Pirates Are People Too
by Nico Grey
Chapter 2
Jake was the first member of their crew to arrive in the cafeteria. He set his books down at their table and scanned the lunch room before finding a place in the serving line. He was hoping to see that new kid eating lunch, but wasn't surprised when he didn't. At least there was no sign of Hartnett and Hamilton, either.
By the time he found something to eat and returned to the table, Josiah was waiting for him.
"How's Ian behaving today?" Josiah appeared anxious.
Jake tried to reassure him. "He's been quiet all morning. He was pretty wound up when we got to school. So I reminded him that we can't rag on Mercury about last night. And then something else happened."
Jake took a minute to sort the incident out in his mind.
"We saw Daniel Hartnett and Russ Hamilton in the lobby this morning. I thought they were seniors last year."
That caught Josiah's interest.
" Uh, yeah. I'm pretty sure they were. But maybe they weren't able to graduate after Harding suspended them last winter." He looked thoughtful.
"They were picking on some freshmen in the lobby," Jake informed him. "Ian got pretty freaked out."
Jake paused to recollect the incident.
"He probably should have stuck around. Some new kid told them to stop. Hartnett tried to shove him out of the way and the kid almost ripped his arm off! Had him crying like a baby." Sharing this news felt pretty satisfying to Jake.
Josiah's eyes widened. "He must have been a monster to make Daniel cry. I guess I haven't seen him around yet."
Jake laughed. "He's even smaller than me. Some freshman. I think maybe he lives on my street. If it's the same kid, he just moved to town."
"Who moved to town?" Darius demanded as he and Mercury sat down to join them.
" I think he's new in town," Jake corrected. "His said his name is Ishmael. Ishmael Abe. . . something. I guess I missed that part."
" Oh!" It rang a bell for Darius. "That must be that freshman from my PhysEd class. Pretty short. Long black hair. Earrings? Pretty. . . Yeah! Pretty, too," he smirked. "Coach Wyman gave him some shit about the hair and earrings, but the kid just took it and smiled at him like he didn't give a shit. He's probably heard it all before."
"He probably knows he could kick Wyman's ass if he had to," Jake added. "He caught Daniel Hartnett bullying some other 'shmen this morning and had him crying before I could even figure out what happened!"
That impressed the gathering.
" Damn!" Darius exclaimed. "That little shit is tiny, too. Even smaller than. . ." he glanced at Jake and thought better of what he was going to say, "than Ian was last year."
Darius considered that for a moment. "You know, maybe he and Ian are related. I saw him in the shower after class yesterday, and he doesn't have any more hair on his dick than Ian used to have. Except his missing pubes are probably black instead of red," he chortled.
"His dick is even smaller than Ian's used to be," Darius added. "But maybe that's because Ian was always checking out my ass whenever I noticed his."
" Screw you, Darius!" Ian set his lunch tray firmly down on the table and pulled out a chair. "I never checked out your ass!"
Jake and Josiah both started when they noticed the gleam in Ian's eye as he cut his gaze toward Mercury.
"I was too busy checking out. . ."
"Ian! Did you hear what happened in the lobby after you left this morning?!" Jake and Josiah interrupted loudly, talking over each other as they tried to distract Ian.
Ian clearly didn't care to be reminded of his morning.
" Some little freshman kicked the shit out of Dan Hartnett," Darius informed him.
"It was crazy," Jake explained. "He just walked up to Hartnett and Hamilton and told them to leave those other two kids alone. Hartnett tried to push him, and it was like the karate kid, or something. I didn't even see what happened before Harnett started crying!"
"Damn!" Ian obviously thought that was good news.
"But then the kid got in trouble with Harding," Jake added. "He wouldn't even let me explain what really happened."
Josiah looked concerned. "I think it will be okay," he tried to reassure Jake. "Mr. Harding is pretty tough. But he's fair, too. He probably has to do something because of the school's zero tolerance for fighting policy. But this kid should be back in school in a day or two, maybe three."
" On the other hand," Josiah brightened, "I bet he doesn't go easy on Daniel and Russ. When he kicked them out of school last year, I told him he didn't have to punish them for my sake. He said he wouldn't. He was doing it for his sake!"
