The Embarrassment of Riches

The Embarrassment of Riches Chapter Twenty-Six: The Parting of the Ways

The people, places and events in this story are entirely fictional and any resemblances to real people, real places or real events is coincidental. Also, this author does not support, advocate or advise unprotected sexual intercourse (oops, spoiler).

It was the hottest day of the year so far – the sky was blue and almost cloudless, the sun was punishingly hot and bright and the air was muggy. Sean's creamy skin had started to sweat and he could feel beads of it trickle down his back and along the curve of his arse.

Martin's skin felt like it was cooking under the oil that had been slathered on and even he could feel sweat tickle a trail down the crack of his ass. Their underarms, chests and foreheads were laced with perspiration and their bare feet on the hot ground were almost burning.

They could not just stand there however – sooner or later the crowd gathering at the front of the shopping centre would notice them. They turned the other way, knowing their bare bums would now be the first thing anyone saw but better than sweaty flaccid cock.

"What do we do?" Martin asked Sean as if he were the master of resolving naked situations.

"I dunno. Wait around? Hope something good happens?" Sean replied irreverently.

"Let's head across the car park," Martin proposed, ignoring Sean's flippancy.

"Maybe we can find someone to take us home?" Sean suggested hopefully.

"Maybe," Martin agreed.

They were halfway across the wide expanse of the delivery lot, exposed on all sides, when Martin looked over his shoulder and up at the massive building where he used to work.

"I resigned you know. I quit today," Martin told Sean.

"Gee. I wonder how Graham took it," Sean said dryly.

Martin took Sean's hand as they approached the first cover they came too – it was a white van and it was empty but it afforded shade from the sun and from prying eyes. Martin edged his way around the van and looked around the other side. More open space, more vacant lot, more hot tarmac. There were also busses. They had reached the drop-off point for coaches.

"What about a bus? A bus might take us home," Martin said.

"A bus might take us out of town and into the city centre," Sean countered.

"They look like they've been hired. Y'know like when a group comes up from the borders because... something?" Martin said lamely.

"Maybe they park here because the football stadium is right across the road?" Sean said brightly.

They both peeked out from behind the van and scoped out the busses.

"We could just stay here?" Martin said, pointing out their only other alternative.

Sean thought for a moment then smiled and said; "After you."

Martin led the way, not running because it was impossible on the hot ground and with bare feet - but moving as quickly as possible. They got to one of the busses and looked at the name printed on a card propped up in the window: Coal Hill, Under 21's.

There was a release for the doors on the outside which Martin turned and the doors eased open. They knew they would be stuck persuading the lads who eventually boarded the bus to take them home but what else could they do?

They sat close together on the back seat and Martin dropped his hand to Sean's thigh.

Well, they could do that.

Sean found his cock grow hard; "What are you doing?"

"I got to cum earlier. I figured..." Martin said as he gripped the shaft of Sean's cock and eased his hand up and down it.

Sean gave a low moan and closed his eyes as Martin stroked Sean off then, as his hand reached the base of the shaft, he leaned over and kissed the head of Sean's dick. He kept his lips pressed to it and flicked his tongue across the sensitive slit which oozed pre-cum.

Sean put his hands behind his head and spread his legs wider, feeling Martin's bare leg against his own. After a moment, Martin put his leg over Sean's and started to take the hard cock deeper into his mouth. Martin's gleaming bare back was arched over as he sucked and licked.

"Oh, fuck Martin," Sean said with his orgasm approaching.

Martin would have happily fucked too but Sean opened his eyes and saw three lads in tracksuits. They had their camera phones out and were recording them.

"Eh, Martin."

Something in Sean's voice penetrated - so to speak - and Martin took his mouth off Sean's cock to see the lads, older than them but presumably under twenty-one given the sign at the front of their coach. Naturally, they were all grinning at the impromptu scene occurring before them.

One of them nodded and with a charming Glasgow accent asked; "Y' alright?"

Neither Sean nor Martin knew how to answer.

"You boys enjoyin' yoursel'?" another asked.

"Actually, yea," Sean replied – perhaps unwisely.

The three boys were joined by five more who all took in the sight of the two naked seventeen year olds and waiting for some kind of explanation to appear.

"Have you's been prakned?"

"Yea," Martin answered this time; he gave Sean's knee a gentle knock with his own.

This was the best chance they had to get home.

"That sucks," the first tracksuited lad – evidently the leader of the pack. "You can call me Denny, by the way."

"Denny?" Martin said, he hadn't meant to say it out loud – certainly not in a `what kind of name is Denny?' tone of voice.

"Aye, `cause he's from Dennistoun," one of his friends said.

"So's Dave. And Big Dave. And Malky..."

"This isn't fukin' This Is Your Life, gonnae shut it," Denny said irritably.

"Would you take us home?" Sean asked hopefully, attempting to salvage any magnanimity from the group.

"Where's home?"

Sean told the boys the area he lived in and then narrowed it down to a street name, but not the number because he's not stupid.

"Could do, could do," Denny replied; "Tell you what if you boys come outside for a match photo... let's pretend you's are the mascot's... then we'll take you home."

No other option was all too often a lazy reason for doing something stupid where there were lots of other options. But in this case, Martin and Sean considered their options thus: agree to the photo with boys they had already exposed themselves to, then get a lift home. Or, decline the offer and expose themselves to more people in the search for someone else to take them home...

With no other option they agreed and followed everyone outside. Sean and Martin watched Denny break off and approach another bus full of more under twenty-one year old lads.

"Wait! What's he doing?" Martin asked, not expecting another bus load of people to see him totally bullock naked outside in broad daylight.

"Denny did say a match photo," one of the lads dead panned; "You need two teams tae play a match."

Everyone on the Coal Hill bus had now seen them and been regaled by those who had heard the proposal. Sean had been trying to cover his cock since it had started to go soft but it wouldn't completely soften because he hadn't cum and he was very turned on by being naked in front of attractive lads who were still fully dressed.

CMNM: google it.

Denny came back to them and the bus load of other boys came to gather around.

"You still got wood? How aboot you get yer pal hard too? Stay that way fur the photo," Denny suggested in broad Glaswegian - a language the almost resembled English.

It wasn't really a suggestion, Sean knew he was very much being instructed. Actually, he didn't mind - Denny was kind of hot. He had messy hair in several shades of brown, beady eyes that conveyed good humour and beneath his tracksuit appeared to be an athletic body. Also, he was wearing shorts and had nice legs.

Sean didn't even need to touch himself to get hard, he only had to touch Martin, who sprung a big erection in less than a minute.

Denny was impressed; "You're a big boy, aye?"

"We'd get better exposure on the other side of the bus," one of Denny's friends suggested.

