Nate's wounded heart

[milnimi]

Wow, it has taken me a couple me days to read this thread. you are am awesome writer. This is the best story I have read on JUB. Keep up the great work. I can't wait for more.

 

[subfer1]

I dunno if I'm that good, but thanks, anyways guys the new chapter will be here as ussual on friday evening or saturday morning, remember it's going to be christmas, new years and getting back to the dorms, I've got a few thoughts in mind to get you guys going so I hope you like it.

 

[JakeLucas]

I just had a chat with Luis (subfer1).

He wants me to tell you all that he is at his aunt's house and that he has written Chapter 18 and will post it tomorrow (Saturday).

 

[subfer1]

Thanks for posting my message Jakey, here you guys go, a new one will come in about a week's time.

Chapter 18––Moving on––

“Would you get your butt down here so we can open our presents already?” Dylan yelled at the top of his lungs as he waited sitting in front of their small artificial Christmas tree. Nate was already waiting for Julian next to the stairs, smiling at Dylan’s impatient need to open their presents. Nate still felt a bit out of place but he hoped his cousins would like the presents he had gotten for them.

“All right already, I’m here now start unwrapping them,” Julian said smiling as he walked down the last few steps of the stairs. When he reached Nate he started pushing him towards the tree as they saw Dylan take the presents one by one and shake them to hear what they held inside. “No fair you squirt, open them without doing that,” Julian said down to his brother.

“Don’t call me squirt, I’ll open it ok,” Dylan said giving a weak smile. “Dad used to call me squirt,” Dylan said almost in a whisper as he tore open his first present, he ripped the wrapping mercilessly but kept the tag. –From Nate, love you Dyl.- He opened it to find a pack of black jocks inside. “Oh my god you didn’t!” Dylan said before rolling into a ball as he laughed hysterically.

“He’s been saying for months that he’s going to get those,” Julian said in between laughs as Dylan got up and started taking his pants off, he took his underwear off too and it was the first time that Nate had a real glimpse of his cousin’s equipment. Dylan’s dick hung about four inches soft, and it looked like it had some nice girth. His pubes were trimmed and his uncut dick made it even harder to not stare at his exposed crotch. He put the jock on and smiled widely as he looked down at himself, he turned around for Julian and Nate to watch.

“I like how it stands out against my skin, thank you Natey,” he said as he walked up to Nate and hugged him tight.

“I didn’t remember that you guys are intact down there,” Nate said before the three of them busted out laughing.

“Yup, always gets a few looks in the locker rooms,” Julian said smiling.

“I hate the fact that even our cocks look the same,” Dylan said smirking at Julian.

“No you don’t, you love it,” Julian said as he unzipped his pants and took his dick outside. As if they were thinking the exact same thing, Dylan took the jock off and they stood facing each other, dicks pointing to the front. They gave a few strokes and their cocks swelled and grew to some good seven and a half inches. Nate stood there and watched in awe, they were identical even in that department. As they looked into each other’s eyes, they reached and pulled their foreskins back revealing the heads of their dicks, both purplish and shiny. Nate guessed that the two of them had to be just as thick as he was and they were both curved upwards.

“OK, Christmas, presents, focus everyone,” Nate said as he felt himself beginning to get hard. Both twins started laughing as Julian put his dick back into his pants, and Dylan started getting his clothes back on.

“Now, it’s your turn Jules,” Dylan said as he picked a present from under the tree. The tag read –For Jules from Nate- As he tore the present open he realized by the shape that it was a book. When he got it open he saw it was one of Nate’s own favorites.

“The Servant of the Bones,” Julian said as he read the review on the back of the book. “I’ve heard you say a few times that this book is both sexy and interesting, I’ll love it Natey, thanks,” he said as he came up to Nate and hugged him tight.

“I think you’re still kind of hard Jules,” Nate said blushing as he broke the hug.

Julian smiled and looked down shaking his head. “I’ve read on the web that they call them ‘Perma-hardons’ or something like that we both have that problem,” Julian said blushing and reaching for a present under the tree and handing it to Nate.

“That one’s from the two of us for you, and you can’t say no,” Dylan said smiling as Nate took the present and started unwrapping it, it was a 4”x4” box containing a Motorola cell phone. He looked up from the box to one twin and then to the other trying to get the words out but failing every time he’d try to say something.

“I can’t,” he managed to say after a few seconds.

“You can and you will,” Julian said as he looked to Dylan receiving a nod from his twin.

“No, I mean, I appreciate the gesture. I really do, but I can’t pay a cell phone bill, it’s too much stuff to pay with school and all,” he began saying.

“We’re paying for it, dad was an employee, we get discount on services and besides you know when he died he left us pretty well off,” Dylan said looking at Nate with a serious expression.

“And its got a good plan, you get to store five numbers as your family group so you can send text messages and call to those numbers without charge, it’s part of the plan,” Julian said as he helped him open the box and showed him the receipts and papers where it showed the numbers that were on his group. Martin, Becca and the twins were listed as the numbers he could exchange calls and messages with, free of any extra charges to the bill.

“Are you sure that it won’t be a problem?” he asked them.

“No, just take it, that way we can talk more and you’ll have more ways of staying in touch with your friends too. We told them about it so now they have you registered in their groups too.” Dylan said as he smiled at Nate.

“Yeah, I’ve heard them talk about it a few times, I just never thought much of it because I didn’t think I’d be getting one myself,” he said as he opened the foldable cell phone, it was a V300 and it even had a camera. “Guys this must’ve been expensive…” he tried to say but the twins cut him off with a shroud of protests and after a few seconds they both went quiet after seeing him stay quiet. “Thanks then,” he said smiling as the two of them smiled broadly and hugged him.

“Now comes dad’s present,” Dylan said as he released them and went to get a bigger box from under the tree before handing it to Nate.

“You mean he wanted to give me a present or…” Nate started saying and stopped not knowing quite well how to ask them.

“When your parents kicked you out he said he was going to help you get through college, and the first thing he said was that he was going to give you that,” Julian said as he nodded towards the wrapped gift.

Nate started opening the present with a faint sense of fear. As he got it open, he felt himself freeze up for the second time in less than half an hour. He was holding a laptop, he didn’t even know the model but he knew it was a good computer. “It was his, he said he’d get a new one and get that one upgraded for you to use at school,” Dylan said with a slight smile on his face.

“No, keep it, I can’t take it you guys should keep it as a memory,” Nate said feeling the tears welling up in his eyes and ready to fall.

“He wanted you to have it, you have had enough trouble with your own parents like to be giving us shit now, so don’t,” Julian said looking him straight in the eye.

“He had already set a good college fund for each of us and when he died his insurance left us with even more money Nate, we want to help you. He would’ve done so if he was here, so now it’s our turn to do it, so please don’t say anything and just accept our help,” Dylan said with the first signs of crying threatening to come.

“We talked to Susie about it, and we’re going to give her a hand with money too. It was hard to convince her but she accepted and now we want you to let us help you. You already have a scholarship and if you let us help you pay for the rest then you’d be able to study more without having to work at school,” Julian said trying to remain calm.

“Guys, I…” he tried to get the words out but his voice started breaking.

“Just let us help you Nate, for once just accept the help,” Julian pleaded.

“It’s not fair, how could I even repay you guys, I mean you’ve been too good already…” Nate said as the tears started streaming down his face.

“Well you’ve been great to us too, you can’t imagine how much it means that you wanted to spend Christmas with us even after what happened,” Dylan said with a few tears slowly falling from his eyes.