That sparked some interest around the table. Everyone there was a little intimidated by Mr. Harding. But it was good to know that at least he was fighting for truth, justice, and the American way!
Ian was obviously back in a good mood.
"So how are your lips today, Josiah? Do you have anything left for me after Hot Lips ravished them last night?" The gleam had returned to Ian's eyes.
Josiah checked Jake's mood with a glance first. "Maybe you can find out for yourself after our run tonight. I'm not sure that words alone can do justice to that experience!"
"Oh, man!" Darius moaned. "Go for it, Ian. That was so hot last night! You guys might convince me to turn gay."
"Maybe you should, Ian." Josiah suggested cautiously. He considered for a moment before adding, "It may blow your mind!"
" Well," Ian temporized, "you know it's really not my mind that I want to have blown." He gave Josiah a reproving glare. "But since you've already boldly gone where no man has gone before," he couldn't resist giving Jake some teasing side eye, "maybe I'll have to pay planet 'Hot Lips' a visit of my own."
Josiah did another visual check on Jake. His expression was an intriguing combination of excitement and anxiety. Josiah decided that he really needed to have a long talk with Jake before he made any more offers on his behalf.
He also made a note to check in with Mercury. Perhaps he could help him find an excuse to bow out of their run gracefully in case he was concerned about putting himself in an embarrassing situation again.
During soccer practice after school, Josiah managed to pull Mercury aside for a short conversation. Josiah was a central defender for the team, and Mercury defended on the outside, where his speed gave him added flexibility on defense and the ability to push up the sideline and join in on attacks. It wasn't unusual for a couple of defenders to step away from the rest of the team for some drills of their own.
Mercury seemed a little apprehensive when Jake asked him to join in some one-on-one drills. The 'kissing incident' from the previous night was obviously still on his mind. But he didn't feel ready to talk about it.
Josiah started them out with basic soccer drills. Once Mercury was comfortably into the physical activity, Josiah casually asked if he wanted to join in the run that evening.
Mercury cringed visibly. He really didn't want to return to that moment. But he thought he could trust Josiah. He had helped the night before. He seemed like a nice guy. And he seemed to care. Mercury decided to take a risk.
"I kinda do, but I kinda don't," he reasoned. "I want to keep running with you guys. But I really don't want a repeat of last night."
"Maybe just skip tonight," Josiah suggested. "I don't know if Jake and Ian will really do anything. But maybe it will be safer if you aren't there. And I'll try to make sure nothing like that ever happens again when we run."
Mercury considered the suggestion. Then he took another risk.
" I liked watching," he whispered. "You guys really were hot." He checked out Josiah's reaction with some embarrassment. "But I'd just die if I, um, did that again."
Josiah considered that information for a minute.
"You'd die if you did that again? Or just if anyone knew that you did it again?" he asked.
"Well," Mercury considered, "I guess the worst part is that everybody knows."
Josiah understood that he was treading on sensitive ground. But more information could actually help. He tried to phrase his next remarks carefully.
" Before Ian and I got together last year, I never even thought about other guys," he said. "I just figured I was completely interested in girls. But I've learned that a lot of us guys, especially guys around our age, are really pretty adventurous. I mean, the stuff I've done with Ian. . ."
Mercury managed to look very uncomfortable and very interested at the same time.
"Feeling that way is okay, Mercury. Whatever you like is cool. But if it's embarrassing having people know, maybe just wear your athletic supporter when we run tonight?"
Mercury looked at his feet.
"But I still might soak through," he worried softly.
"If you want," Josiah offered, "I might have a plan. I just need to get some first aid tape and, uh, one other item. Do you think you could come to my house right after supper? It will mean a longer run for you, but, well maybe it will be worth it."
The school bus let Jake off at the end of Oak Street. He had hoped that he might see that new kid, Ishmael, on the bus. Instead, it was only the usual collection of high school and middle school students that got off at his stop.
But as he trotted up the street toward his home, Jake noticed someone in the front yard of a house farther up the street that he thought had been unoccupied all summer. As he drew closer, he recognized Ishmael.
Ishmael didn't appear to be doing anything more than bouncing a ball in his driveway. Jake didn't know what he thought the kid did in his spare time— maybe use his martial arts skills to knock down trees? — but Ishmael looked bored and lonely.
