"Goodbye. Goodbye, world. Goodbye, Grover's Corners...Mama and Papa. Goodbye to clocks ticking...and Mama's sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new-ironed dresses and hot baths...and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you."
The tears were still wet on Katrina's cheeks as she turned to Zach.
"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it...every, every minute?"
"No," Zach answered, gentle and sympathetic, but definitive. Till it was like he had a quiet revelation and added, "The saints and poets, maybe--they do some."
"I'm ready to go back," Katrina said, resigned to her grave. She took her seat, and it was like she became a living statue.
Zach listened silently as the dead talked. To Mrs. Gibbs trying to get Emily to look at the stars. To old man Stimson bitterly bemoaning the ignorance and blindness of the living. To Emily, lost between them, her pain and acceptance painted plain on Katrina's face. And then Dion walked on stage.
"It's George," Katrina said, detached but unable to look away as Dion approached her and fell to his knees, anguish twisting his face before he fell flat before her.
"That ain't no way to behave!"
"He ought to be home!"
But Katrina paid no mind to the squawking ghosts. Not looking away from Dion, she spoke to the woman sitting next to her, "Mother Gibbs?"
"Yes, Emily?"
"They don't understand, do they?"
"No, dear. They don't understand."
The lights dimmed around the seated students, and as Zach took center stage a single spotlight fell on him.
"Most everybody's asleep in Grover's Corners. There are a few lights on," Zach walked to the right of stage and gestured, the imaginary town more real in his mind's eye than the empty sea of blackness that was actually before him, "Shorty Hawkins, down at the depot, has just watched the Albany train go by. And at the livery stable somebody's setting up late and talking.
"Yes, it's clearing up." Zach looked to the ceiling and could see the grey clouds parting, "There are the stars doing their old, old crisscross journeys in the sky. Scholars haven't settled the matter yet, but they seem to think there are no living beings up there. Just chalk...or fire."
He turned back to the audience, and his lips hinted at a grin, even as his eyes were unbearably sad, "Only this one is straining away. Straining away all the time to make something of itself. The strain's so bad that--every sixteen hours everybody lies down and gets a rest."
The watch flashed into Zach's hand and opened with a tiny chime, "Hm...Eleven o'clock in Grover's Corners."
Zach slipped the watch into the front pocket of his vest, and waved to the audience as if they were very old friends, "You get a good rest, too. Good night."
Zach turned and walked off stage as the spotlight dimmed to black. The silence was almost oppressive, till the first hands shattered it and the thunder of applause followed.
Zach waited patiently backstage as the rest of the cast went out for their curtain call. Crew members patted him on the back, and Dion grabbed him in his arms to kiss him before he quickly had to run out for his own bow.
For only a moment it was just he and Katrina waiting to head back onstage. Zach said sincerely, "You were perfect, Kat. I almost started crying."
"So were you, Zach," she said sweetly, and then it was her turn to walk back on the stage. It was like the crowd went up 10 decibels as she went out there.
Zach let the applause for Katrina have some time to breathe, and then he made his way on stage. The roar was almost overwhelming. He blushed as he took his bow, and laughed as he heard Jake dog whistle in the crowd. His pledge brothers who weren't in the play started throwing flowers at the stage. Sean's bright red hair stood out amongst them like a beacon.
Professor Davidson came on stage with a microphone, nearly incomprehensible as she tried to stop herself from crying while she thanked the audience and the cast and the crew.
Then, to Zach's horror, she added, "There's one student in particular who deserves special recognition, tonight. He joined our cast without a lick of theater experience, but from the moment he auditioned till moments ago he's been the bedrock of this entire production, and one of the greatest young actors I've had the privilege to work with. So, I and the rest of the college's theater department, would like to congratulate Zach Thomas on winning this season's award for best new actor."
Suddenly Professor Peters was standing next to him and shaking his hand, as he handed Zach a small plaque while the audience cheered him. Zach could barely stand the extra applause he'd gotten for curtain calls every night, this singling out made him want to melt into the stage. Thankfully, Davidson quickly told the audience to have a good night, and the crowd and cast immediately started to disperse.
"I hope you like the plaque," Dion said, grabbing Zach by the waist and pulling him close, "Cause that's all you get. Cheap bastards won't even give you a gift card for the bookstore."
"Eh, it'd just be like they were giving me my own money," Zach said, grinning up at his boyfriend, looking a little ridiculous up close with the stage makeup on. But then Zach knew he looked just as silly, the first time he saw how rosy the makeup girl made his cheeks he wanted to puke.
Dion smiled and kissed Zach's hand, "Come on, let's find our families. Sooner we say goodbye sooner we get to the party." Then he held Zach's hand and led him into the crowd.
Dion's parents were caught up in an animated conversation with Zach's mother, but they quickly cut it short as they realized their sons were there.
"Oh Zachy, you were wonderful," Zach's mom, Susan, said, hugging Zach tightly, "Best one yet." She'd been to every one of their 3 performances. "Ah, and you too Dion!" She said, hugging Dion next, and just as she did Dion's mother, Sophia, hugged Zach.
When Sophia, or Sophie as she asked Zach to call her, pulled away from the hug she looked at Zach intently, and the way she did reminded Zach how exactly Dion had her eyes, "That was a very impressive performance, Zach. You should be proud."
"Thank you, Sophie. That means a lot," Zach said, blushing. He meant it too, considering Sophia had performed on Broadway for over a decade and still occasionally produced plays.
Then Dion's father, Ben, grabbed Zach's hand and shook it so enthusiastically Zach thought his arm may fall off, but he just appreciated seeing how Dion had gotten his dad's grin, "And if you'd fucked up she would've told you, so you know you did good."
Zach laughed. Despite Dion's assurances, he had been very intimidated to meet his boyfriend's parents. He shouldn't have been. They were as sociable as their son and had been nothing but supportive of Zach and Dion's relationship. Unlike Dion's 7 year old sister, Amy, who had been very upset to learn that Dion broke up with Katrina and had refused to say a word to Zach or Dion since she arrived with her parents.
"I thought Kat was the best," Amy spoke up, speaking to her father but obviously wanting Zach to hear her.
Ben rolled his eyes at her, but Zach knelt down to her height and said, "I think so too! The way she could make herself cry, that's so hard. I just had to say a bunch of stuff and put on a hat for a little bit. But wait, Amy, what's that?" Zach said, pointing just behind her.
"What?" She asked confused looking around, the first time she'd actually acknowledged anything Zach had said to her.
"There's just something--here!" Zach reached behind the girl's ear and suddenly a small rose appeared in his hand. Amy erupted in laughter, before remembering she was supposed to be angry and forced herself to look unhappy. She couldn't quite hold back a smile as Zach handed her the flower, though.
"I told you, Ames, Zach is so cool," Dion said, smiling widely at the little breakthrough Zach had. Dion loved his baby sister fiercely, and Zach knew her silent treatment had been tearing Dion up more than she could realize. Still, his comment seemed to make her more determined to put back on an angry face.
"Seems like you guys have been getting on pretty well," Zach smiled at his mom.
"Fabulously! We were actually just talking about maybe going to the Maryland Deathfest this spring," Susan said excitedly. To both Dion and Zach's shock their milquetoast suburban parents had realized last night at dinner that they'd all been metalheads. Sophia and Ben could have even met Zach's mom and dad at a Black Sabbath concert at some point in the 80s, but none of them would elaborate on why they may not remember the details.
"Susan's trying to convince me to grow my hair back out, you need something to wave around when you're head banging," Ben added, making Dion groan. But their conversation was interrupted when Zach's pledge brothers found them and Mike pounced onto Zach's back.
"Fucking amazing, roomie!" Mike yelled, then immediately regretted it as he saw they were with their parents and a little kid. He quickly extricated himself and apologized, but the adults found it hilarious. Zach quickly introduced the guys to his mom and Dion's parents and sister. Dion's family had taken Sean out to lunch with them earlier that day, but Zach's mom was thrilled to finally meet her son's best friend.
"It's great to finally meet you too, Mrs. Thomas," Sean smiled widely as Zach's mom hugged him, "Zach's told me so much about you."
"None of that Mrs. Thomas, you call me Susan," she smiled back, "And I've heard so much about you! It's so nice Zach has such great friends. Why he used to be so shy for a while my sister and I thought he may have a mild case of Aspergers--"
"Mom!" Zach yelled embarrassed as his friends burst into laughter.
"Well, I think he's gotten over the shyness problem," Sean grinned and looked at Zach, "You were incredible bud, best play I've seen."
"Thanks, man."
"You weren't half bad either," Sean joked to Dion as he hugged his big, but then Amy started tugging on Sean's jeans and he bent down to chat. Sean hadn't cost her a new big sister, so Amy was happy to talk to him, and Sean's youngest brother was only a couple years younger than her so Sean knew all about the kids shows and youtubers she was obsessed with.