Denny grinned and Sean and Martin felt compelled to follow the group from the side of the bus that faced the empty parking and loading area to...

On the other side of the bus Martin and Sean realised just how close they were to the road. A busy road. With traffic. With traffic that stopped because of traffic lights.

Martin and Sean were put front and centre, pushed even closer to the road as lads filed in behind them, the two teams taking their time to take up positions. Denny stood very close to Martin and when he next spoke it was with a elevated view - looking down onto Martin's cock with its foreskin peeled back and the big head gleaming.

"You've cum already?" Denny asked; "I can see the cum dribblin' in your pubes. Is that why you were suckin' him aff?"

"Yea," Martin answered.

"Tell ye what then. We'll consider the photo taken when your mate's blown his spunk," Denny said. Then to Sean he added; "Nae pressure."

The teams were lined up behind Martin and Sean, those standing directly behind each of them put hands on their arses and tentatively slid fingers between their cheeks. The appointed camera man seemed just as happy with his view of things as he snapped more photo's that could possibly have been necessary.

After a few minutes with no cumming, one of the boys grew far from just tentative – pushing a finger into Sean's arse up to the knuckle and then deeper still. Although Martin's orgasm had no relevance to the proceedings, he too was stroking his cock with long hard tugs.

Sean had hoped it would be over quickly as he was facing the main road but that very fact made him nervous, especially with busses filled with people passing by, and thus retarded his climax. The two dozen fit young men behind him, all fully clothed in football strips or tracksuits also did not help. Actually, when Sean thought about it, it was a big help. Clothed boys, naked boys was a lovely fetish and just the stimulation he needed to edge him closer to climax. However, there was something curious about the way Denny had been watching him and as Sean was finally getting close to cumming it was Denny who told him to stop.

"Why?" asked Sean breathlessly.

Denny gave the naked seventeen year olds a withering look; "'Cause I telt you not to. Get back on the bus."

Sean followed Martin – watching his long legs and curved calves, the way the top of his thighs curved into the bottom of his buttocks, his smooth and creamy bare back and his exposed shoulder and bare arms. As if one could forget, Martin was a beautiful man but Sean did like to remind himself.

"Do you know where you're going?" Sean asked Denny.

Denny brandished his phone; "I've got an app for that."

Denny gave instructions to the driver - their eager camera man - who was older than the other lads but still under thirty. He started the engine and checked the directions provided by the route suggested by Denny's phone. Denny took great satisfaction moving Martin and Sean from the most unobtrusive seats they could find the most glaringly obvious seats on the entire bus.

The seats in question were slightly higher than the rest on the bus, resulting in Martin and Sean being completely exposed out the window beside them. Martin sat by the window side.

"Keep each other goin'. We're givin' you's a free lift after all," prompted Denny.

The bus pulled out of the car park and onto the road which usually moved swiftly but was slowed significantly by the fire brigade and police presence that had arrived to find out why the shopping centre had been evacuated.

If Denny had any fear of police noticing the naked teens and stopping to ask why they were masturbating each other in full view of the street and other road users, he did not show it. While Sean used one hand to stroke Martin's eight inches, his other rubbed his own smooth thigh and then slipped onto his balls, massaging them like Chinese stress balls. Martin's own free hand roamed his chest and nipples as he gazed out of the window and winked at a startled skateboarder.

Eventually the traffic moved more freely and although a great many people noticed the naked boys, no-one was swift to call police attention to the bus. The bus moved off of the busier streets as it left the edge of town where the shopping centre was located; Sean lived on the other side of town and now they were on the move he just had to hope the bus full of lads would really take them home.

It was a relief that they followed the route Sean would have expected - it reassured him he wasn't being kidnapped. As they neared his neighbourhood, the bus started to slow down. The roads had grown narrower and traffic-calming precautions were in place.

Sean lived in a salubrious area with big houses, double garages, long driveways and plenty of green space. Although Sean and Martin had spent the entire journey edging each other, their cocks were still sticky messes of pre-cum and sweat by the time they got near Sean's street. Sean had noticed a twisted grin playing on Denny's face and knew there was going to be a sting in this tale.

The bus stopped on the thoroughfare between the upmarket housing development in which Sean lived and the very slightly less upmarket housing estate opposite. Sean had stopped stroking Martin as they got nearer his home, the fear of seeing someone he knew growing with every passing minute. It was only mid-afternoon so it was some consolation that most people would still be at work; moreover, most kids would still be at school, with the exception of school-leavers whose term at school ended with their final exam.

The bus came to a stop at a bus stop that stood next to a path bordered by low hedges - the houses could be clearly seen and worse, the upper floors of those houses had an overlooking view of the bus stop. On the opposite side of the wide road was a similar arrangement.

"Ok. Get out," Denny said.

"What? You're joking!" Sean protested.

"Dae I look like I'm jokin'?" Denny replied.

"You said you'd take us home," Martin said: accepting Sean's home as a safe place for himself too.

"More or less," Denny responded with a sneer.

"You can't..." Sean started to say but Denny's harsh glare grew dangerous.

The attractive features that Sean had appreciated not so long ago were erased by the rearrangement of Denny's expression.

"Fukin' posh boys shouldnae be runnin' around starkers anyway. I'm no' a fuckin' taxi so get oot before we start movin' again," Denny told them.

Martin and Sean definitely did not want to get taken any farther from Sean's home so they exited the bus and stepped, still barefoot and naked, onto the main road. Camera phones recoded their shock standstill as the bus pulled away.

They remained completely exposed, not even covering up as they attempted to think what to do next.

Naked. Barefoot. Hard. Sweaty. Blushing. Hard! Slightly cum covered.

They certainly couldn't stand beside the road with their cocks and arses hanging out.

They ran to the nearest bush and hid behind it. Pressed close together in the hot sun, the sounds of music drifting from back gardens and shouts from boys playing football nearby did nothing to subdue either of their excitement.

"Remember how last month that lunatic of a film director had us walking down the street naked in front of a high school?" Sean asked, half rhetorically.

"Yea?" Martin replied.

"I don't know what made me think of that," Sean said.

Despite themselves they chuckled.

"What do we do?" Martin asked Sean.

Sean was thinking, then he replied after a deep breath; "If we cross the road we can get to my side of the estate. Then we'll have to leg it to the first corner, turn right and leg it to the next corner but then we'll be safe... ish."

"We'll be at your house then?" Martin asked hopefully.

"No. We'll be on the green space behind my house but we can go straight in my back way from there," Sean said.

"Now there's a proposition I can't refuse," Martin replied to the double entendre.

"I meant my back door... I mean... stop being dirty," Sean said seriously, but he couldn't help giggling as well. "I figure it's better than walking naked down the street in front of all my neighbours living rooms and going in the front door," Sean replied.

