Something Like Summer

  “Oh yeah,” Tim laughed. “He totally does.”

  “That’s why we named him that. He just needs a pair of glasses and the look is complete.”

  Tim chuckled and Ben joined him. For a moment it felt like everything was going to be okay. Tim would send Krista away, since she wasn’t important to him, and they would have their day after all. All these hopes were blown away when Krista’s voice called from the den.

  “Look, you can’t stay,” Tim whispered. “I’m trying to get laid. I’m playing up the injury thing like crazy, and she’s eating it up.”

  “Yeah, sorry,” Ben mumbled awkwardly. “I, uh, yeah. Good luck, man.”

  “You, too!” Tim gave him an amiable punch to the arm. “I hope you sneak back in without getting caught.”

  “Yeah. Well, see ya.”

  “Yeah. Wait!”

  Ben turned around, that last desperate spark of hope igniting.

  “I need my car keys back.”

  “Oh yeah. Of course.”

  Ben handed them over and then hurried to leave. His face burned bright with embarrassment the whole way home. He felt humiliated and silly. How else did he think this little game of his would end? Tim was feeling better and his parents were coming home. He didn’t need Ben anymore. He would be back in school soon with his ditzy girlfriend and asshole friends, and Ben would be nothing more than an amusing memory, if he was even remembered.

  He didn’t bother to sneak back in the house. Who cared if he was grounded now? Allison was forbidden to see him and Tim had better things to do. There was no longer a reason to leave.

  Neither of his parents was home, so Ben had his bowl of cereal and numbed his mind with television. He barely noticed when they did arrive, ignoring his mother’s request for help unloading the car. When their attempts at communicating with him became too annoying, he turned off the TV and went upstairs to his room.

  The phone rang before Ben could sit down on his bed. He picked it up irritably. It would only be one of Karen’s annoying friends, but at least he could have the satisfaction of hanging up on them.

  “What?” he snarled into the receiver.

  “Benjamin?” came the startled response.

  “Tim?” he asked, not believing his ears.

  “Man, I’m glad I didn’t get one of your parents. Are they still gone?”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Ben insisted. “What’s up? Are you calling to brag or something? Tell me you aren’t screwing her right now!” he joked, feeling elated that Tim would call him for any reason.

  “No, almost,” Tim said, his voice laced with frustration. “Came close, but she got freaked out by the European standard.”

  “Okay,” Ben replied, not understand what was being said or why.

  “Anyway, we got into an argument and she’s gone.”

  “Sorry?” Ben offered.

  “So you want to come over?”

  Well, of course he did, but he had missed his chance. Sure, he could still sneak out and face the same consequences that he had been willing to face an hour ago, but he didn’t like the idea of playing second fiddle to Krista, of all people.

  Tim picked up on his hesitation. “Maybe you and I can pick up where she left off,” he said.

  Ben’s mouth dropped open in shock. His brain buzzed, analyzing what he had just heard and trying to find any other interpretation of the words except what he thought they meant. “I’ll be right there,” he said, slamming down the phone.

  Ben ran. He didn’t know where his parents were, and he didn’t check. He was down the stairs and out the front door in two seconds. Another twenty seconds and he was in the safety of the park. Anywhere away from the road was safe from his parents. Had they ever gone for a walk or ridden a bike in their lives? His mind rejected thoughts of them and instead turned to his destination.

  Was Tim really inviting him over to mess around? Jesus! Maybe there was a god! Something had scared Krista away. Maybe it was just too big for her to deal with. What was it he had said? The European standard? Did Tim measure it in metric or something? Well, whatever. He’d soon find out!

  He found the door unlocked and let himself in, heart thudding in his chest as he walked to the den. Tim was waiting for him on the couch, fully dressed and looking subdued and uncertain. Was he having second thoughts? Ben hesitated in the doorway.

  Tim’s black hair was messy and sticking up, probably from when he and Krista had been messing around. His silver eyes sheepishly considered Ben’s own, before looking away and down at his own body. Ben followed his gaze, over the sea blue tank top to the white shorts where it was more than obvious that he was aroused. The silver eyes found his again, all hesitation in them replaced by lust.