“And besides it’s been great to have you here, now that dad isn’t…” Julian said before he started sobbing. Nate reached for him and held him, he looked at Dylan and extended a hand, Dylan got in between them, and the three hugged for what felt too little time. That night they went to bed together and slept in Julian’s bed.

* * * * *

The next day as soon as he got up, Nate went to the master bathroom on the second floor and took out the hair clipper he’d heard Dylan said they kept in the cabinet under the sink. He got it and used the clipper to cut all of his longish hair to half an inch long. He shaved and left his chin and small lines of hair going up from it to his lips. His reddish hair shone and he thought it looked quite nice. Julian and Dylan were very surprised at the sudden impulse which he displayed when he cut his hair, but they both agreed that the shorter hair and chin hair made him look even more masculine and a bit older, but very handsome. They started preparing things for the small lunch they had planned, only Tommy and Ryan came. Ryan was Julian’s date and he and Nate had barely met, but they had liked each other immediately.

Ryan was five feet and ten inches tall; he had longish brown hair that fell to a side of his forehead. He was nicely built, not a jock he had explained it was all good genes. And Nate thought that Ryan’s brown eyes were just as appealing as Martin’s. In all honesty, Nate and Tommy had liked each other even more; Tommy was funny and loved to hang out with Nate, he said he loved his new style and took some time to check it out and tell Nate how he thought it made him look more “Macho” as he put it. Also Nate thought that Tommy was great looking, but he was sure that he was straight, up until a little after lunch he was. Nate had gone up to the guest room, a room that had started to become “his room” without the need of any mention or declaration about it. And as he sat on his bed thinking, Tommy knocked on the door.

“Hey, can I come in?” Tommy had asked.

“Sure, what you doing man?” Nate asked as Tommy walked in and sat next to him on the bed.

“Not much, I just had some stuff in my head and wanted some company,” Tommy said as he bit on his lower lip.

“Well I can help with the company part, though I’m not sure if you want help with the other part too,” Nate said trying to offer his help.

Tommy smiled and looked at him. Nate felt a chill as Tommy’s intense gray eyes stared into his own and smiled before looking away. “I don’t know if you can, I think it’s more of a thing that I should deal with on my own,” he said before looking at him again and placing his left arm around Nate’s back, pulling him into a half hug.

“Well then, I can cover the company part, what do you want to do?” Nate asked him. Tommy looked serious all of a sudden and stared into Nate’s eyes again. He started to move closer to Nate’s face until they were less than an inch apart. Their mouths were at the same level and when Nate realized this, it was as if his body acted on instinct. He closed the distance between them, closing his eyes as his lips met Tommy’s and gave him a slow passionate kiss before he felt Tommy break the kiss. “I’m sorry Tommy…” he started saying as he saw Tommy’s eyes were wide with surprise.

“Don’t be,” he said before grabbing Nate’s face and pulling him for another long and passionate kiss. After the kiss Nate opened his eyes and found Tommy staring at the small marks that his scrapes had begun to turn into. He placed a finger on it and started gently rubbing it. “Does it hurt?” he asked as his fingertip rubbed across the tiny V shaped mark.

“Not really,” Nate said still unsure of what was happening. Was this what Tommy had in his mind?

“I can’t believe that someone would want to hurt you this way,” Tommy said before he leaned in and kissed Nate’s lips once again. After a few seconds of kissing Tommy started running his hands on Nate’s back, slowly, softly, causing him to shiver with desire, until they were abruptly interrupted.

“Hey Nate is Tommy…” Dylan was going to ask if Tommy was in there when he walked in on them. “Oh sorry, you guys should close the door…” Dylan started apologizing when Tommy got up with a hand on his mouth, he looked around and then walked to the door.

“No, it’s ok man, I was actually going to go home,” Tommy said as he walked past him and left the two of them impressed.

“Ok, so how did that happen?” Dylan asked looking at Nate.

“I’m not even sure, he said he had some stuff on his mind and he needed to… Do some thinking… And then next thing I know he kisses me,” Nate said.

“Well he has been acting a lil weird lately,” Dylan pondered aloud.

“Do you think he’s going to be ok?” Nate asked him.

“Well I’ll call him, though I must say I am a bit surprised,” Dylan confessed.

“Do you have a problem, you know if he happened to like guys?” Nate asked him.

“No, of course not, he’s my friend and I love him no matter what. Now that you say that I guess he might be a little scared about that too huh?” Dylan asked.

“Probably, you should talk to him, and just in case, tell him I’m sorry,” Nate asked him.

“Ok, I’ll see what happens,” Dylan told him.

* * * * *

“Hey man, happy new years!” Nate said into the phone.

“Happy two thousand five to you too Nate,” Martin wished him back.

“May this year be better than ‘04, god I hated ‘04,” Nate confessed.

“Well you met me, that’s gotta count as good,” Martin said chuckling.

“Yeah, I’m sorry, it’s just that there was a lot of bad stuff you know,” Nate apologized.

“I know man, so what’re you doing now?” Martin asked him.

“I’m here with the twins, and Ryan and Tommy are here too,” Nate answered, he took a few seconds before running his fingers over his chin and smiling. “I cut my hair very short and I’m leaving a small goatee now,” he added.

“A new haircut and a goatee, man I want to see that, you must look all hot with that,” Martin said smiling.

“Nah, I look ok I guess,” Nate said blushing.

“So Ryan’s the guy Julian’s dating?” Martin asked him as Luke walked right behind him. Martin had left the living room and gone to the front yard of the house a little bit before midnight and it had taken Luke a while to find him.

“Yeah, he’s cool, kind of hot too,” Nate said chuckling.

“Have you been drinking anything funny?” Martin asked chuckling himself.

“Yeah, Tommy’s dad gave us some wine, I had a glass, I’m just bad for liquor,” Nate confessed and laughed a bit as he sat down on his bed before he continued talking. “Ryan and Julian are a serious couple now,” Nate told him.

“So this kiss between you and Julian didn’t really mean anything?” Martin asked him, causing Luke to get a few steps closer trying to catch as much of the conversation as he could.

“Not really, I think I was just craving contact you know and with all that was happening I don’t know, but it didn’t really mean anything,” Nate told him as he laid back in bed and stared up to the ceiling.

“Despite what Luke thought when he saw you,” Martin said.

“Yeah, despite that,” Nate said closing his eyes.

“So Julian has a boyfriend now, and you tell me you’ve been hanging out with Tommy and Dylan a lot right?” Martin asked him as Luke felt the first sting of guilt hit him since he started listening in on Martin.

“Yeah, it’s weird, Tommy just sort of came out to us on the twenty fifth,” Nate answered.

“So he turned out to be gay?” Martin asked.

“Yeah, and he seems to like me,” Nate said still feeling weird about the whole thing.

“So Tommy is hitting on you or something?” Martin asked him feeling anxious himself and causing Luke to start feeling nauseous.

“Yeah, and I kind of like him too, we’ve been kissing from time to time,” Nate confessed him.

“So you like him too,” Martin said, trying to confirm it rather than asking, causing Luke’s stomach to turn and head up to his throat.

“Yeah, it feels weird but I do like him a lot, he’s very funny and he’s so nice to me,” Nate told him.

“So you don’t think you’re gonna be working things out with Luke?” Martin asked him as Luke started to ponder the possibility of just going back inside before he either started crying or threw up.

“Martin, he threw a boot at me and asked me to leave and not come back, I don’t think I really have to try and get myself hurt in some other way,” Nate answered him coldly.

“I’m sorry, I guess it’s not my place to butt in,” Martin apologized.

“I’m sorry too man, I know your intentions are good, but I don’t think I want to stress myself with Luke or any of that stuff,” Nate said as Tommy knocked on the open door and smiled at him before pointing down and mouthed the words ‘let’s go’. “Martin, Tommy’s here, I think I’m going back down with him to chat with the guys before we go to bed.” Nate told him.