"Ok. Cross the road then run, turn right, run... how many houses are we streaking in front of?" Martin wondered.

Sean thought for a bit; "A dozen between here and the corner. Then another dozen or so..."

"I'll race you," Martin said and took off across the road.

Running while covering yourself is difficult. Running while not covering yourself is exposing but faster. Running without any footwear made things difficult again.

Martin and Sean crossed the road without being seen and then ran pell-mell for the first corner. It was easier for Martin – Sean knew these streets, he knew these houses. Sean knew few of the families who lived in them but he still didn't want to streak past them in broad daylight with a semi-had penis.

They both reached the corner and carried on without changing pace; in a passing blur they spied only one or two people who might have seen them naked. Luckily none of the shocked voyeurs were in their gardens – they had been inside and looking out so the boys were passed before the shocked watches could even think of action. The boys turned and ran for the green space and were again blessed that no-one was in their front gardens mowing lawns or walking down the street.

They got to the green space and Sean curved left - he stopped just beyond the corner and leaned against the fence at the back of the nearest property. Sean and Martin were breathing hard and just needed a minute to recover. Sean's house was not far now - the fence of his own back garden was another dozen houses along and he knew the gate set into the fence would be open.

Martin stood beside him, also panting. Together they looked across the grass and could see a distant dog walker or three and a group of lads their own age half-heartedly kicking a ball about; another group of lads were sat on the grass not kicking a ball about but also not looking towards them. Several of the boys were shirtless and in shorts though at this distance that was all either of them could tell. Sean wondered what any of them would be able to tell about him from their viewpoint.

Then Sean felt a mouth on his penis. Martin was licking the exposed head before he gripped the base of the shaft of Sean's cock; with the hardening organ in his mouth, Martin gave it a few strokes and it filled his mouth.

"Martin..."

"Sean," Martin replied hurriedly; "You haven't cum yet. Enjoy the sun and the view and shh."

Sean found it hard to argue when Martin was so expertly sucking him off. Sean had been sucked on the bus, edged and then edged some more; he was ready to empty his balls the minute he got hard again. He lasted less than two minutes before filling Martin's mouth with hot spunk. By then, Martin's hard cock was sticking up from his crotch where he was knelt before Sean.

"You don't have to, but if you want to turn around..." Martin proposed.

Sean had never had sex bareback and had always been reticent to do so. Risks are risks and there was a reason sexual education so strongly advised against unprotected anal intercourse. But Martin was going away soon and Sean feared this might be the last time.

"I'm clean, I got tested," Martin insisted.

Martin didn't mention that he got tested because he had had unprotected sex with E.J. Both boys were thinking about the risks; both boys were also thinking they were seventeen and it was easier to make stupid mistakes now while they were still young, irresponsible and invincible. The decision in real time took seconds. Sean turned and bent over slightly to offer his arse hole to Martin's aching eight inches.

Martin put his lips to Sean's ass and kissed the puckered hole. Then he slaked the entrance with saliva and pushed his tongue into Sean's anus with a series of probing licks. It was the best Martin could do for lubrication and with that done, he touched the tip of his cock against Sean's hole and pushed gently.

In the absence of decent lubrication, entrance was less smooth but the bare skin against bare skin felt silky and warm and Sean felt weak at the knees as Martin pushed into him. Once in, Martin pushed harder and deeper and as Sean's anus stretched, Martin was able to slide in and out with greater ease.

The rhythm was smooth and fast and every time he pushed deep it made a slapping sound against Sean's buttocks, Martin's ball sac was loose in the heat and Sean felt it swing into the back of his thighs. Sean, having cum just minutes earlier felt like he was going to cum again already; he could hardly believe the sensation of Martin inside him.

While Sean reached back with his arms until his hands could grip Martin's buttocks and hold him deep and hard inside, Martin was sliding his hands across Sean's bare chest and erect, pert nipples.

It was inevitable that Martin would cum at that moment – warm splash filled Sean's ass and he could even feel it oozing out and dribbling down his legs.

Martin pulled his cock out and let the final spurts of cum splash onto Sean's back as the orgasm subsided. With cum still oozing from Sean's hole, Martin his erect penis back in, one, twice; filling and refilling Sean's ass. Sean's knees were weak from the pleasure of being so thoroughly skewered but such a big cock.

When Martin pulled out again, he squatted down to put his mouth back to Sean's ass. Martin's mouth sucked on the creampie and he fleched to his heart's delight - and to Sean's because he came again while Martin buried his tongue in his ass. Panting and quaking, they both stood up straight and, before Martin could swallow everything in his mouth, Sean grabbed him and kissed his lips. Cum and everything else filled Sean's mouth and when their lips parted both swallowed.

"Hey!"

Martin and Sean looked to see the group of boys who had once been distant, now looking very close indeed.

The boys, mostly shirtless and all around their own age were close enough to tell they were naked and hard but not close enough, Sean hoped, to identify him. Sean grabbed Martin's hand and ran, with a glance over his shoulder he saw the boys give chase. The fence against which Sean and Martin and fucked and sucked was nearly two metres high and at intervals was broken by gates leading into the back gardens of the properties that they formed the border of. However, many of the gates were an almost seamless continuation of the fence itself, distinguishable only by the latch set into it.

Sean stopped several houses from his own back garden and hauled it open. They didn't have time to check if it was empty - the danger of being caught out in the open by a gang of boys seemed infinitely greater than anything they might find in a family garden. Sean hadn't entered his own garden because the gate into his had a bad habit of jamming; Sean really didn't want to be fighting with it out in the open with a gang of lads coming for him and Martin.

He slammed his neighbours gate closed and bolted it, relieved that the bolt hadn't been engaged when he was on the other side. Although the gate was now safely locked, Sean and Martin did not want to wait for the boys who had given chase to reach the other side - in case they either tried to break it down or climb over. There was one small problem though - they were still naked and in the wrong garden. No problem, they only had to go next door, right?

Then they turned around and saw that the garden was not empty. They had ran into the middle of a family barbeque.

Only kidding.

But seriously, the garden really wasn't empty.

Toby, Sean's next door neighbour was in a sun lounger and starting at them with an open mouth. Sean would have loved to push something into that open mouth but that would be impolite. Sean and Martin were so busy noticing the stunned look on Toby's face that they didn't notice he was blushing, not that his hands had dropped to his crotch...

Toby was naked too.

"We're kind of being chased," Sean explained.

Toby took in this information and seemed to decide that if the boys on the other side were to batter down the gate or climb over his fence, he would die of embarrassment.

"Follow me," Toby said.

Toby got to his feet, still trying to cover up his penis, and then ran for the back door of his house. Martin and Sean were treated to the sight of a tight little ass that belonged to a cute seventeen year old. Martin did not recognise him so he wasn't an Earl of Lennox Boys School lad.

