The Exam

Chapter thirty-nine Tuesday Aug 6

Billy woke up with his head throbbing like the nightmare with Moose pounding on him was real, like he had some mean-ass kinda hangover from what?. It wasn't like he'd been out drinking the night before. Maybe the long hours at the doc's were starting to catch up with him. But hell if he was going to give up the good thing he had going. And besides the docs still owed him and he was in no condition to let them off the hook just yet.

He had way too much to dig out of them. And with his luck that Joel guy would bench him just when he found the key to that mysterious file cabinet.

He staggered downstairs to see both parents already eating breakfast, or in Joe's case finishing and already half-way out the door.

"So you finally thought you'd join us downstairs - "

"Hey dad gimme a break I just woke up."

"It's already after eight-thirty. You're usually down here by seven. Late night?"

"Well, back working at the doc's, yeah" Billy gave his dad a long unrelenting look, but Joe just shrugged it off.

"It's not too much is it?" his mom was all guilt and concern now, but before he could answer his dad waved goodbye with a "finishing today?"

"Yeah I got the instructions from Juan and he might be stopping by some time today to make sure I don't blow up the neighborhood, and it's all working right and stuff."

"Well if you need help call me" and Joe was out the door.

"You wanna help too?" Billy looked at his mom.

"Oh dear you know I don't know about thise things, like you men" she kidded him.

"But you're gonna be around right?" he poured himself some cereal while she started to make him some eggs as well.

"For some of the morning and then I have to run work over again, but I'll be back to make you some lunch."

"How about I make us both lunch. Chicken salad sandwiches?" Billy wanted to keep her stress level down as best he could. And the less she was involved, well...

"Oh Billy could you? But you don't know how.. do you?"

"We got some chicken in the freezer right?"

"No use the fresh one there" she scanned the contents of the frig seeing how bare it was getting "I'll go shopping on the way home for supper. But you don't know how...?"

"Hell just boil it and chop it up and mix it with stuff right? Bone n'all right?"

"Here I'll leave you a recipe" and she made a few quick notes "okay?"

Billy looked over her shoulder "that's all? I thought so" and finished his cereal and dove into the eggs. When he finished he dragged himself outside to survey the damage. As Gus and Juan mentioned, there were still piles of dirt that had to be backfilled around the pool. Billy looked at Juan's notes and started going down the check-list. He tested all the connections and made sure the filters were working properly and then just ran the hose over and started filling it up. As the water's edge started to crawl imperceptably across the bottom towards the shallow end, he found the shovel and started placing the dirt back around the edges, trying to figure out how to keep it out of the pool. He checked Juan's notes and saw how he needed to create a backwall with some cardboard the crew thoughtfully left behind. Once he had the backsplashes in place it became a matter of simple brawn. After an hour of shoveling he was down to his shorts and sweating like a pig. He looked up at the overcast sky and saw rainclouds forming. He guessed he had maybe two good hours before it would come down.

"Billy phone!" came from the kitchen door.

"If it's Juan tell him I'm almost finished" Billy called back, too sweaty and dirty to go back inside.

"It's Hank dear!" came the voice again. And the voice sounded like, it's not good dear. Billy just about messed his jeans.

"Holy shit!" he said almost loud enough for her to hear and before he allowed the possibility of Hank and his mom comparing notes he dashed into the kitchen and yanked the phone away from her.

"What you're not working today?" he panted into the phone.

"Didn't think you'd be THAT excited to talk to me - "

"Oh Hank, HANK!" Billy figured out it was his teammate Hank not Big Hank.

"Hey ya better calm down before ya mess yer pants in front of your mom" he started laughing.

"Been meaning to talk to you... after..." their talk last time had helped Billy but they both knew it was only the tip of the iceberg. And Billy suspected Hank the Bloodhound was on the trail now, and there was still so much hidden under Billy's piecemeal small talk.

"I bet! Besides I'm not even supposed to be talking to you. Jeff would kill me if he knew I called you!"

"Sh-I mean cripes now what he mad at me for?"

"Well after I talked to your dad and found out you guys have a pool, and didn't invite us over, well..."

"Oh is that all?" he started laughing, "I thought it was something... serious."

"So when you gonna invite us over or ain't we buds no more?"

"Hell yeah we're still buds. I'd invite you over today but -"

"Deal we'll be over about noon - "

Billy looked out the window at the darkening clouds "it might rain."