As the guys started talking with Ben about how pledging was going and Sophia was giving Dion some notes on his performance, Susan spoke quietly to Zach, "Honey, do you think we could have a quick talk in private before you head off with your friends?"
Zach led her to a small classroom just outside the theater, and as he shut the door behind them the quiet was a welcome relief from the raucous thrum of the crowd.
Zach's mom smiled sadly at him, "I'm so proud of you, Zach. You know your father would be too, right?"
"Yeah, I know," Zach said quietly. His father had died in a car accident when Zach was a toddler. Susan had moved back in with her parents, who helped raise Zach. "How're Mommom and Poppop doing?"
"They're excited to watch the video I took," Susan said brandishing her phone, "They so wanted to be here, but with Poppop's heart scare--"
"I'm just glad he's ok," Zach said, trying to hold back tears. It had been a close call. In fact, his grandfather had died in his armchair, alone in his home while his wife went to her bowling club. By the time his mother had called to tell him, Zach's twelve hour rewind was just barely enough to get the EMTs there in time. Now he was in a hopeful recovery from his double bypass.
"But Zach...you're...you're doing so well. I knew you just needed to get out of your shell," Susan said, Zach's tears bringing some to her eyes too as she cupped his cheek, "And Dion is so charming and handsome and he adores you. Your friends seem lovely. I just...I think you should tell them. Or Dion and Sean at least. It can't be easy keeping it a secret. I've been struggling just talking with Ben and Sophie. Those boys obviously care about you, I think you're overthinking this."
His mother's advice made Zach feel terribly guilty. Maybe she was right. As far as she knew at least, because even though Zach hadn't told her about the watch, he had told her about the money. Specifically when he gave her $10 million so she could retire from her 30 years teaching English in the local middle school. He'd told her some bitcoin ripoffs he'd bought in middle school had exploded in value. He'd also asked her to keep it secret when she came to visit, because he was worried his friends would treat him differently if they knew how much money had fallen into his lap.
"You're right. I think I'll tell them tomorrow," Zach said. He had consigned himself to keeping the watch secret forever, but maybe telling them about the money would be a compromise his conscience could stomach easier than total secrecy. Besides, he'd been thinking of some possible winter vacation ideas--it'd be hard to invite Dion to Barcelona if he didn't know Zach was loaded.
"Good. Oh sweetie, I'm just so happy for you," Susan said as she pulled Zach into a hug, then dried her eyes as she let go, "We should go back to your friends. I'm sure you have some celebrating to do. Besides, Ben and Sophia invited me for some drinks in the hotel lobby once they put Amy to bed."
They went back out into the theater which had thinned significantly. Zach's pledge brothers had returned to the house, but Sean had stayed and Chris had joined them too, dressed all in black and finally freed from his sound booth. Zach enthusiastically introduced his big brother to his mom, and then they all said their goodbyes.
Amy refused to say goodbye to Dion or Zach, but as her parents were about to walk out the door she ran back into the room crying, and hugged Dion tightly about the waist before he picked her up to hug her back. Zach couldn't hear what the siblings said to each other, but when Dion set her down Amy very quickly gave Zach a hug, and before he even had time to react she went sprinting back to her parents.
As their parents walked out the door Dion grabbed Zach in his arms and lifted him off the ground as he kissed him. "You know, it's almost painful how much I fucking love you," Dion said as he beamed at Zach.
"We ain't got time for this lovey-dovey shit," Chris interrupted, "We got a rager waiting for us."
They walked out the front door of the theater to find Jake and Sara passionately making out against the building. It was made hilarious by Sara still wearing her grey wig, as well as the comically oversized bouquet of flowers she had in hand.
"I told you, bitches love flowers!" Zach laughed, shocking his two friends out of their kissing. When they realized it was Zach they laughed too, and promised to see them soon. The guys continued on toward Sig Chi, Dion holding Zach tight against him even as the four friends talked amongst themselves.
"So, what're we in for tonight?" Zach asked.
"The better question," Chris said as he pulled a folded up piece of aluminum foil from his pocket, "Is how weird do you want to get tonight?"
"You fucking got it dude?" Dion laughed.
"Enough for us 4 and a few other guys at least. Brian's already claimed one," Chris said, unfolding the pouch.
"What is it?" Sean asked.
"Acid," Chris grinned.
"Uh, I'm down to get weird as fuck tonight," Zach said as he extended a hand to Chris.
"Yes please," Sean added as he took one too. Chris and Dion had talked at length about how great their acid trip was the year before, and both freshmen were excited to try it.
"Happy thoughts, everybody," Dion grinned as he took his own tab.
They could hear the party first, the bass echoing down the elm lined street, and as Sig Chi came into view so did the red glow of a bonfire in the back.
The moment they walked into the backyard they were swarmed by the rest of the cast. A champagne bottle was thrust into Zach's hands, but when he struggled to open it Dion helped and shook it up before he popped off the cork. Champagne shot into the air and the night was on.
It started with Zach getting drunk. He thought he deserved it. Not only had he worked hard on the play himself, he worked hard on it for other people--the last 3 days were more like a couple weeks to Zach, as he'd gone through each day and performance multiple times to help with any problems the cast and crew had that interfered with the show. Barring somebody dying or getting maimed or a really bad trip, Zach was ready to let go of the reins and enjoy the night however it played out.
Foamy champagne wasn't very useful for getting drunk, though, so Zach quickly switched to jungle juice while he waited to feel anything from the acid. Zach and Sean started a pong game against Dion and Chris, which was cut unceremoniously short by Jack dragging Sean away by his unpierced ear, telling him he was late. Zach's pledge brother Colin hopped in to take Sean's place and Zach continued getting drunk, figuring he'd find out what Sean was late to later.
The pong game ended quickly as Dion and Chris sank their last 3 cups in a row. Colin hadn't made any cups since he subbed in for Sean, and even though Zach tried to object that the cup Sean made should count, the Juniors still called a shutout, and Colin had to do a naked lap of the yard. As he stripped and started running Dion and Zach laughed as they noticed each other both checking out Colin's cute pale ass.
"Not even 10pm and already one guy naked, not a bad start," Dion laughed, "I'm really fiending for some nicotine all a sudden, how bout you guys?"
Chris barked for the cigarette pledge (the pledge whose job it was to always have cigarettes ready to go for brothers) and they made their way to the bonfire.
Dion lit Zach's cig with a wink, making Zach blush. Dion still just got to him sometimes. They'd fucked every which way, seen each other at every unflattering angle, knew each other as well as either of them had ever known anyone, but still that fucking wink could make Zach's stomach do a backflip.
In fact almost everything about Dion was getting Zach going tonight. He was still in costume, just George's plain dress shirt and slacks, but the way the rolled up sleeves curled around the muscles on Dion's forearms made Zach want to feel those arms wrap around him again, while the sharp and high collar made Zach want to explore Dion's jawline with his lips. The way the bonfire danced in his amber eyes made them glow, and still Zach could barely stand the way Dion could just look at him; Dion looked at him like he was the only person in the world, and Zach could feel his dick start to rise at the attention.
"So, you're done your first play. What did you think? Gonna do it again?" Chris' questions snapped Zach out of his horny reverie, and he took a drag on his cigarette as he considered his answers, the cigarette smoke almost feeling like liquid as it went down his throat. Maybe starting to feel that acid.
"I enjoyed it...but it was a lot. Like I loved hanging out with all you guys, and it's fun acting out a story, but man the last couple weeks have been intense," Zach said.
Dion laughed, "That's always how it goes. By the time you finish you're like why did I ever do this? Give it a couple months and you'll be desperate to get back to it."
"By the way, Zach, I meant to tell you the hype didn't ruin anything. You fucking killed it bro," Chris added.
"I fucking told you he would," Dion said, putting his arms around Zach's shoulders and pulling Zach's back against his chest. Dion got goosebumps as he felt Zach gently kiss his forearm.
"I gotta get the speakers set up for the show," Chris said as he tossed his butt into the fire, "Try to keep it in your pants without me." Chris walked off back towards the house.
"What show?" Zach asked as he leaned into Dion's embrace while he looked into the bonfire. It was like his eyes were starting to play tricks on him. He was seeing artifacts in his peripheral vision, while the heart of the fire grew sharper, like a photograph set against an oil painting.
"You'll see soon," Dion said as his lips started kissing the side of Zach's neck, making Zach giggle as the light touch tickled him. Then Dion said, "Anybody ever tell you how sexy you are in a suit?"
"Yeah, you, ever since I put it on," Zach laughed. He was very fond of his Stage Manager outfit--he'd bought it himself, a sleek but relaxed tailored 3 piece black suit, showing off his well toned body even through all the layers. The chain of his pocket watch also accented the vest nicely. "I'm liking you in a dress shirt, too. Specially when you roll up the sleeves," Zach said, kissing Dion's arm again.
