Something Like Lightning

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  Something Like Lightning © 2014 Jay Bell

  ISBN: 9781310109133 Published by Jay Bell at Smashwords

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or events is purely coincidental.

  Cover art by Andreas Bell: www.andreasbell.com

  Something Like Lightning

  by Jay Bell

  Acknowledgements

  It bears repeating that writing a book is not a solo job. You only see the author’s name on the cover, which might create the illusion that I sat down one rainy afternoon and hammered this story out. The words might be mine, but the hammering is done by editors and proofreaders such as Linda Anderson, Katherine Coolon, Claire King, Zate Lockard, and Kira Miles. And my mom, who made me, and by extension is the person most responsible for these books existing. Let’s not forget my husband, Andreas Bell, who not only helps with proofreading but also creates the cover art. So if you enjoy this story, please pause for a moment afterwards and send a quick telepathic “Thank you!” to each of these fine people.

  To my sister Shannon, who taught me that love is always worth chasing after, even if that means sneaking out a midnight window.

  Part One:

  Austin, 2007

  Chapter One

  I am untouchable. When I’m like this—just a shadow, just a ghost, just a whisper on the breeze—nothing can get close enough to drag me down. I feel invincible, which is why I find myself returning to this high over and over again. Feet tapping pavement, each a brief reconnection with the earth before I continue to fly. Even the wind can’t keep up as my arms pump, as the sweat abandons my brow, as I find perfect stillness in the midst of so much motion. Somehow, while running, I manage to stop time. Silence. Solitude. Nothing can touch me here, and yet... lately I find myself wanting to be touched.

  Kelly Phillips blinked and turned his head slightly. Part of him did so unwillingly because this meant breaking the spell. Then again, the figure he saw out of the corner of his eye summoned up another sort of magic. Jared was running beside him—or more accurately, somewhat behind him. The thick jaw that normally jutted to the side when he smiled was now clenched in concentration. Jared’s fists were balled, his muscles tense as he tried to catch up, to overcome and pass before they reached the white finish line. Kelly almost laughed, but not mockingly. Even with his face screwed up, his blue eyes bulging, and his brown hair in disarray, Jared was handsome.

  But he would never win. Not like that, all tensed up and stomping the pavement. Why was Jared trying so hard? Running was akin to gliding across water, sliding between blades of air, letting the world fall behind and disappear. Kelly sighed. Time to come back down to earth. Keeping an eye on his friend, he slowed his pace, hating how heavy his legs felt as gravity took hold once more. Jared noticed the advantage and gave an extra burst of effort, but even then Kelly had to restrain himself lest he win the race.

  Jared reached the white line first, leapt over it and spun around with an expression of exhilaration. “Yes!” he shouted, pumping a fist in the air. Then he bent over and placed hands on his knees, panting to catch his breath.

  Kelly came to a much more controlled stop next to him, smiling as he too worked on refilling his lungs. “Not bad,” he said.

  “Not bad?” Jared looked up in disbelief. “I beat your sorry ass, didn’t I?”

  “This time,” Kelly said. “Care for a rematch?”

  Jared panicked. “No! Ha! No way. We’ve trained enough, don’t you think?”

  Kelly shrugged and glanced around at the empty track. Classes were over for the day, most students having wandered off to begin the weekend. The normally chaotic high school campus was now serene. With the oppressive heat of summer finally at an end, Kelly was happy to get his body sweating in a more enjoyable fashion.

  “We’re done here,” Jared said. “I’ve got it nailed anyway. Right?”

  Kelly eyed him. “You need to loosen up. Let your arms and legs do what comes naturally instead of trying to control them.”

  “What comes naturally to you,” Jared said. After a pause, he added, “You let me win.”

  Kelly fought down a smile. “You would have pulverized anyone else on this track. That’s what counts.”

  “Then I’m glad we’re not competing.” Jared grabbed the front of his shirt and started agitating the fabric back and forth to cool his chest.

  This sent a whiff of sweaty air to Kelly’s nose, one that must have been filled with pheromones, because it made him heady. “You’re going to own this triathlon,” he breathed. “There’s no competition.”

  Jared raised an eyebrow. “Only because you opted out. Not that I’m complaining.”

  “I’m not much of a swimmer,” Kelly said dismissively.

  “Neither am I. I’ve got biking down. You’re right that no one is faster than us, but I’m still worried about the swimming part.”

  Kelly scoffed. “How many times did you drag me to the pool this summer? I don’t remember any lifeguards coming to your rescue. Despite your best efforts.”

  “You mean when I pretended to drown?”

  “When you treaded water while shouting ‘help’ a few times. Very convincing.”

  Jared grinned. “Seemed smooth to me. It’s not my fault she didn’t take the bait.”

  Kelly didn’t smile in return. The lifeguard had been a fortysomething blonde woman with ridiculously big breasts. A poor man’s Pamela Anderson. He was pretty sure Jared hadn’t found her attractive and was only trying to be funny, but even the idea that he could be straight had made Kelly jealous. Still did. Of course Jared probably did like women. He certainly talked about them enough. Kelly knew his own fantasies were hopeless but that didn’t dispel the increasing hunger inside of him.