"Then we won't get sunburned" Hank looked outside as well "see what ya mean. Well seriously if we don't get a tornado we'll be over later, and you got any objections if we bring Moose along?"

"Moose!?" Billy erupted "Moose who hates my guts?! Y'tryin to get me killed - "

"Ain't like that" Hank was wrapping it up "funny thing he thinks you hate HIM, he thought everyone hated him, but unless you got any objections we'll see ya later gotta go" and before Billy could argue he hung up.

Billy stood there feeling dirty and sweaty, but not from the heat. Hell if Moose was coming over, hell if all three were coming over, it was a posse. And even though Hank sounded cool he better prepare for a major knock-down drag-out with Moose. Maybe they were coming along so Moose might think twice about killing him. Or more likely they just wanted front-row seats. Like judge, jury, excutioner! Billy could already see Moose with the hood and ax.

He went and found his mom who was getting ready to leave "You gonna be back by noon? Some of the guys are coming over for lunch okay?"

"Well looks like you'll be making another of your lunches, for-forty, so it's up to you."

"You gonna be back by then?"

"Well I'll try" she gathered her things and started to leave "you sure you're gonna be okay?"

"I'm fine mom."

"I just worry about you spending so much time by yourself. I'm glad your friends are coming over... well I must run" she gave him a quick kiss and was gone.

Billy started preparing lunch once she was out of his hair and once everything was finished left it in the frig to chill. He went back outside hearing distant thunder. Fearing a downpour any minute he stopped filling the pool and started spreading a tarp over the area, just in case. As he started to secure the grommets he heard a truck pull up. Guessing it was Juan instead of his dad, he quickly found the hose and started rinsing himself down, so what if his shorts got soaked.

"Hey Billy I didn't know if I would make it" and lucky for Billy, it was Juan, all smiles and shrunk clothes, coming up the driveway. He tried to tuck in the stretched front of his maybe white t-shirt into his shorts, a last attempt at looking presentable, but his big tummy was not cooperating.

Billy turned off the hose and dripping wet went to meet him, "hey Juan thanks for coming over. You know you didn't haveta" he held out his wet hand.

But Juan didn't shake his hand, instead gave him a quick bear hug "Amigo, it's cool" he stepped back and looked down at the outline of Billy's wet torso on his front "well don't need to worry about rain now, eh?"

Billy laughed looking at his wet top and shorts "Hey sorry, you want a towel?"

"Maybe later" he started walking to the pool "good you started covering it.

That's why I came over, to make sure you protected it from this first rain."

"Didn't want all the dirt getting in the pool" Billy guessed.

"Right, the filters'd be very unhappy with you" Juan looked at the valves and the hoses, then lowered himself over the side and down into the knee-deep water. He checked the intake valves and the sealants to make sure everything was working fine.

"Is it okay?" Billy looked down at him, maybe a bit concerned, not relishing the idea of his bonus going into repairs already.

"There is some dirt in the filters, but no more than they can handle" Juan lifted himself out, the bottom of his shorts wet, "I'll show you how to change them. You will want to change them after a few days and then again next week. Then they should work fine."

"Man Juan you shouldn't have gone in there. All the chemicals were just dissolving" Billy looked down at his legs, expecting to see purple stains and welts forming.

"It's fine" Juan went over to the hose and rinsed himself off "all will be fine."

They went over to the directions Juan left the day before, making sure Billy did everything in the right order. When they came to a few things Billy omitted or didn't get to yet, Juan went around the pool making sure nothing was forgotten. As he was checking the fittings one last time they were both jolted by a sudden clap of thunder right over their heads.

"Billy the tarp!" Juan started to yank the end back where he had gone into the pool. Billy quickly grabbed the other side and the two of them covered the pool again and secured the last grommets as the floodgates opened. They grabbed a few tools and Juan's gripbag and raced for the kitchen door. By the time they were inside they were both soaked to the skin.

"Sorry Juan, now you're really soaked!" Billy looked at the mess they were making on the floor "come with me" and he led him downstairs to the semi-bathroom. He gave Juan a towel and took one for himself in the process. He was not surprised when Juan pulled the clinging t-shirt over his head and tossed in on the floor. Again Billy just stood there, staring at the large hairless chest and that nipple ring as his chest got rubbed and buffed, the glistening dark skin scrubbed again and again with the white towel. Just as Juan was about to say something they were startled by the sound of the phone.

"Shit" and Billy tore up the stairs two at a time and again out of breath grabbed it,

"Hello!"