Jake started to pass his own home and continue down the street, when a familiar green Subaru cut in front of him and pulled into the Warren driveway. The abrupt turn warned Jake that his father probably wasn't in a good mood, so he followed after the car.
His father shoved open the car door and lurched out onto the driveway. He glared balefully down the street.
"What is that foreign kid doing?" he demanded of Jake.
Jake shrugged. "I just got home from school, Dad."
"He ought to be inside, doing homework or something," his father opined.
"I saw him at school," Jake braced for outrage. "He doesn't seem so bad. He stood up for a couple of kids that were being bullied."
"That little twerp stood up to bullies?!?" Jake's father was amazed. "Were the bullies in first grade?"
" No, Dad," Jake kept his voice soothing. "They were seniors. But that kid has some serious skills! He had Daniel Hartnett pleading for mercy!" Jake didn't mind gilding the lily a little bit in a good cause.
"You stay away from that kid, Jacob," his father warned. "Nothing good will come from hanging around with him!"
His fatherly duty done, Ed Warren shuffled toward the house.
"Serious skills?" he muttered. "Probably some sort of foreign spy. Living right here on my street. What is the world coming to?"
Two hours later, the scintillating echoes from a familiar Warren family dinner conversation lingering in his ears, Jake finished tying the laces on his trainers and stepped out the front door.
He glanced back up the street before turning toward the village, and was surprised to see Ishmael still bouncing the same ball in his driveway. Jake looked back over his shoulder and cocked an ear, reassuring himself that his father was already ensconced on the living room couch and giving the Fox News anchor an earful of his carefully considered opinions.
He thought about inviting Ishmael to come along with him and the crew on their run. The kid was obviously fit. Jake assumed he wouldn't have too much trouble keeping up with them.
But, Jake reasoned, Ishmael might not be able to join him on a moment's notice and he was expecting to meet the rest of the guys in front of Maureen's Bakery in ten minutes. He also thought it would probably be better to check in with everyone— or at least with Josiah— before offering to include someone new to their group.
Besides, he concluded, it might not be the best night to introduce Ishmael to the running crew if the evening actually ended up with him making out with one of them. Even if his father was right about Ishmael being gay, it really wasn't the best way to make a first impression on him. 'Hi! I'm Jake! And I'm a slut!' Jake giggled. But the idea was a little arousing.
Jake checked again to make sure his father was fully engaged in his diatribe with the television, then he trotted up the street toward Ishmael's home. He tried a friendly smile.
"Hey, killer! How was your day?" Jake winced. 'Too familiar?' he wondered.
But Ishmael took it in stride.
"Boring," he said. "I really wish I had been at school."
"What happened with Harding?" Jake asked.
"The assistant principal?"
Jake nodded.
" Oh," Ishmael shrugged, "he wasn't so bad. He just explained that I had to be suspended because of school policy, even if I was defending myself. But he only gave me the rest of the day and tomorrow as punishment. I'll be back in school on Thursday."
Jake nodded glumly.
"I was hoping to introduce you to my friends tomorrow."
"Maybe on Thursday?" Ishmael offered.
"Yeah! That will be cool, Ishmael," Jake decided.
"Since we are friends, you should call me Ish," Ishmael informed him. "That's what my mother calls me. . . and my friend back in Connecticut," a shadow crossed his face and he looked away.
" Hey," Ishmael brightened, "Do you want to come in for a while? You can take a look at my space. My mother would probably like to meet you, too."
Jake was disappointed. He wanted to accept the invitation.
"I can't, Ish. I'm real sorry. But I have to meet some guys in the village in a few minutes. I just came over to make sure that you're okay." Jake shrugged apologetically.
"I am okay," Ish reassured Jake. "And thank you for standing up for me this morning. That Mr. Harding was pretty scary at first."
"At first?" Jake grinned. "What changed that? Did you threaten him?"
" No. I didn't threaten him," Ish insisted. "My mother would be very disappointed if I used what she taught me to do that. I listened to him respectfully. He let me explain. And then he explained why he still had to punish me. It was okay."
Ish inspected Jake briefly and smiled mischievously. "We had a good talk. I think he was somewhat amused that you stood up to him. But he told me that I shouldn't say anything to you about that or he would feed me to his fish," he seemed puzzled by the expression, "so I never said anything to you."