Martin and Sean followed and closed the back door behind them; they were now safely inside the house of Sean's next door neighbour all three of them were naked.

With hands still firmly cupped around his penis, Toby asked; "Why are you guys not covering up?"

Martin and Sean looked at each other and then answered simultaneously.

"My hands are too small."

"My cock is too big."

They laughed at each other's wit and then took in the sight of Toby whose face glowed when he laughed - his skin was fair but his cheeks flushed rosy red, his hair was light brown and bleached towards blonde by the summer sun, his eyes were green and his body was enough to make Sean and Martin hard just looking at it - though their balls protested at the thought of another discharge.

"C'mon, Toby... you've seen ours. Show us yours?" Sean said.

Toby blushed again.

Sean had never realised his next door neighbour was so hot and he was afraid he would lose the opportunity to seen him naked and hard so he upped the ante. Sean stroked his cock until he was hard and Martin dutifully followed suit. Both had cum so hard so recently - Sean in Martin's mouth and Martin in Sean's ass - they were not quite ready to blow again but that wasn't their aim.

Slowly, Toby released the grip on his dick and let his hands fall to his side. The penis that came into view wasn't hard yet, but even limp it looked plump and beautiful. Toby watched Sean and Martin's hard cocks and his own began to engorge. As it got bigger, Sean and Martin pressed the boy into the living room where they would be more comfortable.

Fully hard, Toby's dick nearly six and a half inches; a nest of wiry hair cover his balls and topped the root of his cock. The rest of his abdomen and chest were completely smooth, his little belly button poking out and just waiting to be suckled.

Toby stood with the sofa behind him as Sean and Martin advanced - gently, Sean put his hand on Toby's chest and pushed.

Toby toppled into the sofa and spread his legs wide. Sean and Martin each knelt down in front of one of Toby's knees and rested their hands on the joint before sliding hands up and into Toby's groin.

"Oh my..." Toby said. "Look, maybe you guys shouldn't..."

"Let us do our thing," Sean whispered and his hand made contact with Toby's testicles.

At the same moment, Martin's hand found Toby's perineum - he pressed and caressed the sensitive region between Toby's testicles and his anus. In unison, Martin and Sean brought their mouths to Toby's erection and began to kiss the rigid pole on opposite sides. While Martin worked his way down, Sean worked his way up until he kissed the head and tasted the sticky sweetness of pre-cum.

Toby leaned back into the sofa and put his hands behind his head while his cock was serviced. He'd never had sex, never had a boyfriend and all this was new and exciting and unexpected. He had known he was gay for a long time but had never found the courage to act on it - this was one hell of a way to embrace his sexuality.

Sean licked the glans and swirled around it, then passed his mouth over the top of Toby's cock and sucked it hard. Toby moaned and bucked just a little, meanwhile Martin worked around Sean to lick the shaft. Once the head of Toby's cock was warm and slick, Sean took his mouth away and Martin rejoined him.

They each kissed, licked and kissed the quivering cock until he was ready to cum. Sean and Martin soon brought all their attention to the exposed head of Toby's cock - kissing and licking it with competitive attention until Toby finally spurted cum which Sean beat Martin to the first taste of. The spurting erection leaked cum that dribbled down the shaft of his cock but Martin and Sean did not let any of it go to waste - they lapped it up until it was all gone.

They all went quiet and still, lost in their own thoughts; Toby's first blowjob and Martin and Sean enjoying the chance to really dwell on their own tryst in a way they couldn't before because they'd had to run away. Panting but quite sated, Toby didn't know what to do now that he'd cum but Sean spared him from having to think through a post-orgasmic miasma.

"Can we borrow something to wear? I know I'm only next door but this is a respectable neighbourhood," Sean said with a hint of sarcasm - given that he had been fucking Martin bareback outside less than half an hour ago.

"Sure, I'll get you something," Toby replied.

Toby hurried from the room, covering his penis again like most normal people do in the company of strangers. When he returned he was wearing shorts and a vest and carrying two Speedos. Sean and Martin were pulling them on when they realised the gesture was not entirely altruistic.

"Sorry. They're my little brother's," Toby said with a grin.

Sean knew that Toby's little brother was a keen swimmer but the kid was also fourteen years old. The Speedos were ridiculously small but better than being balls-and-cock-out naked especially as Sean had decided to go out the front door to avoid the risk of bumping into the boys who's seen him and Martin having sex. Sean's house was literally next door so they could pop out the front door and be in Sean's house in twenty seconds.

"This was nice Toby, we should hang out some time," Sean proposed and Toby seemed quite pleased with the idea.

"Yea, that would be good," Toby replied.

Toby was leaning against the door frame as he bid them farewell, one armpit exposed and the other skinny arm dangling at his side. He closed the door on the two tiny-Speedo clad boys and left them to cross into the next garden. They had to walk down Toby's driveway first and both Sean and Martin could feel a breeze on the crack of their arses as they walked. Sean shaved so he looked almost decent, but Martin's pubes exploded out the top of the Speedo. They were about to walk up Sean's driveway and into his house when someone called to them.

"Sean!"

Sean turned to see his neighbour from across the street. He was in his early thirties and lived with his husband and baby son. Sean felt obliged to cross over and speak to him and Martin felt obliged to join him. The tarmac beneath their feet was hot under the summer sun.

"Hi, George," Sean said.

"Hi," George replied and looked Sean and Martin up and down because he was gay and had eyes and they looked amazing. "Who's this?" asked George.

"This is my..." Sean started to say.

"Boyfriend?"

"Sidekick."

Martin smiled and said: "Yea, he's Batman and I'm Robin."

"I'm SpongeBob, and he's Patrick Star," Sean said.

"Ha," replied George with a grin: "You're Womack and he's... the other Womack."

George laughed and Martin and Sean looked bewildered so he stopped.

"Anyway. I really just wanted to let you know that Steve and I are going away next week if you don't mind putting our bins out?" George asked.

"Sure thing. I should get inside now," Sean said.

Sean was all too aware he had been outside and exposed for far too long for one day. He was right now standing in his street in just a pair of tiny red Speedo. Delicious to look at though it was, Sean needed to return to a semblance of normality now.

"Yes, you probably should," George replied with a sheepish grin.

Sean could only imagine what his handsome neighbour saw as the seventeen year olds made their way back across the street and finally got into the house.

"He seemed nice," Martin said.

"Yea, he is," Sean agreed.

"Kinda hot too,"

"Too old for me," Sean replied casually.

"Some people are into that kind of thing," Martin replied without thinking and immediately became aware he was talking about E.J.

At his front door, Sean turned the handle. The fact that the front door was unlocked either meant Matthew was upstairs or that the Holland family were lax when it came to security.