"Man you spending the whole day wacking off?" Hank ribbed him.

"I was downstairs, bonehead" Billy borrowed Moose's term "when you called. You still coming over?"

"You look outside lately?"

"Hell I was just out in it. That's why we were downstairs drying off - "

"We?"

"I mean I... y'know getting a towel" Billy dribbled not wanting to go into the whole story "so when you coming over?"

"Billy look outSIDE!"

"Hey I got lunch here for ya" the offer of free food for these guys would make them walk through burning coals if they had to. Or swim the breaststroke in this case.

"Okay we'll be there in about twenty, with the Moose okay?"

"Hey I mean it Hank, you gotta make sure he chills okay?"

"Billy he ain't mad at you okay. In twenty" and he hung up.

Billy was half way down the stairs when he heard the phone. Again. He swore and walked up the steps this time,

"Now whatya want?"

"Billy?" his mom was a bit shocked.

"Sorry mom. I just got off the phone with Hank and thought it was -"

"Yes the line was busy."

"You okay, you need something?"

"I just wanted to let you know I won't be home for lunch."

"I'll save you some food in the frig then" yeah right, Billy thought, if they don't eat everything in sight, especially the Moose.

"Did you make something already?"

"Yeah mom, everything's made... except for the martini's" Billy knew that would get her.

"Very funny young man. The Connor's clients are in town so I don't know when I'll be home. If I'm not back by five I'll call so your dad can make you supper - "

"I'll find something for us."

"No Billy let your father take care of things."

"Fine I'll call him" yeah, around four-thirty, he thought, don't want him stumbling into whatever "I'll have him pick up a pizza or something."

"Sorry I'm so busy" she sounded worried again.

"Don't worry mom, everything is fine here. See you later" and he hung up before she could think of anything else to load on Billy's already full plate.

He walked downstairs one step at a time, not sure what he would find once he go to the bathroom area. Juan stood there trying to dry his shorts with the already wet towel and not doing too well.

"Man if that phone rings again I'm ignoring it" Billy said looking around for another towel to replace the one he left in the kitchen. He gave up and started to unbutton his shorts,

"I'm throwing these in the dryer. You want me to throw yours in too?" and before he could get a response from Juan he pulled down his shorts and equally soaked boxers. Naked he picked them up as well as Juan's towel and t-shirt and walked over to the dryer and put them in. He turned around,

"Well?"

"Billy, your parents let you do that?" Juan was looking him over good, taking in every inch "run around all naked like that?"

"Hey they ain't home and yeah... they do" Billy lied maybe a little "so you gonna stand there wet or what?"

"You sure?" Juan looked down at himself "I don't wanna get you in trouble."

"No trouble. C'mon Juan lose the shorts."

Juan turned his back on Billy and with a lot of tugging managed to pull them down and step out of them. His wet briefs were skin tight and clung to his big cheeks, defining them perfectly. He half-turned and emptied the pockets and handed them to Billy who just stood there.

"C'mon Juan, the underwear too."

"Gimme a towel or something. I ain't all reckless like you!"

"There are more upstairs."

"I guess..." and Juan hesistated for a moment. With his back still to Billy he unpeeled the briefs from his hips and lowered them. Billy saw the dark spot on his right butt was not a mole but a tattoo. Juan tried not to turn.

"C'mon let's go upstairs and dry off. These will be finished in no time" Billy started up the stairs, making sure Juan got a good view of his butt, working the muscles as he climbed the stairs. He went through the kitchen and up the stairs to the main bathroom, hearing Juan keeping pace behind him. When he got to the door he reached into the linen closet and turned with a towel. He turned to hand it to Juan before he could react. Juan stood naked and still wet, hairless except for a black area above his dick. And his dick! Billy gave out a small gasp,

"Man..." and Billy let the towel fall out of his hand. Juan quickly picked it up and wrapped it around himself.

"Wow Juan is that real?" Billy almost reached out and grabbed it. Juan had a very large and very wide dark brown sausage growing out of a black nest of hair, below it were two large turkey eggs hanging several inches below it. And it looked like Juan had a ring piercing, like the one that Mark guy had, but before he could be sure, it was hidden by the towel.

"Billy c'mon..." Juan did not believe they were standing there talking about his cock.

"Wow how big is that thing?" he covered himself with a towel as well, feeling a swelling starting.

"Geez Billy I don't know... my girlfriend thinks it's too big... she calls it ugly."