Jake snickered and crossed his heart with a finger. Ish had an uncertain expression on his face as Jake said goodbye and trotted away.
Jake was waiting alone outside Maureen's Bakery when Josiah, Ian and Mercury jogged up to join him.
" Hey, lover," Ian greeted him. "I'm already excited about later." He pointed not-so-discreetly toward the front of his shorts.
Josiah rolled his eyes.
" I'll let Maureen know that we're coming by later to celebrate. I'll ask her to have a good table ready, just for us," he winked at Jake. "I gotta use the facilities, too," he whispered loudly to Jake. "To make sure that everything is in good working order for when we get it on later."
Jake was already starting to worry about where the evening might lead as Ian disappeared through the front door of the bakery. He turned a concerned expression on Josiah and Mercury, who was wincing occasionally and plucking at the front of his shorts.
"Ian's in a mood, isn't he?" Jake frowned. "I'm not sure this is a good idea. We could all just go home now, while he's inside." Jake turned a questioning glance toward Mercury.
Mercury grinned uncomfortably. "I can handle it if you can handle it," he said.
Jake laughed out loud. "I guess I can handle it. I'm just hoping that Ian doesn't want me to handle his."
That made Mercury stir. Josiah laid a calming hand on his shoulder.
"We can still call this off if you want to," Josiah offered. "But I think you'll be okay. And if anyone says anything to you, just go along with it like you're in on the joke."
Jake nodded sagely. "Yeah. Everyone is going to be uncomfortable. . . and excited," he added. "We all feel like we're the only one that these feelings are happening to. But really, we're all in the same boat."
Jake actually felt a little reassured by his sentiments. He just hoped that his words had done the same for Mercury's insecurities.
Josiah wasn't surprised to find an additional runner had joined their group that evening. Apparently, after lunch someone had talked about their plans. He just hoped that his friends were discrete enough to keep their private activities from being broadcast on the school grapevine.
Ten tired and sweaty boys slowed to a halt just before the end of the school's running trail. In the distance, they could hear the occasional car pass by on Mountain Road. There was a high level of excitement among the boys. Josiah hadn't kept a clock on the run, but he was pretty sure that they had covered the three miles at least a minute faster than their usual pace.
Ian was almost bouncing with eagerness. As the boys began their cool down routine, his eyes swept across the group with an air of excitement and amusement.
Jake thought he noticed a challenging expression in Ian's eyes each time he looked at Josiah. Suddenly, he was feeling more anxious than excited. He was about to have a very public and rather intimate moment with Ian, after all. And Ian was capable of almost anything. He groaned.
Kissing— then making out— with Josiah had been a deeply sensual and emotional experience, Jake thought. Making out with Ian felt like man-to-man combat!
Ian started with an aggressive assault on his mouth before Jake even realized that the bell had rung to start the opening round. Ian's tongue was racing around inside his mouth like a roadrunner on crack, then trying to find its way into his throat, while Jake was still settling his arms around Ian's shoulders.
It was a different experience, Jake realized five minutes later. He had never fully lost awareness of his surroundings, like he had with Josiah the night before. This had been a frenzied encounter. After futile attempts to slow Ian's pace, he had surrendered to the inevitable and simply attempted to copy Ian's actions while he held on for dear life.
When Ian finally ended the assault on his body, Jake took a moment to glance at the friends gathered around them. There was the same evidence of arousal that he had noticed after he and Josiah were finished. But the mood of this evening was more amazement than the awe he had felt the previous night.
Darius was making no effort to hide his excitement. "My god, I thought they were going to rape each other," he stammered.
"Maybe we aren't done yet," Ian suggested smugly. "We could do that thing that Josiah won't even let me say," he cast Josiah a brief, challenging glance. "You can even be on top first, Jake."
Darius still hadn't completely come to terms with what he had witnessed. "I saw more skin tonight than I ever have in my father's Playboys. I mean," he needed a moment to collect his thoughts, "they were mauling each other's asses. I think Ian even tried to shove a finger up Jake's butt!"
Jake was starting to feel a lot more shame than arousal. He reached down to secure his shorts and found them around his knees.
"I saw Jake shoot," another voice insisted.
" My god!" It was a mantra for Darius. "Mercury must have soaked his shorts."