  “C’mere,” he invited.

  Ben went to him and sat down on the couch. As much as he had fantasized about touching Tim, he found it ironic that he now didn’t know how to proceed. He concluded that there was nothing left but to do it. He reached out toward Tim’s crotch, but his hand was caught by the wrist.

  “What’s the rush?” Tim laughed, pulling on the wrist to draw Ben closer to him.

  With his other hand, Tim reached behind Ben’s head and pulled him in for a kiss. Their lips met clumsily before they readjusted and found the perfect fit. Tim kissed him passionately, taking full control which was good because Ben was at a loss. This isn’t how it usually went at all! Strange as it was, considering the number of guys he had blown before, this was Ben’s first kiss.

  He breathed in through his nose, taking in Tim’s smell as he enjoyed the sensation of the tongue darting into his mouth. Ben’s hand was released and so he used it to feel the chest he had spent so much time admiring. Tim moaned in approval and broke their kiss so he could take off his shirt. He leaned back and placed Ben’s hand back on his pecs. Ben rubbed his hand over them and Tim smiled cockily, enjoying having his impressive physique worshiped so transparently.

  Ben worked his hand downward, Tim squirming beneath his touch in anticipation of where he was going. Ben wanted to draw it out and tease him longer, but he couldn’t control himself and grabbed Tim’s cock through his shorts.

  “Wow!” Ben gasped. He been with a few guys slightly bigger than himself before, but Tim was significantly thicker.

  He pumped his hand up and down, enjoying the look of bliss on Tim’s face. His eyes were closed and his mouth was open. Ben burned the image into his mind as one of the most beautiful things he had even seen. He never wanted to forget it.

  Ben reached his fingers under the elastic band of Tim’s athletic shorts and pulled them back. Tim tensed and sat up, an uncomfortable expression on his face. Ben looked down to see and was startled. It was uncut! So that’s what all the fuss was about.

  “The European standard?” Ben inquired.

  “It’s normal over there,” Tim said apologetically.

  “It’s gorgeous,” Ben said. He meant it, too. He liked that it was different than his own. It was exotic, and like the body it was attached to, breathtakingly attractive.

  “You don’t mind?” Tim asked, still adorably uncertain.

  Ben answered by taking it into his mouth. Tim tensed up but then immediately relaxed again, letting himself enjoy the sensations Ben was giving him. Tim was certainly one of the most appreciative recipients of his favors. He moaned approvingly and ran his fingers through Ben’s hair as he worked.

  Soon Tim’s hips began thrusting and his moans became louder and more insistent. He bucked wildly as he came, Ben struggling to keep him inside his mouth.

  “No more, no more, stop!” Tim panted, pulling Ben off of him.

  Ben unwillingly receded. This was the part that he hated the most. His own cock was painfully begging for release, both from the confines of his jeans and sexually, but his mind was already troubled by the awkward moment to come. Sometimes the guy just went back to pretending he was asleep, or if it had started when they were awake, would find some pretense to distance himself. Any second now
Tim would say he had to use the restroom or feign some other important thing that he had to do, anything to get away from the gay guy he had just used.

  “Fuck, that was good,” Tim said, still trying to catch his breath. “Man. I have to take a piss.”

  “That’s cool,” Ben said casually as Tim pulled his shorts back up and left the room.

  He pondered leaving as he waited. It was usually less awkward that way. The toilet flushed and Tim’s crutches squeaked their way back over to the couch.

  “I guess I should get back,” Ben said, starting to stand.

  “What?” Tim laughed. “You’re crazy.” He shoved Ben back onto the couch and tossed his crutches aside, falling with his full weight onto Ben. He growled menacingly and wrestled Ben onto his back, kissing him again.

  Ben’s heart swelled with happy surprise, but not as much as his cock did when Tim’s hand suddenly grabbed onto it.

  “Your turn,” he whispered seductively into Ben’s ear.