"Want me to be all professional huh? Next thing I know you're gonna start calling me daddy."
Zach twisted around in Dion's arms so he was facing him, "Nah, I'm professional enough for the both of us. I just like you in a button up. Easy access." Zach loosened one button by Dion's belly and his hand slipped inside, gliding over Dion's abs and chest and lightly brushed over Dion's pierced nipple. "But I think you need some facial hair if I'm gonna call you daddy. That or you have to knock me up."
"I can work on both those things," Dion grinned as he leaned down and kissed Zach, gently biting Zach's lip. They could feel their boners start to rise against each other in their dress slacks. Dion rested his forehead against Zach's and chuckled, then he pulled back from the kiss and held Zach's face in his hand, his thumb gently brushing along Zach's cheekbone, "Do you want kids?"
Zach laughed at the abruptness of the question and the guileless curiosity in Dion's smile since he asked it, "One mention of knocking me up and you're ready to plan a baby shower, huh? You know I was kidding, right? It doesn't actually work that way."
"Come on, I'm serious," Dion grinned as his fingers started instinctively brushing back Zach's hair, "It's a reasonable question. Not like we need to worry about an accident or anything, just like long term thoughts."
Zach blushed again as he grinned back embarrassed, "I do want kids. And I mean kids not kid, being an only child isn't all it's cracked up to be. What about you?"
"Yeah, I think so," Dion said hesitantly, "Kat definitely did not want kids, so it wasn't something I really thought about. But I don't know, seeing you with my family, it just put it in my mind. We'd be pretty awesome dads, wouldn't we?"
Zach laughed brightly as he looked into Dion's face. He could be so cool and self assured and sarcastic, like he was always in on some private joke, but in a split second he could become vulnerable and earnest and sweet. Zach felt an extreme affection swell inside him, an almost existential closeness as he fell into the firelight in Dion's eyes. At some level he knew the acid and alcohol were starting to hit him, but it was more than that, it was like the drugs were just making clearer what was already there. Zach's hand slipped out of Dion's shirt and around his neck, "I fucking love you."
"And I love you," Dion smiled, then he bit his lip, "Was that too much? I'm sorry, it was too much. I'm not trying to like plan out our lives or something, it's only been like 3 months. I just--I think this trip is starting to kick in and you're so fucking sexy right now I--" but Zach's lips cut him off, and the boyfriends started making out in front of the bonfire as the party raged around them.
A pop and geyser of champagne knocked them out of it as Brian sprayed a bottle next to their heads. "Come on bitches," Brian laughed as they jumped apart and tried to wipe the champagne from their hair, "It's showtime." He handed Zach what was left of the champagne and the 3 of them walked towards the porch on the back of the house, which had been converted into a small stage.
Jack stepped out with a microphone, "Quiet down you fucks. The non-theater dork pledges have been volunteered to put on a show for all the theater dorks. They've had a staggering 20 minutes to rehearse it. So, brothers, get your rotten tomatoes, and enjoy a Midsummer Night's Dream."
Zach laughed as actual boxes of old tomatoes were passed around, while pledges started coming out on the porch. It was a complete shitshow and hilarious. None of them had any idea what they were supposed to be doing, so they just started bullshitting each other as they were splattered by tomatoes from the brothers. Eventually Sean stuck a large rubber horse head on Jake and everyone started running away from him. When they ran out of tomatoes and just started booing Jack called, "And scene!" The pledges took a bow as the crowd booed and clapped at the same time.
Brian and Dion got caught up in some trippy conversation about the Sun, so Zach left them to it and went to catch up with his tomato splattered pledge brothers. Zach slipped out one of the blunts he'd rolled earlier that day and sparked it up as he joined them.
"Great work, gentlemen," Zach said, taking a puff before passing it to Rich, "It was--exhilarating. Surreal."
"Fuck you bro," Jake laughed as he tried to brush off the bits of tomato that covered his shirt.
"Dude, like, how the fuck did you remember all your words? I think I remembered like...4," Rich asked between coughs as he passed the blunt around the circle.
"We had a bit more time to prepare," Zach said. He shuffled over towards Sean, who'd avoided the worst of the tomato bombs, and playfully started punching his arm, "And how you doing buddy? Feelin good?"
Sean laughed and smacked away the blows, gently punching Zach back, "Yeah, what bout you buddy pal?" Zach could see a slight glimmer in Sean's blue eyes, like he was seeing a little further than normal. Zach knew if he looked in a mirror just then he'd see the same glimmer in his own. Fuck, now he really wanted a mirror.
"I'm definitely feeling it," Zach admitted.
"Wait, what're you feeling? I wanna feel!" Mike said, overhearing Zach and Sean.
"We got a couple tabs of acid. I don't think we've got any more though," Sean said.
"Aw fuck dude, so jealous," Rich said, suspiciously smoking the blunt again as he must have repositioned himself in the passing circle.
"Don't worry guys, the trip goes south just find me. I'll be your rock," Jake said before he faced half a solo cup of jungle juice and belched.
"What're you getting so far?" Sean asked Zach.
"The bonfire was fucking nuts," Zach said, "And in general maybe a bit of Van Gogh around the edges. And I'm feeling good, you know? Just...right now, everything is right."
"For me, it's like...like for half a second up there, I was literally convinced I'd turned Jake's head into a horse, it was very, very intense," Sean said which got the guys roaring with laughter. They started to joke about Jake turning into a jackass, but Sean kept talking with Zach.
"And like, it's hard to describe, but everybody's faces just seem..."
"Clearer," Zach said.
"Yeah, but like, not their faces but just the way I'm seeing them you know? It's almost as if I can read their faces. Like I know exactly what they're thinking. I mean, not what they're thinking, but like, how they're thinking," Sean said, his eyes scanning the faces of the pledges around them.
"Alright, read my face, how am I thinking?" Zach grinned.
Sean turned and rubbed his chin as he stared at Zach intensely. Zach couldn't help but admire the little flecks of gold in the blue of his eyes, and the way his tongue poked against the inside of his cheek as he thought. He became very aware of how close they were standing, and the presence in Sean's stance. "Well, you're thinking like I'm full of shit," Sean finally said making Zach laugh.
"You said it, not me."
"And you're happy, but a little scared," Sean continued.
"Am I scared?"
"Are you?"
"Huh. Maybe." Zach knew he was. The prospect of telling Dion and probably Sean about all the money was a little daunting. He was worried Dion in particular might think it was a betrayal. But Zach also knew he didn't want to think about that right now.
"And maybe a bit of something else," Sean grinned, and as Zach blushed he knew they both knew what the something else was. But then Sean relaxed from his intense observation and asked lightly, "So how was it meeting the parents? Ben and Sophie seemed pretty chill to me, but I'm not boning their son."
"About as good as I could hope. They're really nice, and you know D, makes sense his parents are easy to talk to. Still just felt a little awkward sometimes. Didn't help when my mom said something embarrassing either, but they had some embarrassing Dion stories too."
"Asperger's?" Sean laughed.
"Nah, nothing that bad, like she saved that one for a crowd," Zach laughed, "I did tell you I used to be really shy."
"You were really shy the whole first week of school," Sean said, "I tried to talk with you a bunch of times and I was barely getting grunts. Then we talked that day you were late to calc and it was like you'd flipped a switch. I don't think I've seen you be shy since."
"Did you really?" Zach asked. It was hard to remember that first week. So much had happened since. Years had happened since. Although Zach certainly remembered that day he was late for class. Zach went on, "Well, you were intimidating. Super cute soccer player who I also had to share a shower with. Didn't want you to think I'd creep on you or something."
"I could think of worse things," Sean teased with a wink. Before Zach could respond Dion got on the porch and put his fingers in his mouth to whistle loudly to the crowd.
"Alright guys, ADPi just arrived and we're open for the party. Start heading to the basement and get fucking dancing!"
Zach and Sean made their way toward Dion, and Dion grinned as he caught sight of them. "It's coming on strong now, right?"
"Fuck yes," Sean said as his nod became something more like a twitch.
Zach was feeling the same. His balance was off. Not in a drunk way, although the jungle juice and champagne were working on him too, but something almost like vertigo. Then he realized they were both staring at him and he laughed, "Uh, yeah, pretty strong."
"Do you want to sit down for a bit?" Dion asked, concerned.
"No!" Zach said excitedly, "That's the opposite of what I want to do. Dancing. Now."
Dion grinned and took Zach by the hand, "Sounds good to me. You come too, dude, the lights are gonna be fuckin sick." So Sean joined them as they made there way to the frat basement.
