she took her first sip. "I understand how the Remington situation will go. After dinner, you slip back to his room and go at it. I do want to know how you and Ryan will proceed. Will you and Ryan be together before or after your threesome with your ex-boyfriend, Rupert?"

"Before," I replied. "I want to know my options before I decide to share."

"Wyatt?" Christina asked.

"I believe your phrase `you need to be well before you can help others get well' also pertains to others," I explained. "Wyatt is in no condition to help me make a decision about us. He's too fragile. He may never be ready. I'm a people person, Christina. I've discovered I'm a touchy-feely person as well. I really can't see myself in love with someone with our clothes on all the time."

"I'm beginning to like the new you, Trevor," Christina said.

I looked up and saw Dirksen standing beside our table.

"Well! Dirksen!" I exclaimed. "Good to see you, my man!"

"And you, too, Trevor Harris-LeBlanc, son of a future US Representative," Dirksen replied as he slipped into the booth next to Christina.

"Trevor explained his new alter ego," Christina said to Dirksen.

"How's the new one different than the old one?" Dirksen asked.

"He's become an oversexed college freshman who isn't afraid to go for what he wants," Christina replied. "A lot like you, Dirksen."

"Who's the lucky guy, Trevor?" Dirksen asked.

"Remington and Ryan," I said.

"What about Rupert and Wyatt I've heard so much about?" Dirksen asked.

"Yesterday's heart throbs," Christina added.

~~~~~

"I'm starving," Wyatt said to me after our class let out on Friday. "Want to join me for a pastry?"

"Sure_,__" I replied. "Where?"_

"Henry took me to this new pastry and coffee shop a few blocks from campus," Wyatt explained. "I think he has a crush on one of the guys who owns it. The pastries are as good as the eye candy. Both of the owners are cute as shit."

"I'm in," I replied.

Wyatt told no lie about the owners. Macon looked about thirty with a shaved head, muscles bulging from his t-shirt. Both well-muscled arms sported colorful sleeve tattoos.

Silas looked somewhat younger than Macon. Maybe twenty-five. He, too, obviously worked out. Arms. Chest. Silas didn't appear to have tattoos; however, he made up for the lack of ink with piercings. Ears. Nose. Obvious nipple rings under his t-shirt. Big ones.

"You're Henry's friend Wyatt, right?" Macon asked.

"Yes," Wyatt replied. "This is a friend of mine, Trevor Harris-LeBlanc. Trevor, these two fine men are Macon and Silas."

"Welcome to Pretty Pleasant Pastry," Silas added. "Macon thought of the name, by the way."

"It smells wonderful in here," I said.

"Wait until you taste one of their creations!" Wyatt enthused. "They have great coffee, too."

After much discussion, Wyatt and I chose a pastry. We added coffee to the list.

"Have a seat and I'll bring it out to you," Macon suggested.

We chose a seat in the window at the front of the shop.

"We haven't had a chance to talk lately, Trevor," Wyatt began. "It's my fault because I haven't been in a talkative mood lately. Henry took me here yesterday and beat some sense into my head. What I'm saying is I haven't been trying to push you away. I just needed to put my thoughts in order before I try to explain them to other people."

"It's not your fault, Wyatt," I added. "We're all just a little too wrapped up in school work and other shit happening in the world. If anything, we share any potential blame among all of us. Have you made any progress with the paternity issue?"

"Funny you should mention paternity issues," Wyatt said as a smile crept across his face. "I'm not the father."

"Did this information make you happy or sad?" I asked.

"The news made me angry first," Wyatt explained. "She tried to make me out to be the bad guy. I finally calmed myself. I felt sad for about five seconds, and, then, I felt elated to have the issue behind me."

Macon dropped off the pastry and coffees at our table before we continued our discussion.

"Now I can finally try to decide who I am and where I'm going with my life," Wyatt explained. "Henry told me to get my head out of my ass and make a few decisions. He has a way with words, don't you think?"

"Indeed," I replied. "I believe I'm going through a similar phase. Two long conversations with Christina and one therapy session pushed me into discovery mode."

"So what's the verdict? Sane or insane?" Wyatt asked with a smile.

"Neither sane nor insane," I continued. "I let some of my insecurities get in my way of relationships. I wound up with Rupert because I didn't want to risk moving beyond my comfort zone, and he already had his barriers in place."

"You always seem so secure in your relationships, Trevor," Wyatt said.

"I seem secure in my relationships, Wyatt," I further explained. "My shrink told me I'm working through my traumas. My ex-father hurt me physically and emotionally. I've put up a wall around other people in my life because I don't want to experience the physical or emotional turmoil again. I see what I've done. Now all I need to do is figure out how to change it in the future."

"I believe I understand," Wyatt said. "You were so patient with me when I confided in you I had feelings for you. You didn't want to hurt my feelings. But you didn't know if you wanted to commit to a relationship with me or not. I forced myself onto you. I'm sorry if I'm the cause of some of your frustration."

"You didn't force anything onto me, Wyatt," I replied. "My friend hurt. I wanted to help my friend get over the hurt. There is more."

"Okay," Wyatt said.

"This will really sound strange, but I need to explain this to you," I began. "I've concluded I wouldn't know Mr. Right if he stood in front of me. The only experience I had in my childhood centered around a museum of a house and my ex-father's precious job as an ex-Congressman. My mom's only expectation of me centered around me staying out of her way. My father's temper set off fire alarms at the drop of a hat. In other words, I led a very lonely and scared life until Jeffery and Philip rescued me."

"I can't imagine living like you did," Wyatt said. I thought I saw a tear falling down his cheek.

"I've avoided any potential to be hurt by people around me," I continued. "I don't really have meaningful relationships. I have relationships that don't rock my safe boat. I need to rectify the situation and step outside my safety net."

"In other words, you need to date other men before you settle down," Wyatt said. At least he still had a smile.

"I'm sorry, Wyatt," I added. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"I thought you were moving out of your safety net," Wyatt said.

"I don't understand," I said.

"Trevor, you just told me you needed to explore relationships outside of your safety net," Wyatt continued. "You apologized just now for something you need to accomplish. Don't fucking apologize, Trevor."

"Okay," I said. I paused for a moment before continuing. "I'm not sorry."

"Better," Wyatt said. "I'm not in any position to know what I want in a relationship either. I don't even know if I'll want to have a relationship with a guy. Maybe I'll turn back to being straight. I doubt it, though. My dreams lately have been about naked men. Men in our gym group."

"Anyone in particular?" I asked.

"Henry," Wyatt confessed.

"But he's straight!" I exclaimed.

"I can dream, can't I," Wyatt countered. "You?"

"Ah...," I stammered. "I have a date tomorrow night with Remington."

"Remington!" This time it was Wyatt's term to exclaim. "You hit the big time, Trevor! He is one smoking hot man."

"I hope I'm not getting into something I can't handle," I admitted.

"Stop it, Trevor," Wyatt said. "Remember you're moving out of your safety net. Let go of the ropes that hold you there."

To be continued...

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I would enjoy hearing your comments about this story. You can write to me at MaWriterBoy@yahoo.com.

Please also see:

John's Journey Forward found in the Beginnings section

Together Forever found in the Beginnings Section (Sequel to John's Journey Forward)

Sam and Chris in the College section.

We're in This Together found in the Relationships section. (Sequel to Sam and Chris)

Jeffery Comes Home  in the Beginnings section.

Taking a Stand in the College section.

Life With Tim in the Authoritarian section (Please note, this story is not for everyone because there are several scenes depicting Master/slave and BDSM relationships. So, if you are not interested in this activity, please, please do not read this story.)

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