Josiah reacted when Mercury's face started to twitch uncomfortably.
"He looks fine to me." He wrapped a comforting arm around Mercury's shoulder and reached down to pat the front of his shorts with the other hand. After rummaging around for a few seconds he announced, "He's completely dry."
"If you keep that up, he won't be!" another voice contributed.
" I'm just telling you that he's fine," Josiah snapped. "If anyone else got over-excited about tonight's show," his gaze flickered briefly in Ian's direction, "why don't you go relieve your excitement behind a tree. Otherwise, let's all grow up a little bit, get our shit together, and we can all meet at Maureen's in about fifteen minutes. That should give everyone enough time to settle down."
Even Ian looked a little chagrined, Josiah noted. He tried to avoid eye contact with his boyfriend. There were more important matters that needed his attention. But Ian was headed purposefully toward him, a confused expression on his face.
"What's the big deal?" he demanded. "Jake and I just had a little fun!"
Josiah glanced toward Jake, who was looking very uncomfortable.
"You and Jake had some fun last night. He and I had fun tonight. Why is everyone acting upset?"
Josiah sighed. "You had fun, Ian. I'm not sure that everyone else thought it was fun." He glanced again toward Jake, then at Mercury. "It's like the saying: it isn't a joke if everyone isn't laughing. Well it isn't fun unless everyone thinks it was fun."
" It must have been fun for Jake," Ian insisted. "He got off!"
Josiah really wanted to have the conversation in private; certainly not where Jake was overhearing every word.
"Does he look like he had fun, Ian? Do you think he enjoyed shooting off," he really wished he could have found a better way to say it in front of Jake, "with everybody watching?"
Josiah sighed. "Just go, Ian. We'll meet you at Maureen's. I love you, but I have to take care of other people right now."
Ian looked like he wanted to protest, or at least defend himself from the attack on his behavior, but Josiah just pointed toward the end of the trail.
"Please go, Ian. We'll talk after everyone is feeling a little calmer."
Josiah wasn't feeling very good about himself when he turned back to Jake and Mercury. He had let things get well out of hand. As the oldest person in the group, he knew it was his responsibility to set boundaries for their behavior.
Mercury was withdrawn into himself. Jake was still looking horrified.
" I shot!" he choked. "I can't believe I shot with everyone looking!"
"Are you sure?" Josiah was hoping for the best. "I didn't see anything."
"I did," Jake insisted. "It must have been when Ian started running his finger along my crack. I guess I was so shocked, I couldn't control myself."
Mercury nodded morosely. "I saw it. That's when I shot, too," he murmured.
Jake was surprised. "I thought Josiah said you were dry."
"He is," Josiah insisted.
" It's okay," Mercury announced. "We both need to get cleaned up. And Jake looked out for me last night. I don't care if he knows."
"Does anyone have Kleenex?" Jake wondered.
"I brought some Wet Wipes," Josiah said. "I only brought a couple. But maybe you guys could share."
They faded into the surrounding woods. Josiah handed a Wet Wipe to each of his friends and directed them to separate trees.
"We can do it here," Mercury decided, "I mean, if Jake doesn't mind. We may need to share the Wet Wipes. And I probably need you for the tape." He looked helplessly at Josiah.
When Mercury dropped his shorts, and then his athletic supporter, well it was almost everything Jake hoped it would be. Despite his embarrassment, he found himself getting a little excited.
"Hey!" he exclaimed. "Is that a condom?"
Mercury couldn't help feeling ashamed, but he nodded.
"Holy crap! You filled that thing!" Jake announced. Then he realized his mistake. "I'm sorry, Mercury. I was just surprised because I can't shoot anywhere near that much."
Mercury just shrugged. "I think I need some help getting the tape off."
Jake squinted thoughtfully. "They never told us about tape in SexEd class."
Mercury looked at Josiah to explain.
"Most of the time, you don't use tape," Josiah said. "But a condom only fits properly when your, um, penis is erect. If it goes soft, it's easy for a condom to slip off. And if you run three miles, well, nobody can stay erect for a full three mile run."
"Except Ian," Jake suggested.
Josiah chuckled mirthlessly. "Yeah. Maybe he does. But I needed to make sure that Mercury didn't lose the condom while we were running. Otherwise, when you squirted, and he squirted, it would have ended up just like last night. That's what I was trying to prevent," he looked at Mercury apologetically.