"Then she's missing out on one of the greatest cocks of all time" Billy looked down and could see his state was now clearly starting to pull up the front of his towel, "I better get us something to wear" and before Juan could say anything Billy spun around and headed for his bedroom, dropping the towel as he did. He almost played with the thought of Juan following him into his bedroom but no, so he pulled on a t-shirt and cut-offs from one of his piles and a large oversized sweatshirt and sweatpants for Juan. He adjusted himself as best he could and went back, finding Juan still in his towel.

"Here these should fit ya" Billy put them down on the sink.

"Thanks" Juan said, looking at Billy's crotch "you feeling better now?"

"You will too when you get into some dry clothes."

"You ... before..." Juan started to reach for his towel "you... y'know... didn't mind looking at me..."

"No..." Billy tried cautiously "why should I?"

"I don't know nothin about guys who... like... y'know..." and just like that Juan dropped the towel, now facing Billy. Again Billy let out a small "man..."

"Before you went" Juan was slowly drying off his ass and thighs "you were maybe... chubbin no?"

"Say wha?"

"You were getting a wood..." he took a step to the toilet and very deliberately started to piss. Now Billy stood there just staring while Juan slowly pulled at the head and the sheath uncovering the end of his cock, and now the steel ring was openly displayed. While Billy stood there remembering to breathe, his jaw open but not working, a wide stream of piss flew out of that monster cock and into the bowl, "and I think you are chubbin again now watching me piss with this ugly dick... aren't you?"

"I... hell no!"

"Prove it to me Billy..." Juan squeezed it now, the last drops shaking out "take it out. Show me you are not all hard."

Hell, what is it about this room? Billy thought, and maybe a bit concerned, unsnapped his cut-offs and let them fall to the floor. As Juan suspected, Billy was poking straight out, very red and very hard.

"Maaaaan..." Juan looked down at him "I never seen ANYbody do that... get all... y'know sexed up... looking at me..." Juan pulled his hand off his cock and let it fall to his side, like an invitation. Billy could not get a handle on where Juan was coming from. But hell, he thought, he had some connection to Gus so that said something. And the guys were coming over in a few minutes so it wasn't like he had to worry about Juan getting crazy or anything. So Billy shrugged and reached out to grab Juan's thick shaft, even soft he could barely get his hand around it. Juan gave a jerk,

"I never had a guy touch my cock" but when Billy brought his hand back Juan did not resist. When Billy started to play with the ring, he could feel the head start to tighten.

The phone rang!

"Fuck!" Billy yelled and pulled his pants up and ran into his parents bedroom to grab the other phone, "Hello?"

"Billy it's dad."

"Hey dad" Billy quickly tried to sound normal "what's happening?"

"Is everything okay? Wanted to make sure you were not outside."

"No, we got in before it got bad."

"We?"

"Yeah Juan helped me get the tarp on in time" Billy looked up to see Juan getting into his borrowed clothes and head downstairs "so we're gonna look at it again after lunch but it's pretty much finished."

"Let me talk to your mom" Joe tried to sound normal.

"She left, had to meet with Connor clients or something, they're in from out of town. She said she'd try to be home in time for supper but she wasn't sure."

"She okay?"

"Busy but yeah okay. She won't be making supper so bring us some pizza - unless you want left-over chicken salad I made - "

"You are making lunch?"

"Yeah for mom and me, but she's gone."

"So you and Juan..."

"He might stay. Some of the guys might come over I don't know. All I care about is the rain stopping right now."

"You need me to come home and help?"

"Naw, what Juan and I can't do, the guys can help with. We're fine."

"Well then I'll find us some pizza. See you about five okay?"

"Fine."

"Billy?"

"Yeah dad."

"Nothing's going on that you wouldn't want your mom to see is there?"

"Nope... sorry."

"Funny Billy. Well I'll see you then" and Joe hung up. Billy sounded fine but when he talked to Hank in the store earlier, he made it sound like Billy had been blowing off his friends. Not like Billy unless something was going on. And Juan seemed liked nobody to worry about. Was Gus over there? Maybe he might come home early and check up on them.

Billy hung up the phone and went to the bathroom to see what Juan had left.

Actually, Juan was like Billy; he did not leave a trail. So Billy made sure the towels were in the hamper and all spills were cleaned up and then headed downstairs. Juan was not in the kitchen either. He looked outside and saw Juan back at the pool, checking the standing water.