  “Wanna hit the showers?” he asked.

  “Okay.” Jared led the way back to the main school building. As he walked, he seemed lost in thought. They were entering the locker room before he spoke again. “There’s this guy... ”

  This guy I like. Who I really really like. My best friend, actually. Kelly fantasized Jared saying these words. He kept quiet, just in case he’d turned psychic.

  “He’s on the swim team,” Jared said instead. “Supposed to be good. William something-or-other.”

  “That’s an unusual last name,” Kelly replied.

  Jared snapped his fingers. “Townson. William Townson. You know who I mean?”

  Kelly checked his memory, coming up with a foggy image of a scrawny guy with a mop of blond hair. “I think I had a class with him in seventh grade.”

  “Oh,” Jared said. “Well anyway, people keep saying he’s going to win the triathlon.”

  “Because he can dog paddle?” Kelly rolled his eyes. “All the distance, all the speed, happens during the cycling and track segments. Splashing around in water doesn’t count for much.”

  “But that’s how the race starts,” Jared said. “What if he gets a big enough lead? They want us to do twelve laps.”

  “Twelve?” Kelly asked as he opened his locker. “Wow.”

>   Jared nodded, leaning against the locker next to his. “Exactly. That’s why I asked for your help. I’ll need to make up for lost time in the final stretch.”

  “You’ll overtake him on your bike.” Kelly allowed his eyes to dart downward. “You’ve got strong legs.”

  “Thanks, but get this: During lunch, someone told me he bikes to school every single day.”

  Kelly stopped digging around in his locker and turned to face him. “William?”

  “Yeah.” Jared’s face was surprisingly vulnerable, like a kid convinced he wasn’t getting the toy he wanted for Christmas.

  “Maybe William is fast in the water,” Kelly said, “and maybe he likes riding his bike, but you know how hard running is. Remember when we first started out? How winded we’d get even over the shortest distance? Make it through the first segment of the triathlon and William will be a fish out of water. You’ll breeze by him while he’s floundering on the pavement.”

  Jared grinned. “I want that trophy so fucking bad! ”

  Kelly smiled back. “It’s already yours.”

  Jared studied him a moment longer, slammed his fist against a locker, and nodded. “It’s already mine!”

  Kelly kept smiling, shaking his head as he slowly got undressed and Jared went to do the same. His happy expression soon faded as he listened to what took place behind him. The rustle of fabric as a shirt was pulled up. Shoes thunking on the floor as each was kicked off. The gentle plop of shorts hitting the ground. The sound of bare feet padding toward the showers.

  Kelly followed a moment later but waited just long enough that the shower water was already running. He wouldn’t look. Kelly never looked. Not even a peek. Just the thought of Jared naked—water streaming over the curves of his body—was enough to make the blood rush to Kelly’s cock. So he didn’t glance over at Jared or even let himself think. Kelly willed his mind to go numb and went about showering, not even acknowledging how his own hands felt when soaping up his body or rinsing out his short-cropped hair.

  Kelly finished first and got dressed slowly, facing his locker and not responding to whatever joke Jared made when he returned from the showers. Only when he heard the metallic grind of jeans zipping up did he allow his shoulders to relax. Then he turned around.

  “You all right?” Jared asked, pulling on a T-shirt. “You always seem so tense after a run. Maybe you need to jack off or something.”

  Kelly raised an eyebrow.

  Jared leaned toward him, put an open palm next to his mouth, and stage-whispered, “Everybody does it!”

  “Now I know why you take so long in the shower.”

  “Hey, I only do it in the safety of my bedroom. I even wait until my parents are asleep.”

  Kelly smirked. “How very considerate of you.”

  “I think so.” Jared pulled on a fresh pair of socks. “So what’s going on this weekend?”

  There was no doubt they would spend it together. They had done so ever since Jared moved into town last year. Only recently had things become complicated. Now being with Jared was something he needed instead of wanted.

  “It’s family night,” Kelly said. “Tomorrow... I don’t know. Just hang out, maybe make a night of it. Want to crash at my place?”

  Jared nodded curtly. “Cool.”

  “Cool,” Kelly echoed, even though what he felt was closer to warmth. “Just promise me you don’t ‘relieve tension’ once I’ve fallen asleep. If I roll over into a sticky puddle, you’re sleeping on the floor from now on.”

  Jared laughed shamelessly and shook his head. If only he knew the truth: For the past month, Kelly had lain in bed with open eyes, staring into the dark and waiting for Jared to fall asleep first. His intentions were more innocent, or so he tried to convince himself. Kelly wasn’t horny and seeking release. Maybe his infatuation had started with such thoughts, but now what he wanted from Jared was more than just physical. Although some emotions were best expressed that way. Kelly knew he was playing with fire. Getting caught could change everything. But if the stirring in his heart was anything to go by, tomorrow night he would risk it all again.