"I know... do you still... miss him?" Sean asked. He had considered asking "Do you still think about him?" but that wasn't really a question he wanted to hear the answer to.

Besides, Sean knew Martin was hurting enough; was screwed up by E.J. being his dad, was broken hearted by having to give E.J. up - there was no need to walk over the grave of that relationship.

"So much," Martin replied.

Martin was wondering if he would ever be ok with the whole E.J. thing. If his name and the memory of what they had would ever stop being a dagger he saw before him.

They were spared from further discussion about it when the phone started to ring and Sean grabbed it on the second ring; "Hello? Oh, hi mum."

Martin watched Sean's face change and it became obvious the voice on the other side was frantic.

"Oh, yea. Sorry... Because I had to leave my phone inside when the building was evacuated... No I don't know why... Dunno, I saw smoke but that's all I know... Could be, I don't know... Maybe, like I said I don't know... Terrorists? No, mum, I don't think ISIS has come to a town five miles from the smallest city in Scotland... Yes, I'm sorry for being sarcastic... No, you're quite right I did say I don't actually know..."

Martin left him to it and made a mental note to call his own mum and dad who were doing a good job of pretending not to worry more and more about him since he revealed his plans to go travelling around the world. He was their only son and adopted too so he could understand their reticence at letting him go but he was a lucky young man that he had two good parents who were so supportive of the choices he was making for himself.

Much later the news would reveal a deep fat fryer in the donut shop on the second floor had caught fire – explaining the acrid black plume of smoke – and the fire had spread. Perhaps the trauma of a full-scale evacuation of the shopping centre could have been avoided but the smoke had caused mild panic and then some knob-head with nothing better to do claimed to have seen an abandoned backpack and all hell broke loose.

"You're still naked," Sean noted as he leaned against the doorway.

Martin looked up and saw Sean's cock swing between his legs – too spent to engorge again.

"So are you," Martin replied.

"Shower?" Sean asked.

They were both messy with sweat and or cum and so enjoyed the spray of water as they stood under the shower head together and soaped hard to reach places for one another.

"So Toby seems nice..." Martin said.

Sean just smiled indulgently; "You think anything with a penis seems nice."

Martin laughed and let the subject drop but he hoped Sean might give the boy next door some more thought sometime.

The shower ended unceremoniously when they heard Matt answer the door to his girlfriend Lucy. Martin stayed long enough to make polite conversation; the conversation turned to the school Formal with Martin, Sean and Matt doing their best to be delighted by Lucy's description of her dress. She must have eventually caught the faintly glazed expression on their faces because she admonished them.

"Fat lot of good you two are," she said the Martin and Sean; "Where's Gok Wan when you need him."

Sean found himself pensive as he showed Martin to the door.

"Well, I can't wait to see her dress," Sean said frivolously and Martin chuckled.

"See you tomorrow, Sean," said Martin.

Sean was looking forward to seeing Martin dressed up in a suit at the Formal tomorrow. It would be the final farewell to their school days. Kids grow up so fast these days.

"Yea," replied Sean.

As Sean watched Martin leave, his thoughts turned to Martin's determination to leave town. Sean imagined how he would feel when the day came that Martin left for his travels and curiosity got the better of him.

"Martin," Sean called as he ran to meet him; "I need to ask..."

For a brief moment Martin feared Sean was going to ask him to go to the school Formal with him – as in a couple, but he didn't.

"I need to understand why. Why do you have to go away? To find yourself, I mean?" To most people Sean's question would have seemed like a nonsequitur but Martin understood.

It had been on Sean's mind until he couldn't hold onto to it anymore. The question was full of angst and also fear, but courage too - it had taken courage to ask. Sean was afraid – he didn't want to lose whatever it was he and Martin had together. It might not be love, but it was something.

"Why do you need to leave?" Sean asked succinctly.

Martin gave it some thought and he wasn't really sure – he was not sure that whatever he was looking for could even be found. Deep down, Martin was hoping that distance was snap the cord of pain that still connected him to E.J. Moreover, this moment made Martin certain that his liaison with Sean could not continue without him hurting Sean's feelings again. He should have told Sean they couldn't have sex again, couldn't suck, couldn't sleep together...

When Martin's gaze lifted he felt guilty, as if every time he was with Sean, he was leading the boy on. He couldn't say those things just now. Martin wondered if Sean's real fear was that Martin was running away from him; that wasn't true, Martin was trying to run towards something new.

Martin eventually sighed and said; "It's something my soul needs."

Arrangements had been made as to how everyone would get to the Formal; arrangements that were somewhat simplified when Johnnie told Tom he would be going with David who was going because his sister Lucy was going and it turned out she was going with Matt.

Simple.

Daft Punk could be heard from the car park - they were singing a love song about staying up past bed time and getting lucky.

David pulled into the car park with Johnnie, Connor and Tom in the back seat; Johnnie had made a joke about what three men in a back seat could get up to but David drew him a disparaging look.

In a separate car: Kazuo, Martin, Sean, Matt and his girlfriend Lucy arrived together. Matt, if he had had his way, would have left Martin on his doorstep but Sean had been persistent and insistent that they offer him a lift. There was a strong possibility of contraband alcohol making an appearance; if it did, Matt would have to return in the morning (afternoon) to collect his car. He locked up, took Lucy's arm and walked to the main entrance with the others.

The Formal committee had discussed several possibilities for where to host the event, the Symposium had been suggested for example, but ultimately a hotel was chosen and their function suite was tall and grand and noisy.

Now, Pharrell Williams was singing repetitively about being Happy - but who wouldn't be if they were worth a hundred million dollars.

Outside the night was still warm and the group all finally had a chance to check each other out. Johnnie and David both looked suave in their black suits with white shirts and black bowtie: just suave enough to avoid looking like waiters for the event. Connor and Tom were wearing grey and brown tweed respectively with Connor adopting a matching tie and Tom going with a maroon bowtie. Kazuo's pinstriped suit looked tailored especially for the event while Martin was the only one in their group to wear a kilt but then disappointed Sean by revealing he was wearing underwear. Finally Sean and Matt were in similarly tailored suits: one was blue with navy lapels, the other burgundy with black lapels.

Also, Lucy's dress really was lovely.

Taylor Swift was singing Shake It Off as they entered the main hall - stuttering on the words shake, play, hate, break, fake and shake (again).

Tom and Connor launched themselves onto the dance floor with ill-contained enthusiasm while Lucy dragged Matt onto the dance floor with ill-contained reticence. The boys floated on and off the floor and found drinks and foodstuff to fuel themselves through the next songs. From time to time they would stop and enjoy a chat with spirits climbing higher all the time.