“Ok Nate, I love you man, I mean it, just be careful and tell Tommy he better be good with you ok?” Martin asked him.

“I know, and I love you too man, happy new years,” he answered.

“Ok man, take care,” Martin said before hanging up. Luke didn’t have time to move before Martin turned around and caught him. “How long have you been standing there?” Martin asked Luke as he looked down in defeat.

“Long enough,” he said before he looked towards the house.

“I’m sorry Luke I…” he started to say.

“No, he’s in his full right and I guess it would’ve happened sooner or later anyways,” Luke said before faking a smile.

“Yeah, still I’m here buddy,” Martin said before putting an arm around his shoulder.

“I know buddy and it means a lot, now let’s go back inside before mom freaks out,” Luke said as he started walking back towards the house.

“By the way, happy new years little cousin,” Martin said.

“May this year be better than the one before,” Luke said before letting out a sigh.

 

[hungbuzz]

poor luke, even though he acted like a dick he still loves nate

 

[harry113]

Yes, I'm sure Luke does still love Nate, but is Nate willing to go back to him ???
Thanks Luis, great chapter. which way will things go now??
Please post soon !!!
Harry

 

[kcm17480]

Wow this thing with Nate and Luke really took a 180 turn. Luke is really going to have to fight to get Nate back if it is even possible since Tommy is moving in on him. Luke really needs to get his temper in check before he can even think about getting Nate back. It all depends on how much they love each other. Great cliffhanger chapter Luis.

 

[Craiger]

Wow! Now since New Years is over we're going to see what the new school term will hold for our guys. Hopefully they can reach some accord.

Really great and touching chapter, Luis.

Craiger

 

[milnimi]

I absolutly love this story. I am just waiting for more.

 

[subfer1]

I am actually working on the new chapter now, the thing is that I have a lot of school stuff for the next few days, our semester ends in july so I still have my share of things to do for school, even harder being the semester end. And I am also taking a massage class, I've always loved giving massages and I thought I'd go for it and learn how to do a lot more with that so I have that to add to my list of thigs to do, but I love this story and I am already thinking of the things that are to come on the next chapters so be sure that I will post it, no matter if it's late I won't leave you guys hanging I promise

 

[robbieadam]

thanks a lot for the new chapter
i hope Luke and Nate can work things out although Tommy seems nice
looking forward to the next chapter

 

[caddymac]

Yes, I too hope Luke and Nate WILL work things out.
Great chapter!!!!! Thanks

 

[subfer1]

Ok, there is a bit of hope in the horizon, I hope you like this teaser.

Chapter 19. ––Not giving up––

As he was walking out from his second lecture of American Ethnology, Luke was excited after getting the chance to do his first field assignment this semester. Last semester his Intro to Anthropology teacher had complimented on his field investigations and his command on the theories that most of his other students never even read. Professor Hawthorne had told him which classes he would be giving during spring semester and invited him to take his class if he would like. Now as the lecture ended the professor waved at him as he walked up the stairs. “Mr. Halliwell, could I have a word with you for a minute?” the professor called out to him.

“Of course, I’ll be right there,” Luke said as he walked back and to the center of the lecture hall. When he got there the professor shook his hand and opened a folder.

“I wanted to ask you a favor young man, I’m sure you are going to do an excellent work with you first field investigation, but I was wondering if you would consider taking a different project than the ones I set for the rest of the class?” Prof. Hawthorne asked him.

“Well sure, I mean if you think I can do it…” Luke started to say nervously as he had never had been asked any sort of special favor from a teacher.

The professor smiled and interrupted him. “Don’t doubt that you will Mr. Halliwell, I have graded your work and I’ve always thought you do a better job than some of my sophomore and junior students sometimes,” the professor said.

“Well I don’t know about that…” Luke said blushing and scratching his head.

“Well what I wanted to ask you is sort of different, many of my other students that have showed as good skills on the field as you have rejected the project. And I’d say it’s because it involves getting a little into the gay side of the city,” the professor said and waited to see Luke’s reaction.

“Wait, so you want me to do an investigation at a bar or what?” Luke asked him.

“Yes, there’s a gay bar downtown, it’s actually a gay sports bar, not quite the usual gay bar huh?” the professor asked him arching his eyebrows up.

“Well I think I’ve read something about those bars, but I frankly didn’t know that there’s one in town,” Luke answered.

“Well yes, I’ve gotten in contact with the owner of the place and have been trying for the last few months to get a good idea on the scenario myself. However with all the work I have here at the university I haven’t had the chance to do it. Still I think it would be a good assignment for you, and I sort of have the feeling that you wouldn’t be all that uncomfortable in that place,” Prof. Hawthorne said.

Luke blushed and looked down as he nodded. “I’m getting a little obvious huh?” he asked.

“Not really, I might have overheard a few things, but believe me it is no problem and I couldn’t care less, so do you think you’re up for the task?” the professor asked him as he placed the sheet with the directions for the project in front of him on the desk.

Luke reached out and ran his eyes over the sheet, he had some background info on the bar, the owner’s name, what he should investigate, and the theories and bibliographical references that he could use to help himself. After a few seconds, he nodded and smiled at the professor. “I’ll do it,” he said and received a broad smile from the older man.

* * * * *

“So, how long are you guys going to stay around here?” Nate asked as he walked next to Tommy around campus, Dylan and Julian were walking together a little bit ahead from them. As they got close to the English building, the twins stopped and looked back at Nate. “It’s behind the building, go round the right side of it and you’ll see the coffee shop,” Nate said smiling.

“Thanks!” the twins said in unison before they started walking to the right side of the English building with one arm around the other. People would look at them and smile as they walked together.

“Sorry about that, they didn’t jerk off before leaving the house I guess,” Tommy said apologizing for the twins’ hyperactive condition.

“I know they get like that, we’ll lock them in my dorm bathroom until they jerk off and calm down, it won’t be a problem,” Nate said and they both laughed at his suggestion.

“We brought my car and theirs, so I guess I could leave on my own, you know…” Tommy said answering his question.

“You mean you want to sleep over?” Nate asked looking him in the face.

“Well… I mean… if you want… maybe I should just go home…” Tommy started stammering.

“No, no, it’s ok, if you wanted to sleep over you should’ve just asked,” Nate said blushing.

“I guess I was afraid,” Tommy said.

“Afraid of what?” Nate asked him.

“That you’d say you didn’t want me to,” Tommy answered.

Nate smiled and took Tommy’s hand into his and squeezed it. “How long would you stay?” Nate asked.

“I’d have to go back tomorrow,” Tommy answered.

“Sounds fine to me,” Nate said smiling.

They got to the coffee shop, his and Martin’s favorite place to have a snack or eat other than the school dining hall. They saw that the twins were sitting at a table at the far end of the shop, opposite to the front door. The shop had three entrances, one on the front, one on its right side, looking out onto a path that led to the library where Nate used to work and one that looked to the English building. The back of the shop was where the small kitchenette that the employees used was enclosed by a counter, they were sitting at one of the corners at a very secluded and ‘private’ spot to the right of the kitchenette.

Dylan was sitting with Julian next to him and Julian was smiling as Dylan talked away with a blonde girl that was sitting on the table next to theirs. The girl was obviously dazzled by Dylan and she kept looking from him to Julian and then back. As they sat down on the two remaining seats on the table, the girl got up and shook hands with Dylan. Then she looked at Nate and Tommy and blushed before saying a quick ‘bye’ to Dylan before leaving. Dylan opened his hand and showed them that she had slipped a napkin into his hand when she shook it and as he opened it they saw it had Lauren’s number written. “I like college girls” he said smiling.