  On Saturday afternoon, Kelly yawned his way through math homework. His parents sat to either side of him at the kitchen table, his mother flipping through a magazine, his father playing Mario Party on a Nintendo DS. All these diversions were infinitely more appealing than typing numbers into his cell phone’s calculator, but Kelly was nearly finished. Then he’d be free to meet Jared and really start his weekend.

  That was the deal with his parents. Get good grades and he was free to do whatever he wished. No curfews, no tedious rules—just one responsibility that he was expected to uphold. The same work ethic was shared by his parents.

  Doug the plumber and Laisha the bankruptcy lawyer. An odd combination, but his parents shared one thing in common: Both worked their asses off. They did so with the weekend in mind. Every Friday evening, their cell phones were turned off and remained that way until Monday morning, regardless of emergencies. His mother had an assistant to deal with such occurrences, and his father usually had a reliable apprentice or two. The focus of the weekend was spending time together.

  This began with a night out on Fridays. Kelly and his younger brother Royal weren’t obligated to join in, but with their parents in high spirits and feeling generous, neither liked to miss out. Last night had been okay. They went to the cinema and watched Captain Jack Sparrow swagger around the screen, but all Kelly could think about was how much Jared gushed about the movie when he had seen it during the summer. He had gone with a neighbor girl, referring to her as a date before they actually went. Afterwards Jared had only talked about the movie, never mentioning the girl. Kelly had felt relieved by that. Encouraged even.

  “Your aunt called,” Laisha said. “She wants to know what you want for your birthday.”

  “Money,” Kelly answered immediately, not taking his eyes off his homework.

  “You haven’t given us many ideas either,” his mother continued. “I miss those lists you’d make when you were little. Always in alphabetical order.”

  “I can still do that,” Kelly replied. He thought a moment and glanced up. “Cash. Followed by gold, money, stocks, and wealth.”

  “Why do you need so much money?” his father asked.

  “I plan on blowing most of it on horse races. The rest will go to booze and rent boys.”

  Doug paused his game and raised an eyebrow. “Rent boys?”

  “Male prostitutes,” Laisha said, “and before you panic, he’s kidding.”

  “I sure hope so,” Doug replied. “Gay or not, our boy is too handsome to pay for it.”

  Kelly shook his head. “Awkward. Thank you, but seriously... Awkward.”

  “Then tell us what you want,” his mother said.

  “I’m saving up for a new camera lens. I need to buy it myself, since there are complicated technical details and compatibility issues to keep in mind.”

  “Then maybe we’ll take you shopping for one,” Laisha said.

  “Or how about a nice disposable camera?” his father suggested. “You use them once and drop them off at the drugstore. No fuss, no muss.”

  Kelly ignored him and addressed his mother. “Telephoto lenses are expensive, but maybe we could combine my birthday and Christmas presents into one.”

  “You won’t be sad, having nothing to open on one of those holidays?”

  “Absolutely not,” Kelly said. “This lens is all I need. Seriously!”

  Laisha nodded to his homework. “You just keep working hard and we’ll see.”

  Kelly grinned at her and returned his attention to the task at hand. He felt doubly motivated now. An awesome birthday to look forward to at the end of the month, and—after a few more equations—a weekend spent with Jared. The second he was finished, he slammed the book shut, grabbed his phone, and sent a quick text message to his friend. He sat waiting for a response, watching his father lose himself in the latest Super Mario game.
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  “I don’t get it,” Kelly said. “You work as a plumber all week. Why do you want to play one on the weekend?”

  “Mario isn’t just a plumber,” his father said, continuing to hammer buttons. “He’s practically the patron saint of this family.”

  “Speaking of false religions,” Kelly said, “I’m going to ‘church’ tomorrow. Jared is spending the night, so play along, okay?”

  Laisha shook her head disapprovingly. “He’s your best friend. You should tell him the truth.”

  “That I’m gay? You have no idea how wrong that could go.”

  “And yet you came out to us,” his mother continued. “We could have kicked you out or taken you to some quack of a doctor. So much could have gone wrong, but you were brave and did the right thing anyway.” Kelly sighed. “Because I know you guys love me. The worst that happened is Dad couldn’t stop laughing.”

  “I kept picturing when you were eight years old and dressed in drag for Halloween,” Doug said. “I thought there would be more of that.”

  “It wasn’t drag,” Laisha said. “He wanted to be a nurse!”

  “In a wig,” Kelly admitted sheepishly. “I could have been a male nurse, but no. I insisted on wearing nail polish too.”

  “And lipstick.” His father fought down a smile. “So many people that night complimented me on my pretty daughter. I felt oddly proud. In fact, I haven’t felt as proud of you since. Maybe Nurse Kelly should make a comeback.” When his wife glared at him, he quickly returned his attention to his game.

  “Anyway,” Kelly said, “I knew you guys would have my back. Jared doesn’t share that obligation, and school is miserable enough without broadcasting my personal life.”

  “Eventually he’s going to notice,” Laisha said. “Or someone else will when they see you together. Lately it’s hard to miss.”

  Before he could respond, the phone chimed. Kelly grabbed it and read the text message.

  what are we doing

  Kelly searched for a good idea but came up empty, so he went with the default. The mall? on my way