When Love Yourself came on it led to an embarrassingly long round of shag, marry, kill that featured Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes and Calvin Harris and necessitating kill' being changed to fellatio any time you want'.

Numerous times Martin found himself fending off jokes revolving around him wearing too much clothing to be recognisable - such was his reputation - but he took it all in good humour. What was harder to take was the daggers he got from Matt whenever he danced with Sean; he enjoyed Sean's company but Matt's sibling protectiveness towards him meant Martin was treated with frosty detachment and suspicion even at a happy time such as this one.

Martin wanted to talk to Sean about it but Sean was dancing with a very reluctant Mitchell McMann who - despite himself - felt a smile and then a laugh tug at his mouth as Sean twerked at him.

"As dates go, this is one of the weirdest things I've ever had," Johnnie admitted to David.

"Yea, but it's kinda nice. Makes me feel two years younger," David replied with a laugh. "Thanks for coming with me. I didn't really want to do the chaperon thing but my mum is very protective of her `little angel' and... Well, she harassed me into it."

Johnnie smiled at the idea of David being bullied into submission by his mum.

"I like the dancing. Wish there was some booze though," Johnnie admitted.

"There is. We're not allowed any `cause we're working," David pointed out.

"I thought most of this lot weren't allowed any `cause their underage," Johnnie replied.

"What do I look like to you, a policeman?" David asked facetiously.

Johnnie laughed: "You look like the most handsome man here," Johnnie flirted.

"Thank you," David answered.

"Except for Martin."

"Fuck off."

They kissed.

Connor and Tom were catching their breath and sipping contraband.

"Don't know why you're sneaking it. You're actually old enough to drink," Ephraim said to Tom, but in an affectionate way.

"I don't want people to think I'm trying to corrupt a sweet and innocent youth," Tom said dryly.

Ephraim laughed out loud.

"Or you, either," Tom added.

Ephraim gave him a friendly slap followed by a kiss.

Tom watched Ephraim with absolute adoration and fascination and felt in his heart that he was a lucky, lucky man. Tom and Ephraim had been saying "I love you" for months and Tom had been trying to think of a new way to say it, to prove it and to show it. Tonight was the night he planned to do that.

"Let's go find some of the others," suggested Tom.

Martin had been coerced into dancing with a boy he didn't recognised and was embarrassed to be reminded they had been in the same registration class for the last six years. Martin blamed the bad lighting and sidled away. Through the dim room of flashing light he was able to see Connor, Tom, Matt and Kazuo; he approached them with relief that he had someone he knew to talk to while also wondering where Sean was.

"Hi Martin, nice dancing," Tom said.

"Yea. For a guy with two left feet," chimed in Connor.

Tom admonished him with a playful slap that turned into Tom slipping his hand into connor's. Martin couldn't help but notice what a cute and close couple they were. It caused him melancholy.

"Have you guys seen Sean?" Martin asked.

"He was going to get a drink the last time I saw him," Kazuo said over the Avicci singing Wake Me Up.

Kazuo couldn't help but think of all the cool stuff Avicci was missing by being asleep on a night like this. Martin was thinking it must be nice to be ignorant of feeling lost.

"Oh, drink, good idea," said Connor and dragged Tom off.

As they turned to leave, Connor and Tom realised David and Johnnie were right behind them and had been listening in. David was smiling pleasantly and looked deliberately at Connor, his eyes like a breathalyser testing the seventeen year old.

"We're going to get a nice apple juice," Tom said but Ephraim giggling failed to sell the lie somehow.

The four moved away in a chatting huddle.

"Why are you looking for Sean anyway?" asked Matt asked Martin with ill-concealed hostility.

"He's my friend," Martin answered carefully.

"Yea, Sean is," Matt answered – implicitly saying that he was not; "I'm going to find Lucy."

"I can't help but notice Matt only puts up with me. And only barely. I don't think he likes me much," Martin observed.

"He doesn't trust you," Kazuo admitted; "I don't think he ever will. He'll never be able to forgive you for hurting Sean."

Martin nodded mutely, acutely aware of his selfishness when it came to Sean.

"I don't have the same penchant for literature and poetry as some of you guys. But you got me thinking about something," Kazuo said after some silence. "Every heart has its secret sorrows which the world knows not, and oftentimes we call a man cold... when he is only sad."

"Longfellow," Martin said quietly, and then with hurt in his voice; "You think I'm cold?"

Kazuo smiled weakly and put a comforting hand on Martin's shoulder; "No... I think you're sad."

Martin took a moment to form his reply and was painfully aware of the music and dancing and love and romance happening all around him. This was supposed to be a party so why was he having a serious conversation and why did he feel... sad?

"I'm trying not to be mournful about the past because I know it's gone," Martin said, feeling the stab of pain he always felt when thinking about E.J.; "I'm trying to improve the present... to meet the future without fear and with a manly heart."

Kazuo knew Martin was quoting but didn't ask, for it had been an eloquent admission whether it was borrowed or not.

"Well," Kazuo answered; "I think you should talk to Sean. Because Matt might not trust you and I don't really know you, not like Sean does. He understands you and cares about you."

"That's kinda the problem, isn't it?" Martin replied miserably.

Kazuo censored his reply, he was confident that Sean was neither as naive nor as rose-tinted about Martin as appearances would indicate but he didn't want to speak out of turn.

"You should talk to Sean," Kazuo repeated.

Martin found Sean sitting alone at the side of the room. In his hand was a glass of water and a misty expression on his face as he watched his brother dance with a very pretty girl. Martin sat beside him and Sean offered him a sip from the glass in his hand.

Martin spluttered when he took a gulp. It was not water.

"It's straight vodka, dumbass," Sean admonished affectionately.

"Well I didn't know there'd be alcohol here," Martin protested.

Martin rationalised that a lot of the lads here were only seventeen; some of his classmates had turned eighteen but not many. He hadn't really thought about the possibility of booze being sneaked in.

Sean chose to find his naiveté endearing; "You're so pretty."

Martin laughed but then felt the weight of the world on him again; "There's something I need to talk to you about. I shouldn't do it here but... but I feel like... I can't not talk about it anymore."

"Ok," Sean said resignedly.

"I'm finding it hard to be with you. Matt's made it pretty clear he disapproves and I think the rest of your friends..." Martin began to say.

"Our friends," interrupted Sean.

Martin paused - Sean might be right, but if Connor and Kazuo had to choose a side, they would choose Sean and that made them Sean's friends much more than they were his.

"Yea," Martin reluctantly agreed; "I think the rest of our friends... are just waiting for the house of cards to come tumbling down like dominos."

"It that a mixed metaphor? House of cards, tumbling like dominos?" Sean said airily. "Sorry, I've had a lot to drink."

Martin smiled but was too glum to laugh.