The transition from outside to inside was surprisingly intense. All 3 of them stopped in their tracks as their tripping minds adjusted to the new environment. The flashing neon lasers and strobe lights above the dance floor overloaded Zach's eyesight as they streaked across the quickly thickening crowd, while he felt the heavy bass of I Gotta Feeling shake his bones. Zach suddenly had the realization if he didn't move he would collapse, so he marched towards the center of the room and started dancing.
It was early enough in the night that most people were mingling more than dancing. But with Zach dancing like he was alone, and Dion and Sean quickly joining him, it didn't take long for the ADPi girls and Sig Chi guys to start dancing too. As students from all over campus made their way to Sig Chi's biggest party of the year they arrived to find it already in full swing.
And as Zach danced, the trip kept building. He lost all track of time and space. One moment Zach and Dion and Sean were dancing together in a triangle, laughing at each other's ridiculous moves and how fucked up they knew they all were, but then it was like a movie cut and Zach was grinding against Dion, lost in the touch and smell of him as they moved to the music and Dion's lips were inches away from his own.
Then just as suddenly Zach was dancing at the bar as Rob passed him an extra strong jungle juice, trying to apologize for some insult Zach couldn't even remember, so Zach just hugged him and kept dancing as he chugged the ice cold drink.
Zach never finished the cup, but then it was empty. He looked into the crowd and saw Sean making out with Austin, and he let the cup fall to the floor.
He was on Jake's shoulders, belting it out to Mr. Brightside as dozens of other sang along too.
His jacket was gone and he was dancing with Sara. She was talking, but Zach wasn't getting a word of it. But he was happy she was happy.
He was surrounded but alone in the middle of the dance floor. Faces everywhere, all faces he knew because he knew everyone, and it was like their faces switched interchangeably among their bodies. The music rose to deafening, colors started to bleed, and Zach closed his eyes as it all kept growing, growing--
And then it was silent. Zach opened his eyes and the world was frozen, the strobes now just bright lights, and students turned to stone. Zach's hand clutched his pocket, and he felt the watch ticking away reassuringly. Zach walked amongst the frozen people, staring, unsure what to do. He went towards the DJ booth and found Chris, head down and looking at his laptop. Zach reached over the table to poke Chris' cheek.
But then there was no one there, and all at once the world started its music and movement again. Zach stared blankly at where Chris had just been, then felt a slap on the back and turned to find Chris standing right next to him.
"I think it's time for a dance break. Come on, let's get you some air."
Chris led Zach outside, and as they stepped into the yard Zach gasped at how unimaginably big the sky was, and how bright and countless the stars.
"Hermosa, sí?" Chris said quietly.
"Yes," Zach whispered, feeling like he could fall into the sky at any moment.
"Come on, it's not goin anywhere," Chris said, gently leading Zach towards the bonfire. Dion and Sean were sitting next to it in the grass, and as they saw Zach they smiled in unison.
Zach sat between them and finally getting off his feet was almost orgasmic. He pushed his hair out of his face, surprised at how sweaty he was. He unbuttoned his shirt sleeves and rolled them up.
"How you feeling, babe?" Dion asked, rubbing Zach's back.
"I lost my jacket," Zach said.
"Nah, I put it up in my room, remember?"
"No," Zach laughed. The way Dion looked at him made him feel better, an anchor as his mind still whirled. He turned to Sean, his red hair brighter than normal as it caught the firelight, "Why aren't you with Austin?"
It came out sharper than he intended, and Sean's smile faltered, confused, "Why would I be?"
"You were making out."
Sean blushed, "We were dancing, and then he tried to make out. I wasn't feeling it. That was awhile ago though."
"Why weren't you feeling it? He's cute," Zach said, his voice more level than his vision as the landscape behind Sean twisted in spirals.
"I don't know, man," Sean said, embarrassed.
"Prolly cause he was tripping balls," Dion joked, trying to lighten the mood, "I know I am."
But Zach kept looking at Sean. Like he was demanding more of an answer no matter how uncomfortable Sean was at the question. But then Zach's face broke into a smile, "Like a fucking dodgeball game in my head I'm tripping so many balls." That got Sean's smile back too.
"No fucking kidding," Chris said, suddenly plopping down next to Dion and passing Zach a large, cold water bottle, "Zach was wandering around the basement like a zombie just before we came up. I've been getting some intense visuals too, you must've been seeing some crazy shit, right?"
"Yeah," Zach said, but he didn't join in as the other guys started discussing their acid visions--he doubted they'd believe he saw time stop.
They sat in the grass for awhile, talking and laughing, staring at the stars or the fire or each other, feeling and thinking more than words can say. Eventually, his vision returning to normal and a deep exhaustion kicking in, Zach yawned.
"What's the time?" Chris asked.
"Ask the Stage Manager," Dion said.
Zach slipped the watch from the pocket of his vest and quickly checked the time before slipping it back into his pocket, "Little after midnight."
"Come on, dude," Sean grinned, "You were hamming it up on stage earlier, is that all we get? Show me some magic."
Zach grinned back. He sat up straight and rolled up his sleeves even higher. He pulled the watch out again, letting its tarnished case catch a glimmer of the dying fire. Then with a yank on the chain he tossed it a foot into the air, and as it fell he caught it between his hands with a clap. He slowly opened his hands to reveal his empty palms.
"Now that's what I'm talking about," Sean laughed as Chris gave a slow clap. But Dion said, "I'm still waiting on the prestige."
"Prestige, huh?" Zach said, matching his boyfriend's smile, "You want me to bring it back? Well then what the hell did you take it for?" Zach reached into Dion's breast pocket and pulled out the watch. That got a clap from all of them.
"So, we're about 3 hours in. I think it's fair to say we're all starting to come down a bit? Maybe a little tired?" Chris asked. All 3 guys nodded.
"Next question," Chris said, taking a small plastic baggy from his pocket filled with what looked like half a dozen smarties, "Do you want tonight to get even weirder?"
"What're you offering?" Sean asked, interested but wary.
"Molly," Chris said.
"Candy flipping, fuckin a, Chrissy, you weren't kidding bout going hard,"Dion laughed.
"Only so many wrap parties left, man, I'm not tryin to hold back," Chris grinned and then he looked to Zach, "You staying on the ride with me, hermanito?"
Zach hesitated for just a moment before he grinned and reached into the bag. Dion and Sean followed suit.
"Cheers, bros," Chris grinned as the guys popped the chalky pills.
"How long does it take?" Sean asked.
"Not too long, but hold off on drinking any more. We should be set," Chris stood up and offered a hand to Zach, "Come on, bro. I got the guitar set up, let's make some music before it really starts hitting."
Dion and Sean followed them inside, and stood nearby as Chris and Zach got ready, Chris tuning his Fender and Zach adjusting the settings of the used but top of the line keyboard the frat had recently received as an anonymous donation. Zach had learned how to work it quickly, and sometimes you'd think he was half a dozen people as he played and synthesized multiple instruments at the same time.
As frat brothers realized Chris and Zach were starting a set word spread, and the living area quickly grew packed. But as soon as Chris started tapping out a beat the crowded room faded away and Zach let the music take him.
The drums first, turning Chris' every 3rd tap to a bass drum kick, then the snare and hi hat with the rest, and as Chris' guitar started singing Zach was ready with proper bass. It was a piece they'd made themselves, a fun and easy song that gave them both room to improvise.
As Zach and Chris got into their groove Dion and Sean watched together near the back of the room, having been slowly jostled away from the duo as the crowd grew. They didn't mind, as they still had a good view of them, and they were far enough from the speakers they could hear each other talk.
"He looks like such a dork with that makeup on," Sean grinned at Dion as they looked at Zach, "Basically clown paint the way it's running."
"Cause he hasn't stopped goin for one minute, just needs to rinse it off," Dion said. Dion had only washed his own stage makeup off a little earlier. Then Dion raised his eyebrows and nudged Sean's side, "Still, looking good though, right?"
Sean grinned even as he blushed, "Sexiest clown I've seen. And he does know how to work that piano."
"It's, like, absurd right? Just...all the shit he knows how to do. I've never known anybody else like it. And you'd think at a certain point you'd start to resent it, but he just..."
"Disarms you with it. Like he's never bragging, it's just how he is."
"Exactly."
They grew silent as they watched Zach play, but eventually Sean spoke again, "How was it meeting Susan?"
"She's a riot. Like you know she must be every kid's favorite teacher. And her and my parents hit it off right away which made things smoother. But I definitely got some mama bear vibes. Zach's her baby. I think if I fuck things up I'd have to worry bout her coming for me after you break my jaw."
Sean sucked on his teeth, embarrassed, "I can't believe I actually said that. I was so drunk."
"You had good reason to. It's not as if the poly thing worked out."
"What actually went down with Kat, D? Doesn't seem like there's much hard feelings at least."