"Stopped raining?" Billy tried to sound neutral "need help?"

"Yeah, help me with the tarp" and as the clouds bunched and moved off, the two uncovered the pool again, Juan looking slighly uncomfortable in Billy's clothes but doing an almost convincing job of acting like things were cool.

"You got a mop?" he asked trying to direct as much water off the tarp and away from the pool as possible.

"Better than that" and Billy went to the garage and returned with a wet-dry vac "now if I don't electrocute myself."

"Let me" and Juan started to move it around like he had done this before. He had. Soon most of the puddles and spills were disappearing.

As Billy started to put away the tarp he heard a "Herms where ya hidin?" from inside.

"Out here" he yelled back, and no sooner the kitchen door opened than Moose came barreling out followed by Hank and Jeff and then Ernie too.

"Hey Billy" they started shouting.

"Hey Moose Ernie what's shakin? Jeff, Hank" and they started slapping him up.

"Moose what's happening?" Billy went over to him.

"This!" and Moose grabbed him in a half-nelson and rolled him into a little ball, crushing him into the ground. Juan looked around and ran over trying to defend him. The other guys just laughed and waved him away, knowing Moose.

"Moose Moose stop" came a muffled sound from somewhere underneath the big bully.

"That's for not inviting your buds over to your pool jerkwad."

The others managed to separate them but not before Billy had a large and revealing rip in the back of his shorts.

"Damn Billy you always go bareass when you wrestle?" Hank looked down at him and then helped him up.

"Hey you were the one to blow a gasket in tournament" Billy reminded him. Last year it was Hank that had the embarrasing distinction of having his singlet rip through the crotch at a regional meet. Luckily his briefs and jock held or he would have been on display for all to see. For months he had the nickname "Peeper" but after everything that had happened recently it was the least of their concerns.

"So you don't call us, you don't invite us over to go swimming what gives?" Jeff ribbed him.

"Hey you guys we just started filling the damn thing an hour ago" Juan busted in.

"Who're you?" from Moose.

"This is Juan he does this for a living" Billy cut back "and if it weren't for Juan and the rest of the crew there'd be no pool, if we had to wait for my dad."

"Hey Joe's just busy" Hank had to defend the clan "keeping you outa trouble."

"And doing a bad job of it too" Juan said, pulling at the rip in Billy's cut-offs, getting a laugh from the guys.

"Get off my case" Billy said heading for the house "if you guys don't chill I may just give all this lunch to Juan here. He's more on my side than you buttmunches."

"Lunch? lunch?" and they were after him like puppies, all except for Juan who went back to cleaning up.

Billy managed to shoo them back outside and returned with trays and trays of food, and then returned with pitchers of iced tea and pop. The third trip brought bowls of chips and snacks.

When he had everything out and had all but pushed them into chairs to eat, he noticed that Juan was not joining them.

"Hey Juan you need help with something?" Billy went over to him.

"No I'm almost finished" and he reconnected the hose and went back to filling the pool.

"Well then come and eat for pete's sake" and Billy started to grab him by the arm.

"No that's okay I gotta get back to the office and check the work."

"C'mon Juan there's tons of food. Don't let the guys bother you, they're really cool" and then more quietly "I mean really really cool about... y'know... like upstairs."

"I should go."

"You pissed at me? About before?" Billy's instinct was to reach out and grab something but there was an audience.

"No no.. I..I'm the one who..."

"Look, well I'm not happy we... got interrupted, you know with the phone... if you know what I mean."

"Okay... I guess."

"Now come and get some food before the monkeys finish it all" loud enough for them to hear now. They turned and tossed some pretzels at him, luckily not getting any in the pool.

"I gotta get back" Juan looked down "really."

"Well then take some food, it's the least I can do for a bud."

"You sure?"

"Damn sure" Billy dragged him over to the table and made a point of elbowing Moose aside. Billy elbowing Moose was like Rhode Island bullying Texas. Moose just looked at him like he was insane.

"So Juan you joining us for a dip later?"

"No guys, the pool's not ready" Juan started to fill a plate with three of each "the chemicals gotta sit overnite. Tomorrow it should be better."

"So what, the chlorine will kill us?"

"No it's other stuff in there besides" Juan started working on a second plate.

"Geez got enough food there?" Moose reached around him, accidentally feeling the nipple ring.

"Hey, he worked for it" Billy tossed another sandwich onto Moose's plate, like feeding time at the zoo "so he can have all he can carry as far as I'm concerned."