"I haven't told anyone else. About E.J. or about why we broke up. Just you," Martin said seriously.

"You can trust me," Sean replied.

"I know, I don't doubt that," Martin carried on; "But I don't trust myself. I don't trust myself to not hurt you. Again. Because knowing how you feel about me means... I can't not hurt you eventually."

Sean's brain wasn't so addled that it couldn't unpick the double negative so he replied: "That's my problem."

"It's mine too."

"I know you don't love me," Sean said; "That's ok..."

"No. It's not ok. I still... I think I still..." Martin didn't know how to put it into words. "The way I feel about E.J. makes it hard for me to stay... or to figure out who I am... or to be with anyone else... or to see what the right thing to do is."

Sean looked at him helplessly.

"But the wrong thing is to carry on being with you when I don't want what you want." Martin knew how much like breaking up with Sean his words sounded. Could they break up when there was no 'thing', officially, to break?

The numb cheeriness that the vodka had brought was gone and with no other choice, Sean embraced the conversation as a friend and confidant.

"The things that happened with E.J.," said Sean, acknowledging it was a topic that was difficult for discuss; "Falling in love with him... then losing him the way you did. It must've been hard. It would have hurt anyone. It would mess anyone up."

There was such understanding and compassion in Sean's voice that Martin felt ashamed of himself for being so cold... or perhaps sad as Kazuo had suggested.

"It feels like the things that happened, could only have happened to me," Martin said. "I can't imagine it happening to anyone else. And the worst thing is, I'm not sorry they happened. Secretly... I'm glad. Because I got to love E.J., at least for a little while."

"I'm sorry," Sean said quietly.

"You asked me why I had to leave? I keep saying it's so I can figure things out, figure out who I am... that's a part of it, but I also want to be forgiven," Martin confessed.

"I forgave you a long time ago," Sean said gently.

"I know... Thank you. But I... I mean forgive myself... for all the things I've done," Martin said with a catch in his throat. "I need to figure that out before I can move on and figure out who I am. I don't know how to get over all of this."

"I love you," Sean said and Martin hoped Sean didn't mean capital "L" love.

Martin blinked and a tear fell from his eyes.

"I kept hoping that I could be appallingly selfish and ask you to save me," Martin admitted; "I've been kidding myself on that being with you might change things. Make me better. I want to feel more for you..."

"But you don't," Sean interrupted because he couldn't bear to hear it from Martin's lips.

"I can't carry on with you when I don't want to be with you. You deserve better than that." Then, with shame Martin admitted; "I needed to forget E.J. and I've been trying to move on... But I'm using you."

There was silence between them as they both considered his words. It had taken a lot of courage for Martin to confess but he couldn't blame Sean if he felt insulted.

"I'm using you too," Sean said at last - provoking surprise from Martin.

"You're... what?" Martin didn't understand.

"I wanted you to feel more for me, that's true. And I still have feelings for you, that's true too. I want you to want me but... But, if I couldn't have your heart at least I had something," Sean admitted.

Martin was shocked by Sean's confession and did not know what to say; Sean gave Martin a moment to take in what he had said.

"Martin," Sean eventually said, gently lifting his chin so Martin's eyes met his. "Let us both admit... without apology... what it is we do to each other."

Martin still didn't know what to say but Sean spoke with a wisdom beyond his years. For his part, Sean felt saddened that their tryst was ending – it was never the relationship that Sean had hoped for. Sean reminded himself of what he had told Kazuo several weeks ago: you can't always get what you want. But if you try, sometimes you get what you need.

"We're seventeen, Martin. It's tempting to think that love is like a unicorn... magical and unique and it only happens once. But there is more magic out there. For both of us. The last unicorn is not dead."

Martin's eyes were magnified by tears when he turned to look at Sean, who had and always would be his friend.

"I feel like I'm running away forever," Martin eventually replied.

"I know," said Sean hugging Martin and squeezing him; "It's ok."

For the sake of irony Justin Timberlake was singing Can't Stop The Feeling - "ain't nobody leaving soon, so keep dancing" - as Sean and Martin digested their conversation. When the song ended they walked hand in hand back into the throng of people.

They found Matt trying not to get involved in a debate between with Lucy, Connor and Kazuo.

"Seriously? You'd kill him?" asked Kazuo furiously.

Connor was trying to calm him down; "Kaz, it's ok."

"You asked the question, Kazuo. I'm just..." Lucy said innocently but was interrupted.

"You can't do that. It's wrong. It's just plain wrong," said Kazuo aggrievedly.

"What's wrong?" Sean asked, letting go of Martin's had to pat his friends back.

"She'd kill Jon Snow!" Kazuo answered.

Martin and Sean shared a look, almost amused and some of the tension dissipated - not broken.

"That's what you two were shouting at each other about?" Sean asked.

Kazuo looked at Sean as if he were mental; "You don't get it do you? You've got the option of shag, marry or kill... and she'd kill Jon Snow?"

The boys mulled over the crux of Kazuo's argument and seemed to agree because all at once they turned on Lucy but she just smiled.

"Well, he'll just come back to life, won't he?" She said, struggling to keep a straight face.

Matt laughed first and the others soon joined in.

"Sorry, excuse me," said a voice which was amplified by a microphone.

The music, Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud, had faded away and was replaced by a different ginger lad - this one had emerald eyes and a soft voice: it was Tom. Tom was up on the small stage that had been set up for the DJ. The others all looked to Connor for an explanation - what's he doing up there? - but he was none the wiser.

"Eh... oh, everyone's staring at me now..." Tom said nervously to chuckles from around the room. "Most of you won't know me but I'm Eph..." he stopped himself for Tom only called him Ephraim when they were alone; "...Connor's boyfriend. Oh, there you are," Tom said pointing into the crowd.

A short, skinny bleached blonde boy with dark eyebrows and great cheekbones looked back at Tom and pointed at himself as if to say, "who, me?"

Tom laughed; "No, not you. Are you called Connor? Am I even pointing at you?"

The DJ pointed out that Tom's aim actually was a little eschew, again to chuckles from the room.

"Oh, sorry. No, behind you," Tom clarified.

Connor looked at his embarrassing boyfriend as if he wanted to kill him. But in a really sweet and affectionate way.

"So, we've been dating for seven months now and if there's one thing I've learned..." Tom paused theatrically, "...it's that he hates when I sing in the shower."

People laughed again.

"Don't you dare," Connor shouted.

"Especially Katy Perry."

"I'm warning you," Connor yelled and blushing so badly he almost caught fire.

The DJ started the music and Tom started singing.

Loudly.

Badly.

"You think I'm pretty without any make-up on; You think I'm funny when I tell the punch line wrong; I know you get me, so I let my walls come down... down," Tom became more shrill as the "singing" went on and was openly laughing as Ephraim was moving towards the stage.