"We just started drifting, man. I should've known we would. It's not like Zach had any interest in including her--not that he tried to exclude her or anything either, but you know, he just doesn't swing that way."
"Yeah, he told me about the blindfold."
"Not really a model 3 way, huh? I don't know...Like if Zach and Kat were into each other maybe things would've been different."
For a moment it looked like Sean wanted to say something, but then he shut his mouth and crossed his arms as he blushed at Dion's gaze. Dion smiled at him and continued, "But maybe not. I'm not sure there's enough time in the world to love two people the way you can love one person. I probably should've known that."
"No use playing should, coulda, woulda," Sean said quietly, "You'll drive yourself crazy."
"Yeah, but it's also how we learn, right? Gotta be able to take something from regret."
They went back to listening to the music, watching Zach's long hair flip as he banged his head to the beat. Dion noticed his vision start to blur and sharpen at the same time, colors were growing more vibrant, and a euphoria and excitement were building in him.
"I think it's starting to kick back in," Dion said as he kept watching Zach, "How about--" but he cut himself off as he looked at Sean's face, pale and clammy. "You ok, Sean? Want some water? Need to sit down?"
"Just, uh, bit of tunnel vision," Sean mumbled, trying to keep his eyes on Dion, "I could sit down."
"Sure, buddy, keep close."
Dion led Sean up to his room and sat him down on the couch.
"Talk me through it, what's goin on," Dion said, grabbing a Nalgene from his mini fridge. Sean's eyes were wide like discs and he was staring ahead blankly. He didn't respond.
"Hey, little bro, you all there?" Dion said, snapping his fingers in front of Sean's eyes.
That got Sean's attention and he smiled dumbly, "Kinda." Then Sean looked around the room, "Wait, why are we up here?"
"You weren't feeling too hot, you needed to sit down. How're you feeling now?"
Sean giggled, "Fuckin trippy, D. Just came back all at once." Then he looked concerned, "Is everything ok? What's wrong?"
Dion laughed as Sean's color slowly came back to him, "It's all good dude. Just, have some water and sit a bit."
Dion passed Sean the bottle and watched Sean's Adam's apple jump as he chugged the whole thing. When he finished it Sean let the bottle drop to the ground and fell limp against the couch, looking like he'd run a marathon, "That...was the best fucking water I've had in my life."
"Really? Fuck, I need some then," Dion said, water suddenly sounding like the greatest thing in the world. Dion grabbed a bottle for himself and, after taking a minute to look fascinated at the way the water refracted the light, chugged it as fast as Sean had.
"Bro," Dion said, dropping the bottle and plopping next to Sean on the couch, "It's so cold. Like I can feel it in me."
"It's like...hot soup but the opposite."
"Exactly dude," Dion said, nodding happily. "We should get back to the party. Find Zach."
"Fuck yes," Sean said excited, but while Dion bounced off the couch Sean's attempt to quickly stand up faltered partway through, and he fell back into it. "Uh, maybe I should sit," Sean said, even his voice sounding dizzy, "The floor's leaking."
Dion jumped as he looked down at the floor, "Shit, I can't call maintenance now I'm--" but then Dion got on his knees and knocked on the cheap linoleum flooring. He grinned up at Sean, "We're good."
Sean laughed, glimpsing for a moment how ridiculous they were being, "Chris microwaved my fucking brain, D."
"You'd probably die if he did that," Dion said, crawling back onto the couch and sitting right next to Sean, "He just got us the good shit."
"Don't wait up for me, go back to the party, I just-I just need like a hot minute still."
"Nah, I'll stick with ya," Dion said, "Don't want you to pass out. Couple hours left."
"Yeah, but like, I really need a minute," Sean said, looking pale again.
"Take all the time you need, bud," Dion said, "I'm feeling good. Can get some music on, text Zach, and whenever you're up for it we can get back to the mob. You need to see the dance floor on E dude, it's so fucking nuts."
As Dion struggled with his phone Sean closed his eyes, but even under his eyelids he was seeing colors.
"Here we go, mood music," Dion said as White Rabbit started playing from the speaker. "And mood lighting," Dion said, then he hopped up and turned off the bright fluorescent ceiling light and turned on a small disco lamp that cast different colored lights around the dark room as it spun. Dion was back next to Sean by the time the lyrics started.
"I fucking love this song," Dion said, "But Alice in Wonderland was my favorite as a kid."
"I remember the Cheshire Cat," Sean said, smiling even as he kept his eyes closed, "But that's about it."
"Why is a raven like a writing desk?"
Sean opened his eyes, finding Dion grinning at him like an idiot. "What?"
"Exactly." They looked at each other for a second and then simultaneously burst into laughter.
"I appreciate you, D," Sean said smiling at Dion affectionately, "Seriously, I'm really glad to know you."
"I appreciate you little bro," Dion said, patting Sean on the shoulder. They were both surprised at how intensely they felt the brief touch.
"Is Molly supposed to make a tingling feeling? Cause my shoulder's tingling," Sean said.
"Yeah, it puts all the senses on overdrive, you know? Like, just feel," and Dion took Sean's hand in his and let his fingers trace along Sean's palm. Sean sucked in his breath.
"That's so fucking nuts," Sean said, Dion's fingers feeling like a little bolt of lightning running across his hand.
"Try this," Dion said, and he took Sean's pointer finger and rubbed it gently along his arm hair and Sean felt like he could feel every one.
As they touched each other's hands they moved closer together, leaning into each other, and as their sides touched they came closer to touch more. Dion's fingers began running through Sean's hair, and Sean's reached for Dion's cheek.
Meanwhile, Zach was painting music and seeing clocks. The sounds of their song were neon waves through the air, a cyclone of color that swept the whole room in its currents. And everywhere he looked, clocks. Some large, some small, cuckoo clocks and grandfather clocks and watches and clock towers, hands turning backwards and forwards, fast and slow and still. In the center of his vision, clear and inescapable, was the pocket watch, ticking away in perfect time before his eyes even as he felt it against his ribs, each click reverberating through his body like Big Ben was in his pocket.
The colors of the music hung in the air even as their last notes died away, slowly swallowed up by the choppy green waves of the crowd. Chris set down his guitar and gave Zach a hand up from the bench. The touch was like sparks in his grip.
"Holy fuck," Chris laughed as his hand rubbed Zach's arm, "Are you feeling this shit?"
"Oh yeah."
"I need to find a chick," Chris grinned, then he pulled Zach into a hug and kissed the top of his head, "Fucking love you, hermanito."
"You too, Chrissy," Zach said, and he meant it. In fact, Zach felt like he loved everyone he saw. The common area had been absolutely packed from their set, and as Zach and Chris made their way through the crowd everywhere he looked, between the clocks at least, were smiling faces and scattered compliments. Hands slapped his back and shoulders or grabbed his hand in bro hugs, each touch a firework.
Chris found a chick quickly enough, some senior girl he'd hooked up with before. But Zach couldn't find Dion anywhere in the common area. Sean either. He checked all around the first floor, then outside, and then the basement.
The dance lights and music in the basement were almost too much, the tight press of hot bodies were setting Zach's nerves on fire. He desperately wanted to just give in to the press and let his body go with the music, feeling whoever happened to be next to him.
But he wanted to touch Dion more, so he kept looking, even as clocks started to obscure the faces around him. He saw Mike grinding on his girlfriend and reaching under her dress. Chris was making out with the senior. Austin was feeling up Jack's dick. Everyone was dancing and sweaty and sexy and Zach could feel his dick start to press against his tight slacks as he searched in the dark light of the dance floor. Eventually he found Jake and Sara dancing close together, like they were the only two people there.
"Sup buddy!" Jake said when Zach got his attention but he didn't take his hands off Sara's waist, "How's the trip?"
Zach put a hand on both of their shoulders and suddenly felt close to tears, "I fucking love you guys."
"Aw, Zach, I love you too!" Sara said, obviously indulging Zach's intoxication, "Do you need some water or something?"
"I need Dion," Zach said, "But I can't find him. Or Sean."
"I haven't seen them, did you check outside?" Jake asked.
"Yeah."
"Maybe they texted you?" Sara said.
Zach had forgotten he even had a phone, and fished it out of his pocket. Dion had texted him 20 minutes earlier, "Sean wasn't feeling good (better now) come upstairs :)"
"Sara, you're beautiful," Zach said, and without waiting for a response he turned on his heel and headed upstairs.
Dion's room was on the third floor, but Zach was dizzy by the second. When he reached the hallway it seemed to stretch out impossibly far ahead of him, and the clocks were growing, bearing down on him. Fear suddenly gripped him, and, swallowing it, Zach started down the hall. The vision of his pocket watch started glowing, and Zach almost thought he could feel it heating up against his ribs, but he had some instinct that he must not touch it now, he mustn't even look at it now, that if he did his face would melt off like the raiders of the lost ark.