“Slut,” Julian said shaking his head and looking at a small menu that was set on the table.

“You always have to get a number wherever you go,” Tommy said looking down and with a smile on his face. Tough Nate thought the smile seemed a little forced.

Julian looked at Nate and Nate instinctively looked back and met his gaze. He too had noticed Tommy’s forced expression. “So, how’s school been up until now Nate?” Julian asked breaking the small silence that had settled after Tommy’s comment.

“Good, I’m taking a Greek lit class, English composition two, an Art History class and a Spanish class,” Nate said grateful for Julian’s quick reaction.

“Spanish? So you speak some of it like they do too?” Tommy asked him.

“Si, nuestra abuela nos enseñó un poco,” Nate said and Tommy nodded.

“Ok, it’s oficial, I hate all three of you,” Tommy said rolling his eyes.

“Heh, that’s only ‘cause you don’t understand it,” Dylan said smiling.

“Si estudiaras más en la escuela lo entenderías mejor,” Julian said smiling.

“Pero nunca pones atención,” Dylan said smiling.

“You guys suck!” Tommy said before flipping them the bird.

“I take it you don’t like languages then,” Nate said smiling at Tommy.

“Not really my thing,” Tommy said looking down.

“It’s ok, when you start college you’ll be able to take something and then you’ll actually have to study,” Dylan said with a toothy grin.

“Like I’m risking my GPA that way,” Tommy said shaking his head.

“So, anything interesting happened so far?” Julian asked Nate.

“Not really, it’s only been two weeks since school started again so there hasn’t been much happening, and besides you’ve been here last weekend too,” Nate said smiling.

“So? We like hanging out with you,” Tommy said blushing a little, he looked down and then he looked up at Dylan and quickly looked away before he took the menu and started reading it. Dylan was reading the menu and didn’t catch Tommy looking at him, but Nate did catch Tommy’s gesture. Nate looked at Julian and Julian looked at Tommy and then met Nate’s eyes and shrugged his shoulders. Nate smiled to himself thinking how funny it was that he could communicate so easily with Julian. He knew Julian and Dylan didn’t manage to communicate like that most of the time, and that they could read each other much easier at some other times, but it felt nice to think that he could read his cousins that way and that they could read him. Well Jules could, Dylan, well Dyl was just a little bit more distracted most of the time.

* * * * *

“So you’ve gone to a gay bar twice without taking me along?” Martin asked as he and Luke walked to the coffee shop after meeting at the English building.

“Well it’s a field investigation; I can’t just take someone along. I have to do my stuff and lay low you know, it’s a non participant observation I can’t let my targets know that they’re being studied. Or else that might modify their behavior and hence modify the results of my investigation,” Luke said before he saw Martin’s lost look at his explanation.

“Ok, I get it, you don’t like being seen with your old cousin you bitch, whatever,” Martin said shaking his head and chuckling.

“Ok, but don’t tell my old cousin, ‘cause he’s getting tired of me hanging out with you instead of him,” Luke said smiling.

“Stop sweet talking me,” Martin said before smiling at him. “Ok, what do you want?” he asked as they got in by the side entrance facing the English building. They walked to one of the tables on the left side of the shop’s kitchenette and put their stuff on top. Then they walked to the counter and ordered their coffees and a couple of sandwiches.

“The bar is like a straight bar I swear, the only difference is that some times you can see a few guys kiss, but very few,” Luke said as they waited for the guy to bring them their order.

“So it’s just like a sports bar and the guys look like your average straight sports fan, but they’re really gay,” Martin said.

“Yup, sort of brings down the whole preconception of fairies and queens that most people have of…” Luke was saying before he stopped as he spotted Nate drinking coffee and a tall guy sitting next to him that had an arm over Nate’s back. As he stared, he saw that the twins were also with them.

“Luke, what?” Martin asked before he looked at where Luke was staring and spotted them.

The clerk got them their coffees and sandwiches and they took them. “Nothing, I just didn’t expect to see him here,” Luke said as he took his food and started walking back to their table.

“We can leave if you want, I mean…” Martin started saying.

“No, I’m ok, let’s just forget about it, they might leave before we do anyways,” Luke said as he sat down.

“You sure?” Martin asked him.

“Yeah, so getting back on that bar thing…” Luke started saying.

* * * * *

“I’ll be right back, I’m gonna get more coffee,” Jules said as he got up. And started walking towards the counter. He got there and ordered some more coffee and as he waited for it he started looking around the shop. After a few seconds of randomly staring around he spotted two people that caught his attention. He had only seen pictures of him, but he was sure that he was looking at Martin. He was sitting at the other side of the kitchenette and was talking with a guy sitting opposite from him at a table. He recognized the other guy even though he had his back to him, it was Luke. As he stared at Luke’s back he noticed Martin moved in his seat a little and as he looked at Martin their eyes met.

Martin stared at him and smiled shyly, then he raised his hand in a ‘hello’ gesture and Julian returned the gesture with a smile. “Dude, here’s your coffee,” the clerk said and made him look back to the counter.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he paid him and took the coffee from him. When he looked back at Martin he saw that Martin was looking down and Luke was looking back, looking at him. Luke froze, and so did he, they were staring at each other and it took him a few seconds before he could manage to talk. “Hey,” he said at Luke.

Luke nodded at him and gave a weak smile. Then he got up and left the shop by the side entrance. Martin got up and was about to leave but then he walked to the counter, Julian instinctively walked around the counter and met him. “Which one are you?” Martin asked as he put his hand out to shake.

“Julian, nice to meet you man,” he said as he reached out and shook Martin’s hand.

“Same here man, listen I would love to meet you guys properly and all but I think I should go…” Martin started to say as he looked at the door.

“Go, I understand,” Julian said smiling at him.

“Thanks, I guess if you guys stick around for a while I could see you guys later,” Martin said before shaking Julian’s hand again.

“Sounds good to me,” Julian answered and then Martin ran out. As he walked back to the table he saw that Dylan was looking at them and then he met Julian’s eyes and arched an eyebrow. Julian shook his head at him and Dylan nodded, they didn’t mention any of it to either Nate or Tommy.

* * * * *

As he sat at the bar Luke clasped his mp3 player in his hand, he had become adept at using it to record important things so he wouldn’t forget them and he could get them on his reports. He would push the ‘record’ button, put his hand close to his mouth, and say what he needed to record before pushing ‘stop’ and placing his hand back on the bar. It was a lot easier to collect information and not get caught, if he’d take a notebook most of the regulars and customers would wonder what a good-looking kid was doing taking notes in a bar.

He was sure he already had enough information to complete his report. His final verdict was that gay sports bars were a solid proof of how there is a huge amount of man who do not fit the effeminate gay stereotype. Most of the customers would look like any straight guy outside. And the bar decoration and music were entirely different from your neon décor and techno music gay bar cliché. He was drinking a ginger ale and as he sipped from the bottle he noticed an older slim guy looking at him. “Great, another older guy about to hit on me,” he thought. The guy got up and walked around the bar and then sat next to him.

“I don’t see a notebook or a tape recorder, but I would dare say that you’re studying either anthropology or sociology,” the guy said as he looked at him.

Luke froze, he had blown his cover and now he wondered if this guy had known all along, and even worse if he had said anything to the other customers. “I don’t know…” he started to say.

“Bullshit, I have a friend that studies anthropology and he’s told me about your observations and all that, I could tell that you were doing one of those, or still are I guess,” the guy said.

“Have you told anyone?” Luke asked.