Tom was saved by the harmonising efforts of David and Johnnie who had been co-opted into Tom's romancing efforts at the last minute: "Before you met me, I was a wreck; But things were kinda heavy, you brought me to life; Now every February you'll be my valentine, valentine."

Tom's voice wasn't steady as he looked into Ephraim's eyes: "Let's go all the way tonight; No regrets... just love..."

Johnnie and David redoubled their efforts to cover for Tom's breaking voice; "We can dance until we die; You and I, we'll be young forever."

The whole room joined in after that, everyone taking up partners even if they hadn't arrived with one, and Ephraim pulled Tom off the stage and took him in his arms.

"I love you," Tom whispered.

Ephraim smiled with a heart so full it might just burst and he answered, "You make me feel like I'm living a teenage dream."

The kissed and held each other and Ephraim felt in his heart: this is the one!

It was an odd feeling to have for such a young man. Most people probably hope to reach that day when you just know you've met the person you want to spend your live with. And this was it, this was the day... this was the day Ephraim and Tom knew they would live happily ever after.

"My heart stops when you look at me..."

Johnnie and David's eyes met at that moment and they held each other's gaze in a silent and tacit agreement that one day they might love one another enough to be loud and embarrassing and to want to spend forever together. One day – perhaps. For now they kissed and held hands and sang about skin-tight jeans.

"My heart stops when you look at me..."

At the same moment as Johnnie and David were looking at each other with hope and dreams, Matt and Lucy were sharing the same hope and dreams.

And at the same moment as Matt and Lucy were looking at each other with hope and dreams, Sean and Martin were parting ways. Sean reflexively thought of Charles Dickens: that life is made of many partings welded together.

Martin was thinking of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: he had come to the parting of the ways and here lay happiness and honour – or so he hoped, for Martin desperately hoped he was doing the right thing by leaving. Martin was putting his hopes in abandoning selfish aims and leaving to find himself and prayed there wasn't a soul-killing round or lonely life at the end of it.

Martin left the room sober but not unhappy; the room was alive with singing and good cheer, happiness and love. The last words he heard as the door closed behind him: "...And don't ever look back, don't ever look back..."

Martin took great solace in the knowledge that the people had had come to care about were so happy. It lulled him into a fitful sleep that night because the next day would be Sunday and there was one last thing to be done and it couldn't be avoided anymore.

Martin may have told his parents of his travel plans weeks ago, and his friends too, but now he was going to tell E.J. and Frazer and in many ways this was harder than any of the others.

Sunday, the day after the Formal, had come about without Martin resolving exactly what he wanted to say - or rather, how he was going to say it. Plans for Sunday dinner had come together without any difficulties and Martin arrived after Frazer, as he had the last two time's they had had a meal together.

"Are you ok, Martin?" asked E.J. as he came in the door and hung up his jacket.

"Yea, I'm good," Martin answered.

They hugged awkwardly and Martin pulled away first - E.J. felt his heart warm by the embrace while Martin felt too many conflicted stirring to be sure what he was feeling.

Frazer hugged Martin too; "Are you glad school is finished forever then? Did you survive the ordeal?"

Martin smiled; "Just about."

"Do you want a drink, Martin? Beer, Wine?" asked E.J.

"No thanks. Just something cold and wet," Martin replied.

"Ok," E.J. smiled back and went to get a cold can of coke.

The smell of a roast chicken floated in from the kitchen while they chatted about Martin's exams but he talked around his plans for University and neither E.J. nor Frazer wanted to push it – perhaps they sensed it was an off-topic.

Martin felt flutters in his stomach as he worked up the courage to talk to his father and uncle; he found it hard to think of them like that. E.J. would always be E.J. to him... that was the problem.

Martin had registered weeks ago that there seemed to be a growing affection between E.J. and Frazer and he struggled against the jealousy he felt about it. Because he wanted them to be happy and perhaps it wasn't a sexual attraction... but what if it was?

He broached the subject when E.J. went to check on the meal.

"Frazer?" Martin asked in a hushed tone.

Frazer leaned forward and replied in a conspiratory tone; "Martin?"

"Are you and E.J.," Martin flushed; "Is something... going on with you guys?"

Frazer leaned away again as he thought about his answer.

"I don't know," Frazer replied and it sounded like the truth.

It also sounded like Frazer hoped it was the beginning of something and Martin wanted E.J. and Frazer to be happy.

"You know it's complicated, Martin," Frazer continued; "For so many reasons."

Because E.J. and Martin were related and because Martin and Frazer were related; and because Martin and E.J. had broken up and because Frazer had had a crush on E.J. since he was a wee boy.

"But there might be something?" Martin asked shyly.

Frazer blushed and couldn't stop the smile that played with his mouth; "It's very new," he said.

Martin thought of how Frazer had confided that, even as an infant, he had desired E.J.

"No it's not," Martin answered softly.

E.J. called them through from the kitchen; "Dinner's ready, boys."

"Do me a favour," Martin said, reaching into his bag; "If anything ever happens between you and E.J., give him this."

Martin handed over a heart shaped box. Inside was a thimble.

"What is it?" Frazer asked.

"It's a kiss."

E.J. had laid out three plates of delicious food; the conversation was easy and relaxed but constantly circling something. It was only once desert was going out that E.J. finally asked.

"What's going on, Martin? I know you..." he stopped and changed his mind about how to continue; "You can tell us anything."

Martin thought about how to explain how he felt: lonely, ashamed, self-pitying, selfish... lost. He thought about being forgiven - he had been by others, but not himself. He thought about how to tell his family that he need to figure out who he was and that home, while it is where the heart is, made him feel blind and sick. He thought about how to explain that loving and losing a man whom he had loved as much as E.J. and lost so cruelly had broken him until he didn't know who he was.

And he needed to try and find out.

He needed to put himself back together again.

E.J. and Frazer waited patiently, giving him the time to be ready to say his piece. Martin swallowed hard; their understanding and compassion made him feel brave enough to finally say goodbye.

"I'm going away..." Martin eventually said: "And I might never see you again."

He felt as if he were running away forever.

Please donate to Nifty to keep it free at point of access. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html

If you have read The Embarrassment of Riches from start to finish, I hope you have enjoyed it. It was a labour of love writing it so I'm really grateful to everyone who has emailed me so far. I would ask that if you liked the story, you get in touch and let me know. My email is: niftyencomiums@gmail.com

I have been asked if I am going to write another story - I have already started work on something. It's currently called Do As You're Told and I'm aiming to have it up on Nifty next autumn.

If you are enjoying this story, I have also written:

School Exhibitionism - http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/highschool/school-exhibitionism

The Symposium - http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/authoritarian/the-symposium/