The moment his hand reached the handle the clocks disappeared. He couldn't even hear his pocket watch over the muted music from Dion's room, although he still felt it gently ticking away in his pocket. Zach sighed, relieved, and opened the door.
The room was dark, but for the dim, shifting lights of the disco lamp. Zach shut the door behind him and his eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. Dion and Sean were shirtless and their hands were gliding over each other's bodies as they swayed to the music in the middle of the room.
Sean noticed Zach first and his eyes went wide as his hands dropped to his side, "Zach--we, uh, I can explain."
Dion turned around and smiled when he saw Zach. Dion rubbed Sean's arm, "What's there to explain?" Then Dion walked over to Zach, and ran the back of his knuckles against Zach's cheek, staring deep into his eyes as the light touch felt like sex against Zach's skin, "That's all there is to it."
Zach let his hands wrap around Dion's sides, the softness and heat of him everything he'd hoped for, "I've been looking for you."
"I've been waiting for you," Dion's fingers weaved through Zach's hair as he brought his face to Zach's and when they kissed it felt so good it almost hurt.
The world faded away as Zach lost himself in Dion's lips and tongue and arms, but it came back as Sean said quietly, "I'll leave you guys to it."
Zach and Dion parted, and their eyes met for just a moment as they grinned at each other. Then Zach turned to Sean.
Sean's face was sad, but when Zach approached his frown softened. Zach's smile was serene and ecstatic, and as Sean gazed into his emerald eyes Sean felt the doubt and fear and self control he'd raised around his desire crumble like sand. Gently, Zach put his hand on Sean's chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken at his touch.
"Stay."
It was a command and plea and wish all at once. Sean felt Dion's hand running along his back as he moved next to them, but Sean's eyes never left Zach's. He put a hand over Zach's, and when Zach went on tip toe to reach him Sean closed his eyes as their lips met.
It was a sweet and gentle kiss at first, like neither were quite sure it was real, but as the taste of one another filled their mouths they grew hungrier for more. Sean pulled Zach into his arms and Zach's hand grabbed his chest, pulling himself against Sean's naked torso. Dion started kissing Sean's neck, his right hand brushing along Sean's back, his left pushing beneath Zach's pants to grip his ass.
Zach's hand started traveling down Sean's chest and abs and he pressed his boner against Sean's. When Zach grabbed his dick Sean moaned and Zach started to kiss down his neck to his nipple, while Sean turned his head and found Dion's lips. As Zach licked and sucked Sean's nipple his hands began unbuttoning Sean's jeans, and when he did his boxers burst out as his dick tented them straight ahead. Zach's hand slipped under the waistband and he gripped Sean's dick, slowly stroking his soft foreskin.
"Oh, fuck," Sean whispered, feeling his dick pulse in Zach's hand, and when Dion saw he grabbed Sean's dick too. His left hand stayed on Zach's ass, and Dion leaned down to kiss Zach him as they both stroked Sean. Zach let go of Sean's dick to start unbuttoning Dion's pants.
Zach dropped to his knees, and Dion let go of Sean's dick too so they could put their arms around each other as they watched Zach press his face against Dion's bulge and Zach's hand rub Sean's. Dion slipped his thumb in the waistband of Sean's boxers and pulled them down over his ass while Zach helped get the front over his dick. As it popped free Dion gripped Zach's long hair in a fist then directed him to Sean's dick.
Zach didn't need much direction, his tongue went to Sean's balls as Sean's thick, heavy dick draped across his face, pre leaking on Zach's hair and forehead as his tongue started flicking up the underside of Sean's shaft. Dion stripped off his own underwear, and as Zach started kissing Sean's dick Sean rested a hand gently on the back of Zach's head while his other hand grabbed Dion's dick.
Zach took Sean in his mouth and slowly sucked him, his tongue twisting around the head, his cheeks gripping the sides. Sean moaned, Zach closed his eyes and went deeper while his hands started massaging Sean's balls. Dion's hand went to Sean's ass and he started grabbing and kneading his cheeks while they began making out.
"Come on," Dion said as he pulled out of the kiss and slapped Sean's butt, "Put that little cocksucker to work."
With a grin Sean let go of Dion's dick and gripped Zach's head in both hands. As Sean held him in place and started slowly pumping in and out of his mouth Zach stared up at him, enraptured.
"You like this, Zach?" Sean asked, like he was sincerely curious even as he kept slowly fucking his best friend's mouth. Dion started to stroke his own dick even as his other hand never let go of Sean's ass.
"Mhmm," Zach moaned. Sean grinned down at him, his grip tightened on Zach's head and he picked up the speed and pushed deeper.
"Like that big fucking cock down your throat?" Sean's voice got harder. He pulled Zach all the way down on his dick till Zach's nose was in his trimmed, fiery pubes. His throat stretched around Sean's dick, and unable to breathe Zach kept his eyes on Sean's and nodded.
Sean let go and pulled out, laughing while Zach coughed and sucked in air but still kept licking Sean's shaft. "Jesus Christ, Zach," Sean said, "You are really fucking good at that."
"Lost that gag reflex a couple months ago now," Dion said, slapping his dick against Zach's face. Zach started licking and kissing both their dicks as they rubbed against each other across his face and mouth while Dion and Sean both grinned down at him. It was the hottest fucking sight he'd ever seen. Then Dion laughed, "How the fuck do you still have clothes on?"
Dion grabbed Zach under his armpits and effortlessly lifted him to his feet. Dion tried to start unbuttoning Zach's shirt and vest, but, impatient, Zach raised his arms and Dion just pulled them off and over Zach's head, throwing them across the room. Then Dion unbuttoned Zach's slacks, and got on his knees. He pulled Zach's pants and briefs down in one motion, Zach's dick bouncing as it pulled free, already hard and leaking.
"Get down here, lil bro," Dion grinned at Sean who was stroking his dick watching Dion undress Zach, "You gotta taste this dick."
Sean knelt next to Dion, hypnotized by Zach's massive cock. He and Dion both started kissing and licking each side of it, their lips occasionally meeting when they kissed around the head. Then Dion pulled back and said, "Go on, start sucking."
Sean immediately went to wrap his lips around Zach's dick, but Zach put a hand on his forehead, pushing him away.
"Nuh uh," Zach grinned and slapped Sean's face with his dick, his pre leaving lines like a paintbrush, "Beg for it."
Sean grinned back and blushed, "Please let me suck your dick."
"You can do better than that."
Sean looked at Zach's dick for a second before he looked back up to his face, "This is the nicest dick I've ever seen, so please, please let me suck it. I'm literally on my knees." He said it mostly jokingly, but there was a real need underneath--he had to have that dick.
Zach didn't answer, he just put his dick to Sean's lips. Sean's tongue licked off the bead of pre on the tip, and then his lips wrapped around the head as he slowly started working Zach's dick.
Sean was careful to wrap his lips over his teeth as Zach's girth stretched his jaw to the limit. He could only get a couple inches down, but his eagerness and hands made up for it. At least until he pushed himself a little too far and gagged hard, pulling off Zach's dick in a coughing fit.
"My turn then," Dion said but when he went to start sucking Zach pushed him away.
"I haven't heard any begging."
"You know, you're totally right," Dion said, then his hand wrapped around Zach's balls and squeezed until Zach's knees buckled, "Let's hear some begging."
Zach sucked on his teeth, "Please suck my dick, sir."
"Good boy," Dion grinned and his grip loosened but he still kept gently massaging Zach's balls between his fingers.
"Sir, huh?" Sean laughed, "That's fucking hot."
"We're working up to daddy," Dion joked and then his lips wrapped around Zach's cock and he was bobbing up and down on it, relaxing his throat so he could take maybe 6 or 7 of Zach's 9"s.
Sean watched for a minute, trying to stroke his dick but already feeling close. Then, without even thinking about it, Sean's hand went to the back of Dion's head, pushing him further down Zach's dick as he grunted, "Fucking take it all, D." Unable to breathe but held down Dion worked Zach's dick further down his throat, till eventually his nose hit Zach's pubes and Sean let go, letting Dion pull off gasping for air.
"Now that was fucking hot," Zach grinned at Sean, but Sean was worried as Dion took awhile to catch his breath.
"You ok, D?"
Dion patted his chest and laughed, "Don't you just fit right in." Then he grabbed Sean by the waist and pulled him into a kiss, their tongues bathing each other as Dion reached around to grab Sean's ass and Sean reached between Dion's legs for his dick. Zach rubbed his dick against their cheeks, enjoying the view.
Eventually the floor became too hard on their knees and Zach gave them a hand as they stood shakily. The moment they were at eye level with Zach both boys went to kiss him, knocking their heads against each other. Zach burst into laughter as they rubbed their foreheads and laughed too.