"And now I need some help with this tape," Mercury said. "Because it's starting to feel like I might rip out all my hair when this thing comes off."
"Ouch!" Jake commiserated. "That would really suck."
Five minutes of very careful surgery later, Mercury examined the condom he was holding awkwardly in his hand. "What should I do with this?" he wondered. It didn't exactly seem like a keepsake.
"We should probably bury it somewhere," Josiah suggested. "Along with the Wet Wipes. We don't want any wild animals getting into it. The last thing we need is some weird cross-species fertilization going on around East Grange."
Jake started chuckling, then laughing uncontrollably. It took him close to a minute to regain control of himself.
" Can you imagine if we started seeing speedy blond raccoons running around out here?" he wheezed. "Oh those? Those are just Mercury's babies!" He burst out laughing again.
It was an unexpected observation. But it was just what the boys needed to lighten their mood. All three were feeling better when they finished laughing.
Mercury was in a reflective mood. "Thanks for helping me out, guys. You've been really good friends."
" It cool, dude," Jake shrugged. "We all need a little help sometimes. And understanding," he added thoughtfully. "People are way too quick to criticize other people just because they think they're a little different."
Josiah nodded thoughtfully. "I'm different. When I found out about my INTP personality type last year, I thought it meant I'd never have friends, or get married. But you guys have become great friends. And I may not get married, at least not to a girl, but I've found someone that I want to be with for the rest of my life. . . If I don't kill him first."
" I love Ian, too. Maybe not as much as I did a half hour ago," Jake considered, "but he means well. He just forgets sometimes that other people are different from him. He does things that don't bother him, without thinking that it still might bother someone else." He rubbed briefly at his butt. "And then his pride makes it hard for him to admit right away that he did something wrong."
Josiah smiled appreciatively at Jake. He'd have to think about Jake's observations before he got into a lengthy conversation with Ian about their evening.
Mercury had been absorbed in his own thoughts while Jake and Josiah were talking.
"I hope you guys don't mind. You've been real good friends to me." He looked back and forth between them apprehensively. "This thing is really big and I don't think I can keep it to myself any more. I need to share it with someone. I know I can trust you."
Jake and Josiah exchanged a brief glance, then turned back to Mercury and waited patiently.
" This is so hard to say," he temporized. "But you see, what you guys did last night— and tonight, too— well, it's just made something that I guess I already knew about myself become so clear." He took a deep breath. "I kinda like guys," he exhaled. Then he hung his head and waited.
"That's cool, Mercury," Jake reassured him.
"We both do," Josiah added. "Most guys our age do, at least a little. You must have noticed all the belly-button-high salutes Jake and Ian got for their performance tonight."
Mercury couldn't help it. He sniggered.
" Nobody would say anything if you want to join in," Jake offered. "Have some fun. Then, when you get older, you can decide whether you want to get married to a girl or just keep having fun. I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep on having fun," he added shyly.
" That's the problem," Mercury said. "What happened tonight was, well, it was exciting. I couldn't help blowing my load after I saw you shoot off like that," he apologized to Jake with a helpless shrug. "But what you two did last night! I mean I know that you and Ian are together, Josiah. But what you and Jake did last night just blew my mind! It's like you were completely in love. And I know that's what I really want for myself."
"Then that's what you should look for," Josiah noticed the excitement in Jake's eyes and shot him a hopeful glance.
But Mercury shook his head. "I just can't. My father is a total homophobe. If he ever found out that I liked guys, even just a little bit, he'd remove me from the human gene pool in an instant. . . with extreme prejudice." He shuddered.
Jake nodded dejectedly. "I think my dad feels that way, too." He walked over to stand facing Mercury.
"You'll figure it out," he assured him. "And while you're figuring it out, you'll always have friends that love you."
Jake wrapped his arms around Mercury's shoulders. He waited for permission before leaning in and placing a gentle kiss on his friend's lips. Then he simply held him securely in his arms.
Josiah was torn. He knew what would make his friends happy. But he also knew they weren't ready for it to work yet. Mercury had his issues with his father to work through before he could make such a decision for himself.