"So what happens if we go in today?" Hank asked not too serious.

"Your dicks'll fall off is what" Juan piled the plates into an empty box and headed for his truck before they could argue with him. Billy tagged along.

"Thanks for lunch" Juan started to pack up the truck and get in.

"Sorry you couldn't stay" Billy leaned into the truck and gave him a punch to the shoulder "for a couple of reasons."

"Well" and Juan started the engine, but sat there, avoiding eye contact "maybe... maybe if..."

"Maybe what?"

"I'll check the office and if nothing's going on maybe I could... maybe... I could come back in an hour or two."

"Do it!"

"Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless you and your friends... y'know need some time..."

"It ain't like that. If anything, come back to save me from Moose. I'm still afraid he's gonna turn me into hamburger about..."

"About what?"

"C'mon back and I'll try to explain, okay?"

"Hasta" and Juan drove back down the driveway. He almost bumped into Joe who was coming up. Joe got out of the truck and looked around.

"Dad what's up? Thought you were busy at work?" Billy was not letting on he was a bit surprised.

"Had a break so I wanted to see the pool" he started walking up the drive towards the backyard. As he did he saw the guys huddled around the food and waved. They waved back with "hey Joe, hey Mr. Herms" but hardly a break between gulps. Joe looked at them, looked at Billy and went over to the pool.

"Glad to see things are..."

"Decent you mean?" Billy was egging him on.

"Except for you" Joe looked at his his ass hanging out "what happened to you, fall down the stairs?"

"Hell no. Moose and me were... wrestling. No, like horsing-around wrestling" when he saw his dad's expression "so that's why you came home? To see things are - "

"To see things are okay after the storm" Joe narrowed his eyes "I didn't know if Juan was going to help you. I thought I'd come home to find you at the bottom of the pool filled with mud and gods knows what" he looked around and saw Juan's notes on a box, smeared but legible. He picked them up and started going down the list checking the pool as he did.

"Well everything looks like it's squared away. Thanks to you and Juan."

"Yeah it worked out okay."

"Well then I gotta get back."

"Don't ya wanna hang with the guys a bit?"

"Maybe later" Joe was not ready to face them all yet. He waved and called "bye" to them and headed back to his truck and drove off.

"Dad hadta leave?" Moose asked "ya scare him off with those shorts?" and he gave them another yank, ripping it more so the whole right cheek was exposed.

"Knock it off" Billy said and then laughed, "no he hadda get back t'work."

"Fine" Hank said but suspected Joe was still a bit uneasy about the guys. He had been a bit startled when Hank came into the store earlier, but calmed down when he could tell Hank was not gonna start in on him right then and there.

"Herms cover that ass before I rip the rest of it off" Moose sputtered with a mouth full of food, now finishing off the last of the sandwiches.

Billy went inside and changed into some running shorts. As he did he remembered the dryer! Damn, he thought, I still have Juan's stuff here! He went and collected all his pocket contents and saw his wallet was there as well. He thought about snooping but stopped himself. He got the clothes out of the dryer and put all of Juan's things together in an empty box. He brought it all up to the kitchen and, keeping an eye on the guys, slipped out of the shorts and back into his now-dry cutoffs. When he went back outside the sun started to come out.

"Hey where're yer swimming trunks?" Moose looked up, his jaw getting tired.

"I ain't going in, it's not ready yet, remember?"

"Yeah right, you don't believe him do ya?"

"Moose I was putting the stuff in with him. I know all the shit that's in the water, and besides it ain't even filled yet."

"Don't care. If it gets as hot as yesterday I'm goin in" and try to stop me, his tone said.

"Is that why you came over? To get your skin turned to shoe leather?" Billy tried to joke but hell Moose almost might do it as a dare.

"No Herms it ain't. It ain't by a long shot" Moose pushed himself away from the table and turned until he was right in Billy's face "you know why I'm here."

"Oh shit..." Billy looked down "okay Moose, no more fuckin around."

"That's right no more fuckin around" and everyone tensed fearing Moose might lunge at him. Individually no one could take him, but maybe the three of them...

"So this is where y'whup my ass right?" Billy looked around the table quickly calculating the odds. He knew Hank would come to his defense if it came to that, and he was betting Jeff would follow suit if Hank started. Ernie, he had no idea. So that's two and a half against Moose, not very good odds.