“No, I know you’re not supposed to let people know what you’re doing,” the guy said smiling before taking a swig of his beer bottle.

“Thanks I guess,” Luke said blushing and looking down.

“So, did you get the information you needed?” the guy asked him.

“Well, yeah, I just need to write my report now,” Luke answered.

“I guess I’m going to sound a little forward with this but I can’t wait to ask you. Why are you here? A great looking kid like you should be either at a date or here with someone. I mean it is a Saturday night,” he said with an inquiring look on his face.

“Nosey old guy aren’t you?” Luke said faking a smile.

“Young man, I’ve seen you about three nights this week here. Considering that you already said you are observing us and writing a report about the customers I’d say you’re in no position to complain about nosiness,” the guy said giving him a toothy grin at the end.

“Ok, but still, what tells me you’re not some perv?” Luke asked getting angrier.

“If you study either anthropology or sociology, then you’re not supposed to judge people without knowing them I believe,” the guy said as he rubbed his chin.

“And so what? I’ve got a right to doubt your noble intentions and interests about my feelings,” Luke said with a sting of sarcasm in his voice.

“Now I know there’s something wrong, if not you would’ve just answered flatly,” the guy said.

“Do you get off on annoying people?” Luke asked.

“Nope I get off on porn for your information,” the guy said chuckling.

Luke was pissed at the guy, but he found the last statement funny and laughed despite his anger. “Idiot,” he said as he shook his head.

“Why for? Being honest?” the guy asked as he took a swig of his beer.

“I screwed up,” Luke said looking down at the table. The guy nodded and put his beer down and waited for Luke to speak again. “I had a boyfriend, but I screwed up and pushed him away,” he said before drinking the last of his ginger ale.

“And you still love him?” the guy asked him.

“Yeah, it sucks…” Luke said as he pushed the bottle to the front of the bar for the bartender to take.

“So you want to get back together with him?” the guy asked again.

“Yeah, but I don’t think I can fix things and he’s sort of seeing someone now,” Luke answered.

“Are they going serious?” the guy asked him.

“I don’t know yet,” Luke answered.

“Does he still love you?” the guy asked.

“I don’t know, and I’ve told you too much already, I don’t usually go around talking to strangers,” Luke said getting pissed again.

“No you don’t, you go around observing people, gathering information about them without their knowledge, sitting on a bar alone when you say you want to get your boyfriend back…” the guy started saying.

“You know what? I don’t fucking need this,” Luke said as he started getting up.

“If you really loved him you’d keep trying, you wouldn’t just quit,” the guy said and Luke stopped on his tracks. “If you screwed up you should have the balls to admit it and take it like a man instead of letting him go like that,” the guy added.

“But what if he doesn’t love me anymore?” Luke asked looking back at him.

“Then at least you could say you tried and move on, that sounds a lot better than sulking about it now doesn’t it?” the guy said and winked at him.

Luke chuckled and nodded. “Thank you,” he said as he walked out of the bar.

* * * * *

He was ready to go to bed, even though Tommy and him hadn’t really had any sex the night before they had made out and jerked each other, Nate was reluctant to go any farther. Specially since he had noticed Tommy’s weird behavior around Dylan. As he got into bed he wished sleep would come quickly, the day had been long and he sure needed a good rest. As he closed his eyes he heard a knock on his door, he sat up and looked at the clock on his night stand. It was past eleven. Who would come at this hour? He got up and walked to the door, he didn’t know whether to open it or what, if it was Martin or Becca they’d probably called him to his cell now that they knew he had one. As he walked to the door he heard another knock on the door and felt a chill go up his back as he heard the voice that called out to him from outside.

“Nate, it’s me…” Luke said from outside.

He froze, what was Luke doing there? He hadn’t even seen him since he got back to school, even though they lived in the same building.

“Nate, please, I still love you…” Luke said as he felt tears stream down his face. “I know I hurt you, badly but I still love you and I’m so sorry,” he said before letting out a sob. “I know you’re there I heard you walk to the door, you drag your feet when you’re sleepy…” he said wishing Nate would answer him.

Nate felt a knot form in his throat as he fought the urge to open the door, hold Luke tight against him, and lay kisses all over him. “Go away,” Nate said above a whisper.

Luke heard him and let out another sob as he rested his head against the door. “I guess I disserve that, but I won’t give up, not until I know if there’s still a chance for us. Not until I know if you still love me, I won’t give up, I love you too much for that,” Luke said as he gave a few steps back. “I saw you yesterday and you look great, I love you Natey,” he said as he walked away.

Nate felt the tears spring free from his eyes as he heard Luke’s steps as he walked down the hall. He went to his bed and sat down, he ran his fingers over his face wiping the tears away. After a few seconds he reached out and got his cell phone from his night stand. He wrote a text message and then sent it to a number he had tried to forget but never managed to.

* * * * *

Luke closed the door behind him and walked to his bed, he took off his shirt and shoes, then his pants and socks, as he got into his bed he took his cell phone out from his pants pocket and as he was going to place it on his night stand it vibrated. He looked at the screen and said he had a new text message; he opened it and didn’t recognize the number but felt his heart melt when he read it.

“I’m very confused right now, I need time, please give me time, but I still love you, I never stopped loving you. –Nate”

Spanish translations from the chapter:
Si, nuestra abuela nos enseñó un poco = Yes, our grandmother taught us a little.

Si estudiaras más en la escuela lo entenderías mejor = If you’d study more at school you’d understand it better.

Pero nunca pones atención = But you never pay attention.

 

[Craiger]

Whew! I am really relieved that Nate is communicating with Luke. It will take time, but hopefully they will survive this trauma. Thank goodness for the "older man" at the bar too. Great chapter, Luis. I will sleep better tonight....lol

Craiger

 

[robbieadam]

It's great that Nate and Luke are gradually climbing the ladder to reuniting at the top
I love the slow progression but I wish they would just get back together already! LOL.
Thanks a lot for the chapter and I'm looking forward to the next

 

[harry113]

Thanks Luis
I'm so glad the door isn't entirely closed. Maybe there is still a chance of reconciliation
Great chapter
Harry

 

[kcm17480]

Love the chapter. I'm glad there seems to be a chance for Nate and Luke. Now if they can keep their wits together and not make anymore stupid mistakes. Excellent work there Luis.

 

[kcm17480]

Another great chapter. I'm glad at least that Luke finally connected with Nate in someway so that Nate knows where he stands. Now it is in Nate's corner to see how he will overcome his disappointment. Great job there Luis.
Thanks,
Ken

 

[subfer1]

I'm sorry to tell you guys that Luke gets hit by a truck in this chapter... No I'm kidding, lol I hope you like this one.

Chapter 20 ––Follow Your Heart: Part II––

She felt like she was finally happy again. Other than the occasional regrets and memories of the times, she’d spent with Luke and Nate and how their relationship together had ended. But the memories that haunted her with an even more grudging pain were those of the way she and Luke had broken contact with each other. As she walked out of the lecture hall, she felt a bit daring and decided to take Darryl’s hand in hers. When she did so, he smiled and looked down at their hands before smiling at her as the blush covered his face.

“Feeling happy for any special reason?” he asked as they were getting out of the building and into the receding winter weather. As February rounded the corner on them, the cold had started to diminish and the snow to become scarce, yet it still snowed and for the southern beauty and his Californian companion it was still cold as shit.

“I could say so, I think it’s because of this guy I’m dating,” she said smiling up at him as she reached with her other hand and threw her scarf over her neck doing her best job to cover it.

“Do I happen to know this guy by any chance?” he asked and got a smirk in response as she squeezed his hand.