Josiah couldn't figure out how to resolve what Mercury and Jake needed. He decided that the best he could do was lighten the moment and help them to feel positive about themselves and their emotions.
" We should probably go meet the rest of the guys at Maureen's," he suggested. "And maybe it would be a good idea for you two to get dressed before I need your help with a little cleanup of my own." He glanced down toward the front of his shorts.
Jake and Mercury snickered at Josiah's obvious excitement. Then they looked down at themselves. Neither was completely surprised to discover that they were also aroused. Jake was quivering.
The walk home with Ian felt incredibly awkward to Josiah. When he, Jake, and Mercury had joined the rest of the crew at Maureen's Bakery, they found Ian in an almost defiant mood.
It didn't help that the rest of the guys were still caught up in the afterbuzz of Ian's performance. The predominant reaction was still amazement. Ian couldn't resist the occasional veiled reference to the effect he'd had on Jake, and sly innuendo about his prowess.
Josiah found it all a bit unsettling. He worried about how Ian's behavior was making Jake feel, and about its effect on Mercury. But surrounded by an enraptured audience in the middle of the bakery was no place to call Ian out, he realized.
Josiah decided to wait until he and Ian separated from the rest of the crew and were walking down Route 42 toward Ian's house before he said anything. Ian's immediate reaction was defensive, so Josiah opted to trudge on in silence for a while. Eventually, that got Ian's attention.
" Why are you so upset about this?" he demanded.
Josiah considered possible responses to that question.
"You told me to do it!" Ian reminded Josiah.
Josiah stopped to think about that.
"Yeah. I did," he admitted. "I thought it would be fair, after what Jake and I did last night." He decided that it probably wouldn't be helpful to tell Ian that he also thought Jake would enjoy the opportunity to make out a bit with the boy he had been attracted to for months.
" You even told me that it would blow my mind," Ian added. "It didn't. But at least it blew Jake's load." He sniggered.
Josiah winced. Ian picked up on the reaction immediately.
"You're jealous!" he accused.
Josiah grimaced. He realized that emotions were probably still too raw to work through the conflict rationally.
But Ian wasn't finished. When the accusation didn't get a reaction out of Josiah, he tried another.
"I bet that's why you felt Mercury up!" Realization dawned. "And I bet he was soaking wet, too! You just wouldn't admit it!"
Josiah winced. His instinct was to simply leave and run home alone. But he understood that he owed Ian better than that, whatever he thought about the way he was behaving.
"I'm not jealous, Ian. If you want to be with Jake instead of me, go ahead." He shook his head. "You know that before I met you, I never even thought about guys. But I love you. And if being with Jake or someone else is what you want, I won't stand in the way of what makes you happy."
Then he did turn and start jogging toward his home.
Ian wasn't finished making his point.
" Is that why you guys were so late joining us at the bakery?" he called after Josiah. "Did it take that long to wring out Mercury's shorts?"
Josiah found it hard to pay attention and avoid traffic during the rest of his run home. Those taunts that Ian had flung at him were so uncharacteristic of his boyfriend. . . or whatever they were to each other now.
Josiah's natural inclination as an Introvert was to avoid the source of his discomfort. Maybe it had been a mistake to even get into a relationship with Ian. . . or would be to continue with him. His life had been dull before he and Ian got together, but he hadn't really been unhappy. And he was feeling very unhappy in that moment, as his feet pounded against the pavement. Perhaps, he contemplated, it might be best if he just turned the clock back a year.
But Josiah knew that if he withdrew from the life he was leading now, he would miss Jake. He thought he would probably miss Mercury, too. He would let down people that he had made commitments to— like Mr. Fisher. . . and even Mr. Harding. He would even be letting himself down, at least a little.
And he realized that, however frustrated he was with him now, he really would miss Ian.
Josiah didn't find any final answers as he continued jogging at a steady clip. He decided that he wasn't ready to give up on the life he was currently living, or on Ian. But he was pretty sure that they— or at least he— needed a reset. He needed a break— some time away from the things and people that were triggering emotions— for everyone to think, in order to start fresh.
Josiah realized that he would be taking a gamble. It was a bit frightening. But he was pretty sure that he was more likely to lose what he had if he didn't create some space for everyone to calm down and think, than he was to lose everything by taking a break and creating space for everyone to think about what happened. . . as well as what they really wanted to happen next.