  Tim slid to the side, pulled up Ben’s shirt and undid his jeans, ripping them along with Ben’s underwear down to his knees in a motion that was anything but gentle.

  “Nice,” he said appreciatively as he took hold of Ben with one strong hand and began pumping.

  He pushed Ben’s shirt up further and licked one of his nipples before moving upward to kiss him on the mouth. Their tongues danced together as Ben struggled to breathe. He was getting close and opened his eyes, wanting to tell Tim what was going to happen. He found Tim’s eyes locked fiercely on his own and didn’t last long after that, soaking his stomach and even his chest.

  Tim grinned. “I’ll grab a towel,” he said. “And then you’re going to cook for me,” he added matter-of-factly.

  Ben watched him go, his head still spinning from all that had just happened. The sex had been incredible, but what really sent his heart soaring had been the kissing. He felt certain that he had, after all these years of yearning and wanting, finally met someone who could love him back.

  * * * * *

  Nothing had happened between Ben and Tim, or so it felt. They passed the evening much as they always did. A horror movie about killer puppets entertained them while they ate chili. Afterwards Tim put on a few CDs while they talked; a B-side collection of Nirvana followed by the Smashing Pumpkins. Ben barely heard the music; instead he pondered how Tim was taking it all in stride.

  The subject didn’t come up again. Inside, Ben felt like he was going to explode. So many emotions were stirring within him, all of them positive and excited. If Tim felt something similar, he managed to hide it well.

  Sleep didn’t come easy that night. Tim didn’t want to struggle with the stairs, so he stayed on the couch. Ben made himself a bed of blankets, placing them as near the couch as possible. As he listened to the sound of Tim’s slow, rhythmic breathing, he fantasized about sharing a bed with him. They would whisper pleasantries to each other before kissing goodnight and holding each other in sleep.

  The next morning Ben found himself roused by his friend and then quickly aroused. Tim pulled him forcibly onto the couch, kissing him deeply and grinding against him, leading to a replay of the day before.

  “Guess we should get the place cleaned up,” Tim said once they had both caught their breath.

  “I wish your parents were going to be gone another week,” Ben sighed wistfully.

  “Yeah, me too.”

  Tim felt well enough by now that he was able to help with the chores. By noon the house was as tidy as could be expected when left in the hands of a teenager.

  “You should probably get going. Just in case they catch an early flight or something.”

  Dread stirred in Ben’s stomach. He had his own parents to face today, and he was sure it wouldn’t be pretty.

  “Look,” Tim began, but it was almost a minute before he continued. “What happened between us, well…”

  Ben perked up, giving him his full attention.

  “It’s probably best we keep it a secret,” Tim said, reaching behind to scratch his head while grinning nervously. “I just don’t want people to get the wrong idea.”

  “Wrong idea?” Ben repeated.

  “There’s nothing wrong with it,” Tim backpedaled. “I just don’t want people thinking I'm gay, when I’m not.”

  It took every ounce of Ben’s willpower to keep his face straight in light of this statement. “Okay,” he said. “Not a big deal.”

  In reality it was a big deal, but he could handle it. If having Tim meant doing everything gay with him but calling it straight, why not? He could just play it off as some sort of kinky role-playing game. Unless of course, Tim intended that this never happened again. As cliché as the question was, Ben couldn’t help but ask, “So are you going to call me?”

  “Yeah, totally!” Tim answered enthusiastically. “We’re buds.” The way he stated this was friendly, but there was a hint of a silent ‘only’ there in the middle.

  “Cool,” Ben replied. “I’m off, then. Good luck with your parents when they get here.”

  “Good luck with yours! I hope you won’t be in too much trouble.” Tim reached out and mussed Ben’s hair as if he were sending his kid off to school.

  Ben left the house with a smile on his face. His future with Tim was uncertain, he was facing the reaming of his life from his parents, and he was forbidden to see his best friend, and yet Ben had never been happier.