“Ok, so I have something to do, but I wanna see you afterwards,” she asked as they got to the intersection between the Social Sciences building and the Mathematics building. Going left a few blocks down you would get to Darryl and Brent’s dorm building. Going further to the right you’d get to the library and Becca’s building.

“Ok, so you go do your thing, but promise that you’ll come look for me as soon as you can, ok?” he asked her.

“Oh I will, don’t worry about that,” she said as she came closer to him and planted a kiss on his lips. They parted and then she pulled him from the neck of his jacket and kissed him again.

“Oh damn it, get going before I don’t let you,” he said arching his eyebrows at her.

“Ok, now go and maybe you’ll get a nice present when I come looking for you,” she said smiling and arching her eyebrows.

“Oh dear god, go already,” he said laughing as he started jogging down the path that lead to his dorm.

“Ok Luke, time to share a piece of my mind,” she thought as she headed down the path to her building.

* * * * *

He had wrapped in one of his blankets; he had no classes that morning and only had one class in the late afternoon. He had woken up a good while ago and had debated whether to go get breakfast or to just stay in bed. He had opted for the latter as he stayed in bed and stared into the empty space that Nate’s side of the room had now turned out to be. He sighed as he looked at his cell phone; he still would take it and re-read the message from Nate. After storing the number in his own phone, he had learned that Nate had the same plan that he, Martin and Becca all used. He wanted to go online and place Nate’s number in his family group so they could exchange messages and calls with no charge, but he thought better of it and decided it was best to wait and find out what Nate would decide.

It had been over two weeks, and in just a few days the month of February would come and turn out to be the third month that he had spent alone since pushing Nate away from him. He ran his hands over his arms and felt a tingle as he tried to remember how it felt when Nate would do that to him. Nate would run his fingertips at first and then he’d wrap his hands around Luke’s biceps as he’d start kissing him gently on the neck. As the longing inside of him fought to turn into pain and tears, he stopped himself and felt tears well in his eyes. After taking a deep breath, Luke looked at Nate’s bed and for a second there, he swore he saw Nate sitting there smiling at him, his brown eyes sparkling as he mouthed the words ‘I love you’.

There was a knock on the door. He looked back at Nate’s bed and found emptiness. The constant emptiness that had begun to turn into his new roommate after school had started again. Dropping the blanket to the floor, he made his way to the door. “Never mind that I’m only wearing boxers,” he thought as he unlocked the door before opening it. What he saw made him flinch. Becca was standing there smiling at him.

“Hey Lukey, long time no see,” she said before ramming her hand against his crotch, grabbing a good hold on his dick and balls. She squeezed as he flailed his arms to his sides and grabbed onto the doorknob trying to suppress a cry of pain.

“Please let go!” he managed to yell in a high pitch tone.

“Not until you swear to leave Nate alone,” she said as she tightened her grip, causing him to bend over in pain. Luke was supporting himself on his toes as he tried to pry Becca’s hand away from his crotch.

“I can’t and I won’t,” he said as he managed to get a hold on her hand.

She squeezed harder before he managed to pull her hand away from his family jewels. He took a hold on both her wrists as she groaned and pushed trying to get her hands free so she could try to attack again. “I’ll show you how you can leave him as soon as I get my hand back on your dick, you fucktard,” she growled as she pushed him further into the room.

“Stop it!” Luke yelled in between ragged breaths as he felt relieved of the uncanny pain that Becca’s grip had caused him.

“Fuck you, after all you’ve done you want me to think you’re not just trying to hurt him again?” she yelled as she pushed him with all her strength.

Luke tightened every muscle in his body he could and planted his feet firmly on the floor. His biceps, pectorals, abs and thighs all looked rock hard as he shattered any hope Becca could have of pushing him down. At five feet and six inches of height, she wasn’t exactly big or strong enough to fight against Luke’s muscular and bigger frame. “Stop fighting already! I won’t give up ‘cause I know how big of an idiot I’ve been and I know how much I truly love him,” he said choking up at the last part.

When she heard the breaking tone of his voice, she recoiled and stopped pushing. As she gave up, he let go of her hands. Then a surge of anger swept through her body and she punched him in the chest. He clenched his teeth trying to avoid showing his pain, as she punched him repeatedly. He stood motionless as she kept on punching with lower intensity every time. “You fucking broke his heart… you were my best friend beside him and you… why did you have to be such a damned idiot…” she kept saying as she let a few sobs escape form her.

When he heard her first sob, he tried to wrap his arms around her and failed as she punched him once again hard in the chest. Then she let her arms fall to her sides and he wrapped her in his arms. “I’m sorry honey, I love you, I know how mean I’ve been to all of you,” he said as he felt tears falling down from his eyes.

“I’ve missed you,” she said as she held him tight against herself.

“I know Becks, I’ve missed you so much too…” he said before choking up. They held each other for a few seconds before Luke spotted some people across the hall had come out from their rooms and were staring at them. “Ok, let’s go in before we become the subject of tomorrow’s lunch chatter,” he said as he pulled her inside.

She looked back and saw the people that were staring at them and then as they knew they were caught, they started to go back into their rooms. “Ok, we have some talking to do,” she said as she punched him in the chest again.

“Owwwww, stop that already,” Luke said wincing.

“I’ll stop in a while. I still have stress to release on you,” she said giggling.

* * * * *

“So Dylan had a date and decided not to come?” Martin asked Julian as he sat on his desk chair.

“Yeah, well he’s kinda like that,” Julian answered.

“A heartbreaker?” Martin asked arching his eyebrows.

“Yup, he never really dates a girl for too long,” Julian said shaking his head as he sat on Martin’s bed.

“Well he’s got the looks to get a lot of attention if you ask me, just like you, but it seems you’re a bit more down to earth than he is,” Martin said as he smiled at him.

“Yeah, he can catch a lot of attention alright,” Julian said as he thought about Tommy’s behavior for the last few weeks.

“What do you mean?” Martin asked out of curiosity for Julian’s sudden remark.

“Sorry, it’s just that… I don’t know, lately we’ve been noticing some stuff,” Julian confessed to him hesitating to reveal too much information.

“I don’t want to intrude, if you don’t want to tell me it’s ok, we’ve only known each other for what? Three weeks?” Martin told him.

“I’m sorry Martin I didn’t mean it like that, it’s just that it’s complicated, I mean we’re not even sure of what it is,” Julian apologized.

“So you’re confused?” Martin asked him.

“Yeah, well I guess you could help, but promise you won’t tell anyone about this,” Julian asked him.

“Ok, I’ll try to give my most honest opinion and advice,” Martin told him.

“Me and Nate have been noticing some looks and behaviors from Tommy, and we sort of suspect that he might have some sort of feelings for Dylan,” Julian told him.

“When you say feelings you mean more than friend’s feelings?” Martin asked him.

“Yeah, that’s what we think,” Julian confessed and looked at him with inquiring eyes.

If Nate had noticed the looks and all this and had been suspecting it, then that might have been the reason why he had told Luke that he needed time. Nate was thinking of getting back together with Luke. Martin realized Julian was staring at him waiting to hear what he had to say. “What does Nate think about it?” he asked.

“He doesn’t know what to do. Every time he asks Tommy about Dylan he makes it sound like they’re brothers or something, but he looks at Dylan with that dreamy look,” Julian said and shrugged his shoulders.

If Julian was speaking about this to him, it probably meant that Nate hadn’t told his cousins or Tommy about the message he had sent Luke. And now thinking about loving a friend he thought back to his high school days and felt both a little happy and sad at the same time. “You know it’s kind of hard to like someone like that,” Martin told him with a slight smile.

“What do you mean?” Julian asked him.