"Well, let's plot this out," Dion said, "If we stand like this--" He put his left arm around Sean's back, grabbing and holding Sean's butt cheek and pulling their sides close together. Sean grabbed Dion's ass too and gave it a light smack, laughing as Dion made an exaggerated and girly moan.
"Then we can do this," Dion's right arm pulled Zach against them, both their dicks pressing against Zach's lower belly. Then Dion's hand started exploring Zach's body, rubbing up and down his back and down to his ass, and Sean started doing the same on Zach's other side.
"And when you kiss him," Dion whispered, bringing his face close to Zach's ear. Sean took the invite, though, and he and Zach started kissing, Sean's grip on Zach's ass tightening as their tongues twisted together.
"I can do this," Dion breathed and his lips were at Zach's neck, kissing and licking and sucking. His tongue flicked against Zach's ear and when he gently bit it Zach moaned into Sean's mouth.
"Then we just have to switch," Dion said, and Zach shivered at the sex in his voice as he turned to kiss Dion, Sean's lips immediately falling on the other side of Zach's face and neck, even more aggressive than Dion's had.
They lost themselves in the lights and the music as Sean and Dion kissed Zach, their bodies starting to sweat as they pressed against each other, their dicks sliding between them, Sean and Dion's fingers reaching closer and closer towards Zach's hole, while Zach's arms were pinned between them, unable to do anything but close his eyes and accept their probing hands and the back and forth demands for his lips. As the ecstasy overloaded his senses Zach even lost track of who was who.
So he didn't know if it was Dion or Sean's finger teasing at his hole, he just moaned, "Fuck me."
When they both stopped kissing him Zach opened his eyes to find them both staring at him intensely.
Sean glanced at Dion and grinned like a kid in a candy store, "I could do that."
"Yeah I think I could, too," Dion grinned back, and then he leaned in to kiss Sean, and as their tongues went in each other's mouth Zach reached down and took both their cocks in his hands, stroking them and rubbing their pre over their heads with his thumb as they briefly made out.
"Or," Sean smiled shyly at Dion, his hand joining Zach's on his dick, "You could fuck me."
"Oh really?" Dion asked, surprised but turned on as he reached for Sean's ass again, his fingers finding Sean's hole and gently pressing it, "Want your big brother to pop your cherry, huh?"
"He is good at that," Zach said, kissing Dion's chest.
"Or whichever combo you want," Sean laughed, embarrassed, "Just throwing my butt out there."
"No, I like it," Zach said, putting his arms around Sean's neck as he pressed his body against Sean's, "D gets the back and I get--"
And while Sean's mouth swallowed Zach's words Dion went behind and ran his dick along Sean's crack as he grabbed his waist and kissed the back of his neck. Sean moaned and pressed his ass against Dion, even as he pulled Zach tighter to him.
They moved to the bed, Dion sitting against the headrest and pointing his dick up to the ceiling. Sean crawled between Dion's legs, licking his balls and up his shaft then taking it in his mouth and sucking. Zach went behind Sean and played with his butt cheeks, grabbing and smacking their tight bounciness before spreading them and burying his tongue in Sean's hot, tight hole. Sean moaned, pressing his ass back against Zach's face, even as he kept sloppily sucking dick.
Then Dion grabbed Sean by the hair and pulled him off, his other hand slapped Sean's face with his dick, smearing Sean's own spit across his cheeks, "You want it in you, lil bro?"
"Fuck yes," Sean grunted, his lips still reaching out for Dion's dick.
"Get on your back."
Sean laid down and Zach laid beside him, watching as Dion knelt between Sean's legs and pressed them against Sean's chest. He rubbed the head of his dick against Sean's hole, then gently started pushing.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Sean hissed, tensing up, "It's so big."
"Just relax," Zach whispered soothingly, his hand rubbing Sean's chest.
"Not in any rush," Dion added, just letting the head of his dick rest against Sean's hole as he leaked pre.
Very, very slowly, the tip of Dion's dick started to slide inside him. Sean's brows screwed up in discomfort, but he kept his eyes on Dion, desperate for more as he felt his ass stretch with every millimeter. As his ring gripped the head of Dion's dick Sean moaned loudly, and Dion fell on top of him, silencing his cry with his tongue, Sean sucking on it through the pain and pleasure.
Zach watched, turned on and content as Dion and Sean had eyes only for each other, Dion slowly pushing deeper inside and Sean stretching to take him. Whenever Dion's lips left Sean's Sean would moan, "It's so big," like a drunken mantra. When Dion finally bottomed out he got back up on his knees and grinned down at Sean, stroking Sean's dick as Sean kept muttering, "So fucking big."
Dion started slowly pumping in and out, stroking Sean's dick in time with his thrusts, and as Sean pressed his head into the pillows, his eyes closed and focused totally on the feeling of Dion's dick inside him. Zach started kissing his cheek, his tongue flicking against Sean's ear gauge.
Dion shuddered as he felt the virgin hole grip his dick like a vice, and slowly loosen with every short thrust. Gradually, he started taking his dick further out before pushing back in, gaining a slow and steady rhythm. Then, between the moans of "So big," Sean groaned, "Faster."
Dion nearly shot his load at the word, but he controlled himself. He raised Sean's legs onto his shoulder and started thrusting faster, his thighs slapping against Sean's cheeks.
"Oh fuck yes," Sean cried as Dion started relentlessly pounding his hole like a piston. Zach kissed down Sean's neck and torso and took Sean's dick in his mouth as Dion fucked him, but Sean pulled him off, "Don't--don't do that," Sean said between grunts, "You'll make me shoot."
Dion pulled out, letting Sean's legs fall to the bed. Then he grabbed Sean by the waist and turned him over onto his belly and then up onto all fours while Zach moved in front of him. Dion's fingers dug into Sean's cheeks and his dick found the hole again. He pushed all the way back in with a single thrust, while Sean cried out and wrapped his arms around Zach like he was holding on for dear life as Dion began plowing him even harder.
Zach put a hand to Sean's chin and raised his face up, and they started kissing, Sean's moans in his mouth. At least until Dion grabbed Sean and pulled him back against his chest while he rotated his hips against Sean's ass and Sean felt Dion's whole dick move inside him while Dion sucked on his neck. Then to all of their surprise, Sean moaned, "Choke me."
Dion chuckled as he wrapped his fingers around Sean's neck and lightly started squeezing as his dick kept a methodical pace in Sean's ass. Zach started feeling up Sean's body, kissing and licking him as Dion held him by the throat.
"Harder," Sean said, and Dion's grip tightened and his fucking quickened, Sean biting his lip in ecstasy even as he started to turn red, but even barely able to breathe he said, "Harder," again. Dion choked him harder, but as he felt Sean's veins start to pulse and heard Sean unable to breathe he let go.
Sean gasped for air as he went limp in Dion's arms, but as soon as he could speak he turned back to Dion, "Why did you stop?"
Dion and Zach both burst into laughter. "Hold your horses you kinky fuck," Dion said, and when Sean tried to protest that it was fucking hot Dion pushed Sean's face towards Zach's dick, "Choke on that."
Sean immediately took Zach's dick in his mouth as Dion started fucking his ass as hard as he could. Sean looked up at Zach and pulled off his dick only long enough to say, "Fuck my face."
Zach didn't need any more encouragement and put his hands on the back of Sean's head and started fucking his mouth while Dion fucked his ass. Dion and Zach smiled at each other as they both used Sean's holes. Sean gagged on Zach's dick, but when Zach pulled out Sean just looked up at him and said, "Don't stop," so Zach kept fucking Sean's face even as he sputtered and choked around it.
Eventually Dion, drops of sweat flying off his hair and giving his lithe torso a beautiful sheen in the spinning lights, grunted, "I'm coming." His arms wrapped around Sean's belly as he pulled Sean off Zach's dick and against him, while his dick started pumping his load inside.
"Oh fuck," Sean groaned as he pressed back against Dion, "Holy fuck I can feel it. That's fucking incredible."
Dion shivered as he kissed the back of Sean's neck and felt Sean's ass squeeze every drop of cum from his dick, "You're fucking telling me."
Keeping Dion's dick inside him, Sean twisted around and they made out as Dion slowly went soft inside him.
"You enjoy that?" Dion asked as his dick slipped out of Sean's hole.
"God yes," Sean said, dazed and out of breath.
"Good," Dion said, then he gave Sean's ass a smack, "Cause it's your turn."
Sean turned back to Zach, who was stroking his own dick as he watched them finish. Sean grinned before he all but tackled Zach into the pillows, their lips locking together as their bodies strained against one another.