Josiah hadn't really expected Ian to reach out to him that evening, and he wasn't surprised. He had considered texting Ian a brief, "I love you", or maybe just a heart emoji, but decided in the end that it would be best to leave the situation alone for a while to let emotions settle down. He hoped that it was a wise choice.
He arrived at school early the following morning. He wasn't looking forward to speaking with Mr. Fisher, but knew it wouldn't get any easier if he waited.
Josiah got to the point.
" I have to miss practice for a few days," he informed his coach.
Josiah hoped that an explanation wouldn't be necessary. He really didn't want to lie to the teacher.
Mr. Fisher eyed him carefully. "Relationship issues?" he asked.
Josiah couldn't help himself. His eyes bugged out.
" There's a look about you," the coach noted with amusement. "I can't imagine you backing out on your commitment to the team without a very good reason. You're obviously upset. And I've noticed some changes in Ian's behavior, too."
Josiah's jaw dropped open. "You know?!"
"Oh, I wouldn't ever say anything about it, Josiah. Don't worry about that," Mr. Fisher's concerned glance radiated sincerity. "But I've coached young guys for fifteen years now. I've learned a thing or two. And I notice things. Like sometimes Ian says a little more than he should." He laughed.
Josiah still couldn't muster a coherent thought.
"Are you sure there isn't another solution, Josiah?"
" Uh," Josiah gathered his wits. "Uh, I don't think so, coach. It would be pretty hard if we were on the pitch together right now. And I know that Ian is a lot more important to the team."
"Don't sell yourself short," Mr. Fisher reprimanded Josiah. "You're pretty important to the team, too. With so many young guys on the squad this year, I depend on your maturity and leadership." He raised an eyebrow.
" Thanks, coach," Josiah was humbled. "But I think it will be better for the team if we aren't fighting with each other in front of them. And I'm not sure we can be out there together right now. It's hard," he sighed.
"We do have our first game next Tuesday," the coach observed. "If you miss more than a day or two of practice, I won't be able to let you start."
The eyebrow shot up again, but Josiah simply nodded his understanding.
" Okay. I suppose needs must," Mr. Fisher sighed. "I can't move Mercury to central defender. He's too useful on the outside. I guess," he winced, "I'll have to slot Zombie in to take your place and hope the Silver River attackers aren't too active."
The coach's eyes clearly communicated, 'this is just between you and me!' He really did look pained, Josiah observed.
"I'm just glad that Ross Donnelly isn't coaching their varsity squad yet. He'd notice the opportunity immediately and take advantage of it."
"I'm sorry, coach," Josiah said. "I'll be at practice as soon as we can work things out. But I think it will probably be a few days. . ."
"What if you can't work it out?" the coach's eyes were sympathetic.
" Then I'll come back," Josiah insisted. "If we aren't together, then there's no reason we can't just suck it up and do our jobs."
The coach smiled faintly. He nodded. "Please check in with me daily, Josiah. I want to know what's going on. And if being away only makes things worse for the team, we need to talk about that right away.
"We have a young team this year. But we're also talented. I'm relying on you to do what's necessary to keep everyone focused so the guys can make the most of their talent."
Josiah's main emotion was relief after he left Mr. Fisher's classroom. He didn't yet know how he would work things out with Ian. But he had made it through a difficult first step. He hoped that he was right and that a break would help reset their relationship. In the meanwhile, he found he was actually looking forward to becoming an Introvert again, at least for a day or two.
Darius arrived in the cafeteria a few minutes later than he usually did. He glanced around and noticed Ian sitting alone at their customary table. He couldn't think of any reason why so many of his friends would be absent on a Wednesday.
"What's happening?" Darius asked as he sat down opposite Ian.
Ian just shrugged. Then he glanced around. "Where's Mercury?"
It was Darius' turn to shrug.
"He booked as soon as the bell rang for the end of class. I thought he'd be here."
" He isn't," Ian observed bluntly. "I haven't seen anyone yet."
"Jake?" Darius wondered.
Ian shook his head.
"Josiah?"
Ian's complexion darkened and he scowled. He started stuffing something that looked like fish sticks— possibly— into his mouth.
"Maybe he wasn't in the mood for food poisoning today," Darius suggested quietly.
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