“I know what it feels like. I liked someone when I was younger and I was afraid of letting that person know, or anyone else know,” he looked at Julian and he stayed silent looking at him waiting for him to continue. “It’s hard, he probably is afraid of what might happen if he makes a move on Dylan. That is if he does like Dylan. He probably fears either rejection or that things might not work and turn into crap between the two of them,” he said and then he started scratching his head.

“So you liked someone close to you before?” Julian asked him.

“Yeah, I kinda know how he might be feeling,” Martin answered.

“Did you make a move or let it slip?” Julian asked again.

“I made my move actually,” Martin confessed.

“How did it go?” Julian asked once again.

“It worked out well for like forty five minutes and after that it almost went to hell,” Martin stated as he looked down and took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry man,” Julian told him. Then he got up, moved closer to Martin, and put his arms around him. Martin was surprised at first but after a few seconds he thought it was just something that Nate would have done and he smiled to himself.

“Thanks man, it was hard, and I guess Tommy is afraid of what could happen,” Martin said.

“Nate was right, you are pretty cool man,” Julian said smiling as he squeezed Martin a little tighter.

Martin loved the tight embrace and also realized that Julian must have a lot more muscle than what you could tell from all the clothes he had on. As he enjoyed the embrace he also felt a little guilty. He knew something Julian didn’t know and Julian had trusted him with the whole Tommy affair. “Hey Julian,” he said.

“Yup?” Julian said.

“I have something to tell you. I don’t know if Nate told you, but Luke sort of went looking for him and pleaded with him to give him a chance like three weeks ago,” Martin told him.

“When did that happen?” Julian asked as he loosened his embrace on him.

“I think it was around the time we saw you guys at the coffee shop,” Martin thought aloud.

“So Luke went looking for him, did he actually talk to Nate?” Julian asked him as he moved and sat down on Martin’s bed again.

Martin got up from the chair and moved to sit next to Julian, after he did so he took a deep breath and shook his head. “No, Nate didn’t open the door, but Luke apologized, told him he loved him and asked him for a second chance from outside,” Martin told him.

“What did Nate do?” Julian asked him.

“He told him to go away, and a little bit after that he sent Luke a text message saying he had never stopped loving him and that he needed time to think,” Martin answered flatly.

Julian’s eyes became wide. “Are we talking about the same Nate? ‘Cause he sure hasn’t said any of this to me,” Julian said.

“Well that’s what I thought, he didn’t tell any of it to Becca either, maybe he was scared of what you guys might say if you knew he still has feelings for Luke,” Martin said.

“Well I certainly am not too happy to hear that, considering all that Luke did to him, but if that is how he feels what can I do? I can’t believe he wouldn’t tell me…” Julian said shaking his head.

“When Becca found out she got a little aggressive on Luke, maybe he was afraid of that reaction from the beginning,” Martin told him.

“She attacked him or something?” Julian asked shocked.

“Squeezed his nuts until he convinced her to talk and it seems like they are working things out,” Martin said.

Julian gave a slight laugh, and then he shook his head. “Crazy ass girl. Wait, so you think she and Luke are friends again?” Julian asked him.

“Apparently they are, it will take some time but they’ve worked through their stubborn opinions a little and that’s a start,” Martin said.

“I can’t believe all of this has happened and Nate hasn’t said anything, do you think he’s that confused?” Julian asked him.

“Well sometimes people can’t really decide whether to listen to their head or their heart, maybe he found himself in that position,” Martin told him.

“That was about the time we figured out Tommy has feelings for Dylan… Wait, do you think he had been thinking of getting back with Luke all along?” Julian asked him in amazement.

“Maybe, that’s what I figured when you said you guys knew about Tommy’s attraction since that long, and also because you didn’t mention anything about Luke’s visit to Nate,” Martin answered.

“So he really does still love Luke huh?” Julian asked.

“I would dare say so,” Martin answered.

Julian sighed and smiled, and then he looked at Martin in the eyes. “If your cousin just as much hurts him ever again…” he started saying.

“I will be the first one in line to kick his ass man,” Martin said cutting him off.

“Really?” Julian asked arching his eyebrows.

“Well he’d probably kick my ass before I could try to hurt him but…” Martin started saying.

Julian reached out and started running his hands over Martin’s bicep and then on his chest. Martin blushed and looked at Julian in the eyes, and then Julian pulled his hand back. “I’m sorry, but for the record I think you’re just fine man,” he said blushing before looking away.

“Nate’s right, you twins are both hormonal beasts,” Martin said smiling.

“And you should see us when we haven’t gotten laid or jerked off,” Julian said smiling at him.

“God you guys are nuts,” Martin said laughing.

* * * * *

As they walked back to Nate’s dorm, they walked shoulder to shoulder. They hadn’t done much affectionate contact for a while now. It had been at least a two weeks since Tommy had held Nate as he would at the beginning of their strange relationship. At the beginning, it had been a sweet, tender relationship, now he could only describe it as strange.

“What are you thinking about?” Tommy suddenly asked him.

“Oh… I… I think we need to talk,” Nate answered.

“Ok… Well we’re almost at your room,” Tommy said.

“Yeah, when we get there we’ll talk,” Nate told him. He was sure this was the moment to talk about it, not only had he assured himself that Tommy was indeed attracted to Dylan, but he was sure that he had let it go unspoken for too long. As they entered the building, they walked to the stairs and started going up. When they got to the third floor Nate almost went in the hallway, he flinched and turned back to keep on going up. He almost went in the floor of Luke’s room, ‘our room’ he thought as he kept going until they reached the fourth floor and walked up to Nate’s room.

Once inside he felt cornered. There was no more avoiding it, he had already said they needed to talk and if he said something stupid or not serious then Tommy would know he was avoiding what he really wanted to say. He took a deep breath as Tommy sat down on top of Nate’s bed, rubbing his hands together nervously. “Tommy I think that… I have noticed a few things that you haven’t said,” he said trying to pick his words carefully.

“What do you mean?” Tommy asked him as he looked down and placed his hands on his knees.

He didn’t want to scare him off, but he was sure that it would be better if he’d go to the point. “Listen Tommy, how do you really feel about me?” Nate asked him as he sat down next to him.

“I… Why would you ask?” Tommy asked him back as he gave him an inquiring look.

“Because I want to know, I mean… I think that you’re not sure of what you feel for me,” Nate told him as he looked at Tommy watching carefully for his reaction.

“I like you a lot, why would you say I’m not sure of that?” Tommy asked him.

“I know you like me and I like you too man, but I feel like you don’t like me the way you think you do,” Nate slowly told him.

“And why wouldn’t I like you that way?” Tommy asked getting annoyed.

“Because you like someone else,” Nate told him. Silence. Tommy remained silent in shock of hearing Nate’s answer. Nate saw how Tommy stiffened and tried to move a few times before going back to his rigid position. “You like Dyl don’t you?” Nate asked him. Tommy looked at him in disbelief, and then he tried to talk and couldn’t get the words out. Suddenly he got up and clumsily tried to get to the door. Nate acted on pure instinct, as soon as he saw Tommy start moving for the door, he got up and grabbed Tommy from behind wrapping his arms tightly around him.

“Let go of me, how could you say something like that?” Tommy said as he struggled to get free. There was no such luck, Nate had a firm grip on him and he did not intend to let go off him.

“Because it’s true, I’ve seen the way you look at him, and I’m afraid that it’s hurting you,” Nate answered as he pulled hard, trying to get Tommy back on the bed.

“And why do you care about that? It’s not like he would love me back anyways,” Tommy said with his voice breaking.