Then Sean pushed Zach's legs against his chest, the way Dion had just before. Sean buried his face in Zach's ass, his tongue and lips desperately searching out and exploring Zach's hole while Zach moaned in pleasure. Dion pushed Sean's head deeper, and Sean was in heaven as Zach's perfect butt filled his senses.
He rimmed Zach for a long time, till he felt his dick pulse and drip a rope of pre. Sean pulled himself onto his knees and grinned down at Zach, pushing his legs back against his chest and putting his butt on display.
"I want to fuck you so bad," Sean said almost matter of factly as he grinned down at his best friend.
"Then get in there," Zach grinned back, swaying his ass back and forth as Sean held him down. Sean bit his lip, hungry for it, but then he looked at Zach's dick resting just below his chin.
"Can you suck yourself?"
Zach didn't answer, he just stretched his neck and adjusted his dick a little, and kissed the head of his own dick and rubbed it against his lips. Sean literally growled at the sight and bent down to kiss him, Zach's dick between their lips and tongues. As they tasted Zach's pre Sean's dick eventually won out, and he pulled Zach's waist down so he could start going in.
Zach yelped in pain as Sean quickly pushed his dick halfway inside. "Slower, please," Zach hissed. Even with Dion Zach had to work up to taking his whole dick, and Sean was thicker.
"S-sorry," Sean stuttered, his eyes wide as he looked at Zach's tight hole gripping his dick, "Fucking Christ, Zach, you feel so good." Then Sean leaned down to kiss Zach again, and Zach's hands ran over Sean's back and ass as he slowly adjusted to Sean's dick inside him. Zach gripped Sean's butt and started pulling him deeper, Sean groaning as Zach's warm hole encompassed more and more of him
As Zach felt Sean's pubes brush against his taint Sean whispered, "Fucking a, I'm so close."
Zach smirked as he flexed his hole around Sean's dick, making him moan again, "Then keep fucking me after you cum."
Sean grinned at that and started pumping his dick in and out, sucking on Zach's lower lip, Zach's hole the best thing his dick had ever felt. He sped up faster than Zach was ready for, but Zach didn't care. Sean's body was so heavy against his, his grip so strong on Zach's arms, and his dick so fucking hard, Zach could take the pain he was so turned on. And as Sean kept thrusting the pain ebbed away anyway, and soon all Zach could feel was the ecstasy of his hole stretching and being filled as Sean took it.
Sean may've thought he was very close, but his dick seemed to be enjoying itself too much to let him shoot yet. Sean started slamming his dick into Zach, shaking the bed against the wall as he pulled out till just the head was inside, then thrust in balls deep. Sean started to sweat, and every drop on his face made Zach hornier, his own dick making a puddle of pre against his abs.
Eventually, shaking, Sean groaned, "I'm gonna cum." He took Zach's dick in his hand and started stroking it as his knees buckled and he started pumping gallons of cum deep in Zach's hole. As he felt Sean's hot load fill his guts Zach let his own dick shoot in Sean's grip, a massive load spurting across his chest and face.
Sean collapsed on top of him, slowly pumping his still hard dick into Zach, pushing his cum deeper, as he and Zach made out in each others arms. Then Dion was next to them and as Sean started licking Zach's cum off his chest Dion grabbed Zach by the chin and started kissing him, the familiar taste of Dion's tongue sweeter than candy.
Sean's dick finally pulled out, and as the cum leaked out all Zach could feel was Dion and Sean kissing and licking and touching him. The three of them laid together, losing themselves in the dark and the music and the touch and taste of each other, and, slowly, they fell to sleep.
As Zach felt his senses return the first thing he noticed was a light touch traveling up and down his side, a gentle caress that made up for the headache that was starting to pound at the back of his head. Groaning, he forced his eyes open, finding himself in a tangle of bodies, sunlight just starting to fill the room. The disco light was still spinning, but the music had stopped, and all he could hear was the chatter of birds outside and Dion lightly snoring.
Zach realized he was looking at Dion's feet, and he twisted around to see Sean grinning at him, his fingers slowly tracing Zach's waist.
"Morning," Sean said quietly, his smile the brightest thing in the room.
"Mornin'," Zach smiled back, turning around to face him and let his hands explore Sean's naked body. As he did he felt Sean's morning wood press against his leg, and Zach felt his own dick harden at the touch. "So, guess we did get pretty weird last night, huh?"
"Not how I expected it to go," Sean said, cusping Zach's face in his palm as Zach's hand rubbed his chest, "But still qualifies as a religious experience I think."
They both laughed and their laughter made them ache for each other. But they both knew they needed to talk.
"So," Zach said playfully, pulling himself on top of Sean and resting his chin on Sean's chest, grinning up at him, "Have any thoughts on polyamory?"
Sean chuckled as his hand went to Zach's tangled bed hair but his smile faltered a bit as he answered, "Honestly, I'm a little skeptical bout it."
When Sean saw the way Zach flinched at his words he felt terrible, "Don't get me wrong, last night was amazing. Beyond amazing, it was the best night of my life. And you know I love both you guys. You know I love you," he took Zach's hand in his and kissed it tightly, "I'm just--I'm just not sure we could work it out."
"What's there to work out? We already hang out together like all the time. We're all attracted to each other, and care about each other. It's nothing like what happened with Kat, the 3 of us are the perfect fucking team, Sean," Zach said, earnest and desperate as he stared into Sean's blue eyes.
"I just don't know, Zach," Sean said worriedly, and then he looked down at Dion, "Besides, I think we need D in on this conversation."
"Hmph?" Dion groaned from the bottom of the bed as he twisted around and rubbed his eyes. "I'm up," Dion said, still half asleep. He opened his eyes and when he saw Sean and Zach's feet in front of him he buried his face against them, kissing them. That got Sean and Zach laughing again.
"Morning, big bro," Sean said, bopping Dion's nose with his big toe. Dion just kept his eyes closed and smiled contentedly, kissing blindly.
Sean looked back at Zach and couldn't help but giggle.
"What?" Zach asked.
"It's just, you've got a bit of a wet clown look going on."
Zach felt his face and then looked down at the sheets stained with his stage makeup. "Shit," Zach said, "I must look like a hot mess."
"You're always hot, babe," Dion grunted at their feet.
"Very helpful D," Zach laughed, smacking Dion's butt which just made Dion wiggle it back. Zach pulled himself off the bed. He looked in the mini fridge but both the Nalgenes were empty so he grabbed them then took a towel from the back of the door, wrapping it around his waist. "I'm gonna wash my face and get us some water. Then the 3 of us can chat, ok?"
Dion mumbled, "Mhmm," but Zach was mostly looking at Sean.
"Sounds good, buddy," he said, unable to keep the smile off his face as Zach lit up at the response.
As Zach walked out the door Dion moaned and sat up, rubbing his forehead and shutting his eyes against the sunlight.
"I think I got an idea of what he wants to chat about," Dion finally opened his eyes and looked at Sean, slightly grinning as he rubbed Sean's thigh, "You have any guesses?"
"Same as yours," Sean said, grinning back and unconsciously spreading his legs at Dion's touch.
"And what're you thinking bout it?"
"I'm not sure."
"Me neither," Dion scooted around on the bed and sat next to Sean, putting an arm across his shoulders, "Last night was a lot of fun, though."
"It was," Sean said as he pulled himself up into a sitting position too. But he felt something hard dig into his back.
Sean reached around and pulled Zach's shirt and vest from between the sheets, still tangled together. Sean was about to just toss it off the bed when he saw the silver chain catch the sunlight. He fished the pocket watch out.
"Oh shit," Dion laughed as he saw what Sean had, "You know he doesn't like anybody touching his favorite toy."
"Yeah, he nearly bit my head off the one time I picked it up," Sean said, starting to discover the fine engraving of the case, "It is really pretty though."
"Lemme see," Dion said, and his hand went around Sean's as his thumb pressed the button, the case springing open with a soft chime.
Zach was drying his face when the unmistakable ring filled his ears. His hand immediately closed to grab the watch, but instead of the familiar weight of silver his fingers found only his fist.
Zach burst out of the bathroom and sprinted down the hallway as it seemed to stretch away from him. His feet got caught in the towel, tripping him, and his face ate the floor. But immediately he was back on his feet and running naked towards the door, terrified.
Zach threw it open, finding Dion and Sean sitting together, both staring at the watch. Zach sprang towards them, some shout on his lips.
Then the bed was empty, and they were standing on either side of him. Zach quickly glanced between them, and when he saw the chain draped over Sean's fist he went to tackle him, but his arms caught only air. Zach turned back to Dion and there was Sean again, a hand on his shoulder.
Zach was on his knees in a grassy field, his hands duct taped flat together behind his back. He looked up to find Dion and Sean grinning down at him.
"I think we're ready for that chat, Zach," Sean said, while Dion twirled the watch on its chain.