"I don't want your ass, I want some answers Herms" Moose looked around at the other guys "but before I say boo we all gotta agree right here right now, nothing we say leaves this table swear?"

They all looked at Billy like he was the Martian, "why's everyone looking at me like I'm the punk here?"

"Agreed?" Moose looked at Billy "and if your friend Juan shows up we don't say shit okay?"

"We don't gotta worry about Juan" Billy started.

"Don't tell me he's involved in all that shit at the Doc's too?"

"That's not what I meant" Billy blurted out but was not sure how to finish "I mean, he's... well... he's well... he's cool about stuff if you know what I mean."

"You screwed around with him?" Moose did not looked surprised.

"Yes and no" Billy spun around "wait! hey since when are you so cool about this stuff? And what are you getting at?"

"Moose ain't callin you anything" Hank started to get up "I gotta make a stop..."

"You know where it is" Billy waved him inside, not budging from his chair.

"Okay Herms spill. Y'can start with what's the deal with the doc? Like you know more'n anybody about -- "

"What do you mean?"

"Cut the shit!" Moose put his huge hand on Billy's shoulder not needing to squeeze "just tell me how we -- I got into all this fucked up shit."

"Fuck..." Billy looked around knowing he would have to betray some of the secrets he swore to Kroos, to both the docs "You know I can't say everything! I promised the docs..."

"Promised what Herms? That your fuckin little sex circus was gonna be a big secret? Damnit half the TOWN saw what I did!" his hand slammed down on the table spilling a few drinks. No one stopped to clean them up.

"Moose I can explain..."

"Okay Herms you do that! You explain! Just how thick are you in this!" Moose's face was so close to Billy he could smell the onions on his breath.

"Geez Moose..."

"I swear Herms you better start telling me..." and the pressure on his shoulder started to make him wince.

"Billy Moose is scared" Ernie tried to help out. Moose or Billy or both?

"I ain't scared!" Moose snapped but not at Ernie.

"Billy, we are all scared" Jeff added, his voice slow and calm "we don't know what's gonna happen to us. We could all get into trouble, a SHITLOAD of trouble here. If the doc's up to something illegal or even just sleazy... so Billy you gotta tell us before we all end up fucked."

"You are not the ones to worry" Billy started slowly "it's Coach, Coach O'Connoll's the one's gonna get in DEEP trouble - "

Damn that BASTARD!" Moose got out of his chair like he was gonna swing at someone "I'm gonna kill him! He's behind this whole shit ain't he?"

"Moose it's not like that -"

"Ain't he?" and Moose picked up Billy and started to lift him into the air.

Jeff and Ernie grabbed for Moose trying to calm him.

"C'mon Moose don't hurt him" they yelled and Moose lowered him back down, Billy's face beet red, choking for air.

"Okay he put the doc up to this, yes or no?"

"No Moose he didn't. The whole thing started..." and Billy looked around and saw Hank come back outside.

"No Herms keep going. How did this whole fucked up scene start?"

"Fuck it Moose if you're gonna get sore at anyone maybe... maybe y'gotta get sore at me!" Jeff grabbed Moose's shoulders and turned him to face him "I'm the one! I started the whole damn stinkin avalache rolling okay? It's me!" Jeff sat down trying not to look at any of them "my dad thought I was not looking right, and I felt kinda sick" which was not the truth but Jeff needed to start slow, avoiding the confused look from Hank "and y'know how the coach told us we got all summer to get the physical -- it just seemed like the right time -- so I just went to get an exam... a boring old normal exam... and... well... okay..." Hank catching his attention after several attempts "he's gonna find out anyway but... things.. happened okay?"

"What 'things'?" Moose narrowed his eyes.

"I... well. y'know the doc was doin the exam and well... fuck... I... couldn't help myself..." he stared at a spot on the ground before he recognized what it was "I... boned up in front of the doc..." he tried to gauge the reaction around the table and then to Moose "nothing like that ever happened to me before. Shit I thought there was something wrong with me. I thought it was the end of the world, but..."

"And then the doc got the idea of filming all of it, and if he hadn't shown me the film..."

"You SAW IT?" Moose looked up to Hank "when?"

"When..." he looked at Jeff "should I tell him?"

"Fuck after everything else" Jeff looked at Billy "it's the least we got to be sweating over, go ahead."

"We both saw it the next time, when I was getting MY exam" Hank started slowly his eyes glued to Billy "and when I... well okay if ya gotta know, I couldn't help but be watchin it the way the doc had it on the screen, and like Jeff did, when the doc was doing stuff to me, y'know playin with my hole and my dick and you get the picture, I boned up watching Jeff" he looked at Jeff "you sure?"