“So you are in love with him? And what makes you think that he wouldn’t like you?” Nate asked him. Tommy gave up, he started going limp and then after a few seconds Nate heard him start sobbing.

“He’s straight, you know that, he doesn’t like guys, he wouldn’t like me…” Tommy said as he started crying. Nate started running his hands over Tommy’s chest caressing him and then Tommy turned around and hugged him. “I’ve tried to like girls, but every time I try to date a girl he’s always on my mind I can’t help it,” Tommy said before starting to sob uncontrollably.

“Shh, I’m here buddy, let it out,” Nate said as Tommy cried into his shoulder. They sat down on Nate’s bed and Tommy kept his head on Nate’s shoulder as he cried for about five minutes, they stayed in silence all along, with Nate running his hands over Tommy’s back. After what it seemed like an eternity, Tommy started to calm down.

“You must hate me now,” Tommy said as he wiped the tears from his cheeks. His grey eyes seemed to have lost their shine now that he had been crying for some time.

“Why would I hate you?” Nate asked him as he looked at him right in the face.

“Because I used you, to try and get Dyl off my mind,” Tommy said looking down with a few tears falling down his cheeks.

“Well I guess we’re even then,” Nate said smiling but feeling a little guilty too.

“Why?” Tommy asked him as he looked up and into his eyes.

“Because I guess we could say that I was trying to forget about Luke by being with you,” Nate said looking down.

“You know I sort of suspected you still loved him,” Tommy said and Nate looked up and saw that he was smiling a little bit.

“Damn are we screwed up?” Nate asked giggling.

Tommy gave a small laugh and then hugged Nate. “Please don’t tell him,” Tommy asked him as they hugged.

“I won’t, that is your decision. But if you ask me, you shouldn’t be so afraid,” Nate told him.

“Why?” Tommy asked him.

“Because you know that Dyl loves you, you’re the best friend he’s ever had and he would never do anything to hurt you,” Nate answered.

“But he doesn’t like guys…” Tommy started saying.

“Do you know that for sure?” Nate asked him.

Tommy pulled back from him and gave him a questioning look. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“He’s told me and Jules that he really wonders how sex with a guy is, and if you come to think about it, he’s never really lasted with a girl,” Nate said.

“So, you think he’d give it a try with me?” Tommy asked with hope in his voice.

“Well you won’t know until you try,” Nate told him.

“I guess so,” Tommy said.

Nate looked at the clock on his nightstand and so it was close to nine. Tommy looked back, saw the clock too and got up. “If you and Jules don’t get on your way soon you’ll have to drive really late,” Nate said.

“I know, I’ll go get him I think he’s at Martin’s room,” Tommy said. Then he looked at Nate and smiled before hugging him. “Thank you,” he said as he held Nate tightly.

“Talk to Julian, he’s noticed the same things I have, and he will help you if you need him,” Nate told him.

“Yeah, I guess I was getting a little obvious,” Tommy said looking down.

“Now go and stop worrying about it,” Nate told him. Tommy leaned forward and gave him one last kiss, slow, soft and warm. Then he smiled at him and left the room. He stood in the middle of the room after Tommy left for a few minutes. Ever since he saw the door close behind Tommy there was only one word going repeatedly through his head: Luke. He went into his bathroom and washed his face in the sink, looked at himself in the mirror and smiled before he dashed out and down the stairs.

He ran through the hallway until he reached their room. He took a deep breath before knocking on the door. He heard noise inside the room, footsteps were coming towards the door and then the door slowly opened. Luke stared at him for a few seconds before giving him a shy smile. “Hi,” was all Luke could say before Nate leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips. Nate put his hands on the sides of Luke’s head and kissed him repeatedly until they were both breathing heavily and had taken a few steps inside the room. “Please tell me I’m not dreaming,” Luke told him as they parted from their kisses.

“You’re not dreaming, I love you, I love you, I love you…” Nate kept saying as he started planting kisses all over Luke’s face, neck and shoulders. Luke pushed the door closed as Nate put his arms around him. Nate picked him up and threw him in bed; he took his shirt off and then started trying to get his pants off. Luke sat up and helped him get his pants off, and then pulled his underwear off. At the minute he saw Nate’s chest and stomach, he noticed Nate seemed thinner, you could see his chest had more definition than before and you could make out the outline of his abs. Yet there was still a slight roll at the lower part of his stomach. Luke started kissing Nate all over his torso before he took his dick into his mouth causing Nate to moan in pleasure.

He hadn’t even had oral sex with Tommy and they had only shared a few sexual experiences, and now that he was with Luke he felt like he would come any moment. He pulled Luke’s head off his dick and then started pulling Luke’s shirt off him. Luke started pushing his pants down and Nate pulled his boxers off too. Then he bent down and took Luke’s dick into his mouth and worked it for a few seconds before Luke pulled him up and kissed him. Nate pushed Luke on top of the bed and then got on top of him. He started rubbing his dick against Luke’s and Luke started rubbing his against Nate’s, after a few minutes they had a rhythm and they were both panting.

Luke couldn’t stand it and tried to stop. “Nate, wait or I’ll… Oh damn…” he said as he started shooting his load in between them. Luke thought he’d die, he’d never shot so much cum in his life before. “I’m sorry I guess I was too excited…” he started saying. Nate leaned forward and kissed him long and passionately before he started humping him again. This time the added feeling of Luke’s cum in between them added up and made him go over the edge in no time, he shot his load in between them as he moaned into Luke’s mouth. Once his orgasm started subsiding he looked into Luke’s eyes and saw that Luke was about to cry.

“What’s wrong?” Nate asked him.

“Nothing, I just can’t believe this, I thought you’d never want me again,” Luke said before he kissed Nate. He looked at him in the eyes and then looked lower, to the small scar that had remained as evidence of the boot Luke hurled at his face. He leaned forward and kissed the small scar. The feeling sent shivers all over Nate’s body. “God I would rather hurt myself twenty times before hurting you ever again…” Luke said before letting out a sob.

Nate held him tight and kissed him on the lips. “I didn’t know what to do when you pushed me away; I thought I was going to die…” Nate said trying not to cry.

“I promise I won’t ever hurt you like that again, god I can’t live without you again, I felt like my heart was rotting away every second I spent without you…” Luke told him.

“Shhh… Let’s not talk now, let’s just enjoy the moment,” Nate said looking up at him with tears in his eyes, yet smiling.

Luke smiled when he saw the smile and the shine in Nate’s eyes. Just like he remembered them to be. “Ok,” he said as he got his arms around Nate and held him tight against him. After a few seconds their breathing went back to normal and Nate was planting little kisses on Luke’s chest. Then all of a sudden they heard the door open, they both looked up startled.

“Hey Luke I was just…” Martin said as he walked in. “Oh shit, I’m sorry,” he said wide eyed when he saw them lying there. He walked back to the door and then turned around with a huge smile on his face. “You guys are back together!” he yelled as he jumped on top of the two of them.

“Hey, get off man!” Nate yelled.

“We’re covered in cum!” Luke yelled.

“EWWWWWWWW you could’ve warned me dudes!” Martin yelled as he got up. He walked back to the door and then looked down at himself and saw that he had some cum stuck to his arms after wrapping them around Nate and Luke. “God it’s so good to see you two together,” he said as he jumped up a few times. “You guys are back together right?” he asked suddenly with worry on his face.

Nate looked down at Luke. “Do you promise not be an ass anymore?” Nate asked Luke.

“I do if you do,” Luke said smiling up at him.

“Deal, we’re back together,” he said looking up at Martin with a smile on his face.

“Yes!” Martin yelled as he went out the door closing it behind him.

 

[EveretteB1975]

the best chapter yet!!!! keep up the great work!!!