  Chapter Nine

  The school gymnasium, forever marred by shoe scuffs and perfumed with sweat, was lined on one side by a long hallway. This led either to the locker rooms or into the gymnasium itself if you pushed open the two swinging doors set with small windows. These allowed Ben to peer through and see that volleyball was being played today. Not one of his favorite sports, but not as bad as some of the others. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to enter, even though first period had started twenty minutes ago.

  Ben had chosen to skate to school instead of taking the bus and had arrived late, despite his intention of attending all of his classes, as he had promised his mother yesterday. When he had arrived home on Sunday, he thought he would be greeted with screams and punishments. Instead things were unsettlingly calm. His father had been the first to see him, pulling a comical “look out!” face that warned his wife wasn’t too pleased with their son.

  Except his mother hadn’t been all that angry. She met Ben in his bedroom, sat down, and very carefully said, “You are getting to an age where we can’t control you anymore. In less than two years you will be living on your own. I hope you will be going to college. If you chose to do so, we will help support you. If not, then you are on your own. Until then, you will go to all of your classes and you won’t drink or do drugs in this household.”

  That was it. He wasn’t even grounded anymore. His parents had set him free by giving him adult status. Ben had almost felt sad after it had happened, like he was being forced to grow up. He quickly moved past those feelings, though. No longer would he have to deal with curfews or tell them who he was staying with. The new arrangement was ideal for him, which was why he felt horrible that he was breaking his promise already.

  He hated P.E. There was nothing redeeming about it, and it would never contribute to his health or success later in life. If anything, facing the abuse of the coaches and his peers threatened to make him jaded and mistrustful of the human race. Why should he waste an hour every day in a class that made him feel useless and incompetent? He refused to subject himself to that, no matter the consequences.

  Ben stayed in the hallway, feeling it was a safe place to hide, until the bell rang. Students with flushed faces swarmed out of the locker room. He let them pass without making eye contact, waiting for someone to ask where he had been. It didn’t happen until one of the very last people stepped into the hall.

  “Ben, my man!” Leon called out happily. “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you since my wisdom teeth were yanked.”

  “I’ve been skipping a lot of cla
sses lately,” Ben confided. “Have the coaches said anything about it?”

  “Those clueless goons? Of course not. They’re too busy reliving their glory years with the second-rate jocks who didn’t make the football team.”

  Ben laughed in relief. “I wonder how long I can get away with this.”

  “I don’t know man, but you’ve got the right idea. Tell you what, if the coaches ever notice you missing, I’ll try to cover for you.”

  “Thanks. I owe you one.”

  Leon clapped Ben on the shoulder. “Hey, I hear your best friend is dating my best friend.”

  “Ronnie Adams?” Ben asked. “I didn’t know you guys were friends.”

  “Yeah, Ebony and Ivory. That’s our band. Ronnie’s on guitar and I’m on bass. You should come by with Allison sometime, smoke a j and sing. I crooned out a few tunes with your girl already, but I’d love to hear what a real pair of singers can do.”

  “Yeah, all right. Sounds fun. Thanks again for covering for me.”

  “No problem my man!”

  Ben hurried to English class with a weight lifted off his chest. Despite the potential ramifications with his parents, he felt glad not having to worry about showing up for first period anymore. He would have to find something to do, though, now that Tim wasn’t accessible. He kept his eyes peeled on the way to class, not certain if Tim would be in school today or not.

  In English they had a test, which meant an unwilling competition with Daniel Wigmore, who finished early and spent the remaining time gawking at Ben while mentally timing how long it was taking him to finish.

  In Spanish class a few of the kids had come up with a broken Spanish sentence that referred to him as a fat and ugly mariposa. This irritated Ben more because of its stupidity rather than its offensiveness. He might be a mariposa, but there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him and he certainly wasn’t ugly when compared to the perpetually awkward idiots who were trying to get a rise out of him.

  Lunch was a singularly trying experience too, since he had so much he wanted to tell Allison, but couldn’t without other students overhearing. Keeping things under wraps was crucial if he wanted to have future fun with Tim, and that was one promise Ben was determined to keep. Luckily there was choir, providing them with uninterrupted free time.