"Sure."

"Well I saw Jeff on the tape as I was being worked over and well I got turned on... big time" he looked at Jeff and everyone could see the expression clearly, a soft "shit..." came from Billy "and when the doc saw he had a real live full-blooded homo on his table - "

"Hank!" came from Billy and Moose simultaneously.

"I don't care, you're my buds I don't mind saying it, when I saw Jeff like that it was the hottest, sexiest thing I ever saw so fuck yeah! I boned up big time right in front of them. And that's when they brought out Jeff Junior."

"Who?"

"Remember Moose? They cloned our dicks remember?"

"Fuck y'don't gotta remind me--"

"When they produced Jeff's cock -- I mean the mold of his cock -- and the next thing I know they... they... okay it's embarrassing but compared to Saturday" seeing Moose ready to explode "okay they put Jeff's dildo up my butt -- no Billy, Moose gotta know -- and when they saw how much I got into it -- yeah Hank the big homo lying on their table getting buttfucked watchin Jeff's film, and once they saw that, well, it was the goddamn floodgates opening, and they got the idea then and there, it was open season on the whole fucking team, cause next they brought in - "

"Hank!" Billy practically leaped at him, knowing his part to play in this would come out if he started to mention Will or the others "one thing at a time okay?"

"Yeah you're right I guess... well let's say one by one, or..." he looked at all their faces jaws open "two by two -"

"Holy shit! The whole team?" from Moose.

"But you can't blame Jeff. You gotta be mad at someone blame me...you could say Jeff was just the first innocent fish caught in the net, but I'm the one put the whole mutherfuckin idea in their heads to do the team - y'know make us all one by one - or two by two - go through their 'exams'. And that way they could figure out which guys were perv- "

Moose looked at Hank "you're just saying that after-"

"Hank nice try but you ain't the first full-blooded queer he snared, I realize you are just trying to shift the blame but you weren't the one..." Billy looked over at the pool not filling fast enough.

"What ya mean?"

"Before you did anything, or even you Jeff... I was.. I'M THE ONE! I started all of this..."

"WHAT? How!" came from just about all of them simultaneously.

"I was the first..." Billy turned and looked at them, a bit defiant "weeks... WEEKS! before you showed up Jeff, I had my 'exam' except..."

"Except what?" Moose got quiet.

"I don't wanna go into all the nasty sick details" Billy did not turn away "but let's say I was not the innocent, protesting virgin like you guys were when you were dragged in. Kroos was very, very happy that I stumbled into the office that day let's just say that."

"He fucked you didn't he! right in the exam room!" Moose now wanted all the bloody details.

"Remember I usually do the fucking" he looked at Moose "or you forget about whose dick's up you when you were sucking off my dad?"

"Fuck no" Moose shot a look at Ern who was taking this all in.

"Okay well you don't really want all the nasty gory details right? Let's just say when I left they had enough film to hang me and Kroos both, several times over."

"Damn" Ernie looked around the table "I thought - I always thought I was the one with the deep dark forbidden secrets..."

"Kid you're still in diapers" Hank said looking at Moose and then at Jeff "in a good way" and laughed. Everyone else was too spooked to laugh.

"I fuckin can't believe this. The team? The whole team?" Moose was trying to get a sense of relief from this, but it wasn't coming.

"How about the whole town..." Billy started chewing his nails, the food gone.

"You're kidding right?" Ern also kept one eye on the pool, thinking he could just jump in and this whole thing would go away "Billy?"

"Why the fuck y'think they got me workin there nights? Besides the fact I'm like their good little worker and sex slave--"

"Bull Herms!" Moose snarled "now I know you're makin this up!"

"So how y'explain my dad being there?"

"Yeah Billy what's that all about?" Hank looked around, knowing whatever he said would rub off on him one way or the other.

"I think my dad..." Billy shrugged and tossed a pretzel into the bushes "well let's say he's... I mean... guys I think it's like genetic or somethin..."

"But your dad?"

"So you see if I hadn't walked into that exam room" Billy changed the subject "and gotten... carried away with that stud Kroos ... none of this would have happened. Okay Moose if you're gonna kill me I guess I deserve it and then some" and Billy stood up, waiting for the fist to his face. Nothing happened. The only sound was the soft lapping noise from the pool.